Standard Dances from A-Z | Herbert Stuber

Standard Dances from A-Z by Herbert Stuber approaches Standard dancing from technical, physical, musical, and artistic perspectives. Rather than concentrating only on figures, the book examines the principles behind movement and partnership.

Topics include posture and poise, footwork, conditioning, timing, body actions, swing, rotation, choreography, and music. Separate sections are devoted to the five Standard dances: Slow Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, and Quickstep.

A major part of the book is the A–Z of Standard Dancing, which explains dance terminology, movement concepts, technical principles, and organizations associated with Standard dancing. The book also includes a Chronology of Standard Dancing and a Person Index, making it useful both for study and as a reference work.

Contents

Instead of a Foreword

• A Small Portrait
• Abbreviations

Introduction

• Experienced and Learned
• Training
• Technique and Dynamics
• The Old Guard
• New Ideals – New Technique
• What’s New?
• Transitions
• Italian Style
• Looking Back

Stages

First Stage: The Dancer

• The Art of Footwork
• From Posture to Poise
• Two Types of Conditioning

Second Stage: The Partner

• The Third Weight
• Emancipated Dancing
• Timing
• The Lady in a Dilemma
• Occupied Positions and Discoveries

Third Stage: The Athlete

• Dangerous Order of Events
• Typology

Final Stage: The Artist

Building Blocks and Principles

Methodology

• Pluralism
• Seeing, Feeling, Thinking

Parts of the Body

• The Foot
• The Knee
• Hips and Pelvis
• Shoulders and Rib Cage
• The Arms
• The Head

The Step

• Standing Leg and Moving Leg
• Occupied Positions and Discoveries

Swing

• Swing Models

Rotation

• Countermovement
• Inside and Outside of Turn

Choreography

• Families of Figures

Music

• The Musician’s Dictate
• Strict Tempo
• “Plastic Music”
• Consequences

Five Standard Dances

• Slow Waltz
• Tango
• Viennese Waltz
• Slow Foxtrot
• Quickstep
• Show Dance / Competitive Routine