Zumba- workout or dance?

With the new dance craze sweeping the country, all thanks to reality tv shows such as Dancing with the Stars, it has infected everything from individuals to exercise. Zumba, although in existence before the dance craze began, has spiked in popularity and interest.

Zumba is a cardio fitness class usually hosted at a gym or physical fitness center that incorporates dance moves into a fast paced fitness routine. Should you be familiar with this Latin types of dance you will notice as the instructor goes through the steps that most of the moves are based out of Salsa, Merengue or even Cha Cha.

The classes incorporate Latin and International music to help generate a high-octane beat so that participants aren't bored or unenthusiastic about joining in and lasting through the class.

As of July 2009 it was reported to be taught in more than 50,000 locations in more than 75 countries.

While you may have heard of this program before, maybe you didn't know it, but it was created by accident.

Celebrity "Beto" Perez was preparing to teach a fitness class in his native town of Cali, Colombia, and realized that he forgot his music. He grabbed his tapes from his backpack and voila! Zumba was born.

Since the discovery of Zumba in 1998, there are now several different difficulty levels, a senior's gold program, an aquatics session, as well as a toning and kids Zumba program.

Even if your local gym or fitness center doesn't offer this course, Zumba now has a set of instructional DVD's that you can use at home.

I personally love these classes just because I use the Latin dances that I know and get a great cardio workout at the same time. Even if you don't know Latin dance, it can be a great way to familiarize yourself and get ready for the high speed dances of the Latin community with a cardio workout.

Not Ballroom, but who cares?

Great news for all the Irish dance fans; The Lord of the Dance, Michael Flatley, will return for a victory lap tour in Europe this year featuring his mastermind program Lord of the Dance. He retired as Lord of the Dance in 1998 after illness forced him to retire his dancing shoes for a temporary time.

Flatley said that he is excited to return as Lord of the Dance. "This tour is like a victory lap and is mainly for fans who have been supporting me from the beginning."

Flatley, a boxer from Chicago, started Riverdance in the mid '90s and rapidly rose to popularity and fame a few years after his initial performance. After the popularity of Riverdance, Flately created Feet of Fire and Celtic Tiger shows with more dancers and more theatrics. However, his Feet of Fire performances were such a major success that they forced him to take his tour worldwide. He has performed for more than 60 million people in more than 60 different countries.

Check out the article at michaelflatley.com for more information about his return to dance.

It takes two to Tango

The Tango is one of my absolute favorite dances. It is known for being one of the most sensual and romantic forms of dance. Most often it has the look and feel of being predatory; it is very sexual and almost hypnotic to watch. This is not a dance that can be mastered in a day. It takes months of hard work, dedication, a lack for the need of personal space and, most importantly, a willingness to express your emotions.

Tango is popular everywhere today. I've heard that the reason for its popularity is the wide leg movements, which seem to gracefully draw shapes as the dancers move across the floor.Maybe it’s the slow, sensual movements. I tend to believe that it's the passion that is on display that each individual can feel and want to express themselves. Whatever the reason, it is something that anyone and everyone can enjoy.
It is fun and the steps are fairly easily learned. However, learning and mastering are two different things. The beauty of tango dancing, though, is that each couple can interpret the dance in whatever way they want to.
It is a great tension and stress relieving activity. It’s all about expressing yourself and letting the music and the moment flow through you.

The Tango is a passionate, romantic and sensual dance of love. It evokes feelings in people that do it or see it done that can’t be put into words properly. So, if you want to learn tango dancing on your own, be prepared to put all of your passion into it.

Blisters, sores and more

We've all heard that good footwear is essential to our posture and overall health, but did you know that wearing improper footwear can impact how and what you dance? There are several different selections for dancers than there have been before. There are sneakers, heels, flats, and all of them have different criteria depending on your dance.

All shoes should be chosen not by appearance but for comfort, support, performance, and protection. Some ballroom dance shoes are built poorly and can cause injury. Specifically look out for sharp edges near your ankle and for interior seams that will rub on your foot and cause blisters.

Some women prefer closed-toed dance shoes because they offer more protection than open-toed shoes do. The close-toed shoes protect the toenails from getting smashed or ripped off by a partner's shoes. A woman's Latin dance shoe tend to have a higher, slimmer heel and a softer, more flexible sole than do those sold for formal ballroom dancing.

As a side note: Ladies if high heels hurt, adding gel inserts or arch supports can help, or try wearing flats. Any orthopedist will tell you that high heels are not the best for your feet.

Depending on which dance you like, depends on which shoe you want to buy. Different dances require different type soles. The performance of a shoe depends primarily on its sole. New or well-brushed suede (chrome leather) soles are generally the best because they tend to offer just the right degree of traction on a polished wooden dance floor. Purchasing a cheaper dance shoe with a more-slippery smooth-leather sole can be dangerous as those type soles don't hold traction very well and can cause a dancer to fall or slide.

When purchasing a dance shoe, don't be shocked at the expense. The more expensive they are, they typically are better quality. While this is not always the case, most often expensive shoes are more durable and fit better.

At all costs, avoid any shoe with a rubber sole. These grip the floor and don't allow turns or movement very easily.

The types of shoes (heights and price ranges) are as follows: Flats for men and women have 1 or 1.5 inch heels and generally cost $40-120, although there are some cheaper domestic models. Ladies' high-heeled shoes typically have 2 to 3 inch heels and run about $40-150. There are also dance sneakers for men which I have been told are great for practice or non-competition dancing. These tend to run about $ 40 - 80 depending on brand.

Which to choose?

For the ladies heels are always ideal to use. They aid in weight shifts, turns and quick steps more than you realize. The 1 to 1.5 inch heel is good for ballroom dances such as Tango, Waltz and Rumba. With your weight placed more central and closer to the floor, it makes sudden moves, twists and foot action easier for those types of dances.

The high-heeled shoes with a typical 2 to 3 inch heel are great for swing and Latin type dances. These dances require that your weight be placed more on the balls of your feet rather than the whole foot. With the weight distributed such, you can make weight shifts faster, turn easier (on the balls of your feet) and as in swing be able to kick and jump around easier.

For men there are actually differences in shoes. There are different heel choices to pick from, Cuban heel or standard dance shoe. The Cuban heel sounds just like the dance you would use it for; Latin dances. It gives a slight weight push to the balls of the feet allowing for the faster weight changes. This isn't necessary unless you are aiming for performance or competition dances. A standard shoe will work just fine.

Sneakers are for both men and women. As I mentioned above, great for practicing or non-competition dances, such as clubs or parties.

Good luck finding that perfect fit for your foot and dance!

Louisville Latin Locals

As of late, I've been in a Latin dance mood and have been researching the local places to get my groove on.

Facebook has a local dance group that sends out weekly places hosting dances. They send time, date, cover charge info and anything else about the event. Sometimes there are even ladies night specials listed.

Using their list I have compiled a list of the top three places I've been to and have included a list of pros and cons about each place.

In third place is Tequila Factory Bar & Grill on Bardstown Road. They rank third for a few reasons.

• The dance floor: Solid wood, flat and very nice, but quite small for as many people that show up on Friday nights.
• Cover charge: They charge $0-20 depending on the day and if there's a band or special event going on. The more expensive charges usually are when Cosa Seria or Ta2 are playing. These bands do play here frequently and can surprise an unaware dancer with a high cover charge.
• It's more a restaurant than a dance club. There are tables taking up valuable dance space and the bar is over half the size of the place.
• Age. You must be 21 and up to go here, because of the alcohol.
• Occasionally there is a free dance lesson before the dancing officially starts.

In second place is Saints Skybar off of Brekinridge Lane. While I've only been here once, it's already on my favorites list.

• The dance floor is huge and on a separate level of the building. It's a surreal experience for a dancer.
• Seating. There isn't much of it, but what is available is comfortable and close to the dance floor.
• Age. They card for 21 and up at the door. Be prepared.
• Food is available in the lower level if you wish.
• There are multiple bars in the building, if you're of age and enjoy that sort of thing while dancing. I'll say right now, that drinking while trying to dance is NEVER a good idea.
• Free group dance lessons before the dancing officially starts!

In first place is Flanagan's Ale House on Bardstown Road.

• Cover charge. There isn't one. It's free and lots of fun.
• Age. I've never been carded, but I wouldn't try drinking at the bar if you are. They do card there. Also, If you're twelve and looking for salsa places, don't try this place, you're sure to get in trouble. I'd recommend 18 and up for this location.
• Drinks. For 21 and up only there are usually drink specials on Sangrias and occasionally other types of drinks.
• The floor is the only bad part about it. There is a lot of dance space, but half of it is broken and cracked concrete while the other half is nice ceramic tile. I don't recommend the concrete portion if you are a beginning dancer.
• Get there early for the free dance lesson and claim your seat.

I hope these few places around the Louisville area give you the initiative to start dancing in public and maybe trying out those new Merengue steps! See you around.

Merengue, so easy anyone can do it. Part 2

The last post covered the basic of Merengue and the concept of weight shifting. Now it's time to start adding turns and arm patterns. If you are familiar with Swing or Salsa dance moves, then these moves might sound really similar.

To add a basic turn in Merengue, all the man has to do is raise his left arm up and continue the basic while doing so. For the lady, it's fairly simple to follow the turn. She continues the basic "bug stomp" step as she turns to the right. The turn is complete when the couple is facing each other in the beginning position.

For a more complex turn, the man turns while the lady is actually dancing a circle around the man. I call this turn the barrel turn.

To lead this the man raises his left arm, without the lady's hand, and turns his body inward toward her and the remaining connected hand hold.

The lady continues this turn by removing her hand from the remaining hand hold, and takes steps around the man as he turns inward, but never removes her hand from his waist. By not removing her hand, this ensures that the couple knows where each other is and that they won't turn or step into each other and that they will meet face to face at the same time.

Be sure to keep the same rhythm as the song when turning. There will be a strong temptation to just spin around on one foot, but the lady must be sure to count out the steps as she turns until this becomes habit. With the more complex turn, both partners must count the steps out to execute the turn properly.

Once you feel comfortable with the turning, you can feel free to add flair or experiment with adding arm patterns. Click here to check out a you-tube play list of some great Merengue dances and patterns to work toward!

Merengue, so easy anyone can do it. Part 1

     There is something to be said for the ease and simplicity of the Merengue. If you can walk, this dance is for you. The only challenge that the Merengue presents is the need to follow a beat.

     To dance the Merengue, the couple must have a close body contact hold. The man's hand on the lady's lower back, the lady's left hand on his upper arm and holding his free hand. This close contact will produce a swaying motion in the hips, which is classic with most Latin dances. 

     However, if you're not comfortable with a close body hold, then a good substitution for this is a double hand hold. Basically the couple just holds hands facing each other. This dance hold requires a bit more concentration on keeping the upper body still and all the movement in the hips and leg area. If you don't get that at first, don't worry, it will happen with practice. 

     The Merengue music generally has a 4/4 beat but can be faster. However, no matter the speed, Merengue steps happen on the beat. Some good Merengue songs would be "Suavemente" by Elvis Crespo, "I know you want me" by Pitbull, "La Vaca" by Tony Vega, "Satisfaction" by Benni Benassi and almost anything done by Andy Andy, just to start with. 

      This basic can start anywhere on the dance floor and in any direction. Because of the small step area required this is a great dance for crowded nightclubs. Now, to begin with, a complete Merengue basic has a total of 8 steps. 

     Starting with the man's weight on the right foot, lady's weight on the left, step in place. It's important to remember to shift weight each step. This produces the sway motion mentioned earlier. Each weight shift counts as a step. After eight steps, you have completed one basic. Completing multiple basics in a row is an ideal goal for the Merengue. 

     Should the idea of weight shifting seem confusing, think of it as trying to squish a bug with your entire weight every time you take a step.  

     Once you feel comfortable with the basic, you can start to add turns and improvise.  

     

The search begins

So, it's a weeknight and you don't have to work or hang with friends and you want to go out dancing, but where do you start?
A good place to begin would be a quick Google search for dance events in your local town or nearby city.  Depending on those results you can narrow down your search to more relevant venues. Also check to see if local dance clubs have a website with a calendar of events, sometimes they have dance lessons with parties during the week. These type of events are good because they allow you to learn right along with other people and you aren't excluded because of a better dancer.
Next, check your local chat and forum websites like Facebook.com, meetup.com or even craigslist.org. Also spread the word that you're interested, word of mouth can clue you into more group lessons or parties that aren't advertised.
Be careful about your choice. There are places that keep a cover charge for the facility and have a nice dance area with drink specials (if you're over 21 that is). Other venues are free, but don't have a great dance floor, no specials and could be in a restaurant after it closes.
Try to get all the information you can before you go to make it a positive experience.

Fun and Flirty or Romantically Passionate?

Recently I had a question posed to me about the nature of dances having a "mood" associated with them. While this is true of some dances, there are others that were created just for the fun of it.
The group that I consider "fun and flirty" contains dances like Cha Cha, Swing, Salsa, Merengue, Jive, Mambo and Samba. The more passionate of the dances consist of Tango, Rumba, Waltz, Foxtrot and Paso Doble.
Of course each dance can be broke down into more titled names, for example: Rumba is the dance of love and Tango is the dance of passion. I see Foxtrot, Waltz and Paso Doble as dances that would resemble a more long term relationship or even courtship.
After I defined the dances, yet another question was posed to me about what types of dances were appropriate for taking someone on a date.
This was a little trickier to answer because it generally depends on the personality of each person as to which dance they enjoy. Latin dances are always recommended by myself because they are more fun and have easier steps to learn. The Merengue is the easiest dance in the world to learn and a ton of fun and Salsa isn't too far behind. However, if the date is a little more shy, perhaps more of a ballroom setting with Waltz and Foxtrot would be more appropriate.
Overall, each dance has something different to offer and present to each person. The more free you are with your body and mind the better some dances will appear while a more formal ballroom type dance requires more form and meticulous movement that some people just cannot escape from.
Should you be trying to figure out what dance is more "you", try this. Experiment with different types of music in your spare time. Create a mix or playlist on your ipod, computer or other media player and run through it song by song. Which one are you more inclined to tap your foot to or feel inspired to sway with? More often than not, the dances that you are inclined to move to are ones that you would enjoy dancing to.

Dance: organized steps performed in sequence

By definition dance is just an organized set of steps performed in sequence, preferably to a beat of music. While this definition is correct it lacks the heart of what dancing is. Dancing means so much more than organized steps and music. It involves passion, energy and is essentially a non-verbal conversation between two people.

Until one can experience their dance and get lost in it, they don't know or understand what this conversation is. As with any language though, a little time, practice and immersion will have a person fluent in no time. 

However, unless you have some idea of where to start finding your "voice", it can be rather daunting. When planning to enter the world of dance there are several options. With choices from Ballroom to Freestyle and deciding between International and Standard (or American) styles, most end up discouraged or confused. 

To help start the discouraged, confused or curious on their journey to dancing in any capacity, many common dances, music, local clubs and dancing ideas will be discussed here.