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What It Takes To Learn How to Belly Dance

By Luzette Leave a Comment
learn how to belly dance

Image by Michael Quinn via Flickr

Belly dancing is not as simple as moving your belly any way you want. This sexy dance requires strong developed muscles, flexible body and unwavering focus for you to be able to properly execute the steps and routines. Whether it is belly rolls, backbends, forward and back shimmy or whatever routines and steps that you want to master, prepping your body for the right execution makes a lot of difference. Hence, it is important to get to know your body and to do preparatory exercises before you learn how to belly dance. This post will discuss such priming.

Are you Fit to Learn How to Belly Dance?

Doing the backbends, whether standing or kneeling, requires great strength and flexibility. Before attempting to learn to execute this challenging routine, you have to know if your body is in shape to do it. For your own safety, do not attempt it if you are pregnant, have a history of ankle, hip, or knee problems, or had a spinal surgery (removal of ruptured discs, fusion or vertebrae, insertion of a rod, etc). Seek the advice of a health professional before learning to Belly Dance.

Exercises to Do Before Starting to Learn How To Belly Dance

Bellyrolls is a Belly Dance move that can be quite daunting especially if your abdominal muscles in your midsection are weak and stiff. To effectively learn how to belly dance, take time to strengthen, relax and make your upper abs, middle abs, and lower abs. Also train your brain to gain control over them. Once you develop control over them, your mind can order them on what to do or how to move. You can begin by doing this doing this exercise daily:

Stand in a comfortable belly dance stance and place your hands on your hips or anywhere you feel comfortable so that they can relax. Then tuck your tummy in as far as you can. You can do better than that! Do this exercise better by making this mental picture: Visualize that as you tuck your tummy in, you are trying to get your navel to touch your spine. Then hold it for as long as you can. Now, relax and do the exact opposite of what you have done earlier, that is, allow your stomach to bulge out as far toward the front as you can without forcibly pushing and hold it for as long as you were able to suck it in. Do this exercise several times of the day and do not forget to properly breathe while doing this belly exercise.

Before you learn how to belly dance, make sure to secure a clean bill of health and do the necessary exercises to prepare your body to properly execute the belly dance routines you want to master.

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Learn Dance Moves – How to Be a Better Performer and Dancer

By Clarissa Leave a Comment
Learn Dance

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Practice makes perfect. And practice makes a beautiful dance. If you are the type of person who does not want to go to parties just because  you don’t know how to dance, then you should continue reading this article. Here, you will not only discover where to  learn dance moves, you will also be able to identify what makes you think you cannot dance.

Learn Dance Steps Confidently

The first thing for you to do to be able to learn dance is to know why you want to learn. Why do you want to dance? Is it for an event? Or are you trying to impress a colleague you have a crush on for long and would want him to notice you in your company’s kick-off party? Or maybe you just simply want to make your exercise routines more enjoyable? As with any goals you’re setting, you have to know why you want to learn how to dance.

After discovering the reason for your sudden penchant for dancing, you should now identify what is it that hinders you to learn dancing. You may find out that you are not that confident with how you look, or you may be feeling a bit insecure because you think that you look awkward while dancing. It may also be that you think that you look ugly, or fat or that you are born with ‘two left feet’. If one of these is your reason, then the process of learning to dance can actually help you change your mindset.

Confidence is developed with skill, the more skillful you become at doing something, the more confidence you’ll have.  Dance lessons will teach you the skills you need. As you learn more, your confidence will grow and you will conquor the fears that have kept you from enjoying parties, weddings and even other people!

Learn Dance According to Your Desires and Characteristics

It’s time to discover what dance would best fit you.

If you are a romantic person, then learning ballroom dancing, where there’s always two people involved is a nice way to express this side of yours. You can choose to hire a dance instructor to teach you salsa, boogie, waltz and swing where you can let all your passion come out.

For younger ones or for those ‘young at heart’, you might want to learn hip hop dance moves where you can be open and more free. This is the dance of the youth, with some angst, power and a lot of passion, a lot of younger people like to express their emotions so they learn dance moves that can be performed with much energy.

There are different kinds of dances. Other than these two, you might be interested with the dance styles of  different nations. You might be finding the Korean dance fascinating or the Indian movements great and calm, then  you should go ahead and learn them. With dancing, you cannot stay confined in a box, you have to let go and let the rhythm lead you.

Learn Dance Routines

You can decide to learn through a dance instructor, or through online videos or through a friend, it does not matter. What matters is that you learn dance in the proper way, with focus and determination.

The number one way to master a dance is to learn the steps. All dance routines are sub-divided into steps and combinations. The easiest way to learn dance moves is to concentrate and master one combination first before moving to the next. In order to do that , you must attentively watch your instructor or the video you have. You must be mindful of the choreography and as much as possible memorize it.

The next thing to do is to feel the beat. Learn dance timing and learn the beat. If you can, listen to it repeatedly so that you can easily associate the beat with the steps or choreography.  After that, the best and most important thing to do is to practice. You cannot learn dance moves just by doing it once or twice, you have to be really patient with yourself and you really have to have determination in order to master anything, including dancing.

Learn Dance Continuously – Improve Your Craft!

Once you’ve learned a dance routine, it should not stop there. Continue improving your skills and hone your stage performance. Inject gracefulness to your dance routines and try to discover new moves.

As with any other thing, if you want to learn dance routines and you really think that this will make you feel good, you should continue improving it and you should start thinking of it as a craft.

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Tips on How to Learn to Belly Dance at Home

By Luzette Leave a Comment
Learn To Belly Dance

Image by eleda 1 via Flickr

Learn To Belly Dance And Enjoy Its Benefits

Belly dance, traditionally known as Raks Sharki, has become a popular form of dance and exercise in the West. Its exotic nature gives it its allure. Its Western name is considered a misnomer since the dance does not just involve the belly, but virtually the entire body. One good thing about it as a form of exercise is that it does not work against the body, unlike other dances such as ballet. The abdomen, trunk, pelvis, neck and spine are used during the elegant hip drops, rolls and pivots, moves that work with the body. It is said to improve muscle tone and posture, aid in losing weight, reduce stress and even help in getting ready for childbirth. All these health benefits make many people want to learn to belly dance. But what if you cannot find a class or a teacher to instruct you?

Learn To Belly Dance Without a Teacher

You can actually learn to belly dance on your own at the comfort of your own home using instructional materials, such as an instructional video which you can watch on YouTube or buy online.

Materials Needed To Learn To Belly Dance

You will also need to secure other necessary study aids, such as the appropriate music, to help you get started. Wearing a “costume” may also be a source of inspiration. You do not have to buy the real belly dancing outfit just yet. Just wear what is comfortable for active exercise, and improvise from there. You can probably tuck the hem of your shirt up under your bra to reveal your midriff.

Getting Ready to Learn To Belly Dance

Learning on your own and at home may be convenient and economical, however, it also has its share of disadvantages, such as distractions, temptation to shorten or skip a learning session or even abandoning the entire program. So as you prepare to learn the sensual dance, make it a point to stay away from distractions and make a commitment to practice an hour daily and complete the learning experience by setting realistic goals.

Steps in a Learn To Belly Dance Session

Warm up. As with any exercise, start with warm up to loosen muscles as well as to psych yourself up for the dance, helping your mind to focus on the activity and clear it of other concerns.

Review past moves you have learned. Assuming that it is not your first time to learn to belly dance, take time to review the moves you have learned the previous sessions so that you do not forget them when you learn new moves, but rather incorporate all the moves you have studied so far.

Learn and incorporate new moves. Make it a point to prepare new material every session. Invest time in learning all the details about the new move. Replay the video if you have to to check whether or not you missed an important point.

Practice and incorporate new moves with the old ones. Master the new move and meld it with the other moves. Dance the entire dance using all the moves that you have assimilated.

Cool down. Just as you started with warm up, it is recommended to end with cooling down to help your body transition back to inactivity. Shift gears from fast music to slow, sensual music. Take the time to stretch your lower back after every session.

Take Notes. To retain all that you have learned, make notes which you can use as reference should you forget some moves or details. Also, if you do not have ample time to practice all the moves, you can just read your notes and visualize the moves so that you will not forget them.

With the ample resources for learning available plus discipline and motivation, you can conveniently learn to belly dance at home if you don’t have a teacher nearby.

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Learn the Thriller Dance – Where to Learn and How to Master It

By Clarissa Leave a Comment
Learn the Thriller Dance

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Michael Jackson’s popularity is undeniable. Even years after his death, a lot are still clamoring for his songs, dances and stage performances. People loved him, and it is still evident until now as his iconic dance steps from his song Smooth Criminal, Beat It and Black or White are still in demand in most dance floors and party halls. However, Michael Jackson put one dance routine in the spotlight of fame, and many people hope to do this – learn the Thriller dance.

Because children, young adults and elders can still remember this dance, it is still pretty much in demand now.  Since MJ’s songs are still popular in this generation, the song gets played at schools and company events making it so that a lot of people still want learn the proper way to do the steps.

Where to Learn the Thriller Dance

Want to learn the Thriller dance that caught the interest and attention of many? Then there are a lot of ways you can do that. One of the options and might be the most popular one is to learn it through tutorial DVD. Usually, these DVDs are choreographed and created by expert dancers who teach dance for a living. To learn the Thriller dance from a DVD will require focus and determination as no one will be there next to you telling you that you are doing it incorrectly. And no one will be there to tell you the right way to do it, so it will be up to you to study and practice!

For some who think that they are more adept and they can easily learn without spending money on DVDs, then you can get a video from YouTube and follow it. The disadvantage of watching through online video streaming sites is that these videos could have been made by anyone, so you might be learning from an amateur who really does not know about the dance.

The Best Way for a Group to Learn the Thriller Dance

If you are very serious that you want to learn the Thriller dance, or you and your group are doing it for a prize or fee, then getting the help of a dance instructor is advisable. Some groups who enter company competitions hire someone so that they learn the thriller dance the right way. They get on-the-spot advice when they are doing something wrong and they make quick changes. This is great for large groups as you can divide the instructor’s fee among yourselves and still get a quality lesson.

Excelling is to Learn The Thriller Dance More Than One Way

You can always combine two methods to learn the Thriller dance. For example, you can hire an instructor or join in a dance studio and you can still practice and learn the Thriller dance with a DVD at home. Just remember, dancing takes practice, and no matter how familiar you are with the dance from seeing all those music videos, mastering the steps is what will allow you to perform excellently.

Like all dances that require careful studying and serious attitude, you will only learn it if you are willing and dedicated and put in the work.

You must learn the Thriller dance not only with your mind and body, but also because it’s FUN – you have to enjoy something to truly learn it well!

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Where to Learn to Dance Online

By Clarissa Leave a Comment

Learn to Dance Online : An Alternative

Since dancing is an action-based activity, it is still best to learn it with a live teacher who can easily correct your mistakes and give you feedback. However, for those who do not have the time and the budget to hire a professional dance instructor, technology paved the way for them as they can now learn to dance online.

Methods to Learn to Dance Online

There are different ways to learn to dance online. There are online classes, in which you can communicate with the instructor through an online chat facility, you may even follow your instructor while he is dancing. The other option is for you to just watch video from video streaming sites, the only issue with this is that you won’t really know if the person you’re watching is a professional that is doing something right, or someone who posted something they made up in their basement. Instructional DVDs and tapes are also available in a lot of websites.

Dance

Learn to dance online

Different ways of learning to dance online may also be classified into free or paid. If you have some money to spend, you can sign up with an online class that offers monthly subscription. You can also choose to purchase products from sites such as Amazon and Netflix. Meanwhile if developing your dancing skills is not in your budget, you can just go to video streaming sites like Youtube, type in the keyword of the  dance you want to learn and then look for the one you find interesting.

Technical Requirements to Learn to Dance Online

You may now be asking what are the things you need to have in order to learn to dance online. Well, this would of course depend on what you choose. If the option you want to take is the free ones from streaming sites, then a reliable Internet connection is needed. You must also know how to navigate the website, which is not difficult because almost everyone knows how to browse the net. Meanwhile, if you just bought a CD online, then you must have a media player on your computer.

Websites That Offer Free Learn to Dance Online Products

Again, there are two options you can take. Paid and free, this list though includes the free ones. This list will give you some idea on what the sites offer.

Dance TV Ballroom. This website offers free dance classics for those who want to learn to dance online and choose to concentrate on ballroom dancing. There are written instructions on this site as well as steps with drawings so you can easily follow it.

The Dance Store Learning Center. Offers free online videos for beginners.

About.com Dance Steps. This site offers lessons in a wide range of dance style. They have photo galleries that demonstrate steps in each lesson which will help you get a visual on what position and steps you need to take.

Want to Learn to Dance Online: Desire is the Key

There are more websites to choose from, you can find a lot of options. All kinds of dance can be searched just by typing in names of dances on your favorite search engine. Even if you cannot afford to hire an instructor, just as long as you are determined and serious that you want to learn to dance online, then you can do so, and easily at that. What you just need to make sure is that you have the desire to continuously learn and that you have the patience.

To learn to dance online, you must be dedicated and willing to try, try again.  Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get it right away, and remember, there are local dance instructors that can help out if you get really stuck!

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Things You Can Do to Start Learning to Dance

By Clarissa Leave a Comment
Learning to Dance

Image by RAW.hu via Flickr

If you’ve been to a wedding or a company event, you have probably danced at least once in your life. That dance may have been uncomfortable and awkward, but you were out there anyway. You might have felt coerced by friends or family and one thing is for certain…  learning to dance before that moment would have made you much more comfortable!

Learning to Dance The First Time

For many  people, especially those who thought that they were born with “two left feet”, their dance memories are negative. It could be that they missed a step, they felt and looked awkward, or worse, someone laughed while they were dancing. If this is you and you don’t want it to happen again, then learning to dance is what you need to replace those ‘bad memories’ with new, great ones.

Steps in Learning to Dance Properly

The first step in learning to dance beautifully is to find that perfect method to study. Would you be comfortable in learning with a private dance instructor? Or would you be okay with learning with a class? Or maybe you just want to learn dancing in private with just a DVD or dance instructional tape? The choice is up to you, but usually, people who are serious about dancing choose the first two options.

One first step that you could take is to watch and learn from other dancers. This way, you can study how they move, from body posture to the steps that they do. This is a difficult way to learn … but a good way to get inspired to takes some dance lessons.

Another thing to do is to stretch and exercise. Improving your body’s flexibility will definitely help you in learning to dance. In addition, it is important that you wear proper attire for dancing. The most important element: a good pair of shoes is a must when you’re learning to dance. A proper shoe will allow you to move fluidly on the dance floor instead of getting stuck with each step.

One last essential tip: smile … even while you’re first learning to dance. It releases endorphins which not only make you feel good but actually help you in the learning process. Learning anything new can be a struggle from time to time, and smiling keeps your body relaxed making the whole experience more productive and enjoyable!

Learning To Dance and Have a Happy Memory

The key to dancing is not knowing the steps. It is just the first part of dancing. The real key in learning to dance is to practice, practice, practice. As  you become more confident, look for other styles that will improve you technique and build on what you already know.

With a few lessons, you will be well on your way to replacing old, ‘bad’ memories, with those new good ones!  Learning to dance is almost as easy as a google search – once you do the search, make sure you follow through with a phone call, and a trip to your local dance studio!

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Learn to Ballroom Dance in Different Ways

By Clarissa Leave a Comment
Learn to Ballroom Dance

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Dancing is really a great way to express yourself. Through this art form, you can show others that you are happy, sad and even in love. But what is the best dance to express your love to another person? It is no other than ballroom dancing.

To learn to ballroom dance, especially with the person you love,  adds great depth and communication between and you and your partner.

The Rise of Interest to Learn to Ballroom Dance

Ballroom dancing is a kind of dance that involves two people. It’s long been common as a form of social dancing and it  is now becoming a popular sport with ‘dancesport’ (Ballroom Dancing competitions) being held in different countries. Because of this, a number of people aspire to learn to ballroom dance in order to gain recognition as being a ballroom dance champion.

If you are interested to learn to ballroom dance, you will discover that it is not difficult at all because even if you have to learn different kinds of dances, most have shared elements and patterns. Once you’ve learned how to dance one dance style, it’s very easy for you to learn the others.

Learn to Ballroom Dance: Learn the Different Styles First

To get an idea on how you can learn to ballroom dance, you must know the different styles that are available so you can get the drift and you’d be able to decide where to start and what might be your forte.

One of the first dance we imagine when we think of ballroom dancing styles is waltz. Social gatherings such as weddings and debut parties are often portrayed as having this kind of dance done by the newly-wed or celebrants. This is not what is really done, and Waltz is still a great first dance to learn since the most basic step of waltz is the box step, which is also the basic step of Rumba and used in Foxtrot.

Many people who are starting to learn to ballroom dance start with swing dancing. It is fairly easy and very practical.  It begins with a 6 count step and can be done to a wide variety of music. Another crowd favorite is the cha-cha, which has a catchy rhythm and fiery reputation.  It’s not the easiest of the ballroom dances to learn, but it you have the desire, you’ll get it!

There are many other types of ballroom dances including:  salsa, a Latin American dance; tango, the dance of passion; Rumba another simple Latin dance; Samba a Brazilian dance; and Jive an energetic dance – to name just a few.

Resources to Learn to Ballroom Dance

For those interested to learn the different styles of ballroom dancing, you can join a dance club. There are clubs that specialize in one of the dancing styles while there are also others that include all of them. Usually, for a minimal fee, you get a basic lesson followed by a DJed dance so you can dance the night away.

If a basic group lesson won’t give you the confidence to dance all night (as is the case for most people), head to a local dance studio where you can take ongoing class or work with a private instructor. This is best way to learn because the instructor is focused on you and making sure you are a confident dancer.

For some, buying a DVD or instructional video can help them tremendously.  It allows you to practice with a friend, a partner or even on your own. It’s best to use this to review or augment what you are learning in a class or from your instructor.  Just be sure to practice  so that you can gain your confidence and head out to dance in public.

Learn to Ballroom Dance by Putting Your Heart Into It

There is nothing that can stop you from learning ballroom dancing. You can find a lot of resources, especially with the technology now.

It does not matter which method you choose, what matters is that you put your heart into it and for sure you will learn to ballroom dance in no time.

 

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