Want to learn ballroom dancing?
Samba (the best rhythm and music) +
With a partner (the best way to dance!)
=
The best ever!
Starting this Thursday (October 1st) I’ll be offering a ballroom dance series at the Decathlon Club in Santa Clara. It will be 4 weeks of how to dance samba with a partner. If you’ve never done samba or never danced with a partner before that’s fine, we will start at the very beginning. But over the course of four weeks you will progress through the basic patterns and into some fun and exciting variations.
You do not need to be a member of Decathlon to join, just email “Jenny Rowe” <jrowe at courtsideclub dot com> to register.
Every week we meet from 8-9 pm for lesson, and then we practice, I answer questions and work individually with people, etc. from 9-9:30 pm. It’s generally a nice, small group so you get all your questions answered!
You do not need a partner to join, we generally have both singles and couples in class.
See you soon!
Anna
Partner Salsa dancing videos
Hey Salsa Dancers!
Hope you’ve been enjoying our classes so far – you guys have learned a ton in just two classes! We’ll do lots of review to make sure it all sticks. Here are some videos from the first class – hope they help with review. I’ll make sure we tape the other steps this week in class.
Here’s a walk through of the basic steps:
And here are the steps with some music:
See you Thursday at 8 pm for more salsa – and remember next month is tango, so sign up now to save your spot!
Ballroom Beautiful
I may have my gripes with the competition ballroom world. It can encourage people to be obsessive about shallow things – their fake tan, long nails, fake eyelashes, and brand name accessories. It is, quite honestly, a terrible waste of money, with the five thousand dollar costumes, outrageous entry and ticket fees, and constant travel. It can create eating disorders and snobby behaviour. Worst, it can make people forget that dancing is beautiful and fun.
So I just wanted to throw up here a few of my favorite dancers and favorite routines to remind everyone (myself included) that competition styling ballroom dancing can be beautiful. Besides just beautiful it can be a creative, heart felt, and touching performance style. For any who feel like ballroom is only a bunch of people posing, and it has no heart or room for personal expression, I hope you appreciate these performances as much as I do.
First, Michael Malitowksi and Joanna Leunis, in a romantic and sweet rumba:
Mayo Alanen and Lisa Vogel dancing a smooth showcase to “Hurt”,
or the same couple with a more classical style:
One of my favorite ladies, Yulia Zagoruychenko with her former partner, Max Kozhevnikov, dancing a creative and smart samba:
and one of my favorite creative dances, from the same couples:
And even a tango, danced by my favorites, Victor Fung and Anna Mikhed:
As stylized as these dances are, there is room for beauty, emotion, personal expression, joy, anger, sadness… all the things that we feel in life can come through in our dancing.
If you have a fav. video, post below so we can all see!
Swing dance review
Hi Decathlon Dancers!
It was great working with you during the month of July – I hope you had a fun time learning different kinds of swing. We covered quite a lot, single time swing:
with lots of side, side, rock steps. This is a review of all the different steps we did for single time swing, categorized by which hand position it begins with. Thanks to my demo buddies for being brave!
triple time swing (also called East Coast swing):
with lots of triple step, triple step, rock step. We did get into a few variations (like the mooch) that change this rhythmic pattern, but for the most part if the lady follows the basic rhythm it will all work out! I also talked a little about what the hips and ribs should do for the proper “body action” for triple step swing, see here:
this body action can help the leader communicate to the follow when and where to go. And it can make your swing look better, too!
and even a little West Coast swing:
I can’t believe you guys learned so much in just 30 minutes of West Coast Swing!! This is a great dance but takes a sensitive connection to make it feel good, so ladys – make sure you’re moving all the way into the push and pull, and leaders, use your body weight instead of your arms to move yourself and give her directions.
I’m looking forward to seeing you next week for salsa!
Let me know if you have any questions left over about these swing steps – see you soon.
Have you hugged your dance partner today?
I think the hardest part about partner dancing is the “partner” part, not the “dancing” part. Not to say that dancesport isn’t physically challenging – the sport continues to get faster and tougher in the physical sense. Ballroom dancers have to be strong, flexible, fit, sensual, expressive, tough, balanced, and in great cardiovascular shape. They are challenged to the max in every physical sense.
But I still think the hardest part of ballroom / social partner dancing is maintaining a working relationship with a partner. This seems like it should be relatively easy compared to the gymnastics you have to do, but it has several common pitfalls…
1. What it feels like to you is not what it feels like to your partner. Certain physical actions that might feel fine to you (raising or lowering your arm early, leaning backwards, stiffening your shoulders) but might feel awful to your partner. Many times people are inadvertantely affecting their partner without realizing it. This becomes a source of argument as people start to blame each other for doing it “wrong” without realizing that they are part of the problem.
Easy Solution: Avoid the words “You’re doing it wrong”. I think there is no sentence out there that is less helpful. If you want to try to fix what’s going wrong, try the words instead, “How can I help you to…” For example, if you feel like your partner is too far away from you, “How can I help you to end the pattern closer to me?” There is probably something you are doing that is blocking your partner from coming closer – by phrasing it this way you two can work together to find a solution.
Mention what you are feeling so the other person can become aware of how it feels to you. As I said, what it feels like on one side of the partnership can feel entirely different on the other side of the partnership. If you use the words, “When you do X, I feel Y. Instead, if you could do P then I would feel Q.” I know this sounds like cheezy relationship therapy talk (cause it is). But trust me, ballroom dancing is just like couples therapy – or couples therapy gone wrong if people don’t communicate clearly!
If you really must say that they are doing something “wrong”, be specific and kind. Give a compliment first, and then say, “if you could not lower my arm until beat three, that would help me to finish my turn first”. People can accomplish specific items, and this can keep the critique from turning into an argument.
2. Take positive action and assume the best. Your dance partner, 99% of the time, is trying their best (if they aren’t… then maybe consider a new partner). You have to remember that they are not *trying* to make mistakes, forget the pattern, lead you into walls, or do that annoying thing that you’ve told them not to do. Why would they try to mess up? No really, most people are trying to get it right, but just can’t be perfect at everything all at once.
Easy solution: Try to practice only one thing at a time. Say one of you has a hand squeezing problem. Try practicing one whole hour focusing only on not squeezing each other’s hands to death. Neither of you is allowed to comment, complain, or focus on anything else. Do not allow yourself to point out the other mistakes they are making – unimportant! They are trying to fix one thing at a time. Be patient.
This brings us to a very important point – you can only fix yourself. And there is always more to fix about yourself, so focus on that, and allow your partner the space and time to fix themselves. For the most part, having one’s partner constantly pointing out the various things one is doing wrong only makes one defensive. Defensive people do not learn or improve very quickly. Avoid making your partner feel attacked! Their dancing will get *worse* not better. If you really feel the need to point something out, it should be phrased with the above communication tips.
For the most part, I allow my teacher / coach to offer my partner criticism. That is why we pay them to do so. We do this for two reasons – the teacher is more experienced and can offer corrections in the right sequence. Imagine that you were learning French, and you knew some words but could barely string together a sentence. Since you were just starting, your grammar and conjugation is very limited. However, your French partner, when trying to listen to you, keeps cutting in and correcting your pronunciation of “r”s and the particulars and the past tense. All of this further frustrates you and confuses you, because you can barely put a sentence together in the first place, let alone think of all these little details! On the other hand, an experienced French teacher would ignore the mistakes that are normal for the level, and correct the most important things that need to be fixed first. You cannot fix everything at once, and a good teacher chooses wisely the most important thing to be corrected so that future progress will be smoother. When a nagging dance partner cuts in with lots of other corrections, it can derail the student from focusing on what’s important.
Further, the dance teacher is an impartial judge. By allowing the judge to make the corrections, it helps to keep the partners united. This seems like a sort of trivial detail, but human nature is not always kind. When the partners start to critique each other, it is difficult for them to feel safe around each other. They cannot safely lead and follow with trust, and they feel judged by the other person. It is usually best to leave the judging to the judges and teachers, and make your partner just that, your partner.
3. Don’t imitate the big boys and girls! Believe it or not, many “pros” demonstrate very bad examples of how to care for your partner. You will frequently see pros fighting on the dance floor during practice, storming out of a room, screaming at each other, etc. Or the less dramatic examples, but equally insidious – in the middle of a step one partner will disdainfully shrug the other partner away and just walk off.
I must say, it is incredibly hard to live the professional ballroom competitor’s lifestyle. They are physically, mentally, and financially stressed constantly. There is a lot of pressure to perform well and win with all your students watching. All this stress means that many pros practice poorly by letting their egos interfere with their progress. Pro partnerships mix business with social life (and sometimes romantic life!) This mixing can create a lot of pressure, and when the two aren’t getting along after hours / days/ months / years of traveling, practicing, and performing together, they can treat each other quite poorly. Many pro partnerships stick together for years after the partners hate each other because it is too important to continue financially / business-wise together. This means that pro partnerships frequently set a bad example for students on how to treat your dance partner.
In short, do not imitate the big boys and girls. I see younger couples sometimes directly quoting their teacher’s rants to each other. You don’t need to do this to be cool! You don’t need to treat your partner badly to be a top competitor!
Instead, proper care of your dance partnership can result in a much longer partnership, which can mean greater success on the dance floor and a lot more learning.
Take positive action – bring your partner flowers. Or a cookie. Or a hug. Or just remind them how much you appreciate dancing with them. This sounds cheezy, but a good dance partner is your most precious possession. It might be easier to find someone to marry than someone to be a full-time dance partner with. If you have a good one, take care of them the way you would take care of your most prized possessions. Because of all those possessions are much more easily replacable than that person who allows you to take them in your arms, who trusts you to lead / follow and dance with them.
So, have you hugged your dance partner today?
Be kind to each other and see you on the dance floor.
Welcome Waltz Dancers!
I’m really glad you’ve decided to join me for Decathlon’s June Ballroom dance series. I think in these four weeks of waltz class you will all get a chance to master the basics of American Smooth style waltz as well as learn some more intermediate variations.
Here’s a few videos of the steps we did in class last week (please excuse my lack of fancy dress – I just finished a hip hop class!).
Gentlemen’s steps, broken down:
Gentlemen’s steps, with music:
Lady’s steps, broken down:
Lady’s steps, with music:
Looking forward to seeing you tonight for more waltzing!
What kind of ballroom dance shoes do I need?
Various folks have asked me what kind of ballroom dance shoes they should be wearing.
It all depends on what kind of dancing you’re going to be doing!
So here are a few common varieties, and what they are good for:
Latin Heels (for women and men): These shoes are specially built for dancing latin dances. They have suede on the bottom for the proper amount of slickness (for turning) and stickiness (so you don’t slip). The shank (the part under the arch of your foot) is particularly constructed to keep your posture upright and forward instead of falling back away from your partner. The heel cup is designed to help support your ankle and stay fixed to your foot during quick rotations. Overall, these shoes may be expensive, but they are custom built to keep your feet and ankles safe during latin dancing and improve your posture and technique. If you are going to be performing or competing in latin dancing, they are a must. If you are only dancing for fun or taking beginning lessons, these shoes will make your life more difficult (it is an extra challenge to balance and use your ankles properly when in high heels). I would only move into heels if you know you are going to be dancing in a performance setting, or if you know you are going to wear them at parties, etc. If you are going to wear them, you might as well get used to them sooner than later. For the ladies there are many styles and many heights of heel. Try them all on and pick the one that is most comfortable – it’s no good having a particular look to your shoe if you’re too uncomfortable to wear it! Generally, more straps or mesh inbetween the straps will give more stability for beginning dancers. Fewer straps might look better to some people, but takes more precision to stay balanced. A one or two inch heel is good for beginning dancers. Serious competitors usually wear a 2.5 or 3 inch heel, but this is not necessary for parties or social dancing! If the store you are at doesn’t have exactly what you want, ask them to order it. Many shoes can be ordered in a variety of colors. Many dancers choose a “nude” color so that it goes will different costumes, and also so it lengthens the leg line (black or color on your foot shortens the appearance of the leg line). However, many social dancers prefer a pretty color or sparkly shoes. Make sure when purchasing sparkly shoes that they are actual dance shoes with the correct angle in the shank and flexibility in the ball of the foot. Some people sell “normal” shoes with suede attached to the bottom and call them dance shoes. These shoes might be pretty with lots of sparkles, but they were not constructed on the inside to support your foot and ankle. Many top brands of latin heels sell for $115-125. There are some newer brands that are selling for $60-70 (these might be actual dance shoes, but sometimes these don’t last as long). If the shoe is much cheaper than that, I would question why!
Yes men, you get to wear heels! This will feel incredibly weird at first (and hey, your heels are only 1 inch!) Just like for the ladies, these cuban heels will help you dance your Latin dances with the correct poise, posture, and partnering. You certainly don’t need to wear them just for a party or social dance, especially since they are impractical for smooth / standard dancing. I would recommend them only for competitive Latin / Rhythm dancers.
Standard / Smooth shoes (also called court shoes or pumps for ladies, or Standard shoes for men): These shoes are specially built for the traveling dances – waltz, foxtrot, tango, quickstep, and viennese waltz. They have suede on the bottom for the proper amount of slickness (for turning) and stickiness (so you don’t slip). The shank (the part under the arch of your foot) is not as extremely angled as a latin shoe, allowing you to roll smoothly through the foot. The heel cup is designed to help support your ankle and stay fixed to your foot during quick rotations. Overall, these shoes may be expensive, but they are custom built to keep your feet and ankles safe during smooth and standard dancing and improve your smoothness and technique – especially when moving backwards for the lady! If you are going to be performing or competing in standard dancing, they are a must. If you are only dancing for fun or taking beginning lessons, these shoes will make your life more difficult (it is an extra challenge to balance and stride properly when in high heels). I would only move into heels if you know you are going to be dancing in a performance setting, or if you know you are going to wear them at parties, etc. If you are going to wear them, you might as well get used to them sooner than later. These heels can make walking forward more tricky for the lady, but walking backwards much easier. Considering what you do most of the time, some ladies find it easier to dance in pumps than in flats. There are a few varieties of smooth / standard shoes. There are some that I call “elf shoes” that have elastic around front. When they are left on their own they curl upwards like elf shoes. They are quite useful for helping you roll backwards, but are considered practice shoes, not performance shoes. For performance most ladies choose pumps like those pictured that have a smooth contour instead of the wrinkled look of the elf shoes. Some have straps and some do not, that’s entirely up to you. If you choose a pair that do not have straps I would recommend getting clear plastic straps to wear with them – there is nothing worse than kicking your shoe off halfway through a performance and needing to finish your routine with one shoe on and one shoe off (I’ve seen it happen – don’t try it!).
Men – if you are going to buy a patent leather pair of standard shoes, buy a little vaseline as well. The patent leather shoes tend to stick to each other – really annoying when you’re trying to brush your feet in foxtrot! So grease up the outside of the shoe where it might rub against the other (inside edge of ball of foot) so you don’t get stuck and trip! Some smooth / standard shoes are as little as $60-70, but most of the good quality shoes are imported from Germany, Italy, or England and cost $110-130.
Ballroom Dance practice shoes (for men or women): These shoes are pretty darn ugly but really comfortable. They are great for learning / practicing all partner dances – whether latin, smooth, salsa, or swing. I like these shoes because they allow you to use your foot properly – there is a lot of flexibility through the ball of the foot. At the same time you have a little heel to keep your poise forward. They are super comfortable so you can practice for hours. And they are not specific to the style, so if you’re going to be dancing lots of different styles you won’t have to keep changing your shoes! Because they are suede on the bottom they are easy to slide in for the smooth dances. These are a good all around shoe for practicing and they last a long time. Some practice shoes are only $70 or so, the imported ones can add up to $120 but last forever.
Dance Sneakers (or jazz sneakers for men or women): These shoes are super comfortable (I’m wearing a pair right now). They are not suede bottom, so they can be worn outside without damaging them. As they can be washed, they can also be worn in bars were there might be alcohol spilled on the floor, or parks were there might be mud or dirt. This makes them a great shoe for going out on the town dancing in salsa club or lindy in the park. They are also great for cardio dance classes or other classes that have high impact dancing – as they have a little more structure and cushion than a ballroom shoe. However, they are not good for smooth /standard dancing as they tend to stick instead of slide. They are okay for practicing latin / rhythm, however they do not allow you to articulate the joints in the ball of your foot. This can lead to lazy foot action that will be a problem later in your ballroom dancing. If you are seriously practicing your latin or standard dancing, this is not a good shoe. But if you have a great night out on the town or enjoying a dance class at the gym, these are great.
Some stores sell “swing shoes” that are cute shoes based on Blyers. 
I think these can look great on guys, and I hear they’re very comfortable for guys who are dancing swing. But some of the versions they sell for ladies I think are a bit of a stretch. I don’t see a lot of ladies wearing shoes like this unless they are doing a swing performance piece.
For West Coast swing I see most ladies wearing a sort of low open toe sandal. Sort of half way inbetween a practice shoe and a latin heel. A low heel works well for west coast swing, as it keeps you slightly forward poised, looks good in performance, is comfortable for lots of dancing, and doesn’t disrupt your ability to walk!
You don’t want super high heels for any swing – but especially not for Lindy Hop Swing – the heels really mess up where your balance is and your ability to do any bouncing, jumping, or kicking. For lindy hop swing I recommend flats of some variety – either cute little keds or dance sneakers.
Tango shoes (for Argentine Tango) are yet their own category. They tend to have *very* high heels and are quite stiff through the ball of the foot and shank. They are quite solid and feel a little heavier than latin heels. And sexy. Really sexy. I don’t find them all that easy to dance in – but they are useful for the style – they are quite easy to swivel in, keep your very pitched forward towards your partner, and encourage the playful styling of feet and legs that is so important to Argentine Tango dancing.
In short, each dance style has developed the tools that suit it best. If you are just beginning it can be good to get an all purpose shoe (like a ballroom dance practice shoe or dance sneaker) until you have a better idea of exactly what dances you are going to be doing. Go for comfort over looks, at least until you are experience enough to handle those 3 inch heels! Even an experienced dancer needs to pick the brand and style of shoe that is going to enhance their dancing instead of just look pretty. Get the proper tool for the job.
Do you have a favorite brand of shoes? Or found a new great store in the area? Please comment below so we can all learn from your expertise!
New Ballroom Format at Decathlon Club
If you would like to learn some ballroom dancing, come on out to Decathlon Club on Thursday evenings at 8 pm. For the past year we’ve been offering beginning level sampler series.
However, in June we are changing the format of the class. Each month will feature one dance style. You’ll have 4 or 5 weeks to work on just that dance, with lots of time to learn cool steps, review old steps, and over all “get it”!
I think this is really going to help beginning dancers turn into intermediate level dancers, and for intermediate dancers to have somewhere to grow as well!
June we will be doing waltz (got to get ready for all those summer weddings).
July we will be learning swing (All American dance for the 4rth of July).
August will feature salsa (Hot dance for a hot month).
Please email me if you would like to register, space is limited. You do not need a partner or ballroom dance experience to join the class. If you register at least one week ahead of time, I will make sure the class is gender balanced (ie I will bring in extra female or male students to balance an imbalance we have).
This is a great opportunity to have some fun, learn some cool dance steps, and meet some new friends at the Decathlon Club. You do not need to be a member of the Club to enjoy this class! So bring your friends – all are welcome!
