Ready for more punishment? Today, we look at three new dance exercises that improve your balance on turns and rise and fall, so you can handle the more complicated dance maneuvers with style. Continue reading "More Dance Exercises for Balance"
How to do a Dance Turn: Reverse and Natural Turns
Wrapping up our series on how to do a dance turn, we’re targeting the reverse and natural turns, those smooth and elegant rotations of the smooth/standard arena. Before we get into how to do these dance turns though, what’s the difference between them? Continue reading "How to do a Dance Turn: Reverse and Natural Turns"
The Secrets of the Chaine Turn
Now that you’re a pivot turn pro (or at least on the way), we can look at the more challenging chaine turn. Used in jazz and ballet, as well as ballroom, chaine turn give speed and snap to your turns, and are often found in faster rhythm/Latin dances like cha cha or salsa. Continue reading "The Secrets of the Chaine Turn"
Ballroom Dance Spins: Pivots VS ‘Pivoting Actions’
We’ve set the stage with an intro to general turning technique, as well as the 5 elements that we can change to give our dance spins a different look and feel. Now, we’re finally ready to upgrade the actual dance spins we use in our dances. Previously, we looked at the spot turn, and how to make it work. Let’s try something a little more advanced: the pivots and pivoting actions. Continue reading "Ballroom Dance Spins: Pivots VS ‘Pivoting Actions’"
The 5 Elements of a Good Dance Spin
Now that we’ve looked at the basics of how turns work and how they differ between rhythm and smooth dance styles, what are the qualities behind a well-executed dance spin? As you practice, you will gradually increase your mastery over each of these 5 elements, allowing you to make every turn unique, and uniquely yours. Continue reading "The 5 Elements of a Good Dance Spin"
The Secrets to Making a Perfect Dance Turn
Whether it’s a slow waltz or a blazingly fast salsa, turns, spins, pivots and other types of rotations are a part of every dance style. Want to improve your balance, make snappier dance turns, or just sound smart talking about them to your buddies? Let’s start by taking a detailed look at a how a dance turn actually works. Continue reading "The Secrets to Making a Perfect Dance Turn"
Dizziness Cures for the Dancer
Yes dancers, we’ve all felt it, we all fear it. Dizziness can instantly turn any ballroom dance from fun to terrifying, as we suddenly clutch our partner, afraid we’ll be carried to the floor at any moment. But there is help - dizziness cures we can use for both the beginner and the experienced dancer to enjoy a dance without fear. Continue reading "Dizziness Cures for the Dancer"
Dancing Exercises for Any Level
Like a certain Depeche Mode song, there’s some techniques in dancing you just can’t get enough of. Tricky body movements that can take a lifetime of training to master. Here’s some common dancing exercises worth adding to your routine. Continue reading "Dancing Exercises for Any Level"
Cross-Training: Upgrade Your Ballroom Dance Technique
Ever watched a show like ‘So You Think You Can Dance?’ or ‘Dancing With the Stars’, and wondered how they were able to pick up so many dances at once? Yes, they’ve had some prior training in both cases, but still, could you dance lyrical, samba, and Bollywood after a few weeks of practice? Continue reading "Cross-Training: Upgrade Your Ballroom Dance Technique "
How to Improve Your Dancing Without Help, Part 2
Now that we’ve a general idea of how to get the most from your dance practice, let’s look at three common issues all dancers face and how to resolve them by asking questions and experimenting.
To improve your dancing without an instructor, you must be patient and observant of what feels comfortable, balanced, and smooth… and what does not. Continue reading "How to Improve Your Dancing Without Help, Part 2"