Dance Steps Blog

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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

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

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

Dance has been an important part of rituals, celebrations and entertainment since before the birth of human civilization. In the beginning, before we had written language to record things, the purpose of dance was often to tell stories and to pass them down to future generations.

The story of dancing in Cuba

In Cuba, as in ancient times, dance tells its own story. The passion and energy of Cuban dance reveals the strength and conviction of the Cuban people, determined to enjoy life despite ‘la lucha’ (the struggle) of living in a strictly regulated country where the average monthly wage comes in at around 400 pesos – less than £10.

The richness of Cuban music and dancing also tells the story of Cuba’s melting pot of cultures. From the high-stepping flamenco brought by the Spanish settlers in the 15th century to the frenzied tribal dances of the West African slaves, dancing is in the blood of the Cuban people.

From the teenage girl in denim shorts to the cigar-seller on the street corner, Cubans are given to break into spontaneous dance steps. Furthermore, the people dancing on the streets of Havana are likely to be just as good as the professionals, because in Cuba dancing is simply a way of life.

The variety of Cuban dances

Cuba boasts a huge range of dances including classical ballet, contemporary, flamenco and folk dancing. But it is the partnered routines that appeared in Havana dancehalls between the 1920s and the 1950s – Salsa, rumba, mambo and cha-cha-cha – that can be seen in every Cuban bar, club and street. Of these, Salsa is the most popular dance internationally.

Since the name ‘Salsa’ (it’s Spanish for ’sauce’) was coined, Salsa dancing has exploded in popularity in Latin America and across the world. Salsa dancing classes are now hugely popular but to really get into the swing of it a Salsa holiday in Cuba itself is a must.

Tips for Cuban Salsa dancing

If you do take yourself on a Cuban holiday, you’ll have the unique experience of watching Cubans Salsa dancing. It sometimes appears that by some genetic aberration they have been born with super flexible joints, defying physics to carry out all the complex manoeuvres they have integrated into the dancing. Their remarkable twisting body movements and natural sense of rhythm will dazzle you.

If you have the right technique, Cuban Salsa is easier to learn than many other forms of dance. The basic footwork is a fairly simple walking motion, pausing every fourth beat, and there are some six basic steps you can follow to make sure you’re on the right tracks.

1 Relax

To dance Cuban Salsa well it is important not to rush, but to relax into the steps. Movements should be precise and deliberate in addition to being flowing and smooth.

2 Walk with purpose

Salsa dancing involves a continual circular motion. Couples walk around each other with an imaginary axis between them. This makes turns look smooth and effortless. Walking gives time to untangle your arms after each turn.

3 Have confidence in your lead

The leader (usually the man) should have constant tension in his arms, while his hands guide his Salsa dancing partner around the floor. There is no need to clamp onto each other’s hands, only to use the right amount of tension to provide a leading signal.

4 Be flexible when following

In order to follow well, ladies should try to match the tension of their partner. The exception to this is when arms need to be relaxed and flexible to complete arm-twisting Salsa moves without injury!

5 Keep balanced when you spin

The key to all the spectacular spins in Salsa is not to lose your balance. One way to do it is by spotting while you spin – focusing on one spot at each turn – an age-old dance technique.

6 Use your body

In Salsa dancing, ladies should make use of their body and be sensual, playful and creative. This can involve some creative arm movements, going with what feels right and basically showing off a bit. Enjoy!

Emma Lelliott
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/a-stepbystep-guide-to-cuban-salsa-285297.html

Many of the most popular mainstream dancers at the moment are music stars who also like to do their fair bit of dancing in their music videos. From Beyonce to Chris Brown to Usher and Britney Spears.

One of the most popular pop stars slash dancers at the moment is Justin Timberlake. Many of his songs with danceable beats like ‘Like I Love You’ and ‘Rock Your Body’ have featured his individual dance moves and also brilliant group dance routines.

One of the guys behind Justin’s dance steps is Marty Kudelka – one of the hottest dance choreographers around at the moment. Marty has choreographed some of Justin’s more recent work like his video ‘My Love’ and also Justin’s FutureSex/ LoveSounds tour.

Every popular dancer usually has some sort of mentor like dancers or teachers that inspired them, or great choreographers. Hiring top choreographers is becoming one of the more important tasks for those responsible for today’s pop stars.

Every dance choreographer has their own unique style and many work in particular preferred styles of dance. For example the choreographers of Beyonce’s ‘Crazy In Love’ are very different from those who choreographed the video for Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ for example.

It is important for those responsible for a music artist to find choreographers who will compliment the image of that star. For example very sexy and feminine choreography works very well for the Pussycat Dolls and Beyonce, whereas Missy Elliot is more suited to hip-hop and club dance inspired styles.

The importance of hiring the right choreographer has never been more important in today’s age where image is so important for music artists. And it’s no longer just boy bands and girl bands that use dance routines in their acts, all sorts of music bands and artists are making use of dancers.

Once you get used to an artist doing dancing in their videos you expect the moves and routines that they make famous to become a part of their act. And they’ll usually stick with the formula of what works by continuing to make use of dance moves in their videos and tours.

Even Michael Jackson had his dance teachers. From his dancing it is obvious he was inspired by many great dancers but it was Jeffrey Daniel from soul group Shalamar who taught Michael Jackson the backslide or ‘moonwalk’ as it is more commonly known.

Behind every dancer there are choreographers that help make things happen and very often are responsible for the dance moves that catapult the artists and dancers into the spotlight.

Kevin Shwe
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/where-justin-gets-his-dance-moves-from-558317.html

Who on the planet earth exists that doesn’t love dancing? Whether humans, animals or birds, you will see everyone dancing in their moods. Dancing, though a specialized skill, is no doubt an art of expression. There are some who love to express their joy by dancing to their own rhythm while there are also few who in the low mood, also dance so as to express their pain in their dancing steps, which somehow they can’t express in their words. Hence, everyone on the planet earth has been acquainted with the art of dance performance. In today’s times, it has become a part of profession for many as well as there are so many young ones and adults who are joining dance classes to excel in this body art.

Amongst so many dancing forms, the most popular dance these days is the tap dance. One doesn’t need to be a professional dancer to learn to tap dance. Whether amateur or learned, all can learn to tap dance through a series of dancing videos that specialized in making people learn to tap dance.

It is DVD series which instructs and teaches tap dance lessons to dance from the very comfort of your home. This series is for both non-dancers/amateurs as well as dancers/professionals. The instructions on tap dance lessons are very clear and easy-to-use that you will feel that you have never been learnt in this way ever before.

The best feature of learning this way dancing is that you don’t have to attend any tap dance classes or tap dance schools. By just putting the tap dance video, you can learn the dance. The dance video has dancing steps which covers split-screen camera angles as well as offers musical counts also.

There are many of us who feel shy to join tap dance classes or tap dance schools because we don’t have that confidence to face audience and other batch-mates of the group, whom we think excel than us. So, if you are also one of those who can’t join a live class because of your lack of confidence and shy nature, then fitness video option is best for you.

Apart from joining it in order to learn tap dancing, it can be also be used by those who wish to lose their weight. Tap dance requires high energy and involves movement of all body parts, especially legs and thighs. Hence, it is a great form of exercise. So, one has an option to join these tap dance classes as a form of fitness regime. So, you have option to use them as dance video or fitness video. It is the best medium to lose weight while having fun and enjoyment. You can also call your friends or neighbors and fix a time together, and can learn dancing in the group by putting the dance video.

So, take out the notion from your minds that you can’t dance, we have made it very simple for you. So, just remove that fear and join fitness video classes today. For more information about tap dancing, learning tap dancing or tap dancing classes, log on to tapdancemadeeasy.com

Eli Newsom
http://www.articlesbase.com/art-articles/say-yes-to-tap-dancing-728108.html