Melinda

Oct 07 at 11:53 AM

Thank you for your input.  Yes, it’s strange how various dances and music can match up—I guess because there is a lot of universality to music structure.  I have even listened to classical music while watching WCS videos, and am often amazed at the alignment!   But I do find these same few pop song substitutes tiring, so yes, I mute. ;)

And I still can only guess how the artists* must feel about this, plus I don’t think it’s helpful in attracting new folks to WCS.

*Edit:  Sorry, by “artists” I meant dancers.

Posted

Oct 05 at 06:56 PM

Does anyone else have this pet peeve?

The music from dancers’ videos on TikTok sometimes gets removed for copyright reasons, and sometimes the music is later restored.  But the worst part is when the song is replaced by another one, generally one of a small handful of songs (such as “Shivers,” “Ice Ice Baby” or “Cheap Thrills”).  I assume they are used because of their more open licensing agreement, if not public domain.  Sometimes you’ll even find both the original and altered video versions, posted by different sources.

I don’t know who is doing the song substitutions, but isn’t this disrespectful to the dancers and their videos?  Unless they have somehow given permission.  Non-dancer viewers who don’t know about this process must notice the dance doesn't necessarily match the song.  (Not to mention what they must think of how limited the WCS song playlist is.)  Seems it would be more honest to just leave the dances silent with the “This music isn’t available” note, as awful as that is.

5

Sep 27 at 11:04 AM

Interesting.  Thanks for your perspective!

Sep 23 at 01:02 PM

Thank you for your input, as always, Brian!

Happy to hear fusions are acceptable and that a real WCS-tap fusion is a possibility. :)

Posted

Sep 19 at 10:42 AM

Sorry to hog the conversation lately â˜ș, but . . .

I’m curious what would happen if you put tap shoes on a WCS dancer.  WCS dancers don’t take many percussive steps, as tappers do, and I don’t know how well you could spin or slide in tap shoes.  But I think a fusion of the styles in a routine (would it even be allowed in competition?) would be a lot of fun, the way Astaire & Rogers fused tap with ballroom/Latin, and Kelly fused tap with jazz.  We already see many dancers, even in competition, fuse WCS with ballet, shuffle moves, and other styles.

And I do see some WCS routines that include some tap-like patterns, just without the taps—a good example is this one:
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8dkbtgq/

I have heard purists say they don’t want other forms mixed in with WCS.  Others say modern swing was meant to continue to evolve.

2

Sep 18 at 09:05 PM

Thank you again, Brian!  Really appreciate your perspective.  As I said in the other thread, I’m only a beginner, though an avid watcher of videos and comps.  (Sorry if I led you to think I was a competitor.)  But just speaking as a spectator, I love to see the limb extensions and so on (especially in those with ballet backgrounds).  

So I meant that when the clothing (men’s or women’s) is not form-fitting, I cannot fully see what the limbs (especially legs) are doing.

And that’s why I thought a sheer outer layer might be a solution to definition + movement. Another option is when a dancer ties a long-sleeved shirt or sweater around his/her waist, giving flow to the dance without obstructing the view of the limbs.

Sep 18 at 09:04 PM

Hi Brian!  Thanks so much for the detailed reply!  You mentioned Europe, and yes, I’m amazed at how many top dancers are from France, especially!

I’m one of those you speak of, who got introduced to WCS on social media, not so long ago.  One viral video, and I was hooked.  Then I found your videos and your course.  I’m still just a beginner, if you couldn’t tell from the elementary questions I posted, such as what things are called. ;)

However, I am an avid viewer and follower of WCS videos and competitions.

I had learned just a smattering of other dance styles over the years.  And I’m from Florida.

Posted

Sep 18 at 05:48 PM

Anyone have ideas as for making WCS more popular and mainstream?  It seems to me bringing celebrities into it, à la "Dancing With the Stars," would do it, if WCS had its own little version.  Or a mini internet WCS chat show that would bring in a few celebrities.

11

Posted

Sep 18 at 05:29 PM

I’d like to pose a question to anyone.  How do you feel about loose vs. more fitted outfits for dancers in comps?

It has become trendy for some to wear looser-fitting outfits.  These can have nice movement to them in spins for example, and they are surely more comfortable.  My only problem is this way the motions of their limbs are not as clearly defined, not as easy to see.

Perhaps a compromise is a sheer layer (sheer long vest or overskirt) over a fitted layer?  Then you would have defined limbs + movement.

4

Sep 18 at 03:28 PM

Believe it or not, I often like to practice WCS to Scott Joplin ragtime music.

I also find Cajun/zydeco music fun for WCS (though I think the traditional is two-step).  I wondered if they danced to some of that kind of music at Dance Mardi Gras.

Other than that, I am partial to American standard music.