Social dance, no matter what kind of dance, no matter how complex the dance, it is a step by step "walk" out. And in each step, contains the speed, distance and direction. We summarize it as "step speed, step distance, step direction". This is what we call: the three elements of footwork.
Step speed: this refers to the speed of the transportation step, a time conceptual element in the dance. The speed of the steps of the social dance are regular step, fast step, slow step, ultra-fast step, extended step, and "stationary" step.
Regular step - this is the first basic step speed that is determined according to the specifics of different dance songs. That is to say, in different dance music, the dancers should first according to the different beats of the dance music, to determine a dance beat and the beat of the dance music to match the constant step. With this constant step as a "standard unit", there is a basis for comparison of changes in the speed of the dance.
Fast step - fast step is faster than the normal step speed, in general, a normal step accounts for a period of time, we call it a "normal step time", a fast step is 1/2 normal step time.
Slow step - a slow step is a step slower than a normal step, typically a normal step is 1, and a slow step is 1 + 1.
Ultra-fast step - this is still measured as a normal step, and is a faster step than a fast step. A super-fast stride is only 1/4 of a regular stride hour, or even less.
Extended step - this is a specially treated step that is neither a regular step nor a slow step, but is usually a dance step that is a little longer than a regular step, about 1.5 regular step-hours. It is important to note that this 0.5 step time is either "scraped" from the previous step or "scraped" from the next step. This means that whenever there is a lengthening step, it will be preceded or followed by an incomplete regular step. So we do not use 1.5 + o.5 to illustrate the extended step, because the extended step is not 1.5 regular step, the extended step step time how long, depending on the specific circumstances. Its formula is: lengthening step + incomplete constant step = 2 standard constant steps. (In general, if you use a slow step and then lengthen it, the dance will look too stagnant, so the lengthened step is usually a regular step lengthened).
"Static" step - this is also a special treatment of the pace, there is no absolute static in the dance, only relative static, the so-called "trees want to be quiet, but the wind is not more than". "There is no absolute stillness in social dance, only relative stillness. This kind of step usually accounts for 2 to 3 regular steps. It should be noted that the "still" step is not the same thing as modeling.
Social dance different kinds of dance, its basic step combination in the combination of step speed is different. Generally divided into two categories.
One category is the average step speed category: for example, slow three steps, fast three steps, waltz, Vienna waltz, Nanjing small pull dance, Beijing Ping Si dance and so on. This type of dance is characterized by a step in the dance music of a beat, of course, this step refers to the dance music in the regular step. Overall, the pace of the steps is average.
One category is the fast and slow step category: the basic step combination of this type of dance is made up of fast and regular steps or a combination of regular and slow steps; some dances are even made up of fast, regular and slow steps. For example: the four steps, slow four steps, Latin Rumba, Oriental Rumba, etc., are the combination of basic steps composed of two speeds; Dayu step dance, Tango, Foxtrot, is to use three or more speeds as the basic steps of the form. In short, this type of dance, in the overall transportation of the law of the step, the step of the step is fast and slow, rather than the average.
Step Distance: This is a spatial concept of linear measurement in the dance, it refers to the distance between the two feet (the distance between the two feet support point) at the moment of each step positioning in the step of social dance. Steps in ballroom dance are generally categorized as one step, half-step, super-step, minuet, and stance.
One step--Based on the average Chinese figure, the distance between two feet is 75 centimeters for a typical step. Therefore, the step distance of one step of a ballroom dance is 75 centimeters.
Half-step -- the spacing between the two feet is less than 40 centimeters, we call it half-step.
Super step - if the distance between two feet is more than 75 centimeters, we call it super step.
Break step - a step where the distance between the feet is less than 40 centimeters, and where the feet move quickly, we call it a break step.
Step - a step in which the feet are joined together is called a stance.
The size of the step is a reflection of whether each step is in place, full, and appropriate; secondly, it is related to the quality of the display of the steps before and after; thirdly, it is related to the effect of cooperation between partners. Under normal circumstances, any rotation, large angle change of direction, the step distance should be relatively small. This common sense should be recited often, and become a subconscious skill is best. Sorority dance is the art of dance, not mechanical processing, the above data are reference standards, sorority dance practice, we must be specific circumstances specific treatment.
The direction of the step: this is a spatial concept in the dance step on the arc of the metric elements. He refers to the direction of change of the foot shape in the sorority dance step. Usually the toe, the heel, the inside of the foot, the outside of the foot as a reference point to change the foot shape. Whether the direction of the foot shape is correct or not, it directly affects the quality of the ballroom dance movement. Especially in the large angle rotation movement, the correct direction of the foot shape is the key factor of the rotation angle in place. Commonly used foot shape directions are straight step, horizontal step, cut step and buckle step.
Straight step--Face the line of dance, feet together, toes facing forward, heels facing back. Keeping your feet in the direction of forward or backward is a straight forward or straight backward step.
Horizontal Steps--The steps that take the straight step as a reference point and move in the direction of the outside of the foot are called Horizontal Steps. There is a leftward cross step and a rightward cross step.
Cutting step--Taking the straight step as a reference point, when moving forward, the foot shape of the moving leg changes from a straight step to a step in which the inside of the foot is facing forward. Generally, the angle of the foot shape of the cut step is 90 degrees, and there are also two kinds of cut steps.
Button Step--Taking the straight step as a reference point, when moving forward or backward, the foot shape of the moving leg changes from a straight step to a step in which the outside of the foot faces forward, called the Button Step. Generally, the angle of change of the foot shape of the snap step is also 90 degrees, and there are also two kinds of snap steps.
The change of the foot shape in the direction of the step in the practice of ballroom dance there are many subtle specifics, at each point of 180 degrees, there is a specific direction of the foot shape, but basically belongs to the above four kinds of foot shape direction, we will not go into detail here.
Correspondence dance is a kind of elegant and popular **** appreciation, all the people involved in the dance, from the characteristics of the dance genre, the dance steps of the dance is not any difficult dance steps. Whether it is to learn to dance, or dance, you as long as the steps from the three elements to figure out, and then difficult steps are not difficult. The body of the social dance, the technique can also refer to these three elements.
The general rules of social dance steps.
Mastering the general rules of social dance steps is conducive to fundamentally improving one's level of dance technique. This is the same as the use of social dance terminology, not only through verbal conversations for skills and exchange of new styles of step changes, but also allows us to more quickly recognize and grasp the general laws of social dance culture, and early entry into the world of the free kingdom.
(A) the general law of step structure
All kinds of ballroom dance, no matter how much difference in its style characteristics, no matter how complicated the changes in its steps *, but in the general structure of the law can not be separated from the following four types.
Basic Steps
Strictly speaking, it should be called Basic Figure. It is a solid walking and dancing method that shows the typical style of this dance. Such as the square step of the waltz, fox trot feather step and three straight step, tango's regular step and continuous step and so on. The number of steps in each turn is fixed. If the man advances, the woman retreats; if the woman advances, the man retreats; **** the steps of both sides of the dance develop in a completely symmetrical shape. Therefore, the forward basic step and the backward basic step are actually synonymous with two symmetrical alternations. Only the direction of the male partner's movement to differentiate the title has been.
The role of the basic step in dance is very important, and it is the basis and premise of all changes in the dance. If you can't do the basic steps well, you can't do the other changes well. Since it fundamentally represents the typical style of this dance, we must carefully study and analyze it. In terms of the method of transporting steps, the relationship between body positions, the rhythmic treatment, the transfer of the center of gravity, the change of elevation, the subtle procedures of foot movements and the specific trajectory of spatial flow, etc., it is worth to be repeatedly scrutinized and eluded. We can say this: as long as the mastery of the basic dance steps
has reached the point of perfection, it means that you have knocked on the door to the Kingdom of Freedom, because of the pure fire of the basic dance steps, will give you a powerful strength. Whether in the improvisation of self-entertainment occasions, or in the completion of the required changes in the competition field, will make you invincible. On the contrary, if you ignore the importance of the basic steps, or refuse to put more effort into them because they are too easy to learn, you will eventually be limited to a more perfect stage of development. This point should cause every enthusiast enough attention.
2. Turning Steps
The change of direction of traveling on the basis of maintaining the basic spinning back to the main features is known as the turning step, and the form of the turning change has four kinds of forward left turn, backward left turn, forward right turn and backward right turn. In the study and practical application, many people are easily entangled in these four forms. In order to help beginners through the difficulties, but also in order to help enthusiasts with a walk level to grasp the objective laws of movement design, now turn the dance steps of the human body movement laws are as follows:
Forward left turn, can only be in the left foot forward to start;
Forward right turn, can only be in the right foot forward to start;
Returning left turn, can only be in the right foot backward to start;
The backward right turn, which can only be begun when the left foot is backward;
In order to facilitate the memorization and application of this law, it may be simply expressed as follows:
Turns in forward motion are made in the direction of the same side as the moving foot;
Turns in backward motion are made in the direction of the opposite side of the moving foot.
Except for difficult changes in dance steps, this law is an iron rule and must be strictly followed.
3. Specialized steps
Specialized steps used in all kinds of dances, such as sliding steps, locking steps, brushing steps, anti-intercepting steps and so on. The function of this kind of step is to connect, change feet, change the direction of movement and interesting embellishment. They are commonly used in competitive performances and are more difficult to use in self-indulgent occasions.
4. Rotational change
It is the development of the turnaround step, but it is also the type of change that is self-contained, and the difference between it and the turnaround step is twofold: one is that the turnaround step retains the main characteristics of the basic rotation, while the rotational change breaks this restriction; two is that the turnaround step is generally not more than 135 degrees of rotation, and the rotational change is generally carried out in the 180-360 degrees of super rotation. of excess rotation is performed.
There are many forms of rotational changes, and the changes are extremely rich and complicated, but there is still a rule to follow, from the center of gravity point of view, there is a single-footed rotation, locking alternating rotations and double-footed center of gravity of the inter*-type of torsion, etc.; from the dance form classification, there is a parallel-footed rotations, open rotations and large dance rotations, etc.; from the direction of the movement and the connection way to see, there are In terms of direction of movement and connection, there are "backward" rotation, "roundabout" intertwined rotation, whirling rotation and circling termination, and so on.
If you are keen to participate in competitions and have the ambition to win for your country, you should put more effort into the laws of this type of variation in order to design amazing connections and variations that will show off on the field of competition. The above ways of structure and its laws are just a way of recognizing that it can help you to free yourself from the state of nature of the maze of puppets as soon as possible.
For the class ballroom dancers with a considerable level, you can not be constrained by this method of understanding and create another path.
(2) The general law of foot dynamics
The ever-changing steps of ballroom dancing are like a "magic cube", although it is ever-changing, the form of the basic elements is limited. As long as we are familiar with its prototype, in the study of complex changes in the dance, will not be stirred to the eyes and confused and nothing to do, for high-level ballroom dance enthusiasts, familiar with this law, you can get the ability to anatomize the excellent examples, so that their own identification and innovation to become more at ease.
There are actually only five elemental forms of foot movement:
1. Parallel
The form in which the feet are parallel and close together. This is the most common elemental form. Although there are subtle different requirements and variations in different dance styles, such as the misalignment of the front and back feet in the tango. Waltz's parallel-footed rise, blues' full foot * together, and single-footed center of gravity parallel-footed rotation, etc., but the general requirements and form are the same.
2. Open
That is, the feet do not * close together open, one foot mainly support the center of gravity of the body form. There are two forms of openness: front and back and lateral. Before and after the open can be static, but also can be open feet in the air movement without landing. The same applies to the lateral spread, which is divided into different types: stationary and in motion without landing. However, the tango's lateral opening is not a single-footed center of gravity, but rather a triple-seven state with one foot predominantly in the center of gravity. The picture shows the open shape of the tango.
3. Brushing
It is a special form of movement (see Figure 5). There are two ways of expressing this form:
One refers to the trajectory implication of the movement process and is called brushing through;
the other is the termination form of a single dance step and is called brushing step.
The two forms are the same, but the rhythm of movement is very different. The following is a description of the process of the brush step: the center of gravity is supported by the foot that is first in place, and the second foot, when it reaches the foot of the center of gravity, only makes a stop in sync, neither alternating the center of gravity, nor continuing to run. And by the time the next foot (or the next dance step) begins, this foot takes the first step again and becomes the first step in the next pirouette. This step, sometimes expressed as hesitation or lingering, is a foot-switching technique.
4. Locking
The interlocking form in which one foot is in front and the other behind, with the heel and instep against each other, the toes pointing in parallel directions, and the little toes pointing at each other, is called a locking form, or locking step. There is another variation of this form, known as the intersection *, or lock intersection *, the fundamental difference between the two is that the toes are facing differently and there is a gap between the feet. When a "locking" action is required, it is a locking stance, where there should be no gap between the feet. The latter form is referred to when only "interlocking*" is applied. The generalized locking form is a generalized concept.
5. Slide
It is a process of special movement. It requires a smooth slide to accomplish an unobtrusive and rapid alternation of the center of gravity. (Generally in two beats of time, the completion of the open, closed open three alternation of the center of gravity) in different circumstances, the closed form can appear different variations of parallel or lock. This kind of movement is sometimes expressed by the deformation state of chase. However, the deformation of chase no longer has the process of closure, but becomes an alternating chase with three openings.