Action Figures - Why Not Dance

Why Not Dance?

Why Not Dance?

There are some religious taboos when it comes to dance other than religious reasons why on earth would anyone not want to experience the mind and body renewing energy that results from dancing?Visit here now http://evolutionofdance-youtubevideo.blogspot.com

 Truthfully, not all dancing involves the wearing of pink tutus and many forms of dance are quite masculine in nature so preserving masculinity cannot in any way be an adequate excuse for not dancing.

When it comes to dance there are many interesting and amazing styles of dance that span the globe. From the weapon dances of old (which are a perfect display of virility and masculinity though not widely practiced today other than in ceremonial dance) to the grace and beauty of ballet or ballroom dancing there is almost certain to be some form of dance that should appeal to almost anyone on the planet.

Native Americans had an excellent attitude and ideals when it comes to dancing. They danced for almost any reason and let the beat of the drum serve as their guiding spirit. Native Americans danced for worship, for rain, for joy, for grief, and to prepare for war. Their dances were heartfelt and as much a part of their individual natures as it was their tribal identities. Dancing was an essential part of their culture and heritage and is still passed on today though to a much smaller degree.

While some religions discourage dance, others embrace dance as a form of worship and commitment to their deities. Some encourage dance as an expression of praise. Others dance for the joy of the blessings and bounty of their gods or in submission to their gods. Regardless the fact remains that dance plays a vital role in many of the world’s religions. If you are a believer, I can think of few better reasons to dance than to express your beliefs in a physical form.

Some people dance simply because they like music and enjoy watching other people dance. There are all kinds of fun dancing styles that can be practiced alone, as a couple, or as a part of a much larger group. In the United States line dancing and square dancing are excellent ways to dance as part of a larger group as well as many types of competitive dancing and as part of a ballet company or other type of competitive or professional dance company. Couples dancing to some degree includes square dancing but other forms of dance such as ballroom dancing as well. Singles dancing is pretty much reserved to competitive dancing and often requires years of practice in order to perfect. Some people devote their lives to this sort of dancing and still never manage to make their mark on the competitive dancing circuit.

Dancing for fitness is another wave that seems to be taking the world by storm. There are many ways that this can be done and it is quite effective among those who would otherwise not exercise at all as well as those who simply love to dance. It is getting out of your seat and moving around to the music. Find a nice driving beat, close the curtains, and dance until you can no longer breath. It’s a great way to get that much needed exercise while having fun and not even realizing that you are (gasp) exercising. Mind over matter is a great thing. If it doesn’t feel like exercise then there is no reason for your body, mind, or spirit to protest, right?

Dancing is becoming somewhat of a novelty sport around the USA and around the world. Reality television shows such as “Dancing with Stars” and movies such as the one with Richard Gere-Shall We Dance have made ballroom dancing popular and attractive to the average person who would have never considered this form of dance before. With so many wonderful reasons for a person to dance why on earth wouldn’t you want to dance?Visit here now http://evolutionofdance-youtubevideo.blogspot.com

Visit here now http://evolutionofdance-youtubevideo.blogspot.com

How do you get into competitive swing dancing?

I started swing dancing for fun this year at college and I love it! I have learned a little bit of everything (Lindy Hop, East Coast, West Coast). I am wondering what it takes to compete in swing dancing (time commitment, how much does it cost, etc)? Also, how would you get started in competing? I am assuming that private lessons would be needed. Finally, what is the average age of the competitors?

Thank you so much for your help!

Answer
Well first off, what kind of swing dancing do you want to compete in? East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, and Lindy Hop are almost completely exclusive when it comes to competitions (There is some overlap between Lindy Hop and WCS and some over lap of WCS and ECS). Even if the dances are featured at the same event, there will be different competition divisions.

Age is also different for each category and competition. Some will have categories for younger than 13 or older that 50, but generally they will be open to all ages.

::DIFFERENT DANCES, DIFFERENT COMPETITIONS::

East Coast Swing, is a formal ballroom dance. A beginning swing dancer can immediately compete in a “Novice” division (or possibly Bronze or Newcomer Level). The more competitions you win the more “points” you get that allow you to move up Levels.

West Coast Swing, is what I call a semi-formal ballroom dance. Generally WCS events are exclusive from ballroom events, but have similar levels.

Lindy Hop, is a folk dance, so there are no formal levels in competitions, and are normally exclusive events, but can be included in some WCS events. When it comes to Lindy Hop, you could sign up to compete in any open category, regardless of your experience.

::HOW TO GET STARTED::

To get started in competing, you enter a competition, like this one:

http://www.camphollywood.net

…but that’s not really what you are asking, right?

What you are asking is, what does it take to win in a competition, right?

Pretty much all competitions are based on the “3 T’s”:
Timing, Technique, and Teamwork.

Timing = How you dance to the music
Technique = How well you do the dance
Teamwork = How well you dance with your partner

There is also an added requirement for showmanship. This can very from competition to competition, so be sure to read the judging requirements at each event you attend.

To learn these things, you DEFINITELY NEED PRIVATE LESSONS. More than that, you need private lessons from “professionals” who either teach, judge, or compete at the national level to get you on the right track. These people can tell you exactly what they look for when it comes to competition. A local instructor is great for learning the basics, but if they aren’t actively involved in competition, then you aren’t going to learn what you want to know. (Generally, a 1 hour private lesson will range from $60 – $200 depending on the teacher, who sets their own price)

When you take a private lesson, this is not the time to learn moves, it’s time work on the 3 T’s. You have to have someone break you down to tell you what you are doing wrong, and what you need to do to fix these things for competition level.

You don’t need to take privates every week though. I wouldn’t recommend them more than once a month, because you need time to absorb what you have learned apply it to your dancing, until it becomes ingrained in your muscle memory (unless you are an extremely talented natural dancer).

::TIME COMMITMENT::
The more the merrier. Obviously, the more time you can commit to practicing, the better you can become. If you are doing a Jack n’ Jill type contest, then lots of social dancing will definitely help, but a private lesson about somethings you can do in a Jack n’ Jill will be the key.

If you are doing a competition that requires you have a partner, then your practicing is much more intensive. You really can’t do well by just social dancing a lot. You have to learn for the competition you prepare for by learning lifts, drops, or aerials (depending on the dance you are doing), and you have to work on the 3 T’s with your partner. Again, some private lessons with a professional competition dancer will make a huge difference in how well you can do.

::COMPETITION REALITY::

The reality is that you should compete because you want to do it, but don’t expect to win. Don’t even expect to make finals, especially your first time out. I prefer to use competitions as an excuse to take my dancing to the next level, even if I don’t win anything. You have only been dancing ONE YEAR! There are “amateur dancers” who have been dancing for more than 8 years, so obviously there is a huge learning curve against you . . . but if you are willing to put in the time and work up to where you want to be, eventually you will get there.

The key is not to be downhearted with dreams of being the best. Your fellow competitors are your peers, so enjoy dancing against your friends, and cheer them on when they do well, they same way you would want them to cheer you on when you do well!

I hope this helps!

If you want a little inspiration about swing dancing, check out this video from a professional Lindy Hop competition:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myJj0mNNe1Y