WCS for Smart People: Copernicus, not Ptolemy
We'll put it all together:
Understanding all of WCS as a single, unified, coherent
PARTNERED-movement game (with a zillion 'organic' variations)
(not as a zillion broken step patterns, and definitely not as solo dancing while making someone hold your hand)
Deep simple skills –> pattern-creation & styling
Sunday, May XX or June XX or July XX, 2:00–6:00 pm (or 6:20 if you've got the stamina)
PREREQUISITE: You understand the reference to Copernicus vs Ptolemy. Required: ability to count to 2; optionally to 6 or 8. Knowing triple-steps is desirable but not required (just like in actual WCS dancing).
We're going to do Copernicus. Not Ptolemy.
95% of WCS teachers teach Ptolemaic WCS. It's like learning to ride a horse backwards: sure, it can be done, but it's difficult, clumsy, frustrating, and takes forever. That's why those 95% say that learning WCS is "hard."
But if we simply turn our understanding around, so that we are learning WCS the way it actually works and moves,* suddenly WCS makes sense, feels natural, and is 100X easier. It's very much like the paradigm shift from the Ptolemaic to the Copernican understanding of the solar system. Same phenomena to be understood, but completely different point of view leading to a vastly easier and improved understanding.
* (versus faking it by trying to memorize a million separate step patterns and broken bits of ad hoc "technique")
Now, it's true that some people want the slow, incoherent, "hard" path. Just like for a video game, they want the mystery, the challenge, the extremely long learning curve. They don't want to solve the puzzle quickly. If that's you, this is not the class for you. This class is all spoilers, no mystery.
WCS 401: We will construct a bazillion gorgeous WCS patterns & stylings, and musical expression, by using our 400 level skills.
PREREQUISITE for 401: Must have extremely good connection skills, *partnered* movement skills, and body control skills, as per 400-TechPrep. Must be comfortable with "passing" triple steps. Must be acquainted with 8-count Whips, but no need to be expert. We'll do that.
NOTE: If you just want to hack your way badly through a bunch of patterns, or ignore your partner while "styling," these are not the classes for you.
INSTRUCTOR: Ken Kreshtool: Internationally ranked WCS competition dancer. International WCS instructor. "The best instructor I've ever had in ANYTHING!" — Harvard Univ. students' comments, 6 years in a row, for his on-campus dance classes (while working on a PhD there). Videos: scroll down
LOCATION: Studios 353
353 W. 48th St (betw 8th & 9th Ave), Manhattan. 2nd Fl, Studio #3
CLASS SIZE STRICTLY LIMITED!
PRICE:
• $25 drop-in for 400TechPrep only
• $25 drop-in for WCS 401 only
• $37 drop-in includes both 400TechPrep + WCS 401 on same night
• $140 WCS 400 (TechPrep) - all 6 weeks
• $140 WCS 401 - all 6 weeks
• $210 WCS 400 (TechPrep) + WCS 401, all 6 weeks
• $15 for Lindy Hop teachers, or you are a dance studio employee.
• Half price for all Ken's prior workshops alumni
ZELLE: Kenneth Kreshtool | [email protected]
VENMO: @Ken-Kreshtool
PREREQUISITE: You understand the reference to Copernicus vs Ptolemy. Required: ability to count to 2; optionally to 6 or 8. Knowing triple-steps is desirable but not required (just like in actual WCS dancing).
We're going to do Copernicus. Not Ptolemy.
95% of WCS teachers teach Ptolemaic WCS. It's like learning to ride a horse backwards: sure, it can be done, but it's difficult, clumsy, frustrating, and takes forever. That's why those 95% say that learning WCS is "hard."
But if we simply turn our understanding around, so that we are learning WCS the way it actually works and moves,* suddenly WCS makes sense, feels natural, and is 100X easier. It's very much like the paradigm shift from the Ptolemaic to the Copernican understanding of the solar system. Same phenomena to be understood, but completely different point of view leading to a vastly easier and improved understanding.
* (versus faking it by trying to memorize a million separate step patterns and broken bits of ad hoc "technique")
Now, it's true that some people want the slow, incoherent, "hard" path. Just like for a video game, they want the mystery, the challenge, the extremely long learning curve. They don't want to solve the puzzle quickly. If that's you, this is not the class for you. This class is all spoilers, no mystery.
WCS 401: We will construct a bazillion gorgeous WCS patterns & stylings, and musical expression, by using our 400 level skills.
PREREQUISITE for 401: Must have extremely good connection skills, *partnered* movement skills, and body control skills, as per 400-TechPrep. Must be comfortable with "passing" triple steps. Must be acquainted with 8-count Whips, but no need to be expert. We'll do that.
NOTE: If you just want to hack your way badly through a bunch of patterns, or ignore your partner while "styling," these are not the classes for you.
INSTRUCTOR: Ken Kreshtool: Internationally ranked WCS competition dancer. International WCS instructor. "The best instructor I've ever had in ANYTHING!" — Harvard Univ. students' comments, 6 years in a row, for his on-campus dance classes (while working on a PhD there). Videos: scroll down
LOCATION: Studios 353
353 W. 48th St (betw 8th & 9th Ave), Manhattan. 2nd Fl, Studio #3
CLASS SIZE STRICTLY LIMITED!
PRICE:
• $25 drop-in for 400TechPrep only
• $25 drop-in for WCS 401 only
• $37 drop-in includes both 400TechPrep + WCS 401 on same night
• $140 WCS 400 (TechPrep) - all 6 weeks
• $140 WCS 401 - all 6 weeks
• $210 WCS 400 (TechPrep) + WCS 401, all 6 weeks
• $15 for Lindy Hop teachers, or you are a dance studio employee.
• Half price for all Ken's prior workshops alumni
ZELLE: Kenneth Kreshtool | [email protected]
VENMO: @Ken-Kreshtool
WHAT WE'LL DO IN THIS INTENSIVE WORKSHOP
Part 1 (brief: 15 mins). Lindy Hop-to-WCS: a quick-n-dirty conversion primer. Change these 4 things, and it's almost WCS! 2 are simple; 2 take some getting used to.
Part 2 - WCS for real, from the inside. Which will also improve your Lindy Hop. See how every WCS move is built from mixing-matching just 4 simple Lego-like partnered-movement “building blocks”. Or maybe 5, depending on how you count them. This is WCS's (and Lindy Hop's!) "Master Recipe" for all the partnered moves — master this and everything else falls into place so fast! So easy conceptually, but of course the 'mixing-matching' takes a bit of practice to put it on the floor smoothly and comfortably. Let’s play with this! Along the way, some crucial partnered-movement technique skills that are identical in WCS and Lindy Hop.
Plus a few words on the differences from both a historical perspective and a “dance engineering” aka “dance logic” perspective.
Questions: [email protected]
Part 1 (brief: 15 mins). Lindy Hop-to-WCS: a quick-n-dirty conversion primer. Change these 4 things, and it's almost WCS! 2 are simple; 2 take some getting used to.
Part 2 - WCS for real, from the inside. Which will also improve your Lindy Hop. See how every WCS move is built from mixing-matching just 4 simple Lego-like partnered-movement “building blocks”. Or maybe 5, depending on how you count them. This is WCS's (and Lindy Hop's!) "Master Recipe" for all the partnered moves — master this and everything else falls into place so fast! So easy conceptually, but of course the 'mixing-matching' takes a bit of practice to put it on the floor smoothly and comfortably. Let’s play with this! Along the way, some crucial partnered-movement technique skills that are identical in WCS and Lindy Hop.
Plus a few words on the differences from both a historical perspective and a “dance engineering” aka “dance logic” perspective.
Questions: [email protected]
Videos of Ken dancing with Paula Wilson, my long-time co-teacher. One dance is slower, smoother. One is a bit 'punchier.' These are 100% improvisational. We handed the DJ a list of 6 different songs and said, "please pick any one."
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Thank you! We look forward to seeing you!