Chances are good that a great dancer in a dance, be it ballroom, salsa, street or contemporary, can dance WCS great as well after short training. But it may take some time for him to be a champion in the WCS community. It requires leadership and from time to time contributing the community. Patience, my friend.
WCS is a very improvisational dance, like Argentine Tango. Probably that is the reason I love these two dances in particular dearly. But in WCS, both the leader and the follower are supposed to dance more independently than in Argentine Tango. In WCS, quality of the leader as a dancer and the quality of the follower as a dancer both show.
Because there were many dancers, I saw many different types of dancers on many levels. They were roughly categorized to two; (i) very precise, sharp and cool, and (ii) more on the "having fun" side with body rolls and additional moves.
The dancers were both good, only the approaches were different. It's like the white swan and black swan in Natalie Portman's "Black swan". I loved them both. But how do we want to employ the two approaches when we dance?
In general in contests, precision dancers are more likely to win, mainly because it is easier for judges to score apparent technical precision. I would score them highly if I had to judge in a contest, so I wouldn't complain about that. According to some poll, about 90% of judges think in the same way. Also, the precision dancers are usually easier to dance with because they have more consistency.The reward for practicing precision is speed and apparent confidence. The downside is that they can be predictable and even boring, unless they exceed a certain level. They'll have to think how they can add extra interest in their dance in the contest.
In contrast, "Be free" dancers are either great, or just look terribly sloppy. They are more fun if the dance works out, they can radiate the joy of dancing, but they can end up being awkward for both the lead and the follow. In spite of the higher death rate in contests, a small number of "be free and unique" dancers make it to the top. They are the ones I am entertained by and remember.
From a teachers standpoint, the precision and cool approach is easier to teach. I won't say it is easy to achieve, but precision in movement is teachable and achievable with practice. But how do you teach individual expression; unique body usage and musical sense? Is it even possible? (actually it is not impossible, but it heavily depends on the student's mindset).
When I teach, precision in the elements and patterns is a first goal to achieve, yet I may have to leave it up to them whether the dancer eventually reaches the "be free and unique" status. No wonder the director guy in the "Black swan" was frustrated.
Most of the time, the "be free and unique" dancers have a strong affinity for dancing free and unique. In other words, it is their choice to be free. Good "be free" dancers usually can demonstrate good basics if that's what they want, but it is not what they do when they have a choice.
This video is taken when I was dancing with one of these "be free" dancers last night. It was so much fun. Thank you, Kirsty.
If I sign up for a contest, I would have to keep in mind showing basics a little more. Showing triple steps and all. This video may be an example of the fact that you don't have to keep the man's footwork precise to get WCS to work. As long as my center travels well and the connection is good, a fact like which leg I am standing on does not influence her following and dance in WCS. It is a huge difference from Argentine Tango, in which I need to know which axis she is standing on and I am standing on. Obviously I am a big fan of "being free" myself. Ironically, my affinity to "be free" and my choice keeps me somewhat indifferent toward contests where good dancers gather. Might I have to reconsider my position?
Today is Super Bowl Sunday 2013. We are staying at home and relaxing.
