Soul Line Dancing is a lot of fun, and hopefully, you will enjoy it as much as many others are across the country. Line dancing is not awkward; it's just the first few classes that are always the hardest. After a few classes, things will start to flow for you, and you'll find your mind is doing less work, and your dance steps become more natural.
Everyone has a different rate of learning, depending on previous dance and musical experience. Those without prior knowledge will have to work harder
– but remember, everyone can do this. Some of the most uncoordinated people become excellent dancers if they don't give up too soon.
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Senior Only 60 +
Morning Classes
in Harlem
A. P. R. Senior Center
108 West 146 Street
Tues.
10:30 am – Noon
Thur.
10:00 am – Noon
http://youtu.be/OwMPJVZpaic
Each line dance is a sequence of steps. You will learn that sequence in one direction and then repeat the same series in the opposite direction. The number of paths in dance depends on whether it's a one, two, or four-wall dance. Once one learns the steps in line, dancing only, each dance consists of a combination of one or more of these steps. Although it may seem complex to start with, once you know all the steps, you'll be able to learn new dances that must faster.
STEP LENGTH:
Generally, the correct step length when dancing is the same as your shoulder width. If you take giant steps outside your frame, you may lose balance and co-ordination.
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All Ages
Evening Classes
in Harlem
Joseph P. Kennedy Community Center
34 West 134 Street
Beginner
Tues. 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Intermed / Advance (Fast Paced)
Wed. 6:00 – 8:30 pm
FOR CORRECT POSTURE WHILE DANCING:
A common temptation is to look down at your feet (or someone else's). If your head is down, it can throw your balance off. You have to be mindful of who is dancing near. You'll learn faster if you exercise your mind to remember the steps rather than watching someone else's feet. They may be making a mistake, and then so will you!)
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Senior Only 60 +
Wednesday Afternoon
Class in The Bronx
Mid-Bronx
Senior Center
900 Grand Concourse
2:15 pm – 3:15 pm
VARIATIONS:
A variation is something, which changes the necessary steps of dance but doesn't change the basic flow of direction nor the timing. (It's also the name for when the instructor makes a mistake). Variations are a lot of fun but can be confusing to a beginner. Don't worry if you've just learned a dance, and a more experienced dancer starts changing the steps!
Don't watch them, and keep doing what you know. In time you will experiment with variations too, but remember, it is most important to know the original version first.
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Mid-Town
Manhattan Class
(membership required)
YMCA
224 East 47 Street
Wednesdays
11:15 am – 12:05 pm
Please don't do variations during the lesson until everyone has had a chance to learn the pattern, especially if it is a beginner's class. Sometimes variations are taught. If so, you should try them while you are learning
SEQUENCE:
As we said earlier, each line dance is a sequence of steps, with the series being the operative word. You need to think about the next step so that your balance/weight is on the correct foot, ready to perform the following action. You do not have time to do one step and then stop and think about what comes next. For example, as you complete a grapevine right, you should already be thinking about a grapevine to the left if that is the next step. The flow of one step to another is essential.
If you forget what you're supposed to do and everyone else if going left – pretend you know and go with the flow!
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Friday Pre-Lunch Class East Harlem (el barrio)
J. W. Johnson Center
1833 Lexington Ave.
11:00 am – 12 Noon
FLOOR ETIQUETTE:
Try to give yourself ample space to move around the floor to complete your dance step and be mindful of your neighbors dancing close to you. Don't make up another line. Get into an existing line if there is room and stay in that line. When people wander around during line dances, they usually run into other dancers or cause others to get off a step.
As a beginner, don't be too hard on yourself. Line dancing, like everything else, takes practice (Remember when you learned to ride a bike how hard it was at first! Could you drive a car after your first lesson?) The more you practice, the easier it becomes.
At home, when you are standing at the bus stop or standing on the checkout line, waiting for your car to being repaired, practice some steps
Every time you hear some music on the radio or TV that sounds like you could dance to it, practice your line dance steps -grapevines, sha-rons, shuffles, cha-cha, etc. If you are having difficulty with a particular step in a dance, learn/ do the parts that you can and fake the piece you have the trouble doing. Then ask the instructor to go through the problematic step with you again. Gradually you will be able to do the whole dance without a problem.
Believe in yourself, and anything is possible! You don't have to get it right the first time. The most important thing to remember about Soul Line Dancing is that it's not about competing or showing off. It's merely about SOCIALIZING and HAVING FUN WHILE EXERCISING YOUR MIND AND BODY.
