Dance Steps Blog

I’ve forgotten the songs they used during the actual competition (the final dance) in Step Up and also the one the 410 and the MSA group used resp. in The Streets.
Thanks for answering =)

Money in the Bank-swizz beatz

Bounce-Timbaland

The Way I Are-Timbaland

Get Down [Busta Rhymes]
Midnight [Pitbull]
The Way I Are [Timbaland Feat. Keri Hilson]
We All Want the Same Thing [Kevin Michael]
Whenever There is You [Koop]
The Clapping Song (Clap Pat Clap Slap) [Shirley Ellis]
Bring Me Flowers [Hope Shorter]
Lights Off [Trick Daddy]
Bounce [Timbaland Feat. Missy Elliot, Dr. Dre, and Justin TImberlake]
Independent [Webbie Feat. Boosie]
No Te Veo (Remix) [Casa de Leones]
Everything I Can’t Have [Robin Thicke]
The Humpty Dance [Digital Underground]
Haterz Everywhere [B.o.B & Wes Fif]
Mmm… [Laura Izibor]
Work It [Pretty Ricky]
33. Money in the Bank [Swizz Beatz]
34. I’m a G [Yung Joc]
35. The Potion [Ludacris]
36. Slide N Crank [Kwame B. Holland]

Toddlers are notoriously difficult to buy for, especially little girls. If you have a toddler girl, you know that the most difficult part of finding a toy for your child is finding one that is age appropriate without being too babyish or too over her head. So to help you along the way, we have composed a list of our favorite toys that are the perfect mix of big kid imagination and little kid sensibility. You’re sure to find something for your little princess . . .

1.      Mrs. Goodbee Interactive Dollhouse

The Mrs. Goodbee Talking Dollhouse is imaginative and offers great curricular fun. This dollhouse is interactive, and is able to nurture and even encourage good positive behavior through playing with it each day. It allows your little one to learn as she grows . . . without even knowing it! The toy comes with over 400 different sounds, activities, songs and words.

2.      Fisher Price Kid Tough Digital Camera

Fret no more over hiding your camera out of tiny hands reach, when she gets her hands on this tough stuff camera she will be on the move and away from Mommy’s pricier version in no time flat. As the first preschool appropriate camera, the camera has easy-to-use format and simple buttons that even the youngest in your family can enjoy shooting and sharing pictures.

3.      Little Mommy Baby Knows Dolls

Ideal for the little princess in your family, the Baby Knows doll is just the gift for learning fun and pretend play. This baby knows all her ABCs and she wants to share it with your little one. She comes in a petite pink and blue outfit with blonde hair and pink bow and loves particularly to play guessing games.

4.      This is Serious Ming Ming

Straight from their TV flies their favorite super duck, This Is Serious Ming Ming the Duckling, to save the day! When her phone gives a ring, she answers with her best super pose and begins to dance and sing her famed song “This is Serious” in that delightfully, cute voice even we parents have come to know and adore. She will show the kids some of her adventures and even teach them her cute dance steps.

5.      Crayola Color Wonder Magic Light Brush

With Crayola’s Color Wonder Magic Light Brush, art time just got to be more fun . . . and much less messy. When your little Rembrandt simply dip the brush, the lighted tip will change color with each hue for a masterpiece which will only show up on the special Color Wonder paper, sparing Mommy’s prized white carpet! 

From dolls to art sets and many others in between, the best way to choose a Christmas gift for your toddler is by their age range. While an Easy Bake oven may be the first choice on their Christmas wish list, they may be quite frustrated when they are not permitted to bake by themselves. When you cannot simply say no to that sweet, innocent and adorable face . . . you can offer a simple compromise by letting your child assist in decorating the Christmas cookies for your Christmas party or buying a “cooking” play dough set that is more appropriate for her age.

For more great gift ideas for everyone on your nice list, visit us at http://www.gift-ideas-for-christmas.net , your one stop shop for all things holiday.

Paul Pang
http://www.articlesbase.com/gifts-articles/top-five-mommy-approved-christmas-toys-for-toddler-girls-680559.html

What was the answer that popped up in your mind when you read the title of this piece? was it aligned with the aforementioned negative re-curring anti-progression responses or was it a deep sigh embedded in a few minutes of silent thoughtful projection in to the future .You travelled through time and space, saw the possibility of dealing with the odds that have stood daringly in the face of the Industry’s advancement, and the injection of large doses of entertainment based, tested and proven multi progression vitamins formulae, discovered from product of years of research in to the Industry, then you declare that it’s possible !.

Whichever of the schools of thought you opt for, the truth still remains that Nollywood certainly has a lot of catching up to do in terms of  “quality” and not quantity productions.  Does Nollywood have a dream of soaring  its flag above others, putting Africa in the forefront of movie productions in the world? It is however vital, imperative, germane to understand why Hollywood and Bollywood have a great edge over  Nollywood.

It is on record that the first feature film under the Hollywood ambit was made in 1914 titled the “Squaw man”, ironically the significant year in the annals of our historical sojourn when the Northern and southern protectorates were amalgamated by Lord Lugard to birth the great nation “Nigeria”.

Over the years Hollywood has metamorphosed into a Multi billion dollar industry, arising mainly from well defined “functioning” structures on ground. The genres of movies on offer have blossomed from the usual stereotyped classes to an infusion of more liberal ones such as action, comedy, romance, thriller, sci-fiction, violence, adventure, crime, suspense, drama, family, musical, horror, fantasy, animation, mystery, film-noir. There’s certainly something for everyone, even children can indulge themselves in beautifully scripted and well executed animation flicks, re-living the numerous fairy tales that were once held bound within the pages of story books. Talking animals in flicks, a product of creativity e.g Cats and Dogs, Racing Stripes, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe, have given viewers a memorable viewing experience.

Big players in the Industry own  studios with ‘back lot’ where movies are also shot, and use the synergies springing from their ownership of certain print and electronic media to consolidate on  their financial gains. Theatrical releases are considered sacred and apt, first en route to a box office hit with constant trailers having been regularly aired prior to the opening, with over 30,000 screens owned by functional theatre chains spread across USA.  Movie goers eager to see the hyped movies throng to the theatres to quench their movie thirst. The action translates in to millions of dollars for the movie makers, and also thanks to the well structured movie distribution system that ensures the legally hitch free access to these flicks.

The movies are also viewed in other continents, distributed to English speaking countries, dubbed with voice over by actors in the non-English speaking countries or simply subtitled.  Access to these movies for one’s viewing pleasure at home, months after the theatrical experience, comes through the purchase of DVDs, renting of same, and the legal broadcast of the movie on TV stations. Low budget movies are not left out of the picture as the DVDs are directly released to the public after production. Financial empowerment for making high budget films is sourced from banks, companies and wealthy investors who rely majorly on the track record of the producers, directors and cast, especially the popularity of those saddled with the responsibility of taking the lead roles.

Perhaps, what Hollywood has going for it, is the blend of spiced up advanced technology with a well crafted story, great cast resulting in A- rated quality movies. The modern high powered use of  “CGI” (computer generated imagery to create unimaginable superior special effects), visual effects, lovely cinematography, unbelievable stunts and scenes, use of 3D technology, clear audio void of sound interference and high quality output have certainly placed them well ahead of the pack. Top rated actors are highly paid  and smile to the banks with millions of dollars. The presence of the various well structured organizations on ground such as Writers Guild of America, Motion Pictures Editors Guild, Motion Picture Producers and Distribution of America, Motion Picture Sound Editors, Motion Picture Photographers Association, National Organization of Theatre Owners, America Cinema Editors, America Society of Cinematographers, Casting Society of America, Directors Guild of America, Producers Guild of America, have aided their dominance, and fostered unity amongst members of the same team.

It can take months, and even years, for proper planning, finance sourcing, and all the pre to post production stages of film production to be well executed, especially with the looming consequences that could befall a shambolic production. Hollywood doesn’t shoot movies in twelve days or less like their Nollywood counterpart.

The first movie in India was shown on July 7th 1896, but its Industry was birthed on May 3rd 1913, with “Raji Harischandra” , a silent feature film by Dadasaheb Phalke. Alam Ara broke the silent movie jinx in 1931 and with legends such as Dharmendra Singh Deol, Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini and a crop of fine actors including Jeetendra, the 60’s -80’s witnessed hits which reigned  such as Sholay, Amar Akbar Anthony, Johnny Mera Naam, Seta Aur Geeta, The Burning Train, Bobby, Kabhi Kabhi, Dharamveer, amongst others. They currently operate in the shadows of Hollywood in Nigeria.

Bollywood’s popularity has continued to soar higher, opening new market and doors of opportunities for it, which has translated into better quality productions causing a break from the usual stereo typed marriage norm stories, and boasting of good cinematography. Besides, the opening up of more Theatres in their country has enabled Box office hits to be recorded. A blend of Western dance styles with tech beats have been  infused in to their dance and millions of dollars (not rupee) are spent in making high budget films sourced from large studios and private distributors.

The realization and drive to be at par with their Hollywood counterpart in terms of special effects have seen experts in the requisite field from the USA being hired to actualize such, which has helped in opening up a wider range of genre of movies to be made. Shooting in other parts of the world such as Europe and other areas seems to be a norm making waves amongst the movie makers there, especially with the Box office hits recorded from shooting movies in that terrain.

Nollywood’s story is not unfamiliar to the Nigerian people, having sprouted its shoots in 1992, with the acclaimed movie “Living in Bondage”. However we ought not to forget that Nigerian films shot on celluloid had been in existence prior to this period. In an article i wrote titled “Nollywood: Origin and Unresolved problems”, i painstakingly gave a detailed account of how the Nigerian movie industry evolved from the Colonial era, through the “Golden years” into the Nollywood era and the many problems plaguing the Industry.

Financial and distribution problems, re-cycling of old faces, watershed plots, simulacrum of Hollywood movies, low audio and visual quality production, banal stories, high predictability rates, ear sore sound tracks, narrow genre of movies to choose from, and the conspicuous absence of grand special and visual effects, piracy, are some of the problems the Industry has been battling with to overcome.

A lot has to be done to restore the confidence of Nigerians in the Industry. We could go on and on, whine and complain about the set backs, inadequacies the industry faces, though solutions have been proffered by stakeholders and friends of Nollywood time and again. The question still remains whether practical steps have been taken to implement the well thought out strategies that would rectify the problems, fill the lacuna and set Nollywood on the right path to Glory ?

Nollywood still maintains a large percentage of their shibbolethian ideologies and has sailed on the High seas for too long, constantly being attacked by unrelenting pirates now and again. It’s time the Industry puts its house in order, disposes of prosaic movies and alters its course ably guided by the compass of cutting edge technology. There are new heights to attain, so Nollywood where do you stand?

So long… auggiepo@yahoo.com

Augusta okon

For most of us gamers, staying active is a distraction from the real important task – gaming. It can be really hard to motivate yourself to put down that controller and get moving. That’s why I’ve come up with 4 ways to add a dash of fitness to your gaming routine. Keep reading to learn how.

1. Opt for an “active” game. Almost every gaming console offers some type of active game – whether it’s wailing on a virtual guitar, following a series of intricate dance steps in a dance revolution, playing tennis with an imaginary racket, or singing your heart out at karaoke. So, if you’re looking to add a mini-workout to your gaming time, pick a game that’s going to get you out of the chair and moving.

2. Add some weights. Donning a pair of wrist weights before your next gaming marathon will build muscle, increase calorie burn, create resistance and, basically, pump you up. No, you’re not going to become a body builder, but you will see some definite tone and remember, muscle increases your sedentary calorie burn. So, the more muscle you build, the more fat you burn – even when you’re just sitting around.

3. Stand up. Alternate standing up and sitting down while you play. Beat a level? Play the next one standing up. While doing this, you’ll work different muscles, give your back a much needed break and, most importantly, get your butt out of that chair.

4. Nix the snacks. Banning snacks from your game area is probably the fastest and best way to shed a few pounds. Leave the soda, chips, and candy at the door and you’ll see miracles happen. Admittedly, this tactic may not be “fun” or “easy,” but it is a surefire way to ‘lighten your load.’ If you’re hung up on a snack habit, try replacing your fatty chips and sugary pop with plain popcorn and water or juice. Not only will you feel better, but you’ll also have more gaming energy.

5. Stretch It Out. Use level breaks and game loading times to do a little bit of stretching or squeeze in a mini-workout. After winning a race, take a second to stand up and move your legs and arms around. Shake it all out, get the blood moving, and you’ll feel a lot better. Also take that time to stretch out your arms and neck – which can both get very sore and cramped after a long gaming session. My favorite stretch is a ‘palm stretch’ – put your hands together (palm-to-palm) then turn them under so the inside of your wrists are about 15 cm below your chin. You’ll feel a nice stretch through your hands, wrists, and forearms.

These strategies aren’t going to turn you into a fitness nut and they’re not going to transform your body from flab to fab in just two weeks, but they will get your blood pumping and they will inject some much needed activity into your gaming lifestyle.

Gabriel Adams
http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/maintaining-a-healthy-body-and-a-healthy-gaming-addiction-259273.html

Many families take vacations during the holidays, but travel isn’t necessary for you and your family to enjoy a “holiday of a lifetime.” However, since interests range so widely among different people, we will break this article in half and give you six top tips for a holiday vacation, and six top tips for general holiday wonderfulness!

Since the first set of tips does involve some cost (perhaps a great deal), the tips will focus on getting the highest value for the money, which is a bit different than just trying to spend the least amount of money. For penny-pinchers, of course, these tips will serve as pointers to money-saving deals and ideas. There is a lot to be learned about traveling on a budget, by everyone, regardless of what you want to spend.

The other “general” holiday tips will concentrate on bringing the family together, as opposed to spending money and not getting involved in any more than wrapping a present. The holidays are for kids and families, first of all, so there will be some ideas on how to have fun and enjoy other. Since most people get to the end of their lives and wish they’d spent more time with family, following some of these general, family-oriented tips truly could be a life-changing experience.

Vacation and travel tips

Here are the best six tips for setting up a holiday vacation of a lifetime:

Stop searching and be found – The advent of RSS (Real Simple Syndication) news feeds means that news, information and web resources will be sent to you by subscription. When you find a great source for tickets, lodging or vacation packages, look for the small, orange, square button in your browser toolbar, or search the site for “RSS,” then click and set up your “feed.” In Internet Explorer, your feeds can be found in your IE favorites area.

Let your email help – These same sites may also send regular newsletter or sales announcements by email, and sites without RSS will normally offer this service. Subscribe to some good, reputable sites and the information will be delivered to you daily, weekly or (sometimes) on a schedule of your choosing.

Comparison shopping – There are various sites, like traveljungle.com or travelsupermarket.com, where you can compare offerings from travel agencies and brokers from around the world. That holiday vacation of a lifetime just might be part of a package deal that you will find this way.

Forget the hotel bill – The less you spend on accommodations, the more you can spend skiing or sailing or trekking around the island of Malta. If “home exchange” sounds like a strange concept to you, do some Googling and you will discover that it is a low-cost way for travelers to trade their house in New Jersey for a small villa in Spain. Homes can even come with a car, or household help, as part of a package deal, so check on this option carefully at such websites as Digsville. This site, like similar ones, has listings around the world. A beachfront bungalow in the South Pacific, a ranch home in the wilds of Australia or an apartment in central Tokyo can be yours with the right trade, the right timing and the right arrangements.

Skip the driving – If you’re going to vacation in a big city, you can probably have a great time without a car. Driving a car overseas can be stressful and public transportation, bikes and taxis are all possible replacements. This is also a good way to “go native” and see how the locals really live day to day.

Discount dining – If your vacation trip will be a few weeks or more, consider preparing some of your own meals. You can save a good deal of money since eating out three times a day can add up quickly. Shopping at local markets and food stores is also a fabulous way to learn the language, interact with the local culture and meet the “real people” of the country, instead of the country’s tourism professionals.

Family holiday tips

There are more ways to create a memorable holiday season than traveling. Staying home and enjoying family is always a popular holiday plan. Here are some interesting tips on creating a holiday to remember.

Create gift certificates – You can make your own gift certificates to give people what they really want, or really need. Try giving a coworker a certificate for a home-cooked meal, or gift certificate of babysitting so a friend or family member can enjoy a day or night off. For children, you can make gift cards for family bike rides, board game tournaments or breakfast in bed. Not only are these gifts cost-effective, they promote the bonds of friendship, and isn’t that a great gift?

Turn on the tunes – After a holiday dinner, you can work off some of the pumpkin pie by dancing as a group, playing musical chairs or having “the youngsters” show the “old timers” all the new dance steps. Conversely, parents can teach their children the dance steps that were popular in “the old days.”

Energetic kid stuff – You can design a family “obstacle course” in the back yard that could include hula hoops, calisthenics, jumping jacks and other activities. No one has to compete with anyone else, it can just be for fun – as well as some great photo opportunities.

Walk together for a good cause – Find a charity walk-a-thon to join together, as a couple, a family or even in a neighborhood contingent. If you find an event a few months into the New Year, it can help participants stay motivated on their New Year’s Resolutions.

Healthy cooking feast – Get the family and/or a group of friends together for a healthy holiday meal, where everyone can participate in making the holiday feast. You can enjoy a party atmosphere while learning healthy new recipes for the New Year.

Stories, new and old – Sit together around a fireplace, or the after-dinner table, and have everyone tell a personal story with a holiday theme. Even better, talk about the stories that you are creating that very day, and imagine how it will be 10 or 15 years hence to talk about this particular night.

It’s all about people

The holidays do not have to be an over-commercialized nightmare of buying, wrapping, giving and getting presents. Not all gifts come in packages, and people of all ages can stand to learn this lesson again, even if for the 100th time: Holidays are about people, the people you live with, love and would miss if they moved (or passed) away.

Be grateful for family, friends and community during the holidays. Whether you travel to the Bahamas, or no farther than your living room, what matters is being grateful for the time together and using it to best advantage. Be slow to anger, quick to forgive and ready to do a kindness, and your holidays will be special whether you have a dollar or a million of them. Remember what is truly valuable, and you will keep things in their proper perspective.

Ben Jackson
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/12-top-tips-to-planning-your-holiday-of-a-lifetime-732397.html

As the story goes, we men despise shopping and even worse, we usually aren’t that good at it. If this sounds familiar, don’t worry. Simply sit back, relax and read over our top five gift ideas that are sure to please the special someone on your list.

1.      Amira’s Belly Dance 101 DVD for Beginners

Give the gift of fun this year with Amira’s Belly Dance 101. Perfect for the outgoing adventurer or for that friend who needs a little help climbing out of her shell. Make this gift extra special with a hip scarf she can tie on to any outfit for dancing on the go. The DVD is a perfect gift for a woman of any age, shape or size to allow her to radiate her feminine beauty. Belly dancing is an effective exercise for losing weight and toning the body, as well as creating a better self-image and enhancing self-esteem.

2.      Large Vicky Giraffe Print Faux Leather Purse

Finally form and function come together in this fashionable, animal friendly tote. She is sure to love the funky yet sophisticated print and carry it on all her wild adventures. With its top zip closure, silver-tone hardware, interior zip pocket as well as cell phone and sunglasses pockets, it is the best selling handbag for 2008.

3.      Viva La Juicy Holiday Fragrance Set

The perfect gift for anyone on your nice list, this gift set comes packaged beautifully, ready for giving. All you need to add is a pretty bow for instant holiday glamour anywhere she goes.  Viva La Juicy lets her flaunt her flirty, feminine charm with its right touch of tantalizing, teasing and tempting sweetness.

4.      Fumblin Foe Sequin Tank Dress

Wow her with this glamorous cocktail dress perfect for a special date night. Make it          funky with a pair of tall black boots or keep it sophisticated with a pair of simple, strappy      stilettos. She can wear this look so many ways!

5.      Regions of Italy Charm Bracelet

Charm her silly with this Regions of Italy art form charm bracelet. While the price is a little steep, it’s a gift that will keep on giving, making this piece the perfect heirloom to pass down to her own daughter someday. If you cannot afford this particular gift, go for a less pricy version or create your own with charms that are meaningful to her life such as a music note for her love of classical piano or a kitten for her favorite pet Fluffy.

When shopping for a gift, remember to keep the recipient in mind. Try to step into her shoes and look at items from her perspective. Does the gift look like something she would wear or buy for herself? Most of all choose to shop when you are in the mood for shopping. If you just can’t get in the mood to head out to the crowded malls, shop from home and visit us at www.gift-ideas-for-christmas.net , your one stop shop for everyone on your nice list.

Paul Pang
http://www.articlesbase.com/gifts-articles/the-top-five-gift-ideas-for-women-680701.html

If you want an exercise that will keep you in shape and that is good for your heart as well, consider tap dancing. The beauty of tap dancing is that the basic steps are easy to learn and you can add your own flair and touches to make it fun for you. Just 20 minutes of tap dancing three times per week is enough to improve your health and get you back into shape.

The first thing that you need for tap dancing is, of course, tap shoes. You can find tap shoes online or at a local dance store. Tap shoes have metal on the toes and heels that make a “tapping” sound when ever you stomp on them. You can also make your own tap shoes. You can basically use any shoe that you want to use from a dance shoe to boots. Once you have chosen your shoe, you can buy taps and put them on the bottom of your shoe. Before you put your taps in place permanently, make sure that they are on the correct place on your shoe as shoes have different soles and shapes.

You can learn tap dancing by taking a class or by teaching yourself with a video. Tap classes are available for all ages from toddlers to senior citizens. There are different types of classes as well. Some use jazz, others use big band type music and one of the most popular tap classes around now uses tapping with hip hop music. If you choose to learn to tap on your own, research videos before purchasing one. Read reviews and make sure that it is for beginners and also has the kind of music you like. The more a video is geared towards the type of music and exercise you want, the more likely you are to use it.

You need to use a solid surface for tap dancing. Taps can scratch hard wood floors, so you might want to purchase a sold surface to use when tapping. You can actually purchase hard “mats” for practicing your tap.

The more you use your arms, the better the cardiovascular workout. Be sure to do slow tapping at the beginning of your workout to warm-up and slow tapping at the end to cool down. The best way to strain muscles and injure yourself is to jump right into tapping without stretching or warming up. Tapping is excellent for coordination and balance as well. You can learn to tap on one foot or tap your feet alternately with your hands.

Tap dancing is a traditional dance that can be made contemporary by using popular music and more modern steps. It is a fun thing to do by yourself or to learn with a partner. A great cardiovascular workout and great way to keep in shape, tapping might be the perfect exercise option for you.

Tim Shank
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/tap-dancing-is-a-good-cardiovascular-exercise-35318.html

Music provides a beautiful, emotional element to your wedding and reception. Moreover, the music and songs you select will also help make your wedding uniquely your own. Here are some tips on how to enhance the different phases of your wedding with music.

You’ll most likely choose two different types of music for your ceremony and reception – softer, romantic music to be played or sung before, during, and after the ceremony, and entertaining or dancing music for the reception. In some cases, the same musicians are able to provide both. As an alternative, you might choose to have the church organist or soloist, or one set of musicians for the ceremony, and a band or entertaining DJ for your reception.

Should you wish to have music playing before the ceremony, instrumentals can establish an atmosphere for your guests and may include mood-setting pieces that your early-to-arrive guests can enjoy as they wait for the show to begin. For example, in traditional Jewish ceremonies, it is common to have a pre-ceremony reception or cocktail hour during which the bride and groom have separate chambers in which to greet guests, in addition to a common area where hors d’oeuvres and drinks are served. It is festive to have musicians and possibly a singer in the common area at this time to “warm up” the guests with some soft or lively music. Even chamber music wouldn’t be out of place.

For the ceremony, be sure to check with your site coordinator or officiant regarding any restrictions or limitations that might be in place on music selections. Some places of worship limit the music selections to whatever their own organist can play. However, there are numerous other options for your ceremony music, when allowed, including a harpist, violinist, string quartet, trumpeter, saxophonist, classical guitarist, keyboardist, flutist, and vocals or choir.

Your reception music can range from a refined background element during dinner to music for dancing. For example, a string quartet, violin or harp is a polished backdrop for your celebration, while a rock band or twelve-piece orchestra will provide a wider range of lively tunes. If you and your fiancé are strong music aficionados, you may even opt for different groups of musicians or even a DJ alternating with a band that specializes in your favorite style(s) throughout the reception — whether it’s jazz, rap or pop. Your style choices can also reflect your ethnic heritage, such as Latin, Klezmer or Irish step. Remember that good bands and DJs book up early, so you’ll need to start researching your options from nine to 12 months in advance. And, of course, be sure you have the chance to hear them in action before you decide to hire them.

While a live band might seem like the ultimate in wedding reception entertainment, keep in mind that most won’t have the same range of selection that an established DJ will. There will also be “dead air” when the band takes their scheduled breaks, unless you make arrangements for something to be played during that time. If you opt for a DJ, make sure you choose one who is both experienced and fun and can play a variety of songs, from slower traditional to ‘50s to rock and roll to faster contemporary music for dancing.

If you’d like to give guests a performance they’ll always remember, consider staging a humorous dance and/or lip-sync number to a popular tune with your fiancé and perhaps a couple of members of the wedding party. Keep it tasteful — remember, this may show up on your wedding video! But it is your wedding, so it’s OK to have fun and let your hair down a little. And if you and your fiancé have taken dance lessons and are proud of what you can do, go on out there and strut your stuff!

Diana Valentine
http://www.articlesbase.com/weddings-articles/adding-music-to-your-special-day-692568.html

RAFAEL entered the hallway and sank into a chair. We’ve been recording for hours and I’ve never had a session like it, he said. Instead of just sitting down and playing the usual accompaniment, I spent the entire afternoon trying to teach the orchestra how to play mountain music.

That shouldn’t be such a task, I said. You are all expert guitarists, and folk music is so simple.

Simple, yes, but have you ever noticed the beat? It’s that beat that gets anyone who hasn’t been raised in the Peruvian mountains.

Well, yes, I’ve noticed that the folk music of Peru is a bit different, but—well, just what is there about the beat?

After every few bars there’s a bar introduced that gets only a fraction of the normal beat. Now this simply isn’t done in music. Any musician knows that a piece of music has just so many bars and each bar a given number of beats, whether it be two, three, four or even more. But not the Peruvian mountain folk music.

Now, just a minute, I said. I know a little about music and I do know that each bar has to conform to the timing in order to have rhythm. There’s nothing more frustrating than playing or singing a piece of music when each bar is not given full value. Are you telling me that . . .?

That the Peruvian folk music doesn’t give all the bars equal value of beats? Yes. Here, I’ll demonstrate. With that he hummed a tune with which I was familiar, having heard it many times in my four years of teaching in the interior. As he hummed, I noticed that at every fifth bar he stopped short at just half the number of beats. It sounded delightfully normal—for Peruvian music.

Don’t you remember the kind of dances they do to this music? he asked. Here, I’ll refresh your memory. With that Rafael got to his feet, shuffled a few steps while humming the same tune, then stopped short, bringing both feet to a halt in quick succession on the fifth bar, starting in again immediately for the next four bars, only to stop short again on the fifth. How many times I had seen the Indians sing and dance this way! It was fascinating, and so typical. This type of dancing, together with this music—a perfect match.

My mind raced back to the quaint little towns dotting the puna (high, cold, arid plateau) or nestling in the terraced valleys of the Andes. I recalled the scenes of little orchestras at work in the plazas with homemade harps and flutes. Bright, billowing skirts spun into focus revealing sturdy-legged dancers circling opposite their knitted-capped partners. Twirling and stomping to a stop—twirling and stomping to a stop.

Rafael was speaking again. He was explaining that it would be difficult to put this offbeat music into writing, but that nevertheless it was uncomplicated and simple to play. All except the broken bar, that is, for this creates an incredible problem for conventional musicians. Their mental metronome, so to speak, strives to supply the missing beats and equate the rhythm and thus the peculiar offbeat savor of the folkloric music is lost.

Today’s Ancient Inca Music

Peru is divided down its long middle by the high Andes mountain range, keeping communication between the mountain population and that of the coastal strip to a minimum in the centuries before modern transportation facilities. The Inca-inspired mountain music therefore has been preserved in its nearly original state. What seemed a rather curious fact was that, whereas this folk music had failed to infiltrate to any degree into the comparatively nearby coast, it nevertheless penetrated a 2,000-mile length of mountains while undergoing only minor changes from one section to another.

These changes have developed into three regional moods that have come to be recognized today as characteristic music of the northern, central and southern sections of the Peruvian Andes.

To illustrate, if you were a native of the northern mountains, you would like your music gay and lively, and you would be accustomed to dance to it in fast, jumping steps or in marches. You would have grown to love the violin and the locally made harp, the quena (flutelike instrument made of cane), and the guitar strumming its accompanying rhythm.

But, contrariwise, most certainly if the South were your home, you would sway to the melancholy strains of the mandolin and the accordion, rounded out by the twang of the charango and the extra-heavy beat of the big guitarrón as they doled out their sad melodies. Dancing to these mournful ballads, you would be overcome with emotion, tears streaming down your chapped cheeks.

Or if you were raised in the Central Andes region, the land of the saxophones and the clarinets, the harps and the violins, you would delight in the lilting melodies in the popular mood. The distant thumping beat of the cajon (homemade drum) would lure you to the public plaza where you would join hands with the circle of dancers or clap rhythmic accompaniment.

The Offbeat

Although the Indians of the mountains have learned to dance to the waltz that has infiltrated from the coast, the waltz rhythm is practically unknown in the composition of this folk music. The popular two or four beats to the bar is generally phrased into groups of several bars in succession followed by an offbeat bar.

Where the broken bar is interjected varies according to the piece and sometimes varies even within one piece of music. One might, for example, have a piece with the first two bars of four beats each and followed by a bar with just one beat, succeeded immediately by the two bars of four, and then the one beat. This would be repeated throughout the whole piece with scant variation of tune. However, what may be lacking in color and creativity is compensated for by their boundless enthusiasm as they stomp, clap and shout hour after hour to more of the same.

Emotional Outlet

These Indian folk are outwardly unemotional but their music is capable of deep expression and sentiment. One example of this is the slow and melancholy ballads sung at social gatherings to a music called El Triste (the sad one). This is a music for expressing laments and sentimental serenades, and it is the only music where the singer is featured. The soloist, singing in either Spanish or Quechua, is accompanied by a single guitar fingering only the melody. He sings these melancholy tunes with exaggerated sadness, provoking tears of deep emotion in the eyes of all the listeners. It is not uncommon to see little bands of guests grouped around crying freely and unashamedly, a good time being had by all.

Undoubtedly, primitive music is appreciated most by its own natives. But in recent years some orchestral arrangements of this Inca-inspired music have been made for symphony orchestras. Although the offbeat bars have been sacrificed, the prevailing minor tones of the music, played in rich orchestral harmony, are surprisingly beautiful.

Flor Ayag
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/the-offbeat-music-of-peru-745216.html

Stress always goes hand in hand with health. Depending to the stress level of a person, the impact of stress in the body can range from minor sweaty palms right through to being fatal and causing death. In order to manage stress and health better, you must first be familiar with the severe effects of stress in the body.

*Physical & Behavioral Signs Of Stress*
Stressors can be either external or internal. External stressors involve situations in the workplace, death or illness in the family, or by simply becoming angry. On the other hand, most of the stress that people experience is self-generated or internal. A person usually creates his or her own stress but this indicates that the person has the choice or doing nothing or something about it.

Your major body systems are all affected by stress.
When a person feels stressed, there will be an increase in heart rate, and an elevation in the blood pressure levels. The continuous pressure in the heart can also make a person vulnerable to cardiac arrest and other cardiac-related problems.

The digestive system is also affected when you are stressed. Some people can experience diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, dryness of the mouth and the throat. Stress may also cause sleeping disorders, nausea and in some cases even a tightness of the chest, neck, jaw and the back muscles. You may also experience tooth grinding.

Often there are also changes in behavioral patterns noticeable in a person experiencing chronic levels of stress. Smokers normally experience an increase in smoking patterns. Aggressive behaviors and hostility towards others and even inanimate objects are sometimes linked to a person being easily startled. A person?s diet can also be affected by the irregular eating habits caused by stress.

Some people who cannot handle stress unfortunately resort to increased levels of alcohol and drug use. Additionally, unhealthy compulsive behavior, impatience and carelessness are also the behavioral effects of stress.

* Long Term Implications of poor stress management *
Long term stress in your life will badly affect your health and wellbeing overall. During stress the body produces hormones that enable the body to cope with the current situation. Short term effects of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and corticosteroids include tense muscles, queasiness and an in increase in breathing and heart rates.

The long term implications of these hormones include allergic reactions, digestive disorder, heart disease, fatigue headaches and migraine. Even some cases of impotence and premature ejaculation can occur in men or erratic menstrual cycles for some women. When the body continuously releases these hormones your sleeping patterns can also be affected and can sometimes lead to chronic insomnia. With severe cases of stress, it can cause eczema, ulcerative colitis, mouth and peptic ulcers and recurring muscular aches and pains.

* Healthy Lifestyle to reduce stress levels in your life *
How a person identifies stress is important to their overall health. When the stress becomes too much to handle, the damage to their physical and mental well-being can be irreversible. Living a healthy life can help a person cope with stress easily.

* Tips for Better Managing Your Stress *
Although a build up of stress can result in major risks, it can also be a positive catalyst for change in your life. Do not let stress accumulate without making the necessary lifestyle changes, otherwise the result can be fatal. By recognizing the stressors, you can put each of them in place and deal with them one by one. Remember that stress can be a healthy signal that you need to make some positive changes in your life, and that now is the best time to make decisions.

* Breathing And Relaxing to Control Stress *
Oxygen is obviously very important to the body. Taking a deep breath adds oxygen to the system, which can help you relax.

Take a short walk in some fresh air, go get a glass a glass of filtered water and do something that can change your focus onto something positive. Try smiling and take a short moment focusing on something else other than your problem. Watch some funny videos before you start your day or listen to comedy audio tapes when you drive in traffic. By the time you get back to your problem, it would not seem nearly as undefeatable.

* Enjoy The Good Things Of Life And Be Positive *
When you let stressful events build up, you can forget to enjoy the good things of life. Remember that life offers many more important things other than work. Reserve some time to actually recognize the good things in your life. Practice being grateful for what you have in your life.

* Know Yourself and Work on Your Limitations *
By recognizing your limitations, you can evade situations that can usually lead to the piling up of work. And you do not need to take responsibility for the work that some one else has left undone. Do not burden yourself with the problems of other people.

If you continuously beat yourself up with needless guilt, not only will you be unable to manage your stress but you will instead worsen the situation.

There are other several ways to help you manage your stress. If you are into self help books, sometimes taking time reading your favorite book can help you in putting the problem out of your mind, or help you to come up with creative solutions. Taking a warm bath and watching your favorite show on TV can also help you. Always remember that the keyword in better stress management is Relaxation.

* Strategies to Use for Avoiding Stress Build Up*
Stress build up can pose major health risks to you in the long term if you do not start to deal with it now. Often times, people who do not know how to handle stress find themselves in rehabilitation facilities that offer twelve-step programs that could help them recover. So have a policy that stress avoidance is always better than cure. Learn to avoid stress build up through simple strategies that you could practice in your free time.

* Learn To Have Fun *
Look into yourself and find something that you are into. There are bound to be some games or fun activities that you can enjoy by yourself or with friends and family. Find the things that you enjoy the most. Hobbies are helpful activities to enhance the overall relaxation process.

Drawing and gardening are great stress relievers but you are not limited to these two. You can practically put your hands on anything that you enjoy doing. Maybe start collecting something of interest as a hobby. Take some craft classes, or learn to dance. If there was a sport you enjoyed in school, you might be able to start getting back into shape with that interest again. Learn that it is fine to have a little fun after hard days of work.

* Taking Better Care Of Your Health *
If you have a predetermined health condition, stress can greatly aggravate that condition. Maintaining a healthy diet and physical activity levels can help you in avoiding the health risks from stress.

Healthy eating at home can help you lose some spare pounds around the stomach, since most people who are stressed-out tend to gain more weight than others. Planning ahead is an important step in eating healthy. Do your shopping for weekly groceries, and plan your home meals every week. Keep your cooking simple and fast to reduce your daily stress. Eating healthy does not mean that you need to prepare a four-course meal. A simple balanced meal with the combination of protein, fresh fruits, green vegetables, wholegrain bread and not too much fat is enough to get you going. You can even find healthy recipes online. Eating organic produce also helps to eliminate many of the toxins that can stress your body. Drink plenty of filtered water and reduce your caffeine and soda drinks.

Exercising can help you cope with stress easily. You can also enroll yourself in weekly gym classes or dance classes depending on how much free time you have. Through gentle and consistent exercise your body releases more of the endorphins that increase your feelings of wellbeing. It does not have to be overly strenuous, just enough to get a slight sweat and glow to your skin.

* Ask For Support When you Need it. *
Never blame yourself for the cause of stress as this will only worsen the stress that you are already feeling. Do not build a wall around you whenever you are feeling stressed and never let yourself feel helpless. Ask family or friends to assist you to cope. Stress is an enemy that you can triumph upon with the help of loved ones.

* You can use Spiritual Practices For Avoiding Stress *
Practicing meditation can help you clear you mind in stressful situations. Seniors use prayers as stress reliever. Prayers can also maintain emotional stability. Learn what you need to maintain your Mind, Body, Spirit Balance for your overall wellbeing.

Gen Wright
http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/master-the-skill-of-stress-management-to-improve-your-health-wellbeing-683766.html