Sunday, May 16, 2010

Waltz dance steps

A capital of Austria – beautiful city of Vienna – carefully keeps its traditions and cultural treasures. The city has managed to safe a lot of its ancient appearance and unique ambiance. Vienna is located at the footsteps of the Alps, on the banks of Danube River. It’s a city of luxurious palaces, picturesque streets and cozy squares. A mix of the antique and modern, it’s a city of artists and art-lovers.

Vienna boasts its musicians and composer and a lot of monuments devoted to them still adorn the city. Another ground for Viennese proud is its parks. They vary in appearance and target groups (there are even special parks for the blind), but all are refined and beautiful.

Viennese cafes have also become the symbol of the city. They are the oldest in the world and their special atmosphere has been attracting visitors for many centuries.

The heart of the city – Stefanplatz – is known for its fiacres – carriages with horses. It’s one of the few cities in the world where such mark of the olden time looks harmonically.

The architectural symbol of Vienna – Domkirche St. Stephan was built about 800 years ago. Saint Stefan is the saint patron of Vienna. It’s still a working church and you can witness divine services every day.

Vienna receives more than 2 millions tourists a year, and almost all of them visit Domkirche St.

Stephan. The cathedral has two towers – Southern (136 m high) with staircase and Northern with lift. Moreover, you can go deep down in catacombs. Domkirche St. Stephan is one of the most impressive and significant cathedrals in the world and its history is strongly connected with the history of Austria. The cathedral was rebuilt and restored several times. Here the emperors, scientists, merchants and bishops are buried.

Vienna is famous not only for its musicians (Mozart is the most famous one), but for people of science too - Sigmund Freud, the leading psychologist of its time lived and worked in Vienna or a long time. Sigmund Freud Museum is in the apartments where Freud lived and worked from 1891 to 1938. It contains his furniture, possessions, letters, documents, photographs and even a home movie of Freud, narrated by his daughter, Anna. Very detailed notes in English illuminate the exhibits.

Salsa dance steps

The word “salsa” in Spanish means sauce. Salsa dancing is also known as slot dancing because couples don’t move around a large area of the dance floor; instead they stay in a more fixed or smaller area of the floor. So are you ready to learn Salsa dancing?

The salsa has an eight beat pattern that is made up of two bars of four beats. The Salsa music is usually complicated and fast with around 180 beats per minute. The salsa pattern is generally one of three steps and then a skipped step or a tap on the fourth beat.

The basic step is as follows: On counts 1, 2, and 3 the leader steps forward, then you replace the weight to your previous support foot keeping it in place, and then step backward. On counts 5, 6, and 7 you step backwards, then you replace the weight to your previous support foot keeping it in place, and then step forward again.

The follower does exactly the same steps but in the reverse order. The basic step is the basis for many of the other salsa patterns.

Some of the breaks to the basic step are:

1. Side Break – You start from either foot and step sideways; then you replace the weight to your previous support foot, keeping it in place.

2. Back Break - You start from either foot and step backwards; then you replace the weight to your previous support foot, keeping it in place.

3. Forward Break - You start from either foot and step forward; then you replace the weight to your previous support foot, keeping it in place.

There are many different salsa styles that involve different timing of the steps or different patterns as you move across the dance floor. Combine style with attitude and personal add ins and you get quite the salsa show!

The Cuban style can be danced as a contratiempo or on-one. With the Cuban Salsa, on counts 1, 2, and 3 a backward basic occurs while on counts 5, 6, and 7 a forward basic happens. The follower mirrors the leader’s movements. It is common practice with the Cuban to have the leader and follower circle each other regularly.

The Dile que no or cross body lead is also essential to the Cuban. This is the most complex of moves and is not designed for beginners. However, once you master it, it can be used in the Rueda, Cuban Casino, and Wheel Dance.

Tango dance steps

In the brothels and slums of nineteenth century Buenos Aires, a fusion of Spanish, Uruguayan, and African dance and music styles created the tango, the famous and sensual dance of Argentina.

It was a social dance, based heavily on improvisation and formed around close, almost intimate interaction; the communication between partners must be impeccable, because the dance has no set patterns and no “basic step” from which to build. However, it was not necessarily a sensual or sexual expression; there were men-only tango clubs.

European immigrant communities in Argentina in the 1890s picked up on the music, which was initially just one of many styles that went by the name “tango.” It swiftly became the fad of the underclass, who danced in crowded halls, leading to a close-contact and casual dance style. The tango music became the most popular in Argentina, comprising more than a third of all the gramophone records and sheet music sold between 1902 and 1920.

By 1912, the music and dance had begun to spread from the barrios to the middle-class and even upper-class dancing establishments and nightclubs across Argentina. From there the craze spread swiftly to Paris, London, and Berlin, where they were danced with less intimate contact between the partners. In Finland, the dance found a new home and expression, played in minor keys and performed in flowing, horizontal patterns, now known as Finnish Tango; it grew to the height of its popularity in the 1950s. In English Tango the dance evolved into a competitive ballroom style, heavily structured and with strict codes that introduce a more staccato movement not seen in Argentina, as well as the head-snap movement often seen in film. New York tango performers modified the dance to a wider embrace as well.

Dance steps ballroom






If you are looking for a night out or you just want to meet new friends, ballroom dancing is a fantastic way to achieve this it doesn’t how old or young you are. The experts acknowledge that ballroom dancing is unique in that it provides both brain stimulation and physical exercise. Ballroom dancing is fun, and there are more opportunities to go out dancing than you might think. Ballroom dancing is also a great way to stay in shape and is much more pleasurable than merely exercising to music. The exciting difference between round dancing and free-style ballroom dancing is that each round dance has been fully choreographed ahead of time.

Many dance styles offer dance lessons for a minimal fee, while intricate ballroom dancing lessons will naturally cost you more. Professional dance lessons by qualified dance teachers are given in all types of dancing. You want to know the low more about dancing before you commit to lessons.

Try to find ballroom dance instructors or classes in your area. Group classes are an important aid in learning to dance. Classes are meant to show the fun in ballroom dancing and prepare everyone for a lifetime of social dancing enjoyment. In addition you should practice as much as possible.

If you do tango dancing, do you have to do other ballroom dancing too. Body language can be as important as movement with the tango:. Hip hop, jazz dance, pop-n-lock, tap, ballet, modern, lyrical, tango, ballroom dancing, flamenco dance; break dancing. Other specialties include Argentine Tango, ballroom dancing, swing, and performance arts photography. During the Nineties, of the six major Ballroom Dances, only the Tango had not been accepted by western dancing. Tango is a dramatic, sensual social dance form that originated in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It's sexy, and step by step, whether it's the salsa, swing, meringue or tango, ballroom dancing is sweeping across the country.

Ballet dance steps




Ballet is a classic art form which dates back for centuries and has entertained royalty and common folks both young and old. The basic ballet steps look deceptively simple, but that is only because of the highly skilled dancers who devote many hours to perfecting their art.

Ballet is beautiful and graceful to watch and many young girls have dreamed of growing up to be one of the lovely ballerinas upon the stage. It all starts however, with the basic ballet steps which must be mastered to perfection before advanced moves and ballerina stardom can be achieved.

Modern ballet was popularized in France by King Louis XIV, and many ballet terms are referred to by their French name to this day.

The basic ballet positions:

First Position - Premiere

The toes point out to make a V shape while the feet are in a straight line at the heels. Heels together. Knees together. Arms form a soft curve out in front of the body. The spine is kept straight with the back, pelvis, and the head in alignment.

Second Position - Second

The feet are shoulder width apart and the legs are turned out. The arms are kept rounded and out to the side.

Third Position - Troisieme

Maintain the out turned legs and cross the leg placing the heel on the middle of the other foot. If the right foot is on top then the right arm is raised in a semi circle above the head and the left arm is out to the side. Reverse the arm positions when the left foot is on top.

Fourth Position - Quatrieme

Maintain outward leg position and put the right foot in front of the left leaving about 12 inches in between. Raise the right arm over the head and curve it into a semi circle. Reverse arms if the left foot is placed in front.

Fifth Position – Cinquieme

Legs are out turned at the hips and the heel of the right foot is placed against the big toe of the left foot at the position of the first joint. The arms are formed into a circle over the head.

Below are some of the basic ballet steps:

Arabesque
Stand on the right leg while the left leg is raised straight out behind

Chasse
A galloping motion where one leg appears to chase the other.

Emboite
Move forward while jumping on alternate toes.

Jete
Leaping from one leg to another.

Piroutte
To turn, or spin.

Passe
To pass the leg into a new position.

Pas de chat
A jump to the side.

Plie
To bend down the knees.

Releve
To rise upon the tiptoes.

Port de Bras
Moving the arms through various positions.

Saute
To jump.

Tendu
To stretch the leg while maintaining a pointed toe.

samba dance steps

Samba music is very diverse and it's difficult to define. It is the result of a long simmering mix of heritage from the Portuguese songs, African rhythms, and the fast paced Indian ceremony meeting global influences. In the beginning it was played only with drums and other bass beat instruments, but later the acoustic guitar and the small Brazilian guitar cavaquinho was added.

There exist many different types of samba rhythms and samba dances. Samba is on the whole a musical composition made with a syncopated and binary rhythm. In addition to this basic samba rhythm, all types of samba are put together.

It is important to understand that what we in North America and Europe call Samba is often an umbrella-term that covers several different forms of samba like samba samba-reggae, afro, bloc, maracatu, baio etc. The phrase “samba” is in Brazil often associated with the carnival in Rio and to a lesser extent also Sao Paulo.

Samba can be vigorous and harmonious at the same time. The oldest form of samba is partido alto. Other styles are bossa nova, balance, neo pagode, samba de breque, samba-canção, samba-enredo, samba de gafieira and samba de roda. Samba de roda is a mix of samba and capoeira.

Samba has been danced in Brazil from the late 19th century. There is in fact a set of different samba dances, instead of a single dance. The oldest samba dance is samba no pé, which mean foot samba. Samba no pé is a solo dance. A modern solo dance is samba axé that was invented during Brazilian carnival in 1992. There also exist partner dances like samba de gafieira and samba pagode. The ballroom samba is also a partner dance but it has little in common with the original Brazilian samba dance.

The popular samba of today is influenced by the rhythms of jazz and Latin music. It is written in 2/4 or 4/4 time. The music is cheerful and fast paced with a sound associated with Rio's Carnival. The basic count is "1 and 2". There are many samba schools which all teach samba rhythms.

Dance steps instructions

Everybody thinks the same thing. Everyone thinks that they've seen it all and they know it all already. Well there is a substantial chance that these people are right and that they have seen it all. However, dance instruction should be something that you shop for and something that you should take seriously if you really want to make a career (or serious hobby) out of dance. Let's take a look at 2 easy ways to shop for dance instruction lessons and dance instruction professionals using the power of the internet.

1)Go local. A lot of the search engines are now putting special attention on local results. Many people are looking to buy something close to Just because it's the world wide web, it doesn't mean that you can't boil the web down into some very manageable parts. If you live in San Francisco, you can make sure that you only receive the results that are local for you by searching for 'dance instruction San Francisco.' Furthermore, Yahoo has an incredibly useful yellow pages section where you can find all sorts of local information relevant to your information quest. Google even has gone so far as to offer a text messaging service where you can enter 'dance instruction 77002” (keyword or service and zip code) and Google will send a text message to your mobile device with the information you are looking for.

2)Look for independent reviews. A lot of different websites have independent reviews of different services which you can find. Dance instruction is no different. Citysearch can be a great place to find such reviews. If you search for dance instruction in Los Angeles there will undoubtedly be plenty of dance studios and dance instructors listed on Citysearch. Some will have reviews of current an past customers who were either satisfied or dissatisfied with their experience of the different dance studios. Reading up on these somewhat independent reviews can be a great way to find out what people think of dance studios.

Dance Audition preparation






An audition is the time that you want to shine and be your best. You want to make this audition seem like it's the most important thing, and, actually for the moment, it is!

The first thing you need to do is what any other athlete does - look after and nurture your own body. You don't want to spend the night before an audition out drinking with your friends. You want to relax and get a good nights sleep. You may want to consider a relaxing massage the day before.

On a daily basis eat a healthy diet, get proper rest and make time to relax. If you learn meditation and practice it, it will help reduce the stress of every day too. Keep your body in tip top physical shape by continuing with your regular exercise routine. You may want to pay more attention to your physical appearance right before an audition - refresh that hair cut or color.

A lot of choreographers have started out right where you are today, in the chorus line. As dance is such a creative endeavor most choreographers depend on their gut instincts when they pick music, and dancers. They're looking at you from the minute you talk in the door. They want to see how you are interacting with others. How confident do you appear? Have you smiled? How relaxed do you look?

Remember that attending any audition is a good learning experience, they give you the opportunity to learn a lot about yourself. Remember that not being chosen is a part of the audition process and don't take it personally. Take any criticism you receive and turn it into a positive. Instead of resenting the criticism you might receive take it upon yourself to improve yourself. Work on your moves if you need to. You'll want to be ready for your next audition.

Jitterbug dance steps

The first dance at a wedding has traditionally been a slow dance, usually a waltz or something similar. But what if you and your fiancé aren't the waltz type? What if you want something more fun and energetic? You've probably thought about this quite a bit and are wondering if it would be too odd to do something different. Would it be better to just go ahead and do a waltz and forget about it?

Absolutely not. If you want to do something different for your first dance, then you should. Your family and friends know you, and they love you. They want to see you dance in a style that reflects your love for each other, to a song that you love. Odd would be watching a lively, energetic couple waltzing their way through a song they don't like very much just to get to the rest of the music and have some real fun.

If you come out and do a Cha Cha for your first dance, on the other hand, not only will the whole room cheer, but it will be a first dance that nobody, especially you and your new spouse, will ever forget. You'll have a fantastic time doing it and your friends and family will be absolutely entranced.

Nearly any style of dance can be customized to fit into your wedding. If you want to do a classic dance, a Foxtrot or Quickstep can be adjusted so that your dress doesn't get in the way. If you want to perform a dance that's more passionate, but aren't sure if it's appropriate for your wedding, that's nothing to worry about. Even a passionate dance such as a Tango or a Rumba can be toned down a bit if you like.

When you and your fiancé come in for your wedding dance lessons, remember that this dance is being customized just for you. If there is a step you are having difficulty with, we can work on it until you've got it or we can change things a bit to make it easier. If there is something that you don't like or aren't comfortable with in the original choreography, that can be modified as well.

If you would like to do a different style of dance for your wedding dance, but want your family to join you as well, consider choosing two songs for your first dance. You and your new spouse can perform your first dance on your own during the first song, then the DJ can invite your friends and family to join you on the dance floor for a more traditional dance style when the second song begins.

Country dance steps


When I was little I thought someday I would not be afraid. I would try new things with great anticipation and bravery. I would not be afraid of bad dreams, critical words or losing treasured belongings. Then I would be grown-up. What a sad day when I realized that I was grown-up and I was still scared. (Maybe even more!) The more I choose to think, feel and plan big things for my life, the more fear is my constant companion. What to do? Here are a three steps that have helped me face my fear.

Understand it.

The root of all fear is the fear that we cannot handle what happens to us. “If I am rejected I will just fall apart!” “If I fail I will never do anything again.” The truth is that when we look back at our lives bad things have already happened! We have been rejected, failed and have experienced loss but we have dealt with it and survived. It is the anticipation of what might happen that stops us not the actual negative event! I love this quote by Mark Twain,“I have lived a long life and had many troubles, most of which never happened.”

Expect it.

It is easy to begin avoiding fear by living small, never taking risk, and refusing to dream. What a boring life! Deep inside we all know that we can be and create so much more. When we choose to take the risk of dreaming big and creating amazing lives we will feel fear! The first time I taught a workshop I was shaking scared. By the second class I could breath and pass out handouts with out dropping them from my still-shaking hands. By the third class I was beginning to enjoy leading it. That is the story of fear. When we try something new we will be afraid! Expect it, take fear by the hand and say, “Come on let's go do something new!”.

Disco dance steps

Did you know that ordinary concrete won’t do for dancing, and that dancing floors have to be refurbished every few years? Indeed, we often take for granted the floors we step on, simply because we know only a little about how important flooring is.

In general, flooring is a term for the covering of a floor. It is often used interchangeably with “parquetry,” which actually describes a mosaic of slats of wood, fashioned into different shapes, and used to decorate floors. Parquetry involves the use of different kinds of wood, which can include the following.

• Dark woods, such as cherry, give not only a mystique to floors, but can even prevent mild scratches from being seen. Once deeply scratched, however, dark woods are difficult to repair.

• Light woods, such as maple or oak, make rooms appear light and wide.

• Tropical woods, such as mahogany, make floors appear rich and colorful, but are often expensive.

There are three main types of parquetry. Solid parquet will use slats of solid wood, and will involve much skilful carving and shaping of whole wood pieces. Veneers involve the use of solid wood only as an upper layer of parquet pieces; a piece of plywood, or other kinds of cheaper wood, will support the solid surface. The cheapest kinds of parquet are the laminates, which involve no real expensive wood. Laminates will usually have a faux-wood slat on top of a cheap wood base. This faux-wood is fashioned to be alike in grain and color to commonly used parquet wood types.

Yet another type of flooring is laminate flooring. Like parquet laminates, laminate flooring involves the use of materials fashioned to look like real wood, but is made up of cheaper materials. These may be fully synthetic, or synthetic materials mixed in with organic ingredients, then coated with a decorative varnish.

Laminate flooring is not simply the mounting of laminate floors. Each laminate flooring plank has to be made of water-resistant material, thick and strong enough to withstand the stress upon it, and from all sides, as laminate flooring planks come into contact with each other. It also has to be flexible enough to expand and contract, depending on ambient temperature and humidity, without destroying the varnish.

Linoleum is another kind of flooring. This involves covering a floor with a sort of “wallpaper” made from linoxyn (or solidified linseed oil) combined with wood flour or cork dust. This mixture is poured onto and made to fit a canvas or burlap surface, after which pigments and coloring are added to give the linoleum shine and design.

Linoleum flooring is the cheapest of the three, although it is easier to destroy. In conditions of high humidity, for instance, linoleum can break and tear, and even be deformed in places, especially if it is not well anchored onto the floor.