Dance While You Can

Dance opens a whole new world to you. A world where emotions and feelings play the major role and where your dreams and thoughts make you travel in the wide cosmos. But too often we stifle this world inside us before it is born. We never give this wonderful feeling a chance to touch us. Whereas this ecstasy can fill us and deliver from everything that holds us back from living a truly spectacular and enriched life. But we give into the pressures that life hurls at us and succumb to a life that is not lively at all.

We dance and sing around when we are kids. This is one main reason for the cheerfulness, optimism and divinity around children. As we grow up we engross ourselves so much into our daily life revolving around education, career, relationships and so much more that is inconsequential and just contributes to our dissatisfaction and anxiety. Though the importance of these parts of life cannot be denied, but to lose ourselves into all this is not justified. We lose the best years of our lives trying to make the future better without realizing that future never comes, it is always the present.

Dance is a wonderful thing that opens amazing opportunities for us. Opportunities that help us live better, that help us live us as beautifully as we can. So it is best to enjoy these youthful years in the most spectacular way. Join a dance class, go for a dance camp. Let your foot loose and let the energy absorb you. The group energy at a dance camps invigorates you and fills you with the abundance of life.

So you can stop complaining now and give life a chance. Give life a chance to sweep you off your feet. Let life take you in its arms and sway you to a dreamy life where all is good and all is fair.

Dance Divine Dance….!!!

"We dance for laughter, we dance for tears, we dance for madness, we dance for fears, we dance for hopes, we dance for screams, we are the dancers, and we create the dreams". Whoever uttered these words, said one of the most basic truths of a dancer’s life. The variety and the depth of emotions that a dancer experiences are much more intense than other people do. When the rhythm and emotion comes into synchronization, it results in the most beautiful and hypnotic movements. The divinity of dance can only be felt by someone by who has known and experienced the ecstasy that comes from a swirl or the unbounded exhilaration you feel with a leap across the floor.

"To dance is to be out of you - Larger, more beautiful, and more powerful. This is power, it is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking."- Agnes De Mille. When you dance, you are in communion with the entire universe. Your each and every faculty is responding to an energy that is beyond the grasp otherwise. Every atom in your body is reverberating with energy, with passion and with the grandeur of life. When you dance, you have the ultimate power of being happy regardless what is there on the outside.

"The Dancer believes that his art has something to say which cannot be expressed in words or in any other way than by dancing... there are times when the simple dignity of movement can fulfill the function of a volume of words. There are movements which impinge upon the nerves with a strength that is incomparable, for movement has power to stir the senses and emotions, unique in it. This is the dancer's justification for being, and his reason for searching further for deeper aspects of his art." Doris Humphrey, 1937

Prom and Dance Dresses

Proms happen to make a major part of your high school memories. Memories that make you look back at your younger years and smile, memories that make you remember all the crazy friends you had, memories that make you remember all the times you did all the outrageous things that would shock you even till date. Prom signifies the most beautiful time that has gone by and at the same time the coming of the unknown, the mysterious future that lies in front of you.

Prom is so much more than just the dance. It is the time you can finally ask out the girl or the guy you were interested in from so long. It is a day or rather a night to look your best, behave your best (for the first few hours only) and to create memories that would last with you until forever. Prom is something you start planning for as soon as your senior year begins. You keep spotting prospective dates and the theme is talked about for months in advance.

Once the theme is finalized the focus of every individual is on their prom dresses. It is almost criminal to go wrong with your dress at your prom. Prom becomes the perfect opportunity to shop and choose the best dance dresses. Everyone endeavors to look as different from another. Similar outfits are scandalous. With the help of the right dance accessories and dance shoes, one can have the perfect prom outfit.

With looking your best and along with the perfect date, you are all set to create the most beautiful memories for the rest of your life. And if you don’t want to be embarrassed for the rest of your life, do not wear an awkward dance dress at least make sure you don’t get a photograph clicked if you happen to wear one.

Dance dresses at proms are vital to your reputation. You just cannot afford to go wrong here. So be wise and choose the right dance costume for yourself. Make sure that the color of the dress you choose suits you and bring out the best of your figure. Also choose your dance shoes wisely. They should definitely be stylish but also look out for the comfort as you would be on your feet most of the night.
The color of the dress you choose suits you and bring out the best of your figure. Also choose your dance shoes wisely. They should definitely be stylish but also look out for the comfort as you would be on your feet most of the night.

With all the things set straight in line, you are all set for the most rocking evening of your life. But before all the dance dresses and the fancy dance shoes comes your inner beauty. First of all it is essential to feel beautiful on the inside to look beautiful on the outside. Feel beautiful and every one of you is the prom queen and the prom king!!!

How Does Dance Help You???

We have all been hearing and experiencing the many benefits that dance brings with itself. Studies have shown that dancing does definitely improve the cardio-vascular movements of the body. Also recent studies have found out that how dance helps in considerably reducing stress levels and helps you lead a happier and a more relaxed life. Still more recent studies have come up with the conclusion that dance is the only physical activity that helps in reducing the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Hence dance is that one physical activity that helps you in staying fit physically, mentally, emotionally as well as socially.

But how does all this happen? How it is that dance is the only activity with such a wholesome set of benefits? The physical benefits of dance are well known and can be measured too, and that too quite easily. The social benefits of dance come from the fact that when you join a dance class or a dance camp, you interact with others of your age that share the same interest as you. Also you learn better the skills of working in a group. Learning dance together in a team builds team spirit and co-ordination.

No when we come to the cognitive benefits of dance, it can only be explained on the basis of a reliable study, as to how dance helps you become smarter, how it prevents dementia and Alzheimer’s attacking you. Taking the citations from the New England Journal of Medicine report on the effects of recreational activities on mental acuity in aging, it can be shown that how dance actually helps you preserve and sharpen those grey cells in your brain.

Intelligence is the faculty of the human brain through which it makes decision. The decision making ability and reasoning is most critical to the human mind. One way to keep on the smarter side is by learning something new. No matter whether it will be used in future or not, letting your mind learning something new keeps it in a good condition. Thus take a dance class to challenge your mind. It will stimulate the connectivity of your brain by generating the need for new pathways. Difficult or rather frustrating dance classes are even better as they create a greater need for you to find new neural pathways.

Dancing integrates several brain functions at once, increasing connectivity. Dancing simultaneously involves kinesthetic, rational, musical and emotional processes. When so many functions are involved, dance obviously facilitates in better split second decisions. This is the key to maintaining true intelligence. Not all dance forms involve making split second decisions. Mostly the free style lead and follow dance serve the purpose best. In this too women benefit more as traditionally the man leads and the woman follows. When following the woman has to make many decisions so as to quickly decide what to do next that is right. Actually women don't "follow", they interpret the signals their partners are giving them, and this requires intelligence and decision-making, which is active, not passive. This benefit is greatly enhanced by dancing with different partners, not always with the same fellow. With different dance partners, you have to adjust much more and be aware of more variables. This is great for staying smarter longer.

Dance and Stay Healthy

Dance has the ability to open doors to great health. Numerous scientific studies illustrate the various benefits of dance. Dance is one of the best forms of physical exercises to give you wholesome health benefits. Dance also helps in reducing the stress levels and increase in serotonin levels and heightens the sense of well being. Since long we have been hearing and seeing the above mentioned benefits of dance. But the latest on the block is getting smarter because of dance.

This may sound a bit outrageous but researches have actually showed that regular dance can help you in becoming smarter and avoiding learning disabilities. Disorders like dementia and Alzheimer’s have known to be less common with people who have practiced dance as a regular exercise. A 21-year study of senior citizens, aged 75 and above, was led by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City and was funded by the National Institute on Aging. This study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The methods adopted for objectively measuring mental acuity in aging was to monitor rates of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.

Various activities and their effect on the human brain were studied. Where regular reading reduced the risk of dementia by 35%, swimming, playing golf and bicycling had no effect. But on the other hand regular dancing reduced the risk of dementia by a staggering 75%. It was also seen that most of the cognitive recreational activities affected the brain in varying degrees but the most of the physical recreational activities had a little or no effect, though they had ample cardiovascular effects. It was only dance that offered protection against dementia.

Awaken the Secret Swan Slumbering in you

In every girls slumbers a secret swan and in every boy is a lordly lion waiting to prance. The ability to dance resides in every human being. The only difference is that some hone the talent and some let it stay latent and ultimately let it die. To call dance a talent would not be entirely correct. Dance is more of a reflex than an acquired ability. Everybody can dance; it’s just that the ones who have a stronger pull towards the art find a way to fulfill their passion and the rest just ignore the pull.

Dance makes life beautiful in more than one ways. It is not only a doorway to a great health but also to a splendid life. Dance has numerous health benefits and at the same time it is proven to be the best source of well being. Dance enhances your social life. Fellow dancers get along like no other pair of youngsters as they share the same deep rooted passion.

Dance opens to you a whole new world- a world of beauty and aesthetics. Every dance step is a premeditated move but at the same time it is as spontaneous as a lightning bolt. When you set your foot to the rhythm, the whole world is as synchronized as your dance. When you are dancing, every cell in your body is in communion with the universe. You exchange your energy with the cosmos.

Dance awakens the inside of you. It is a soup for the soul. Dance is beautiful, dance is luminous, and dance is a glory. Dance helps you discover the beauty in your everyday, regular life.

Just For Kix offers dance classes, dance events and dance camps to suit your style! These classes and camps are a great platform you to learn your cherished hobby and also a great avenue to imbibe the qualities of team work and competition. We arrange for the best dance events in Midwest USA. Find a dance class or a dance camp in your vicinity today.

Jazz

When you want to fly like a bird, sway like a willow tree, glide like a swan and bloom like a flower, Jazz is your thing. Jazz originated from the African American vernacular dances. Initially tap dance constituted a major part of jazz dance type as jazz music was used for tap dancing. Over the years jazz has evolved to become one of the most popular types of social and concert dances.

After the 1950s the Caribbean Traditional dance style was synthesized into Jazz, changing its face forever and making it a performance art. Jazz now continues to be a major part of music concerts, theatre, music videos and competitive dances. The modern day Jazz is seen to be influenced to be influenced by dance styles like ballet, contemporary, lyrical and hip hop.

The beauty of Jazz is due to its unique technique. Sharing some central techniques with ballet, Jazz and Ballet often share the same curriculum. The central control is the key to Jazz. All the movements are emanated through the centre of the body. The dancer needs to perfect his or her balance and at the same time dance with not just the body but the heart and soul as well for the perfect movements. Turns such as pirouettes and fouettes are also central to the dance. To make these turns impeccable, Spotting is important. Spotting also helps in reducing the dizzy feeling during repetitive turns. Another technique called Pointing is used to help the dancers perform leaps with elegance and also reduces the friction.

The dance shoes used for jazz are generally made of leather to allow for smooth movement. The dance shoes obviously need to be comfortable so that the feet can move flexibly. Jazz shoes are somewhat similar to ballet slippers except for the small heel. You can opt for either full or split sole shoes. Your dance shoes can be either with shoelaces or without shoelaces. One may also go for jazz sneakers. They have a split-sole and hardened toe area for brief rises onto Pointe. As for the Dance Dress normally a pair of tights and a leotard is preferred owing to the comfort the costume provides for free movement. For concerts and competitions, dancers often go for much more elaborate and glamorous costumes. Fancy colors and embellishments are used to make the costumes attractive and flashy. The glitz and glamour associated with Jazz make it all the more popular!!!

Ballroom Dancing Dresses

Dance has been a part of the human society since its inception. It has been since ever used at social gatherings for various reasons ranging from mere entertainment to as outrageous as warding off of evil spirits. One of the most prominent dances at the social gatherings has been the ball dance. Considered to be one the most sophisticated and suave dance forms, ballroom dancing was a favorite with the upper social circles.

With science and technology not offering many modes of entertainment, these dance parties were at the centre of the society. The dance dresses and the dance shoes commanded special attention as everybody had their eyes fixed on the belle of the ball. Balls were a major attraction in the Victorian era. They were the centers for social interactions and hence for marriage proposals too. Consequently young girls took hours to dress up for the ball. Since then ballroom Dance Dresses became an inevitably important part of the dance. Great care is taken while choosing the dance dress and the dance shoes.

Now in the market there are n numbers of options for ballroom dance dresses. There are multiple options for the customers to choose from depending whether they want a dress for personal use or competition or some dance event. For personal use the type of dress depends on the individual’s preferences and choices. One can either choose simple gowns or some real designer, flashy stuff. Though the dance dresses for a dance competition or a dance event should be more elaborate. Now there are also a number of online stores that offer a huge variety in ballroom dance gowns and dance shoes. So go ahead and find yourself a dress online that will surely make all the heads turn in your direction.

Belly Dancing

Dance since centuries has been used as a mode of expression; it helps in conveying feelings and emotions in an artistic and a beautiful way. Also dance has extensively used as a mode of entertainment. Either in social gatherings or privately, dance has been an important part of the human society. Initially dance was used as a source of entertainment as hardly any other source was available. But the force of dance as an activity was so strong that it soon became a passion for many.

One of the most popular forms of dance is Belly Dance. Primarily Arabic or more appropriately a Middle Eastern dance, Belly Dance has travelled far and wide since ages to become of the most popular dance types. The term “Belly Dance” is somewhat a misnomer as the dance involves movement of almost every part of the body, though the main emphasis is on the hips. Depending on the country and the region, the dance has many forms. The changes are seen in terms of both costumes and dance style. In the Western countries the dance styles have evolved considerably and have become more exotic. Although contemporary forms of the dance have generally been performed by women, some of the dances, particularly the cane dance, have origins in male forms of performance.

Raqs sharqi literally "oriental dance") is the style more familiar to Westerners, performed in restaurants and cabarets around the world. It is more commonly performed by female dancers but is also sometimes danced by men. It is a solo improvisational dance, although students often perform choreographed dances in a group.

Raqs baladi literally "dance of country", or "folk" dance) is the folkloric style, danced socially by men and women of all ages in some Middle Eastern countries, usually at festive occasions such as weddings.

Dances from the Land Of Fairies

Ireland has long been associated with fairies and folklore. The music and dance of such a place would also be like that in a fairyland. The folk dance and music of Ireland is quite stylish, vibrant and beautiful.

Mainly the Irish dances can be divided into two types the Performance Dances and the Social Dances. The Irish Social Dances can further be divided into two types- ceili dancing and the step dancing. The Performance Dance constitutes the famous tap dance. The ceili is performed in various formations and can be performed by as many as eight couples or at least one. The Set Dance is a quadrille i.e. it is done by four couples arranged in a square. The two dances vary significantly in style but are nonetheless a very important part of the Irish society.

The Performance Dance is basically the popular Step dance. It owes it origin to the days when the sailors use to tap dance to entertain themselves. They used the tap in absence of any music. The Tap dance came into the world view in 1994 with the world famous dance show “Riverside”. The main feature of this dance was rapid foot movement with the arms and most of the body as stationary as possible. Though the technique was born out of practicality but it soon became very popular and the defining dance of the rich Irish folk culture.

Along with the peppy dance came the exuberant Dance dresses and dance shoes. The dance costumes and the dance accessories used were quite elaborate and interesting. In the Tap Dance, the dance shoes are of vital importance to produce the correct sound effects. There are two types of shoes. The first is the soft shoe, otherwise known as ghillies, and Hard shoes for the heavy dances, such as horn pipe---- The hard shoe is similar to tap shoes, except that the tips and heels are made of fiberglass, instead of metal, and are significantly bulkier. The hard shoes were originally made of wood in the 19th century and early 20th century. The first hard shoes had wooden or leather taps with metal nails. Later the taps and heels were changed into resin or fiberglass to reduce the weight and to increase the footwork sounds. The soft shoes, which are called ghillies, resemble a ballet shoe minus the hard toe, the ribbons for laces, and the pink color for black. Gillies are only worn by girls, while boys wear a black leather shoe called a reel shoe, which resembles a black jazz shoe with a hard heel. Boy's soft-shoe dancing features audible heel clicks.

Samba

There are innumerable types of dances all across the globe. A few have broken all the boundaries of time and geography. Samba is one such dance that is now extremely popular on all continents and all age groups. Samba is a lively, rhythmical dance of Brazilian origin in 2/4 time danced under the Samba music. However, there are three steps to every bar, making the Samba feel like a 3/4 timed dance. Its origins include the Maxixe.

The Samba music rhythm has been danced in Brazil since its inception in the late 19th century. There is actually a set of dances, rather than a single dance, that define the Samba dancing scene in Brazil; thus, no one dance can be claimed with certainty as the "original" Samba style. Another major stream of the Samba dance besides the Brazilian Samba dancing styles is Ballroom Samba which differs significantly.

Samba no pé is a solo dance that is most often danced impromptu when samba music is played. The basic movement involves a straight body and a bending of one knee at a time. The feet move very slightly - only a few inches at a time. The rhythm is 2/4, with 3 steps per measure. It can be thought of as a step-ball-change. It can be described calling it and-a-one, and-a-two, and then back to one. The basic movement is the same to either side, where one foot moves to the outside lifting up just before the first beat, lifting on the "and-a “and replacing itself on the floor on the one beat (i.e. the right leg moves slightly to the right) and leg is kept straight as a . The other foot moves slightly towards the front and closer to the first foot. The second leg bends lightly at the knee so that the left side of the hip lowers and the right side appears to move higher. The weight is shifted to this inside foot briefly for the next "and-a", then shifted back to the outside foot on the "two", and the same series of actions is repeated towards the other side.

The dance simply follows the beat of the music and can go from average pace to very fast. Men dance with the whole foot on the ground while women, often wearing heels, dance just on the balls of the foot. Professionals may change the steps slightly; taking 4 steps per measure instead of 3, and often add various arm movements depending on the mood of the music.

There are also regional forms of the dance in Brazil where the essential steps are the same, but because of a change in the accent of the music people will dance similar movements to the slightly changed accents. For instance, in Bahia the girls tend to dance tilting their legs towards the outside instead of keeping their knees close to each other as in Rio de Janeiro.

This is the type of Samba one sees in the Brazilian Carnival parades and in other Samba carnivals over the world. This is also one of the most popular sambas.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samba_(Brazilian_dance)

It’s Rocking!!!

Dance and music are as inseparable as the sun and the sunlight or the flower and the fragrance. There is no dance without music and music without dance is sort of boring. It might not be the dance of the body necessarily but a good piece of music always sets the heart and soul tapping to the rhythm. At times dances owe their origin to a specific type of dance and at times it was the other way around.

One genre of dance and music that has broken all the confines of time and geography is the rock and roll. It is an athletic and competitive form of dance that came in the lime light in the late 1950s. The dance took long to acquire its current form. The dance took to its fetal form when the swing dance came into being, around in the 1920s. From swing branched Lindy hop, it was the first ever partner dance to use acrobatics. With the modifications in the Lindy Hop in the 1940s came the Boogie Woogie. And finally with further modifications to the Boogie Woogie, came the Rock and Roll. The dance was supposed to be highly co- ordinate with the music. It required a flexible body and undue tension on the legs and the arms. The dance tends to leave a personal space for the dancer for display of facial expressions and interpretation in style, movement and at times the manner too.

The dance alternates the speed. It starts on slow beats and move to the faster ones, coming back to the slower ones. The kicks form the somewhat core of the dance. Most of the major moves revolve around the kick. With the kicks in the air the movements like the lifts, flips, jumps and throws take place. The dance form has evolved drastically over the years. The only thing common between the present day dance and the yesteryears form seems to be the name. Now the dance is mostly used in competitions, shows and concerts. The dance is usually done in pairs or a formation. Formerly a six- step basic step was used which was later altered to the nine- step basic step. The degree of the acrobatics used the dance has increased considerably. High demanding movements such as the somersault and the double somersault have been introduced. Even the body wave movement was modified to make it more demanding on the part of the dancers.

As per the dance apparels, the originally worn jeans and petticoat are no longer used. Instead the dancers now use multicolored costumes as their dance dresses that are made of artificial elastic fiber. This makes up for the durability and the flexibility required now. The dance shoes play a very important role in rock and roll dance. The shoes need to be high on both the grip and the slip. Most commonly light jazz shoes are used. In case of high level acrobatics involved, sneakers or shoes made for aerobics are used. All in all rock and roll has been a very popular form of dance and continues to be so.

May I Have A Dance With You???

It was my grandparent’s 55th wedding anniversary. An amazingly long time for a couple to stay together!!! We used to visit my grandparents twice a year. Meeting them was wonderful in many ways. Ours was a predominantly a party oriented family. We needed the slightest provocation to start with the music and dance. Normally also when we all used to get together it was almost an occasion. This time we didn’t need an excuse, we already had the perfect occasion to dance our feet off. But before we could actually start circling and swirling and bouncing away, we had this long chat session- the entire family huddled together, near the celeb couple. It was then that the story came up again- the story how my grandparents met and fell in love. Though we had heard it many times, but its charm was still intact, even now my mother ended up in tears and my father holding her in his arms.

It so happened that it was the wedding of my granny’s sister. She was obviously the bridesmaid and my grandfather was from the groom’s side. After the first dance of the bride and the groom, people started to spread over the dance floor. Then my grandfather came across a lonely maiden sitting aside in a corner. He was intrigued by the girl sitting alone. He thought she was too lonely for a bridesmaid. He being a shy and modest not-so-modern guy, gathered up all the courage he could, to ask her to dance with him. To his surprise and his too, she agreeed. That was the first time he asked her “may I have a dance with you?” and this is how it started. They danced and they danced perfectly with each other.

Soon they started dating and their dates usually comprised of dance classes, dance events and dance shows. With the help of each other they mastered the art so perfectly that they soon became the stars instead of the audience. They did dance shows together, took dance classes and held dance events. As their fame grew so did their love. They married when they were at the peak of their careers and continued to live for each other and for dance.

They quit when they had their first child, my father. But till date they are dancers at their heart. They dance to each other’s company; they dance with and for each other. Dance is the most beautiful feeling in the world. It tied these two in a harmonious, rhythmic bond that has lasted half a century.

The Benefits of Dance

Since ages Dance has been a favorite hobby of children and adults alike. In the current times people are clubbing this beautiful form of art with exercise to keep fit physically, mentally and also spiritually. Learning an art form like dance has numerous advantages. Most importantly dance is a soulful art; it holds in itself a beauty, an ecstasy that only the dancer can experience. For a dancer there is nothing more blissful than dance.

Apart from the sheer bliss dance has many other advantages. Learning to dance in a group imbibes synchronization and coordination. Working in a group makes one more patient and conscious to the needs of others. Team work is something everyone needs to learn and apply in every walk of life. Dance makes you a wonderful team worker- in the most harmonious way ever. Learning to Dance is an excellent way to meet new people and have a healthy social life. It improves the overall feeling of well being.
Dance can work wonders with your body. Being one of the best ways of a work out, dance can give you those tantalizing curves and the flat belly you so dream of.

Other than the visible external benefits of dance are the beautiful things it does inside your body. Dance sets right that little annoying thing called the heart. Also it is great for the lungs. It increases the bone density and improves the muscle tone. Also it is one of the most effective and the most interesting ways to shed those extra pounds you hate so much.
as it does good to the rest of you, it is also a boon to your brain. Dance can really help you to improve your posture, balance and concentration. The improvement in your posture adds on to the grace with which you carry yourself. Dance is a sure stress buster and one good confidence booster. It is good for the overall brain activity and relaxes and releases tensions.

The advantages of dance are many and people are recognizing this fact fast. Dance is being used as a commercial item and is being sold. Dance academies are being set up to give dance classes. Dance camps and dance events are being held. Special stores for dance dresses, dance shoes and dance accessories are being opened and are doing incredibly good business. So, all across the beautiful art form is spreading smiles. Be it for the young amateur dancers who are eager to learn the dance moves or the dance teachers who take infinite delight in teaching others to dance or the retailers who are earning big bucks by selling dance or the accessories it uses. All of them are sure having a ball!!!

Let’s do it the Hip Hop Style

So many types of dances, so many ways to rejoice! Dance is a sure accompaniment to celebration. Every culture, every country has specific dances it loves to perform at functions and ceremonies. Dance has been the defining point of many cultures. Many dances remained to the geographical boundaries of the place of their origin but others moved on, moved to various lands to become more popular than other dance forms, to cross all the borders and to be seen as pure art leaving behind all prejudices of race and country.

One of many such dances is the hip hop. Primarily an African- American dance, hip hop has come to be one of the most popular of dance forms. From television to films to parties to the street, the influence of hip hop is to be seen everywhere. The dance style is casual and funky. The dance is mostly free style and improvisational. No fixed rules or particular movements guide the dance. The dance comprises of three main styles namely breaking, locking and popping. The three elements that make up the core of the dance are free styling, battles and ciphers.

The dance came out of the shadows over 30 years ago in 1970s. The most popular groups to which the credit goes for the popularization of the dance are Rock Steady Crew, The Lockers and The Electric Boogaloos. With time the dance form evolved to include “running man” and the “cabbage patch” and together they became the fad dances.

The commercial dance industry soon picked up the signs that hip hop is going to hit it big time. Dance concerts, movies and television started using the dance as a money making machine. And sure enough anything with the hip hop added was an instant success.

Now hip hop is seen as a flourishing genre in dance that has a good amount of potential. There are special dance classes and dance events that are held for hip hop. It is sure traveling places and becoming evidently more popular day by day.

It Takes Two to Tango

Influenced by the Spanish, the dance form took birth in Argentina and Uruguay in around 1850- 1890. The dance was originated in the lower middle classes in Buenos Aires among the former slave people, as it was performed at their candomble ceremonies. The music that was used was created by combining a number European music types as the people who practiced it were mainly European immigrants, chiefly French, Spanish and Italians.

The term “Tango” was associated with dance in the year 1890. Earlier the dance was quite obscure as any other type that sprung up in those days. Soon the dance gained popularity and spread across borders, changing a little in form every time it travelled. The dance in time also crept into theatres and clubs and had started to have well defined performances. Over the time the dancers and orchestras travelled to various countries and this helped the fame of the dance spread across continents and became popular in many other countries like Paris, London and Berlin. Towards the end of 1913, it hit New York in the USA.

As it travelled places and times, the dance form saw many alterations and variations. It carried them along and now we have various sub- types in the dance. Some of the popular sub types in the genre are- Tango Argentino, Tango Oriental (uruguayo), Tango Canyengue, Tango Liso, Tango Salon, Tango Orillero, Tango Milonguero (Tango Apilado), Tango Nuevo (New Tango), Show Tango (also known as Fantasia), Ballroom Tango, Finnish Tango etc. All these sub types use variations in the techniques and the music used. The dance changed as much as it moved from one place to another as it changed over decades.

The dance can be performed in an open embrace where there is space left between the bodies of the lead and the follow or a close embrace where the lead and the follow connect either from chest to chest or the upper thigh, hip area. The factors that have altered the dance form range from time and geographical area to clothes in fashion and the space available for the dance. For example the Milonguero is a dance form that uses a real close embrace and short steps. This happened as the dance form was originated in the crowded downtown clubs in the early 50’s.

Be the sensual technique or the flirty dance dresses, the dance soon became a favorite of half of the world. The dance uses special dance apparels and heels as dance shoes this also influenced trends all over. All in the entire dance is beyond doubt a favorite across half of the world!!!

Dance and Culture

Since time immemorial dance and culture have been interwoven. Almost all the ancient civilizations of the world had their distinct forms of dances. Along with the evolution of the humankind evolved the dance forms. Across continents and oceans, different cultures segregated and each culture adopted its own dance form. Just like food and clothing, dance also became one of the chief defining characteristic of a culture. It might be difficult to list all the dance forms that are prevalent in the world, as there are so many. Many dances are being carried forward from the ancient times and some are now no more practiced. A website on the internet lists 91 dance forms. In actuality the figure is much higher. Like other art forms, dance has also been ever evolving. So many new dance forms have developed during the past years.

Some of the dances popular in the United States of America are Ballet, Ballroom Dance, Disco, English Country Dance, Ethnic dance, Flamenco (Spanish/gypsy Jazz dance), Meringue (Latin Club), Mexican Hat Dance, Salsa dance, Samba dance, Tap dance, Waltz (ballroom, social), Wolosso (Ivory Coast), Western swing, West Coast Swing ("WCS"; Swing,) etc. some of these were adopted from other cultures and some were developed in America itself. Dances have proved to be a great way to socialize. Dance camps and dance events can be great avenues for the young to come forward and showcase their talent. Even the professionals take delight in such events as they see young amateurs learn from their mistakes. These camps also serve to be a potent venue for people from different backgrounds to come together and know about each other. This is how relations develop, this is how cultures evolve.

Dance and dance apparels have been allies in transforming cultures over the years, across borders. Dancers have spent fortunes on dance dresses and dance shoes, to get the right get-up. Dance costumes and make-up are a vital part of a dance performance. All the three combined become a specific dance type which ultimately accounts for the tradition of that dance. The costumes are generally chosen as per the convenience of the dancers. Different geographical locations have different requirements hence they account for different types of costumes. The costumes of various types of dances are also influenced by the native dress of that place. All in all we cannot deny the interdependence of the two- dance and culture. Both have helped each other to grow, develop, evolve and sustain.

Healing with the Rhythm

Dance has long been associated with spirituality and healing. In the ancient times many dances were performed to either ward off the evil or to appease the Gods. Different dances were practiced for different Gods. In the present times one may not perceive dance as a way to wash away sins or atonement and just shoo away the idea as archaic. It may be discarded as an ancient myth or a tribal superstition.

But even the modern day psychologists cannot deny the healing powers of the art. A trend that is gaining exceeding amount of popularity is that of dance therapy. In this therapy, dance becomes the healer. In therapeutic dances, every level of human existence is touched upon- the body, the mind and the soul. The dances performed for therapeutic purposes are especially according to the ailment. The dances are designed so as to focus on the problem area in such a way that that body part is focused upon which needs to be healed. Dance therapies have proven to work for common problems like high blood pressure, imbalanced blood sugar and high level of stress.

The beautiful art is put to use to cure some serious ailments too in form of Dance Movement Therapy (DMT). The psychotherapeutic use of movement and dance is made for improving the emotional, cognitive, social, behavioral and physical conditions. The movements are designed in such a way that they strengthen the body/mind connection through body movements and improve both the mental and physical well-being of individual. This in turn gives a healthy balance and sense of wholeness.

DMT sessions are configured around four main stages: preparation, incubation, illumination, and evaluation. The theory of DMT is based upon the idea that “the body and mind are inseparable. DMT can be used to heal serious disorders and diseases. Although DMT is promoted to reduce stress and center the body, this therapy is very effective in helping to heal other disabilities and diseases. One such disorder is Autism as the therapists connect on a sensory-motor level and provides a sense of acceptance and expands skills and cognitive abilities and also increases maturity. Another area is Learning Disabilities. Movements to be performed focus on developing better organizational skills, learning/experiencing control and choice, building higher self confidence and new inspirations to learn.

The DMT can also be used in case of Mental Retardation as it improves the body image, social skills, coordination, and motor skills, and also promotes communication. The deaf and Hearing Impaired can also benefit from DMT as it reduces the feelings of isolation and provides inspiration for relationships. For the Blind and visually impaired, it improves body image, motor skills, and personal awareness. The Physically Handicapped can improve their motor skills and body image, and learn a way to communicate and express emotions. To the elderly it provides social interaction, expression, and exercise. Also it alleviates fears of loneliness and isolation. DMT can also be helpful in curing Eating Disorders by altering distorted body images which helps in ending destructive behaviors. For a PTSD victim it weaves together past and present through symbolism in a “safe place” to confront painful memories. DMT is also great for expecting mothers. It is used for Holistic Birth Preparation as it implores relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety, learn breathing techniques and release energy; it also builds confidence to help cope with labor, birth and early parenting.

Therefore we see that our favorite hobby is not just a hobby, it can be used to beautify lives and bring back vigor to the lives that have lost their luster.

Reference:- Wikipedia/Dance Therapy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_therapy

Dance and Spirituality

Dance, or as they say in Hindi, Nritya, is a passage to god, the pathway to the divine. In many of the Eastern countries, especially India, dance is a method of worship. Dance in many forms is spiritual. The sacredness of dance makes sit all the pure and ecstatic. Many forms of dance become a pathway to achieve the eternal. Dance and Music in the East is a powerful tool to connect to your inward energy and also the supernatural power that maintains the balance of the earth.

Special dance dresses and dance shoes are made to perform this form of art. Many dance forms in India like the kathak, bharatnatayam, kuchipudi etc. are performed on special occasions to appease the Gods. One of the main Gods of Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva, performed a dance to cleanse the human race of its sins. Even in a sect in the Muslims, the Sufis have a special form of dance through which they connect with the divine.

Even when not thinking it to be a spiritual, dance as is it is a beautiful activity which releases all the three- mind, body and soul.

Dance Dance baby!!!

Dancing has been of the most popular hobbies of all times. It is not only a hobby but a way of living. Dance as a hobby has interested people across all barriers. The love of dance has transcended all borders and limitations to reach everyone’s heart. Even age could not restrict this beautiful art form from reaching to the crowds.

Dance among children is a trend that is gaining immense popularity. It becomes an absolute delight for parents to watch their tiny tots swirling and swinging in harmony. Even their non-coherent movements become most beautiful. There would hardly be anything more pleasurable than to watch young ballerinas gliding on the floor like new born pink baby swans.

In recent years special dance events for children are being held. There are dance dresses and dance shoes especially made for the little ones. The market for dance merchandise for kids is booming. The dance industry is evolving like never before with these little ferrets springing on the dance floor!!!

Dance to your favorite tune!!!

Dance can be a sheer treat for body, mind and soul. It is proven beyond doubt that dance is great activity to improve the cardio-vascular cycle of the body. It increases the flexibility of the body to a great extent and betters the circulation of the blood. This considerably helps in the overall well being of a person.

Dance comes with holistic benefits. It beautifies you both on the inside and the outside. It is a deeply relaxing and satisfying activity. The pleasures of dance can be known by the dancer alone. Every step fills you with exhilaration like you have never experienced before. Dance is one of the best stress-busters. Dance consumes the entire existence of you and drives out all the negativity from the very insides of you.

In many countries, especially the eastern and African ones, dance is considered to be a form of worship. They use dance as a method to reach the divine. Dances there are performed with such skill and dexterity so as to transcend one into a trance. Some believe that dance can even be put to therapeutic use and can be used to cure certain maladies, especially that related to depression, stress and insomnia. Hence dance is definitely a treat for all- your body mind and soul.

Swirling Away To Success

Dance and dance moves can spell success. Fame, glamour, money, everything is there in this glittering world of dance. The glamour world is full of celebrities who have won their fame by dance. Their Dance Shoes have made marks that have lasted long enough to create history. The glitzy world of dance has stars that have shone brightly in the celeb- sky for years now and still their name has that gleam to it.

Anna Pavlova (1881-1931) is perhaps the most famous ballerina of all times. The famous Russian ballet dancer is best known for changing the ideals for ballet dancers, where the ideal figure for a ballerina was tall and a full body, she was small and thin, not the preferred body of a ballerina during her time. She is also credited for creating the modern Pointe shoe, the ballerina norm now. Mikhail Baryshnikov (1948-present) is known as the best living male ballet dancer; he is a famous Russian dancer. He has had roles in film, as he starred in the last season of Sex and the City. His glides and swirls are to die for.

There would hardly be a person on the face of the earth who hasn’t heard the name Michael Jackson (1958-2009). Pop sensation of the 1980s, wowed audiences with his eye-popping dance moves. He was as famous for his dance moves as for his music and songs. One of his movements that almost started a new genre in dance was the one popularly called the "moonwalk." Michael displayed an amazing skill for rhythm and dance at a very young age. Everything that he did was a phenomenon. His Dance Dresses became a rage with the youth. It was his unique style, snazzy Dance Wear and unconventional looks that made him all the more interesting and popular. Another exceedingly popular dance celebrity of all times is Sammy Davis, Jr, (1925-1990), An American dancer, a famous entertainer remembered mostly for his tap dancing ability. He began tap dancing at an age as young as four.

Dance has given these men and women not only the satisfaction and pleasure of pursuing the most passionate of all art forms but also a place in the sun. It has given them fame, prosperity, money, power and the celebrity status people die for. Martha Graham (1894-1991 was an American dancer and choreographer. She has won acclaim as the pioneer of modern dance form. She dared to introduce new, modern dance moves to the world. Fred Astaire (1899-1987) was a famous American film and Broadway dancer. He is well-known for starring with Ginger Rogers in a number of musical films. Gregory Hines (1946-2003) earned his fame as a famous tap dancer. The American artist appeared in several dance movies, including White Nights and Tap. Gene Kelly (1912-1996), an American dancer, is remembered for his highly energetic and athletic dancing style. He is well-known for his performance in Singing in the Rain. Patrick Swayze (1952-2009) was a well-known American dancer and actor. He starred as a dance instructor in the popular movie Dirty Dancing, one of the most famous dance movies of all times.

Dance to the Rhythm of Life

Dance is a classic way to unleash the power of your soul with dance. The advantages of dance can be known to the dancer only. Along with the numerous health benefits it brings along a song, a song with the pulsating rhythm of life. The passion is too strong to put into words. This art form has traveled across centuries and continents to be one of the most popular activities of the modern day. There are in numerous dance forms in vogue all across the globe. Different dance forms have different requirements. An appropriate costume not only enhances a dance, it also adds value to the performance. Right accessories become imperative to create the right effect.

Dance is beautiful, and so are the things it brings along with it. Dance dresses and dance accessories form a major part of a performance or a competition. Dance shops, selling dance accessories like Dance Dresses, Dance Shoes, Leotards, Ballet Shoes, are becoming extremely popular with every passing day. As dance is just not a hobby, but a way of life. Dance Classes are becoming a rage in the urban society. There are dance classes teaching all kinds of dances for all occasions. These classes become a great occasion for people of all ages to socialize, work in a team and most importantly to learn dance, to realize their passion.

Every now and then there are Dance Events and Dance Camps. These events serve to be a great platform for dancers of all genres. For the professionals it becomes a treat to watch the young talents come forward and showcase their abilities. For the amateurs it is a wonderful opportunity to learn from other teams and also to display their performances. Dancing can make you learn a number of things along with those swan-like gliding movements of your body. It teaches you rhythm, it teaches you to go with the flow. It teaches you co-ordination and makes you a great team worker. Also, dancing has numerous health benefits. It improves your cardio-vascular cycle and is a proven stress buster.



With the unlimited benefits of dance and the easy access to dance classes and dance accessories, dancing has become a hot favorite with people of all ages and income groups.

And The Beat Goes Like

Dance is perhaps the most expressive of activities. I may owe my biasness to the love of the art but even on a general consensus, dance is considered to be expressive for sure. Expressing your feelings is vital. Bottled up emotions may often lead to frustration and depression. This in turn can lead to lower work performance, complicated relationships and an unhealthy social life. Dance can for sure prevent all of this. Dancing also comes with a number of health benefits. Dance keeps your cardio-vascular cycle in a good shape and obviously is a great fat burner. Nothing can give your body the tantalizing curves like dance does. It is of course one of the best methods to stay in a shape that gives the “oomph” factor.

Besides all the medical benefits, dance definitely gives you the greatest feeling of well being. Whether it is swaying away with the music in waltz or going with the beat in hip hop, every dance form has its own unique way to make you feel as if you are in the air. Dance classes and Dance events can be a feast for your mind boy and soul. The trance like feeling you get, when it’s just you and the music is beyond any words. When you put on your dance shoes, there is no stopping you to transport into the world of music, dance and euphoria. The ecstasy dance brings along is comparable to none other. Dance is also a great source of emotional release. With every progressing day urban life is becoming more and more stressful. In this scenario dance becomes your companion to drive the stress away. The movie series High School Musical, though a teenage movie, carries along with it a beautiful message. Troy Bolton was under constant pressure from his father-coach to excel in basketball. Gabriella then came along, who sets his heart on theatre and dance and Troy is never the same. After initial resistance from his father, Troy could never separate himself from dance and drama. This helped him to better himself in basketball too and also contributed to his overall success in life.

Though this example is from a fiction, but it certainly tells us how pursuing your passion can change your life and give you the satisfaction no grades or trophies or medals could ever give. Dance brings flexibility and grace to your body. It increases your strength and endurance and it makes you look and feel beautiful no matter what!!!

The Dance of Life

Online Dance Accessory Stores and Dance Costume Stores are changing the face of dance industry rapidly.

A dancer would always have a better view and comprehension of life, because dance embodies in itself life. For a dancer there is nothing more pleasurable than dancing. Dance camps and events brings together dancers, hence bring together talent- raw talent and pulsating life. Dance is more than the movement of body and limbs in a synchronized manner. It is flowing with the music, letting the music spirit guide you. Dancing in groups can be an extremely learning experience. In a group you not only have to follow your rhythm, but also of your group mates. It then enables you to evolve to a higher level where you can flow in a rhythm higher than yourself.

Dance imbibes the spirit of rhythm and synchronization. Nothing better than these qualities being inculcated at a tender age when a child is like wet clay which can be molded in any way you like. Having your kids compete in group dances serves a dual purpose. Where at one hand your kid learns to learn in a group, on the other hand it also fills them with a sense of competition which is indispensable in today’s highly competitive world. The best part is that dance offers to be the healthiest form of competition where you can learn as much from your competitors.

Over the time dance has evolved from being just a hobby to a fully fledged industry with a turnover of more than a billion dollars per year. Dance lovers want the right equipments for their highly revered passion. Dance shop owners try and bring to their clients the best of everything. Dance wear stores are cropping up in huge numbers to fulfill the fetish of the dance lovers. The demand for Dance wear, dance shoes, dance accessories, is increasing by mammoth scale. Be it ballet, jazz, high kick, hip hop or lyrical, every dance has its own peculiar requirements. Dance clothes stores come forward to help you obtain all that you want for your favorite dance.

When everything from buying your favorite car to booking a hotel at your favorite holiday destination is online, so is buying your Dance Merchandise. At online accessory stores you can find accessories right for your genre of dance.