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 Natural Opposite**Nervousness**NFA (No Future Appointment)**Non-active**Novelty Dances (Social)













NATURAL OPPOSITE refers to the male or Female part of a figure or routine which follows or corresponds in a natural way to each other, e.g. when the male steps forward with his right foot, the female's counterpart would be to step back with her left foot - a movement or action which blends and matches naturally in partnership dancing.

NERVOUSNESS is the expectant void or 'hollow feeling in the stomach' plus the mental image of 'will it go right', that every self-respecting dancer experiences before a dance Competition, an Exhibition or an Examination. Being nervous before these adrenaline-pumping events is your right and your partner's prerogative. It shows that you both have dignity and that you respect each other, the audience and the judges.

Nervousness, however, comes in two forms:

  1. Neurotic nervousness and
  2. Nervous excitement.
Neurotic nervousness stems from not knowing exactly what you have to do or not being properly prepared. This type of nervousness is harmful to the body and the mind because it causes stress, depression and often humiliation.

Nervous excitement, on the other hand, is healthy, it gets the adrenaline pumping and keeps the mind alert. Here, the couple are totally clued-up on what, when and how to do every part of their presentation, and are very eager to dance - a stimulant for body and mind.

NFA is the abbreviation for No Future Appointment, which means a student has no forthcoming lesson booked or, due to circumstances, is unable to book a future appointment indefinitely.

NON-ACTIVE is a student who has not attended a lesson in the week. (see active).

NOVELTY DANCES (Social):

PAUL JONES
This is one of the most popular novelty dances at social schools in South Africa, England and USA, and is used for swapping partners and creating a jolly atmosphere. The emcee or leader of the band announces a 'Paul Jones' and the band then plays a bright tune such as 'Life on the Ocean Wave' or 'Here we Come Gathering Nuts in May.' The dancers then form two large circles, the men on the inside and facing outwards, the ladies on the outside and facing inwards, that is, towards the men. With hands joined the two circles move to the right so that they are moving in opposite directions.

 When the music stops, the man claims the lady directly in front of him and dances, The band should pause for a few seconds to permit the men to take their partners and then play a Waltz, Quickstep, Foxtrot, etc. or occasionally an 'Old Time' dance. After playing about one chorus of music the band stops, the circle is formed as before and continued as described above.

MILITARY PAUL JONES
This is a variation of the Paul Jones described above. The band plays a Quickstep or Waltz. At the end of the tune, one or more of the members of the band (usually a saxophone or trumpet player) marches round the room playing a lively air, and the dancers follow in couples, walking arm in arm. When the column of dancers is well spread out, he stops, and shouts the command of 'Gentlemen, take 6 paces forward'; 'Ladies, take 3 paces backward.'
The man then dances with the lady standing beside him. When the music stops the march is repeated.

EXCUSE' ME' DANCE
Three or more men and ladies are given cards with 'Excuse me' written on them. The band then plays a popular tune and all couples dance. Those persons with the cards stand in the centre of the floor. A man with an 'Excuse me' card is permitted to present it to any other man and claim his partner, while a lady can present a card to any other lady. When a partner has been taken from a person it is not permissible for him or her to reclaim that partner immediately. The card must be presented as soon as possible to one of another couple.

THE PALAIS GLIDE
The Palais Glide can hardly be termed a dance; it is reminiscent of the Gallop which has been a feature of Hunt Balls for many years. It has the advantage of creating a very jolly and friendly atmosphere in the ballroom and its popularity has spread rapidly throughout the whole of the country. It can be danced to any Foxtrot tune, although sometimes an old tune such as 'John Brown's Body' is used, and it is played at a tempo of` about 30 bars a minute.

 Four, six, or even more dancers form a line, all facing the same direction (towards the LOD) and with their arms linked behind them. All dancers do the same sequence of steps. Count 1. LF forward, without the weight on it, and the heel only on the floor. 2. Bring the LF back behind the RF and step back on to it - Quick. 3. Bring the RF back and place it slightly to the side of the LF - Quick. 4· LF forward.

Note: A quarter turn to the R is made throughout steps 1 to 4, turning from a direction diagonally to the centre to one diagonally to the wall. 5 to 8. Repeat, commencing with the RF and turning slightly to the L. count SQQS. 9 to 12. Repeat, commencing with the LF and turning slightly to the R count SQQS. 13. RF forward, well across the front of the LF count S. 14 LF forward, well across the front of the RF count S. 15. RF forward, well across the front of the LF count S. 16. LF forward. Count Q. 17. Swing the RF backwards, off the floor. Count Q. 18. Swing the RF forward, off the floor. Count S. 19. Run forward on to the RF. Count Q. 20. Run forward on to the LF. Count Q. 21. Run forward on to the RF and at the same time bend the body well forward and extend the LF backwards, off the floor. Repeat with the LF from the beginning.

THE LAMBETH WALK
The Lambeth Walk is a novelty dance which has retained its popularity. It is based on the 'Cockney' walk - a swaggering type of movement peculiar to Cockneys. This is the character of the whole dance. Music played between 38 and 44 bars a minute. Man and lady stand about 3 feet apart, both facing the LOD. Man commences with LF Lady with RF Take 8 walks forward. On the 8th step the man turns slightly to R. to face lady (4 bars). Man and lady now link L. arms and strut round in a circle, again taking 8 walks. On the 8th step the man unlinks the arms and offers his R. arm to the lady, who links her L. arm into his R. Finish both facing the LOD (4 bars).

Man starts with LF and lady RF and continue. Take 3 walks forward counting 1, 2, 3. Transfer weight back to rear foot. (Count 'and'). Transfer weight forward to front foot. (Count 4). Repeat the 3 walks and the Rock, the mall commencing with RF and the lady LF 1. 2. 3, and 4 (4 bars). Unlink arms and continue. Man walks 2 steps towards the centre. Lady walks 2 steps towards the wall. (Count 1, 2). Both man and lady turn to face each other and close the feet together. (Count 3). Slap both hands on the legs, just above the knees and at the same time bend slightly forward. (Count 4) (4 bars). Both man and lady walk two steps towards each other. (Count I, 2). Close feet together, facing partner and about 3 feet apart. (Count 3). Raise the R hands about level with the head and give the Cockney salute, shouting 'Oi.' (4 bars). Turn to face the LOD and repeat from the start.

THE ST. BERNARD'S Waltz
The St. Bernard's Waltz is a sequence dance which has become very popular. It can be danced to any Old Time Waltz which has even strains of I6 or 32 bars, played at a tempo of between 40 and 46 bars/measures a minute. The couple commence facing each other and with the man facing the outside wall.

They hold slightly apart, as in the Old Waltz.

Man
  1. Glide the LF to the side - Count 1, 2
  2. Close the RF to the LF - Count 3
  3. Repeat - Count 1, 2. (1 bar)
  4. Glide the LF to the side - Count 1, 2.
  5. Close the RF to the LF with a slight stamp. Count 3.
  6. Stamp the LF in place. Count 1, 2, 3.
  7. Moving in the opposite direction against the LOD and still facing partner, glide the RF to the side. 1, 2  Close the LF to the RF 3.
  8. Glide the RF to the side. 1. 2.
  9. Close the LF to the RF without Putting the weight on to it. 3.
  10. LF back, towards centre, lady in line. 1, 2, 3.
  11. RF back, towards centre, leaving the LF forward. 1, 2, 3.
  12. Step forward on to the LF, towards the wall. 1, 2, 3.
  13. F forward, towards the wall.1,2, 3.
Note. The next few steps vary in different districts. In some places the man just closes the LF and waits whilst the lady circles round in place for 2 bars. The more correct version is as follows; 16. Glide the LF to the side - along the LOD 1, 2, 3. 17. Glide the RF along the LOD 1, 2, 3. Adopt the Old Time Waltz hold and do 4 bars of Waltz. Lady The steps for the lady are similar for the first fifteen steps, except that she starts with the RF; After the 15th step, while the man is doing the Gliding figures to the side, the lady does a solo Waltz with very small steps, starting with her RF When the lady does her solo Waltz the man releases his hold with his R hand and raises his L hand, still holding the Lady's R hand, and the lady turns under the arch that is formed by the raised hands.

SPOT DANCE
This is a good way of distributing a few prizes to the dancers at a social dance. The M.C. or committee of the dance arrange for a few 'spots,' such as under certain electric lights or near a column or post in the ballroom. The band plays a popular dance and then stops the music abruptly, and the couple standing nearest to the selected spot are given a prize.

Another way of doing this is for the M.C. to announce (when the music stops) that the winners are the couple standing nearest to Mr or Mrs - (a prominent person). Where 'spot-lights' are available it is a good idea for the spotlight to play on the dancers during the dance and then when the music stops, the couple standing in the direct ray of the spotlight are the winners.
 
 


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