Dancing Classes Blog

Dance has been an important part of rituals, celebrations and entertainment since before the birth of human civilization. In the beginning, before we had written language to record things, the purpose of dance was often to tell stories and to pass them down to future generations.

The story of dancing in Cuba

In Cuba, as in ancient times, dance tells its own story. The passion and energy of Cuban dance reveals the strength and conviction of the Cuban people, determined to enjoy life despite ‘la lucha’ (the struggle) of living in a strictly regulated country where the average monthly wage comes in at around 400 pesos – less than £10.

The richness of Cuban music and dancing also tells the story of Cuba’s melting pot of cultures. From the high-stepping flamenco brought by the Spanish settlers in the 15th century to the frenzied tribal dances of the West African slaves, dancing is in the blood of the Cuban people.

From the teenage girl in denim shorts to the cigar-seller on the street corner, Cubans are given to break into spontaneous dance steps. Furthermore, the people dancing on the streets of Havana are likely to be just as good as the professionals, because in Cuba dancing is simply a way of life.

The variety of Cuban dances

Cuba boasts a huge range of dances including classical ballet, contemporary, flamenco and folk dancing. But it is the partnered routines that appeared in Havana dancehalls between the 1920s and the 1950s – Salsa, rumba, mambo and cha-cha-cha – that can be seen in every Cuban bar, club and street. Of these, Salsa is the most popular dance internationally.

Since the name ‘Salsa’ (it’s Spanish for ’sauce’) was coined, Salsa dancing has exploded in popularity in Latin America and across the world. Salsa dancing classes are now hugely popular but to really get into the swing of it a Salsa holiday in Cuba itself is a must.

Tips for Cuban Salsa dancing

If you do take yourself on a Cuban holiday, you’ll have the unique experience of watching Cubans Salsa dancing. It sometimes appears that by some genetic aberration they have been born with super flexible joints, defying physics to carry out all the complex manoeuvres they have integrated into the dancing. Their remarkable twisting body movements and natural sense of rhythm will dazzle you.

If you have the right technique, Cuban Salsa is easier to learn than many other forms of dance. The basic footwork is a fairly simple walking motion, pausing every fourth beat, and there are some six basic steps you can follow to make sure you’re on the right tracks.

1 Relax

To dance Cuban Salsa well it is important not to rush, but to relax into the steps. Movements should be precise and deliberate in addition to being flowing and smooth.

2 Walk with purpose

Salsa dancing involves a continual circular motion. Couples walk around each other with an imaginary axis between them. This makes turns look smooth and effortless. Walking gives time to untangle your arms after each turn.

3 Have confidence in your lead

The leader (usually the man) should have constant tension in his arms, while his hands guide his Salsa dancing partner around the floor. There is no need to clamp onto each other’s hands, only to use the right amount of tension to provide a leading signal.

4 Be flexible when following

In order to follow well, ladies should try to match the tension of their partner. The exception to this is when arms need to be relaxed and flexible to complete arm-twisting Salsa moves without injury!

5 Keep balanced when you spin

The key to all the spectacular spins in Salsa is not to lose your balance. One way to do it is by spotting while you spin – focusing on one spot at each turn – an age-old dance technique.

6 Use your body

In Salsa dancing, ladies should make use of their body and be sensual, playful and creative. This can involve some creative arm movements, going with what feels right and basically showing off a bit. Enjoy!

Emma Lelliott
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/a-stepbystep-guide-to-cuban-salsa-285297.html

Dance has been an important part of rituals, celebrations and entertainment since before the birth of human civilization. In the beginning, before we had written language to record things, the purpose of dance was often to tell stories and to pass them down to future generations.

The story of dancing in Cuba

In Cuba, as in ancient times, dance tells its own story. The passion and energy of Cuban dance reveals the strength and conviction of the Cuban people, determined to enjoy life despite ‘la lucha’ (the struggle) of living in a strictly regulated country where the average monthly wage comes in at around 400 pesos – less than £10.

The richness of Cuban music and dancing also tells the story of Cuba’s melting pot of cultures. From the high-stepping flamenco brought by the Spanish settlers in the 15th century to the frenzied tribal dances of the West African slaves, dancing is in the blood of the Cuban people.

From the teenage girl in denim shorts to the cigar-seller on the street corner, Cubans are given to break into spontaneous dance steps. Furthermore, the people dancing on the streets of Havana are likely to be just as good as the professionals, because in Cuba dancing is simply a way of life.

The variety of Cuban dances

Cuba boasts a huge range of dances including classical ballet, contemporary, flamenco and folk dancing. But it is the partnered routines that appeared in Havana dancehalls between the 1920s and the 1950s – Salsa, rumba, mambo and cha-cha-cha – that can be seen in every Cuban bar, club and street. Of these, Salsa is the most popular dance internationally.

Since the name ‘Salsa’ (it’s Spanish for ’sauce’) was coined, Salsa dancing has exploded in popularity in Latin America and across the world. Salsa dancing classes are now hugely popular but to really get into the swing of it a Salsa holiday in Cuba itself is a must.

Tips for Cuban Salsa dancing

If you do take yourself on a Cuban holiday, you’ll have the unique experience of watching Cubans Salsa dancing. It sometimes appears that by some genetic aberration they have been born with super flexible joints, defying physics to carry out all the complex manoeuvres they have integrated into the dancing. Their remarkable twisting body movements and natural sense of rhythm will dazzle you.

If you have the right technique, Cuban Salsa is easier to learn than many other forms of dance. The basic footwork is a fairly simple walking motion, pausing every fourth beat, and there are some six basic steps you can follow to make sure you’re on the right tracks.

1 Relax

To dance Cuban Salsa well it is important not to rush, but to relax into the steps. Movements should be precise and deliberate in addition to being flowing and smooth.

2 Walk with purpose

Salsa dancing involves a continual circular motion. Couples walk around each other with an imaginary axis between them. This makes turns look smooth and effortless. Walking gives time to untangle your arms after each turn.

3 Have confidence in your lead

The leader (usually the man) should have constant tension in his arms, while his hands guide his Salsa dancing partner around the floor. There is no need to clamp onto each other’s hands, only to use the right amount of tension to provide a leading signal.

4 Be flexible when following

In order to follow well, ladies should try to match the tension of their partner. The exception to this is when arms need to be relaxed and flexible to complete arm-twisting Salsa moves without injury!

5 Keep balanced when you spin

The key to all the spectacular spins in Salsa is not to lose your balance. One way to do it is by spotting while you spin – focusing on one spot at each turn – an age-old dance technique.

6 Use your body

In Salsa dancing, ladies should make use of their body and be sensual, playful and creative. This can involve some creative arm movements, going with what feels right and basically showing off a bit. Enjoy!

Emma Lelliott
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/a-stepbystep-guide-to-cuban-salsa-285297.html

Nothing drives a man wilder than a sultry striptease by a sensuous woman. This video will teach every woman– regardless of age, size or experience—how she can discover her own seductive power and build her sexual self-confidence. Sinclair’s expert instructor and her class of 8 women learn how to perform with grace, style and confidence. Watch in explicit detail as the women put the moves on their real life partners. Included with this new DVD set is a CD (35 minutes) of the original music score from the video.

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Social Issues – Emotions and Feelings Juvenile / Children’s Fiction – Katy is heading to dance class and it’s never been so much fun! Children are sure to enjoy the adventures of this adorable dancing duck in an all-new story that features … – Katy Duck Goes to Dance Class (Books)

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font face=’Arial’ size=’2′ MOVEMENT AND DANCE DELIGHT! Nurture a child’s imagination, range of motion and balance with Ribbon Wands as they create shapes and patterns in the air for movement and dance activities. Each set includes satin ribbons with 9-1/4 quot; long matching glitter handles. Use the 3′ ribbons for pre-school and lower elementary students and the 6′ ribbons for upper elementary. Each set includes 1 of each color: Blue, Green, Orange, Purple, Red and Yellow. /font p br/ /p hr/ span class=’ebay’ On Jun-11-09 at 07:38:54 PDT, seller added the following information: /span center center br/ br/ /center /center

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Perfect for competitions and camp, the Autograph Ballet Pillow by Three Cheers for Girls is a wonderful keepsake she’ll keep for many years to come. She can get all of her little dancer friends to write their best wishes on this pillow. This soft pillow features satin appliqu ballet shoes with organza ribbons, glitter trim, and lots of room to collect autographs from your entire dance class. Includes permanent marker for signing. Features: • Satin appliqu ballet shoes with organza ribbons and glitter trim • Ample space for signatures and thoughts • Includes permanent marker for signatures • Color: White with Purple and Pink accents Size: 12″diameter

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So many dancers have views regarding on-line videos that are available on the internet. With so many discussing this new form of class, I feel it is essential to discuss this topic head on since my husband and I are pioneering video broadcast solutions.

For most dancers who are teachers there are two views that take precedent over this issue. One is excitement over the fact that there is another way to teach. The other is how abhorrent they are to the very idea. As a teacher myself I can understand both viewpoints but what I want to do with this article is to give those who don’t understand the benefits of on-line videos a different perspective.

First of all remember that with any new idea there will always be pro and con opinions. Knowing this the first thing that we did was to send out a survey that asked dancers a lot of questions regarding what they were getting out of class and what some of the problems were that they were experiencing in class. We than asked what they wanted more of in the classroom. Both of us were amazed at the information that came in from dancers here and abroad. The one thing that all the women who wrote in had in common was their passion about belly dance and how excited they were to voice their opinions in the survey.

We than sent out another survey asking what they would like to see in an on-line video. Because of the information that we received I was able to look at my curriculum and format it to fit the camera better.

Addressing a specific problem on video as we all know is different so you have to work out the solution to the problem in a way dancers and students can understand.

Information is a key element in creating any dance video for students/ dancers, so the idea that videos are created without knowledge is fiction.

I know what many of you are thinking, that nothing can beat a live class with a dance teacher there to help you. I totally agree with you but let’s focus on the emails I received from dancers who had no teacher in their area or lived too far away from anyone who taught or they worked late and were busy raising their families. It was so apparent in the emails I received that these women wanted to learn belly dance but because of the reasons I mentioned they found they couldn’t. The on-line classes than became the solution to their various problems with their schedules, locations and families.

I also received emails from dancers who wanted to learn from other teachers but they wanted to do it in the privacy of their own home.

Others wanted to have classes created for them outside of their studios adding to what they were already learning. This all brings to mind the conversations regarding a very specific question, “How do you know the student is dancing correctly and how can you teach them without seeing their posture?” It is called feedback and it is the one thing that keeps the communication going between student and teacher. They get phone calls from me and emails. Any problem the student may have is addressed in the beginning and I have questions that I ask so that I can get a better idea of what they want. The video I make for them is created in my mind as if they were right there in the same room with me.

The idea that there is no feedback between the student and teacher is fiction.

Many people have commented that the economy is in such a state that maybe on-line classes are more in the range of dancers pocket books.

This is definitely one reason why on-line videos may be the new way to teach but there is also many other reasons. First of all dancers can get their curriculum out to the masses before they travel and teach their workshops. If people don’t know you, how will they find you? There are so many good teachers in our community and abroad who are not as well known as they should be. This is also a good way for dancers to see teachers they might have never known about otherwise.

Another advantage to on-line videos is that they are a less expensive way to get your curriculum, choreography out to dancers without having to fork out a lot of money to produce a dance video. Marketing your videos after you have spent a small fortune can hike up your investment to the point you may not make back your money. Believe me, I learned this the hard way myself. Once I put up my instructional video on-line I started to see a return on my money…..thank God!

The idea that on-line videos save money and are economical for the viewer/student is fact.

The format is very important in presenting your product so that the viewer can see the class from every angle along with the lighting, sound and curriculum. Most people who think about putting classes up on the internet might think that all they have to do is get a video camera and shoot a class. It really does take a lot more thought than that and you have to understand your own ability to teach first before you can than go and resolve problems or teach a class requested by a student. Once you start teaching on-line, you than need to have a type of tech support that doesn’t get in the way of your teaching. There are problems that can come up with the videos and you have to act fast to take care of whatever comes up. You have to guarantee your product and back it up, period. Adding to this is learning how to market your on-line classes. This means getting your newsletter/ blog out to your students and keeping up a rapport with them. Before you decide to teach on-line classes I would suggest you figure out first what exactly it is you want to achieve than go in that direction.

The idea that you can get a video camera and start shooting and creating classes is fiction. If you want to help women dance you must first know how to dance.

The bottom line is that creating on-line classes isn’t always easy because you have to understand the technical side to what you are doing which includes editing your work and than making sure that you have a quality video all the way around. I work very hard at each class that I do for dancers and students. What I offer is what I wish I would have had in the early days when I was working cattle in old Mexico. I was in the middle of nowhere practicing in pastures, ranches or around my horses. If I would have had an on-line class believe me I would of went for it. With that being said I will say again that on-line classes do not take the place of a live teacher but when you have no other options, on-line classes can be a life saver. I had a dancer write me and tell me that she would get home from work, cook dinner and get the kids to bed. Than she would take time for herself at around 11:00pm at night and take my on-line classes.

She said it was her “alone” time and she couldn’t wait to start dancing. There are many ways for us to learn what ever it is we are passionate about and it is for women like this dancer that I do on- line classes.

The idea that on-line classes will never take the place of a live teacher in a studio is a fact.

For women like the one I mentioned the on-line classes helped her enjoy her solitude and for her and many other women on-line classes have their place adding to the widespread education of belly dance and its history.

On

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line classes were never meant to take the place of live classes, they are a needed option in todays world and with emails like the one I mentioned it’s obvious to me women need this ancient art form now more than ever.

Leyla Najma
http://www.articlesbase.com/online-promotion-articles/online-video-fact-and-fiction-669457.html

5′3″ x 7′6″ price shown. Kokopelli Dance Area Rugs enhance your floors with delightful kokopellis and leaping lizards. Machine made of 100% polypropylene, these southwestern rugs will please your feet! Floor accents, .5″ thick, have woven, heat set construction. Imported.southwestern rugs, southwest rugs, area rugs, southwest, decor, runner, area rug, themed, theme, western, kokopelli dance, kokopellis, rug, rectangle, rugs, united weavers, hand-hooked, southwest, lizards, geometric, polypropylene, united weavers,, Southwest, 5×6 to 5×9, , Area Rugs Southwest Rugs

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If you want an exercise that will keep you in shape and that is good for your heart as well, consider tap dancing. The beauty of tap dancing is that the basic steps are easy to learn and you can add your own flair and touches to make it fun for you. Just 20 minutes of tap dancing three times per week is enough to improve your health and get you back into shape.

The first thing that you need for tap dancing is, of course, tap shoes. You can find tap shoes online or at a local dance store. Tap shoes have metal on the toes and heels that make a “tapping” sound when ever you stomp on them. You can also make your own tap shoes. You can basically use any shoe that you want to use from a dance shoe to boots. Once you have chosen your shoe, you can buy taps and put them on the bottom of your shoe. Before you put your taps in place permanently, make sure that they are on the correct place on your shoe as shoes have different soles and shapes.

You can learn tap dancing by taking a class or by teaching yourself with a video. Tap classes are available for all ages from toddlers to senior citizens. There are different types of classes as well. Some use jazz, others use big band type music and one of the most popular tap classes around now uses tapping with hip hop music. If you choose to learn to tap on your own, research videos before purchasing one. Read reviews and make sure that it is for beginners and also has the kind of music you like. The more a video is geared towards the type of music and exercise you want, the more likely you are to use it.

You need to use a solid surface for tap dancing. Taps can scratch hard wood floors, so you might want to purchase a sold surface to use when tapping. You can actually purchase hard “mats” for practicing your tap.

The more you use your arms, the better the cardiovascular workout. Be sure to do slow tapping at the beginning of your workout to warm-up and slow tapping at the end to cool down. The best way to strain muscles and injure yourself is to jump right into tapping without stretching or warming up. Tapping is excellent for coordination and balance as well. You can learn to tap on one foot or tap your feet alternately with your hands.

Tap dancing is a traditional dance that can be made contemporary by using popular music and more modern steps. It is a fun thing to do by yourself or to learn with a partner. A great cardiovascular workout and great way to keep in shape, tapping might be the perfect exercise option for you.

Tim Shank
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/tap-dancing-is-a-good-cardiovascular-exercise-35318.html

There is no person who does not love to dance. Dancing is a specialized skill that is an art of expressing one’s feelings and emotions. There are various dance forms out of which tap dance is the popular dance forms these days. Tap dance is one of the well-liked dance forms in which there is a tapping sound made. These tapping sounds are made when the dancer’s shoes that have metal plates touch some hard surface. The dancers produce musical sounds and are popularly known as percussive musicians.

There are various dance academies that are providing training to the people and making them proficient in various dance forms. There are varied options for people who wish to exercise and keep their body in shape. The dance academies also provide the people with tap dance lessons and make them familiar with all the possible aspects of tap dancing that includes improvisation, creativeness as well as step timings.

It is very easy to learn the basic steps of tap dancing and one can further add flair and touch to the basic steps. The tap dance lessons are proved beneficial for the people even if they are not so good at dancing or for those who know nothing about tap dancing. There are professional dancers that are there in the various dance schools and are giving the aspiring dancers the tap dance classes. In most of the tap dance classes there are tap dance videos of the trained dancers that help the people in hearing the beats and dancing with rhythm. Furthermore, they train the dancers with some warm up techniques that is followed by dance routines. With the progression of the tap dance classes, the dancers are taught other new moves to make them proficient in the tap dance steps.

With these tap dancing professionals that train the dancers and help them how to tap dance, the aspiring dancers can become one of the renowned tap dancers that can be featured in the popular dance videos. For the one who wishes to learn to tap dance, they must have the idea clear in their mind that tap dancing is more than knowing the way in which the dance moves are made. It might extend to the styling of those moves so that the dancer looks as well as feels good. It not only makes the person dance but they also have an exercise at the same time.

There are many of the people who feel shy to enrol themselves in the tap dance classes and learn to tap dance as they don’t have the confidence to face the audience. For the people who are unable to get along with the dance schools but wish to get the training of how to tap dance, tap dance videos are the best solution for them. There are tap dance DVDs that are available in various series that have different teaching levels that includes the basic dancing steps, intermediate and the difficult level dancing.  The cardio dance DVD has a complete range of dance steps and gives a complete guidance on how to start. Tap dance is basically the cardio dance that enables the work out of the whole body. The cardio dance DVD is made available to the people who are willing to work hard to exercise and loose weight.

Eli Newsom
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/tap-dancing-sessions-for-rhythmic-and-healthy-life-1147183.html