Learn The Rumba Dance & Bring Romance and Fun Back Into You And Your Partners Life

The rumba dance is one of my favourites. I just love the timing and the dance steps that make up this beautiful dance.
As someone who only started ballroom dancing at the beginning of the year one of the most frustrating things for me was remembering all the new moves. Everything was fine in class but twenty four hours later some of the moves had gone from my mind. Now a few months on and a number of moves under my belt I realise I suffered from information overload. Mastering the basics is a must as these basic steps form the foundation for your dances. I have found some really good beginner rumba dance basics and these are ideal to revert back to when having a private practise at home, especially if you can’t remember them all. I used to try to find links to every new move I learned and used keep a copy in a dance file. Perfect to practise to on a daily basis and this helps you learn so much faster. The quicker you learn your moves you will be given a new move to learn. There is something quite exciting about stringing a few moves together in the right way, especially if it’s a favourite dance.

Below are some excellent beginner rumba dance instruction videos

International Rumba Lesson: Closed Basic, New Yorker, Spot turns

International Rumba Lesson: Hand to Hand

International Rumba Lesson: Shoulder to Shoulder

International Rumba Lesson: Time Step, Shoulder To Shoulder

International Rumba Lesson: Fan to Hockey Stick

International Rumba Lesson: Underarm Turns

Bronze Rumba: The Aida

Bronze Rumba: Opening Out Right & Left, Spiral, Aida

Bronze Rumba: Natural Top, Opening Out, Closed Hip Twist

Bronze Rumba: Cuban Rock

Beginner Rumba Dance Steps is a post from: Ballroom Dancing Lessons

Popular Sequence Dancing Videos – Learn Free At Home

With so many dances on offer at any social or tea dance, most people choose to learn sequence dancing rather than having to remain sitting down just watching. While it’s not the same as dancing the real ballroom dances, it can still be good fun and there are some really nice dances you can learn. When I started learning ballroom at the beginning of the year, I did a lot of browsing around and found some excellent dance links that helped me tremendously. I found out the name of the most popular sequence dances and I sat and studied them most days. Stick to one at a time and then start doing it every visit you make to your tea dance and you’ll find after a couple of weeks you know them really well. After a few weeks, you’ll discover you have a large repertoire. Below I’ve added some great sequence dancing links for you to learn from plus some slow motion is offered which really helps to break the dance down, making it much easier to learn.

Waltz Catherine Sequence Dance Steps

Dancethrough and slow motion of the Catherine Waltz, one of the most popular Waltzes included in the majority of sequence dances. It was arranged in 1956 by Arthur Shaw of Sheffield and is danced here by Shannah and Phil.

Broadway Quickstep Sequence Dance Steps

Shannah and Phil dance the Broadway Quickstep to music and then offer a slow motion replay. A lively free flowing dance arranged in 1957 by Edith Farmer with lots of lock steps and checks to remember! There is a little section in BARS 7 and 8 – the step tap twinkle – that can be a little tricky, so we’ve included a talkthrough at the end of the video.

Tango Serida Sequence Dance Steps

A dancethrough and slow motion video of the Tango Serida. Danced by Shannah and Phil, this Classical Sequence Dance was arranged in 1961 and remains one of the most popular Sequence Tango dances.

Bluebird Waltz Sequence Dance Steps

The Bluebird Waltz is danced here by Shannah & Phil with a slow motion version towards the end of the video. Everybody who dances this sequence falls in love with it….and then gets frustrated when they can’t remember it!! It won an Inventive competition in 1982 on the Isle of Man and was arranged by Michael Davis. It has many of the standard Waltz sequence figures such as whisk, wing, impetus, natural spin turn – but also includes more advanced work such as a same foot lunge, running hairpin and pivot turn to finish.

Balmoral Blues Sequence Dance Steps

Shannah and Phil dance the Balmoral Blues to music and then include a slow motion replay for your information. This Classical Sequence dance was arranged in 1971 by Robert Stewart and is included in most Sequence dance programmes.

Saunter Together Sequence Dance Steps

Shannah and Phil dance the popular Saunter Together sequence dance and provide a slow motion replay for your information. This 1975 dance appears on nearly every sequence dance programme and is relatively easy to learn. The only tricky bit seems to the end where lady is turned to shadow hold and then turns back in after tapping the foot – a foot change plus a turn under the arm!

Sindy Swing Sequence Dance Steps

The Sindy Swing (danced here by Shannah and Phil) is a classical sequence dance arranged in 1984. We’ve provided a dancethrough to tempo (48 bpm) and a slow motion version. The Sindy Swing is often danced to Quickstep music.

Alexandria’s Dance – Melody Foxtrot

Bill and Sandra from Alexandria’s Dance demonstrate the sequence dance Melody Foxtrot by request. www.alexandriasdance.yolasite.com

Alexandria’s Dance-Alpine Stroll

Bill and Sandra from Alexandria’s Dance demonstrate the sequence dance The Alpine Stroll..

Rumba 1 Sequence Dance

The rumba 1 is one of my favourite sequence dances and this is the best link I could find to highlight the dance. While it’s not the same as watching teachers show the footwork you do get a good idea how the dance is done. The body movements are very important in this dance and if you look carefully you will see couples that stand out compared to others for you to learn from.

Learn Sequence Dancing is a post from: Ballroom Dancing Lessons

Just starting out learning to ballroom dance is very exciting. I know because I took my first steps at the beginning of this year 2012 and decided to tackle a course of private lessons. I work at Sheffield City Hall on day duties during the tea dances and I have been overwhelmed with the support and advice I have received ever since I started to learn.
I’m so lucky as we have a real ballroom here at the City Hall plus the bonus of one of the more experienced dancers deciding to teach me to dance. I’m told I show promise.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to wear the correct dance clothes from head to toe. Most tea dances or social dance afternoons offer a mixture of ballroom, Latin and sequence dancing, and the session lasts around 3½ hrs. That’s a long time to dance full on and for anyone thinking it’s just a saunter around a room you couldn’t be more wrong. There is so much to learn and remember and some of the dances can be taxing so, if you’re thinking of dancing for most of the time it’s not difficult to work up a sweat. Let’s take a look at some ballroom dance clothes ideas.

Ballroom Dance Shoes: Your feet will hurt for the first few sessions in the early stages of learning for all the obvious reasons. Even if you are used to wearing heels, stick to 2in heels or under to start with. I’m basing this advice on my own personal experience and as someone who was used to wearing heels for long periods of time. The open-toed sandal styles are lovely, but it has taken regular beatings and torture on my poor feet along with weekly holes appearing in the toes of my quite expensive tights to make me seriously consider a change in footwear until I gain a little more experience.

My teacher, Alf, dances a dance the way it should be done and certain dances demand long, graceful and beautiful strides, eg: foxtrot. I’m not complaining, but my poor toes have suffered enough so I have invested in what are called character-style shoes. Full shoes, made of soft leather, with a Spanish-look to them and so comfy to wear, and on top of that a quick nudge on my feet by the man goes unnoticed, although these days it’s a heck of a lot less than it used to be. They are available in a range of great colours as well, so perfect if you want to match them to a favourite outfit. I’ve also invested in a closed-toed sandal style as well. Different skirts and lengths look better with some styles of shoes more than others. Ballroom dance shoes do not come cheap, but you do get what you pay for. TIP: I have picked up some tremendous bargains on eBay, so good, in fact, that I may never pay the ludicrous price for new ballroom dance shoes ever again. I’m talking new as well. People sell for many different reasons, so perfect for anyone just starting out. However, as someone who has been a standard size 5 all my adult life, I’ve discovered that it’s best to go up half a size when buying the Superdance ballroom shoes.

Whether you prefer a dress to a skirt and top is a personal preference. To be fair, although trousers are OK, not many people wear them. Important to remember is there are lots of twirls and swirls in ballroom dancing so, unless you are really young with legs to die for, please bear this in mind. You will need to make sure your outfit has a slight flair or some give around the bottom, allowing you the freedom to take the long strides that are required in some of the dances. There are some lovely styles of skirt that you can go for away from the norm that will have you feeling and looking great. Skater-style dresses look good, too, as they have a slight flair in them, but make sure they’re not too mini.

Even if you are going to a special dinner dance and will be seriously dressing up, the rules for wearing the right dance clothes are still the same. Ensure there is some give and/or flair in the dress and wear shoes that will support you dancing all night. Ignore this at your peril and ruin a good evening.

By following these tips to choosing the correct dance clothes and ballroom dance shoes, you will not only be fashionable, look fabulous, but comfortable – the most important factor in any type of dancing! Ballroom Dance Steps

WALTZ – A dance that became popular in the UK in 1912, it was one of the first where the male dancer held his partner close with his arm around her. Now one of ballroom’s most popular and romantic dances, usually the first dance for a newly married couple. An ideal dance to learn for beginners because of its slow tempo and basic steps. Once they have mastered it, a couple will be able to add those little extra moves that turn this dance into something special. Always has been, and always will be the dance to hold the one you love at the end of a night.

The Right Ballroom Dance Clothes is a post from: Ballroom Dancing Lessons

Learn A Salsa Dancing Course, Get Fit and Shed Pounds

Nearly everyone got caught up in the dance craze by watching TV‘s Dancing With the Stars this past season. There’s just something about the music, the dances, the level of competition and the sarcastic responses from the judges. But there is also something else that caught the eye with the professional dancers – their bodies. Not one single professional had an ounce of fat anywhere on his or her body. What you saw were lean, toned and muscular abs, arms and legs. You probably would never think that ballroom dancing could produce such a workout, but it’s actually one of the best physical fitness programmes available.

ballroom dancing is much more than a slow shuffle around a moonlit dance floor. There are several types of dances involved in the ballroom repertoire, ones that require twirls, kicks, twists and bends. In fact, ballroom dancing gives you the opportunity to move your body in a way that you would otherwise never experience – not even in an aerobics class.

It’s no secret that most people looking to get fit or lose weight are intimidated by the gym. Not only are you surrounded by people with a better body than yours, but often you find yourself having to wait for that elusive machine or struggling to keep up in a class. Ballroom dancing is a great way of making exercise fun and it’s an activity you can do together with your partner or spouse. Unfortunately, some people continue to live inactive lifestyles because they just haven’t found a physical activity they like to do. Ballroom Dance Steps

You may be surprised to learn that ballroom dancing can burn just as much fat and calories (if not more) than a session at the gym. Depending upon the style of dance, you can easily burn between 200 and 400 calories. For example, the foxtrot or the waltz provide an easy and gentle workout yet will burn around 200 calories. This is comparable to a brisk walk in the park or thirty minutes on an elliptical trainer that simulates walking or running. On the other hand, dances such as the jive or paso doble can burn over 400 calories which compares to an intense step aerobics class.

While walking on a treadmill or doing crunches are well-known exercises, they concentrate on certain parts of your body, leaving you to work out longer in order to cover the rest. Ballroom dancing literally exploits every part of the body and each major muscle group. You are more likely to see results faster due to the challenge your body accepts when dancing.

And, if you don’t have a partner to take with you to dance class, don’t let that stop you from experiencing the glide across the floor. Many classes will pair you up once you arrive and you may meet some great friends – or possibly something more! Most people who get into ballroom dancing have lots of fun and are more likely to dance longer, thus extending the duration of their workout. So trade in your hiking boots for some dance shoes and step your way into better shape! Ballroom Dance Steps

Get in Shape with Ballroom Dancing is a post from: Ballroom Dancing Lessons

Learn a Wedding Dance for your First Dance – Make Your Wedding Day Extra Special

The Wedding Dance

Around the globe couples celebrate their unions with a wedding dance of some sort. Most religions, with the exception of those who still frown upon dancing, have some sort of wedding dance that is a part of this joyous event or the celebration of this event. This is much more than a simple dance. It is the first dance that will begin your life as husband and wife. For this reason alone, many couples spend a great deal of time and effort choosing the perfect song to symbolize their love for each. Once decided, this is the song that is to be played for their wedding dance.

This first dance, your wedding dance is one of the few memories of your wedding that you will have forever. Most of your wedding day will go by in such a blur of faces that there will be few moments that stand out above the rest. Your wedding dance however, is the one time during your wedding reception that you and your spouse are truly alone within the crowd. All eyes may be on you both but this is your moment together and no one else in the room should matter at this moment. This is the reason that most people will remember their wedding dance long after they’ve forgotten other details about their wedding.

Some couples actually take wedding dance lessons in order to make sure that nothing goes wrong during their wedding dance. Many instructors often suggest that you use the shoes you will be wearing for your wedding as well as a skirt that is very similar to your wedding dress in order to actually get an honest feel for how you will be dancing on your wedding day. It is amazing how much of a difference the height of your shoes and the length of your skirt or train can make when it comes to dancing. These classes are very important for couples that truly want to have the fairy tale wedding experience though not necessarily practical for couples that are already working at the end of their budget constraints.

Ballroom dance lessons will often suffice for wedding dance lessons and in many cases are much less expensive if you can take them at a local community center rather than taking private lessons. Group lessons are almost always more economical and can be a great way for you and your future spouse to learn to dance together in time for your big night and your wedding dance.

If budgets won’t even allow for this indulgence to make your wedding dance a little easier to handle you can always opt to purchase an instructional video or DVD. It would be great fun to practice your wedding dance together before the big night and it is a great way to have fun together as a couple even after the big night. You can find videos and DVDs that teach all manner of dance steps that you may find appealing.

Otherwise you can always wing it. Pick a song you love, a dance you like and have fun without worrying about getting it perfect. You are beginning your new life together as a couple and who really needs the pressure of dancing perfect, right? It is also your day and that is one thing that far too few brides really realize when getting caught up in the pressure of creating the perfect wedding within a limited budget.

The thing to remember when planning your wedding and your wedding dance is that you and your spouse to be are the most important people in the process. Do not allow yourself to feel pressured into something that you don’t want in order to appease others. Make your wedding day and your wedding dance completely your own if you are not interested in or comfortable with the idea of taking lessons from someone else. You and your partner will be glad that you did what was right for you when all is said and done.

Ballroom Dancing Lessons

WALTZ – A dance that became popular in the UK in 1912, it was one of the first where the male dancer held his partner close with his arm around her. Now one of ballroom’s most popular and romantic dances, usually the first dance for a newly married couple. An ideal dance to learn for beginners because of its slow tempo and basic steps. Once they have mastered it, a couple will be able to add those little extra moves that turn this dance into something special. Always has been, and always will be the dance to hold the one you love at the end of a night.

FOXTROT – Because of the amount of room originally needed for the foxtrot, orchestras were reluctantly forced to develop other versions. Thanks to the likes of orchestra leader Victor Sylvester in the UK, the tempo was changed and the slow foxtrot was born. Although one of the more complex dances to learn, it is still among the most loved. The foxtrot should have a feeling of lightness and smooth flowing. The difference in tempo requires the fast and slower movements to blend into one long flowing movement.

Ballroom Dancing Lessons

TANGO – Originating from the back streets of Argentina, the tango is a dramatic, sensuous and atmospheric dance. Beginners might feel more comfortable attempting this dance after learning basic ballroom steps as the complex foot kicks and flicks, and leg twists may prove a little difficult. That said, once this one is mastered, you may feel able to attempt anything. All ballroom dancing beginners have a favourite dance they cannot wait to learn, and this is one of those dancers that everyone wants to master. A fabulously exciting dance to learn. Anyone trying to master this for the first time are advised to do some warm up exercises first

The UK’s Gorgeous Harry Judd and Aliona Vilani: Strictly Come Dancing (Week 7) – Dancing Argentinian Tango (12.11.11)

Jason Donovan and Kristina Rihanoff – Argentine Tango – Strictly Come Dancing 2011

The UK’s Stunning Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev Dancing A Magnificent Argentine Tango – Strictly Come Dancing 2010

UK’s Vincent & Rachel Stevens dancing a superb version of the Tango in the 2009 UK series of Strictly Come Dancing

CHA-CHA – The seeds of this dance were born in the dance clubs in Cuba and is based on the Latin American dance, the rumba. The cha cha cha beat came about because originally, the cuban dancers used to dance outside on dusty floors, with their feet making a slight shuffling sound. Picked up by the percussion players, they produced a syncopation which turned into the cha cha beat. A very sensuous dance, but not as intimate as the samba or rumba. When practising this dance, you may find it better to concentrate on learning the left and right “chasse” movements as, once mastered, the rest will feel far easier.

SAMBA – It is without doubt the dance of Brazil and its natives, and it is that South American country which hosts the best carnival in the world in February every year. For the beginner, it’s a great dance to learn with its basic steps. Written in 2/4 time, the steps are disco-related: quite simply – side-close, side-close. The dancers will incorporate these movements while moving forwards, backwards and turning to the right and left. A perfect dance for any beginner and a must at any party playing the right music. Another popular favourite with everyone.

Louis van Amstel & Cheryl Burke – SAMBA – Season 2

JIVE – A fun, lively and very energetic dance introduced to Britain in the 1950s. Starting out with the girls in huge flared circular skirts, speed and fast spins were the emphasis. Now there is more focus on controlled dancing, more underarm turns and the change of hands behind the back. No matter where you go for your night out, if there is live music being played you can be sure the ladies will be up having the last jive together. Certainly no party or dance evening would be complete without a good ol’ jive session.

Ballroom Dancing Lessons

RUMBA – One of my favourite dances. It is romantic, sensual, loving and among the most rhythmic of dances, hailed by many as the queen of Latin American dances. Rumba music is written in 4/4 time, allowing the dancer to phrase the movements with either a quick quick slow or slow quick quick feel. Although made up of basic steps with few underarm turns, the true feel of the dance requires correct hip and leg movements with clever, elaborate choreography. Although cherie was the guest artist, her rumba was simply stunning and deserves to be featured (below).

Kara Tointon & Artem Chigvintsev – Rhumba – Strictly Come Dancing – 2010 Week 11- For me Tara is the best natural dancer of the season. Utterly breathtaking at times

Harry Judd and Aliona Vilani – Rumba – Strictly Come Dancing 2011

Harry Judd and Aliona Vilani – Quickstep – Strictly Come Dancing 2011

Chelsee Healey and Pasha Kovalev – Jive – Strictly Come Dancing 2011

Jason Donovan and Kristina Rihanoff – Showdance – Strictly Come Dancing Final 2011

Holly Valance and Artem Chigvintsev – Paso Doble – Strictly Come Dancing 2011

Make Your Wedding Dance Extra Special

Ballroom Dancing Lessons

Enthrall your family and guests by dancing your first dance as husband and wife in spectacular style

Ballroom Dancing Lessons

Wedding Dance is a post from: Ballroom Dancing Lessons