Dance Lesson Blog

Group salsa lessons are a fun, social, and affordable way to learn how to salsa dance. Some group classes can be as large as 40 people or as small as 5. The average class size at 15-20 people and oftentimes students are required to rotate partners through out the evening. If you’re a guy, this helps you learn to lead different women. If you’re girl, this helps you learn how to follow different leading styles. Students who take group classes on regular basis also form friendships and there is no better place to meet a potential dance partner then in a salsa class.

People who get a lot out of group salsa classes are usually very good at following directions and well coordinated. People who are active in martial arts, yoga, sports, or other forms of dancing usually can follow their dance instructor with relative ease. On the other hand, people who are poorly coordinated may find themselves struggling to keep up in their first few classes.

That is the unavoidable downside of group lessons. They are a one size fits all solution. I teach a weekly salsa class in Times Square that ranges from 15-30 people. I have to teach at a pace that accommodates everyone in the room. Therefore some people will feel the class is too fast while others may feel the class is too slow. The other downside of group salsa lessons is the instructor can’t give you individual attention. That means if your executing a move incorrectly, the instructor may not even notice because he/she is watching the entire class and not just you. Having that critical eye focused only upon you is why you may want to consider spending a little more for private salsa instruction.

Private salsa lesssons usually cost some where in the range of $80 – $100. It’s about 4x more than what you would pay for a group class. On the other hand, students who take private lessons learn at a much quicker pace and can cut your learning curve in half. The instructor has his/her attention focused on teaching you and you only which will prevent you from picking up bad habits. Most people pick up bad habits with out knowing it. Small things like not being wary of your posture or moving your hips the wrong way take a very long time to unlearn once they have become a habit. A good salsa instructor will keep you on the right path and weed out any potential bad habits at the first sign. Thus a student who wants to have a more refined technique and accelerate their learning ought to take private salsa lessons.

Private salsa lessons are also the way to go if you are not some one who learns well in large groups. The most important thing for an absolute beginner is to have a proper foundation. People who are new to salsa and have a below average sense of coordination may find themselves struggling to keep up in a group class. If this is the case, consider a few one on one sessions at a pace that you feel comfortable with. You can take group classes once you have developed a good grasp of the basics. The great thing about private salsa classes is that they can be custom tailored to meet your needs. You may want to take private lessons for any of these reasons listed: 1. You’re an absolute beginner and need things broken down more. 2. You already know the basics but find yourself unable to move past a sticking point. 3. You want to further refine your technique beyond what your group classes can offer.

The one main benefit that group classes have over private lessons is the opportunity to practice with many different dance partners. Learning to follow and learning to lead is a skill that develops over time through experience. One must practice with many different people in order to gain the experience necessary to develop this ability. I believe the optimal way to learn is to take both private and group lessons hand in hand. This gives you the critical one on one attention along with regular partner-work experience.

- Todd Chen

Todd
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/private-salsa-lessons-vs-group-salsa-lessons-706767.html

Making parenting fun can be a challenge sometimes. There are a number of reasons why it can be a challenge including the endless hours, the stress and of course those less than perfect times when no one is cooperating. But, how can you make even these times more enjoyable? There is a variety of ways that you can give kids fun without making everything child’s play. In other words, you can definitely help your children to enjoy themselves, learn and grow, while still following the rules.

Before you read these methods for making parenting fun, keep in mind that you should have some ground rules in place. There should always be a rule about respecting each other. Lay down the rules about safety. Even in the most fun games, there are rules to follow. The same thing is true for parenting. You need to establish what the rules will be, then you can have fun within them. Here are some ideas for making learning fun.

#1: Sing a Song

Most parents will want children to learn responsibility and how to care for their things. Even children as young as two and three can be taught to put their things away. But, chores are no fun. They can lead to temper tantrums too. A good way to overcome this is to introduce some music. Talk to your child about the reasons that they do have to help out and contribute to the family by doing their chores. Then, make it fun.

Let them know that they have until the song ends to clean up all the toys on the floor. · Give them the chance to sing their favorite song while they put their clothing away. · Have your kids dance away their toys: they pick up the toys, do a few twirls and put them right into the toys box!

Making music part of the process relaxes everyone and still gets the job done. It can be one of the best ways to motivate your child.

#2: Get Down There With Them

Children want to know that mom and dad are people that they love to be around. If you are the type of parent that just tells your kids what to do, let loose. Get down on the floor and play with them. Get out the board games or play a game of charades. You are still being a parent, but, you are spending quality time with your children that they will remember for the long term. This is one of the best ways to teach kids to act, too. They will follow your lead over anyone else’s.

#3: Invite Them Into The Kitchen

Cooking, cleaning, homework…the kitchen is a place where a lot of things happen. Get your kids involved with what you do in the kitchen, too. Older children can even learn to cook, or at least help to make cookies. You are making parenting fun by instilling these skills into your child, but also you are doing something with them.

#4: Tell Stories

There will be times when parenting is not fun. It could be a time when you just can’t find the right words to say, such as when someone gets hurt or when there is an argument. In these times, you can still make parenting fun by explaining through story telling. It can be hard to understand, for example, why the family pet passed away, but when you explain how you felt, what you did, and what happened to you when you were a child and lost your first pet, then your children will understand too. Sure, the topic is not fun, but the way you give the lesson can be. Children latch on to these memories and educational bits far more than the lessons they learn at school.

#5: Be Flexible

Physically, it is important to be flexible with the kids (nothing like fighting with a child that seems to have more limbs than he should.) At the same time, be flexible with your child on a daily basis. Kids have fun when you incorporate fun activities into their day. Bend the rules. Be a little late if it means doing something fun. Here are some ideas.

Ride a bike to school with the kids once a week. · Have a picnic in the backyard if you can’t make it to the park. · Play a game of football with the kids in the yard: you versus all of them. · Help them with their homework instead of hounding them to get it done. · Take the family to the park you used to play at. · Get in a water gun fight with them or a water balloon fight. · Play tag. · Let them stay up late if they don’t have to get up in the morning and tell ghost stories together.

The more creative you can be as a parent, the more fun kids will have. Making parenting fun is not only fun for your child, but it can be fun for you. Imagine the memories you are creating with each one of these fun activities for kids. Chances are good these things will stick with your child. The rules are followed, but the kids are also having fun.

Ivana Katz
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/5-ways-to-make-parenting-fun-719531.html

General Family & Relationships – …a look at what mothering feels like from the inside, demonstrating how kids are the best teacher’s of life’s most profound spiritual lessons…includes personal tales and … – Mother Dance: How Children Change Your Life (Books)

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When learning to dance people often immediately think of one of two things, the typical children’s dance school type classes such as ballet, tap, and jazz, or formal dance instructions for adults that typically center around ballroom type dancing including such forms as the Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, or Rumba.

When considering dance as a formal occupation or even as an enjoyable pastime the best way to start is with ballet. Ballet is actually the center of all dances and can be incorporated into any style from the elegant ballroom types to hip hop street dancing.

All dancing styles will help to develop balance, dexterity, and grace and also give the dancer a sense of camaraderie with fellow participants and an active and socially engaging way to develop their personal lives.

While there are many styles of dance that are interpretive such as African and hip hop, most other forms of dance require a structured design and the learning of particular steps and movements. The usual progression from ballet to other forms is seamless and easy as ballet gives the dancer a backdrop to base all of the other movements on.
Many enthusiasts of the sport of ballroom dancing have a formal background in ballet and jazz. Using the styles and movements of the classical dance arts help to enhance the steps in ballroom dancing giving them a more elegant flair.

Competitions for ballroom dancing can be found globally all through the year and more and more competitions for other forms of dancing are gaining in popularity as well.

For more information on theater and performing arts, visit http://www.performingarts.asia.

For more information on reality tv, visit http://www.realitytv.asia.

 

 

John Parks
http://www.articlesbase.com/theater-articles/dance-lessons-learn-these-styles-first-535846.html

Many families take vacations during the holidays, but travel isn’t necessary for you and your family to enjoy a “holiday of a lifetime.” However, since interests range so widely among different people, we will break this article in half and give you six top tips for a holiday vacation, and six top tips for general holiday wonderfulness!

Since the first set of tips does involve some cost (perhaps a great deal), the tips will focus on getting the highest value for the money, which is a bit different than just trying to spend the least amount of money. For penny-pinchers, of course, these tips will serve as pointers to money-saving deals and ideas. There is a lot to be learned about traveling on a budget, by everyone, regardless of what you want to spend.

The other “general” holiday tips will concentrate on bringing the family together, as opposed to spending money and not getting involved in any more than wrapping a present. The holidays are for kids and families, first of all, so there will be some ideas on how to have fun and enjoy other. Since most people get to the end of their lives and wish they’d spent more time with family, following some of these general, family-oriented tips truly could be a life-changing experience.

Vacation and travel tips

Here are the best six tips for setting up a holiday vacation of a lifetime:

Stop searching and be found – The advent of RSS (Real Simple Syndication) news feeds means that news, information and web resources will be sent to you by subscription. When you find a great source for tickets, lodging or vacation packages, look for the small, orange, square button in your browser toolbar, or search the site for “RSS,” then click and set up your “feed.” In Internet Explorer, your feeds can be found in your IE favorites area.

Let your email help – These same sites may also send regular newsletter or sales announcements by email, and sites without RSS will normally offer this service. Subscribe to some good, reputable sites and the information will be delivered to you daily, weekly or (sometimes) on a schedule of your choosing.

Comparison shopping – There are various sites, like traveljungle.com or travelsupermarket.com, where you can compare offerings from travel agencies and brokers from around the world. That holiday vacation of a lifetime just might be part of a package deal that you will find this way.

Forget the hotel bill – The less you spend on accommodations, the more you can spend skiing or sailing or trekking around the island of Malta. If “home exchange” sounds like a strange concept to you, do some Googling and you will discover that it is a low-cost way for travelers to trade their house in New Jersey for a small villa in Spain. Homes can even come with a car, or household help, as part of a package deal, so check on this option carefully at such websites as Digsville. This site, like similar ones, has listings around the world. A beachfront bungalow in the South Pacific, a ranch home in the wilds of Australia or an apartment in central Tokyo can be yours with the right trade, the right timing and the right arrangements.

Skip the driving – If you’re going to vacation in a big city, you can probably have a great time without a car. Driving a car overseas can be stressful and public transportation, bikes and taxis are all possible replacements. This is also a good way to “go native” and see how the locals really live day to day.

Discount dining – If your vacation trip will be a few weeks or more, consider preparing some of your own meals. You can save a good deal of money since eating out three times a day can add up quickly. Shopping at local markets and food stores is also a fabulous way to learn the language, interact with the local culture and meet the “real people” of the country, instead of the country’s tourism professionals.

Family holiday tips

There are more ways to create a memorable holiday season than traveling. Staying home and enjoying family is always a popular holiday plan. Here are some interesting tips on creating a holiday to remember.

Create gift certificates – You can make your own gift certificates to give people what they really want, or really need. Try giving a coworker a certificate for a home-cooked meal, or gift certificate of babysitting so a friend or family member can enjoy a day or night off. For children, you can make gift cards for family bike rides, board game tournaments or breakfast in bed. Not only are these gifts cost-effective, they promote the bonds of friendship, and isn’t that a great gift?

Turn on the tunes – After a holiday dinner, you can work off some of the pumpkin pie by dancing as a group, playing musical chairs or having “the youngsters” show the “old timers” all the new dance steps. Conversely, parents can teach their children the dance steps that were popular in “the old days.”

Energetic kid stuff – You can design a family “obstacle course” in the back yard that could include hula hoops, calisthenics, jumping jacks and other activities. No one has to compete with anyone else, it can just be for fun – as well as some great photo opportunities.

Walk together for a good cause – Find a charity walk-a-thon to join together, as a couple, a family or even in a neighborhood contingent. If you find an event a few months into the New Year, it can help participants stay motivated on their New Year’s Resolutions.

Healthy cooking feast – Get the family and/or a group of friends together for a healthy holiday meal, where everyone can participate in making the holiday feast. You can enjoy a party atmosphere while learning healthy new recipes for the New Year.

Stories, new and old – Sit together around a fireplace, or the after-dinner table, and have everyone tell a personal story with a holiday theme. Even better, talk about the stories that you are creating that very day, and imagine how it will be 10 or 15 years hence to talk about this particular night.

It’s all about people

The holidays do not have to be an over-commercialized nightmare of buying, wrapping, giving and getting presents. Not all gifts come in packages, and people of all ages can stand to learn this lesson again, even if for the 100th time: Holidays are about people, the people you live with, love and would miss if they moved (or passed) away.

Be grateful for family, friends and community during the holidays. Whether you travel to the Bahamas, or no farther than your living room, what matters is being grateful for the time together and using it to best advantage. Be slow to anger, quick to forgive and ready to do a kindness, and your holidays will be special whether you have a dollar or a million of them. Remember what is truly valuable, and you will keep things in their proper perspective.

Ben Jackson
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/12-top-tips-to-planning-your-holiday-of-a-lifetime-732397.html

what would one usually wear?
i’m a rhythmless beginner… how many lessons does one usually need to be able to at least fake it on the dance floor?

anything else you can tell me to expect?

You do not need to dress as though you are on ‘strictly dancing’. A skirt or dress that is loose enough around the legs to allow you free movement, Basically just an everyday skirt/dress is sufficient.
The really important piece of clothing is your shoes. If you are serious about learning then invest in a pair of dance shoes. The soles are designed specifically for dance. They are made of suede leather to allow you to twist, slide and glide. They should have straps of some sort in order to stay properly attached to your feet (you don’t want to twist your ankle!). There are two types of dance shoe, one for Latin and one for ballroom, They are not too distinct from each other and will serve both purposes until you are proficient.
I laughed when I read ‘how many lessons before I can fake it’. Trust me, after private lessons you will NOT need to fake it nor will you want to. You will follow the routine just as taught.
How many lessons you will need will depend on (a) how good your teacher is (b) how fast you can learn (c) your enthusiasm and commitment (d) how much practise you put in between lessons.
Your teacher will start you off on simple basic steps for each of the different dances, probably two dances a lesson. I would gamble he/she will start you off with the Cha Cha cha.
If I had to guess, I would suggest that you will feel confident enough to take to the floor and do basic moves for most latin dances within 6-8 weeks, assuming a 1 hour lesson per week.
What can you expect?….. Once you can dance basic latin (and ballroom) you will gain massive confidence on any social occasion where dancing is going on.
In my opinion there is no other social or leisure activity to touch it.

P.S And don’t look at your feet when you learn. You can’t look at your feet and balance at the same time! (lol)

 

When learning to dance people often immediately think of one of two things, the typical children’s dance school type classes such as ballet, tap, and jazz, or formal dance instructions for adults that typically center around ballroom type dancing including such forms as the Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, or Rumba.

When considering dance as a formal occupation or even as an enjoyable pastime the best way to start is with ballet. Ballet is actually the center of all dances and can be incorporated into any style from the elegant ballroom types to hip hop street dancing.

All dancing styles will help to develop balance, dexterity, and grace and also give the dancer a sense of camaraderie with fellow participants and an active and socially engaging way to develop their personal lives.

While there are many styles of dance that are interpretive such as African and hip hop, most other forms of dance require a structured design and the learning of particular steps and movements. The usual progression from ballet to other forms is seamless and easy as ballet gives the dancer a backdrop to base all of the other movements on.
Many enthusiasts of the sport of ballroom dancing have a formal background in ballet and jazz. Using the styles and movements of the classical dance arts help to enhance the steps in ballroom dancing giving them a more elegant flair.

Competitions for ballroom dancing can be found globally all through the year and more and more competitions for other forms of dancing are gaining in popularity as well.

For more information on theater and performing arts, visit http://www.performingarts.asia.

For more information on reality tv, visit http://www.realitytv.asia.

 

 

John Parks
http://www.articlesbase.com/theater-articles/dance-lessons-learn-these-styles-first-535846.html

Tango at La Viruta Buenos Aires from Jet Set Life on Vimeo.

Filling the void (when work is removed) brings us to some interesting places around the world. The most recent of which is taking a Tango lesson at La Viruta Armenian Cultural Center in Buenos Aires. The idea for this came straight from the Oracle himself-Tim Ferriss. If you prefer watching video over reading text, then watch the video above and for a good laugh go to minute X and watch Kim’s head tilting to show me where to move next. It’s hysterical. I don’t expect Dancing with The Stars to be calling anytime soon. I’m getting ahead of myself here.

In reading Tim’s fantastic book the Four Hour Work Week he talks about becoming a champion Tango dancer (on a mini-retirement to Buenos Aires) and how he trained at a Milonga called La Viruta. What’s a Milonga you ask? I asked the same question. By definition a Milonga is-a term for a place where Tango is danced. I thought, well, O.K. that seems clear enough.

Kim and I sat down at the beginning of the year and created our 2008 dreamline. In the ‘do’ category we decided to list ‘take a tango lesson at La Viruta Armenian Cultural Center in Buenos Aires’. We really had no idea what to expect and wanted to be surprised.

So, here’s how it goes down. The Milonga itself doesn’t really get started until around midnight. If you want to take a lesson you get there at around 11 p.m. You purchase a ticket at the door for a beginner, intermediate or an advanced class. Have a drink at the bar and wait for them to call your class. Oh yeah, it’s all in Spanish. I mean entirely. Not a word of English to be heard anywhere.

Our group (maybe about 20 people) was called to the dance floor and our lesson began. We had two instructors, a male (I think it was Lorenzo Llamas) and a female (I’m pretty certain she was Penelope Cruz- and BTW very pregnant). Our instructors give us very detailed and very fast instructions in perfect Argentine Spanish. Of which I understood – Zippo. The good news is that they demonstrate a set of Tango steps for us to mimic. The bad news is I couldn’t mimic squat.

After an hour of a hysterically funny and embarrassing Tango lesson it was time for the Milonga to begin. Imagine people ranging from 20 to 90 years old showing up at around midnight and dancing Tango until the sun rises the next morning. It’s really quite an experience. Everyone Tangos in a counter clockwise direction in amazingly beautiful synchronicity.

It got me thinking about life. It cost us five bucks to get in and 2 cocktails at the bar. That’s it. I say, don’t wait until retirement to experience all there is in the world. Use a mini-retirement to sample your deferred life plan NOW! It’s worth it. I promise.

Robert Murgatroyd
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/filling-the-void-tango-lesson-at-la-viruta-in-buenos-aires-710694.html

i want to take dance (standard ballroom) lesson in london , i wanna to become dance athlete..I have a certificate from alliance of united kingdom professional dance teachers of dancing/ United kingdom alliance so where i can take dance lesson ??

Do you know Paul harris ?? I wonder if he can teach me ??

you could try pineapple

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