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Weekly Newsletter: January 20,2010, Volume #2, Issue #3
Michele Rasmussen
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Welcome
to Dance Data !
Dance
Tips and
Resources
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January
20, 2010: Volume 2,
Issue 3
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To view this
Newsletter Online: Issue
#3
I
think that Murphy has moved on. While my blog is back up and running a
years worth of info is floating in never, never cyber space land, so if
anyone has a copy of any of my blogs from this past year, I would
appreciate getting them from you. I know a lot of it was just yadda,
yadda but there was some great info, too. Thanks in advance.
My
grand son Jack was glad that Murphy visited last week since he got a
"Marble Madness" birthday cake out of the deal. He said that now that
he is seven, it won't be long until he can be my "Ha-Cha-Cha" parnter.
Gotta love that kid!
I hope that wherever you are, the weather
isn't keeping you from getting out and dancing. Did you know
that
people that belong to a group or community are shown to lead happier
lives and that they are four times as likely to feel good about
themselves, than those who have no outside interests or hobbies? Being
a part of a dance community can be a very special experience.
Don't forget to check out the great prices on Evenin' Star Dance Boots and
Very Fine Dance Shoes for both
men and women. You
haven't danced in boots, until you've danced in these!
Happy Dancing,
Michele
Cruise
Update:
We STILL have 1
Balcony Cabin and 3 Inside Cabins available. Once they are
gone, we will be starting a waiting list.
A $25 deposit reserves your cabin through January 31, 2010.
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
Marble Madness!
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Dance Conventions
If you are serious about wanting to become a better dancer, attend a
Dance Convention or Dance Cruise. Dance Conventions
and Dance Cruises are held all over
the world. Dance Conventions are typically 3-5 days while a dance
cruise can be anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks.
The benefits of spending that much time with like minded people is
invaluable. You will be exposed to dancers of all levels, from
beginners to champions. You will have the opportunity to attend hours
and hours of workshops and social dancing. Your first dance experience
will be truly eye opening. The most important thing to remember is that
to improve your skills, you must participate.
To find a Country Western Dance Event, Click here: UCWDC
There are events listed there that are all
over the world. Dances include Country Two Step, Waltz, Cha Cha, Triple
Two, Polka, East and West Coast Swing, Hustle, Night Club 2 Step.
To find a Ballroom Dance Event, Click here: USA Dance smooth dances.
Dances at those event include all rhythm and American and
International styles.
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Dancers: Are You the Chicken or
the Egg?
by Michele
Rasmussen
Often
you hear the exact same comments and complaints from both sides of a
dance partnership. "I do this, this way, because .....". It is easy to
blame or justify your own actions and reactions on another other
person. Whether you are a leader or follower you are responsible for
your own movement and contribution to the dance. It can be very
difficult to learn either the leader or followers "part" if neither
person assumes personal responsibility. However, you must learn to
allow both people to come together and form a partnership, equally
responsible for their own role.
You can easily become the chicken or the egg portion of
this equation.While it is important for both sides of the partnership
to learn their own part, it remains the leaders responsibility to lead
and the followers responsibility to follow. In a classroom situation it
is very easy to fall into the category of each person dancing their own
specific part. In doing so, often a follower will dance their part
before the leader actually "leads" them to do so. Yes, followers, you
do need to know where your feet are going but you must also wait until
led to go there. If you propel your body without being led, the leader
will never learn what is required of them to establish a clear lead
that anyone, in or out of the classroom, can follow. You must also
experience what it "feels" like to be led, so that when you are dancing
with unfamiliar people, outside the classroom, in the "real
world", you are able to follow. In other words, your goal
should be to dance together as one unit, as opposed to two people
dancing their own separate parts.
Example:
Leaders: Shoving or pushing a follower around
in order to get them to turn. That action accomplishes nothing other
than to knock them off balance and prevent them from ever learning to
turn on their own.
Followers: Dancing in a direction that you assume the
leader wants you to go. If the lead is not clear, don't guess. Allow
the leader the opportunity to perfect his lead so that it becomes
clear. "Helping" them out will impede their progress.
So whether you are the chicken or the egg, as a dancer
you must allow the other person to be responsible for their own
contribution while dancing. Don't fall into the trap of: "I
have to do this, in order to achieve that" because all that will do is
continue to feed the vicious cycle of "He doesn't lead" or "She doesn't
follow".
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Keeping Up with the Ras-Girls
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 Our
Blog: www.Ras-This.com
I am
Michele Rasmussen. It is my wish to share my
love of dance with anyone interested.
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".
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Dance Booker
Dance Booker! A community for friends old and new to spend a little down time with like minded people in the dancing world - Listing dance events throughout the UK - Jive, Ceroc, Salsa, Ballroom etc. Includes booking facilities direct with the organisers |
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| Here's what our members are saying ...
"I can't believe it. I have wanted to learn to dance and couldn't find a single dance lesson in my town. Yeah whoo! I love you guys."
"It was exactly what I was looking for."
Joeseph H.
Savanah, Ga
"I live in a really small town where there are no dance lessons. Thank you so much, I can almost Cha Cha now!!
Susan A.
Marion, Va
"Your site saved the day for me. The basic steps I learned from your dance instruction videos helped me quickly be able to keep up on the dance floor with some of the better more experienced dancers. I'd been struggling for so long. Thank you!
Caroline T..
Buffalo, NY
"I can't say enough about how valuable your site has been to our dance club. We are brand new with little local instruction, your site is helping us all learn how to dance! Can't wait for the videos!!! Thanks!."
David A..
Seattle, WA | | |
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Ballroom Workshops
