Ballroom Beginner

Nick Jarvis asked:


You do not have to do complicated or intense fat burning exercises to get results. Below are some fat burning exercises that are simple and can help to burn the maximum amount of fat.

Walk the Flab Away

Studies have proven that low-impact exercise such as walking burns more fat calories than a faster, more intense exercise. This is good news if you are looking to lose weight and burn more fat without adding extra stress to your joints. Additionally, walking is an activity anyone can do anywhere and it costs nothing.

When beginning a walking program, start off in 10 - 20 minute intervals. Set a comfortable pace for yourself, but try to amp it up a little each day. As with any exercise, do not over do it. While walking if you can’t speak normally then you are going too fast for your fitness level. Adjust your walking speed to until you’ve become more fit. Add light hand weights to maximize your efforts. You’ll gain muscle and burn more fat and calories.

Dance Away Fat Dance

Dance is fast becoming a common tool to burn fat and thin waists. Dancing is such a blast, you may even forget you’re exercising.

In as little as 30 minutes of ballroom dancing, a 150-pound person burns 103 to 189 calories and over 200 calories through ballet and aerobic dancing.

Dancing does burn calories, but what makes it a good fat burning exercise? The aerobic and the anaerobic systems of the body that burn fat are switched on by the fast and slow movements inherent in dance. The anaerobic system starts off with fast paced dance steps which use energy that is stored in your muscles. The slower dance steps jump start your aerobic system which converts your stored carbohydrates into energy. This also helps in burning fat, calories, and building muscles.

Jogging for Less Jiggle

Another effective way to burn fat is by jogging. In just 30 minutes of jogging, a 150 pound individual can burn 238 calories. Using the aerobic and anaerobic system discussed in the previous paragraph would make jogging even more productive. Begin by walking at a moderate pace for 2 minutes. Move on to jogging for two minutes. Switch between walking and jogging for thirty minutes. This will switch the aerobic and anaerobic systems on and off causing the workout to be more efficient at burning fat.

Muscling in on Fat

More muscle means a higher metabolism resulting in burning more fat and calories. If you’re looking to gain muscle, the best way is to start by weightlifting.

Use a very lightweight barbell to begin. A good start is usually 5 pounds. Check this weight by lifting the dumbbell 10 times. If 10 are easy for you, move to a heavier weight. You’ll need a lighter weight if you’re unable to do 10 lifts. Alternate any one of the fat burning exercises above with your weightlifting routine every other day.

Choose the exercise that burns fat and fits your needs and the results will be weight loss like never before.



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Groshan Fabiola asked:


The first time people got together to celebrate salsa is not written in the pages of history and probably nobody actually knows when this happened. However, the first time people officially gathered to celebrate salsa is a date no salsa lover will ever forget. This marked the beginning of the salsa frenzy. The first such official celebration happened in the year 1997 in Puerto Rico and it was the first step that had to be taken so people all over the world could see the beauty of salsa.

At first, only nineteen countries participated at this salsa congress, but as it turned out over the years, that was only the beginning. Nowadays, there are few countries all over the world that do not hold a salsa congress. Although salsa, as the name indicates, is a hot, spicy Latin dance, countries like Germany or Switzerland adopted this amazing dance and started to celebrate it. Salsa festivals soon turned into salsa congresses and eventually we could talk about world salsa congresses, due to the fact that more and more countries started to participate in such events and more and more dancers were willing to show how amazing salsa really is.

One of the best salsa congresses in the world is Salsorro. Although at first this congress did not actually celebrate salsa, but a website dedicated to salsa music, it soon turned into one of the most incredible salsa congresses in the world. Since its first edition in the year 2002, this Spanish salsa congress managed to gain ground and today all salsa lovers know that Galicia is the greatest place to visit, especially in November. Besides the number of famous salsa couples and dance companies that come to delight the eyes of the spectators, this celebration of dance and music allows people to taste a piece of what celebrating salsa means.

After going to such an event, people can only be impressed by salsa and wish they could learn this great ballroom dance. Luckily for them, there is always a way to do that. In fact they have more than option. After being charmed by a salsa congress, you can take salsa lessons or you can learn this dance yourself with salsa DVD’ s . Although it will take some time and effort to master this dance, to be able to salsa is worth all the effort. The basic salsa step can actually be learned in about ten minutes, which is very encouraging for most people. The movement of the hips, the shaking and shimming is going to take more time to learn, but with a great teacher or a great salsa DVD you are on the right way to becoming a salsa dancer.

If you find that dancing is not for you, but you still love salsa very much, there should be no reason not to enjoy a salsa DVD as well. Even if you cannot dance it, that does not mean you cannot still love it. You can buy salsa DVD’ s with all the salsa congresses that take place all over the world and be part of that amazing atmosphere, you can buy salsa DVD’ s with all the great salsa dancers and enjoy this form of art, because if you cannot salsa that does not mean you have to give up your admiration and love for this dance.

For more more info about salsa or even about salsa dvd please review this weblink http://www.salsorro.com



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Jackrace asked:


Dancers audition for a ticket to Vegas. During season one, the 50 top Dancers were assigned to groups, each of which spent time working with five different choreographers for a week, at the end of which the choreographers chose the top 16 Dancers.

Every season after the first has been of a format where the competitors at the Vegas callbacks dance choreography in front of the judges who pick the top 20 based on their performances. After the first season, the format changed from dancers switching partners every week to one where the top 20 keep the same partner until the show has reached ten finalists. Between the top 20 and the top 10, viewer’s vote is based on the couple, rather than the individual.

Once the show has reached ten dancers, the dancers randomly pick their partner’s name from a hat as well as their style(s) of dance. As well, during the top ten finals, each dancer does a solo, and the viewers have an opportunity to vote on competitors individually, rather than in pairs. When the season finale comes around, everyone dances with everyone. Both guys dance with each other, both girls dance with each other, and both girls Dancers with both guys. In the results show of the season finale, the judges pick their favorite dancer of the season and the dancers re-enact it; (obviously not a dance that that judge choreographed). There are special guest-star performances, and surprise appearances.

There are Five Seasons in United States alone, with the 5th season being auditioned currently.

So you think You Can Dance Season 1

So you think You Can Dance Season 2

So you think You Can Dance Season 3

So you think You Can Dance Season 4

So you think You Can Dance Canada

A mixture of contestants is chosen for the show, ranging from unknown street dancers to winners of national championships. All contestants have to work their way through a rigorous audition process, and, over the course of the show, are assigned different dance styles and partners each week to test their versatility. So you think you can Dance holds auditions in major cities across the U.S., looking for the top dancers in each city.



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Jennifer Scott asked:


Ballroom dance is usually a group of partner dances. This form of dancing originally came from Germany and is now something that is enjoyed both by many people. Today, ballroom dancing is practised both socially and competitively around the globe. The various elements of ballroom dancing are also visible on stage, film, television.

The term “ballroom dancing” comes from the word ‘ball’, which originally comes from the Latin word ‘ballare’. ‘Ballare’ can be roughly translated as “to dance”. In the days of old, ballroom dancing was something that was only enjoyed by the privileged classes, while “folk dancing” was practised by the lower classes. These distinctions have now become archaic, and ballroom dancing is now enjoyed by people all around the world, regardless of their economic and social background.

Regardless of your background, ballroom dancing is usually practised in a very formal environment with an emphasis on etiquette and formality. This means that while ballroom dancing can be highly passionate and exhilarating, there are also several important rules you must know in order to be able to be a good ballroom dancer. In this sense, ballroom dancing is not quite as ‘free’ form as other forms of dance.

If you live in the Melbourne area, and are interested in exploring the world of ballroom dancing, look no further. Rythemics dance studio will take you through all the motions and equip you with everything you need to be a great ballroom dancer. For more information, please visit our web-site at http://rythemics.com.au.



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David Marc Fishman asked:


Everyone knows the tango is one of the romantic types of dance ever created. The tango is a dance that can stand on its own in terms of technique and intricacy, but to separate it from its cultural milieu is to dilute its power. The tango is also the glamour of the ballroom and the allure of the underworld. The tango is improvised, aggressive and ******. Creeping into the souls of enthusiasts around the globe, the tango is searching for a current musical context. Sexy, promiscuous, and predatory the tango is a dance of sensual exchange. Learning to dance the tango is learning to dance from the heart - with sensuality and with style. When dancing the tango the legs will draw shapes on the floor, while the torso moves and shows a different movement. Today the tango is enjoying a renaissance of popularity, keeping the fire of this daring art form burning brightly. The Tango is generally a slow dance and movements should be smooth and unhurried. One of the most complex and rich improvisational dances is called the tango and it is considered the very fulfilling and challenging of all the dances. The Tango is a dance that is considered social and a couple’s dance this very fact means that everyone can learn and enjoy no matter what type of dance background.

Before long, this new dance had been taken up by the new European immigrants, and the tango, as we now know it, was born. Dance is a universal language. It is a very simple dance, yet it is one of the hardest to master. The various dance forms were very significant to music and concerts of the revitalization and extravagant, many composers are quite taken with the tango, and they love to compose scores to the dance of love. At the end of the day, there is only one way to dance tango: the way you like to dance it. In this dance of the people, which is what tango is, all the famous couples have used the walk, and they use it constantly. To dance the tango you must truly listen and feel the music flow through your body; release all tension in your body, this must be done when pauses and accelerations are heard.

The tango was connected with the middle to lower class; the upper class tried to restrict the music and dance and tried to stop the influence across many cultures. The manifestation of neo tango music in the tango world breaks that ceiling. This style of dancing and music was the 19th century ancestor of the tango, but is still popular in contemporary tango salons. There are three sub-categories of both Tango music and dance: Tango-tango, Tango-waltz and Tango-milonga. The tango has remained romanticized and mysterious because most do not have easy access to the music and is misunderstood in the world. The contemporary expression and music which is being added has a non-traditional back beat rhythms, by doing this it gives the tango a much more modern and contemporary feel to it.

The tango is a dramatic, passionate form of couples-dancing and the tango is also the music which goes along with it. The tango is the expression of love and is something that lyricist and scholars have tried to state in words but it is hard to write what you see and feel. The Tango is a progressive dance characterized by disconnected movement and quick changes of direction. Although musical historians disagree to its exact origins it is generally accepted that the tango is borrowed from many places and cultures.



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Nancy Henrichsen asked:


As an avid viewer each week of the wildly popular reality series, “Dancing With The Stars”, no one can overlook the fact that the Professional Dancers outdance their amateur celebrity partners. The fact is that the professional dancers, Cheryl Burke, Tony Dovolani, Julianne Hough, Derek Hough, Mark Ballas, et al, dance professionally because they have accomplished near perfection in the ballroom arena. One doesn’t have to be a professional dancer to realize that they are stunning in their execution of difficult patterns and moves. When professionals dance together as partners, some partnerships are equal where both dancer’s skills are at the same level. Conversely, other partnerships exist where one of the dancer’s skill level exceeds the other which will create a desire from the lesser partner to dance up to meet the better partner’s level.

On “Dancing With The Stars”, the dynamics of the partnership are founded on inequality, thus creating an interesting and TV- worthy competition. Each professional dancer is partnered with an amateur whose dancing abilities vary. It is then up to each professional to bring out the inner dancer in their amateur celebrity partner. What soon becomes obvious as the show progresses is that some of the amateur partners do not possess the ability to dance at a level even remotely resembling what the professionals are capable of. It is the role of the professional partner to make the amateur look as good, strong, cool, connected, polished, etc. as they possibly can.

The goal is to outperform the other couples. This can be accomplished by show-casing the amateur/professional in magnificent costumes, or with a compilation of steps highlighting the amateur’s strengths, or through diversion tactics with the professional dancer taking the heavier load of the actual dancing performed in the routine. Many of the professionals use all three of these tactics. And some professionals receive a bit of heat from fans and critics when they do. Edyta Sliwinska’s glamorous but skimpy costumes are the source of much conversation about the show; she has a perfect dancer’s body, and her costumes accentuate her superb dancing. Would anyone want to watch if she were underachieving or not trying to give her partner the best chance at staying around another week? Julianne Hough always looks adorable, so why, according to recent news postings, did her black lace rumba costume have just “too much lace”?

Using all the tools available, it is the responsibility of the professional dancer to make their amateur partner look GOOD, whatever it takes, excluding an occasional wardrobe malfunction. How about a round of applause for both the amateurs and the professionals for the major weekly accomplishment of facing three hard-core judges and the American public? If the couple makes it another week, it probably means the professional did his/her job.



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Susan Ashby asked:


While Blackpool is known primarily as a tourist resort with amazing amusement arcades and fun fairs, the town also has many museums and art galleries of note.

The Louis Tussauds Waxworks on Central Promenade is certainly Blackpool’s most famous museum. It contains five floors of incredibly lifelike waxwork figures of the Royal family, along with film stars, great singers, superstar athletes and politicians. The museum also has a Chamber of Horrors that is not for the faint of heart and the Anatomy Exhibition.

Science lovers will thoroughly enjoy the Golden Mile Centre on Central Promenade which features a popular Exhibition of the Universe, complete with various aliens and UFOs. The exhibit was created by David Boyle, a researcher who specializes in the spiritual, the supernatural and the unexplained.

Now that you are in a “science fiction mood,” you should pop into the Dr Who Exhibition and Museum, which is just a few short steps away. The Dr Who Exhibit includes a massive collection of original props and costumes spanning 40 years of British science fiction on television.

The Blackpool Model Village and Gardens is another impressive sight, occupying two-and-a-half acres of beautiful gardens on Stanley Park. The exhibit features hundreds of models, including a model windmill and castle, set against a stunning backdrop of lakes, running streams and waterfalls.

If boats are your thing, then the Blackpool Lifeboat Station and Visitor Centre on Central Promenade may be just what the doctor ordered. Standing beneath the imposing shadow of Blackpool Tower, the lifeboat station has a delightful visitors’ centre with its own interactive displays, a viewing gallery and a souvenir shop.

Blackpool may have only one legitimate art gallery, but what a gallery it is. The Grundy Art Gallery, located right next to the Blackpool Central Library on Queen Street, is widely regarded as one of the premiere small galleries in the United Kingdom. Built in 1911 as a multi-purpose building, the Grundy Art Gallery offers a tranquil haven of peace and serenity to those who wish to escape Blackpool’s hustle and bustle even for a moment.

The gallery is named in honor of the Grundy brothers, Cuthbart and John, two avid art collectors who donated their impressive collection of paintings to the town of Blackpool in 1903. Hence, the Grundy Art Gallery was formed. Today, the gallery boasts of a huge collection of oils and watercolors, including classic and modern British paintings, Oriental ivories and prints.

Over the years, the gallery’s collection has grown considerably and now includes quite a number of ceramics and old photographs depicting Blackpool’s rich history. Throughout the year, many of the foremost local and national artists stage special exhibitions to the delight of visitors.

Although Blackpool only has one art gallery, there are many temporary exhibitions all year round, especially during the summer months at the North Pier. Recently, the North Pier played host to the George Formby Centenary Exhibitions, which commemorated the 100th birth anniversary of the legendary film star and singer.

Over at South Promenade is another permanent display of contemporary art dubbed as the Great Promenade Show. Some of the leading artists and designers in the UK pool their talents to make this year-round outdoor exhibit a hit by contributing noteworthy pieces of sculptures, art pieces and even lighting. At night, the exhibit becomes an inspirational sight, especially when the light hits certain angles and creates new dimensions.

While touring Blackpool for its museums and galleries, visitors should also take note of the town’s many offerings in the realm of dance, such as the annual Dance Festival, contemporary dance school and the tea dances every Saturday at the Tower Ballroom. For these and other reasons, Blackpool has gained some fame as Britain’s capital of dance.

With its theatres regularly hosting the English National Ballet and with the town itself serving as the venue for the World Ballroom Dance competitions, Blackpool has certainly earned its niche in the world of dance. But nothing reinforces its reputation as Britain’s dance capital than the annual Blackpool Dance Festival.

Now over 80 years old, the Dance Festival brings together top dancers from over 50 countries to compete in ballroom and Latin American dancing. The competition almost always includes the British Open Championships. Being the best looking pair on the floor doesn’t guarantee victory but it certainly helps. And the competitors know that as well, as evidenced by these statistics. During the annual Dance Festival, dancers consume about 2,000 cans of hairspray, 1,000 bottles of nail varnish, 3,000 bottles of fake tan and use up over 1,500 pairs of tights.

If you enjoy contemporary dance, then a trip to Blackpool’s leading theatres should be in order. Both the Grand Theatre and the Opera House are renowned for staging modern and hip musicals.

Meanwhile, if you want to do more than just watch, then bring your dancing shoes and head for any of the many dance schools in Blackpool which offer everything from modern and ballroom dancing to ballet, jazz and tap dancing.

Article by Susan Ashby of Blackpool Singles. To read more articles like this or for dating in Blackpool visit htpp://www.Blackpool-singles.co.uk



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Natalie Beck asked:


The Waltz is one of the oldest recognized types of ballroom dancing and is routinely one of the most asked for when it comes to taking dancing lessons from a trained professional. This dance is one of the easiest to learn and the most difficult to master, taking years of practice to rise to a competitive level in the dance. The Waltz is also one of the most popular dances in the world and is conducted at formal events all over the world every year.

There are two major types of waltz dancing that may be performed by a skilled ballroom dancer. The Viennese Waltz was the original type of waltz and is considered the fast style of the dance. The other style of waltz dancing is often known as the English Waltz or simply the Waltz and is considered the slower form of the dance. The type of dance performed depends on the pace of the music that is being played at the time.

One of the reasons why the Waltz continues to be so popular is because the steps and the rhythm of the dance can be modified to fit many different types of popular music. By slightly slowing down or speeding up the pace of the dance, the Waltz can fit nearly every piece of popular music of any time in recent history. Although many individuals choose to perform the Waltz to classical music, many others choose to adapt the dance to their own favorite songs.

Couples that are engaged to be married frequently choose to take dance lessons from a professional dance instructor prior to their wedding date in order to learn to waltz for their first dance as man and wife. Because the Waltz can be easily adapted to popular music, the individuals can perform this classical dance to a song that has personal meaning for them, enhancing the experience of their first dance at their wedding. A skilled professional dance instructor can help the couple modify the moves that are performed for the dance in order for the performance to be more comfortable for the individuals involved.

While some individuals feel comfortable performing the Waltz after only a few dancing lessons, most individuals require a more extended program to feel confident with the movements needed to perform the dance properly. How quickly the individual learns the dance will also depend on their ability to practice on their own in order to refine the movements to their personal technique. Individuals that practice the moves on their own after their lesson has been conducted learn the steps of the dance twice as quickly as individuals that rely on the dance lessons alone.

There are numerous dance studios and professional dance instructors that are willing to provide an individual with lessons in performing the Waltz. The key to choosing a great professional dance instructor is to choose someone that is understanding, patient, and willing to help you perform the dance of your choosing at your own pace. Having a professional dance instructor that knows how to perform the dance properly as well as the most effective methods of teaching the dance to amateurs will ensure that the individual taking the lessons will have a fun and productive time learning the Waltz.



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David Marc Fishman asked:


Foxtrot is one of the most beautiful and most difficult modern ballroom rhythms. The foxtrot is a foundation for all other dances; the Foxtrot is a very popular dance that includes elements found in most other types of dancing. Foxtrot is danced to slow 4/4 time music and is comprised of soft and fluid linear movements. It is true that a foxtrot is supposed to be more diagonal than a running walk, but both of them are “broken gaits”. The foxtrot is sophisticated, elegantly stunning, which is simply superb watching the graceful slow dance; it is the dance to which all ballroom dancers aspire. The foxtrot is a very smooth dance and there should be no jerkiness. Slow foxtrot is the standard dance many find the most challenging, and most rewarding.

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of a formal dance, evening wear and beautiful hall, everyone thinks of the foxtrot. North American dancing styles feature the underarm turns where each one of the partners can detach from one another and dance openly. They popularized the dance and the elite of the dancing world were soon trying to capture the unusual style of movement of the Foxtrot. The foxtrot is a popular dance today because it is recognized by long and flowing movements which are a characteristic of the slow-quick-quick rhythm. The foxtrot is an American dance consisting of short and long steps with the occasional glides and slides. Is a basic dance from which you can acquire a good foundation? Many people take dance lessons are a traditional dance such as foxtrot to prepare for the “first dance” at a wedding party. The foxtrot is a dance with fixed expression; the foxtrot is creative and joyful, while improvising within the tempo of the music. The foxtrot is one the only dances noted for being one of the first dances to incorporate both the quick’s and slows into the rhythm of the dance. A medium-speed smooth or standard dance, the foxtrot has both a box- step basic and a progressive (forward-moving) basic step.

During the swing era, foxtrot was the most popular dance in the ballroom, until the ballrooms started teaching swing.

The foxtrot is a graceful and romantic dance that is more challenging than other forms of ballroom. The Foxtrot is one of the most deceiving dances as it looks very easy, but is one of the most difficult dances to do. The foxtrot is still the most popular ballroom dance of all. The great fascination of Foxtrot is the amazing variety of interpretations there can be of what is basically such a simple dance. Still a classic dance for wedding receptions, the Foxtrot is a true American favorite.



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andrew.regan.2006@googlemail.com asked:


When it comes to cultural entertainment, London has few shortcomings - a fact that’s apparent in the city’s impressive calendar of theatre, music and dance performances, not to mention its spectacular host of concert halls and event venues - one of the most iconic and versatile of them being the Royal Albert Hall. Inspired by the success of Prince Albert’s Great Exhibition, the Royal Albert Hall was opened in 1871 - ten years after the Prince’s death. Being largely influenced by ancient amphitheatres and notions of the arts, the oval structure’s terracotta walls are decorated on the outside with a frieze dedicated to “The Triumph of Arts and Sciences”. Today, the stunning venue stands as a testimony to the architectural and aesthetic achievements of the past, as well as the technological developments of the present; it even features the largest pipe organ in the British Isles.

The Royal Albert Hall hosts a wide variety of entertainment events, including classical, rock, pop and jazz music, sporting events, galas, banquets and balls and the world-famous Proms series. It has a capacity of 8000, but is typically packed with crowds during the summer months when the Promenade concerts take over. Thus, visitors have to the option to queue up on the day of an event in order to get cheap, last-minute tickets for the seat-less “Gods” level (the highest level in the hall), or to book in advance for seats up front.

The Royal Albert Hall has a year-round line-up of traditional and contemporary theatre, music and dance events. Upcoming performances include: the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on 15 March, the Classical Spectacular 2007 from 22 March - 25 March and the Cathcart Spring Prom concert on 17 May. There’s even a Ballroom Dancing Championships event being held in autumn!

If you’re planning to attend an event at the Royal Albert Hall in London, make sure you book a hotel in South Kensington. That way, you’ll be close to the venue and you’ll still remain well connected to other top London attractions such as Hyde Park, Kensington Palace, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum. Moreover, South Kensington is located right next to Knightsbridge, which, being home to the exclusively famous Harrods and Harvey Nichols department stores is one of the prime shopping districts of London.

So, during your next visit to London, book a hotel in South Kensington and attend a performance at one of the most iconic and atmospheric music venues in the world: the Royal Albert Hall.

Andrew Regan is an online, freelance journalist.



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