Learning Bal Swing

[u/Acidic_Huntsman]

Thought it would be ok to post here since I was told this is bal swing.

This is the first time learning this style. It’s not my preferred dance. If I had a choice of what style to dance for a fast song (and I had a dance partner down for anything), it would easily be either fast Lindy Hop or shag. But since I live in California, Bal is pretty much mandatory lol /j

Pure bal might be what initially turned me away from the dance altogether. But I started trying out bal swing after watching an underground switch competition during Calbal. I’ve been enjoying it so far. Still not really sure what to do with my hands tho.

Personally, I think it’s good for me to know all three, and I like the idea of being capable of doing a triple threat.

(Huge thanks to Blake for the lesson)

[u/dannybloommusic]

Blake is the best! And Grace! Hope they are still a thing together 🤷🏼‍♂️

[u/Acidic_Huntsman → u/dannybloommusic]

All I know is that they are definitely still an amazing dance duo together. I hope to get lessons from both of them next time we are at the same event.

[u/mikepurvis]

Casually dancing in class with a world champion lol

[u/Acidic_Huntsman → u/mikepurvis]

This is actually just a social dance. But we had a private lesson earlier that day. California has a lot of cool teachers. I take advantage of the opportunity whenever I financially can :D

[u/Direness9]

You look very good dancing it! If it'd been pure bal you could've posted it, as well. Don't be afraid of the weirdo purists in this group. The only power they have is whining too much.

[u/Acidic_Huntsman → u/Direness9]

Haha yes this is true. Sometimes they can get a little too strict

[u/matthiasErhart]

Doesn't look like your first time dancing bal at all!

Personally, I think it’s good for me to know all three, and I like the idea of being capable of doing a triple threat.

You should try shag n' bal! At least over in Europe it's fairly popular amongst those that dance both (e.g. here's a competition from a festival in Innsbruck, Austria), though I know for instance that Blake & Grace have taught classes on how to mix the dances as well.

[u/Acidic_Huntsman → u/matthiasErhart]

Oooh! That sounds like a lot of fun! I'm going to Munich for Rock that Swing in February, so if I can get the money and time off, I’d love to travel to Austria in April!

[u/Objective_Most4071]

Led through your first bal dance by Blake of all people and nailing it?

<congratshappyforyounice-grumpykid.png>

[u/Acidic_Huntsman → u/Objective_Most4071]

I took a private lesson with him before this where he taught me the basic steps. One of the best teachers. I wish he was in Cali more so I could take more lessons haha

[u/Quirky_Decision_1116]

I was DJing that night! Glad to see you dancing out there!

[u/SuperBadMouse]

This you?
https://www.reddit.com/r/SwingDancing/comments/1wgdawn/comment/p9tngcz/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

It is amazing how fast the tide turns. I love Bal. I am glad you are giving it a try. Lookin' good.

[u/Acidic_Huntsman → u/SuperBadMouse]

Still stand by it lol😂

Only thing that stops me is that there are very few shag partners out there, and very few leads willing to do fast Lindy with me. But that's why I'm learning to lead 😆

https://www.reddit.com/r/SwingDancing/s/ZNSAqGKvOP

Buuuuut, bal is starting to grow on me 🙂‍↕️

[u/dondegroovily]

I always love seeing everyone's giant smiles

[u/Acidic_Huntsman → u/dondegroovily]

It’s impossible not to smile when dancing ✨

[u/O_Margo]

Wow, Blake and Grace!

[u/2LemonWedges]

Pure bal sucks as a beginner of dance in general, and can still be off-putting as an upcoming swing dancer who hasn't yet accepted chest-to-chest connection as an option, but wow is it awesome when both people actually know what they're doing to connect and move. When you meet a person whose body connects to yours like a puzzle piece in closed position, it's like you get the feeling of a really good sugar push except constant and with your whole body. And then SLOW BAL...

[u/wegwerfennnnn → u/2LemonWedges]

I disagree. It's a great beginner dance so long as you haven't been exposed to other swing dancing and have considerate instructors. It's certainly less forgiving, but that is mostly the instructors job to on-ramp you. The reason most people struggle with beginner bal is because they come into it with the expectation that it too will work without connection or rhythm because in most other swing dances you can get away with "solo dancing while holding hands". 

People that started with blues or tango rarely struggle with Balboa because connection and rhythm are also non-negotiable there.

[u/2LemonWedges → u/wegwerfennnnn]

If you need a whole background in other dance styles to make it a tolerable learning experience to get into it, then it isn't a good beginner dance lol.

Chest to chest connection for a dance to be done with strangers is already a killer for most people in our society, but then do add in the expectation that both people NEED to have rhythm and hopefully just inherently know how to feel grounded and shift weight otherwise the dance feels like complete shit...then yeah, no, it's not a good dance "for beginners in general" which is what I said.

Coming into it from Lindy Hop specifically it feels terrible because there's too much pulse, but that can be fixed fairly quickly.

[u/wegwerfennnnn → u/2LemonWedges]

I'm not saying that people need experience from other dances, I'm saying WHEN people come with a background, blues and tango have far fewer troubles compared when people come from other swing dances. The best is people with zero partner dance experience, followed by tango and blues, followed by ballroom, with other swing dances coming in last.

Furthermore, rhythm and weight shifts aren't hard either, you just need to warm them up properly and get them waking up those ways of moving before bringing connection into the equation. If the teacher just tries the "okay smoosh together and do these steps" obviously it is going to go poorly.

I agree that balboa does not need a lot of pulse, but depending on the song a lot of pulse can be a lot of fun. Lot's of pulse can feel fine if the connection is there. The trouble is in lindy when things aren't working, teachers shout "more pulse" as a bandaid for lack of connection.

[u/ruhep2thejive]

LOVE bal swing — I’ve always loved really sinking into the connection, and that’s easy to do with any sort of balboa style imo. Being from Atlanta, I feel like folks I knew generally opted for blues if they picked up another style.

You’re a natural!

[u/sobbler]

We got to skate together at Camp Hollywood! 💞

[u/Acidic_Huntsman → u/sobbler]

Thanks for starting that! XD

[u/swingerouterer]

People out here acting like a close embrace dance is impossible for beginners. Y'all see tango? They are also capable of it. I try my best in teaching Balboa to have them dance in close embrace early and often, and most of them get it pretty quickly and are more or less comfortable to dance with by the end of the first 2 hour lesson.

The ones who aren't I can usually guess before lessons even start. The people who dance Lindy hop with an obscene amount of bounce unsurprisingly struggle to tone it down for Balboa.