During my not so long dancing career, I have twice been in a situation where I have given free reign to the person teaching me to dance. I have given them the go ahead to “Beat me Bloody”…..on the dance floor, that is.

I am here to warn you, if you ever find yourself in my dancing shoes: BEWARE! I am for warning you, that while your dancing may improve in leaps and bounds, noticeable only to others, your ego and self confidence takes a beating. You have to remain strong and know that one day it will all pay off.

So, be careful what you wish for, as your wish may just come true!

While dancing it is imperative to stay connected, however this does not refer to a death grip!

Leaders place your hand firmly on the followers shoulder blade, up underneath her arm, not in the middle of her back. Give her enough support to allow her to settle back into your hand and  form a connection. Followers do not “lean” back to establish this connection.

Followers, place your hand lightly upon the leaders shoulder, arms touching and connected without expecting the leaders to hold up your arm. Do not grip their shoulder. Place your hand  into the leaders hand and gently close, do not grip tightly.

Both Leaders and Followers must hold up their own arms. While turning, followers should create a cup with your hand so that the leader is able to freely move his fingers within your cup.

Of course there are different frames for different dances and you must make adjustments accordingly, but the above rules still apply.

I am sure that all West Coast Swing dancers do whips. The question is, do they really “whip”, or are they just going through the motion.  Last night at our weekly class, we spent the entire class doing nothing but two whips and honestly almost everyone was struggling.it wasn’t that they weren’t going through the motion and footwork correctly, it was that they were missing a key ingredient that actually creates the whip itself.

To create an actual whipping motion, both leader and follower need to have compression in the connection of the followers right arm and the leaders left. I am not sure exactly how to explain a “feeling”, but done correctly there is actually a whipping motion. Once you have experienced a whip done properly you will never go back to just walking through a whip again!

Today I am going to bring up a rather touchy subject that has been
brought to my attention. I feel that it is worth mentioning and
realize that this does not pertain to most people. So please do not

situation that may occur while out dancing.

Dancing is a great social activity and a great way to make new
friends. Occasionally you may run across people that are there for
the wrong reason. The “wrong” reason that I am talking about today,
is one that can cause a lot of grief to men and women alike.
Sometimes men or women frequent dance activities simply to
“hook-up” with a member of the opposite sex. Sometimes for just the
night and sometimes for a week or more. There are people that can almost
become stalker-ish and will take advantage of a dancers’ social etiquette.

As dancers’ it is rare to turn down a dance when asked. However, if
the person asking takes advantage of you during or after that
dance, you have every right to refuse to dance with them again.

It is not uncommon that a beginning dancer can become a target. A
more experienced dancer with the wrong intent may prey upon a
beginning dancer by offering to spend time teaching them to dance.
They may then suggest getting together before or after dancing
hours. This may result in a short term “relationship” that often
ends badly with the beginning dancer disappearing from the dance
community either out of humiliation or embarrassment or just not
wanting to face the other person. The person doing the preying

the next, often quite quickly.

We must all take responsibility for ourselves. You can count on
being approached in ways that make you uncomfortable if you are a
social dancer that is out several nights a week. Be strong and
listen to your inner voice. Do not open the door, even a crack, if
you are uncomfortable in any way. These people are relentless and
oblivious to your caution or discomfort. Stick up for yourself and
take responsibility. Learn to say No. This can also happen during
group classes. Remember that it is your own responsibility, not the
the instructors, to safeguard yourself. Those of you that attend
classes with the intent to “hook-up”……..Knock it Off!

I know that these types of occurrences happen in all areas of life,
but as a dancer, I also know that when left to fester it seriously
effects our dancing community!

I promise happy thoughts next time!

Happy and safe dancing,
Michele

One of the most difficult things for me about social dancing, and I am talking about “organized club” dancing in my area, is that no matter what type music is played, most (ok, almost ALL) dancers still just dance West Coast Swing. It is so hard for me to just do West Coast Swing when the DJ is playing a Cha Cha or Hustle. Even if you can find a fellow Hustle dancer you will have a difficult time “doing the Hustle” as the West Coast Swing dancers get annoyed if you use too much floor space! UHG! Same applies to Cha Cha……oh, well, I guess some dancers prefer to only dance one dance………..what a shame, because the other dances are equally just as much fun!

If you have never attended a dance convention before, here are a few suggestions to help make your event more enjoyable. These are just suggestions and items that I find helpful. First and foremost bring a smile, an open mind and a joyful attitude. There is much to see and do and so many directions that you will be pulled, that being adaptable will also help.

Bring extra clothing, as you are likely to become hot and sweaty…. often! Dancing day and night is a lot of work and frequent showers and a change of clothing refreshes you. I also like to have a cooler in my room. This is easier to achieve if you drive to the event, but can be accomplished with a quick taxi ride and a disposable cooler from a local market. Good things to have on hand are a loaf of bread, chicken salad, potato salad, hard boiled eggs, nuts, bagels, cream cheese, power bars, fruit and water. Of course beer, margaritas and power drinks are optional!

Having food available and in your room  not only cuts down on the cost, but also allows you to have food available at any time. You will find that your eating schedule depends upon you dancing schedule. It is not uncommon to be eating a chicken salad sandwich at 3 am, just to get up enough energy to dance a few more hours!

I can’t think of a better way to spend Memorial Holiday Weekend than at the Frezno Dance Classic.  They will be celebrating their 25th Anniversary and it is sure to be a party! The theme this year is “The Wild, Wild West”, so Saloon Girl or Cowgirl? Hmmm, guess you’ll have to stay tuned to see!

One of the greatest things about attending a dance event like Frezno, is the vast variety of workshops, instructors, competitions, parties, shows and tons and tons of dancing!

As they put it:

Fabulous dance event.
Rich in Fun, frolic and good times.
Excellent dancing on many levels.
Zealous dancers who are passionate for “dance”  and want to share their talents.
No better Master of Ceremonies than “STEVE ZENER”.
Others’ have tried to imitate, but Frezno Dance Convention is still the best.

Hope to see you there!

Even though I am now able to put one foot in front of the other, turn without wobbling and follow many different leaders, I still find the different theories and concepts of dancing quite challenging and often frustrating. It is amazing to me how many different ways one dance is interpreted and taught depending upon your instructor,  and often even where you live.

My “theory” is to listen closely to the person that you are either learning from, or dancing with, and apply what he or she is teaching you at that particular moment. Attempt to retain as much information and technique that you can from each and every individual. You will find that you will become a more accomplished dancer by allowing the many different styles, characteristics and  idiosyncrasies  that you encounter to permeate your body and mind while learning and dancing.

I am certain that we all hear and feel music differently, but during a  dance it should be both dancers’  goal to connect  to each other and to dance as one. So bearing this in mind, apply what you have mastered through experience, be open to new philosophies and technique and try and have the best dance that you can at any particular moment.

As much as I don’t like to admit it……..there are dancer’s that I just do not want to dance with. I am also certain that I am that person for some dancer’s as well, so I guess that is just a dancing fact!

While attending The Palm Springs New Year’s Bash, I got brave enough to sign up for 3 Jack n Jill competitions. For those of you that are unfamiliar with a Jack n Jill, it is a competition where dancers are randomly paired up. You do not know who your partner is, or what music you will be dancing to.

While checking in for the competition, my friend commented that she hoped she wasn’t paired up with the guy that she was standing in front of. I said that there was really only one guy, in the whole group that I didn’t want to get paired up with. Turns out, it was the same person. Guess who got the guy.

Yup, it was me……..karma……..seems that if I put it out into the universe, it happens!

Now, for the confession……the dance really wasn’t that bad at all. I was actually pleasantly surprised. The leader was no longer difficult to follow and he even stayed on time. Moral to the story…….keep your mouth shut, feet moving and a positive attitude. Shame on me for having negative thoughts!

I didn’t even make semi finals in that West Coast Swing category, but I did place third in Hustle. Just goes to show you, you never know what is going to happen~

For those of you with little, to no internet experience, yet still a desire to have an internet business, this will be the most valuable thing you will ever hear from me.  Tabrej aka Tab. He is my virtual man! He has done things on my website and blog for me that I have wasted hours and days trying to do, in as little as 10 minutes. He can virtually do anything! He even managed to restore my blog and find past articles after it was hacked. It is a great feeling knowing that while you sleep, he is accomplishing your “wish” list. He is proficient, accomplished, capable, willing and able, not to mention completely affordable and reasonable.

Honestly, I cannot recommend anyone more highly. Thank you, Tab…..my Virtual Man!

Do you attend a lot of dance classes and work shops? Is your dancing improving or staying at the same level? Are you learning new things and find that you can’t remember them the next day?

Well, here is my definitive opinion, for what it’s worth.

One: You are not listening and trying to apply what you are learning in class.

Two: You are not social dancing.

Three: You are not practicing on your own time.

Four: Maybe you need a different instructor, one that you connect with.

Five: Maybe you just don’t care.

Six: Maybe you think you already know it all.

Seven: Maybe you should take up tennis!

And maybe I need to get out of the house and go dancing!

If you have never tried a pair of Evenin’ Star Dance Boots, you owe it to your feet to put on a pair and Waltz around the dance floor.  Their claim to fame is that they are “Limousines to Your Feet-  The Most Comfortable Boot in the World” and trust me, they are. Ask anyone who owns a pair and you will find that they would never dance in any other boot. The lycra boots are so light and flexible that you can even point your toes. Their is a reason that they are the boot of choice of the professionals.

I hope that by offering these boots at a discounted price, I will make it a bit easier for anyone to own a pair of these great boots, not just the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders!

Seems as though someone thought that it would be amusing to hack this blog. They managed to steal about 3 days of my time and a years worth of information. My suggestion to them is to take up dancing. Dancing uplifts your heart and brings happiness to those who participate. Chances are if they discovered dancing, maybe their mean spirited side would disappear and their unfulfilled hours would be better spent enjoying their life instead of trying to make others miserable. Just a thought!

Anyway, I am hoping that some of you may have saved an article or two and would be kind enough to send it to me @ meeeesh@aol.com Much appreciation and thanks.

Happy Dancing,
Michele

For those of you that remember my “whining” not “wining” about lack of dancers on my last few cruises. Ras #2 and I, at the insistence of our members have decided to organize a dance cruise aboard the Carnival Splendor,  Sept. 27, 2009. I twill be 7 glorious days and nights of dancing, workshops and parties.

UCWDC Master Dance Instructor Mike Eads and his lovely wife Cassie, along with 12 year UCWDC competitor Joe Tschirhart will holding workshops on sea days and dancing the nights away on all of the ships dance floors.

You will have the time of your life, please help us to fill the dance floors aboard the Carnival Splendor.
Until Feb. 28th, 2009 you can hold your cabin for only $25. Hurry and sign up, as space is limited.

There will be no lack of dance partners and fun aboard this ship!

Check out incentives for ship credit here!

Happy dancing,

Ras #1