Why is this and what’s the point? Why not just start at 1, 2, 3, 4?
P.S. I’m a ballerina
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In case nobody said it yet, I think the simplest answer is just that the song/dance starts at 1, so starting with the numbers “before” 1 is kind of like a countdown until 1.
It gives everyone a few beats to get the tempo in their head and then start at the beginning, 1.
It’s been said a bit but it’s kinda interesting summation to consider we can imagine drummers saying “1,2,3,4” to count the actual time of the music- while also getting everyone in sync to begin the song.
Dancers are (often) beginning at the same time that the “song” does. So the count (often) begins in the music at around “5,6,7,8”.
At least that’s how l understand it (trained dancer from years ago, also former soundcloud rapper)
cool question
Since the first step of a dance is on “The One”, meaning the first beat of the measure, counting “5,6,7,8” is a LEAD- IN to that first beat. Then everyone KNOWS when “One” is coming. It’s right after “8”.
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Dancers are that way. Live musicians will patiently wait for dance instructors to teach a dance. Then, when prompted, they will begin playing. After a number of measures the instructor will signal the dancing will begin at the end of the present measure. So they start their count half way through a measure.
Dancers will choose a danceable beat even when the musicians are playing very fast, 8 to the bar.
Most dances are made using 8 beats instead of 4, so going 1 2 3 4 would be leading into 5 6 7 8, which would be halfway into a measure, which is not a good place to start. However, 5 6 7 8 loops back to 1 2 3 4 which is the start of a measure
I don’t know, but can you please sign every comment you ever write with P.S. I’m a ballerina
Dancers start with “5, 6, 7, 8” for a variety of reasons, both practical and artistic.
On a practical level, starting a dance count with “5, 6, 7, 8” allows the dancer to get into position and prepare for the dance before the music actually starts. This is especially important in group dances, where all the dancers need to be in sync with one another. By starting the count with “5, 6, 7, 8,” the dancers can make any necessary adjustments before the music begins and ensure that they are all starting at the same time.
On an artistic level, starting a dance count with “5, 6, 7, 8” can also help to set the tone and energy of the dance. For example, a fast-paced dance with a lot of footwork might start with a strong and energetic “5, 6, 7, 8” to get the dancers pumped up and ready to go. On the other hand, a slower, more introspective dance might start with a softer and more controlled “5, 6, 7, 8” to create a sense of calm and focus.
But ultimately, the reason that dancers start with “5, 6, 7, 8” is because it just feels right. Dance is a highly intuitive and expressive art form, and starting with “5, 6, 7, 8” is simply a convention that has been passed down through the generations and has become ingrained in the collective consciousness of dancers everywhere.
Professional tap dancer here. Out of all the styles of dance, I’ve heard rhythm tappers count in bars of four way more than the others. My guess is that because we are closer to jazz musicians than ballerinas, we co-opt the language of jazz musicians more than we co-opt from other dancers.
“1..2…3…4” is for the band. 5 to 8 is for the dancers. 8 to 31 is for the heck of it. 31 to 2048 is for the rest.
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