Welcome to Dance Data ! Dance Tips and Resources

December 11, 2009: Volume 1, Issue 18

To view this Newsletter Online: Issue #18 Hello, This past week has flown by and I imagine that you are all very busy as well. I spent three days visiting my grandaughters in Phoenix, got home last night, am headed out to Country Two Step class and dance tonight and then headed to Las Vegas, to the Las Vegas Dance Finale (in the puring rain) in the morning. My point to all of that info is that I am taking the easy way out of writing an article this week! I'm not going to write it, but I am going to feature one of David Carter's articles from his blog: BallroomJournal He has a great blog with a ton of information, be sure and check it out! Cruise Update: We have 3 Balcony Cabins and 4 Inside Cabins still available. Once they are gone, that is it! A $25 deposit reserves your cabin through Dec. 24th, 2009.  The ship leaves Ft. Lauderdale on October 18, 2010 and will be visiting 4 Islands. Prices start at only $859.42 per person, this includes all taxes and fees, plus all the workshops, dancing and activities. The ship is the Carnival Miracle. For full details, Click here: http://tinyurl.com/ycsqg54 Join us for a great time! Joe and Michele

Tip Of The Week

Looking for a Great Stress Reliever? Dancing is a great way to relieve stress! In fact, Mayo Clinic researchers reported that social dancing helps to: Reduce stress Increase energy Improve strength Increase muscle tone and coordination And whether you like to kick up your heals to hip hop, classical or country, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) says that dancing can: Lower your risk of coronary heart disease Decrease blood pressure Help you manage your weight Strengthen the bones of your legs and hips Dancing is a unique form of exercise because it provides the heart-healthy benefits of an aerobic exercise while also allowing you to engage in a social activity.

Recent Article

Should a Man Dance or Not?                                                                     by David Carter When I first started taking ballroom lessons a number of my male friends reacted negatively.   They thought is was funny or not manly enough.    I was told "Men don't dance".   Are you kidding me?   Men don't dance?   How did we get to a point where it was considered unmanly to dance?   Men,   you are MISSING IT!!!   Married or single,  the women  in your life want to dance with YOU!!!     How can you not want to dance.  You get to dress nice,  meet and hold beautiful women in your arms (and they are all beautiful) and it's great exercise.  Did I mention beautiful women?    Men don't dance?   The facts say something different:  In Western aristocratic education, dancing was a requirement for a future courtier.   A chivalrous knight was expected to achieve individual glory in war , as well as uphold virtues ranging from loyalty and humility to self-sacrifice and faith in Christian beliefs. He was expected to be courteous, loyal to his lady love, gifted in the arts of dance,  conversation, music ……  During the reconstruction of Buenos Aires around 1900,  the bars , gambling halls and brothels where filled with lonely men looking for "romance" in the company of women of ill repute.   These men were working class, strong, masculine men who worked with their hands in construction.    Their only hope of gaining the attention of one of these beautiful, soft and fragrant women was to dance Tango.  The better the dancer, the better his chances. Guys,  Don't be afraid.   Break the mold.  Contemporary culture has feminized dance and we need to take back the masculine role.  Real Men Dance.   Article by David Carter, Please visit his blog:    http://www.ballroomjournal.com/

Upcoming Events

Las Vegas Dance Finale - Dec. 10-13, 2009 Palm Springs New Years' Swing Dance - Dec. 31, 2009-Jan. 3, 2010 Monterey Swingfest, Monterey, Ca - Jan. 14-18, 2010

Blog Re-Cap

Looking for a great holiday gift? How about a Dance Cruise? Check out Dance Cruise: Large or Small? Stop by and share your dancing stories with me. I'd love to hear about your trials and triumphs! http://www.ras-this.com/

Resources

Online Dance Instruction: www.learntoballroomdanceonline.com Ballroom Dance Association: www.USAdance.org National Association of Swing Dance Events: http://www.nasde.net/ USA Swing Dance Network: http://www.usaswingnet.com/

Keeping Up with the Ras-Girls Our Blog: www.Ras-This.com Be our friend on MySpace Add Michele as a friend on Facebook Twitter Follow Michele at http://twitter.com/MicheleRasmusen Twitter Follow Cindy at http://twitter.com/threerivers33 Email address: ras.this@gmail.com About Me I am Michele Rasmussen. It is my wish to share my love of dance with anyone inerested. I am sure that I share many of the same hopes and dreams as many of you, and I hope to share the joy that I have found by "Learning to Dance in the Rain". Thank-You!