Melinda

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

19 Sep 10:42

Sorry to hog the conversation lately ☺️, 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.

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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.

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

18 Sep 17:48

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.

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Posted

18 Sep 17:29

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.

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18 Sep 15:28

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.

Yes, I enjoy watching pros with ballet backgrounds because they’re so graceful, and naturally they would be at ease with relevé turns.  But what you say really makes sense, that for most of us the best balance is not to be up on the toes, but not to completely flatten the heels either.  I had seen that video before, but I picked up more seeing it again with your explanations.  Thank you. :)

Reply

29 Aug 14:13

Oh, so sorry that happened, and that it makes extra work for you, Emily.  Perhaps there is a backup on the cloud or something, that would save you from having to redo?

In any case, thank you very much!  🙂

Reply

Posted

27 Aug 11:53

Hello,
You may already be aware of this, but there seem to be a few glitches lately with the  message board:
- Most of Emily’s replies seem to have disappeared.
- Yesterday I got an email notification for Emily’s reply to a post that was not mine.
- I tried deleting and reinstalling the app.  Then to sign back in, after a few tries using email address, I never got the confirmation email.  (However, it worked when using password.)

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