Craze for dance has become so big that person of every age wants to learn to dance now. Reality dance shows like Chak Doom Doom and the DID L’ll Masters have evoked hysteria amongst the kids now days. Recently I was in Bhopal, Jaipur, Guwahati and Chandighar for some workshops and almost every one I met said, How do we choose the correct dance teacher? Do the reality show stars really make a good dance teacher? Does the popularity in dance really mean one is an excellent dance teacher?

My advice to all those people who cannot go to a big city to learn from big and popular teachers, is that look for a good dance teacher in your own or your neighbouring city. You might just hit the jackpot by finding a true teacher.

I always keep insisting that a good dancer might not be a good teacher, so be careful in your choice of the dance teacher because the wrong decision would mean wrong techniques and an incorrect growth as a dancer. I have written below some qualities of a good teacher that can help you find your guiding light:

Experience

How long has the teacher been teaching? How long has he or she been dancing? Find out what dancing certifications, if any, he or she has. While credentials are important, don’t overlook retired professional dancers. These dancers often become exceptional dance teachers, with no previous certifications.

Qualifications

Does the teacher teach different styles of dance? Some dance teachers conduct classes for several dance genres, such as ballet, tap, modern, hip-hop, jazz, Ballroom, Bollywood, Classical and folk. Make sure the teacher is actually qualified to teach the style you prefer, not simply filling up his or her enrolment book.

Dedication

Does the teacher seem truly dedicated to dance? If he/she was a professional dancer, you can probably assume a great deal of pride and dedication for the profession of dance. Observe the way he or she teaches and conducts a class. A dedicated dance teacher will appear to be completely in love with the idea of teaching others how to dance.

Punctuality

Is the dance teacher always running behind? Do classes continuously begin late? A good dance teacher will always strive to be an example of responsibility, as responsibility is a trait of a good dancer. If you feel as if you are always standing around waiting for the teacher, it’s probably time to look for a new one

Respect

Do you feel invisible in your dance class? Every student in a dance class should feel important and respected. Even if you are dancing on the back row, the teacher should make an effort to make eye contact and communicate with you. A respectable teacher will pay attention to each and every student and correct them individually, helping them to gradually build their technique. A good teacher will respect every one of his or her students

Passion

Above all, is the passion for the art form. A good teacher is one who lives his or her passion. Teaching with full being, not bothering about the time, place or the environment what explain the passion of a teacher. A passionate teacher is the one who will offer their students all the knowledge he or she has without keeping anything back.

Tips for finding a dance teacher

If you’re looking for dance teachers in your area, check the yellow pages or the local newspapers. You can even browse the Internet and find out dance teachers closet to your area, check out there website and other information on the Internet. Many schools, colleges and clubs also offer dance classes in the evening, as an extra curricular activity and usually at very reasonable priced. Also check local health clubs and fitness centres, as many people are realizing the health benefits of dancing. The best way is to visit the places where the dance lovers meet, have seminars, lecture or party that’s the correct place to find a good teacher, when you will observe a student dancing well just get the name of their teacher and there you have found your Guru.

The most basic requirement to dance Salsa or any other dance style for that matter is to understand / appreciate the music and its rhythm.

Not understanding music is like speaking a language without understanding its grammar & not understanding the rhythm is like bad grammar coupled with a bad accent!

Note: these observations are specific only to the Mumbai salsa scene (may also be applicable to the Delhi & Bangalore salsa scene), with the assumption that 99.97% of Mumbai’s Salseros dance ON1, 0.03% dance the Cuban Salsa and ON2 is as common as caviar.

Drop in at any Salsa social in Mumbai and it’s easy to spot 3 different musical errors.

1. Dancers Can’t keep up to the Count: The beginners usually would agree with this, where keeping up to the music seems like a challenge. It could be either because the men may not be able to offer timely leads or the lady could be slower on her execution, worst still – both have issues. They do seem to be on count sometimes but that’s because the music catches up with them.

2. Count can’t keep up to the Dancers: The thrill for some is in dancing real fast, trying out fancy combinations. The adrenaline rush gets them dancing faster than what the song proposes. Quite a few advanced dancers are guilty of this crime, but they do manage to get back on track as soon as the fancywork ends…umm if you ever catch me off-count, this is why

3. Me against the Music: These dancers are primarily the ones who do not understand the difference between counts ONE and FIVE. I have seen many newbies + veterans, instructors and xplosive dancers dancing on FIVE! constantly!! This is the most common of mistimed sights on the floor. I guess they only pay attention to the tumbao rhythm and get confused between counts.

Dancing off count is no excuse whether you’re a newbie or Salsa pro, the worst part is most people don’t care, they just want to be seen on the floor. Some instructors are to be blamed as well- you don’t need to spend hours explaining musical instruments and their rhythms but before people start off they need to have a basic sense of understanding of musicality. Dance forever will remain indebted to music from where it evolves and both dance and music are representatives of a culture, if you can’t respect one you can respect none.

Ajaz Shaikh
Director — Baile -de- Salon — Ballroom Academy
www.salsaaa.com

Photo Credit

By Dr. Priti Gupta (Director – DanceSport India)

It’s an old trick: make a task fun and people will be more likely to do it. Dancing is an excellent alternative to generate an increased focus on active living. The best part is that you can have fun while burning off calories, conditioning the core and at the same time becoming more poised and graceful in appearance.

Today finding lifestyle balance isn’t easy, but it is a vital part of healthy living for most people. Because we all have unique challenges, we often have unique ways of finding balance.

Song and Dance has always been a part of our lives, but we never gave it a status of anything more than a recreational activity. But only a few of us know that Latin & Ballroom Dancing is also a highly popular competitive sport – DanceSport all around the world with growing participation even from India.

Be it social dancing or competitive, age is no bar. You will find 5 year olds, teenagers, young adults and the young at heart even upto 80years of age and more gliding on the floor enjoying both classic and modern music.

They say “You don’t stop dancing from growing old, you grow old from stopping to dance.” Also whether you may have 2 or 50 left feet, you don’t need to know dancing to start learning, you just need to start learning to know dancing.

Some of the benefits from dancing:

Good posture : If you have been suffering from backaches due to slouching all the time in front of the computer, Latin & Ballroom Dancing can help you straighten it out, correct your posture and maintain an ideal one, not to mention the health benefits of having a good posture.

Getting well-toned muscles and losing fat : Latin &Ballroom Dancing indeed is a great way to keep our body fit. It requires a lot of movement control & every muscle of your body is being exercised and used. This leads to burning of calories and fat in the body as well as toning and strengthening the muscles as you go on with your training lessons.

Stress relief & Relaxation :  Focusing on your dance lesson, enjoying the music and bringing your complete attention to the graceful execution of the steps can help you get rid of the many thoughts you have about problems at home and in your career and just about anything that’s giving you stress. It can simply work like Meditation.

Poise & Confidence : A boost of confidence. Even if you do not aim to perform before a large crowd, being able to perform the dance moves can help boost your confidence. The more you are able to perform newer moves, the more you will believe in yourself that you can dance well

Overall benefits of dancing:

• Improved Cardio-Vascular & Respiratory endurance
• Weight loss / Weight Control
• Improved Balance, Co-ordination, Strength & Flexibility
• Stress Relief & Feeling of Well Being – ConidenceBuilding
• Improved Joint Health & Stability
• Improved Poise, Posture & Grace

DanceSport is a captivating sport that has drawn people all over the world into its fascinating and tantalizing orbit. DanceSport includes 10 dances.

Whether you want to pursue social dancing or competitive, the health benefits of various degrees can definitely be enjoyed by all.

This could even work for the conventional cardiac-rehabilitation programs, patients with Parkinson’s disease, cancer patients, obesity patients or simply for individuals wanting to keep fit.

The dance routines help overcome the high rate of noncompliance associated with conventional rehab programs. Part of that success comes from the enriched social life most participants enjoy as they learn to use the routines recreationally out on the dance floor. It’s a great alternative to the conventional rehabilitation program and helps patients avoid a sedentary lifestyle.

Specific Benefits from DanceSport

CV = Cardio Vascular; Sacro-illiac = lower back joint

Dance in city is no more a site for dance lover to get information, it has progressed manifolds, it has reached to various parts of the world, and along with information it provides dance lovers with all that they want. I feel privileged to be writing for dance in city, when Mr Nitin approached me to write a column, I could not say no, its one of my favourites sites. I know of millions of dance lovers who swear by dance in city.

I begin my column today with a valentine special, this month is said be filled with love and affection. It’s the same emotion that is a top priority for all performers and dancers, but many a times we force ourselves or our loved ones during this season to dance what we like to dance, but isn’t love about dancing for each other, dancing for one another. So with my dance knowledge and experience of teaching students world over through my classes and workshops, I feel each of us are different and have different liking for a dances. I might like the Salsa but my partner might like the Tango. How do I know what my partner likes? Sun signs play a very important role in that too, each star sign person have certain characteristics and these typical qualities help you to understand yourself and your partners likes towards a dance form. 

Dancing a dance not ment for you and your valentine can lead to a disaster sometimes, so be careful when you choose the dance form this valentine season. Know your valentine’s traits and I tell will you the dance ment for them.  

Aries – Dance – Merengue - This dance comes from Dominican Republic and its neighbouring island Haiti … this quick tempo dance is great for people who are very aggressive, self-confident and full of life…. This dance has bouncy, vigorous and brisk moves…. Which are typical traits of an Arian (being assertive and Energetic).

Taurus – Dance – Viennese Waltz – This dance comes from Austria and South of Germany… While performing this fast dance one has to be very watchful and alert all the time as that others do not bang into you while in the movement of dance. It is a very compassionate, Poised, Royal and very loving dance, its movements are all in fast circular motion.  Viennese Waltz is especially for Taurian as they are known to be very careful and caring people 

Gemini – Dance – Undoubtedly the Cha Cha Cha – this dance is an off- shoot of a famous Latin folk dance called the Mambo…. Cha Cha Cha has very inviting music…. Its flirty, naughty and a very spicy dance…filled with lots of hip actions… this mischievous, dynamic and bubbly dance is best for Gemini …as they are known to be very Lively and Flirtatious by nature.

Cancer – Dance – English Waltz – Like its name suggests this dance comes from Great Britain….  Its is considered to be the most tender, mild, graceful and elegant dances of the world…its dance direction, movements and few times even the speed keeps changing making it a very unpredictable and unstable dance just like the sign cancer…. They are known to be very Moody yet Gentle as people.

Leo – Dance – Paso Doble – This dance is associated with Spain…. as it is a story of a  ‘Bull Fight’ on to the dance floor…. This dance is extremely flashy, flamboyant and extravagant dance… the mood of this Glitzy dance is a ‘Fight’. In this dance the man represents the matador and the women his cape in the drama of the Spanish bullfight…. This hot and flaming dance truly represents the ever so Flamboyant and Fiery Leo

Virgo – Dance – Jive – this dance form comes from The United States of America. Jive is similar to Boogie, Jitterbug, West Coast Swing, Lindy Hop and most of all Rock n Roll. It is a Fun Filled, Carefree, Practical   and a relaxed dance. While performing this dance one needs to me extremely watchful and careful, as it’s a high-speed dance. This crazy dance is best for Virgos as they are known to be very Practical, Cautious yet fun loving people.

Libra – Dance  – Rumba & Bolero - Rumba is the national dance of Cuba and Bolero comes from Bahamas. They both have fascinating rhythms and bodily expressions. Extended long legs and Hem Lines enhance the romantic mood of these dances. Rumba and Bolero are said to be the spirit and soul of all the dance forms. When we think of these ‘Dances of Love’ we think of Passion, Obsession, Infatuation, Togetherness and Lust. And that’s what Libras are said to be, Romantic at heart, always in love with ‘Love’ and extremely charming as individuals.   

Scorpio – Dance – Tango – This dance comes from the back-street bars of Argentina. It is the dance of ‘Mixed feeling’. Tango means many things to many people, just like the Mysterious Scorpio. Its’ sexy and passionate attitude resemble the characteristic of the adoring yet inexplicable and enigmatic Scorpion.

Sagittarius – Dance – Samba – This dance is from Brazil. The feel of Samba is just like a Sagittarian. It’s rhythmic, Animalistic, Exotic and Adventurous. Samba is said to be an ‘out of the ordinary’ dance, as it is very musical, striking, unusual and has loads of bold and daring moves just like a Sagittarius person who is said to be very courageous and gutsy by nature

Capricorn  – Dance – Bossa Nova  - This dance form comes from Bahai. It is meant for the typical Capricorns as they are cool, go-getter individuals who are always determined to do the best, similarly this dance style too is like a live wire, very splendid, impressive and grand, firm danced with an attitude that is fresh, calm and breezy very similar to a Capricorn.

Aquarius – Dance Salsa - This dance style is the most erratic and unpredictable of all the dances yet it is orderly in its form, having a structured movement, only a whimsical and wise Aquarian will understand the method in the madness. This saucy dance is the craze of this decade. Salsa moods can change at any time from being sexy to spicy or loving to gloomy or from being passionate to heartbreaking. 

Pisces – Dance – Quickstep – This is a very imaginative and an artistic dance, danced in a very pensive and wistful mood, just like the Dreamy & very Creative Piscean. Fast tempo yet in complete Harmony, Quickstep with its syncopated hops and swings is filled with loads of creative yet original impressive moves which are the typical traits of a Piscean

I feel the if we pay attention to our valentine and the way they are, we will realise which dance form suits them or which dance they will be attracted to, so this valentine season study your partners star sign and dance what their personality demands, that is true love, doing and enjoying what the valentine wants. So dance in your city with your valentine and have a super Valentine month. Happy Valentine to all. 

Dance to the beat of your Heart!!

Gifting a Dance This Valentine!

Valentine’s Day is the day where you want to make your loved one feel even more special. So this year, why don’t you try gifting your valentine something that is exciting, romantic & at the same time just perfect for the two of you to express your love to one another.

Dance!!
Dancing is the best way to relieve your stress & especially when its the season where love is in the air. Dance to your hearts content.

As you all know Valentine’s day is nearing.We at DanceSport would like you to gift your loved one a special gift this year – “A Dance lesson”. Well, we do have quite a few of them who have already booked their days to surprise the ones close to them. It’s indeed something special & truly different from the rest.

Yes, we have some candle lit sessions, a couple of women gifting their husbands a dance class. Well, wat do you know, we even have some people gifting it to their grandparents. I think, this is the sweetest thing someone could do for their grandparents.

So much that can be done to express your love. You can come up with any suggestion you’d like. We can arrange for ballons, decor. You name it & its all yours.

It can be anyone you want to gift this dance lesson to, maybe even your teachers.

Also remember, you can gift your dance lesson anytime of this month & not just on the 14th of Feb, since this month is the month of Love.

So why wait, come & book your dance lesson & enjoy the moment to the fullest.

You may even like to share a fantastic worshop with your friends.. It Can be arranged with DanceSport India.
You can choose the dance forms as per your needs & interests or our Advisors can help you select.

DanceSport India’s lessons runs for 60 minutes in length.

So go ahead & Book your Gifts now for single/couple.

Our advisors will help you with the best instructor.

To Book your Gift:
Call : +91 9920053329
Visit: www.dancesportindia.com

My Observations on the Dance Floor: Part I – The 80:20 Ratio

Stepping in for a Salsa social is a nightmare for beginners and a sure-shot recipe to lose all your confidence. But there is a lot that goes into perfecting the intricate combinations and making it look effortless and sensual on the floor.

Note: these observations are specific only to the Mumbai Salsa scene (may also be applicable to the Delhi & Bangalore salsa scene)

80% of the men on the floor have been dancing for an average of 3 years + (most of these are instructors themselves)

20% have been dancing for less than 3 years.

That’s a lot of dancing experience under the sole. No ones got great overnight. These guys have been at it consistently. They have put in a lot of time effort and sweat to become enviable.

80% of the women have been dancing for less than 6 months !!!

20% have stuck around beyond that time frame.

Yes, it’s the exact opposite. I can’t pin point what it is. While it’s the same men you will see at all salsa parties, the women mostly keep moving in & out. I don’t know whether they get bored / move on to other exciting things (you can’t skydive every week though), get married / change jobs or simply stop coming because their boyfriends / husbands don’t like to see them getting groovy with other men.

The other 20% are veteran Salseras who will ensure they make time from all other commitments to get their regular dose of Salsa.

Well, it all comes down to commitment and practise, like any other skill. You will fumble initially, may be embarrass yourself but it will be all worth it if you hang on. You decide which side of the 80:20 ratio you want to be on.

Ajaz Shaikh
Director — Baile -de- Salon — Ballroom Academy
www.salsaaa.com

Image Credit

A Very Happy New Year to all of you

Start this year by watching an interesting Collaboration at the Blue Frog involving EMDC’s Founder & Artistic Director Sumeet Nagdev

On Tuesday, 3rd Jan 2012, Tyagaraja Welch from Texas, USA will be performing at the Blue Frog some of his classic contemporary compositions whereas one of the songs that he will sing (Godspeed) will have Reetu Jain (Belly Dance), Gunjen Mittal (Odissi) and Sumeet Nagdev (Contemporary) do a jugalbandi (Collaborative Fusion) of sorts

Don’t miss this chance and reserve your table at Blue Frog, Mumbai for this Tuesday night 9 pm onwards

Lots of dance coming your way this 2012

Best Wishes
Team EMDC

FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR : SUMEET NAGDEV
WWW.DANCEWITHEMDC.COM
info@dancewithemdc.com
91-22-24366777

Nrityollasa – solo Bharatanatyam and Kathak performance by Chitra Arvind, Rhythmotion.

The artist will present dance numbers depicting the Dashavatara in both the styles and other pieces in praise of Lord Krishna.

Location:Bhakti Kalakshetra, Mumbai, ISKCON, Juhu, Mumbai, India

Solo Bharatanatyam performance by Chitra Arvind, Rhythmotion, highlighting compositions in the

Mysore style of Bharatanatyam along with the artist’s choreography.

Location: The Mysore Association, Mumbai, New # 393 Bhaudaji Road, Mumbai, Maharashtra