Dips and Drops..

dear all,

though im not a fan of dips and drops myself due to a bad back, many a time students ask me how much strength or power is required to do drops and dips...

my view is that more importantly it is technique rather than brute force which can make u execute a drop or dip effortlessly. the weight of the girl does matter, but above all it is the techique of the leader..

my advice is to not attempt drops on the floor till u perfect it with a trusty partner many times in practice.. try doing it on soft mats to minimise injuries.. thats the main reason i dont teach it in class.. the implication of injuries and its repercussions could be bad..

be careful guys and try only ehat u know really well. it always better in the long run

anand

i had tried out a few dips and drops and would like to say that most of them are easier and safer than they might look. that said, its also difficult to execute them perfectly to music, i've even seen international stars go off time while performing some tricks... i'd advise any guy starting out with dips and drops to take care of his back by making sure its straight when supporting the weight of his partner and trying as much as possible to let the knees take the load (crouch with ur knees bent, dun slouch with a bent back ). he is also responsible to make sure the girl is safe at all times. dips and drops should be tried out very slowly, count by count, keeping in mind the relative positions, hand grip and feet position etc... so that the guy is absolutely sure of wat he's trying to do. also a certain amount of carefree attitude on the girl's part helps, but it comes with the trust that her partner is going to put her safety above all things (his back included ). in my opinion, pulling them off is mostly a matter confidence more than anything else, u'd hardly come across a trick that would demand abnormal muscular strength... hit the floor, have fun! pun intended

hi

i actually was quite interested in learning drops .. would always think of asking you in class but keep forgetting ... as u have mentioned u prefer not teaching theme in class due to repercussions...i wanted to know that then where can i learn them?

thanks
karn

Hi Anand,
Can we have a session dedicated to drops.......

my dear friend ashwini,

there are a few reasons why i dont formally teach drops

1. i have a lower back problem

2. in case of injury to any student, i would be responsible even if im not the one doing the drop. so i dont promote it in class

we can do an informal session though. i will ask jiggy to join us since he is the expert in this

anand

hi anand,

as you know i'm a short and a skinny guy. so can advice me how to do the dips and drops because, i'm a fan of dips and drops and i really want to perform them......





regards,
aman

we surely should have a session on dips drops .. and one on spins as well..

aman wrote:
as you know i'm a short and a skinny guy. so can advice me how to do the dips and drops because, i'm a fan of dips and drops and i really want to perform them......

Try with slim and less height girls. Watch and learn from other people. Start with very basic drops. Do it in parts.
You must be comfortable and confident with the girl!

Argh, at the risk of making myself unpopular (again!), seriously guys, why this fascination with dips, drops and lifts?!

Every salsa place I have been to -- including one night venue in Mumbai two years ago -- there is always one or two guys going hammer and tongs at the fancy stuff. And here's the rub: most times, not only do people do it dangerously, they do it so inelegantly -- twisted torso, twisted armlines, butt out, off balance, terrible recovery, the works.

For comps, or shows, fine, great. But for social dancing, I think it is best avoided. Certainly lifts, and certainly drops -- gentle dips, yes, certainly, but keeping it compact and tight...

Out of curiosity here are two questions for the girls here:

How much do you enjoy being dipped/dropped/lifted?

Also, have you ever been wary of dancing, or refused a dance, with someone 'cos he is, well, too 'dippy'?

A few years ago, seeing such fascination for dips among some dancers, I did go around asking women the same question. Curious to see if things have changed, or are different in Mumbai...

PS: Aman, if you seriously want to learn, it doesn't really matter whether you are big or small. Salsa dips are supposed to be easier (faster recovery etc), but it's as much in the hands -- or the body -- of the girl as it is in yours. She needs to be on-balance and 'pulled up' (using her hips and ab muscles and bodyline) to help you pull it off well -- and you need to make sure you position yourself right and shape right. But seriously, you can look good and enjoy yourself without worrying too much about it. :-)

Chindu

i agree with chindu here

hey ppl!

i saw this video on youtube recently..search for salsa swing..and watch the video which says salsa+swing..
ammmmazing...the lady has spun unvelievingly..and her dips and drops are really worth watching...watch it n lemme no if ull like it!
specially jiggy since he keeps tryin out such dips...!!

Chindu wrote:

Out of curiosity here are two questions for the girls here:

How much do you enjoy being dipped/dropped/lifted?

Chindu

I cant comment on the "enjoying" of being dipped/dropped/lifted as I haven't done it.... but I would be Very wary of trying it in class... You have to be able to blindly trust the other person not to drop you/hurt you...otherwise you'd always be too scared of what is coming and that would show in the way you dance, and could possibly ruin the rest of what you're doing... n none of us have danced enough with each other for That level of comfort...

I enjoy being dipped and dropped as long as the guy is experienced...it gives me a kick!!

Sangeeta in all the dips and drops if u hurt ur back then ur gona..... its better to try dips with a strong partner. I agree there is nothing thats strong or weak in this but, in the begining its better to be in safe hands.


Kai

kainath wrote:Sangeeta in all the dips and drops if u hurt ur back then ur gona..... its better to try dips with a strong partner. I agree there is nothing thats strong or weak in this but, in the begining its better to be in safe hands.
Kai

Yes...dips and drops are a sensitive matter as they involve injuries...that is why i mentioned that I don't mind as long as the guy is 'experienced'

sangeeta r u a model by any chance?

kai

kainath wrote:sangeeta r u a model by any chance?

kai

I'm an aspiring actress

in mumbai?? south?? bhojpuri???

if u dont mind???

kainath wrote:in mumbai?? south?? bhojpuri???

if u dont mind???

No, I don't mind at all....in Mumbai

coool,

have u appeared recently, then I would love to see ur work

best wishes for the coming days sangeeta

kai

kainath wrote:coool,

have u appeared recently, then I would love to see ur work

Yeah, i'll be in the TV show 'shhh..phir koi hai' on star one this Friday and Saturday at 10 pm. Thanks for ur wishes

sangeeta , best wishes from me too !

i knew u were 'special' when i saw you @ the class

Thank you for the best wishes Samir...I need them

Good Luck Sangeeta....

I have seen Arindam and Jiggy doing some excellent stuff with dips and drops....