In part 1 of ‘What IS This Dance Anyway??’, we covered how to distinguish 5 major dance music styles from each other . Today we’ll look at 5 more common Latin and ballroom dances: Foxtrot, samba, merengue, Viennese waltz, and east coast swing. Let’s get cracking. Continue reading "What Ballroom Dance IS This Anyway?? Part Two"
How Often To Practice Your Dancing (And Do You Have to?)
If you’re dancing for fun, the answer to ‘how often should I practice my dancing?’ is really up to you. But say you’re not satisfied with that. Say you want to get the most out of your lessons and not risk lagging behind in class. For my private-lesson students, I always advise practicing between lessons, so when they come back they are more comfortable with the material and we can move on to more exciting steps and technique.
In this article, we look at the feasibility of practicing on a busy schedule, how long you should practice, and even how to practice more effectively. Continue reading "How Often To Practice Your Dancing (And Do You Have to?)"
What Ballroom Dance IS This Anyway??
You know what’s frustrating? Learning some great moves in a dance you love, then going out to a social dance and realizing you can’t tell what songs you can use them to.
Yet, despite how confusing it can be at the beginning, there ARE certain instruments or sound styles that traditional music of a dance genre use. Let’s look at a few of the most popular: salsa, cha cha, rumba, waltz, and tango. Continue reading "What Ballroom Dance IS This Anyway??"
Where Can I Go Latin or Ballroom Dancing?
Everywhere! Seriously, that’s one of the beautiful things about dancing - there’s virtually no place you can’t dance. I’m not advising you to break into a Charleston halfway through your board meeting, but the main limitation is how comfortable you feel in your own skin.
All that said however, I know most of you are really asking ‘where can I go dancing with other people?’ so let’s look at a few of the more and less common places to bust a move. Continue reading "Where Can I Go Latin or Ballroom Dancing?"
The Benefits of Dancing
It’s difficult to over-estimate the benefits of dancing - virtually no part of your body or mind is left unimproved if you work at it long enough. For the sake of this article however, I researched some of the main benefits of dancing you will start seeing as you improve.
The body is the most obvious place where you will see improvement. Dancing is a first choice for many people as a supplement to going to the gym or other exercise, mainly because it's so much fun you're not even aware of many calories you are burning. Continue reading "The Benefits of Dancing"
How Many Dance Lessons Until I’m ‘Good?’
So, you walk in, nervous and excited the day of your first set of dance lessons, and take in the breath-taking sight of talented dancers gliding across the floor. You secretly promise yourself you’ll be better than all of them in half the time. So naturally, when your instructor asks if you have any questions, the first thing that pops out is: ‘How long until I’m good?’ Continue reading "How Many Dance Lessons Until I’m ‘Good?’"
Finding the Rhythm in Ballroom Dance Music
Not all music is created equal - at least some of the time, finding the rhythm in ballroom dance music is tough. But if you’re new to the scene, what do we mean when we talk about rhythm anyways? And how can we get consistent enough to follow it, no matter the song? Continue reading "Finding the Rhythm in Ballroom Dance Music"
Ballroom Dance Classes: Groups or Privates?
Groups or privates: which is better? If your vision of great ballroom dance classes is learning while socializing with a like-minded community, group classes are probably best. Or, if you enjoy honing your skill with a personalized approach, private lessons are the way to go.
But it’s not always that easy - let’s look at the pros and cons of each. Continue reading "Ballroom Dance Classes: Groups or Privates?"
Danciquette 101: How to avoid hurting (or getting hurt) on the dance floor
Who likes a dance where the leader is crushing your hand, while whipping you hard enough around you know you’ll need an extra chiropractic appointment this week? I don’t either.
If your partner is someone you know well, it’s usually okay to ask him or her to change before any permanent damage is done. But bringing up the issue with a stranger presents a difficult situation: How do we avoid offending our partner, while still getting across that they need to try something different? And if you’re the leader, how can you tell if you are doing something that’s bothering your partner? Continue reading "Danciquette 101: How to avoid hurting (or getting hurt) on the dance floor"
Social Ballroom Dancing: A Survival Guide
So, you’ve attended a few group classes, learned the basics of moving your partner (or being moved) around the floor, and generally starting to feel like maybe your vision of becoming a sharp and sexy dancer might not be a total pipe-dream after all. Time to take it to a social ballroom dancing club, right?
Well, yes, but there’s a few things you should probably know before you run out the door. Continue reading "Social Ballroom Dancing: A Survival Guide"