Timing
- The control of the speed of the action (Webster's New American)
- The dancers ability to transfer weight on the correct beat
of music for the dance being done.
- Timing Syncopations requires the Kicks to be on the beat &
the steps to be on the "&" counts.
TEACHING NOTE: If you have ever seen a couple preform a very
difficult move and it received luke warm applause, and then saw
a couple preform a simple move that hit the music just right so
that it made the crowd cheer , then you witnessed precise timing!
This should be taught from day one. The dancer should think in
terms of body movement rather than foot placement. The feet can
hit the floor on the beat but the body can still be off time if
the CPB lands late!
Rhythm
- Refers to the steady beat of the music to which we dance.
- Also can refer to a dance rhythm, such as a Cha Cha rhythm
or Swing rhythm.
Unit: The smallest increment of dance.
Most music has a Down Beat followed by an Up
Beat creating a 2 beat cycle we call a 2
beat Unit!
In Waltz there is a Down Beat followed by 2
Up Beats creating a 3 Beat Unit!
Therefore, All basic dance rhythms are 2 beats or in Waltz
3 beats!
* See rhythm chart for Waltz Units.
Common Rhythms: O = a step, / = a
Non Step or as hold
SINGLE
|
DOUBLE
|
TRIPLE
|
DELAYED
SINGLE |
BLANK
|
O / |
O O |
O o O |
/ O |
/ / |
1 2 |
1 2 |
1 & 2 |
1 2 |
1 2 |
How many beats are in the basic pattern of each dance?
2
Step |
O
O |
O
/ |
O
/ |
|
| Fox Trot |
O / |
O / |
O O |
|
| Tango |
O / |
O / |
O O |
/ / |
| Triple Step |
O o O |
|
O o O |
|
| East Coast Swing |
O O |
O o O |
O o O |
|
| West Coast Swing |
O O |
O o O |
O o O |
|
| 8 Count Rhythm |
O O |
O o O |
O O |
O o O |
| Salsa |
O O |
O / |
O O |
O / |
* What are the similarities? Differences?
Knowing the basic rhythm of a dance will help you keep
in time to the music!
Syncopation
- Rearrangement of the metered beat.
- For the dancer, it is the rearrangement of the weight changes
within the "2 beat" rhythm.
TEACHING NOTE: The understanding of Syncopations has developed
significantly in the past few years. In West Coast Swing people
have been awe struck over syncopated foot work. With the benefit
of the "Universal Unit System" we are able to break
down all the interesting variations ,that we want so much, and
then duplicate them!
The 2 beat rhythm can be broken down into 6 parts to help us
define syncopations & body movements – & a 1 &
a 2
* see Skippy's update 10/15/94 " Advanced Understanding
of the TWO BEAT INCREMENT "
Phrasing
- A basic mini phrase is 1 "set of 8" beats in 4 beat music.
4 beat music has a heavy measure (4 beats) & a
light measure (4 beats ) that equals an 8 count mini phrase
A basic mini phrase is 1 "set of 6" beats in 3
beat music ( Waltz ).
Waltz has a heavy measure (3 beats) & a light measure
(3 beats) that equals 6 beats .
* Try to hear the heavy measures & light measures .
Teaching or learning to music that has simple phrasing will
condition the student to hear the complicated phasing of contemporary
music.
- A Major Phrase is a specific number of "sets of 8" that have
been combined to form a chorus or any musical grouping that
is a complete musical thought.
- Most minor phrases are 16 beats ( 8 + 8 ), or in Waltz 4 set
of 6 beats = 24.
- Most major phrases are 32 (4 sets of 8) , or in Waltz it can
be 8 sets of 6 = 48
TEACHING NOTE: "Basic Phrasing" can be 32 beats of music.
Standard "Blues " Phrasing is 6 "sets of 8"
48 beats! Some songs have other than standard phrasing, but all
music phrases to some specific musical skeleton . Discovering
how to hear the phrasing in a piece of music allows the dancer
more creativity. It is vital information for the Competitor, Teacher
& Choreographer!
Remember - Dancing to music is rhythmic movement of the body
to the beat of music.
If we can enhance our understanding of the music we can greatly
improve our interpretation of it!
* listen to some music & find the mini & major phrases.
Pulsing
- A regularly recurring accent in the music.
- To accent all the Up Beats or all the Down Beats in a specific
dance.
If a piece of music pulses a specific beat it helps your dance
if you can pulse the same way , it will give your dance more
"Life"!
- Swing dances on the Down Beat but pulses on the Up Beat. Cha
Cha breaks on the 2 but accents the "1" & "5" & pulses
the down beat.
* Count your dance 1-2- 3-4- 5-6- 7-8. Then count it &1 &2
&3 &4 &5 &6 &7 &8.
* Finally count it &a1 &a2 - &a3 &a4 - &a5
&a6 &a7 &a8 and you can feel it pulse !
Rhythm Breaks & Extensions
Rhythm Breaks are a 4 beat separate pattern that breaks from
the standard rhythm of the dance, either to complete a phrase,
add variety or because something on the music dictated a particular
feeling.
- Single Rhythm Breaks - Variation of "Slow -Slow", " step kick-step
kick" etc. Count "1-2 3-4"
- Double Rhythm Breaks - Variations of pivots, grapevines, rock
steps etc. Count "1-2 3-4"
- Triple Rhythm Breaks - Hook triples, Swivel triples, Shuffles
etc. Count "1&2 3&4"
Extended Step Patterns will all be extended by 2 beats( a 6 count
becomes an 8 count by adding 2 beats)
These are particularly effective for forming Links to hit the
break in the music. They are ALWAYS formed in two beat increments
(Waltz 3 beat & 6 beat increments to stay in phrase with the
music). If you do not you will switch to the Up beat. Please note
that both can be Syncopated Rhythms!
