Six Wonders Of Salsa Dancing

By Jennifer Ramos

It is well known that salsa is one of the most popular dances in the world. Many different people coming from different cultural backgrounds all appreciate the beauty of this dance. In fact, salsa dancing is already deemed as an effective way to relieve stress and make you life better, even though many people are not aware of such. This is one of the major reasons why salsa dance is a must learn for anyone who wants to appreciate life better. Plus, salsa dancing is not that difficult to learn. On the contrary, it is an enjoyable experience. Try to look at the seven wonders that salsa dancing may bring to your life.

Salsa dancing is a good workout

It is undeniable that many people are actually going to the gym. The reason behind this fact is because they want to become healthy, while maintaining their body. Fitness is already one of the top priorities of health conscious consumers, and they are even willing to pay from hundreds to even thousands of dollars just to go to the gym. One alternative and cheaper way of workout, however, is salsa dance. Not only does it make your legs and torso better, but it also trains your flexibility.

Salsa dancing can increase your confidence

It is true that the fast paced lifestyle of modern living has its toll to your self confidence, largely due to the pressures and the stress that you are exposed to. This is another reason why salsa is for you. In fact, salsa is such an intricate and intimate dance, that being able to do it actually means something to other people, as well as to how you see yourself. Salsa dancing may in fact restore your self confidence.

Salsa helps you develop timing and reflex

When you are dancing the salsa, it trains you to have proper timing and coordination, in able for you to do your dance gracefully. Therefore, doing the salsa dance regularly is a way for you develop your reflex and timing skills.

Salsa is a blend of different dancing styles

It is natural to understand why many true dance lovers are actually attracted to salsa dancing. Salsa dancing basically is a blend of different dance styles from different cultural backgrounds, from afro Caribbean to Latin. That is why knowing salsa would enable you to easily learn the basics of other dances.

Salsa is one good way to socialize

Salsa is one of the most popular forms of social dance. When dancing the salsa, more often than not, you would meet different people of the same interest, helping you make additional friends and friendly competitors.

Salsa dance is fun.

Lastly, salsa is fun, both to dance and to watch. Salsa dance is just so energetic and connecting that it leads to more happiness and enables you to appreciate the simple pleasures of life better. - 29874

About the Author:

Spice up your life by learning your own Salsa moves. To bring out the spices of a hip tossing Afro-Latino beat visit Jennifer Ramos's www.SalsaCrazy.com. Drop in today and live it up!!!

6 Tips For Social Dance

By Tom James

Dance, as with any social activity, is governed by its own code of etiquette. Proper conduct is just as important as mastering technique and perfecting each specific step. More than just a sport, social dancing is an art form, a manifestation of cultural heritage and human creativity? Understandably requiring a higher form of conduct is just plain sportsmanship.

While it is true that you can master dancing as a solo performer, learning the art will require you to be paired with another person in one way or another ?it's simply unavoidable. The fact is, dancing is made to be shared, either with your audience or with a partner. Learning how to dance means learning the highest form of human expression, Mastering dance is mastering bodily communication.

The point of these dances is human contact, to establish a relationship with the body. As such, they are held together by certain rules of conduct to aid in fostering social interaction between dancers.

Don't be alarmed. A lot of these rules are pretty much common-sense, and all are made to keep the dance alive and enjoyable. Here are some of these rules:

Enjoy! If you are not having fun, then find something else to do. Besides the great exercise and the opportunity to express oneself, one of the main reasons people dance is to enjoy themselves. If you are going to dance, do it with a passion that will entice you and your partner to dance better. The more you enjoy it, the better you will be at it.

Be sensitive to your partner needs. Dance is about being in sync with your partner. Try to determine your partner level of skill beforehand, through asking or stern observation. This will allow you to either up the ante or level down for your partner sake.

Dress the part. Whether you are in a formal gala or a dance studio, the proper clothes make the dancer. If you are in clothes that you are comfortable in, the more you are likely to dance your best. Rubber shoes can cause injuries as they tend to stick to the floor during certain moves (as they were designed to do so) wear dancing shoes whenever the occasion is. Also, being properly attired will get you better reactions on and off the dance floor. It is a social activity after all.

Tie your hair. Nobody wants to be whacked in the face by their partner's hair after a perfect textbook turn. It's also very unsafe to risk having a dancer's hair tangle with a Partner's accessories and body parts? It just hampers the dancing.

Thank every person you have danced with. Really, it's simple and easy to do, and your partners will be very grateful for the gesture.

Etiquette on the dance floor isn't as hard as you might think and is, as said before, pretty much common sense. Except for the stricter dances where the rules of etiquette are very specific (like the tango with its system of approaching the partner, commencing the dance, and leaving the partner).

Passion, honesty and respect all that needed to master any social dance. - 29874

About the Author:

Tom James's DanceCrazy.com is a website where you can purchase well-crafted instructional dance DVDs and also learn several tips about dancing. To know more about him and his website log on to http://www.dancecrazy.com.

Dance Lessons 411

By Peggy Ryersen

Have you ever been in a position that you wished you could dance better or there is an important event coming up where there will be music and dancing? If you answered yes to either one then now is the time to look into taking dance lessons and spruce up your skills.

However, before you sign up for lessons you are going to want to spend some time doing some research to make sure that you know what you are getting into. Typically dance lessons do cost money so you will want to be sure that you are investing in something that will give you what you are looking for.

The first thing that you want to find out about the dance lesson is obviously the cost of the lesson. Additionally, you will want to find out how you need to pay for your lessons. Do you pay for each individual lessons? Do you pay a month at a time? Are you signing up for a specific period of time? Will you be under contract with the company? These are all important details that you will want to find out when selecting which dance lessons to sign up for.

Next, and perhaps most importantly you will want to be sure that you select a style of dance that you are interested in. Each style of dance is different so just because you liked ballet does not mean that you will like hip hop and vice versa. If you are looking for a classical form of dance to study then you may want to look into studying ballet or ballroom dance. For those students who would like to study something more current then they might want to look into studying belly dance or even modern dance.

Your skill level is another determining factor when it comes to dance lessons. If you choose a class that is above what you are capable of, then you will only get frustrated and lose interest in learned. Before signing up for lessons, be sure to as the instructor or school about the different classes available for various skill levels and then choose accordingly. How long each class session lasts should also be taken into consideration, because if you are out of shape then a 90 minute class may be too hard to handle and instead a 45 minute class is more suitable.

Last but not least, do a little bit of homework on the potential instructor and discuss what you like and be sure the instructor knows what they are talking about. Biographies are usually available to read so you can get a little background on their educational and professional background. Another thing is to make sure you are comfortable together. This can be done by setting up a meeting prior to signing up or even sitting in on a class and observing. - 29874

About the Author:

For more thoughtful reading about ballet Fairfax, please visit this blog with posts on dance Fairfax VA.

The Wedding Dance - Creating Connection From The Start

By Tom James

Dance brings couples together, literally and figuratively. Dance is one of the most important parts of any wedding; in fact it is one of the sweetest moments that the newly married couple shares. There among all the excitement and the family and friends, the newlyweds get to share a few moments by themselves on the dance floor. The wedding dance is one of the most anticipated moments of their lives. The first dance of your wedding day may be the most traumatic moment of your life; although it should be the time of love and romance most couples just fear to make that first move. Always remember, dance is also one of the highlights of a wedding. In this case, for the couple to share those precious moments intimately, it is important for them to actually think a bit about how this dance will happen in their wedding.

Do not forget to plan your dance in advance

Planning your dance early is one of the best ways for you to have a better wedding dance. In fact, many couples fail to do so. Of course, we all know that a wedding is one of the most planned events that you may witness, with some couples even planning their respective weddings years before the actual date. However, the wedding dance is usually not planned the same. Because it is seen as one of the least priority things to be prepared, usually, practice for the wedding dance is only scheduled when the wedding is already near, even a few weeks before. In that case, expect your wedding dance to only be ceremonial sways. Want to have a more meaningful and memorable dance with your lover on your wedding date? Try to learn to dance 4-6 months before. Consulting dance instruction videos may ensure you that you will have the perfect dance for your wedding.

Be patient and understanding on your partner; do not be too hard

It is inevitable that one of you would have a faster pace of learning the dance than your partner. In this case, it is important to be patient and understanding to your partner, and do not be very hard on him/her. Remember that both of you must learn how to dance enjoyably, without any pressure.

Choose the right song that would be meaningful for both of you

Choose the song that touches your heart

Take note of the dress of the bride

The dress of the bride would surely determine what dance steps she can perform comfortably. In this case, be sure to choose the appropriate dance, preferably the ones with slower paces like waltz or foxtrot. It would be very disadvantageous for the bride if she cannot dance comfortably. This would spoil the moment. So be sure not to overlook this fact. - 29874

About the Author:

Tom James's DanceCrazy.com is a website where you can purchase well-crafted instructional dance DVDs and also learn several tips about dancing. To know more about him and his website log on to http://www.dancecrazy.com.

Refining Ballet Techniques

By Sarah Wilkiamson

Almost every child is fascinated by the Nutcracker ballet which is a standard during the holiday season. Often this is the first impressions of ballet, but as people get older they are better able to appreciate this form of art. It is only natural that once you love it, you will also feel the need to master it also.

Once you have decided to work on the techniques that make up ballet, then you should be aware of the amount of work you are in for. There is a good reason that ballet is known as the root of all dancing and that has to do with the fact that the technical skills required for ballet are outstanding. Mastering these skills requires a tremendous amount of work.

To improve your ability to dance ballet, you have to start with the basics. Although people tend to want to work on the more interesting and exciting skills, which are often also more complicated, it is a mistake to do so before having mastered the basics. Jumping ahead of what you can do results in learning the techniques wrong and it is incredibly difficult to forget the bad habits learned and re-teach yourself the right ways. The best thing to do is avoid getting in this situation in the first place.

This can be avoided by beginning at the very origin of ballet, and examine the positions of the feet and arms. It also helps to work in front of a mirror so that you can see what you are doing and make any critiques that way. It is imperative that each of the standard positions of ballet are like second nature to you before you make the next step and move on to more complicated moves like grand jete?s or pirouettes.

It is also to your advantage to have someone else see how you perform techniques and this is best done by finding a reliable teacher who you can trust to help correct any form errors you are making. This is best, because no matter how you examine your own dancing you will easily miss obvious errors in your techniques. Only someone looking from a different point of view can give you an opinion that will help you improve techniques.

Patience is something you must exercise while learning ballet. You will need to give it some time before you see results. Old habits may need to be broken plus building muscle memory and you need to give your body some time to adjust to better habits and new positions.

You will have to commit yourself completely if you want to progress with ballet dancing. Only if you invest all you have into stretching yourself will you be able to make any improvements. It will be necessary to give more than you normally do and be fully committed to your dancing.

You may have fallen in love with ballet as a child, but your work will not be done for a long time. There is always a way to improve yourself as a dancer, and unless you are fully committed to that you are going to fall short of your full potential. By refining the basics and embracing the study of ballet with your heart and soul you will be on the road to excellence. - 29874

About the Author:

If you are considering taking ballet class in Arlington, one of the places you might consider is found at this website, with more info about ballet classes by Fairfax.

Reviews at the Opera: Madame Butterfly

By Jeff Bridges

Madame Butterfly is an opera written by Giacomo Puccini which is very popular. We strongly recommend opera glasses for this breathtaking opera. The reasons why are about to be shown to you.

Madame Butterfly is set in Nagasaki Japan, at the top of the hill one of our main characters, a United States Naval Officer named Pinkerton is inspecting a beautiful house with a wonderful view of the bay down below with a marriage broker by the name of Goro. Pinkerton is inspecting the home for him and his bride to be, Madame Butterfly. Upon finishing the inspection of the home, Pinkerton agrees to buy the home for 999 years, although he holds the right to cancel the agreement of the purchase during any month

The wedding ceremony is soon to take place between Pinkerton and Butterfly. A lot of Butterfly's relatives will be flying in and coming to the wedding. Butterfly's uncle will not attend the wedding as he is a priest.

Although Pinkerton is marrying Butterfly, his goal is to get the love of as many beautiful women as possible. This is the reason he wants to have the right to cancel the housing agreement each and every month. Soon you will want to put on your opera glasses to see the beautiful Butterfly.

Before you have the chance to see the beautiful bride Butterfly, you see the American consul who is with Pinkerton. He asks Pinkerton if he truly loves his bride to be. Pinkerton tries to say yes, but alas he cannot say for sure, but knows that he is mesmerized by her innocence, charm and beauty. He then speaks of having a true wedding with an American bride.

Butterfly finally graces the stage. The wedding of the Officer and Butterfly begins, as Butterfly's family looks on. After the wedding has taken place, we find Butterfly's uncle has broken into the party, he has found out that Butterfly has abandoned her own religion for Pinkerton's by marrying him. Butterfly is crushed, but is consoled by her unloving husband Pinkerton.

Time passes Pinkerton and Butterfly remain happily married. Butterfly on a daily basis nearly explodes with joy and love for her Pinkerton. Then one day Pinkerton finds that he has been deployed and must do a tour of duty. On the last morning he is with Butterfly he promises her that he will return with roses, when the robin builds his nest again.

As act three begins, we come to know that three years have passed since Pinkerton walked out the door for the last time. Butterfly faithfully watches out the window each day to see if his ship will come in. One day as she is watching out the window, she sees a figure that she recognizes walking up the path. No it is not Pinkerton coming up the path, but his good friend that she has known from the beginning as his friend the American Consul. She greets him excitedly hoping that he brings news from her husband. Unknown to Butterfly, the American Consul has been sent to her by Pinkerton to tell her that he has married an American woman named Kate, and that he would not be returning to her ever. Broken hearted, the American Consul Curses Pinkerton, and gives the news so hard to bear.

Destroyed by the news left by Pinkerton's friend, Butterfly leaves the room weeping, only to return carrying Pinkerton's son that she has given birth to. Butterfly tells the American that Pinkerton could not leave his wife and son for another woman. After some convincing she succumbs to the fact that Pinkerton did not love her, and is not to return.

What happens next, you will have to find out for yourself, by attending Madame Butterfly. The music in this opera is delightful as it is majestic, the attention to detail, and beauty of the costumes is unforgettable. Make sure you bring your opera glasses so that you can enjoy this opera to the fullest. - 29874

About the Author:

Jeff B. has always loved the theater and opera, he currently helps run an opera glasses retail site where they sell opera glasses. Including Opera Glasses with handle, flashlight, chain and more!

Learn to Dance: How to Look Sexy on the Dancefloor

By Hal Robbern

Lets face it. Real men don't dance. People tune in to popular dance shows not only to gawk at half-naked women but to mock their seemingly coordination-challenged partners. Dance lessons seem to be wasted on macho, dorky men, squirming complicated dance moves like their life depended on it.

The few who are coordinated, the professional ones - are almost as pitiful. It's a shame that we still live in a world where straight men dancing in tights are sometimes misunderstood. They say real men can't bend like that or learn to dance that. Either that or we get the 'He must be gay' excuse.

But there's hope. When 'Saturday Night Fever' came, John Travolta made dancing a manly thing. Not only that, it was sexy! He's no dance instructor nor does he moonwalk like Michael Jackson, but he made the average Joe look like a king on the dance floor. If you want to learn to dance like a man, here are some pointers for your own DIY dance lessons:

1. Steer clear of ballroom-type costumes, including slicked back hair. Only professional dancers can get away with that while they're in 'Dancesport' competition. Dress a bit better than usual, and mix it with some attitude. Learn to dance with some respectable clothes.

2. Choose some cool rhythmic music to practice with. If you don't have any idea where to begin, R&B and Reggae can help you find your moves. They're full of steady, rocking beats that require only simple head and body movements. Just bob your head occasionally and you're good to go. Next, find a good groove to move your hips to. Tip: Watch how Elvis worked his magic with his hips. Women never forgot him for that.

3. Channel your inner James Dean. (Yes, even James Dean had to dance sometime.) Practice your death stare and mysterious smile until you can melt people into a puddle. Slow dancing was practically invented for this dance move.

4. When in doubt, keep it simple. While your hips are moving to the beat, you can use your hands to snap your fingers or clap a little to the music. (Just don't overdo it or you might end up annoying the person you're dancing with.)

Dancing isn't scary if you got some real man confidence. Get your cue from the beat and let your body do the rest. If you're having fun, dancing makes it all worthwhile. Women just love man who knows his way around the dancefloor. Try it for yourself! - 29874

About the Author:

Hal Robbern is a writer and a dance fanatic since the age of two. Learn Quick and Easy Dance Lessons that can help you find your groove. Visit the link for more info.