Blindfolded Swing Dancing - Dance Your PhD 2009

[fad23]

In fact, when I had the leads work with their eyes closed, I had other students obstruct their paths. It was a lot of fun, but definitely challenging. I'm not sure yet of the best way to teach the jedi skills of leading, but I think the best way is through conversation and physical exploration.

[fad23]

I haven't compared this to the other videos from the year, but just saw it recently after seeing John Bohannon's TedTalk. Posted it on the LindyGroove Technique Class Notes blog.

Then I turned it into a class about what senses each partner needs when their eyes are closed. It was a neat counterpoint to the class I did the week before, called "Eyes Up!" That was a class about facial communication and engaging our bodies among other things.

Y'all should move to Los Angeles already.

[jericsynergy]

No audio, what the heck? I know this used to have audio.

[marifelbaez]

why cant i hear the sound ? ;(

[thetwentinch]

Great video, nice moves. I've done dance and martial arts blindfold - dance as the leader. It does make you sharpen your other senses, without a doubt.

[sjbaby07]

You have to have a good lead in order for this to work! That's one way to tell if he is good or not...

[mypinktrike]

awesome job. With or without the blindfold, you made it look like fun. It was smooth. Thanks for sharing.

[WetlandsRemediation]

Bravo!

The first three minutes was warm-up for the split.

Done cold, it's an injury.

[KamokuRyuu]

Some of my best dances have been with my eyes closed, especially with my fiance who is a newer dancer. I think when the leader knows that the follower can't see he's more careful in his leads and less likely to experiment in crazy ways that could hurt.

[IowaSwinger]

As a follow, you shouldn't be watching the ground anyway. You know where your feet are. You know the steps and what each move feels like. It's not telepathy. It's skill.

[fennarblue]

Bull, bull, bull. Every follower who has been dancing long enough to do those moves should be able to do it blindfolded. And Charleston IS a hip lead. Getting into Charleston is about squeezing to the hip and moves within Charleston are often about squeezing to the hip. Everything else is bad leading.

[jasonplancaster]

Read my comment below again. I'm not arguing that good followers can't do this. Maybe you should record yourself in a similar situation as a video response! Cheers!

[fennarblue]

This is not amazing. This is how every good follower should be able to follow. Is there one move that you did that you've never done with her before ever?

Ugh, and Charleston is a HIP lead. There should not be that much space between you two.

[jasonplancaster]

You're right, every good follower SHOULD be able to do this, however the amount of dedication and time spent to actually get to this point (where they are) in dancing IS amazing.

And Charleston is not a hip lead. To say they are too close together is like saying their feet are spaced too far or too close together -- it's all about what they are comfortable with and where they are leading from.

[hideme123]

Lady you are great. amazing synchronisation and concentration. Great video

[AvantiWolf]

Swing dancing is amazing fun and, as a follower myself, I find it amazing how much is communicated while dancing. There are so many small signals. Great job! Wish the audio would work, though.

[BrikoNinky]

This was completely amazing to me! You are both so great! Keep up the great work and the postings, they are the best pick me up ever!

[wyllo44240]

The sound used to work!

[SeanF1979]

Very well done. I wish the sound worked, but I was able to follow the movements none the less. Time for me to start taking lessons.

[jennks]

The sound doesn't seem to be working anymore...

[jtdavies3]

That sets the bar for how well I want to be able to lead. Good thing I saw it on Jan 1. It gives me a whole year to practice.

Now to find a follower willing to be blindfolded...

[nuterwes]

Yeah this is great.

[vorpalmuse]

I really hope you got your PhD, this is a FANTASTIC observation on how humans interact. It'd be interesting to see someone try and make a robot that can "dance" based on the same haptic communication--is it even possible?

[Thinkfest]

Aw, that was amazing! 8) thanks for the viddy!

[EclecticDance]

This was so cool! (And you guys are great dancers, too!) I'd love to read your research. :-)  Featured this video on my blog, EclecticDance, the other day.

[SeelNet]

Love watching this...

[Arianela]

Loved watching this more than once, but the sophistication of the steps suggests to me that they've danced frequently together rather than that he is leading her into her moves.

[FaerieDevilish]

Experience is actually required to lead/be led in dance. They're not mutually exclusive!

[MsLadylove72]

This was JUST amazing. They were so beautiful! Very graceful and so well-coordinated. That woman was fantastic. I'm willing to bet not many dancers are that in-tune with their bodies and surroundings.

[divabat]

I found the Dance Your Ph.D. vids via Metafilter, and my sister Mithi recommended your video as she recognised you from swing. OH MY GOD YOU'RE AMAZING. I wish I had your level of skill and confidence! You really did dance your Ph.D.! Well done!

[odhe1lo]

Absolutely wonderful!! Makes me want to take dance lessons. THANK YOU for posting this!

[therugdoctoranimesux]

Amazing!!!!

[FaerieDevilish]

Ohhh, you seriously need to win. This is amazing.

[ghostwise]

This was wonderful! You've got a great connection going. :)

Heard about this through a radio interview on CBC's - As It Happens. :)

Keep dancing!

[PiraticPoeticPwnage]

This is amazing!

[sottenri]

phenomenal

[jasonplancaster]

HAHAHAH! I love the "can't touch this" charleston holds!