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Dancers are Scary - Elizabeth Unexplained
Lots of data but no answers
11:02 am February 21st, 2006
greyautumnrain
greyautumnrain
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Dancers are Scary
As I suspected, having read dcltdw's entry before the event, the karate people were running a tad over in the T club on Saturday. The ballroom dance team has the room for an hour after them, and Warren and I use it to teach the rookies. Since I was forwarned I simply had the rookies change their shoes outside, and I doubt we lost any teaching time worth mentioning. The rookies were very understanding too, some of them had apparently done karate in the pasts and agreed that belt tests were important and of course they can run a few minutes over.

When the changeover happened the karate instructer apologized for having run over, which was very nice of him as it really wasn't a big deal. Dave's comment was more amusing: "We fear you." Sure Dave, a room full of martial artists and you fear the ballroom dancers. Then I realized the karate people were all barefoot whilst I was wearing pointy high heels.

What made it an amusing exchange was imagining their reaction to the Spanish Dancer From Hell who often has the room after us. Not only does she wear shoes made for stomping things, but she flies into a rage if the room isn't empty the very second she shows up. Quietly changing your shoes in the corner is apparently not good enough. Happily I haven't seen her since I called her a b____.

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Thread started by remcat
remcat From: remcat Date: February 21st, 2006 10:11 am (UTC) (Link)
I think of competitive dancers as more likely to be volatile than your average martial artist. Sure, the karate dude is more dangerous *once you make him mad* -- but the dancer might get all ticked off for no reason! Like that rage syndrome in dogs (although now that I found a link, it turns out to be mostly-discredited as a concept).

Speaking of which, did you watch the ice dancing at the olympics? It was totally like that Australian dancing movie when the couple from Italy froze each other out after he dropped her on a lift.
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greyautumnrain From: greyautumnrain Date: February 21st, 2006 10:35 am (UTC) (Link)
We don't have a TV, so I've not watched the Olympics. On the other hand I can probably fill in the scene. Strictly Ballroom must be the Australian movie you are thinking of, and its hysterical because it is so true to life. I remember watching one top level couple that were going through a divorce and still dancing together. You could totally tell they wanted to kill each other and in the mean time they're trying to do a waltz.
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twe From: twe Date: February 21st, 2006 11:25 am (UTC) (Link)
I agree; ballroom dancers strike me as more likely to be volatile than martial artists.

I'm not sure what that implies for Dave, who does both. :)
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dcltdw From: dcltdw Date: February 22nd, 2006 11:55 am (UTC) (Link)
I hardly do both. I haven't gone ballroom dancing in ages. I've gone to a few swing dances with alyse, but that was a long time ago.
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dcltdw From: dcltdw Date: February 22nd, 2006 11:59 am (UTC) (Link)
Ah, but who's likely to get mad first?

The good martial artist knows to control their temper, because they know that if they lash out, they'll potentially hurt more than the average person.

The good dancer knows to control their temper, because otherwise, no one will want to dance with them.

Hmm.

I need to go build a hut in the mountain and meditate on this for awhile. ;)
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Comment by This is a test of the Mugar Omnimax Theatre.
dcltdw From: dcltdw Date: February 22nd, 2006 11:57 am (UTC) (Link)
I should have the blue and green belts join you for walking exercises. And send the 2nd degree greens to Armin -- they're about to learn a 360' turn that benefits from some knowledge of spirals.

whilst I was wearing pointy high heels

Ah, that'd be a good lesson for us. "Observe: if she gets in range, you are toast. Do you wish to close to arm range? She can still stomp. Or do you keep her at leg range? Don't assume that you have greater mobility."

Our sensei once described the difference between karate and tai chi as "same house, different doors". Ballroom is very similar from an individual skill standpoint. (Karate doesn't have lead/follow, which is why it's easier than ballroom.)

Tests are a fairly big deal; thanks for being understanding. :)
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