Recently I saw an advertisement for a ladies styling class at a local school. The ad promised a bunch of skills to be acquired in a 5 week course, including posture, balance, foot placement – all good things! But what caught my eye was the promise of hand and finger styling. FINGER styling?? Over the years of teaching I have… Read more →
One of the most common problems dance students face is lack of practice between classes. Ironically, those who spend more hours in the classroom are actually more likely to practice at home than those who keep class to minimum (even with the good intentions of revising material in their own time). But whether you are an experienced dance or a… Read more →
As dancers, investing in ourselves should a priority. After all, our body is our instrument. Often the short term effects of what we do to ourselves go easily unnoticed, so we keep pushing the boundaries. But in reality, the bad habits catch on and catch up with us in the end. So here are a few thoughts on investing into… Read more →
As a follower, I always find massive variation between leaders when it comes to the ‘strength’ of their lead. Since we are meant to respond to the lead lightly and efficiently, it is helpful for guys to understand what is expected from them. When you start your dance, your partner will sense from your first touch how you will treat… Read more →
Too often people say to me, “But I don’t have a partner, I can’t practice at home.” Actually you can! In fact, practicing on your own can actually be a blessing in disguise, as it can strengthen your ability to ‘sense’ the connection with your partner. So to put your mind at rest and get your Salsa feet working, I’ll… Read more →
I am on the dance floor. It’s been a long day, and I can finally let my hair down! All excited, I start to relax and follow my leader’s ‘conversation’. Only, a few moments in he has a strange look on his face! What’s going on? Nothing out of the ordinary, I have seen this move before… Then he tries… Read more →
In our next Mambo course we’ll be doing Cha Cha shines instead of Mambo shines. For something different ~ to challenge the timing ~ to have some well-deserved fun! So why do we need Cha Cha? Well, firstly, Cha Cha Cha is super cool! It is directly related to Salsa through its underlying percussion rhythms. (If you… Read more →
Learning choreography can be an immensely satisfying experience. Every time I learn a new routine, it challenges my dance memory, my ability to concentrate and pay attention, and my capabilities to not get lost when I’m getting lost! Learning a routine is hard. Yes, it fits the music, and you can learn the combinations. But the ball game changes when… Read more →
Presenting a NEW EXCITING ROUTINE for experienced dancers who love pushing themselves and working hard! If that is you – contact me regarding enrolments. You’ll be part of a fun and supportive team. This is a PARTNERED choreography that will cater for uneven ratios. (Please note: Minimum level requirements will apply.) The team will have the opportunity to perform at… Read more →
The biggest challenge facing linear Salsa dancers is that conversion to On2 actually feels much like learning a brand new style. As you do familiar moves, they are fitted into a new timing pattern; everything feels back to front, leaving you constantly coming out of them on the wrong timing! That is your body saying, “I want to do it… Read more →