hi leroy!
leroyjenkens said:
I'm starting to learn some 1920's Charleston dancing but I don't really have a good surface to dance on. I have carpeting in my apartment and don't want to damage the carpet or my socks from sliding across it too much. Are there any special shoes that are of a material that would slide across carpet easily? Or maybe there's a dance mat that I can buy that would make it possible to do all the dance moves on without damaging the carpet or my socks? Any ideas?
if you're doing charleston seriously, you should be twisting each ankle in and out on every step, and also swinging the foot sideways slightly
so your foot should be able to slide slightly, both twisting and sideways, and unlike most dances your foot shouldn't necessarily stay where you first put it
if you don't practise it correctly from the start, you'll never get it
carpet gives too much, and also has a grain that makes it resist differently in different directions
(and a mat or sheet on carpet would also give)
i doubt that you can get the right feel for that ankle movement on carpet (with or without a mat or sheet), and you could even injure your ankles by repeatedly trying to correct for the slight give, or by changing from carpet to a proper surface
you should only be practising charleston on a fixed smooth surface, with leather or suede soles (not trainers)
alternatively, are you in it to get girls to
watch you, or to
dance with you?
if the latter,
forget about doing it properly yourself, just learn how to
lead it (if you're dong partner as well as solo charleston) …
there's always a shortage of good leaders!
