My beloved Husband and Dance Partner and I have a difference of opinion. He reckons one should learn the dance solo before one starts partnering it, on the grounds that if you can't do it well solo, you can't really say you can do it. I take his point, but disagree with him. I think you should learn a dance partnered, since the partnering is often the hardest part, and only when you can do it well with a partner, learn how to do it solo. Otherwise, you have serious trouble learning how to partner the dance, as witness the trouble he's been having with the Foxtrot in recent weeks.

What do you all think?

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

I reckon the ideal is a combination of both. Until one gets to some of the Internationals where it's almost impossible for the lady to do the whole pattern solo (Golden Waltz for example)

It's very easy, when skating with a stronger skater (in my case, my coach), to do the right steps, and do the partnering, but rely on him (subconsciously in some cases) for the stability and power to really make it through the pattern. Because in some cases, with that situation, the partnering can turn into a "hold on for dear life" type of partnering, rather than the 50/50 it should be.

But... if one can skate the steps correctly, and with good flow, then it's much easier to work on the partnering... if nothing else, because with the confidence and comfort of trusting one's body to do the steps correctly, you have one less thing to worry about.

Also, at the higher levels, it becomes more important and more obvious when the skater is not equally contributing to the power & flow, even in a social dance environment. IMO.

Until earlier this summer, I was basically only working on skating the CDs I was working on with my coach. For various reasons, in mid-June, I decided that I needed to be stronger in my basic execution, so we went back and for most of the next 2 months, I worked on Tango and parts of American Waltz solo... whereas before, coach probably only would have had me do the AW waltz 3's in a big circle solo.

Well my partner and I only dance for fun and recreation. No competition. Our coach always teaches us the steps solo first before putting us together.

I'm a big advocate of learning solo first as well (sorry, Mrs. Redboots!). I do agree it's helpful to have the opportunity to partner a dance on a regular basis, but I think if you can't skate it well by yourself, then it means you're relying on the partner to fix/cover your weaknesses. In very good partnering (in most places of a dance) you will hardly feel the parter at all--that is, you shouldn't feel any tugs, sudden weight shifts, or leanings one way or the other--because you are both truly skating your own dance--just in perfect unison. Granted that doesn't happen until you've both mastered something, but it's pretty magical when it does happen.

I also believe that partnering a dance before you can solo it well can be dangerous for both of you--if one partner is unsteady & relying on the other to "get them through" certain parts, it's just a matter of time before the feet get tangled up & you both go down. JMO.

Ah, but you see, of course, I am relying on my partner to cover my weaknesses! Largely due to my inability to turn at speed solo - but yet I don't need to cling on to my partner to do the turn. It's not that I can't do it, because I can - it's just that my body says "I don't think so!" and the turn doesn't happen. I get so-o-o-o frustrated, you can't believe! Also I find we both skate faster and smoother together than separately. Mostly......And yes, our feet have been known to get tangled up, and down one or both of us goes.....

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

My partner and I spend a lot of time soloing our CDs. We combine the solo work with partnering, but especially in the beginning stages of a dance, we work more heavily on our solos. If you don't understand things such as the edges and timing by yourself, it's going to be a bear trying to partner it when you have to deal with the 2nd person and the holds as well as your own steps.

Since partners aren't always available (except for test), I find working on the solo dance initially really helpful for getting my feet under me, getting the steps, timing, and pattern. Then I add the partner after I learn it solo.

I find that if I partner too soon, I run the risk of tripping the partner because maybe I forget a step or two. I feel like I am wasting their time if I don't know the steps well enough.

FYI: I have passed thru my Bronze dances.

Kristin

Depends on the partner - there's one or two I wouldn't dance with if I weren't sure of the steps, but as my husband, who is my regular partner, is rather more apt to forget them than I am.....

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

My coach/partner expects me to be able to do the dance solo. In partnering I depend on him to remember to tell me the steps (I forget, it makes for memorable falls) and know that doing the dance with him there, I can leave part of my brain to concentrate on extension and flow. However, it does take longer to learn the dance because I have to learn it solo, remembering all the steps, do it solo to the music then learn how to partner the dance for testing. Partnering makes me nervous more than confident, I'm always afraid I'm going to mess up and take us both down. It would be nice to learn the entire thing with a partner, but that's not my coach's idea and I can't seem to convince my husband to take up ice dance (yet).

Sorry Mrs. Redboots, soloing should be done first! Basically partners need to be secure with their steps and patterns and such before attempting the dance together. I think for safety's sake first of all, but for sanity as well. Trying to learn the steps, pattern, positions,timing and everything is overwhelming, even the Golden Waltz, Tango Romanica, and such I learned the steps solo, then did with the partner. I am pretty certain it saved some injuries!!
All of your compulsories will feel better with your partner, but sorry to say, they have to be learned and practiced alone too, until they are second nature.
Hope that makes sense, I think I am rambly this morning!!
Happy Dancing!!!

[Picky mode]I didn't think it was actually possible for the woman to dance the Golden Waltz solo..... not that I ever shall, but I watch our Senior dancers working on it most days [/picky mode]

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

I don't think it is possible for the lady to skate either that one or the Midnight Blues solo.

You can't skate every step exactly as you would with a partner, but you can learn a good portion of the dance solo.

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~No thinking, breathing, or hesitation!~

Hi

Madam always did both with us! Solo AND partnered. I agree though that it ultimately makes life easier for you if you can get through it solo too.

I hope that you're ok.


x

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The best whisper is a click

Well if you are not lucky enough to have a partner, then there is no choice but to learn it solo!! However I agree with those who say you should be able to do a dance solo before partnering it. Other wise you are thinking about the steps etc instead of concentrating on the partner issues. I have on occasion had the opportunity to skate with a partner and I find all the dances much easier and more fun with a partner. There are various bits that need a slight rethink when partnering but I couldnt imagine trying to learn the dance from scratch with a partner. Mind it depends on the partner. Some you just gel with and the partnering issues are minimal whilst others I dont think I could ever dance with.

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'skating is not just a sport - it is an obsession'