June - Cha Cha Group Class Patterns

Cha Cha

1. Side Basic
2. Progressive Basic to Man's Pivot Turn Right
3. Shadow Progressive
4. Sweetheart to Outside Underarm Turn (left over right hand ending)
5. Cross Body Lead with Inside Underarm Turn (ends in a cross hand hold)
6. New Yorker w/ Back Flick
7. 2nd Position Breaks & Repeat side to side
8. Chaine Turn on the Cha Cha & 1 ending

Burn The Floor - Dance Lounge Event

Just some of The Dance Lounge dancers who attended this event. Unfortunately we couldn't round up everyone as some eager beavers already went inside.

BURN THE FLOOR EVENT

TDL members enjoyed an evening to remember of non-stop toe-taping, heart pounding, booty shaking dancing at Burn The Floor. The show sizzled as it opened with a pitch-black room and then directed spot-lights on individual dancers placed throughout the audience. The stage lit up with excitement as the first couple went to town with a Latin routine that was hotter than a jalapeno. The show was very different from the first Burn The Floor; much smaller in cast and not as flashy with the costumes (greatly missed). However, the dancers didn't disappoint with their passion for dance and non-stop energy. We were all enthused and inspired by the show and left feeling hot, hot, hot.

March Group Classes

Tuesdays:

Samba

1. Basic
2. Box
3. Balancete

East Coast Swing

1. Closed Basic
2. Apache Turn
3. Inside Underarm Check
4. American Spin (lead & follow spin)
5. Inside Underarm Pass
6. Basic / Hand Toss
7. Inside Turn w/ Double Overhead Wrap
8. Traveling Promenade

Wednesdays:

West Coast Swing

1. Starter Step
2. Send Out
3. 2 Sugar Push Basics
4. Inside Underarm Pass
5. Inside Underarm Pass / Lead Turns (hook turn right)
6. Overhead & Hip Push
7. Whip

Jitterbug

1. Tap Basic
2. Jig Kicks & Freeze
3. Underarm Release
4. Inside Underarm Turn
5. Circling Switches
6. Inside Underarm Turn
7. Open Basic to Inside Shadow Turn (follow turns left)
8. Shadow Charleston

Thursdays:

Rumba

1. Box
2. Underarm Turn
3. 2nd Position Breaks
4. 5th Position Breaks
5. Box
6. Promenade Swivels

Valentine's Day Tips

Blog: 6 Love-Centered Reminders for Valentine’s Day (and Every Day

In honor of Valentine’s Day, here are 6 tips drawn from the wisdom of the masses. Do you agree? Disagree?

1. Think of love as an action, not a feeling. A feeling is something weget from someone, and when we stop getting it, we often change our behavior somehow. If we have to do something, or be a certain way, in order to receive love, that love is conditional. Instead, if you start thinking of love as the behavior itself, the reward becomes the feeling you get whenyou act a certain way, not when someone else acts a certain way. From How to Love Unconditionally.
2. Cherish any kind of lightheartedness in your life. Things like laughter, affection, and playfulness are fleeting. Once a relationship has degraded so that those things don’t spontaneously occur anymore, it’s very hard to get them back. You might know that from experience. So treat those moments with care. Don’t be the person who takes life too seriously, who doesn’t have time to have fun, or who has no sense of humor. From How to Be Thankful.
3. Decide whether you want to be right, or stay in this relationship. Stubbornly holding onto anger and defending a position which has resulted in a stalemate will only poison your relationship in the end. When neither of you will budge, both believing you’re in the right, one of you will have to make a move. From How to Fix a Huge Argument With Your Girlfriend.
4. Court the one you love. Pretend that you and the person just met, and you want the person to fall for you. What would you do to impress them? To win them over? The opposite of being romanced is being taken for granted. No one wants to feel like they’ve already been “caught” and it’s over and done with. Put on a show! Stay on your toes! From How to Be Romantic.
5. Make your loved one laugh. When you love someone, you love seeing them happy, and nothing exhibits happiness like genuine laughter. So, be laid back, lighthearted, and playful. See how many times in one day you can make the person smile or laugh. From How to Say I Love You Without Words.
6. When you apologize, take full responsibility for the offense. Admit that you were wrong emphatically, unreservedly, and immediately. An incomplete apology often feels more like an insult. Make it a point to avoid using the word “but”. (“I am sorry, but…” means “I am not sorry.”) From How to Apologize.

from http://blog.wikihow.com/2011/02/14/blog-6-love-centered-reminders-for-valentines-day-and-every-day/

I'm going to throw in my own #7.

7) Dance with your partner even if you feel silly doing it. Dancing increases the heart rate, creates blood flow and releases endorphins; so, it is a mood elevator. Doing this with someone you love will only increase the relationship bond and your experience on the floor. By the time the dance is over, you'll be surprised how much fun it actually can be.

Dancing at The Cicada Club

We had a blast going out dancing at The Cicada Club in downtown Los Angeles. All of the students got out on the floor and danced into the wee small hours of the morning. The entire vibe of the place feels as though you've been time warped back to the 1940's. The dinner was fabulous, the band was incredible and deco was decolicious! Five Stars *****

Proper Traditional Dance Foot Positions

There are five ballet positions that you will learn in your beginning ballet class. You will notice that all of the positions start from first position, and are then modified for each of the other positions. Here are the five positions and what they mean:

First Position (Premiere)

This is the first position you will learn in your ballet course. You will put your heels and knees together and your legs are turned out away from your hips. Your feet will be positioned to make a V shape. When you look down your feel should be in a 180 degree angle from your body. You must keep your stomach in, stand up straight with your spine straight.

Second Position (Second)

This position is similar to your first position, but your arms are straight out from both your sides and they are rounded slightly.

Third Position (Troisième)

This position means that you will keep your legs turned away from your hips and you cross one leg in front of the other; they will touch each other in the middle. You will also move the corresponding arm out. As an example, if you start with your right foot out in front, you will raise your right arm above your head in a semicircle. You will then take your left arm and take it out to the side.

Forth Position (Quatrième)

In this position, you will keep the same first position and then place one foot in front of the other one with one foot forward and the other foot directly behind it; you will have about 12 inches or so between your feet. Again, you're going to raise the corresponding arm above your head in a semicircle.

Fifth Position (Cinquième)

Keep the fourth position and then place one foot in front of the other with the heel of your front foot against the first joint of your other foot (at the big toe). Lift your arms overhead and move them in a soft circle shape.

New Studio Location

Hi Dancers,

To ring in the New Year I have the most wonderful news! The Dance Lounge will now be open at South End Racquet & Health Club in Torrance, CA. It's such a beautiful, new location that I'm certain everyone will enjoy dancing there. Please check out www.TheDanceLounge.com and click onto the "calendar" section to view a schedule of group classes. Private classes are also available by appointment only.

Happy New Year and Cheers to 2011!

- See you on the dance floor,

Allyson Lockhart