Tension and Tone: spins

When it comes to spinning in any dance, there are a couple of really important things to think about...and the biggest one I can think of is tension, or tone.

There is always something that can be done to better a dance, but one thing I have learned, is that tone and tension can make any dance that much better.

There are a few key points that you need to make sure you have and do in order to make the spins the best that it can be. These include:

1. Finding a Partner

As I have said before, one of the hardest, but most crucial parts of a dance include finding a partner. If you have a boyfriend or girlfriend who will dance with you, it may be easy, but for us single people, it is not that easy.

One thing that generally stops people from dancing, is the fear of rejection if they ask someone. It can be terrifying to get up the courage to ask someone to dance, but there could be a really good pay off in the end...you never know what could happen.

A rule that I live by and I always share with others, is what is the worst that could happen? They say no? So what!? That just means you get to ask someone else and make their night.

2. Gettin' into the swing of things

It is really important to practice a few moves if you really want to have the best spins. If you are dancing with a brand new partner, practicing a few moves before trying a spin can help with your confidence and allow you to get a feel for how your partner follows or leads.

Once you have an idea of how they dance, it makes it that much easier to do a spin. Since you have to rely on your partnership, the tone and tension holds a key part. It is often referred to as the push and pull you have with your partner. This allows a follow to spin smoothly and makes each dance flow more smoothly.

3. Testing the Spin

When swing dancing, practice makes perfect. A lot of the time if you stand and watch couples on the dance floor, the ones you are impressed by are the ones that spend the most time practicing. Not just in the dance halls, but also in their free time.

4. Perfecting the move

Once you have practiced, it is time to perform the move. This means to show that confidence that you have. Swing dancing is not necessarily performance based, but I have found that every dance looks so much better when you "perform" it.

If you enjoy yourself and have fun, no one will know if you make a wrong move. Dancing is something that is meant to be enjoyed, something to show your feelings and emotions.

Whether you are doing a line dance and adding your own spin to it, performing with your partner, or even just learning a few moves here and there, it is very important to have tone and tension with your partner. When swing dancing, this will allow you to dance a lot better, help the moves to flow and will allow you to feel so confident with what you are doing.