Two of my favorite things: ballroom dancing and SHOES!
Here are some of my tips to choose a ballroom dance shoe:
Safety & Security
- Make sure there is Continue reading
Winner of the weight loss competition gets free dance lessons!
Congratulations to Robert Scroggs, who participated recently in a “weight loss Facebook face off” challenge. Robert lost 54 lbs, or 20% of his body weight, in a short 90 days. As part of his many prizes, he’s receiving a gift certificate for a private lesson from Hit the Ground Dancing.
The contestants were brave enough to post before and after photos online. You can see them over here: sarahpsellshouses.wordpress.com
Now Robert just has to be “brave” enough to finish the private dance lesson that he won for him and his wife. Stay tuned for details!
Also stay tuned for details on classes beginning soon, I’m talking to a church and getting classes scheduled after I return from my trip this month.
Like this:
Busy mom loses 103 lbs ballroom dancing!
Guess how this busy mom lost weight and kept it off? Dancing! Read the article over on Yahoo: http://health.yahoo.net/articles/weight-loss/i-lost-103-pounds
That inspires ME! What about you?
One thing I know for sure is that to stay active we need to find something we ENJOY doing so that it’s fun and not a chore. Maybe ballroom dancing can be that activity for you.
This past weekend, we went to a professional ballroom dancing showcase, with exhibitions from pros all over the world. During intermissions, they opened the floor to let the audience dance. The audience consisted mostly of Continue reading
Flexibility helps your dancing [with free EBOOK]
One of the first things I noticed when I began ballroom dance training (after several years of not being active in dance) was how stiff and inflexible I had become. In addition to strength, flexibility is important to looking smooth on your feet.
I also noticed that for proper hip movement, I needed to increase my flexibility, especially in my lower back. So I began doing research to find some of the best stretching exercises possible. What I came across was an entire website devoted to stretching, that had information specifically for ballroom dancers. According to the site: Continue reading
[VIDEO] Importance of ladies keeping tension in the right shoulder
One of the important places to pay attention to is your right shoulder and tricep. You wouldn’t think one small spot could potentially cause so much chaos when dancing, but it can.
I don’t want you to worry Continue reading
The two main things men need to remember
Men – or those leading:
You have only TWO THINGS that you need to remember when you are partner or social dancing. Only two? Yes it is that easy!
1 – Keep your partner SAFE
This means keeping aware of the other couples who are on the dance floor, and being aware of your location on the dance floor (as it relates to walls, posts, tables, stages, or etc.) at all times. You use your leading skills to deftly steer and re-direct the course of your dancing to keep from running your partner into anything.
2 – Make her look PRETTY
Your lead should be assertive enough (notice I didn’t say aggressive) that she should never have a question about which way she should be going. This is developed through good coaching and practice to increase your confidence level. You don’t need to know a great quantity of steps as long as you are leading your partner well into the ones that you are doing. It also means that you gain an awareness of your body position, and how changes to that impact your partner’s body position. Again, this is accomplished through good coaching and practice to increase your confidence level. The great thing about partner dancing is Continue reading
Don’t look down!
What happens when you look at someone who is looking down? Your eyes tend to follow. This means if you are looking at a dancer who is looking at their feet, you will end up looking there as well. Which is great if their feet aren't doing "variations"!
I remember when my cat would be sitting in the room, and would look up at the ceiling. Natural curiosity, I couldn’t help but look up at the ceiling. Nothing was there! By the time I looked back down, she was looking at me like I was silly.
I never danced with my cat, but this proves a point that as humans we can’t help but look where other people are looking. It happens with my cat. It happens (unfortunately) with accidents on the highway. People look somewhere, and we turn to look and see what they’re looking at.
How does this apply to dancing?
If you look down at your feet, the people who might be watching you will also look down at your feet. Most likely you’re looking at your feet because you think they’re doing something they aren’t supposed to – which could be the case. But when everyone else looks down at your feet as well, they will see any “step variations” that you may be making down there; or at the very least they will think you’re not as confident as you could be.
The point is, keep your eyes up … looking at your partner, looking at other dancers, looking at pictures on the wall. Anything shoulder level or above. Keep the eyes up, and anyone watching will also keep their eyes up, meaning they will see your smiling face (and not that accidental step you just took on your partner’s toes!)
Angela and Grant’s beautiful first dance at their wedding
Angela and Grant did an amazing job on their first dance at their wedding reception!
September Schedule
The September schedule is posted. Click on the Schedule tab above to view.
Leading the men through a step in country/western two-step class
Classes will be held Monday evenings at Musician’s Lessons and Performance, 420 W. Main St. in downtown Denison (near the Rialto).
I suggest pre-registering using the link on the schedule page, as class size is limited to the first 7 couples!
Fall schedule will be posted this week, check back soon!
