Learn to Dance Blog

I am mixed, half black so my hair is pretty curly. I like to wear it straight so I use a ceramic iron. But all my work goes to waste once I get hot and I begin to sweat because my hair gets all frizzy and nappy. I don’t know what to do because it’s inevitable. I would be thankful for some advice on how to prevent it or at least tone it down!

You could get a straightning perm. Make sure you get one of the less harsh ones for your particular hair type.

read comments (9)

New York is not the only home to entertainment in the form of theatre, Hong Kong is fast becoming the major Asian theatrical hot spot. And glitzy Broadway musicals are the rave for many.

For those who can only dream of watching a musical on Broadway, Hong Kong offers high class performances of some of the most famous Broadway hits. Those include Andrew Lloyd Webber show stoppers such as ‘Phantom of the Opera’, and CATS a musical seen by over 60 million people world wide.

Other big theatre crowd pullers include musicals that have won the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning stage plays. The famous ‘Sound of Music’ musical recently celebrated 45 years in Hong Kong theatre. Saturday Night Fever as well as the musical Mamma Mia based on the hits by the Bee Gees, have all made their debut on this Asian stage.

Apart from the musicals, Hong Kong also has a cultural side to its performances. This is mainly embodied in its offering of Chinese Opera. This art form which is thousands of years old still lives on in a variety of performances. The old has now been fused together with drama as well as dance, which exude with rich Chinese legends and their hidden symbolic meaning.

For tourists the Chinese Opera is a great introduction into oriental Chinese culture.

Dance is another art form in Hong Kong that takes on many different representations. For new comers to Hong Kong and especially lovers of Asian dance and drums, the city offers something for everyone. Travelers could choose from attending classical ballet or try out some contemporary entertainment in the form of modern Chinese Dance. Hong Kong is the Asian hub of entertainment, and while it hosts many troupes from the West and other parts of Asia, it is also home to many talented local dance groups.

An event that should not be missed when in Hong Kong is the city’s salsa festival. The festival stretches across a week from morning till evening, and caters to the interests of absolute beginners to experts in the dance form. It is often said that just a visit to the festival is enough to want to want to engage in salsa for life. Tourists could learn from experts how to salsa, which always heightens the experience of the festival. It’s a virtual non stop party for a week comprising of dance workshops, parties at clubs, as well as the staging of the Asian Salsa Open Championships.

With all the excitement that Hong Kong has to offer, it also has some amazing accommodation for travelers of any budget.  A bit of pampering at a hotel Hong Kong is just the thing to add the perfect touch to an interesting day. The Langham Hong Kong is a luxury hotel with exquisite grandeur that is the envy of the rest. The luxury Hong Kong hotel rooms here are decorated in a simple colonial style and overlook landscaped gardens or the city’s famous sky scrapers that glisten from a distance on a clear night, making for a perfect view.

Naveen Marasinghe
http://www.articlesbase.com/exotic-locations-articles/theatre-and-dance-in-hong-kong-an-art-form-waiting-to-be-discovered-1281608.html

read comments (0)

she’s been in to dancing for a while now, she even goes on about wanting to be a pro at dancing when she’s older

of course get her into classes but ask around and make sure that you take her to a good teacher, she also must have ballet no matter wat dance she wants to pursue, ballet is the basis for all dance. also she needs a teacher that can help her achieve her goals ! wish her luck from one dancer to anotherl!!

read comments (5)

The rhythm and beat of foot-tapping music appeals to every child. Children love to sway their bodies to the music played as a part of their course curriculum. Keeping this in mind, specific dance music for kids has got underway. When kids personalized music comes to the fore, children leverage the maximum benefit from it.

The love for dance music by kids has prompted the evolution of personalized kids CDs. Hearing their names being called out many times by their favorite cartoon characters is a big boost to the kids. They feel confident and important to be recognized by their lovable characters. Be it Mickey, Minnie or Goofy, the children feel delighted to be a part of the CDs.

Start from an Early Stage

Children love to dance from the time that they can stand on their own two feet. Whenever you play a tune on the radio or TV, you can see them getting totally engrossed in the melody and swaying their bodies to and fro with it. Some children learn dancing and some improvise on their own. But dance music for kids is a must to help them become complete individuals. Kids personalized music also plays a great role in drawing the attention of the young kids and helping them dance a jig. The personalized kids CDs help the children to focus on their own names and feel excited to dance along with it.

Make Kids React to Movements

Dance music for kids inculcates a trained ear for different types of sounds and how to react to it. It fortifies a child’s artistic expression and coordinates rhythm and movement along with sound. Dancing comes easy to children especially when exposed to kids personalized music. They start mimicking the dance steps right from the very beginning. They will do exactly as you will teach them to do. In fact, you can teach them to move their body along to the songs in personalized kids CDs. Teachers and instructors lay stress on starting dancing lessons for kids right from the very early years of their childhood.

Begin With Simple Steps

It is important to start with simple movements first. Parents can teach their kids to hop, jump, skip, tap their toes and snap their fingers along to dance music for kids. It is easy for kids to simulate their own normal body movements first. Even shaking hands with children, smiling and laughing with them and stimulating their senses will help them to learn to emote while dancing. Emotion can be more cleverly portrayed by making use of kids personalized music.

A Note of Caution for Parents

When you help your children perform with dance music for kids, you should put some restraint on them. They should learn to cope with parental discretion. You have to keep an eye open and gauge what your kids are listening and dancing to. Sometimes, kids may be misguided and get into bad company. You have to regulate this and make sure that children listen to pure music and nothing more. By taking active part in their interest for music, you will also nurture a feeling of belonging with your kids and also pique their curiosity and creativity to learn new things through personalized kids CDs.

Dance and Be Merry

So, participate with your children when they play dance music for kids. Take them to live concerts and expose them to a wide variety of dance forms like hip-hop, salsa, tap and many others from a host of countries. Find out their interests and educate them accordingly. Buy kids personalized music and prepare to further the art of dancing in your kids. Your interest is bound to take your kids to the next level. It is sure to boost their cheerful time.

Site Booster
http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/arrange-dance-music-for-kids-to-boost-their-cheerful-time-1179652.html

read comments (0)

The rhythm and beat of foot-tapping music appeals to every child. Children love to sway their bodies to the music played as a part of their course curriculum. Keeping this in mind, specific dance music for kids has got underway. When kids personalized music comes to the fore, children leverage the maximum benefit from it.

The love for dance music by kids has prompted the evolution of personalized kids CDs. Hearing their names being called out many times by their favorite cartoon characters is a big boost to the kids. They feel confident and important to be recognized by their lovable characters. Be it Mickey, Minnie or Goofy, the children feel delighted to be a part of the CDs.

Start from an Early Stage

Children love to dance from the time that they can stand on their own two feet. Whenever you play a tune on the radio or TV, you can see them getting totally engrossed in the melody and swaying their bodies to and fro with it. Some children learn dancing and some improvise on their own. But dance music for kids is a must to help them become complete individuals. Kids personalized music also plays a great role in drawing the attention of the young kids and helping them dance a jig. The personalized kids CDs help the children to focus on their own names and feel excited to dance along with it.

Make Kids React to Movements

Dance music for kids inculcates a trained ear for different types of sounds and how to react to it. It fortifies a child’s artistic expression and coordinates rhythm and movement along with sound. Dancing comes easy to children especially when exposed to kids personalized music. They start mimicking the dance steps right from the very beginning. They will do exactly as you will teach them to do. In fact, you can teach them to move their body along to the songs in personalized kids CDs. Teachers and instructors lay stress on starting dancing lessons for kids right from the very early years of their childhood.

Begin With Simple Steps

It is important to start with simple movements first. Parents can teach their kids to hop, jump, skip, tap their toes and snap their fingers along to dance music for kids. It is easy for kids to simulate their own normal body movements first. Even shaking hands with children, smiling and laughing with them and stimulating their senses will help them to learn to emote while dancing. Emotion can be more cleverly portrayed by making use of kids personalized music.

A Note of Caution for Parents

When you help your children perform with dance music for kids, you should put some restraint on them. They should learn to cope with parental discretion. You have to keep an eye open and gauge what your kids are listening and dancing to. Sometimes, kids may be misguided and get into bad company. You have to regulate this and make sure that children listen to pure music and nothing more. By taking active part in their interest for music, you will also nurture a feeling of belonging with your kids and also pique their curiosity and creativity to learn new things through personalized kids CDs.

Dance and Be Merry

So, participate with your children when they play dance music for kids. Take them to live concerts and expose them to a wide variety of dance forms like hip-hop, salsa, tap and many others from a host of countries. Find out their interests and educate them accordingly. Buy kids personalized music and prepare to further the art of dancing in your kids. Your interest is bound to take your kids to the next level. It is sure to boost their cheerful time.

Site Booster
http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/arrange-dance-music-for-kids-to-boost-their-cheerful-time-1179652.html

read comments (0)

I’m not American and I would like to know how many high school dance are in one year!
tnk!

It really depends on the school in question.
Events that could have a dance would include Halloween, Christmas (or winter in general), Valentines day, ”Spring fling”, etc.
I used to be events coordinator for a high school that held four a year. Halloween, Winter Formal, Valentines, and end of year Spring Fling.

read comments (3)

When Ann Jenkins was told that her daughter Amy was having trouble interacting with the other kids in her kindergarten class, she was at a loss for words. You see, Amy had always been a little shy around other kids, but after she "warmed up" she was usually fine. Why was kindergarten class any different? Amy’s teacher told Ann that she felt Amy lacked self-confidence and that the other kids recognized this and picked on her. When Ann asked the teacher what to do, she was surprised at her response: "Enroll Amy in dance lessons".

Initially shocked that dance could help her daughter psychologically, Ann started to do some research. Here’s what she found out about the benefits of dance for children: 

• Teaches kids an exciting new way to move their bodies in entertaining and creative ways.
• Introduces kids to exercise that is fun to do, early in life, promoting a life-long commitment to fitness. 
• Promotes self-discipline.
• Improves self-esteem and builds self-confidence.
• Improves flexibility, coordination and memory.
• Builds strength and stamina.
• Gives children a sense of grace.
• Helps children succeed in other sports and in the classroom.

There are almost as many kinds of dance classes out there are there are kids. Like adults, kids just have to find their niche. The Bea Hive Dance Studio in Garden Grove, California, caters to children of all ages, from toddlers to teens. Their unique Kid’s Program has classes available after school, in the evenings, and on weekends with classes in many different genres, including Hip Hop, Salsa, Funk Style Street Dancing, Ballet, Jazz, Polynesian Dancing and Aerial and Dance Fitness Training. Classes are starting now, so enroll quickly to make sure that your child will be assured a spot. Remember, dance is one of the greatest gifts that you can ever give your child. It is the gift that keeps on giving, for many years to come.  

For more information about dance classes for kids and adults, or to rent the studio for your own dance event or party, contact Beatrix, Queen of the Bea Hive, at 800-883-2109. www.beahiveballroom.com

Beatrix Dozier
http://www.articlesbase.com/k-12-education-articles/dance-classes-for-kids-the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving-1108922.html

read comments (0)

I need to know how to make my husband change his mind, or at least see things from my perspective, instead of him believing everything will be OK.

My husband of five months & I each have sons – his is 19, mine is 18. I am two months away from giving birth. His son lives with us, but wanted to go to live with his mum this summer, mine lives with my parents.

My husband began to miss time alone with his son after we married. He then decided he wanted his son to stay with him, and as there’s not enough room in his house (which is privately rented & overcrowding not allowed) meant there’d not be enough room for the baby. So he wants me to go back to my old house and live there until his son leaves home, but I can come to his a few nights a weed.

I cannot get through to him how devasted this makes me feel. I feel as though I will be a single mother – and as far as I’m concerned i will be. It would be different to be separated because of his work or something, but to live apart from one’s husband for any other reason seems bizarre.

I cannot bear to be a visitor in his house. He’s discussed his plans for christmas and he would like me & the baby to come over and spend the day with him & his son. I cannot even begin to explain how I won’t consider this; spend the day being a guest in the house of my husband – the man I vowed to love and hold, with his smug son looking on. I should have realised early on how it would be – even at the reception I was in tears as my husband ignored me (as soon as we arrived) to spend time with his son. I DO understand blood is thicker etc, & love my son more than anything,,, but to ignore me & all the guests (which everyone noticed) to sit and talk with his son & we didn’t even get to dance.

I’ve tried to be nice to the lad… I really have, but its hard when he’s been throwing my clothes on the floor, mixes my toothbrush up with the cleaning one etc & ignores me. His dad can’t see it, but does admit that his son doesn’t like me being here.

In my heart I feel we’re over… I want it to work, but don’t want to live alone… I’ll be a single mother; and it could be years before his son leaves. My husband won’t et a bigger house cos he likes this one &his son grew up here & likes it too.

Should I just move everything out when he goes on holiday alone next month???
@ Jody lol

use a gun and everyone will be on your side

read comments (3)

So many dancers have views regarding on-line videos that are available on the internet. With so many discussing this new form of class, I feel it is essential to discuss this topic head on since my husband and I are pioneering video broadcast solutions.

For most dancers who are teachers there are two views that take precedent over this issue. One is excitement over the fact that there is another way to teach. The other is how abhorrent they are to the very idea. As a teacher myself I can understand both viewpoints but what I want to do with this article is to give those who don’t understand the benefits of on-line videos a different perspective.

First of all remember that with any new idea there will always be pro and con opinions. Knowing this the first thing that we did was to send out a survey that asked dancers a lot of questions regarding what they were getting out of class and what some of the problems were that they were experiencing in class. We than asked what they wanted more of in the classroom. Both of us were amazed at the information that came in from dancers here and abroad. The one thing that all the women who wrote in had in common was their passion about belly dance and how excited they were to voice their opinions in the survey.

We than sent out another survey asking what they would like to see in an on-line video. Because of the information that we received I was able to look at my curriculum and format it to fit the camera better.

Addressing a specific problem on video as we all know is different so you have to work out the solution to the problem in a way dancers and students can understand.

Information is a key element in creating any dance video for students/ dancers, so the idea that videos are created without knowledge is fiction.

I know what many of you are thinking, that nothing can beat a live class with a dance teacher there to help you. I totally agree with you but let’s focus on the emails I received from dancers who had no teacher in their area or lived too far away from anyone who taught or they worked late and were busy raising their families. It was so apparent in the emails I received that these women wanted to learn belly dance but because of the reasons I mentioned they found they couldn’t. The on-line classes than became the solution to their various problems with their schedules, locations and families.

I also received emails from dancers who wanted to learn from other teachers but they wanted to do it in the privacy of their own home.

Others wanted to have classes created for them outside of their studios adding to what they were already learning. This all brings to mind the conversations regarding a very specific question, “How do you know the student is dancing correctly and how can you teach them without seeing their posture?” It is called feedback and it is the one thing that keeps the communication going between student and teacher. They get phone calls from me and emails. Any problem the student may have is addressed in the beginning and I have questions that I ask so that I can get a better idea of what they want. The video I make for them is created in my mind as if they were right there in the same room with me.

The idea that there is no feedback between the student and teacher is fiction.

Many people have commented that the economy is in such a state that maybe on-line classes are more in the range of dancers pocket books.

This is definitely one reason why on-line videos may be the new way to teach but there is also many other reasons. First of all dancers can get their curriculum out to the masses before they travel and teach their workshops. If people don’t know you, how will they find you? There are so many good teachers in our community and abroad who are not as well known as they should be. This is also a good way for dancers to see teachers they might have never known about otherwise.

Another advantage to on-line videos is that they are a less expensive way to get your curriculum, choreography out to dancers without having to fork out a lot of money to produce a dance video. Marketing your videos after you have spent a small fortune can hike up your investment to the point you may not make back your money. Believe me, I learned this the hard way myself. Once I put up my instructional video on-line I started to see a return on my money…..thank God!

The idea that on-line videos save money and are economical for the viewer/student is fact.

The format is very important in presenting your product so that the viewer can see the class from every angle along with the lighting, sound and curriculum. Most people who think about putting classes up on the internet might think that all they have to do is get a video camera and shoot a class. It really does take a lot more thought than that and you have to understand your own ability to teach first before you can than go and resolve problems or teach a class requested by a student. Once you start teaching on-line, you than need to have a type of tech support that doesn’t get in the way of your teaching. There are problems that can come up with the videos and you have to act fast to take care of whatever comes up. You have to guarantee your product and back it up, period. Adding to this is learning how to market your on-line classes. This means getting your newsletter/ blog out to your students and keeping up a rapport with them. Before you decide to teach on-line classes I would suggest you figure out first what exactly it is you want to achieve than go in that direction.

The idea that you can get a video camera and start shooting and creating classes is fiction. If you want to help women dance you must first know how to dance.

The bottom line is that creating on-line classes isn’t always easy because you have to understand the technical side to what you are doing which includes editing your work and than making sure that you have a quality video all the way around. I work very hard at each class that I do for dancers and students. What I offer is what I wish I would have had in the early days when I was working cattle in old Mexico. I was in the middle of nowhere practicing in pastures, ranches or around my horses. If I would have had an on-line class believe me I would of went for it. With that being said I will say again that on-line classes do not take the place of a live teacher but when you have no other options, on-line classes can be a life saver. I had a dancer write me and tell me that she would get home from work, cook dinner and get the kids to bed. Than she would take time for herself at around 11:00pm at night and take my on-line classes.

She said it was her “alone” time and she couldn’t wait to start dancing. There are many ways for us to learn what ever it is we are passionate about and it is for women like this dancer that I do on- line classes.

The idea that on-line classes will never take the place of a live teacher in a studio is a fact.

For women like the one I mentioned the on-line classes helped her enjoy her solitude and for her and many other women on-line classes have their place adding to the widespread education of belly dance and its history.

On

–

line classes were never meant to take the place of live classes, they are a needed option in todays world and with emails like the one I mentioned it’s obvious to me women need this ancient art form now more than ever.

Leyla Najma
http://www.articlesbase.com/online-promotion-articles/online-video-fact-and-fiction-669457.html

read comments (0)

Many of the most popular mainstream dancers at the moment are music stars who also like to do their fair bit of dancing in their music videos. From Beyonce to Chris Brown to Usher and Britney Spears.

One of the most popular pop stars slash dancers at the moment is Justin Timberlake. Many of his songs with danceable beats like ‘Like I Love You’ and ‘Rock Your Body’ have featured his individual dance moves and also brilliant group dance routines.

One of the guys behind Justin’s dance steps is Marty Kudelka – one of the hottest dance choreographers around at the moment. Marty has choreographed some of Justin’s more recent work like his video ‘My Love’ and also Justin’s FutureSex/ LoveSounds tour.

Every popular dancer usually has some sort of mentor like dancers or teachers that inspired them, or great choreographers. Hiring top choreographers is becoming one of the more important tasks for those responsible for today’s pop stars.

Every dance choreographer has their own unique style and many work in particular preferred styles of dance. For example the choreographers of Beyonce’s ‘Crazy In Love’ are very different from those who choreographed the video for Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ for example.

It is important for those responsible for a music artist to find choreographers who will compliment the image of that star. For example very sexy and feminine choreography works very well for the Pussycat Dolls and Beyonce, whereas Missy Elliot is more suited to hip-hop and club dance inspired styles.

The importance of hiring the right choreographer has never been more important in today’s age where image is so important for music artists. And it’s no longer just boy bands and girl bands that use dance routines in their acts, all sorts of music bands and artists are making use of dancers.

Once you get used to an artist doing dancing in their videos you expect the moves and routines that they make famous to become a part of their act. And they’ll usually stick with the formula of what works by continuing to make use of dance moves in their videos and tours.

Even Michael Jackson had his dance teachers. From his dancing it is obvious he was inspired by many great dancers but it was Jeffrey Daniel from soul group Shalamar who taught Michael Jackson the backslide or ‘moonwalk’ as it is more commonly known.

Behind every dancer there are choreographers that help make things happen and very often are responsible for the dance moves that catapult the artists and dancers into the spotlight.

Kevin Shwe
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/where-justin-gets-his-dance-moves-from-558317.html

read comments (4)