An OFF-BEAT TOOL for your understanding:
There are 4 primary definitions for Off-BEAT dancing.
1.) Stepping on the exact equal distance point between the beats, the exact half-way point, is an off-beat that you can dance.
2.) ANY note OR element that is NOT an accent note that you can step to, that occurs anywhere between the beats.
3.) ANY POINT that happens ANYWHERE between the beats.
Or 4.) Stepping at a note that occurs at the EXACT halfway point between beats.
Today’s idea deals with the 1st definition of “OFF-BEAT” and it’s the one that I gravitate towards, and you should too for a whole bunch of reasons that we’re not going to get into because it’s a 45 minute dissertation and at least an hour or so of example dancing. This tool is more of a way to wrap your brain around the idea.
Just to clarify because I know there a people that may disagree with my definitions here > The 4th RARELY happens but it’s usually an accent note and should not be relied upon because it’s inconsistent. 2 is also inconsistent as well for the same reasons. 3 is a lack of attention to detail. Your call on that one.
That said >
To dance the off-beat there are several methods helping you to dance it.
One of the more popular methods is to tap out the beat, where the ON beat part is where your hand taps the surface. The off-beat is the UP perigee part of that structure. So when your hand is in the UP position, that’s the OFF-BEAT there.
Still another one is when you’re walking out the beat, and/or stepping on the beat, take note that when your legs pass each other, that point is the off-beat.
Still one more > Double Time. If you’re tapping out the beat, and you go double time, the second beat is the off-beat.
You’re welcome.
