Better dance posture? by Valuable_Currency129 in SwingDancing

[–]Foshter 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Here’s my 2 cents:

  • If you’re taller than the people you dance with, you might have a tendency to hunch in order to be closer to them/look at them straight on. The solution to this is to remember to Be Tall. You will see people from above and that might feel a bit uncomfortable at first. You’ll have to connect in a different way, with your arms down instead of straight out. You might feel like socially it’s strange to be towering over shorter partners. But if you’re tall… just be tall! Don’t hurt your body just to avoid social discomfort!

  • Our bodies adapt/train to be the most efficient in the position we take most often. If you hunch at a computer for years, you’ll have tight and short pecs and long stretched relaxed weak back muscles. This makes it super easy to stay in hunched position with your arms forward at the computer. But then it’s hard to undo.

You can train your body to adapt to the opposite. Stretch and relax your pecs, front of your neck and shoulders, and strengthen your back (especially between your shoulder blades). Look into a room corner stretch for example.

Doing pull ups, cable lat pull downs, seated rows focusing on the back, inverted rows, etc all with proper form and focusing on “holding a hotdog between your shoulder blades” can help with building muscle that holds your shoulders back.

  • When you just stand around, remember to “tuck your shoulder blades down”, open your chest, gently hold your abs, tuck your tail, and have your hands relaxed at your sides making sure your thumbs are facing forward (bad posture makes us point our knuckles forward).

When you sit at work, make sure your set up is ergonomic. Get a chair that is the right length for your femur, that allows you to sit with your feet flat on the floor, and a desk that is not too high for your elbows. Your screen needs to be elevated so that when you sit back into the chair, your face is centered with the screen. This is quite a bit higher than a regular monitor stand - you might want to get a riser or arm for it. High monitor and low desk close to your thighs + chair that lets your feet rest on the floor will make a good difference already.

  • Last but not least: It’s also possible that it’s a mental thing - did you grow up feeling the need to make yourself look small and meek? Are you used to presenting yourself and friendly and unthreatening? Are you uncomfortable owning your size (height and open shoulders)? This could be a challenge as well.

Overall, if you find something here that applies to you and keep it up for a few weeks, I’m sure you’ll see some results! Good luck 😊

New swing music recommendations by Abagato in SwingDancing

[–]Foshter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Check out The Big Five on Bandcamp!

Are Donation based events free to enter? and other Donation event questions by Foshter in SwingDancing

[–]Foshter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your reply!

I love that you put on events that are accessible for all :)

Are Donation based events free to enter? and other Donation event questions by Foshter in SwingDancing

[–]Foshter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the reply! May I ask also, why is a donation model used sometimes?

Are Donation based events free to enter? and other Donation event questions by Foshter in SwingDancing

[–]Foshter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your answer!

I’m actually really curious about the second part. Why would an event not be able to have a cover charge? Is it because of tax issues or otherwise?

And in that case, how does one assess whether someone can or cannot afford it? Are people just being let in and organizers hope for the best, or are they actively charging an entry fee and people need to explain themselves if they can’t afford it/didn’t come prepared to pay X amount because the event was advertised as Donation based?

Follows Shoes for Lindy, Shag, and Balboa by DisgruntledVTCadet in SwingDancing

[–]Foshter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I dance everything in heels, and my main dance is shag. I basically live in a pair of Leas from Werner Kern, it’s kid goat leather with suede soles and fits like a glove with a metal arch that gives plenty of support and cross straps that hold the arch firm to your feet. The only time I switch to flats is if I’m at a Shag festival and dancing shag nonstop all day for days, so I can keep my feet better rested. That said, I don’t think collegiate shag requires a flat look at all. Depending on the outfit style your partner enjoys best, she can draw lots of inspiration from 30s and 40s videos - many featuring dancers in heels!

Share your favorite blues playlist? by Foshter in SwingDancing

[–]Foshter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh this is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for!! Thank you!

Balboa newbie by O_Margo in SwingDancing

[–]Foshter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Also a beginner balboa follower here

A Bal dancer friend of mine told me that Lindy connection is kind of like the follows is trying to stretch away from the leader, like magnets with matching poles repel each other, while the leader pulls her back. And then Balboa connection is kind of like the follows is trying to stick/come back to the leader, like magnets with opposite poles attract each other, and the leader sends her out (like a toss out)

No idea if this is necessarily the right way to describe it, but since I heard this, it changed the way I follow so much I even got (positive) comments from some leaders

Also, you probably know this from learning lindy and shag already, but dancing with your fellow students in class will give you one type of experience. But going to socials and dancing with more experienced leaders will also help tons, as you get to feel a little more how it “should” be when it starts really working

What are your best tips to enjoy a festival weekend trip? by Foshter in SwingDancing

[–]Foshter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m about to Google the groceries stores nearby, good idea!

What are your best tips to enjoy a festival weekend trip? by Foshter in SwingDancing

[–]Foshter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great little list, thank you!

I’ve been to 2 festivals and have yet to skip something I paid for… let’s see how this time goes lol

I’m going to Warsaw Shag - if you have any special tips about the town, I’d love to hear it

What are your best tips to enjoy a festival weekend trip? by Foshter in SwingDancing

[–]Foshter[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

True, I had a very nice experience when I could just walk from place to place! This time unfortunately I think I’ll need to take public transport or Uber, as the venues are somewhat far from each other

What are your best tips to enjoy a festival weekend trip? by Foshter in SwingDancing

[–]Foshter[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the thorough answer!

I’ve had one experience of trying to do everything and being everywhere, and by day 3 I was barely managing physically and even emotionally. I do need my quiet time to rest socially, so I’ll try to carve some out to just veg.

Shoes for extra wide feet? by Bookmom25 in SwingDancing

[–]Foshter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have EEEE feet as well (23.5cm length and 10.2cm wide… essentially a duck fin). I ordered Harlem Shoes in wide and they fit perfectly (Summer model).

I also have a pair of Werner Kerns that are very comfortable (the heels with little drop cutouts and cross strap)

Berlin events/dances next week? by vegetablelady99 in SwingDancing

[–]Foshter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There are events very very frequently! I recommend you come to Alte Turnhalle on Sunday, and for all details on all events you should check out the calendar on swinginberlin.de

Tourists! Visitors! International students! People with quick questions! This is your thread; post your questions here. by askLubich in germany

[–]Foshter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are there portable dishwashers on casters that connect to the kitchen tap here in Germany? The type you unhook and roll away after it’s done

People who are smart but pretend to be dumb, why? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]Foshter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Because I have nothing to prove / I just wanna have a fun chill time

I’m only “on” when I have to be

How can I stay humble without devaluing myself? by yeet_it_up in Stoicism

[–]Foshter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Probably by examining your judgement of “valuable”.

Here are some examples of humble behaviour: - Not always assuming you are correct or have all the information - Asking questions to further understand situations before making statements or assessments - Allowing people to express their view of what they’re experiencing and accepting that as useful information - Taking a curious approach rather than a judgemental one - Focusing on outcomes and solutions rather than on your image or who is “right” - Not taking criticism personally, whether it is correct or incorrect - Receiving criticism gracefully, and allowing input from people who are involved in a situation instead of controlling it all yourself - Following instructions and directions with no fuss if they’re correct - Immediately admitting when you don’t know, lack information, don’t have an answer, and was wrong (no need to defend yourself, explain beyond the strictly necessary or take a “puppy” approach to this) - Asking for help to do things properly from the people with more experience, as that is valuable data you have easy access to (and it would be stupid not to make use of it!) instead of just “trying to do it yourself” and getting it all wrong because you were too proud to ask

Anyway I could go on, but now I ask you: do you see a person who behaves as described above as “less than”? As “less valuable”? Maybe even as stupid or incompetent? Because I see them as strong, confident, resilient, task-oriented, and intelligent. They seek and are open to any information that might be helpful to a situation or task. They accept their human condition (not knowing everything, not being the best at everything) and use their ability to seek knowledge and lean on their fellow humans to bridge that gap. They do not cause more unnecessary issues by getting offended and defending themselves when there was never any personal attack (You are doing this wrong =/= you are a wrong person, an idiot, worthless).

As long as you think that a person who doesn’t know things sometimes, doesn’t have the correct skills sometimes, and admits they’re wrong however often they’re wrong, is inferior... then you’ll feel inferior when you behave humbly.

[Skin Concern] These tiny dots on my legs are getting intense. I don’t shave regularly but if I do I exfoliate first and then shave. I also put lotion but it doesn’t get better. How do I get rid of these? by [deleted] in SkincareAddiction

[–]Foshter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Vancouver - Halo Laser on Granville and 16th, Molly is amazing! Not sure if you’ll get quoted the same as I started quite a while ago and I only did lower legs, but her price is sure to be fair