We Love to Dance..... Ras-This! » Happy Dancing

Hackers: Take up Dancing!

Michele — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:06:32 +0000

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

Dancing and Cruising!

Michele — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 08:17:48 +0000

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

HAPPY NEW YEAR to Dancers Everywhere!

admin — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:38:44 +0000

Unbelievable……another year has come and gone. As usual, I just don’t understand how time passed so quickly and what was I doing that I missed it going by?

Oh yeah, that’s right…..I was dancing, or attending dance festivals, or dance workshops, or looking for someplace to dance, etc. I guess there was also the two cruises that Ras#1 and I went on, and oh yeah, there is that other necessary evil thing (for some of us) called employment.

So now……..I guess its time to contemplate some New Year resolutions…………… hmmmm………what to do…..what to do! Well………..I’m thinking that we should all commit ourselves to improving the world in which we live by improving ourselves……………I think that can be translated to…………..LETS DANCE!!!!

New Year’s Resolution………………..improve your dancing skill. And…….…..to improve the world around you (cause you do remember how dancing makes you feel……….better, remember?), encourage someone, a friend, a family member, and/or a neighbor…… to take up dancing. Cause we dancers all know………that if everyone danced…..the world would be a happier and more much fun place in which to live.

Happy Dancing and Happy New Year!!

Ras #1 and Ras #2

PS If any of you are at the Palm Springs New Years Dance Classic, be sure to find us for a dance!

Mistake vs Invention: in Dance

Michele — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 08:29:37 +0000

Once again, I have a short story to share……….

Tonight, while out dancing with my fellow members of the High Desert Swing Dance Club, a friend and I “invented” a new move. This “move” was not something that we planned, or even thought out. It was actually a move invented from our making a mistake. Or should I say, “MY” mistake! He lead me one way, and I went the other…..I’m not sure where my brain went, but the brain and body were NOT in dancing as “one”! Good news was, that we really liked the mistake. We liked it so much that we actually repeated it several times just to make sure that we would remember it. That way, we could dance it on purpose the next time!

Luckily we were dancing West Coast Swing, which is less structured than other dances, but this little Tip often works well, regardless of the dance you are doing.

So remember, If either a leader, or follower does something the other didn’t expect and it felt or looked good – assume it’s a new move. If you started to do a standard move and something happens where you have to modify the steps ( you forgot what to do) or fake it (innovate), you might just someday become famous! All moves were invented by someone, maybe that someone will be you!

Happy Dancing,

Ras #1

Matching the Resistance in Dance Frame

Michele — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 08:45:17 +0000

Frame

Tonight was a a true test in my ability to follow. The most difficult
skill I have finally been able to master. You see, one of my favorite
dancers has a elbow injury to his left arm. And as a true dancer, I
know that you will understand, you can only stay away from dancing
for so long. This is where my ability to follow, with him just
leading with his right hand comes in to play. If done correctly, a
leader is able to lead a follower around the dance floor with just
that connection. To my amazement, I passed the test!

To create that “connection” with your partner in the closed ballroom
position, it is important for the lower part of the follower’s left
shoulder blade to “match the resistance” into the leader’s right
hand. The follower can accomplish this by pulling her left shoulder
back and down, pressing into the leader’s hand. If the follower
does not match the resistance, the leader finds it much more
difficult to lead. Without any connection with the shoulder blade,
dancing would be nearly impossible.

“Matching the resistance”, is also known as The Law of Opposition.
It tells us that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. A
push meets with a push. A pull meets with a pull. In dance, the
resistance is NOT actually pushing or pulling. It is a matching
“reaction” to the “action” of the lead. The natural tendency to
“yield” to a “lead” rather than to match the natural resistance is
a real problem for many dancers.

Once you have master this connection, you will be able to dance
beautifully with anyone that has mastered the art of leading.

Please share your experiences with our other members in our blog
discussion area:
www.learntoballroomdanceonline.com

Happy Dancing,

Michele@learntoballr