Fellas who dance, a little help please ;)

Hello Loungers!

I have a question for all you swingin' gents out there!

Does it bother you when your partner makes noises while dancing?

I squeal, squeek, and laugh my head off, especially during a good Lindy. Tonight, a couple of the gents I danced with gave me a funny look every time I made a sound. I think I even embarrassed one when he dropped me back into a dip that I wasn't quite prepared for and I let out a little bit of a pleasantly surprised shriek.

Does it distract you or make it harder for you to concentrate with a little noisy interjections every now and then? If not, do you find it annoying? Or, am I simply the only person who does this?

Thanks in advance, fellas!

Noisy dance partner?

I think it depends on the guy and the girl- namely, how well they dance.
If a follow is really good and makes odd noises, I would assume she is playing around and maybe even toying with me.
If she's new or simply bad, I would assume she is racking her brain just to keep up- hence, the noises are confusion and frustration.
If the lead is good, it shouldn't bother him too much- he doesn't need complete silence to count and find the beat. If the lead is new or bad, he'll either roll with it or block it out.

I suppose I'd be a little taken aback myself to hear my partner over the music being played, but I'd get over it I'm sure 'cause it would just be too much fun! Are you really that loud or were they playing the music softly?

Hi Maggie.

Awww, thanks for putting the biggest smile on my face over here!! I think it's really sweet that you are 'so into' your dancing that you express it like that. You obviously get lost in the whole 'moment' of it and that's the way it should be. Your partner/lead should have the self confidence to understand that and work with it. Personally, I think it just 'adds' to the whole fun and experience of it.
I dance New York Salsa and also Argentine Tango (I know - a bit different to the swing), but different dances allow you to express yourself in different ways and interpret the way you want to.

Just keep enjoying doing what you are doing Maggie. Keep having fun :eusa_clap

maggiethespy said:

I have a question for all you swingin' gents out there!

Does it bother you when your partner makes noises while dancing?

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Just as long as it doesn't interrupt my counting.

Counting will mess you up! Don't count!
As for the excess activity, for me it's all a matter of inertia. I've had partners who threw in a lot of extra body English that threw their bodies in all sorts of odd directions, which made them no fun to dance with. Dancing should not be a wrestling match. If you can wiggle and giggle and keep your body flowing smoothly with the music, that's just fine.

Some newbies are distracted by anything out of the ordinary. Just try to avoid shouting in your partner's ear.

There is one lady I regularly dance with who will let you know instantly when she likes a move. Usually by starting to giggle our laughing really hard. It's fun and we tease her about it...

Just two weeks ago we had a Lindy workshop with Nick and Carla and everytime they taught something she liked, she started laughing and giggling. Nick and Carla had fun and at the end of the night we joked that they can take the sound effects with them if they wish

So, to answer your question: No, I don't mind. I actually enjoy it.

Jens

Derend on the dance, surely. What goes down OK in Lindy or a Jitter wouldn't fit so well with a foxtrot or a waltz. And shouting 'Ole' in a pasadoble is a bit over the top.

Swing dancing is suppose to be fun - I think it's OK to show your enjoyment.

For me, it would depend on the sounds and the dance. Most people don't know it, but the african americans at the Savoy, an surely elsewhere, were quite vocal, kind of like what you might hear during some good music or a good sermon.

If it wre like that, and fit the music and style, I would dig it. Basically, I am very much a purist, so if it emulated vintage style, I would love it.

If it wre more modern lindy to slower music and more of what is termed "playful" I would probably find it as odd and annoying as I do the very style of modern "playful" lindy.

If I was doing a dip (I never do dips in Lindy) and a girl shrieked, it wouldnt bother me that much, but it would annoy me because it would suggest that my partner did not trust me and was afraid I would drop her or was surprised, which might indicate I didn't lead it properly.

Listen to the scene from a day at the races to get an idea of the authentic noises if you re curious, or listen to Red Norville play and you will hear him kind of moaning or grunting along with the music. This is what you might her at a good dance jam back in the day I think.

Thanks for all the great answers, guys!

dakotanorth: I'm fairly new to the scene, but I can hold my own-- I've picked up everything pretty fast so far, but I've been a dancer for 11 years. Sometimes it does come out of surprise or a little bit of confusion, but I tend to laugh my mistakes off and make a mental change. Mostly, it's out of pure fun, though-- I'm having such a good time that I have to express it verbally!

mannySpaghetti: It really only happens during loud, fast songs. I guess it's directly related to the music, as in when volume and speed increase, so does my tendency to giggle and squeal.

PADDY: thanks for the encouragement, and I'm glad I could make you smile!

db5zx: Glad to know I'm not the only one! She sounds quite a bit like me; I giggle when I like something, too

reetpleet: I watched the Day at the Races scene, and I'd have to say, I think I'd fit in fine in that group of dancers! At least, I wouldn't stand out Like I said before, it kind of only happens during loud, fast songs, or when something unexpected or new happens, so I'm not sure anyone but my partner hears it. I think it might come out playful sometimes, but mostly I'm just having a good time! I know I've worried a couple of partners because they think I might be hurt or something, but I assure them I'm not.

Because of the answers I got, I've decided to giggle, squeal, hoop and holler when it feels necessary and not let my partner's reaction bother me too much. Thanks for helping a girl feel a lot less concerned and a bit more confident!

Hooping and hollering, now you are talking. Lindy was quite joyous and expressive. i think a little hooping and hollering would be in order. What exactly is hooping, anyway?

Have fun! Giggle away.
Dancing is like s.. (the other thing couples do). No noise - no fun!