This Is My Dancing Partner.

In addition to Hassen Tanzt our weekend in Germany included also other dancing activities. Both Friday and Saturday evenings we went to Nic's old dancing school Tanzschule Bier (www.tanzschule-bier.de). On Friday there was a ballroom dancing evening where we met couple of Nic's friends from his competition dancing times and they turned out to be really awesome people. I took my new dancing shoes with me and they proved to be excellent and the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. My shoes were also noticed by Nic's friends ("what, do you have PAOUL's dancing shoes, how is that possible?!"). It was quite hard, though, to dance with the shoes for the first time especially to Standards since my balance was placed differently.

What I was surprised and what made me so happy was that every time Nic introduced me to someone I was always referred as his dancing partner. Not a friend nor something else, but a dancing partner. I don't know much about dancer circles but I know this: dancing partner isn't anyone, s/he is someone really special and important. You don't go around introducing your new dancing partner just like that. Yes, one of Nic's motives taking me to his dancing school was to show me off, and you know what, I don't mind! It just shows that he is so proud of having me as his dancing partner. It was like making things official if you could say that.

On Friday I danced Slow Waltz for the first time with someone else than Nic when Nic's friend, who is a competition dancer, asked me to dance with him. I struggled so much to follow his lead I cannot believe. He took so long steps and his signals were so different from Nic's, plus it didn't help I was wearing my dancing shoes for the first time. Actually I felt like I let Nic down not being able to show what he has taught me, but later Nic told me that his friend saw a great deal of potential in me. I think I was able to make a good impression to Nic's other friends too. What a relief!

Saturday's Salsa party "Salsa Mea" was just awesome. I wore my new Salsa skirt and I don't know if it was that, the tequila shot or the things I learned form Hessen Tanzt but I was on fire in the dance floor! I knew I had improved since last time even without looking at Nic's amazed look in his eyes. Even Nic's friends commented to him that they would have never guessed that we have been practicing only for three months. Well, I guess it is as Nic said: you can learn to salsa only by doing it.

Hessen Tanzt Dance Competition

You can see how big the place was!

This weekend I and Nic went to Frankfurt to see Hessen Tanzt that is the biggest dancing tournament in Europe having 3120 couples attending this year (for more information check www.hessen-tanzt.de). The tournament was held in two places, Eissporthalle and Fabriksporthalle, both of which we visited. This was the first time I ever went to any dancing competition and I must say that I absolutely loved it!

In competition dancing there are five different classes the dancers compete in: D, C, B, A and S (super class). To be able to move up from a lower class you have to attend certain amount of competitions and place certain amount of times to places 1 to 6 (D and C) or 1 to 3 in higher classes (B, A and S). From one competition the couples get as many points as they are able to leave other couples behind them. However, you can get maximum of 20 points from one competition. The higher class it is the more points and placements you have to get. Also, when moving to higher classes the amount of dances increases: in Standards you start with Slow Waltz, Tango and Quick Step followed with Waltz and Slow Fox; in Latin you go first with Rumba, Cha-cha and Jive and continue with Samba and Paso Doble.

So, in Hassen Tanzt the dancers were divided according to their classes and also to their age (juniors, youth, amateurs and seniors). When we arrived to the Eissporthalle around noon they were having the Standard rounds going on. We first headed to see the best classes, of course. I just couldn’t stop watching the dancers as they were flying over the dance floor with their beautiful dresses. The movements, poses, stands and everything else was looking so effortless and easy. The audience gave applauds to their favorite couples when they were passing by to support and cheer them up. I was so fascinated of the dancers I couldn’t take my eyes off from them. Nic was being the perfect gentleman to let me just stand there and absorb the small details from the high-trained professionals. Oh I cannot describe the wonderful feeling I had there! It was like a world I always dreamed of but didn’t know where to find it.

Nic's friend just before competition.

After what felt like a couple of minutes but what really was more than 3 hours we had to move from the Eissporthalle to Fabriksporthalle to support one of Nic’s friend and his dancing partner to compete in Standard D class. I met the friend on Friday so it was nice to see someone who I knew to participate to the tournament. In my opinion they did really well and were one of the best couples in their class. Later he told me their placement was 14 which were more than they were expecting. One thing what I considered funny was that they played Finnish tango music there! I might have been the only one to even realize this even though almost all of the tangos were Finnish ones. Who would have expected that?

It was funny how I was already able to spot the mistakes the lower class couples were doing after observing the high class dancers only for a short time. It was such a great opportunity to learn about the small details that matter so much. Even though I am far from knowing anything about competition dancing, it was quite easy to see if the couples of any class were really enjoying their moments in the dance floor. If a couple were seemingly having fun, their dancing was so enjoyable to follow. Also it was so easy to see if a couple was being confident about themselves. I was actually quite surprised even an amateur like me could see these things so clearly.

After watching Nic’s friend’s dance we headed back to the Eissporthalle to follow the Latin competitions. Before it started at 6 pm we had some time to wander around in some of the shops they had there. I ended up buying one skirt that was just perfect for me. When I tried it on and stepped out from the fitting room I could see from Nic’s face this was the skirt we had been looking for. And I must say I looked like a Latin lady wearing it!

Unfortunately we were able to follow the Latin dances only for 50 minutes because we wanted to meet up with Nic’s friends later that evening, so we could only see Samba and Cha-cha. I can now see why people choose to go with either Standard or Latin because these two categories are so different from each other; atmosphere, movement, rhythm, stance, attitude, you name it. 

Our favorite couple.

During the Latin dances I was mostly trying to concentrate on the ladies hand movement to develop my own. I think I got the hang out of it at least in some level.  I first asked Nic to spot the best dancers but after a while I was able to do it myself. There was one couple in the A class that was extremely good, and they draw everyone’s attention from the moment they started their choreography. I wish I would have taken their Cha-cha into a video but I was so charmed I couldn’t do anything but watch. What I really would have wanted to see was their Rumba but we had to leave before that. Wow, one day I want to be able to give that kind of show they did! It was sexy, flirty, over-the-top and, most importantly, they were having so much fun doing it.

 

I am so happy Nic brought me to Hassen Tanzt and I think I learned so much. I definitely have to go and see dance competitions frequently after this. Maybe one day we might even attend one.

The Shoes.

 Today me and Nic flew to Germany and spent the day around his home town Wiesbaden. The city was nice and Nic was being the perfect tour guide but the best part of the day was when he took me to a “secret place” that turned out to be a dancing shoe shop called V. Agresti GbR. This shop is the only one in whole Germany that sells PAOUL dancing shoes and it just happens to be next to Nic’s place in Wiesbaden. Nic has bought all his dancing shoes from Agresti and I was told it is one of the best places to get your shoes. I was so excited when I found out where we were going since I absolutely love shoes and I really needed a good pair of dancing shoes since I didn’t have any.

Basically there were three different categories of dancing shoes there divided by the height of the heels. First I totally fell in love with one pair that had beautiful golden high heels, but after walking around for a while they turned out to be too high. After all, I am supposed to dance with the shoes so they have to not only look beautiful but also fit perfectly and feel comfortable. If the heels are too high I would have lots of problems with my balance.

The too high heels.

After trying some more shoes the lady who has been running the place for years brought me a pair that immediately felt so comfy in my feet. They were black, satin-looking shiny high heels that I looked awesome wearing. It didn’t take long to realize this pair was about to became my first ever dancing shoes. What I didn’t expect was that Nic had decided to give them for me as my 25^th birthday present! I don’t know what I have done to get him as my dancing partner.

After stepping out from the shop carrying my new Italian lovers I couldn’t stop smiling (and I still can’t!). I don’t know when the last time I felt this happy was. I love love love the shoes so much! They are just perfect. I cannot wait wearing them tonight! Thank you so so much Nic!

So here they are, aren't they pretty? 

Save the Last Dance for Me.

On Friday I am going to Germany to this big dancing event with Nic and I am getting more and more exited about it! I don't really know what to expect because Nic has not shared too much about it with me. All I know there is going to be a ballroom dancing evening on Friday and a huge Salsa party on Saturday. During the days there are going to be competitions and lots of others things happening I suppose. My personal goal is to learn lots of things by observing the professional dancers, and, of course, to have heaps and heaps of fun!

I was browsing the Internet the other day with hopes of finding some cool dancing events for summer, and I found couple of salsa parties where I have to drag Nic to. Unfortunately I am occupied the next three weekends so I will not be able to attend some cool-sounding parties, like Coronita's Sauna Caliente Salsa Lounge on Friday 10.6. or Club Latin Beat on Friday 27.5. If you are in town those weekends I definitely recommend checking the parties out! However, I found out about Helsinki's salsa association, Salsa Borealis, that organizes Salsa parties in Helsinki during the summer. I am absolutely going to see what their Opera Salsa parties (held every Sunday behind Finnish National Opera at 6-9 pm) are like. I also already talked Nic into going to Salsa Borealis Summerfiesta 24h Salsaparty on 9.-10.7. Oh, I just cannot wait for summer to start!

Something about today's practice then. Firstly I must say one hour is not enough! Time goes so fast I feel like we just started when the time is already up. I think we will try to get longer practice times for the summer months if that is possible. I still don't know if we can continue practicing in the same place but I am hoping for the best. Anyway, today we just danced most of the time without paying too much attention to details. I guess there was too many thoughts going around in my head in the beginning because somehow I wasn't able to concentrate and did so many weird mistakes I have never made before. My right leg started to ache again after couple of dances and Nic had to massage it every now and then. I already thought I was over with that problem but I still must be doing something wrong. I am hoping the ache will vanish when I start using dancing shoes. It is so irritating to suspend the practice because of my leg is hurting! Other than that the practice was fun and we had a great time.

Tomorrow is my last free day before I start working full-time for the summer so I might just sleep late, take it easy, visit the dance shop and stress about packing and what to take with me to Germany.

Shopping.

Yesterday me and Nic went to see what Helsinki's dancing gear shops have to offer. Nic already had something in his mind when we headed to Piruetti located in Forum shopping centre. What we wanted to find was a skirt and a top for me that I could use in our practice and also when going to some dance events. I will also need proper dancing shoes but I will try to find those when we go to Germany this weekend.

After trying some clothes on I found a short salsa skirt that I absolutely loved and a long sleeved shirt that reveals your shoulders nicely. They both were black, which Nic did not like because he wanted me to have a colorful top, but I liked the look. I could imagine myself wearing the skirt in many occasions so there is a big possibility I will go back to get it. Here is a picture from Piruetti's online shop that shows the style of the outfit.

After Piruetti we tried to find Suomen Tanssitarvike's store in Kamppi with no results (mostly because I did not check up the location well enough, sorry Nic!) so we stopped by in Footlight that had quite skeletal selection of dancing clothes. I think I have to check out Suomen Tanssitarvike's bigger store in Aleksis Kiven katu before making my dicicion.

So in the end I came home empty-handed. After the shopping tour we went, however, to have a nice dinner in a Belgium restaurant  to celebrate Nic's job contract and my successful exam on criminal law. What a perfect way to end up a day!

Happy Ending?

Today we practiced some ending poses. An impressive ending pose is the last chance to show off your skills and charm your audience (or your dance partner!), and it in a way closes the story behind the song. Ending a dance without an ending pose is like having a nice dinner without a dessert: even if it was really good you feel like it needed the finishing touch. Since you can hold the ending pose for a quite a long time it needs to be fine-tuned and well practiced. So, we tried some endings to Tango and Rumba. With the ending it is finally my turn to lead since I can actually decide what kind of ending I would like us to do! But yes, it is hard to make a strong ending because of all the details. Using a mirror was a crucial thing to do I must say.


Today I asked Nic to teach me a Rumba move I saw in one of the homework videos. I was so surprised Nic actually agreed to teach me that because I was so sure he would have said that I am far from ready to that kind of moves. You can see the move from this video (couple 20, dance 3 rumba). It is the one where the lady spreads her legs wide to the sides. Quite cool, huh?

All in all today's practice was concentrated more on details than to the bigger picture. We worked on my cucaracha. The thing I have to learn next is to control my middle body so that it is more straight. Now my back curves too much so Nic asked me to concentrate thinking of my spine going to a different direction where I am going. Geez it was hard! Like starting from the beginning all over again. Well I learned it before so with practice I must learn it again!

Last but not least, things to remember in spinning practice: 1) package, 2) small steps, and 3) don't take your clothes off. Yes, this is what Nic taught me.

Homework.

Nic gave me some ”homework” last Monday to be able learn some hand movements for Rumba. Since I learn quite well by observing others I was supposed to watch some videos about competition dance on YouTube. I guess the videos gave me some kind of idea what is the right way using your hands but I got some weird looks on my lecture while I was watching them.

I don't know what I should write about Wednesday's practice. After the practice I felt like everything went really well, I even started to enjoy dancing Tango! Somehow I was able to relax more than usual. I don't know why I sometimes feel nervous about doing something in front of Nic. Maybe it is because he is expecting a lot from me. I mean, it is not a bad thing but shows how much potential he sees in me! I just often feel so vulnerable and defenseless when dancing. Then again, I enjoy the feeling of not being able to be anything else expect truly myself.

After some Rumba, Tango, Slow Waltz and Foxtrot we ended the practice with dancing Salsa. It felt like forever since last time. Actually, when I asked Nic to teach me some dancing for the first time, I was mainly thinking of learning Salsa, but Nic just happened to decide keeping Salsa a dance to have fun with. We really must start going Salsa clubbing more often during the summer because I want to learn also more Salsa even though I am the most advanced with Salsa if I compare it to the other dances. But it is definitely a dance to have fun with!

After the practice Nic was asking me if I had some feedback for him about his teaching. I do not know why it was so hard to do so. Still, I always insist on having feedback on my dancing. Well, I must say that he has become so much better with the teaching. He says that I learn scarily fast, but I could not learn that fast if I did not have a teacher who knows me well as a person also. All I was able to answer to Nic was: I feel happy.

Tango criollo.

Not surprisingly I did get ill after all and we had to skip the Friday's Salsa party. Too bad, I really wanted to go to a Salsa party after a long break, but better to get well than go dancing sick.

I already knew what was going to happen at today's practice before it started: it was going to be Tango and hand practice for Rumba. These are two things that I don't really like that much but at least I was able to prepare myself mentally for a hard practice. Why I do not like Tango you might ask. It is hard to give an answer to that actually. The dance does not come as naturally to me as others and somehow it is just hard to catch the rhythm. I don't know why I don't get it and its making me frustrated. We haven't been dancing tango that much really so I know I should not be so hard to myself but I really can't help it. The reason for practicing Tango now is that we are going to a big dance event to Germany after two weeks where Nic wants me to dance Tango with his good friend who, apparently, is an excellent Tango dancer. To tell the truth, I feel quite nervous dancing a dance I feel unsure with someone I haven't even met yet! So, I think we might be dancing Tango in every practice for the next weeks to build my confidence up.

Tango has huge number of different styles, and the one Nic is teaching me is called the European ballroom Tango. The other ballroom Tango is called International or American style. Ballroom tango is a simplified version from Argentinean one while Tango dance itself originates from the area of the Rio de la Plata (Argentina/Uruguay). Actually nowadays Tango is listed into the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List, which, I think, shows how much passion and feeling there are behind the dance. Tango is actually quite popular in Finland too and there is even a separate style, Finnish Tango, that is somehow a modification of Foxtrot. Anyway, all the different styles have adapted some individual cultural aspects in them and they can be really different from each other, but it is the passion and intensity that binds them together.

Actually before starting with Tango, Nic finally thought me the Rumba walk today. We started with really slow walk so I could get the idea of hip movement more easily. The walk starts with right leg back, sliding it along the floor to the front, and follows moving the weight and hip forward to the front leg. The beat goes, as usual, quick-quick-slow, and the upper body should stay in place. When I started to get the hang out of the slow walk, we moved to walk to the beat which was notably harder but I think I did allright. At least Nic said it was good for a starter.

After the walk it was time to turn the attention to my hands. Hand movement is really important part of Rumba and since the beat is slow you have time to use your hands and make the moves large and exaggerated. The problem I am having now with the hands is that I am trying to do them perfect although the movement should look effortless. So again, I am thinking too much and it makes me stiff. I think this is the biggest thing I learned today: if you just perform the steps or any dance movement but don't feel it, don't throw yourself into the dance, you will not learn to dance; you will learn to move. If you stop trying to be perfect and try to experience the dance, you might do a bunch of mistakes, but with time you will be able to turn the moves into a dance. This is what I have to try to learn: to loose myself into the music and to throw myself to the dance without thinking about failures or mistakes. Easier said than done.

- I don't like Tango.
- Well, you also said you hated Rumba not too long ago, and now you really like it.
- ..... Okay right.... that is true.

Just dance dance dance.

Even though I felt I was getting a little ill yesterday, I wanted to spend all my afternoon dancing. First I went to two of my gym's Latin dancing classes, and after an hour to our Wednesday's practice. When I finally got home I was so tired I just fell to my bed.

Our advisor in the Latin classes is such a funny lady. I think she comes from a Spanish speaking country since she mixes some Spanish words to her Finnish. The way she explains things (like, "don't hide your body with your hands or you will ruin the whole product") makes everyone laugh which makes the atmosphere relaxed and encouraging . Yesterday we danced Cha-cha and Salsa in her class. The choreographies are quite challenging I must say, especially if you go there for the first times. If I compare Salsa to Cha-cha I can definitely see I have been dancing Salsa more since it is so much more easy to adapt new figures to Salsa than Cha-cha.

When I finally got to the practice I was already quite tired so my concentration was not the best. We continued to practice the proper stance to Slow Waltz. I don't know if Nic tried to make things even harder for me but he put a piece of paper in between our hips and I was supposed to keep it there. After a while I decided just threw the paper away. I think I get the stance right at times but I just need more practice to keep it there.

Today I haven't got any better from yesterday and I am worried I might not heal until tomorrow. I found one cool-sounding Salsa party where I would love to go with Nic but Salsa party means dancing all night and you need to be fit for that. Well, thumps up a good night sleep will make me feel better!

Unexpected Progress.

Last Wednesday we had to skip our dance practice because Nic was having so much things going on in his work. I must admit that I was quite disapponted when he told me he was just too tired for dancing. This is why I usually like doing sports on my own: my workout is not dependent of anyone else but me. So, it felt like a long time since last time I went to our little ballroom when I head there yesterday.

When I got there Nic asked me to sit down. He looked serious. I was afraid that he was going to say that he is not going to dance with me anymore. I am completely fallen in love with ballroom dancing and just a thought of quitting is too much. Fortunately that was not the case and he is still going to keep on teaching me.

After the serious part we started with some spinning. I am getting even better with it even though the dizzy feeling remains. I think that I will get over that with some more practice.

What I was really happy about was that for the first time I felt quite confident dancing Rumba. Nic suspected that I had been practicing on my own but maybe I am just finally getting the hang of the dance and the basic movement. I am also finally getting the cucaracha integrated to my steps. Finally, I must say! I thought it was going to take an eternity since I was not making any progress with it lately. So, maybe I can consider dancing more Latin in future.

Since I was making a progress Nic taught me how to use the Box step, which I learned earlier to Cha-cha, in Rumba. He told me it is kind of cheating to use the Box in Rumba so I am not quite sure if it is an actual Rumba step or not. The idea is quite same though: you separate from your partner and make a square by moving forward, left, back and right. Getting back to the basic step is more simple than in Cha-cha: just one normal spin. Since there is much more time in Rumba I asked if I was supposed to do something with my hands. Nic said he never thought of that, and he got quite exited of my ideas of reaching to your partner when separating, with kind of don't-go-away-feeling. We ended up making some own hand movements to the step, fun!

We also practiced a proper dance stance in Slow Waltz and the two pillar idea. I am supposed to keep my hip really close to Nic and lean back my upper part. I really felt it in my back, so there is still much to practice (which I do not mind since I like dancing Slow Waltz a lot).

It is funny how you realize some new things is yourself when dancing. Nic told me that I am totally different person when we are dancing. He said I just change immediately when he offers his hand to me. I must say that I feel like a different person too. It is hard to describe it. It is like a different world to me. A world where I cannot be anything more that I am. A world where I cannot pretend being someone else that I am.