Latin Technique Class – Cha Cha
28th February
Monika Olejnik teaches a Latin Technique class at Dance Spectrum.
Duration : 0:3:3
Salsa Dancing Lessons : Quick Spin Move
28th February
http://addicted2salsa.com/videos/lesson/salsa-at-the-disco
Another quick video dance lesson of salsa dancing videos. Today we show you how to perform the famous “Salsa Disco” dance move using different amounts of spin. A lot of dancers get caught up in the fact about knowing very little moves, but in reality, by adding doubles and triples in their current salsa dance combination – they become almost new.
There is a little known fact to most salsa dance beginners that when follows learn to spin well, they’ll fall in love with it. Follows love a challenge, and if you can start leading double and triple spins well – you should do so. They will find you more fun to dance with because you make it more challenging. For ladies who would like to improve their spinning, you may want to check out these salsa tip articles on spinning. (at website)
Duration : 0:6:44
Mexic-Arte Museum in Austin Texas
28th February
The Mexic-Arte Museum is the Official Mexican and Mexican-American Fine Art Museum of Texas, as designated by the state legislature. Although focused primarily on the arts from Mexico, their scope includes Latin America as well as Latino arts, both contemporary and ancient, as well as Chicano art. Its diverse and eclectic collections, exhibits and programs reflect the heritage of the area, which was once Mexico. The population of Texas remains heavily Hispanic, and the Mexic-Arte museum celebrates this culture.
Located in the heart of historic downtown, the Mexic-Arte Museum offers a modern, contemporary space through which over 75,000 visitors a year travel. The main gallery is normally used by traveling exhibitions of traditional and contemporary art from Mexico and other Latin American countries as well as for national, local and regional Chicano and Latino artists. One of the few museums to support fresh talent, their back gallery provides space for emerging artists to exhibit their works.
The museum’s Permanent Collection has developed with the intent of showcasing the rich and diverse art and culture of our unique region. The collections include prints from the Taller de la Grafica Popular/Workshop of Popular Graphics, a collection of etchings, linocuts, lithographs and silkscreens created by prominent artists as part of a populist art movement in Mexico. The Ernest De Soto Collection was named for the first Mexican American Master Printer, and consists of contemporary Latin American and American lithographs, fine prints, and etchings by renowned artists. One of the most colorful and attractive exhibits is the Masks from the State of Guerrero, a collection of traditional ritual masks made by Nahua Indians. Over 200 silkscreen prints by regional artists comprise the Serie Print Project.
Traveling exhibitions have included Retablos: Miracles from the Border, Embracing Chaos by young Latino artists, and La Caja Museo Contemporneo de Arte / The Box Contemporary Museum of Art. The diversity of the arts is clear when exhibitions include Aztec mummy movies as well as The Aztec and Maya Revival exhibition, which illustrates a fusion of Pre-Columbian visual patterns with modern Mexican material culture.
The museum’s flagship event for over a quarter of a century, and one of Austin’s favorite celebrations, falls every year near Halloween. Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is traditionally the day when Mexicans remember their loved ones who have passed on. The Mexic-Arte Museum celebrates with music, entertainment, and food in downtown Austin on 5th Street, between Congress and Brazos. Altars adorned with traditional offerings including candles, flowers, and images of calaveras (skulls) are on display, as a lively procession of people dressed in skeleton and Frida Kahlo costumes join other revelers for dancing and fun.
Educational outreach is paramount at the Mexic-Arte, which offers after school classes, free guided tours, and an entire program in anticipation of the Dia de los Muertos celebration. A corner of the museum is designated an Interactive Family area, and they host highly regarded scholars in a gallery lecture series. The Mexic-Arte Museum is located at 419 Congress Avenue in Austin Texas.
Ki Gray
http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/mexicarte-museum-in-austin-texas-511918.html
Dance your Way Fit
28th February
Copyright (c) 2007 Jess Harley
If the only time you dance is at weddings, you have no idea what you are missing out on. First of all not only is dancing fun, it is also exercise! Think about your moving your feet, your arms, your twisting away and giving yourself a full body workout. Ever noticed how sometimes the day after a wedding, your body is a little sore, especially if you do not workout before hand? Celebrities, who take part in Dancing with The Stars, have reported an increase in weight loss. The most traditional way of getting a good dancing workout is to turn on some music and let yourself go and boogie down. It is also an excellent way to incorporate some bonding time with your kids too if you included them. There are days when Ill turn on the radio and me and my daughter will just dance our feet off.
There might be some of you, who are looking for something a little more structured and instruction. Not to worry there is something for you also. Gyms all around the world are starting to offer dancing classes. Starting off there is Cardio Salsa. This class if offered at The Crunch gyms nationwide or you can look for it on DVD. It is a low impact high intensity workout that combines the hottest latin dances such as the cha-cha, mambo, samba and more with traditional dance steps such as the grapevine, lunges and arm raises. What women are loving about this workout is that they can take what they learn on the videos or classes and take it to a night club if they want to!
Cardio Capoeira is also becoming another popular dance workout. It was featured briefly on the cool down segments of the hit exercise video Turbo Jam, but has come out on its own as a great workout. In fact for fans of the hit Movie Oceans 12 might remember it being featured as the Night Fox dodges the lasers to get to the goods, or you might remember Catherine Zeta-Jones using a similar dance in the movie Entrapment. Cardio Capoeira is a basically a form of martial arts that is disguised as dancing. It was used to train Brazilian slaves martial arts without letting their captors know. It requires a lot of kicking, spinning and even cartwheels. What makes this workout so powerful especially on your buttocks and quads is the move the ginga which links one movement to the next so you will find yourself doing this often.
Cardio Striptease is another dance workout that is sweeping the nation. There are a number of DVDs out that offer a cardio striptease workout. This routine is part burlesque, part yoga, and part gymnastics. There are no concise steps and the whole point of the routine is to allow you to move freely and beautifully and learn to express yourself. You never have to worry about holding any sort of poses but move from one move to another by using slow moving hip and butt circles. The aim of this workout is to tone the hips, buttocks, thighs calves and abs.
Of course you can always go the more traditional route and sign up for ballroom dancing classes which will still give you a great workout. Which ever one of these you choose, you will burning fat and calories while having a great time. You wont even know you are exercising, thats how much fun you will have.
Jess Harley
http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/dance-your-way-fit-257716.html
how to get a latin dance partner? [15 years old]?
27th February
well im 15. and i’ve been thinking about taking some sort of latin dance. i know that if i go through with it i want to have a partner. but idk how that would happen..would they have someone my age there already? or something, anyone experience this..??
You should ask your parents to take you to ballroom dance studio. Many studios have programs for teens. Usually, you start taking classes as a single and eventually you find a partner there, either in your class or your teacher might recommend someone who’s your age and looking for a partner.
Let’s Dance The Complete Book and DVD of Ballroom Dance Instruction for Weddings, Parties, Fitness, and Fun with DVD
27th February
Master any dance in minutes with the first major dance instructional book/DVD from America’s bestselling dance instructor Cal Pozo, director of the bestselling “Dancing with the Stars-Cardio Dance” DVD and creator of the multi-platinum award-winning “Learn to Dance in Minutes” series, has taught more than three million people how to dance with his patented “Reverse View” method. Over the years, thousands of his fans have asked if he also had a dance instructional book. Here is the package they’ve been looking for: an easy-to-follow, fun-to-watch book and DVD combination that gives the reader multiple angles and methods from which to learn. In addition to basic step patterns and rhythms, you’ll learn: -Smooth dances like the classic foxtrot, waltz, two-step, and tango-American rhythm dances like the Lindy and the hustle-Latin dances like the salsa, mambo, chacha, rumba, and merengue-Line dances like the Electric Slide, the Macarena, the Tush Push, and the Boot Scooting Boogie From the foxtrot to the Lindy hop, the merengue to the Macarena, you’ll learn how to identify each style of dance so that you’ll be prepared for any type of dance party. Whether you’re looking to wow the relatives at your wedding, impress your boss at the holiday party, or get a spot on “So You think You Can Dance?,” “Let’s Dance Weddings and Parties” will have you moving and grooving, turning and twirling, and hopping and bopping with the best.
Samba Set
27th February
Kids love to play along and dance to this CD with the Samba beat! This colorful music set contains 6 durable versions of traditional Latin Percussion Instruments. Includes a FREE CD!
LATIN DANCE PARTY, EVERY WEDNESDAY IN BULIMBA, BRISBANE
26th February
FREE latin dancing – Every Wednesday, from 7 pm, join us in Cafe Citrus, 161 Oxford Street in Bulimba, Brisbane for a fun night. Big Screen, latest videos, perfect dance floor, air-conditioned room, 30 min free beginners class (7-7.30pm), licensed restaurant… Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Cumbia, Zouk, Cha-Cha-Cha, Reggaeton…
Duration : 0:9:36
Yuko & Guy of Mambata performing ‘The Ghetto’ @ the Latin Dance Academy. Febuary 2010
26th February
Mambata; Yuko and Guy performing ‘The Ghetto’ @ LDA Febuary 2010
Duration : 0:5:46
A Step-By-Step Guide To Cuban Salsa
26th February
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
