Young women & their unique style

It's difficult to imagine somebody who never shook a leg till her twenties will break all norms to be a hip-hopper and the first break-girl of India, or a trained bharatnatyam dancer since childhood will one day be teaching salsa to people. Two young women talk about their journeys, how they followed their instincts and did what they never expected from themselves.

They challenged stereotypes, faced resistance from many ends, yet created a niche for themselves. All they did was dance to their tunes-the way they liked it best!

Move over B-boys
It's time for the B-girl breaking, an element of hip hop dance, has mostly been associated with boys as it demands immense power and stamina. No wonder, we know it better as b-boying. Ambarin Kadri from Mumbai challenged this odd equation and tried her hands at a dance format that's largely a guys' domain. At the age of 24, she has earned the reputation of becoming the first break-girl of India. AmB, as she is popularly known among fans, is earning kudos for her hip hop moves. Ask her how tough bboying is and she will cut you:

"It's not b-boying, it's b-girling. Simply put, any boy doing break dancing is b-boying, while a girl does it is called b-girling." However, it wasn't that easy to turn AmB from Ambarin. Coming from a conservative family and with no formal training in dance, it was tough for Ambarin to convince family members when she decided to make a career in dancing. "I took to dancing very late as I was always into books and painting with no inclination towards dance or athletics," recalls AmB.


It was during college days when Ambarin started participating in dance shows and to her surprise, earned a lot of appreciation. Right from belly dance, jazz, bollywood style to jive-she dabbled with every form of dance. She experimented with hip hop too and found it most exciting and challenging. "A friend introduced me to a group of hip hoppers. I was thrilled to see their act. I started imitating their moves and would practice them for hours. The fact that there was no girl in the group motivated me to try something new which no other girl had done so far," says AmB.

"Unlike other dance forms, hip hop didn't have many rules. It gave me a sense of freedom- something I was looking for. I started enjoying it and gradually it became a passion," she adds.

It wasn't a cake walk in the beginning though. "Initially, I couldn't even do the basic steps properly. But I picked up with time. After four years of practice, I am now comfortable with freezes, foot work and toprock, but power move is something I still need to learn," says AmB. "Lack of physical activity during the growing up years has also come in the way as this dance form requires tremendous energy. Nowadays I invest considerable time on physical fitness too," she adds. Besides dance practice, she does workout which involves resistance training and weightlifting.

Her turning point came when the dance group, Roc Fresh Crew, accepted her as an official member. "It was a big boost. Their confidence in me made me dream big," she says. Today our group is well recognised. "We do advertisements, music videos and conduct dance classes. But our passion lies in "battles", a term used for dance competitions," she says.

Her ultimate dream is to win a hip hop competition internationally. "Even though I started late, I have worked hard and results have been great so far. I know I need to push my body harder. Today hip hop is no just a dance format for me, rather it has become my lifestyle. It has changed my perception and attitude of dealing with things. I guess I'll always be a b-girl as long as my body supports me," she says.

From Indian classical to Salsa
Having learned bharatnatyam since the age four, Kanika Sharma could have easily cashed in on her years of training and made a great career in classical dance. However, after graduating in Bharatnatyam, Kanika took a U-turn and set on a complete opposite path.

"I decided to start afresh and took to Latin American dance instead. Salsa, jazz, jive, cha cha cha-all these seemed fascinating to me and I started learning them one by one. They were totally different from my previous training and it was tough to adapt to new styles," says 29-year-old Kanika. Since then there has been no looking back for Kanika who is today a dance fusion expert, a wedding choreographer and a salsa teacher-all in one.

As she picked new dance formats, choreographing fusion came naturally to her. Before she could realise, it had turned into a passion. "I started choreographing inter college dance competitions and shows. Soon I was choreographing dance numbers for friends' and relatives' weddings," she recalls.

Gradually, Kanika took wedding choreography at a professional level and has been doing it for the past eight years. "Wedding choreography isn't only about teaching someone a few dance steps. It's a very personal thing where a lot of sentiments are attached and as a choreographer, you need to be sensitive," she points out. "For every wedding, I conduct training for about 1-2 months," she says.

Meanwhile she also opened Dance Cafe studio four years ago. "It's a centre dedicated to fitness, music and dance where we offer training in different dances," she informs.

Recently she got an offer to choreograph a Bollywood musical. "It will be based on the theme of Indian wedding and will be showcased at the Kingdom of Dreams, Gurgaon.

The idea is to present Indian culture in a vibrant and entertaining way," she says. It will be completed by the beginning of next year. "I have selected my team of around 50 dancers Rehearsals are at their peak and we are all too excited about it," says Kanika.

Source: Monalisa Das

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Posted in 2011 Kanika Sharma , 2011 salsa dance , dance cafe , dancing salsa , india , Kanika Sharma , Latin American dance , salsa circuit , salsa dance

Salsa dancing as therapy for soldiers

It would probably be fair to say that Jennifer Ables has been a dancer all her life.

She began with lessons, of course, starting as a little girl living in West Goshen, "I fell in love with dance; I couldn't stop dancing," Ables, 38, recalled.

But her dad Charles was in the Air Force, and later the Reserves, so relocations were inevitable. With a move to Virginia when Ables was about 8, then back to Uwchlan in the middle of sixth grade, dance made difficult transitions a little easier. "It's hard when you move when you're young, but dance gives you an instant community ... dance is a (common) language that you speak."

And this language is one she now shares with recovering military personnel and their families as the executive director and instructor in Soldiers Who Salsa at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego.

Soldiers Who Salsa is a dance program offered as part of the physical therapy for military personnel at the Southern California facility. It started with physical therapist Mike Podlenski, who was at the time working primarily with amputees. Podlenski was also a student of dance teacher Mary Murphy's, who was a judge and choreographer on the Fox-TV reality show, "So You Think You Can Dance."

Podlenski started incorporating the dance into therapy, but realized the program needed a regular teacher. He asked Murphy, who asked Ables, who eagerly agreed.

It seemed that Ables' life, at least her dance life, was preparing her for this job.

As a girl, her passion for performance grew. She danced through her years at Downingtown High School, her interests expanding from ballet to tap to the school's musicals. And Ables and her mother Janet, who also loved dance, participated in the area's Brandywiners Theatre productions.

After graduation from DHS in 1991, she attended Temple University and got a degree in international business/risk management, heeding that oh-so-practical voice in her head: "I thought I should get a 'real job,' " Ables said with a laugh, although she kept her feet in the creative world as a member of Temple's Diamond Gems dance squad.

Following her time at Temple, a position with an insurance company transferred Ables to Pittsburgh, a city where she knew no one. So as she had when she was a girl, Ables looked toward dance to make her feel at home, this time exploring the world of ballroom.

She loved it. Ables started dancing four or five times a week, eventually dancing competitively and teaching part time. At work she was dealing with the facts and figures of property and marine insurance, but her "real life" was the ballroom. "It was the complete opposite of what I was doing," Ables said.

A fateful decision to leave the business world and take a huge cut in salary by accepting a full-time dance teaching position was, much to her surprise and delight, wholeheartedly supported by her father.


"I was so worried he'd be disappointed. But he said it was really rare to find something you love and be good at it. He said, 'I think you should go for it.' I nearly dropped the phone."

A move to teach in Gaithersburg, Md., led to making close friends but also unfortunately an injury: In the autumn of 2003 she fell and hurt her back. An anticipated 10-day recovery dragged on to four years of pain, physical therapy and gradual healing

Then a minor fall while shoveling snow clinched it: time for another change, and she ended up moving to San Diego in December 2009, again not knowing anyone. There, a serendipitous meeting and interview with celebrity dancer and teacher Murphy led her to Soldiers Who Salsa.

After being offered the job to work with injured military personnel, Ables didn't hesitate when it might have given pause to some. Her reasons were clear: Her grandfather and father were Air Force colonels; after her back injury - although she's quick to say she doesn't compare it with one received in battle - she feels a kinship with the hurt servicemen and servicewomen; and she simply loves to teach dancing. "I said yes, I want to do this. She hired me the next day." The six-week program started April 2010.

"It's heartbreaking seeing how young these guys are who come back with these injuries, " she said. "I don't know how someone wouldn't want to help them."

As the class started to get rolling, the students were growing in enthusiasm, but there was a dearth of female partners, so "some of the guys

asked if they could bring their wives or girlfriends to class. At the end of one of the classes the third week in, a wife gave me a big hug and said she hadn't danced with her husband since their wedding."

The class was such a success for those with physical injuries, they started including others, such as those with Traumatic Brain Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

"When someone comes back from deployment from what I hear it's really hard to connect again," Ables said of those with PTSD, "but with dancing you can be quiet and still connect."

Although the program ran out of money, Ables and others have volunteered their time and efforts and she is pursuing nonprofit status for the group. She's also hoping to soon offer classes at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

"My goal is to have this program at every major military facility. I think we can do a world of good," she said.

Ables said her approach to teaching with the servicemen and servicewomen is the same as to any other class.

"To me, I don't teach any differently. I'm just more aware. When people are first learning to dance, all of the issues are the same (regardless of health). They're worried about looking foolish, about not being able to learn the steps and stepping on their partner's foot. They are the same anxieties that everyone has.

"The goal of the good teacher is to pay attention to the class. If I'm doing something and I see everyone's got it, maybe we can push a little bit more. You need to keep class fun and interesting.

"I think that all of us wonder what is the purpose of negative things. I understand what it's like to be in chronic pain, depressed and angry. But I also understand the joy that comes from dancing and music."

-- More information on Soldiers Who Salsa is available at soldierswhosalsa.org .

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Posted in dancing salsa , salsa circuit , salsa dance with soldiers , salsa dancing 2011 , salsa dancing therapy , salsa soldiers , soldiers dancing salsa

Fitness Matters: Dance class or dance fitness?

What’s your style?  “Dancing with the Stars” or Zumba?

Burning calories, toning muscles, and having fun all at the same time sounds too good to be true.
Dancing has many benefits including burning calories, building stronger bones, lubricating joints (which helps with arthritis), helping control cholesterol, benefits heart and lungs, strengthens stabilizer muscles that aid in balance and helps to elevate our endorphin levels.

Perfect footwork and body movement patterns make dance an art that becomes a workout. The attention to posture and technique is the center of the performance.

Having an instructor that is patient, has years of experience and teaching correct form is extremely important. It may take more mental work in the beginning to get the steps right, but eventually you will be able to put it all together and feel the workout.

A few years ago, I enrolled in ballroom dance lessons, hoping to learn some dance skills and grace. Like anything worth having, it takes practice, patience  and persistence.

Zumba is on the other end of the dance spectrum. It’s an hour-long workout with easy to follow fast dance moves alternating with slower moves for an interval-training workout that tones muscles and burns calories.

Dance steps are borrowed from meringue, salsa, reggaeand cumbia. The allure is from the perception that it’s more of a dance party than an exercise routine.

With Zumba being so popular, classes can be enormous and filled with enthusiastic but inexperienced folks looking for a great workout. Yes, I was one of these folks (a few months back) trying to better myself by trying something new.

My best advice is to take an intro class to learn proper technique so you can avoid injury and have a good workout.

If you are a Zumba fanatic, be aware of any aches and pains you may feel. Overuse injuries can occur in this type of workou, too, especially if you don’t cross train with other forms of exercise. Zumba involves a lot of pivoting and side to side motions, so having the proper footwear can save your knees and ankles from injury.

No matter what your dance of choice may be, moving and having fun will be a step in the right direction for your health.

Terri Allred, owner of Rochester International Dance Studio, which offers dance and dance fitness classes such as “Shimmy Fit, Latin Fit, and Bollywood Fit” has some tips on what to look for in dance classes and dance fitness classes.

Dance classes:

• Professionally Trained Teachers.

• Breaks down moves with attention to muscle groups, skeletal motivation of movement and posture.

• Culturally authentic moves.

• Can be slower paced initially while learning blocks for progression of skills, coordination, rhythm and tempo.

• Some classes teach choreography and some teach improvisation (free dance in response to music).

• Usually much more individualized attention and feedback about correct movement.

• Can create community and friendships.

Dance fitness classes:

• Want to experience the fun of the music or cultural style but not build skills for dance.

• Faster paced initially since goal isn’t to master a progression of skills, but to get an aerobic workout.

• Can be mixed cultural styles, movements, not necessarily correct posture or technique but goal is movement, not skill.

• Little individual attention, just follow along.

• Can have party atmosphere- feel like you are a member of something.

• Usually much more aerobic than introductory dance classes.

(Terri wanted to note that classes at the RIDS are smaller groups and offer more individual attention than most, and do pay extra attention to posture and technique their classes.)

Shelly Greenfield as an athletic trainer and writer in Rochester. Fitness Matters features the fitness stories of area residents. To offer your story, e-mail sports@postbulletin.com.

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Posted in dance fitnes classes , dancing salsa , dancing salsa steps , salsa circuit , salsa dance , zumba fanatics , zumba fitness

Warning: Salsa can be dangerous to your health!

Anyone who has been dancing salsa for any length of time has surely experienced that painful spike heel in the foot, the elbow that smacked into your head and nearly concussed you, that unwise move or sudden dip that nearly ended up giving either you or a partner an unintended black eye or severe muscle strain and, of course, the manifold bruises that are our usual ‘evidence’ of a hot night dancing at a packed, popular club. While you may emit a sudden yelp, limp off the dancefloor briefly and/or glare/curse at the particular dancefloor villain who inflicted your injury, usually you just chalk it up to a ‘normal’ hazard of the night or shrug it all off with a ‘no pain, no gain’ attitude. But what about SERIOUS dance-related injuries? Surely they just happen to the professional performers, teachers and international salsa stars, don’t they?

Well, I hate to tell you this, but NO! They can happen to anyone – and WILL happen to any keen social salsero/a eventually, if they are not careful – I should know, as I am currently (after 12+ years of frequent social dancing, 10 of which have also involved teaching regularly) dealing with: right-knee patellar tendonitis (from a previous ligament injury but exacerbated by dancing); left-hip trochanteric bursitis (all those spin preps!) and right-arm tendonitis (commonly called ‘tennis elbow’, but I refer to it as ‘Cuban salsa elbow’), not to mention quite pronounced bunions (from years of wearing too-high heels to dance in and doing frenetic pachanga/boogaloo swivels on the ball of the foot), all of which are overuse injuries caused by an excessive addiction to salsa! So, if you love your salsa (and of course you do, or you would hardly be reading this), please pay attention to the following warnings and advice.

WHY INJURIES HAPPEN

First of all, salsa (and mambo, of course) dance, whether we think of it as such or not, is effectively an extremely competitive sport. It is also in fact one of the most highly aerobic forms of exercise we can engage in, so it is going to be an immediate challenge for anyone who is unfit, such as those new to dancing or those who haven’t danced in a while. It is also always going to be difficult NOT to sustain an injury when you are: a. tired; b. have a previous injury or pre-existing medical condition; c. dancing in a hazardous environment (or with a hazardous partner) – but more about these later; or d. trying to do something your body is not yet practically prepared for.


As with any intensive sport, salsa requires many hours of training and practice, particularly if one’s aim is either continually to become better or, especially, the best. And let’s face it, from the moment any of us began dancing salsa, we have always wanted to get better. As we get better, we perhaps begin to compare ourselves with others, or decide we want to be at least as good as so-and-so. So we attend more classes, buy more videos to practice with at home, have more one-to-one sessions with teachers we admire, and attend congresses and workshops halfway around the world. And once we get really good and are acknowledged as such, either we are in frequent demand as teachers or decide we want to try our hand at official competitions – either way, we are now constantly exercising, constantly stretching and extending our muscles, constantly on the go, constantly taxing our bodies. So what is bound to happen at some point, whether we ever make it to a professional level or not, is an injury.

TYPES OF INJURY

One-third of all sports injuries are related to overuse; 80% of these are in the ankle, foot or knee, but can also occur in the calf, hip and lower back – so that is obviously relevant, since these are the limbs and body parts we are most constantly exercising when we dance salsa. Thus, if you are as addicted to salsa as I am, and do it long enough, you are quite likely to incur an overuse injury.

Of sports injuries in general, the most common are:

1)    sprains and strains – muscles and ligaments can be overstretched or twisted, causing long-term damage if repeatedly exercised as these can result in small tears in the muscle.

2)    stress fractures – repetition and force needed for various moves, such as those involving jumping – can eventually cause small (‘hairline’) fractures in the bones of the foot and ankle.

3)    tendonitis – this is a painful inflammation of a tendon (connective soft tissue that helps anchor muscles to bones), as in the Achilles tendon in the ankle or the elbow tendon, resulting in ‘tennis elbow’.

4)    blisters – usually from ill-fitting shoes or other clothing causing chafing to skin.

5)    toenail injuries – usually caused by wearing shoes that crowd and force the toes together, causing bruising of toenails or ingrown toenails  (these are also a contributing cause of bunions, an often painful deformity of the foot that is usually hereditary).

6)      impact injuries – these are usually in the form of a bruise or impact to a joint from falling, or bumping into other dancers or nearby props or furniture.
Injuries specific to salsa:

Of the injuries that are specific to salsa dancing, most are incurred during spins and pivots, so are more likely to affect women than men. However, a few of these apply to both men and women. These include:

1)     Hip pain – Edie the Salsa Freak has already written on the topic of right-hip pain being prevalent in female salsa dancers due to the constant strain on that hip from preparation for spins on the right; however, as I am presently suffering from left-hip pain and know of other female dancers who, like me, originally trained in the Cuban-Colombian style of salsa, in which the man always leads the woman on her right to then turn her to the left, it is then actually the left hip that is bearing most of the strain of the spin in this style.

2)    Strain on the medial ligament – from constant bending/straightening of the legs and transferring weight from one leg to the other repeatedly, as we do in salsa and other Latin dances (eg merengue, cha cha cha).

3)    Shoulder, knee or hip dislocations – these are serious, though not uncommon injuries, which are usually the result of trauma to the ball-and-socket joint caused by forceful impact (as in a fall). However, the kneecap can also become dislocated through sudden twisting, and the shoulder can be dislocated when it is forcefully twisted into an awkward position, such as in a violent, jerky or improperly executed move or spin. Female dancers are more likely to be susceptible to knee dislocations as they may have improper leg alignment or their quadricepts muscle may be out of shape.

4)    Excessive dehydration and heat stroke – dehydration is the loss of water and salts that are essential to the body’s normal function; it occurs when the body loses more fluid than it takes in. If a person becomes dehydrated and cannot sweat enough to cool their body, their internal temperature may rise to dangerously high levels and cause heat stroke.

5)    Exercise-related migraine – one salsera I know told me that she had experienced a sudden, excruciating onset of migraine (having never had this before) after continuing to dance for several hours when she was severely dehydrated.

6)    Bruises and punctures – from forceful impact with other dancers or dancers’ high heels or jewellery. Some of these can be quite painful; if there is swelling or a wound is open and bleeding, it may be necessary to stop dancing and apply ice to the affected area, or to clean and sterilise the wound and then apply a bandage to prevent infection.

7)    Lower-back injuries – dancing on concrete or other hard-floor surfaces places a lot of strain on the spine and lower back, which may then become more susceptible to injury.

8)    Plantar fascial strain to foot – this is a series of fine tears in the sheet of fibrous tissues extending from the foot to the heel. It is one of the most common foot injuries experienced by dancers, and occurs as a result of a jarring strain to the foot from dancing on hard surfaces.

9)      I am sure there are many more that I have missed out; please feel free to add your comment at the end of this article if you or someone you know has experienced any other type of salsa-specific injury.


Source: salsaeditorial

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Posted in dancing dangerous , dancing salsa , salsa circuit , salsa dance , salsa dance dangerous , salsa dancing side effect , salsacircuit

What You Need To Know About Salsa Dancing

The history of salsa dancing traces its roots to Spanish speaking colonies in the Caribbean but proving its exact starting point cannot be done. It is a lively fusion of music, tones, and beats from Africa and Europe.

As history recounts, the salsa dance was brought to us by Cuban or Puerto Rican immigrants, but no one really knows how it became so popular so quickly. The important thing, though, is that it is created by the Spanish speaking people of the Caribbean and that it is a lively fusion of beats and music from the Latin culture.

And although the exact history of the salsa’s origin is unconfirmed, this uncertainty gives the dance a whole new depth that makes it even more colorful and vibrant. Without the need of being true to its roots, it has already branched into so many different styles, allowing people to learn how to dance it freely and without any inhibitions, giving salsa its popularity and making it a wonderful and exciting thing to learn.

Salsa is a complex dance. The fact that it is a mixture of many different cultures spiced up with the fusion of African and European beats, there is no doubt that salsa dancing is a complex activity that challenges people. It is easy and hard at the same time, requiring you to give your best as it is, and, by all means, a dance that tickles the senses. So, if a dancer wouldn’t give his or her one hundred percent with the salsa dance, it completely takes the fun and beauty out of the equation.

Learning to dance the salsa and you’ve got something to replace gym workouts. Instead of sweating yourself out on a gym by running on treads or lifting weights where no result, aside from sweating, can be easily seen, why won’t you just learn dance the salsa instead? Engaging yourself in an activity like this can easily help you in shedding some pounds off, plus, you can also be hitting two birds with one stone as you are learning a new skill as well. With salsa dancing, you can already be multi-tasking even without you knowing it.

Confidence is also a big factor in salsa. However, if one is unsure whether one can perform the dance in front of an audience, practice can become the best tool. Whenever possible an unsure salsa dance student should practice in groups, the larger the better, in order to accustom the student to dancing while other people are present in the room. With enough practice, salsa dancing can build the confidence needed not only in dance, but also in life.

Never be afraid to move your hips. Again, salsa dance involves sexy movements, meaning you really need to move those hips in order to do the dance.

As for the attire, light fabrics are always the best choice as it can get pretty lively while salsa dancing. Also, if you are looking for a salsa dress, make sure that you can easily move and is very comfortable. Learning how to dance salsa is really rewarding and highly beneficial. You can meet new people, get a good exercise, create a new passion, become more confident and of course, have a lot of fun. Why don’t you start taking classes today? You’ll never know, this might just be your new passion!

Source: Jennifer Ramos
association.lov credit images

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Posted in 2011 best dance fitness , dancing salsa , salsa circuit , salsa dance best exercise , salsa dancing , salsa dancing benefits , salsacircuit , tango

Dance is a great way to stay fit

Gone are the days when dancing was pursued only as a hobby or a childhood passion.

We all know how people today have made dancing a way of life because it comes with its own health benefits and it is an excellent way to remain fit! Today, people are taking up different forms of dancing as an interesting form of exercise. It is looked upon as a more exciting option than going to a gym.

"Dance does not follow a fixed pattern like exercise," says Akash Karnatki, owner of a famous dance academy. "It has a different routine every day. Every form of dance comes with its own set of benefits. Hip Hop is a very good cardio workout as it involves a lot of up and down body movements which need a lot of strength. Salsa is great for the upper body and it helps improve flexibility. B-Boying is best for building muscles as the moves are very athletic. Three minutes of dancing is as good as sprinting if you look at it in terms of calories lost."

Dancing also works wonders for people who have to follow fixed routine schedules. Saket Tibrewal, a young professional who enjoys doing Salsa, Tango, Samba, has been dancing for the last three years and finds dancing to be very refreshing. He says, "I go to my dance classes two days a week. Those two days are the refreshing days in the entire week. I suffered from backaches earlier, but ever since I started dancing, the backaches have gone. I can even walk long distances at a stretch without getting tired. Most importantly, dance works as a stress buster."

Dance is suitable for people of all ages to remain in perfect shape and size. Meeta Shah, a graphic designer, 40, has been regularly going to dance classes with her husband and son for the last seven years. She says, "Going to the gym or for morning walks is very boring.

Dance, apart from keeping me fit, helps me look much younger. It is a great way to socialize and meet new people. Even at my age, I can do Hip Hop with my son, isn't that great?" Classical dancing also comes with its health benefits. Vanita Nagarajan, teacher at a renowned dance academy says, "The different postures of Bharatnatyam, if done correctly, largely benefit the digestive system and one never faces any spinal problem. It helps pregnant women have a smooth delivery." Mahima Pandya, who has been practising Kathak for the last 11 years, says, "It really helps in toning the body and increase stamina.

It requires perfect mind and body synchronization, thus making it as good as any other exercise." "It is as good as yoga and increases concentration levels," adds Vanita. Akash also agrees with her and says, "Dancing requires concentration which helps the mind." No wonder then, dancing is the newest best way to reduce the monotony of gym workouts and remain in the pink of health.

Source: Ano Patel

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Posted in 2011 salsa dance , Akash Karnatki , chacha , Dance , dancing salsa , salsa circuit , salsa dance , tango

Dancing their falls away

A multi-centre project titled The effectiveness of social dancing as a strategy to prevent falls in older people: a cluster randomised controlled trial has been funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council and will be led by Dr Dafna Merom, an Honorary Associate at the University of Sydney's School of Public Health and co-appointee at the University of Western Sydney.

Dr Merom says it is widely acknowledged that falls are one of the most common health problems among older people, and this study has the potential to reduce the incidence of falls for elderly Australians by as much 37 percent.

"We know that formal exercise programs, particularly those that include balance challenging training, can help prevent falls, but formal training exercises may not be the best way to optimise results. There are promising alternatives," she says.

Dr Merom is aiming to introduce classic ballroom dance routines including the rumba, foxtrot, salsa, the waltz, and even some 'rock n roll' as twice-weekly recreational activities at 13 aged care centres and retirement villages across Sydney.

Often described as 'old time dancing', Merom says these classic dances have the right moves and more.

"Dance is a complex sensory motor rhythmic activity. It also has cognitive and social dimensions. This package as a whole can simultaneously address a wide range of physiological and cognitive risk factors that contribute to falls."

"Evidence from preliminary study showed what a promising, sustainable alternative to formal exercise programs social and ballroom dancing can be."

"Small-scale randomised controlled trials have shown that all sorts of dance styles can improve measures of balance and mobility in older people."

"Studies have shown that seniors who do some type of dancing have better balance and gait characteristics than people of a similar age who don't, including those who exercise. Social dancing or ballroom dancing is enjoyable and already available in the community," suggests Dr Merom.

The study will be the first of its kind internationally to test the effectiveness of typical community social dance programs on falls and cognition in older people.

The researchers are aiming to recruit 450 older adults who will be engaged in the dance program, which will run for a year.

The multi-centre study will include researchers from the University of Sydney, University of Western Sydney, Australian National University, and the University of Hong Kong.


Provided by University of Sydney

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Posted in Australian National University , dancing balance , dancing salsa , Dr Merom , National Health and Medical Research Council , oldies dancing salsa , salsa circuit , University of Sydney

Dancing into your golden years

From tango to ballroom, dancing in your golden years is great for body and soul

Anne Atherling views herself as an unofficial promoter of dance for the past two decades in the Boston area. She looks back with modest joy on her years coordinating National Ballroom Dance Week, cofounding the Massachusetts Ballroom Dancers Association and the Tango Society of Boston, and renting huge halls for an annual dance bash to ring in her birthday.

But at 81, Atherling is far from sidelined. She still dances five nights a week and twice on Sundays, focusing mostly on the sexy Argentine tango. She struts her stuff at dance studios and halls in Somerville, Cambridge, Brookline, Medford, and at dance clubs at MIT and Harvard University.
Farzi and Kaveh Pahlavan of Newton started dancing together 20 years ago and are still going strong.

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Farzi and Kaveh Pahlavan of Newton started dancing together 20 years ago and are still going strong.

“Dancing is physical fitness yet different from sports because we don’t have injuries, in general, and it’s always social,’’ said Atherling, who lives in Cambridge. Then she confidently smiled and added: “My thing is cuddling up to someone and having fun dancing.’’

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Related

    * Video: Tango at Dance Union in Somerville

Her passion for dance is far from unique. The social dance community in Greater Boston is bursting with activity for singles and couples, many of whom took to dancing well into their 50s, after an empty nest or a divorce propelled them to take new steps - literally.

Betty Hood, who won’t reveal her age but says she’s a “senior citizen,’’ said the majority of those signing up for her classes in her home studio in Needham are couples whose children have moved out. “They say, ‘Hey, what do you want to do?’ And they decide, ‘Let’s try dancing.’ ’’

Part of the reason is what they’re watching on television.

“Dance wasn’t popular when I first started taking ballroom classes, but now it’s a craze,’’ Atherling said, referring to shows such as “Dancing With the Stars’’ and “So You Think You Can Dance.’’ “[They] hit the screens and the studios are booming and competitions are full of senior competitors.’’
Farzi Pahlavan and her husband Kaveh dance at Dance Union in Somerville.


Some dancers pay for hefty private lessons, while others find free or reasonably priced group lessons. And dance festivals of all kinds fill halls regularly.

Kaveh and Farzi Pahlavan of Newton started dancing together 20 years ago “as soon as our children could baby-sit each other,’’ said Kaveh, 60, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

They started with basic ballroom such as the cha-cha, rumba, and assorted fox trot steps, he recalled, then moved into West and East Coast swing, Lindy Hop, and salsa. For the past eight years, he said, “we’ve landed in tango.’’

“Tango doesn’t put a lot of pressure on your body,’’ he explained.

“This is a dance you can do to the end of your life because you can adjust your energy level,’’ said Farzi, the owner of a preschool who would not give her age despite her striking appearance in a little black dress and stiletto heels.

The couple, who took first place in the US Championship Amateur Salon Tango last summer, dance four to five times a week, even when traveling for conferences. “We’ve danced all over the world,’’ Kaveh said, explaining they often hop off a plane and go dancing for fun - and to chase away jet leg.

They arrived at their level of expertise after years of private lessons but initially took group lessons, which are much less expensive and encourage practicing with a variety of dance partners. “If you want to go for competition you need private lessons,’’ Kaveh said.

While the Pahlavans came to dancing later in life, many return to it after dabbling in their younger years.

Kate Wendt, 61, of Newton Highlands, danced her whole life, mastering ballet and jazz. She discovered Argentine tango at 48 and “fell in love with it.’’ Recently, she has moved on to salsa and West Coast swing.

“Social dancing is a great way to stay connected to people, expand your network of friends, and stay in shape,’’ she said. “I am the same weight and fitness as when I was in high school, so I think it is working for me.’’

Allen Swartz, 70, and Lee Graffeo, who says she is in her 70s, started dancing together seven years ago. Soon it sparked a romantic interest.

In her first marriage, Graffeo said, “dancing was on special occasions only. Then, after the marriage ended, that’s when I went back to ballroom dancing again, in my 40s.’’ Now she and Swartz mostly dance tango and West Coast swing.

Swartz had danced in his youth but stopped after college. He’s passionate about it now. “What else would enliven one’s aging than a passion?’’ he said. “Find your passion. If you didn’t find it before, you have a few years left. You’d better address it now.’’

Source: Mindy Pollack-Fusi

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Posted in 2011 best salsa dance , 2011 salsa circuit top salsa website , 2011 salsa circuit top website , dancing golden years , dancing salsa , salsa circuit , salsa dance , US Championship Amateur Salon Tango

Who Got Voted Off Dancing With The Stars 10/11/11?

Tonight is the fourth Dancing With The Stars elimination show.   The remaining nine contestants danced to theme songs from a popular movie.  If you missed the episode catch our official recap here!   We have have already lost Ron Artest  , Elisabetta Canalis and Kristin Cavallari.   It is anyone’s guess who will go home tonight.

At the top of the leaderboard is Ricky Lake and Derek Hough who danced the Tango to the theme from Psycho.  They scored a 29.  At the bottom of the leaderboard is Carson Kressley and Professional Dancer Anna Trebunskaya who scored a 20 for their Viennese Waltz.  They are followed by Chaz Bono and Professional Dancer Lacey Schwimmer who scored a 21 for their Paso Doble!

The poll we conducted yesterday has our viewers opinion of who is going home split down the middle.   25% of viewers think Chaz Bono will be voted out tonight and 28.75% think that Nancy Grace will be voted out.  But it’s not over until the votes are counted and the loser is named so stay tuned to find out who goes home!

The musical guest tonight is Raphael Saddiq who will sing Soul Man and Susan Boyle who will sing Unchained Melody.

The first couple safe tonight and who will be around to dance another week is Ricki Lake and Professional Dancer Derek Hough also safe is Jr. Martinez and Professional Dancer Karina Smirnoff.

In jeopardy is Rob Kardashian and Professional Dancer Cheryl Burke.

Chaz Bono and Professional Dancer Lacey Schwimmer are safe and also safe are Carson Kressley and Professional Dancer Anna Trebunskaya.

Chynna Phillips and Professional Dancer Tony Dovolani are in jeopardy.

Hope Solis and Professional Dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy are safe and Nancy Grace and Professional Dancer Tristan McManus are in jeopardy.

David Arquette and Professional Dancer Kym Johnson are also safe.

Nancy Grace and Professional Dancer Tristan McManus is safe.

Rob Kardashian and Professional Dancer Cheryl Burke is safe.

ELIMINATED: Chynna Phillips and Professional Dancer Tony Dovolani

What a shock!  What did you think of tonight’s show?  Are you as shocked as I am?

Source AnneMarie Fraser

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Posted in 2011 dancing with the stars , Chaz Bono , cheryl burke , dancing salsa , dancing with the stars 2011 , Rob Kardashian , tistan mcmanus

Dance Away Health Worries

How Grooving can Affect Your Wellbeing

Dance is a great way to maintain heart health and keep illnesses like osteoporosis, high blood pressure and diabetes at bay.

Dancing is the only activity out of 11 monitored in a 21 year study conducted by Albert Einstein College of Medicine deemed to lower the risk of memory-related diseases, so your physical health isn't the only benefactor of dancing to the music.

Dancing is great for someone who is trying to get a total mind, body and soul workout. Scientists are constantly discovering how dancing can help with brain functions as a person gets older. in addition, dancing can be a good workout for your joints without causing harm to your bones and joints.

What is dancing? The act of dancing entails anything from structured step sequences done to a particular kind of music, to free form moving to the beat of the music. Or it can be somewhere in between. The process of finding out what kind of beat you enjoy moving to can be interesting in and of itself.

Dance and Step into Action

Review the forms of dance to explore, pick one and look around for opportunities in your area to participate with other dancers. Belly, ballroom, clogging (stomping and tap steps), contra (men and women make square dance type of moves but in a line), flamenco, folk, jazz, line, modern, salsa, square and swing dancing are thirteen types to choose from.

Dance classes, some of them free, are given in a wide variety of places. Often, nightclubs offer different types of dance classes in the hour just prior to the live music beginning. A western bar might offer line-dancing classes while salsa classes are provided at a club that features Latino music.

Senior centers offer ballroom dancing opportunities. Community centers put on dances throughout the year. In addition, aerobic dance exercise programs are offered at gyms and health clubs nationwide.
How to Get Started with Dance

Shy? Crank the volume up on your stereo, cable music channel, or MP-3 player and dance in your own home. Dance through the whole house. Twirl or spin, twist and shout, point to the ceiling, and then to the floor with complete concentration. Enjoy getting healthier and happier with every step you make.

Emotional health is strongly linked with physical and chemical activities occurring in the body as you dance. Multiple studies since the early 2000s have reported the positive changes dancing can make for people of any age suffering from depression.

With so many mental, physical and emotional health benefits from such a non-exercise activity, the art of dance deserves to be checked out.

Source Naheed Ali
photo tzgrovinj.hr

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Posted in dancing salsa , flamenco , folk , jazz , line , modern , Salsa , salsa dance , square and swing dancing

Five tricks sure to learn to dance salsa

Have you ever felt the adrenaline rush you, if you happen to be some sweeping application salsa dancing on stage? You have definitely fallen in love with this genre of dance the passion and beauty of dance salsa must have left their indelible imprints in which you learn how to steal the thunder of fire must now draw your ideas. To get a sensational salsa dancer, desire to excel enough just to create a new beginning. Enter your talents sparrow, the dance would be an expert salsa dancer way. But if you’re interested in learning salsa dancing mustard, help tips sure that you can learn how to dance salsa to help you become a magnet, if you fill the dance floor.

Tip # 1? Learn Salsa compositions

Dance has hit par on the mechanics related to salsa dance salsa music to understand. If you salsa dance works, know how to salsa song structure, how the tools work in parallel and each other, and the confrontation with the entire vehicle to your salsa dance techniques, we plan to reach greater heights. You? Will have to learn can be found hidden in the compositions of sessions Life Salsa Salsa and your dancing. By controlling this, or? Become an expert in dealing with the right salsa dance style for a particular type of music.

Tip turned 2? Dance of the Clave Rhythm

salsa rhythm is important, which is done through constant practice, to understand the nature of the Clave rhythm, Amen. Most works salsa clave rhythm is the basis, which is percussion, which sets the groove for the core fans to follow. Clave rhythm is the basic rhythm of salsa music about, for he has two versions. Can? 3-2 clave? And this? 2-3 clave?, Two bars, which are revealed in reverse order. Choice in terms of a variation to the composition of salsa. It is very important to learn to dance at a clave, everyone.

3 Tips to impress? Master of Step B

Salsa interval learning to perform an important step, and it is important to note that the salsa to take written before 4 / 4, but due to a faster pace. It’s going to be with? Quick Quick Slow? Rate, or even pay attention to how? To keep one step? Rate, which hold this process is called pause. Breaking step usually count four, there is a break move by rolling the weight of the dancers from the ball relative to the foot of the dancer performed on the heel is done. Mastering step to break another important aspect, which takes into account, while you learn to salsa.

Tip has 4 dance? Learn the basic cycle salsa step

While you’re curious about the tricks to learn to dance salsa, it is also important to know the basic salsa step cycle. It includes 6 steps that can be experienced Break out of 8 strokes, as he begins a new cycle again. Beat 4 / 4 of the salsa dancing is usually one cycle every two steps dance beats, dance two step-action cycles. It is very important to learn basic salsa step cycle, learn advanced techniques, which then paves the way to change the step cycle.

Tip # 5? Learn techniques for styling

If the rhythm of salsa, dance is a summary of the situation, a good father, you can bring your design techniques, salsa dancing. Styling Salsa is the best way to express your joy on the dance floor. Styling techniques salsa dance steps and take additional or supplementary techniques involve the provision of a solo dance performance or a dance performance will be placed on the dance floor scene with a partner.
If you think about ways and means to dance salsa learn how these activities help you master vital secret, as you’re willing to give impressions of the stars, dancing salsa on the dance floor.

Source Vasanth

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Posted in 2011 salsa circuit weekly music charts , basic salsa dance , dance salsa , dancing salsa , rhythm of salsa , salsa dance steps , salsa dance tricks , salsacircuit

Salsa Cubana

The Salsa as we know it today, evolved from the Cuban Son into a mixture of dance styles one of which we call Salsa Cubana. Although there are different flavors of the Salsa – of which the most well-known are: the Salsa Cubana, The New-York style and the LA style, the Salsa Cubana is the style with most of the African-Cuban dance movements and authentic Son influence still present. The styles evolved in the United States tend to have more European classical dance styles as a predominant base and are more tailored for Europeans to dance to.

This does not necessarily mean that one style is better than the other, although the contemporary Salsa Cubana offers more freedom in its dance and evolves rapidly with influences of new Cuban Salsa Music trends (Timba) and also new Afro-Urban dance styles known today (e.g. Reggaeton - derived from Jamaican dancehall styles, Hip-Hop, but also the more traditional African-Cuban dance styles).

The primary difference between the Salsa Cubana and the US Salsa dance styles (NY & LA), is the freedom and circular movements in dancing the Salsa Cubana - compared to the US Salsa styles that tend to predominantly dance in straight lines. The Salsa Cubana also lends itself for dancing contra tiempo (on two instead of the one and somewhat comparable to the New-York style) or on the one (like in the L.A. style) and even on the three (the bass). And because of its flexibility, also possible with more than one dance partner simultaneously - applicable to both men and women. Finally, the Salsa Cubana is the first Salsa dance style that incorporates dancing in groups of dance partners - the Casino de Rueda, where it is possible to dance this in basic form with any other Salsa Cubana dance couples worldwide (whether you know them or not!).

Source Salsayanek

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Posted in 2011 salsa dance classes , dancing salsa , salsa cuban style , Salsa Cubana , salsa dance , The NewYork style and the LA style , US Salsa dance styles NY LA

Six of the best: Dancing holidays

1. Wendake, Canada

Sacred dances have been performed for centuries by the Huron-Wendat community in Quebec. They are used to give thanks for the harvest and to celebrate the first and thirteenth Moon. The "friendship dance" is the most fun, and was designed to foster links between nations. It's a sedate hokey-cokey set to a slow drum beat, in which you take turns in the centre. Just move back and forth and throw in a few claps. Experience Holidays (0845 230 2131; experienceholidays.co.uk) offers four nights from £874 per person, based on two sharing, including return flights and a day at Wendake with the Huron peoples.

2. Fes, Morocco
It's more about the trance than the dance with the Sufis in Morocco. Traditionally, Sufi Dervishes whirl around, their huge skirts creating a spinning-top effect. This repetition and their focus on God often leads them into a trance. However, for most people it simply means getting terribly dizzy. So, watch the professionals, then join in when the drumming and stamping starts. As the music builds, you'll lose your inhibitions. At the annual Fes Festival in June, Sufi Nights take place in the early hours, so it's advisable to get some rest or dose up on strong Moroccan coffee. Discover Morocco (020-7371 2030; discover-morocco.com) has seven nights from £425 per person, based on two sharing and including return flights and B&B at a luxury riad. Tickets to the Fes Festival, giving access to all events, cost £190 per person.

3. Samburu National Park, Kenya

In an unusual example of tribal solidarity, Samburu and Turkana people live together in a small village within the Samburu National Park. As a visitor, you can join in with the dances of both tribes. Here, elaborate ostrich feather headdresses and heavy beaded necklaces make what is essentially just jumping (for the men) and wobbling your shoulders (for the women) into a stunning display of colour and culture. It's easy to participate; no routines to learn, no fancy steps, just jump as high as you can. But women be warned – those necklaces can weigh up to two kilos (41/2lbs). Kuoni (01306 747008; kuoni.co.uk) offers four nights at Samburu Intrepids from £2,101 per person, based on two sharing, including international and domestic flights and full-board. The village visit is an optional extra at $25 (£16) per person. The fee goes direct to the village school.

4. Vienna, Austria

Dripping with elegance and sophistication, the Vienna Ball Season, which runs from New Year's Eve to early March, is a step back in time. It helps if you know the basics of the waltz, foxtrot, and quick step, but women can get away with being light on their feet and allowing a strong male lead to twirl them around. Full evening dress is essential and for young ladies attending their first ball, it's traditional to wear white. Don't worry if you have two left feet – you can opt for a masked ball and hide your embarrassment behind feathers and sequins. Two nights' B&B at the Hotel Aldstadt (00 43 1 522 6666; hotel-altstadt-vienna.com) costs €329 (£284) per person, including tickets to a ball. British Airways (0871 909 2303; ba.com) offers return flights to Vienna from £117.

5. Chitwan National Park, Nepal

Join the Tharu people of southern Nepal to dance around a bonfire. They favour the use of large sticks, which are twirled around like a cheerleader's baton. As long as you have the strength to hold your stick and bash your partner's, it's a simple routine to learn. Expect to be sorely tested by one dance that resembles the low kicks of the Cossacks. For this you'll need super-strong thighs. A 13-day Himalayan adventure with Families Worldwide (0845 051 4567; familiesworldwide.com), includes the Tharu Stick Dance in Chitwan National Park. Prices start at £1,899 per adult, including return flights, transportation, 10 nights' accommodation and most meals.

6. Various venues, UK

Dancing is a great way to connect with people at home as well as abroad. Join one of the UK's 150-plus Ceroc clubs – fusing salsa, hip-hop, ballroom, tango and jive – and it won't be long before you're flinging yourself around like a pro. Each session starts with a three-move beginners' lesson. The basics are very easy to remember. Etiquette dictates that you don't refuse a dance if you are asked. Ceroc is popular in Australia, New Zealand and in many European countries, so your skills can be put to good use on foreign holidays, too. Check out the nearest Ceroc club (020-8969 4401; ceroc.com). There's a one-off £2 membership fee, but then you can continue on a pay-as-you-go basis with session prices ranging from £6 to £8 per person, depending on location.

Source independentuk

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Posted in 2011 Samburu National Park , dancing salsa , Fes , Morocco , salsa dance , Tharu Stick Dance , Wendake canada

Salsa classes have many on feet

Spiciness ruled Friday night as people hit the dance floor at Cafe Culture for Dancesalsa.

"Move your arms to balance your body," dance instructor Monika Ronquillo said as she showed guests the steps.

It wasn't until merengue kicked in that guests began to loosen up their feet and, after the lesson, guests were dancing with flair to the different styles without the need of alcohol to give them the extra courage.

Other dance styles were introduced along with salsa. Cumbia, merengue and bachata enticed patrons as their bodies moved to the rhythm of the sound.

Since several dance styles are taught, the title will be changed to "Chico Baile Latino: More Than Salsa," Ronquillo said.

Couples lined up side-by-side and held hands. They let their hips do the movement and arms do the turning to the beat of the music.

"Merengue are simpler movements and it's more playful, whereas salsa restricts people more,"

Ronquillo said.

There are three basic steps to salsa within a four-beat measure, and to observers the dance is very sensual.

It's hoped that crowds of students will come and explore the dances Friday nights, co-instructor and host Hassan Ghiassi said. Ghiassi, 24, received his master's in communications from Chico State.

"We want to get students to do something different than just bars," he said.

This Latino dance is something that brings the community together,

Ghiassi said.

"Is what drives me," he said, "makes me move my feet."

Dancesalsa is more than just a business for Ronquillo.

It's a motivation to share her knowledge of music, family, friends and fun, Ronquillo said. It's also meant to show that alcohol isn't necessary to have a good time.

It is a good deal for $5 since it's an hour of lessons and attendees can get in for free if they bring three people, Ghiassi said.

Gabriela Robles, a senior international relations major, went with her friends and liked that they welcomed different kinds of people, she said.

Randy Del Rosario, a freshman psychology major, was happy to have his dancing skills back, since he knew all the rhythms in his high school days, he said.

"Feels like home," he said.

Dancesalsa is a great way to get exercise, make new friends and no one is shy to ask for a dance. All ages are welcome to the event.

Recent hits are also played to please all styles, Ghiassi said.

"It's noche de diversion y fiesta," Ronquillo said.

Source Miguel Rocha

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Posted in bachata , Cafe Culture for Dancesalsa , Chico Baile Latino , Cumbia , dancing salsa , Merengue , salsa dance steps , salsacircuit , salsadance

Dance for Your Health

Five Reasons to Dance for Your Health

Dance Research for Your Health

The next time you shimmy at home to your favorite song or head out for an evening of dancing with friends, consider this: Cutting a rug can be just as good for your body as it is for you social life. From your heart to your bones, dancing is an excellent way to get healthy and have fun.

Heart-Healthy Benefits

You don’t have to spend a lifetime as a dancer to reap the physical benefits of this weight-bearing exercise. Where can dancing have the biggest effect? Your heart. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, dancing can lower your risk of coronary heart disease and decrease blood pressure.

A recent study from the Lancisi Heart Institute in Ancona, Italy, suggests even more benefits from a whirl or two around the dance floor. Researchers found that men and women with mild to moderate heart failure could boost their bodies’ oxygen use through dancing. Those who participated in an exercise program that included dancing three times a week showed an 18 percent improvement in oxygen use – a sign of better overall heart health.

Flexibility and Bone Health

The effects of dancing go beyond your cardiovascular system. Many social dances such as salsa, swing, and ballroom also affect several other areas of the body. Salsa dancing, for example, is known to build stamina, and often serves as an effective weight-loss method. The swift moves of up-tempo swing dancing improve posture and increase flexibility, a must-have as joints begin to stiffen more easily with age.

Another key benefit of dancing is preserving bone density: Experts agree that busting a move on the dance floor strengthens muscle tissue essential to preserving your bones and helps prevent osteoporosis, a condition in which the bones become extremely weak and easily broken.


In fact, a 2004 Surgeon General’s report suggests that moderate physical activity such as dancing promotes bone health, and dancing is also one of five steps to better bone health listed by the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

Whether you’re picking up a childhood favorite again or taking up something new, it’s never too late to get started dancing. Dr. Margery Kalb, a psychologist and mother of two in New Your City, began with ballet. “I don’t like the gym,” she says. “It’s boring to me. Dancing, on the other hand, is creative and makes me feel connected to physical and mental well-being.” Eventually, devoting time to her two children forced Dr. Kalb to take a break from dancing – for 22 years. Today she’s dancing again and feels better than ever. Her advice for first timers or those getting back into the swing of things? “Find something you enjoy. It’s important to choose something that allows you to have fun and be happy,” she says. “You often forget you’re getting a workout.”

Note:
This article originally appeared in Spirit of Women Magazine, Winter 2009

Source Susana Ramos

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Posted in 2011 top salsa dance , dance clothes , dancing salsa , health dancing , salsa dance steps , top 10 salsa dance september 2011

Event promotes dance for better health, fitness

SEGUIN — Amanda Gold wants Seguin to see dance in a whole new light.

Gold, owner of Suzi Hughson School of Dance, said moving to music has long been considered an art form, but people are also beginning to recognize dance’s other benefits.

“If people knew how intense dance is, they would see how athletic it is in nature,” she said. “Last year’s ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ (SYTYCD) winner was sponsored by Gatorade, and it was the first time that dance was recognized as a sport.”

Moving to the beat is a fun way to exercise, Gold said.

“Dancing is a great way to get fit and get healthy,” Gold said. “You can dance anywhere. I dance in the store while I am waiting in line to check out.”

In an effort to help promote the activity, SYTYCD started Dance 4 Your Life with sponsorships from the Dizzy Feet Foundation and the Larry King Cardiac Foundation.

Dance 4 Your Life is an event that will be going on simultaneously across the country at all of the Six Flags locations on July 30.

“Normally, you would be able to go to Six Flags and take part,” she said. “But this year, we decided to have one in town on the same day. We’re going to do the same dances that you would do at Fiesta Texas.”

Gold will be leading a dance at the Central Park bandstand that was choreographed by Mary Murphy, SYTYCD judge.

“The one that we will be doing is a salsa, which anybody that is doing Zumba would get a kick out of,” Gold said. “We might be able to demonstrate another dance that might be fun and that one is kind of hip-hop based.”

Gold felt that offering the gathering a little closer to home opened the event for more people.

“I liked the idea and it sounded fun,” she said. “What better way to promote getting fit and getting up off the couch. If I can be out there doing this at 30 weeks pregnant, anybody can do it.”

The dancing will be from 9-11 a.m. and participants will receive a D4YL bracelet.

The event is free and open to all ages.

“You don’t have to be a student of dance, a professional dancer or even an athletic person. It is open to anybody, any age,” Gold said.

For more information on Dance 4 Your Life go to fox.com/dance.

Source Felicia Frazar

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Posted in dance for your life , dance steps , dancing salsa , Larry King , Larry King foundaion , latin dance , salsa dance steps , zumba

Contestants from more than 20 countries to compete in Puerto Rico Salsa Congress

San Juan –  Dancing couples from more than 20 countries will compete for the world championship at the 15th Puerto Rico Salsa Congress, which will be dedicated to music legend Roberto Roena, organizers said Tuesday.

Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Spain, Italy, Colombia, Guatemala and Martinique are some of the countries competing in the event, to be held July 16-30 at different venues in San Juan and nearby Caguas.

Brazilians Carine Morais and Rafael Barros, winners of the 2010 World Salsa Open, return to the congress to defend their title, the event's producer Eli Irizarry said.

Also participating will be runners-up Kelvin Hernandez and Licelot Maldonado of Puerto Rico and the Spanish pair Adrian Rodriguez and Anita Santos, winners of the 2007 and 2008 editions.

Irizarry told a press conference that when he organized the first edition, he had no idea how far the event would go, since close to 150 similar events are held every year around the world.



"We're not your usual convention, but rather an event that impassions a market and that seeks to learn the latest trends and the music people dance to in their own countries," the organizer said.

Besides Roena and his orchestra, the congress will feature performances by El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Luisito Carrion, Tito Rojas, La Mulenze, La Puertorriqueña de Don Perigñon, Jose Alberto, Sammy Garcia and El Sabor de Puerto Rico, Julito Alvarado and Del Norte al Sur, NG2 and Villariny Salsa Project.

Source EF

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Posted in 15th Puerto Rico Salsa Congress , 2011 puero rico salsa congress , dancing salsa , El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico , La Mulenze , Luisito Carrion , Roberto Roena , salsa dance , Tito Rojas

Salsa star from Mission shines

A diminutive 17-year-old who was in high school only a year ago, is now a world salsa champion.

And she did it with a broken bone in her foot.

Jessica Shatzko, along with her partner Alfonso Caldera of Vancouver’s Bravo Dance Company, won first place in the professional division of the Portland World Salsa Championship, June 10 to 12, defeating finalists from California and Venezuela.

What makes her performance all the more remarkable is that she’s only been dancing salsa for one year, says her grandfather, Nick Borzelli.

Shatzko is the protégée of two-time World Salsa Champion Caldera, who thinks she’s a natural.

As part of their first prize finish, Shatzko and Caldera won round-trip air and hotel accommodation to San Diego for the U.S. Open Salsa Congress on July 7. Unfortunately, she might be unable to go due to an injury.

During the Portland preliminaries she broke a bone in her foot, but battled through the break to win.

A graduate of Hatzic secondary last year, she now dances seven days a week and teaches in Vancouver with Caldera’s company.

Shatzko has been dancing since she was three, with skills in ballet, tap (she was on the national team when she was 15 and 16), jazz, hip hop and contemporary.

She’s also appeared in music videos for musical artists Michael Bublé and Emily Harder.



Although she’s won some money in competitions and earns a little more teaching, she keeps a part-time job at the Mission London Drugs.

Shatzko wants to go on “So You Think You Can Dance Canada ”, but dancers have to be 19 years of age. She said Charlene Hartman, a 24-year-old friend from Abbotsford, finished fifth in last season’s show.

At 14, Shatzko won a dance invitational in Vancouver among 500 other 16-and-under contestants.

“She did pretty good for a little Mission gal,” her grandfather joked.

Beginning in September she will teach at Can Dance Studios on First Avenue in Mission.

Readers can watch  Shatzko dancing with Caldera on YouTube.

Source Adrian MacNair

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Posted in “So You Think You Can Dance Canada , Alfonso Caldera , dance steps , dancing salsa , Jessica Shatzko , salsa dance steps , Shatzko dancing with Caldera , Vancouver’s Bravo Dance Company

Dig it: So You Think You Can Dance? Season 7

One of my childhood dreams was to become a dancer. I would picture myself doing death defying spins and lifts, wearing brilliant costumes and leave a crowd gaping at my dancing abilities. Well, I’m far from that dream now but I do get to witness something similar every week on AXN. So You Think You Can Dance is a reality show which showcases some of the most amazing dancing talent. Jazz, ballet, hip-hop, salsa, rumba, jive… you name it and this show has it all on one stage. Talented youngsters from across the USA come together after a series of gruelling auditions to display their prowess on the dance floor. The show is hosted by the gorgeous British presenter Cat Deely. Auditions are held across various American cities, snippets of which are not as hilarious as American Idol auditions but are entertaining enough for me!

Season 7 is currently being aired in India and has had me hooked on from the word go. This time, the number of contestants chosen from auditions has been brought down to 10. They have been paired up with ‘All Stars’ who are contestants from previous seasons, and who the judges feel are versatile. Much to my delight, my favourites from the previous season like Anya Garnis, Twitch Boss and Comfort Fedoke make a comeback. It’s a treat to watch them perform and I can see they have improved tremendously!

The competition has gotten intense and this makes it tougher for the audience to decide who should be voted out. For some jaw dropping moves to breath-taking grace and agility, this is the show you need to tune into every week on AXN.

Source Deccan Chronicle

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Salsa Dance Lesson Helps You Reap Benefits Of Turning Pro

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An amateur dancer attends a salsa dance lesson to increase their bid to turn into a top skilled salsa dancer later. A pro salsa dancer gets to take pleasure in a number of perks and different lucrative offers.

Salsa dancing is attaining a great deal of reputation these days. Many thanks in part to various tv demonstrates and videos featuring the dance. These genuinely aid bolster salsa’s reputation among numerous age groups.

Salsa is often a enjoyable but difficult endeavor. For newcomers, observing elite salsa dancers for the dance floor may possibly seem daunting. The flawless execution, exact partnering, intricate choreography and complicated footwork seem out of this planet. Nonetheless, any amateur dancer can turn pro if she or he is established to do so. This can need a number of salsa classes and practices however the finish result will be really worth all the hassles and challenging function.

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An aspiring professional salsa dancer really should consider component of International salsa congresses and festivals. These activities are an excellent approach to launch your salsa dancing profession. For amateurs, you’ll be able to view firsthand how pro perform and conduct salsa routines. This is usually a excellent understanding encounter which can enable you to later on once you turn pro.

Thousands of salsa lovers from all components from the globe would flock to those events. The festivities would go on for days and therefore are hosted by many cities. Salsa enthusiasts along with the general public are usually drawn to those gatherings.

These occasions give a variety of actions that will entice any salsa lover such as social dances, workshops, performances, reside songs, events and the significantly predicted Salsa congress competitions. Organizers generally tap nearby salsa pro dancers to spearhead these activities.

Local pro dancers serve as key attraction towards the salsa congress. Men and women would really like to determine nearby superstars perform onstage. In addition they lend credibility for the stated affair. They can create a lot of buzz for the event.

If you’re tap to perform in even 1 congress indicate, you may get quite a few delivers later. Salsa local community is all about networking. Amateurs taking salsa dance lessons who need to turn pro would largely benefit from this kind of coverage.

Skilled salsa dancers acquire recognition because of their methods and fashion of dancing. They gain the respect of specialists in the field of Hustle, Latin Dance and Danceport. Their designs could possibly be stylish or flamboyant. The strategies might differ but pro dancers reveal the same dedication, drive for excellence and working partnerships that make them successful.

These pro salsa dancers get profitable deals to carry out, choreograph and teach a variety of Latin dances. In addition they get to take pleasure in a luxury lifestyle. Most top salsa dancers get cost-free pass which permit them full use of pursuits. Organizers typically pay travel and accommodation expenditures with the expert performers.

Multi-awarded salsa dancers usually make income via teaching salsa. Personal and group salsa classes are bread and butter for many salsa pro dancers. Some educate on the net. Their revenue on the other hand isn’t restricted to teaching by yourself. There are actually a myriad of approaches for them to make.

Most salsa dancers use the world wide web to augment earnings. They make DVDs, seem in MTVs and land in film roles. Television appearances also provide extra earnings. They choreograph routines in a variety of performances. Some get to contend in Television contests for example Dancing together with the Stars.

Amateur dancers aiming to win in competitions ought to train in salsa classes. The congress competitions permit dancers to indicate what they are able to do and acquire recognition. Once you attain world-class ranges then luxurious perks will start rolling in.

The strategy to fame and lot of money isn’t paved for any salsa dancer. Even so, using the help of one salsa dance lesson at a time plus a lot of determination, perseverance and belief, you are able to turn into a best skilled salsa dancer and get to get pleasure from a deluxe lifestyle. For much more fantastic information and resources on salsa lessons and salsa steps go to our website today.

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