| Musicality seems like a natural thing to consider in one's | | | | to dance on other rhythms. |
| dancing, but in Ballroom dancing, like in many other | | | | Fortunately, you don't need to be a professional to be |
| dance styles, choreography, lead and follow, and | | | | able to play with musicality, and having the basic slows |
| technique often get in the way of dancing musically. | | | | and quicks structure down is a good place to start. |
| Many people mistakenly believe that being musical | | | | Once you've understood and can clearly hear the |
| simply means dancing on time. This could not be | | | | slows and quicks in the music, try adding and's, as in |
| further from the truth. Musicality often involves going | | | | 4-and-1 in Cha-cha. In other dances, an and count can |
| off time in the strict sense of the word, and following | | | | be an arm movement, and head flick, a hip rotation... |
| an underlying melody, a single instrument, or even the | | | | anything you can think of doing that is not going to |
| vocals, instead of staying with the main beat of the | | | | change your weight from the standing foot. And once |
| song. | | | | you've gotten that down, try breaking the beats down |
| Musicality is not taught very often, or very well, for the | | | | even further, counting 1-and-a-2, and so forth. |
| most part, especially to beginners. The reason for this | | | | If that sounds too complicated for you, just remember |
| is often the fact that it is very difficult to explain. One | | | | that it is all in the music. The infinite possibilities of |
| needs to hear it in the music, and most people hear | | | | musical expression are all in there waiting to be |
| different things within the same song. Unfortunately, | | | | discovered and expressed through your body. And |
| beginners, not being taught musicality from the very | | | | most importantly, have fun with it! Don't worry if you |
| beginning, get into a rut of dancing on time and never | | | | are doing it right, or if it looks good. All of that will come |
| concerting themselves with being musical. For example, | | | | with time. For now, just have a good time dancing. And |
| most people are taught the bare bones structure of | | | | I guarantee that once you try it, you will finally feel like |
| slows and quicks in American style Rhythm and | | | | you are dancing, not just doing steps. |
| Smooth, and are never told that they can venture out | | | | |
