Some steppers I dance with whisper to me, “Sonji, slow down.” A friend told me to record myself and so I did earlier this year. When I watched the video, I really listened to the song and looked at how I moved. What was I dancing to? I could clearly see my moves and the music were not one and moreover I saw my partner’s struggle.
A trained bad habit is hard to break, but no excuses. When I started learning to step Chicago style I was learning and practicing to primarily mid-tempo to fast songs. As I traveled and was exposed to more music, I heard and enjoyed more slow songs. Slower songs opened my eyes to how much I was not doing in my dance. The funny thing is I enjoy and prefer listening to slow songs, but my body apparently does not like moving to a slow beat. My favorite song more than any other is Rising Cost of Love by Jean Terrell.
In my recent classes and privates, I take note of behaviors and new habits to help me slow down. 1. Dance and practice to slow songs. 2. Walk. Get back to taking walking classes. 3. Take longer steps on slow songs and shorter steps on fast songs. 4. Move in the dance. Remember to travel on four and use my legs. 5. Listen and dance "to the music." 6. Remember to take the pauses. 7. Simply slow down. 8. Dance with Donnie Davis. He makes me slow down. | Source: Rene Ragland |
If you are looking for some slow songs to practice, here is some of the latest good stuff from DJ Art of Noyze from Oh So Smooth Radio:
