Getting Into The Groove

Dancing is not only a sport, it's a way to express or even release emotion. While taking a class or dancing on the floor, stop for a second and really listen to the music. What's it saying? What does the rhythm feel like? I don't just mean fast or slow. I mean, find the adjective. Is it happy, sad, sensual, funky, frisky, silly, groovy, flirty, distinguished, aggressive, commanding, elegant or graceful? How does the music speak to you? When you hear the feeling or mood, set the same tone in your dancing. If it's smooth and sultry, dance smooth and sultry. If it's elegant and drawn, dance with grace and elongate your movements to match the draw of the timing. If it's aggressive and commanding of attention, dance as though your a lion, matador, king or any intimidating thing you admire and yet are a little afraid of.

The point is, if you listen for the emotion, nine times out ten you will start to hear the music, the beat and the syncopations being offered to dance to. Your body will suddenly start to pace itself to rhyme with the music as if it were a reflection. The emotion creates the energy your body needs to get into the groove.

Stretch Your Body

I found this site where there is a great amount of detail in the "how to's" of every dance related stretch. Check it out.

120 Dance Stretches
click here

Learning the basics

I believe that learning the basics of many dances at once, is really the most mentally challenging time as a dancer. It takes a lot of effort to comprehend just one dance let alone ten. However, once you've grasped the basics and timing of each dance, everything becomes much easier to learn. Suddenly it's not always left foot forward, right foot side, left foot close, then step side to the right foot and back with the left foot, next replace weight to the right, etc. etc. It then becomes a half a basic box to an open break! Done and might I say, "Way easier!!!"

Spotting Turns

It is essential to spot while dancing through any type of turn. "Spotting" is the use of the eyes focusing on a definite point (usually at eye level) while turning. To do this, the head is the last to move as the body turns away from the spotting point and the first to arrive back to the spotting point as the body quickly catches up. You may also use your partner's eyes to spot. This will help secure a landing position as well.

Practice spotting while brushing your teeth. Take itsy-bitsy steps rotating in a small cirlce. Look at your eyes in the mirror and keep looking at them while your feet & body are turning. Keep looking at yourself as long as your neck can physically able you to do so. As soon as you feel like you can't look any more, bring the head around to other side (as if looking over your shoulder), find yourself in the mirror again and then catch the body up to finish the rest of the turn. Turns should go as follows - spot, body, spot, body

This will eliminate the dizziness felt while turning.

There's no need to be a wallflower any longer!

Let's face it, dancing is intimidating for many people. Does this internal dialogue sound familiar?

It seems like everyone knows what they're doing except for me. Look at them; they're having so much fun. I feel like I have no rhythm. I wouldn't even know what to do if I did get on the floor. It's so much easier being a wallflower even though I'm not having any fun. I wish I could just get out there and dance.

The next time you start this mind bending chatter, think about the following. Studies have proved that the eye naturally tends to seek out aesthetically pleasing colors and shapes. Therefore, when you think everyone is a great dancer except for you, it's because your eyes are naturally finding the ones who truly are. And yet, if you take a moment to really look around the room, usually there are only a couple of highly trained dancers and everyone else is just having fun shaking what they're mama gave them. ;)

So get off that wall and dance, shake, groove, tap, whatever it takes to enjoy yourself. It's the most fun to dance with someone having fun.

Tango - Beginners Routine

Tango Basic

• Lead

• Walk Forwards, Walk, Walk, Side, Close (keep weight on right foot)
• L R L R L
• Slow Slow Quick Quick Slow

• Follow

• Walk Backwards, Walk, Walk, Side, Close (keep weight on left foot)
• R L R L R
  
• Slow Slow Quick Quick Slow

Double Cortes (Rotating)
Promenade
Flare Promenade
Tango Rocks
La Puerta Fans

Cha Cha Beginners Routine

Side Basic

Lead

• Steps - side, back rock, side-together-side, forward rock, side-together-side, back rock
  
• Feet - L , R L , R - L - R , L R , L - R - L , R L
• Counts - 1, 2 3, 4 and 1, 2 3, 4 and 1, 2 3

Follow

• Steps - side, forward rock, side-together-side, back rock, side-together-side, forward rock
  
• Feet - R , L R , L - R - L , R L , R - L - R , L R
  
• Counts - 1, 2 3, 4 and 1, 2 3, 4 and 1, 2 3
  

Outside Partner Breaks
Basic
Cross Over Breaks with a Pivot Turn
Basic
Progressive Basic

The counts "4 and" is your Cha Cha. Therefore, it needs to be danced smaller and faster considering it really is two 1/2 beats that you're working with. The rock steps need to remain straight back and straight forward to remain to avoid stepping on each other's toes.

Triple Progressives w/ hand switch for styling
Progressive w/ Ladies Underarm Turn
Cross Body Lead
Open Break to Alternating Underarm Turns

Dance Routine T-Shirts

Hi Dancers!

Do you have a difficult time remembering what your routine is once the music comes on?


My line of DANCE ROUTINE T-shirts is now available! These are great cheat sheets to have your dance partner wear while drilling in a new routine.

Check them out!!!

There are several styles to choose from for men and women.

Also Available:
sweatshirts, outerwear, infant clothes, hats, dance bags, maternity, home accessories and what's it's for DANCERS.

Click Here or any one of the pictures