Slow dance where to hold your hands. How to slow dance: practical tips that will be useful in different situations

Ah, slow dancing: you've probably either loved it or hated it since middle school. No dance could be that romantic, and yet, many people who have no problem shaking their buttocks all night long are benched when the music slows down. But don't worry - even if you don't know how to slow dance, you don't have to sit on the sidelines at the end of the evening. If you want to know how to slow dance, you just have to master a few basic steps, trust your partner, and glide gracefully to the music. If you want to master slow dancing in the time it takes for K-Ci & Jojo to play "All My Life", just follow these steps.

Steps

get ready to slow dance

Ask someone to dance. If you want to start slow dancing correctly, then you must ask the person to dance as gracefully as possible. If you are the man asking her out on a date, you can wave your hand to her and say, “Let's dance?” If you are a girl who has a date, then gently take your partner's hand and pull him as you ask him to dance. Even if you don't have a partner, you should still look the person straight in the eye when you want to dance with her or him, and even smile or grin at him or her playfully.

Don't worry if you're nervous - chances are the other person is nervous too. Hide your nervousness by smiling and asking with confidence.

Smoothly escort your partner to the dance floor. Once your partner has accepted your tempting offer, you should accompany him or her to the dance floor slowly and gently - there is no need to rush. Don't forget to savor the moment. If you know the person well, or you're dating, you can hold hands or join elbows as you head towards the dance floor. The man should lead the way to the dance floor and on floor, so the guy should clasp his partner’s right hand with his left hand, lifting it slightly, and lead the girl to the dance floor.

Girls, if your partner will not automatically lead you to the dance floor, give him your right hand and turn your elbow towards his elbow and walk to the dance floor.
If you are already on the dance floor, the task is hold yourself and your partner on the dance floor is not an easy task if one or both of you are nervous about slow dancing. If your partner is nervous, smile and tell him or her that there is nothing to worry about.

a slow dance

Position your hands. Proper hand position is essential to start the slow dance properly. For a traditional slow dance position, the man should place his right hand on the left side of his partner's thigh or midway down his partner's upper back, and his left hand should gently grasp his partner's right hand and support it at approximately the level of the taller partner's shoulder. so that the arms of both partners are bent upward from the elbow. You should stand between 30 and 15 cm away from your partner, depending on the level of intimacy you want to create.

A woman's left hand is usually located on her partner's shoulder. This is a traditional ballroom dance position (as well as a safe dance position for middle school), and you should still stand 30cm away from your partner.
If the two of you are in a romantic relationship, you can even get into a position where the guy has his arm around the girl's waist and the girl has her arm around the guy's shoulders. These are also common moves for middle school and even high school because it's a little easier to get into this position - but it gets a little tricky for a guy to lead the dance.
Don't let your hands wander. Even if your partner doesn't mind, it throws off other dancers and is just not stylish.

Place your feet in position. Stand facing your partner so that your head is approximately 30 or 60 cm away from him or her. The face-to-face position is not the optimal position - you need to give yourself space to move your legs without bumping into your partner's legs. Some couples stand at an angle, with each's right foot in the middle of the other's; some partners may place the woman's legs in the middle of the man's.

Your feet should be at least 30 to 45 cm apart so that you can move comfortably from side to side.

Improve your movements. Luckily for you non-dancers, slow dancing is about as easy as it gets. The movements should be slow and smooth, and you don't need to move too much. (Swinging back and forth as you move in a circle is perfectly acceptable.) Simply shifting your weight back and forth, however, is the language everyone speaks. To change, move or rotate, lift your leg slightly, eliminating your weight, and move that leg slightly forward, backward, or to the side.

As you improve your slow dancing skills, you can master the "step step": simply step to the right with your right foot, then follow with your left foot, touch the ground, and then step left with your left foot, and then follow your left foot with your right foot touching the floor again before you go back.
You and your partner's legs should be in sync when you step into the side step, or even when you swing your leg.
Your hands should remain in place except when the guy is pulling on the girl's hand to take her in a new direction.
If you are close to the person you are dancing with, you can look directly at each other, placing your faces just a few centimeters apart. Otherwise, you may move your head a little to the left and your partner moves their head to the right, or vice versa, so you are not facing each other.

Leading the dance (for guys). Traditionally, the man leads the dance and the woman follows his movements. This means that not only does the man need to give signals for the couple to turn or move to a new position, but also the girl must allow herself to be led. If you are a guy, then you should lead your partner, and not move her around the dance floor like a broom. You need to be confident enough in your movements to show her when you want to turn or move in a new direction. Here are some other things to keep in mind as you lead a girl:

The easiest way to lead a girl is to subtly push or pull her right hand (if you are holding it in your left hand) in the direction you want to go.
However, make sure you don't just lead with your hands; if your body is doing one thing and your hands are doing another, you will look pushy or like you don't know what you're doing.
Instead, lead with your whole body: keep your shoulders and elbows firm but elastic, and then step in the direction you want to lead your partner.
You can lead your partner in a new direction and continue to turn in a rectangle shape so that you continue the slow dance, keeping things interesting as you move your bodies.
You can also simply move your partner to the right, left, or back or forward if you want to find a less crowded spot on the dance floor, or if you just want to mix up the moves.

Be a follower (for girls). Although you girls may not want to give up control of your dance to your partner, you should trust him and hope that he will give his best effort. If you try to control him when he tries to control you, then you will end up in an awkward tug-of-war situation and neither of you will be able to truly move and enjoy the dance. Here are some things to keep in mind when you allow yourself to be led:

If you're lucky enough to have a partner who leads - even if it's awkward - don't fight him. In fact, do your best to follow along; The more clearly you show that he is in charge, the more he will try to lead you better.
If your partner moves his leg, then you should praise his action: for example, if the leader moves his right leg back, you should move his left leg.

Move to the beat. Your steps should move roughly in time with the music, so that you take a step to every beat or so. This is not as difficult as it may seem as the music will be nice and slow and easy to follow. If the song speeds up its rhythm at any point, then speed up the "side step" or swaying motion of your legs in accordance with the music - make sure you And your partner and speed up and slow down when necessary.

If the music suddenly slows down, or if you guys are just feeling playful, then you can turn your partner around mid-dance.

Talk to your partner. For most of us, slow dancing is more about intimacy with our partner and getting to know each other than it is about movement. Feel free to talk to your partner, study his or her eyes and, if the situation is right, steal a kiss or two. Chatting with your partner will make you feel more at ease during the dance process, whether you know each other well or not.

Don't feel the need to constantly talk - this can ruin the flow of the dance and can make things awkward if you don't hear each other very well. Just a little conversation every now and then will make the experience more fun and comfortable.

finish strong

Thank your partner for dancing. Whether you're dancing with your 60-year-old spouse or with someone you've never met before, thank your partner. You can simply say, “Thank you for the dance,” or “I hope we can do this again, thank you,” to make your partner feel special. If you're a guy and you're feeling playful, you can even bow a little to the girl as you thank her to make her feel special and show how much fun it brought you.

If you finish the dance in this subtle way, the person will most likely dance with you in the future.

Move on to the next dance or step back gracefully. Once you've started slow dancing confidently, you won't want to leave the dance floor as quickly as possible: one dance is just the beginning. However, if you've danced enough at this point, step away from the dance floor. And if you haven't had a great time slow dancing with this person, taking a break is a good way to keep this person on track.

Offer to escort your partner to his or her table or wherever he or she wants to go or ask him or her if they would like to take a break if you would like to do so.
If you've been enjoying slow dancing and the music speeds up, fear not. You can continue dancing to uptempo music with the same dance partner as long as you're both in the mood to dance some more.

Make eye contact with your partner often, as this strengthens the relationship and makes dancing more comfortable.
Let the conversation happen. Many people will slow dance just to get a chance to talk to you. If the conversation flows naturally, let it go. If you let it go quietly, be genuinely interested in the conversation, or be genuinely interested in your partner.
Show respect.
Try sliding your legs instead of lifting them. This way, you are less likely to step on your partners' feet.
Make sure you don't stare too much at your partner.
Make sure your dance position is comfortable. Position your legs so that you don't have to strain or stretch them as you dance.
Don't try to kiss him/her right away. When the dance is over, slowly stretch. If your partner steps back, stop. If you lean over or close your eyes, kiss.
If you really know how to dance, either well or at a beginner level, instead of assuming anything about your partner, ask him or try it out. Girls, don't be shy to ask your partner if he knows how to dance. If he knows how and you don't, ask him to teach so you can get the opportunity for a few more dances during the evening and a date in the future if you want.
Try to learn more about your partner - it could help you become less awkward.
When the dance is over, give him a hug or even steal a kiss if that's appropriate.
If your partner makes mistakes and accidentally steps on you, try not to get angry! Slow dancing is probably a little scary for him.
Girls, if you really can't stand the guy you're dancing with, just say your feet hurt and gently walk away.
Girls, make sure the guy you're dancing with isn't dancing with you just because his friends forced him to. If you see in his eyes that he is interested in you, then he is reliable.
Girls, if you feel comfortable, some girls will rest their heads on the shoulders of the guy they are dancing with. After the dance is over, you can hug or chat with each other, or even dance together to up-tempo songs.
Guys, be polite. Girls love it and it's attractive.
Sometimes look into each other's eyes to show that you are interested.
Guys don't have to ask a girl to dance. Girls, go ahead and ask him to dance if you feel that he is inclined to do so.

Warnings

If you step on someone's toes, apologize, and for God's sake, try not to do it again. If someone steps on your feet and asks for forgiveness, forgive. Most likely this happened by accident.
Talk and look at your partner, not your friend's partner! Looking over your partner's shoulder at someone else can end badly.
- If you hurt her, she probably won't dance with you again, and she'll probably tell her friends, who won't either. Worst case scenario, she'll tell security and then you'll be in trouble.
- That beautiful woman you're dancing with may not feel the same way about everything as guys do, which means a sudden jerk of the arm might startle her and won't give her a good laugh.
Practice truly makes perfect. She may not dance with you ever again, but maybe the cutie in the cocktail dress will just notice that you treated the dance like a gentleman... and she'll be looking the next time you go free.

Dance, as an art, entered the life of mankind already when music was born. He was the personification of everything that was in the minds of primitive people.

Grief and joy, sadness and horror, requests for good weather and thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest - all the semantic load, inaccessible to speech that had not yet formed, fell on the dance. The shamans danced their ritual dances to the rhythms of the drum and tambourine, and enchanted people believed their every gesture and movement. The power of dance was undeniable. Probably, only those who had an excellent sense of rhythm became shamans.

It is now that dance has given way to its position when other forms of art have developed, but still it remains one of the universal means of communication and transmission of information. True, to a greater extent, this applies to intimate information.

How to learn to dance with a girl?

You like a girl, but there is no reason to get to know her. And suddenly, you find out that there will be a big celebration with a dance program, and she plans to be there. The heart skips a beat in anticipation of the meeting. This is a chance! Realizing that dancing is a great way to make acquaintances, you consider taking a serious step and inviting the lady of your heart to dance. But! -

You've never done this and have no idea where to start. No problem - let's figure it out. Some prep work will be required.

Firstly, clothes should be clean, neat and appropriate for the moment. The first impression should be positive.
secondly, the shoes should be comfortable (I think there is no need to mention cleanliness).
thirdly, if you know that you dance no better than an elephant, then take a couple of lessons from professionals. Otherwise, your body movements, instead of a romantic mood, will make your partner laugh or, what is much worse, make you leave with a limp.

You've made up your mind! Then go ahead - act without delay! Otherwise, there will be no one else to invite - they will take us away. And don’t practice on her friends, such experiments don’t end well.

Invitation

An invitation to dance should be relaxed and natural. But you shouldn't behave cheekily. Sometimes a slight nod of the head as a sign of greeting is enough; it is better to introduce yourself and offer your hand with an open palm up. Think about the phrase with which you will begin the invitation. If you are not sure, practice at home.

Try to create a feeling of confidence and relaxation in yourself. Don't be too serious, relax. You should not drink alcohol (no comment). It’s great when the girl is sociable and will meet you halfway. He will introduce himself in response, set some topic for conversation, and help establish communication.

Dance

There is no point in describing the dance itself. Place your right foot here, your left foot here, your hand on your shoulder, your hand on your waist, what movements to make - by and large, all this does not make much of a difference. The main thing here is to establish contact. You can silently look intently into the eyes, pressing your partner, and lead her to the rhythm of the dance. You can lean to your ear and tell something. What? Let your imagination, intellect or even sense of humor work.

Completion

Completing the dance also needs to be done correctly. When the music has ended, you should take your partner to the place from which you invited her. Thank her for the dance. If you want to dance all evening with her, tell her about your desire.

The origin of the waltz is still debated, but it was popularized in Austria in the 18th century, and then spread to other countries. Its name comes from the German word "walzen", which means "to whirl".

This dance was not immediately accepted by the upper class of society and was even considered indecent due to the close contact of dance partners. However, now the waltz is known, loved and danced in many countries around the world. Today we will talk about how to dance the waltz.

A distinctive feature of this dance is that it should be danced in three-quarter time, that is, there are three steps for each measure. Try counting out loud: “one, two, three”, “one, two, three”, with amplification of “one” - this is one beat.

Types of waltz

It was the Viennese waltz that was preferred to be danced at high-ranking balls in Europe, and it also adorns the annual Vienna Ball. The number of beats of this dance is about 60 per minute. In fact, it is quite difficult compared to other dance styles, since it is a fast waltz, which is also accompanied by a series of rapid turns. The Viennese Waltz is included in the European program of ballroom dancing competitions.

The slow waltz differs from the Viennese waltz in the tempo of its execution; it must be danced twice as slow - about 30 beats per minute. The Boston waltz is also a slow type of waltz. Just like the Viennese waltz, the slow waltz is included in the ballroom dance program of Europe.
The figure waltz is a variation of the Viennese waltz, but is distinguished by the presence of additional figures: swinging the leg, jumping on one knee and the other.
Tango waltz, or Argentine waltz, is a hybrid of waltz and tango. The movements of this dance are basically the same as in tango, but it is performed in ¾ time and from third position, like a waltz, but waltz severity is not at all characteristic of it.

How to dance a slow waltz

These are the basic waltz figures for beginners. Start the waltz in a square, then alternate right and left turns with changes and paths. Having mastered these figures, you can move on to studying more complex ones, such as temple, weave, spin turn, impetus turn, chasse, telemark and others.

For some, the question of how to slow dance becomes relevant during their school years, but for others - only in college. Well, someone will worry about the slow dance technique only on their own wedding day. Well, let's figure out how to learn such an important matter!

This question is equally important for both girls and guys. Only here you need to pay attention to several different points. As a rule, the guy asks you to dance. This must be done correctly. The young man approaches the girl and asks if she dances. If your throat is dry from excitement, you can simply extend your right hand, palm up - this is a generally accepted inviting gesture. If the girl agrees, she bows her head and places her hand on top of the guy’s outstretched hand.

A young man, before slow dancing, should learn that during the process he should not cling to the girl too tightly. Feeling her figure, trying to grab her hips is not the best course of action. It is much more correct to lead your partner smoothly, hugging her around the waist with your left hand, and the girl’s right hand should be held in your hand, slightly bent at the elbow. It would be a good idea to keep in time with the music (at least not to try to “overtake” the rhythm). In order not to doubt how you look in the eyes of your partner, it would be a good idea to rehearse in front of the mirror how to invite a girl. And it wouldn’t hurt to practice how to move to the beat of the music!

What does a girl need to know?

Before a girl becomes interested in how to slow dance, she needs to learn how to correctly accept or refuse an invitation. If you agree to dance, bow your head and take the outstretched hand. If not, there is no need to desperately shake your head and loudly declare that you do not want to dance with this individual. It is enough to simply shake your head and apologize.

When dancing, you don’t need to hang yourself on your partner’s neck or lay your head on his shoulder (unless, of course, you are an official couple). You certainly shouldn't take the lead and try to lead. guy. That's all! There is nothing complicated about how to slow dance with a guy! You just need to demonstrate the femininity that is characteristic of girls.

To understand how to slow dance, both girls and boys should watch a couple of films - this will become an object lesson.

How do you slow down at special events?

Of course, at a school disco it is significantly different from dancing at a social reception or, for example, a dance of newlyweds. To make the right impression, you need to practice beforehand. It is not necessary to dance tango and waltz at a professional level, but it is still better to learn the basic movements. This will prevent you from making a mistake at an important event.

A very important point for girls is the ability to dance in high heels and in a long dress. This is not so easy, but you need to practice in order to learn how to move so as not to step on the heels with your heels.

That's all!