• Community Building - Social Dancing

    The girl who thought she danced better than she actually could

    October 14, 2016 - By 

    I was once the girl who though I danced better than I actually could. And you know what? Most of you probably were, too. Several of you probably still are. Yes, there are a few people who are (sometimes too) humble. I’ve had students where I just wish they could get a shred of self-confidence to go with their dancing. But, I’d say it’s not the majority. Most students go through a period of know-it-all-ness. It’s just the way things work. (I like to refer to this as the ‘teenager’ dance period.) So, let’s go through a personal case-study of me, who thought she could…

  • Community Building - Fun Stuff

    How to pick a video that gets people into dancing

    October 13, 2016 - By 

    The very first video you show a non-dancer can make or break their decision to give your dance a try. If they like it, they may gamble and come out to a social or class. If they don’t, they may write it off as something they don’t want to do. So, how do you pick the perfect video to show to newbies? Ask yourself five questions: Do the dancers look good doing it? Will the person enjoy the music? Is the videography attractive? Are the movements accessible and attainable to the person? Can the person relate to the dancers in…

  • Fun Stuff - Inspirational

    The 10 Most Influential Thoughts from Dance that Influence my Life

    October 11, 2016 - By 

    I’ve been dancing for over 8 years now. I’ve heard (and seen) a lot of inspirational things. But, there’s 10 thoughts in particular that stuck with me. These 10 thoughts influence much more than only my dancing; they influence my perspectives on the world. I hope you find them as poignant as I do.  “Don’t dance. Just walk.” New dancers frequently spend a lot of time trying to dance. I was one of them, until a teacher told me to focus on walking instead of dancing. Suddenly, dance made sense to me. Any task broken into its basic pieces is far more…

  • Dance Discussions

    Why 10 Years of Experience Won’t Make You a Great Dancer

    October 3, 2016 - By 

    When someone tells you they’ve been dancing for 10 years, do you automatically expect that they’ll be a great dancer? I used to. But, I’ve realized that there can be a massive difference in skill level between people who have been dancing the same length of time. That difference is primarily due to the difference between passive ‘experience’ and active ‘training’. Dancers Under 1 Year Before the first year mark, there’s not as much variation in levels. There are some who are stronger, and there are others who struggle more – but they generally have a similarly shallow pool of knowledge.…

  • Beginner-Friendly - Etiquette - Social Dancing

    “Common-Sense” Dance Etiquette

    September 30, 2016 - By 

    For most experienced dancers, there are a few things that are known to be ‘common sense’ courtesy. I’m not talking about complex etiquette systems found in some dances (ex: the Cabeco in Tango), but rather things that are the base of general social dance etiquette. Despite the fact that these items are common sense, they’re frequently underappreciated by newcomers to the scene. Or, on occasion, social dancers who aren’t fortunate enough to be educated by their peers. Today, we’re laying out the bare-bones etiquette every social dancer – experienced or new – should know before hitting the dance floor. 1. Shower…

  • Dance Discussions - Health & Safety - Social Dancing

    If Body Rolls are Hurting, Something’s Wrong

    September 26, 2016 - By 

    This is inspired by a conversation I recently had with a Dominican Bachata instructor, who has been relatively uninterested in the ‘Sensual Bachata’ trend. She had decided to come out and give Brazilian Zouk a try, partially to incorporate Zouk-like movements into routines. For example, off-axis turns. Or head movement. Or body rolls and upper body isolations. Like any true professional, she wanted to understand how to do the movements safely and properly before adding it to her work. After a while, she remarked that she wasn’t expecting the waves, head movement, and isolations to be so relaxing. She explained that…

  • Beginner-Friendly - Etiquette - Social Dancing

    A Guide to Not Being a Dance “Creep”

    September 23, 2016 - By 

    No one enjoys a dance creep. They’re the ones who won’t take ‘No’ for an answer, dance a little-too-close, and won’t leave you alone on Facebook for weeks. The really bad ones also try to get handsy on the floor, or will do crazy stuff like follow you to your car or room. A dance creep is anyone who engages in behavior that makes those around them feel uncomfortable or threatened. Dance creeps can be men or women. They can be any age, or dance level. They can be intentionally or unintentionally doing the creepy behavior. So, what can we do…

  • Fun Stuff

    Popular Questions Answered by Dance Addicts

    September 21, 2016 - By 

    Sometimes, the non-dancers of the world ask us questions that we’re not entirely sure how to answer. These should be simple questions – but somehow our addiction makes them so difficult to answer. “What did you do last night?” Verbal Answer: “I… went dancing. Again.” Internally: I need a life. But… dance is life. I’m so confused.  “How was your trip to ______?” Verbal Answer: “It was great! My favourite landmark was the great floor, and my biggest highlight was this amazing dance I had with this person from halfway around the world!” Internally: Have I forgotten what trips are supposed be like, or…

  • Dance Discussions - Etiquette - Following - Social Dancing

    In Defence of the ‘Hot Girl that Can’t Dance’

    September 19, 2016 - By 

    Have you ever gone to an event, and seen that girl? She’s hot. She’s dressed sexy. Her make-up is all done up. To top it all off, she gets asked to dance by all the desirable leads… all night long. There’s only one issue: She can’t dance. Instead of dancing, what she’s doing is flirting with all those leads and using her looks to get dances. She can’t dance; she just looks sexy. She doesn’t even bother to take classes! If only leads weren’t so shallow in their dance choices, they’d be dancing with a real dancer instead. *** Snap out of it. *** Most people I know who attend events…

  • Fun Stuff

    10 Things you never thought would happen… Until you started dancing

    September 15, 2016 - By 

    Have you done crazy things since you started dancing, or were you always like that? No matter your particular slant, it’s indisputable that some of the stuff we do is absolutely bonkers. Going to a late night event as an adult with a job… on a Wednesday. We all thought that one day, we’d grow out of the early-adulthood late-nights. Or, perhaps like me, it was never your shtick to begin with… …Until you started dancing. For every dancer, there’s at least a few times where we sacrifice a good night’s sleep for a mid-week event. Some of us regret…

  • Beginner-Friendly - Congresses & Travel

    What to expect at your first congress

    September 13, 2016 - By 

    So, you’ve taken the plunge. You went online and bought your first congress ticket. Congratulations! Maybe your friend talked you into it. Or,  perhaps the event caught your eye and you really want a vacation. Whatever the reason, you will never forget your first event. A lot of first-timers get nervous before their first event. Most of this stems from not knowing what to expect! Let’s fix that. There’s two types of first-time attendees: beginner dancers, and people who have been dancing for a while but never traveled. Tips for beginner dancers [showhide type=”answer1″ more_text=”Show Tips” less_text=”Hide Tips” hidden=”yes”] Attend beginner or…

  • Congresses & Travel - Dance Discussions

    Is everyone really having sex at festivals?

    September 12, 2016 - By 

    There’s a note circulating online about the ‘sexual’ nature of festivals. Specifically, it’s about how three women got pregnant at a recent festival in Europe. The note also touches on the power dynamics between professionals and attendees, as well as how many events are marketing the ‘sexy’ slant. While all of these things do happen at some events, I think the conversation requires some clarification. Part of this is in service of beginners who are entering the festival circuit for the first time. I know I wouldn’t go to congresses if I though it was all sex – I just want to dance! 1. Not…

  • Beginner-Friendly - Social Dancing

    Dance Shoe FAQ: “Do I need dance shoes?” and other questions

    September 9, 2016 - By 

    Ever had a question about your dance shoes? The answer is probably here! Buying dance shoes Q1: “Do I need dance shoes?” [showhide type=”answer1″ more_text=”Show Answer” less_text=”Hide Answer” hidden=”yes”] If you’re planning on dancing regularly (even if 1-2 times a month), dance shoes will make your life significantly easier. Most people don’t realize how big the difference is until they try dance shoes for the first time. Dance shoes help you: Balance better, Turn without stress on your joints, ‘Feel the floor’ more, and Manipulate the foot better.   Most dance shoes have a suede sole – though others have synthetic soles…

  • Fun Stuff

    Embarrassing Dance Moments

    September 7, 2016 - By 

    We’ve all been social dancing and had some quirky moments. If we’re lucky, we’ve avoided complete embarrassment. But, not all of us are so lucky. Here are are a few embarrassing moments, courtesy of our fellow social dancers (and me): Peek-A-Boo “I was once dancing with my biggest dance-crush (and real crush) while wearing a flowy top. The back of the shirt was only connected at the neckline. It was the first time I wore that shirt social dancing. About halfway through the dance, the lead turned me. As he went to move to close hold, my shirt managed to flip…

  • Beginner-Friendly - Congresses & Travel

    Is volunteering at a congress right for you?

    August 19, 2016 - By 

    Almost every event is constantly looking for volunteers. How do you know if volunteering is the right decision for you? Some people volunteer because they can’t afford an event. Other people volunteer because they find it more enjoyable than simply being an attendee! How do you know if you’re one of those people who will enjoy volunteering? And, if you want to volunteer, what questions should you ask yourself before you do?