After the low-keyed eloquence
of last week’s Vienesse Waltz, my choice for this week will definitely raise
your heart rate.
The
founders of the genre Rock ‘n’ Roll were the black communities of the South, in
the mid-fifties. The music developed from rhythm and blues, soul, jazz, country
and gospel (rockandrollzone.com); and resulted in the emergence of a new dance
fashion. According to Ann Dils and Ann Cooper Albright, co-editors of the book Moving History/Dancing Cultures: A Dance
History Reader, the dance steps were quite flexible, but there characteristics
and forms the dancers had to keep in mind. Dancers “tended to move with a focus
inward rather than outward to a partner or to the environment (…) with a sense
of energy freely sent in all directions, creating an impression of abandon and
literally giving up control.”
Exactly
this illusion of being free and letting loose one’s limbs what makes the
experience extraordinary. When people regardless of age and gender stand there
kicking with legs and moving all the two hands at the same time, they feel
unstoppable, energetic, and unbounded. I personally think that Rock and Roll is
even good for mental health. For example, getting out to the dance floor, hearing
the music full of life, and being capable of performing the really quick and
complex moves of the dance can help raising one’s self-esteem and confidence. However,
if you want to pick up a girl, I would advise a bit slower and more romantic
dance because all this kicking and lifting would frighten her. Although, if
your relationship needs freshening up, a dance course can do the job and it is
cheaper than a holiday on the Bahamas.
In
addition to the vitality and flexibility of the dance, it is a really effective
workout. Most of all, it is really good for the circulatory system due to the
constant and fast steps. Moreover, you have to kick so many times that the
muscles on the leg develop easily. Even so, if you try acrobatic Rock ‘n’ Roll
where the kicks are higher and more powerful, but that has really different characteristics
than the original dance style.
At
first, the steps are really hard to learn if one does not have any kind of
dance experience, and the moves differ from the classic ballroom dances as
well. However, I would really encourage everyone to at least attend one class
of Rock ‘n’ Roll for the sake of adrenalin rush. Especially the younger
generations can appreciate Rock 'n’ Roll, due to the fast, rhythmic music; the
exciting steps and turns that characterize this unique dance genre. Those who
do not think Rock ‘n’ Roll suits them, visit my blog next week, maybe they will
like my next offer.
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