Uh... Wow.

[wigglewhiz]

So I downloaded some free video capture software in an attempt to make my webcam make do until I can afford a Flip. (Which Himself keeps trying to talk me out of, because There Are Other Gadgets and other boy talk, but I WANT A FLIP.)

Wow.

First off, the footage is useless for pretty much anything dance-related because it is so JERKY and crappy.

Which

Comments

[beafarhana]

#1 Well, for whatever reason, you DIDN'T eat cake, so that's good.

#2 Webcams do NO-ONE any favours.

#3 As you say, nobody NEEDS to see you on film. It's just for your own practice purposes. So dump that idea for now and rely on your own body's feedback, not some crappy film that's going to make you feel bad. Let the Lovely Dance Endorphins do their job. Engage that core!

Edited (because I can, with lovely Paid Account- yay!) to add
#4 WW dancing shite is still worth thousands of other dancers dancing at their best.

[suzycat]

I feel like I know where you're coming from because my dance is kinda dreadful at present and I've also gained a bunch of weight. I'm not huge but I've gone from being solid and statuesque to pudgy and hefty-looking. And man, sometimes you just. Want. To. EAT STUFF. Because stuff is DELICIOUS.

FWIW I find it very hard to believe that you DO in fact look like a beginner because your dance can't have gone that much downhill in six months. And you would know that if you were standing next to an Actual Beginner and dancing with her. It was cheering to me a few months back when I did a private with SixWeek, who is slim and gorgeous and looks pretty close to what people want when they choose a BDer, and dancing all the time etc; I have about 90000 percent more core control. Similarly when I am in Flower's classes I feel a bit cheered when I look in the mirror because I am dancing with people who are not as good as me. But on my own, blah ugh blah,ugh.

Look, you're a really fucking good dancer. It's not gone.

[suzycat]

Oh and FWIW, if you want to start teaching etc, do not let weight worries get in the way of that. I had students who liked me BECAUSE I was bigger. And one of the most popular teachers in NZ when I started was a woman called Fatina (wah wah waaaah) who was one hefty mother. Having some extra weight can be reassuring to students and if you end up teaching a regular class your core technique will strengthen up immensely. THat's regardless of how quick or slow the weight comes off!

[kinadancer]

What the others have said: web cams are the devil.

Repeat: Web cams are the devil. Any video camera, including a flip, is the devil.

Having to watch yourself on video is a TOOL of the devil.

The devil hides in cake (true story) so you can't eat it.

That's why the devil is a an evil man WHORE who makes women think they are fat, so that they starve themselves thin, while he sits there, doing waht? What do you think he's DOING?!

Eating the fucking CAKE, the BASTARD!

And this is why men are always thinner.

Moral:

Eat cookies.

Also, marshmallows.

And don't look at the video for a bit. Let it sit. Marinate. then look at it again.

Try to find at least one thing you like about the dancing. If you can't find even ONE thing, (which I doubt) re-shoot it.

hugs, it sucks to come back and it's hard. you can do eet, pedro!

[mizmarti]

Everything everyone else said, times a gazillion