Great dances with strangers... fluke or a sign of compatibility?

[Scott S.]

It's happened to most of us who attend large events. You ask, or are asked by, someone for a dance and the next thing you know everything comes together like someone waved a magic wand. All the styling each person does compliments the other, when one starts to play the other is right there so that both of you are playing together and you both interpret the music in ways that are so similar that it's almost like E.S.P..

Every lead is picked up on perfectly, and even enhanced by the follow's accents and style... which causes the lead to step up their game even further.

But you've never seen this person before in your life.

Question 1:

Once you've had this happen, were you able to reproduce similar results with the same person later? If so, were you able to do it consistently?

I'm wondering if things like that are a simple matter of the right person and song at the right time, which cannot be reproduced, or might it be a sign that two people are able to understand each other's styles that well and so would be able to have great dances again and again.

Question 2:

After such a dance, did you find that you were able to keep your game elevated with other people? Did it lead to long term improvement or was it more like a brief "flash in the pan" that didn't have any effect on the way you danced with others?

[Dima]

1. Yes and no. Depends on music and mood. I'd say about 75% of the time I was able to reproduce the same feel.

2. If it's latenight and I have one of those, I go to sleep right after. I've learned that you end up chasing the high if you keep trying to reproduce that same dance. There was one exception where I was talked into dancing 3 songs in a row and they were all consistently good. I stopped dancing for the night afterwards and went to bed.

[kekka]

Ha! I go to bed when that happens late night too... ending on a high note, as I always refer to it. I will say that the times that I have continued dancing probably 75% of my dances afterwards are good-excellent.

I have also had the experience though, that I danced a great dance with someone, and we later talked about dancing strictly based on that dance. However, we never really go that feeling back, it was good, but not "magical". Even though we didn't do badly in competition, it just wasn't the same and we ended up just dancing socially for a while after that. So I have learned that a good dance is just that... a good dance, it cant be guaranteed that it wasn't a fluke, so I never have a good dance and assume that I dance well generally with that person. Until it is a consistent thing, it was just a good combination of music timing and partnership in my mind. I say just enjoy it when it happens, and then go on with your dancing, with the expectation that things may not ever be that good again, that way you may be pleasantly surprised, but wont be too disappointed.

[Scott S.]

2. If it's latenight and I have one of those, I go to sleep right after. I've learned that you end up chasing the high if you keep trying to reproduce that same dance. There was one exception where I was talked into dancing 3 songs in a row and they were all consistently good. I stopped dancing for the night afterwards and went to bed.

Maybe I should have been more clear on #2. When I talk about having it effect your dances with others, I'm talking about days or weeks later.

IE: I had such a dance on the last night of MADjam (Sunday) and was still able to bring out that same sort of experimentation in myself during at least half my dances on the following Friday. Some follows played back while others only gave me curious smiles, but overall I was still doing things on the floor that I don't normally do and the reactions were good.

Of course, my own case is a little different. I had four years of dancing 6 nights per week, then over ten years away from dancing. All muscle memory was lost and I'd forgotten most of what I knew. This time around, I've been focusing on building solid fundamentals and I think it's possible that having a highly compatible dance partner inspired me to draw from everything I've ever known... and it came out in the improv.

Hopefully, I'll be able to keep doing it.

[Scott S.]

I have also had the experience though, that I danced a great dance with someone, and we later talked about dancing strictly based on that dance. However, we never really go that feeling back, it was good, but not "magical". Even though we didn't do badly in competition, it just wasn't the same and we ended up just dancing socially for a while after that.

Kekka, what are you doing up so early after last night? You had a long drive home... ;)

Good advice in the whole post, thanks. I'm curious about something in the quoted section though. It reads as if you based the decision to do strictlies solely on one dance... is that true?

I would have thought that the next step would have been to either social dance for a few hours or move off to a small practice floor at an event to dance for a while to a variety of genres to make sure that you would work well with the person regardless of what music was thrown at you.

[kekka]

Don't Worry, although I'm up, I'm dragging!

Anyhow, the decision to do strictly was indeed a hasty choice. We did dance socially, but where we lived, there were a lot of good dancers, but not a ton of dancing happening, so unless we got together and practiced somewhere, (which we didn't , it just wasn't that type of relationship, we were pretty relaxed about it) we pretty much just practiced at the event we were competing in, and hoped that it would work out well. So yeah, it was based on one dance, then we were kind of just hoping it would stay that way. I bring it up, because it is a prime example of someone foolishly assuming that dancing well with someone means you can think you will always dance well together.

I would like for people to understand that my lesson learned from that is that those moments help you to see your own potential, and that it doesn't necessarily mean a partnership is imminent, but can encourage you to continue looking for moments like that and appreciate each dance as an individual experience, and see the good elements in every dance.

[CALI DOLL]

I've had dances like this. They come every so often for me. I've been dancing a year and I think I've had this happen maybe 4 or 5 times.

I like to call it "the perfect dance". I walk away feeling SO GOOD about myself. I have to laugh at the other folks saying they go home afterwards. LOL! I never wanna do that because I think the magic will continue for the night.

It doesn't.

But it doesn't disappoint me because it makes me realize my potential at that time. And I'm usually not able to recreate that same magic with the person again. So, to me it seems like a fluke. But, one that I'll happily accept.

I think I'm due for another one actually. I could use the boost. :tonguesmilie:

[WestieTash]

1. Usually.

2. Normally no.


As my following skills improve, the probability of having a dance like that should increase. But there's another factor at play --> how you hear the music. Generally, I have yummy, magical dances with leads who hear the music as I do and actually lead. I have good dances with leads who lead but hear the music differently. I have fun dances with leads who hear the music as I do.

My next task is to learn to adjust the way I hear the music based on how it appears my lead hears the music. If I can accomplish that, I think the number of great, yummy, magical dances I have will soar.

[dancin_weezie]

1. Not always

2. If I'm "hot" that night then I usually stay that way until either sore feet or alcohol takes hold and I go over the edge :eek:

[whipkitten]

1. Most times
2. Depends what time it is! :tonguesmilie:

The best example is the first time dancing with my current intermediate partner. He and i were "matched" by a friend to do a strictly together. So we danced for the first time the night before the contest. It was a total zen dance!

and good for us, we managed to recreate that during the contest and came in 2nd! My first placement in the intermediate division. Needless to say, I kept him around. Tongue Out We ended up doing a super fun routine all last year in addition to any contests that we could do strictlys together.

Of course, this doesn't always happen, but I am happy that at least this one did!

As for continuing the streak with others, it just really depends. I do try to learn from my really good dances as to things to try with other people to see what translates.