newby - ballroom dance advice

We are enthusiastic but relatively unpracticed social dancers in our 40's, planning our first crossing on QM2. One big attraction of the ship is the ballroom & reputation for "real" dancing! We don't have experience in British ballrooms so appreciate advice from those who have danced their way across the Atlantic on this ship. Here goes: 1) what is the "typical" mix of dance music? We are trying to maximize our gains from the next 9 months of lessions. If we were to try to learn "basics" of quickstep, tango or samba, which will we get to use most often? 2) we are purely social dancers, never trained or competed, so don't use "levels" etc. Our lessons were in Canada so more likely American than International style - I don't really know the differences. Will this be a problem? 3) What should we "brush up" the most? We are polished intermediates in foxtrot, less-polished intermediates in swing/jive, confident beginners in waltz and rhumba and basic beginners in salsa and cha-cha. What will we use most, and what will upset dancers most if we don't get it right?

We prefer to sit out when we feel like it and not be forced by our lack of skill!

Incidentally, here in Canada we tend to do a sort of "viennese foxtrot" in the rare event that a quickstep is played - am I correct in assuming this would generate ill-will in a British ballroom?

We are enthusiastic but relatively unpracticed social dancers in our 40's, planning our first crossing on QM2. One big attraction of the ship is the ballroom & reputation for "real" dancing! We don't have experience in British ballrooms so appreciate advice from those who have danced their way across the Atlantic on this ship. Here goes: 1) what is the "typical" mix of dance music? We are trying to maximize our gains from the next 9 months of lessions. If we were to try to learn "basics" of quickstep, tango or samba, which will we get to use most often? 2) we are purely social dancers, never trained or competed, so don't use "levels" etc. Our lessons were in Canada so more likely American than International style - I don't really know the differences. Will this be a problem? 3) What should we "brush up" the most? We are polished intermediates in foxtrot, less-polished intermediates in swing/jive, confident beginners in waltz and rhumba and basic beginners in salsa and cha-cha. What will we use most, and what will upset dancers most if we don't get it right?

 

We prefer to sit out when we feel like it and not be forced by our lack of skill!

 

Incidentally, here in Canada we tend to do a sort of "viennese foxtrot" in the rare event that a quickstep is played - am I correct in assuming this would generate ill-will in a British ballroom?

I travelled on QM2 last year on a World Cruise segment and really enjoyed the dancing in the Queen 's Room. It is a lovely ballroom. I am a beginner myself but there were all levels of dancing. You sound to be more practiced than most! I would say that there was quite an even mix of waltz, cha cha, rumba, quickstep and foxtrot with some tango, samba and jive as well and an occasional viennese waltz. I am on Queen Victoria soon and QM2 transatlantic later in the year and looking forward to the dancing on both ships.

You will have a great time.

I think you are worrying about nothing. We've been on the QM2 just 2 times, but on both occasions the people who could dance, or at least participated during the evening, were massively outnumbered by the people who didn't.

Very few could dance to a high level and the level of skill you suggest you have would place you well in the top 5% of passengers on board I'd guess.

We saw people at all levels having a go, including at least one couple who did the same dance steps to everything. If you like doing a Viennese foxtrot to a quick step then that's what you should do. It's not a competition, it's a holiday and you should just have fun. In the highly unlikely event that anyone gets a bit sniffy about that, well they aren't the sort of people whose opinions matter anyway.

We are complete beginners who have simply attended the lessons on the ship, but that wouldn't put me off having a go at night if I felt I had just about mastered the basics enough to avoid crippling fellow passengers. The lessons attracted far more people than the actual dances in the evening.

Just have a great time.

You will probably encounter a mixture of both International and American Smooth style dancers on the dance floor. It really doesn't matter which style you dance as long as you follow basic ballroom dance etiquette, particularly with regard to "line of dance". Even though the QM2 Queens Room dance floor is the largest at sea, it is still smaller than many land based ballrooms and it will be packed especially on formal "Ball" nights (get there early!).

It is not the norm, but there may be some inconsiderate people who insist on doing their spot "dancing" directly in the outside line of dance lane rather than moving to the center of the floor. Hopefully, you will not encounter this on your upcoming voyage.

Bob

As the other Bob says, a little courtesy goes a long way- follow Line of Dance, move to the centre when moving slowly. Take a couple of minutes to watch, should be fairly obvious- don't hesitate to ask dancers who seem to know what they're doing for advice. (Warning- neither Cunard staff nor most of the dance hosts likely know.)

Canada tends more towards International, unless you went to one of the chain studios. Do you do a rumba in a box or more like Cha Cha? Quickstep isn't an American Social dance, so if you've seen it , you're more likely International. Cunard orchestras play a huge number of quicksteps and lots of cha-chas. Tangos aren't common, sambas even less. Social foxtrot is by far the most useful.

PS Dance Vision (DVIDA) has an app which shows basic steps in both styles.

Thanks everybody, this is very helpful and encouraging. I think we'll make an effort to brush up rhumba and cha-cha, and take a starter lesson for Quickstep to assess feasibility of attaining a basic level of competence in time for the cruise. Don't worry, we are very good citizens, my husband has decent floorcraft and we will definitely sit down if we are getting in the way. Yes, having to do endless box steps and turns to get around some couple who has stopped right in the fast lane is frustrating (and dangerous).

Funny, I still don't know if we "do" American or International style... we've learned from so many places and teachers over the years, and since we are only social dancers they tended to let us keep doing "what we do" and worked with us to improve it, rather than holding us to a specific standard. So it may be we do some kind of funny hybrid!

A question on this thread--this time from a real dance newbie.

I'm going to try to get DH to take some social dance lessons with me over the next three months before we sail. We are both complete beginners. So, I would like to focus on one or two dances that would be the most useful and, ideally, the simplest to learn. One slow style and one fast. From reading this and other threads it appears we would usefully focus on the waltz and social foxtrot (called rhythmic foxtrot here in the UK). Does this sound correct? Welcome confirmation or other suggestions.

Two protocol questions:

--We either get good enough to keep up to pace with the "line of dance" around the perimeter of the floor or head to the center of the floor--correct?

--If I fail to convince DH to attend anything beyond the first lesson, I may dance with one of the hosts--but DH is supposed to ask him to dance with me, yes?

Many thanks,

I was on QM2 last year and enjoyed the ballroom dancing. I am now going to an "improvers" class. I would say to learn the cha cha which is fairly easy and the waltz and social foxtrot and you will be fine. These seem to be the most played dances. I am sure your DH will pick it up! Enjoy your cruise. ..

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Funny, I still don't know if we "do" American or International style... we've learned from so many places and teachers over the years, and since we are only social dancers they tended to let us keep doing "what we do" and worked with us to improve it, rather than holding us to a specific standard. So it may be we do some kind of funny hybrid!

Hard to tell from your posts which style you dance, however some tips on your familiarity with some terminology might give you a clue.

A few:

If you call your turns "Right" and "Left", it suggests "American Smooth" style, while calling them "Natural" and "Reverse" turns suggests "International" style. If you separate and do underarm turns it's pretty clear that you're dancing "Smooth".

If you, as follower, do heel turns in your "Natural" and "Reverse" steps, you are dancing "International".

If you do "Feather" and "Three" steps, you're doing "International".

If you do "Twinkles", or "Continuity Endings": you are probably dancing "Smooth".

Timing of "Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick" for basic Foxtrot is definitely "Smooth", at the bronze level.

Dancing a "funny hybrid" will be fine - just keep any arm waving to a minimum, if at all. "Arm Flailing" annoys your cousins from across the pond.

Quickstep is fun, and if you concentrate on the basics you are sure to be able to keep up on the dance floor by the time you cruise.

Enjoy dancing at sea!

An excellent post and very descriptive. And if you still don't know what style of dancing you are doing then don't worry about it. From the current evidence on Queen Victoria's World Cruise you will not be on your own!

foxy, thinking like a complete newbie- one question I can think of, can you trust the orchestra leader to actually play what's been announced?

foxy, thinking like a complete newbie- one question I can think of, can you trust the orchestra leader to actually play what's been announced?

Yes, the current dance orchestra/s play good tempo music for all the main ballroom and latin dances. This has not always been the case in previous years but they have got their act together and I'm sure that all the dancers are happy with the music.

My wife and I would love to find a ship this june or july that offers beginning ballroom dance instruction. We are americans in our mid fifties. We have had a little instruction but not enough where we feel comfortable on dance floor yet. Any suggestions on cruise lines or ships? Itinerary is not important. thanks!

There are no cruise lines which offer what you are looking for, ships' classes are at best a review of material you already know. There are some specialist dance cruise organisers who offer a program of classes. I was just on with one group last week, they do a lot of classes on board. I just got their email for their next cruise January 2017 today, but since she's registered as a travel agent I don't know if CC rules allow me to name her. There's also an agent who does a lot of groups with dance groups with Cunard, looking at Nov 05 on QV, I don't know what classes she's thinking of offering.

There are no cruise lines which offer what you are looking for, ships' classes are at best a review of material you already know. There are some specialist dance cruise organisers who offer a program of classes. I was just on with one group last week, they do a lot of classes on board. I just got their email for their next cruise January 2017 today, but since she's registered as a travel agent I don't know if CC rules allow me to name her. There's also an agent who does a lot of groups with dance groups with Cunard, looking at Nov 05 on QV, I don't know what classes she's thinking of offering.

Thank you for info. Appreciate it.

The dance couple that runs the daily mass lessons and give dance exhibitions on Ball nights also offer private lessons for a fee which I understand in not what one might call moderate. But if you have the $$ they can teach you.

The dance couple that runs the daily mass lessons and give dance exhibitions on Ball nights also offer private lessons for a fee which I understand in not what one might call moderate. But if you have the $$ they can teach you.

You could do this if you are dying to learn, but I would suggest you find a studio near your home. They might well sponsor practice dances in addition to lessons, and then you will be able to dance all year round. I signed up for lessons after having fun on a cruise, and now me and my wife go dancing most every week at our local studio's dance. We have met good friends thru dance and are happy we took the time to learn. :)

Forgot to mention- if itinerary isn't important and you're locked into June, a dance camp might fit your needs better. The group I can't name does weekends in the Catskills outside New York City, they have one planned for June. I'm attending Dance Vision in Las Vegas, also in June (they're not a travel agency, I think I can name them). They both have instruction at various levels during the day and dance sessions at night.

I think you are worrying about nothing. We've been on the QM2 just 2 times, but on both occasions the people who could dance, or at least participated during the evening, were massively outnumbered by the people who didn't.

 

Very few could dance to a high level and the level of skill you suggest you have would place you well in the top 5% of passengers on board I'd guess.

 

We saw people at all levels having a go, including at least one couple who did the same dance steps to everything. If you like doing a Viennese foxtrot to a quick step then that's what you should do. It's not a competition, it's a holiday and you should just have fun. In the highly unlikely event that anyone gets a bit sniffy about that, well they aren't the sort of people whose opinions matter anyway.

 

We are complete beginners who have simply attended the lessons on the ship, but that wouldn't put me off having a go at night if I felt I had just about mastered the basics enough to avoid crippling fellow passengers. The lessons attracted far more people than the actual dances in the evening.

 

Just have a great time.

Milamber

If I could trouble you for a minute please?

You say you are complete beginners but attended lessons on board.

We are complete beginners as in never danced a ballroom dance in our lives.

I thought the start form scratch dancing was not catered for in leesons, am I wrong?

We are not what you would call dancers and in my youth the punk pogo was my thing!! But entering onto this crossing having never cruised before and its our 25th anniversary we are ready to have a go at everything and dream our way back home.

Milamber

If I could trouble you for a minute please?

You say you are complete beginners but attended lessons on board.

We are complete beginners as in never danced a ballroom dance in our lives.

I thought the start form scratch dancing was not catered for in leesons, am I wrong?

We are not what you would call dancers and in my youth the punk pogo was my thing!! But entering onto this crossing having never cruised before and its our 25th anniversary we are ready to have a go at everything and dream our way back home.

There is a lot of good information in this thread. If you are serious about learning the basics of ballroom dance, call your local dance studio and set up some private lessons before you step foot on the ship. On a crowded dance floor, it is essential that you know basic ballroom etiquette before you even start to moving your feet. A group session will most likely not help you with this.

Bob

There is a lot of good information in this thread. If you are serious about learning the basics of ballroom dance, call your local dance studio and set up some private lessons before you step foot on the ship. On a crowded dance floor, it is essential that you know basic ballroom etiquette before you even start to moving your feet. A group session will most likely not help you with this.

 

Bob

That is very sensible advice. Contact your local dance school and ask them to teach you a simple social foxtrot. It is not difficult and will cover some variation in rhythm.

To just venture onto the Queens Ballroom without knowing a solitary step is a recipe for discord and embarrassment.

There is a lot of good information in this thread. If you are serious about learning the basics of ballroom dance, call your local dance studio and set up some private lessons before you step foot on the ship. On a crowded dance floor, it is essential that you know basic ballroom etiquette before you even start to moving your feet. A group session will most likely not help you with this.

 

Bob

ok , thanks Bob.