I’m too uncoordinated to dance and I have no rhythm

I can’t dance because I don’t have any rhythm or I don’t have enough coordination.

This is a common excuse that many people use that simply is not true. I rarely see someone who has a lack of rhythm because a sense of rhythm is completely natural to our existence. I can give you a simple exercise to help determine if you have rhythm: walk a distance of 20 feet or more without falling down. I have yet to meet someone who has the capacity to walk without assistance that does not display both rhythm and coordination in doing this exercise. By just walking a distance of several feet, everyone I have met so far displays the ability to set a constant pace plus they display the ability to walk without stumbling. This is something you have trained to do since you were a young child and you have practiced it so often, you do it without thinking about it. This displays coordination in the fact that you have the ability to alternate you feet regularly without difficulty.

This may sound absurd, but if you actually analyze everything that happens when you simply walk across a room, from how you have to generate motion in your center of gravity, how you shape your momentum to allow you to move in whichever direction you choose without always having to stop yourself and start moving in a new direction, how your legs and feet adjust where they land in relation to your center of gravity and the direction of your momentum so that you can remain in motion while maintaining proper balance… your body is trained to do a lot of little things automatically even in something as simple as walking. On top of that, almost everyone sets a pace for themselves as they walk any given distance. They adjust this pace as they see fit, but either way, by setting a pace you have shown you have the ability to set a rhythm. So, having the ability to set a rhythm plus having coordination enough to walk across a room shows that you have the tools you need to dance.

Realizing that dancing takes surprising little rhythm or even coordination is the hard part. Dancing merely takes one thing, an interest in your partner. To dance with a person is to have a conversation with them. While dancing, you are trying to “talk” using only your body. This requires you to connect to your partner so that you can both “tell” them something with your body by letting them feel how and when your body moves, plus this connection is important because you will need to “listen” to what and when their body “tells” you something in return.

This conversation needs to go both ways in the partnership. Much of dancing is the same as having a nice conversation over dinner. If you both try to say things at exactly the same time, then not much communication happens. When you dance, your body will tell something to your partner, but you must listen to what their body tells you in return. The leader should say something, but he should say it only when the follower has indicated that she is “listening”. Much of leading is knowing not only how to lead, but when to lead. Social dances especially, like west coast swing or salsa, focus heavily on both the leader and the follower taking an active role in the conversation.

Social dancing has more to do with sharing in the conversation than it does with “having rhythm” or “having coordination”. Remember that the only rhythm you need is that which you already have. If you wish to dance with the music, listen to the music first on your own and get a feel for the pace at which your body matches the music. You have the ability to set a pace, now the only challenge is altering your own rhythm to utilize the one provided by the song. You will never “need” any more coordination than you already have that enables you to walk. You will develop more coordination as well as a better sense of rhythm as you dance, but the requirements to be able to dance are not very high at all.

If you can walk, you already have the ability to dance. Now it’s just a matter of learning how to take part in the conversation of the dance!

Visit www.USDanceXchange.com for more information and ongoing discussions on ballroom dancing, swing dancing, latin or salsa dancing, country dancing, or any other form of dancing and everything else that dancers talk about.

If you are interested in finding ballroom dance instruction, ballroom dance classes, or ballroom dance lessons, visit www.DanceWithMe.us. You should also check out their section on dance videos for instructional videos on ballroom dancing, latin or salsa dancing, country dancing, or swing dancing. You’ll also be able to find out more information about Swing Springfield, Springfield’s longest standing swing dance club, dedicated to the promotion of swing dance opportunities, swing dance lessons, swing dance classes, swing dance training, and swing dance parties in east coast swing, west coast swing, hustle, single time swing, lindy hop, charleston, and the jitterbug.

For wedding dance information, visit www.1stDance.us for information on training and choreography for your first dance, or even dance training for bride’s and grooms, as well as your wedding party, family, and friends to help maximize your enjoyment of dancing at your reception. Look for special packages and discounts available to help soon to be wed couples get the most out of preparing for their first dance and their new lives together.

What is social dancing?

Ballroom dancing is a wonderful activity for couples and singles alike. For couples, it is a way to be active together, all while having fun and interacting with each other in a way that many other sports don’t allow for. It is a way to strengthen bonds of trust and communication between partners by just listening to music and dancing together. For singles, it is a fun activity that puts you in direct contact with different people who enjoy dancing and socializing with other dancers. It’s a fun way to get to know someone, plus an amazing ice breaker since you have close personal contact and are forced to begin to communicate with each other on a level that’s automatically a little bit more involved than just a casual hello. Couple’s social dancing builds trust between partners and this is great when you’re just getting to know someone because as you build a stronger bond of communication on the dance floor, it opens up communication off the dance floor as well and really speeds up the process of getting to know one another. This is so much more powerful than just a simple dinner and movie, not that one shouldn’t enjoy going out to dinner or watching a movie.

Social dancing is communication at the core. It is the art of speaking without talking and listening with more than just your ears. Learning to social dance is to learn a new language that more and more people learn to speak every day around the world. Whether you can even talk to each other in one language, dance is universal and can be communicated between any two people, no matter what their origins may be. Dancing is a very subtle communication and a way to make a song a journey, that is unique to the two participants, whose destination is unknown. You merely share the journey together, enjoying each other’s company along the way. Each dance is always a new journey and the journey is never about the destination.

Dancing is something that appeals to many different people and different tastes. There is a style of dance that anyone can find common ground with someone else in. Try the elegant smooth ballroom dances like waltz, foxtrot, or american tango. If smooth ballroom dancing isn’t quite what you enjoy, try swing dancing. There’s a lot of energy to be shared in dancing east coast swing, single time swing, jitterbug, lindy hop, or shag. Or if you prefer something a little more cool and mellow, try west coast swing or hustle. If you enjoy latin music, you should try salsa dancing, or mambo, rumba, or the cha cha. If your blood pumps to country music, then you definitely need to try the two-step, triple two-step, or polka. If you like things a little more slow and intimate, give nightclub sway or argentine tango a try. To find out more about any of these dances, make sure you check out DanceWithMe.us for information on learning these dances.

To find other dancers or just to chat with other dancers, make sure you visit USDanceXchange.com for ongoing discussions or more information on dancing and dance events.

For information on wedding dance instruction or choreography for a soon to be wed couple’s first dance, look up www.1stDance.us for help creating that perfect first dance to help start of the marriage on the right foot! The wedding day is very special day indeed, and the very climax of it, the first display of their shared journey together as man and wife, is their first dance. Look here for special packages and discounts offered only to engaged couple’s to help them get the most out of preparing for their special day and their first dance.

Swing Springfield’s West Coast Swing Dance Workshops and Swing Dance Party!

Swing Springfield will be hosting Will Carlton and Stevie Young for a swing workshop and party weekend on December 1st, 2007, at Ballroom World, 1911 S. Glenstone.

Starting at 5pm on saturday, Anne & Andy Walls, local professional swing dance instructors and competitors, will be teaching a swing dance class on the basics of west coast swing. You are invited to come learn or reinforce your knowledge of the basics of west coast swing as it is danced socially and competitively around the world today. This swing dance class is for dancers of all levels either looking for an introduction to west coast swing dancing, or are looking to reinforce their knowledge and comfort level with the basic techniques and skills of west coast swing.

Continuing at 6pm, Will Carlton and Stevie Young, visiting professional swing dance instructors, competitors, and judges, will be teaching a swing dance class that goes beyond the basics and will explore more intermediate concepts, patterns, and techniques to add to your west coast swing repertoire.

At 7pm, Will and Stevie will continue with more advanced techniques, patterns, and styling for really taking your west coast swing to a new level. Come learn some of the latest, hottest techniques and concepts from two of the hottest west coast swing pros in the country!

From 8pm on, we will have the best swing dance in town to the best mix of swing music! Come join in the fun and join the largest swing dancing club in Springfield for a great night of swing dancing!

Register for this event early to take advantage of pre-registration discount! Visit www.DanceWithMe.us today to pre-register for the west coast swing dance workshops and swing party, or to purchase any of our swing dance videos.

Will Carlton and Stevie Young will both be in town for Saturday and Sunday, so contact us now at 417-496-1067 to schedule a private lesson to get the most out of learning to dance from these amazing pros. Anne and Andy Walls both teach with Swing Springfield and are also available for private lessons throughout the year. Swing Springfield club members get to take advantage of special discounts on groups lessons as well as private lessons, among other benefits. Join Swing Springfield today to take advantage of special discounts for our workshop weekends, ongoing swing dance classes, swing dance parties, and private lessons in east coast swing, west coast swing, single time swing, lindy hop, hustle, charleston, and many other styles of american social dancing.

For more information on Swing Springfield and other events that happen throughout the year, visit www.USDanceXchange.com and see our online forum.

Will Carlton and Stevie Young, both from Wichita, Kansas, regularly travel around the country to teach west coast swing classes, to compete at west coast swing dance events, and judge west coast swing competitions. Anne and Andy Walls, both from Springfield, Missouri, regularly travel around the country to train and compete in west coast swing, as well as teach west coast swing classes and workshops. Anne and Andy run Swing Springfield, a local swing dance club, and promote swing dancing and swing dance events in and around Springfield, MO.

New Year’s Eve Ball at the Vandivort!

You are cordially invited to enjoy an exquisite evening of fine dining and dancing at Springfield’s 2007 New Year’s Eve Ball.

Start off 2008 with style! On Monday, December thirty-first, at eight o’clock in the evening, join us at the Grande Ballroom in the historic Vandivort Centre, 305 East Walnut, Springfield, Missouri.

Put on your finest and dust off those dancing shoes for this magical and fun-filled evening of fine dancing, food, art and conversation. The evening will feature a raffle for door prizes including a unique work of art created specifically for the 2007 New Year’s Eve Ball by our spotlight artist, Jacob Burmood, whose work will be on display. Additionally, the evening will present a silent auction of an assortment of items.

Attending the New Year’s Eve Ball and both the raffle and silent auction help support the Community Alliance for Compassionate Care at the End of Life.

We will have an array of refreshments and desserts catered by Lettuce Cater To You. A cash bar will be available. Music for the evening provided by Dance With Me. (If you are interested in dance lessons for this event, call Anne & Andy Walls at 417-869-6789 or visit www.DanceWithMe.us.)

Door price is $35 per person or $60 per couple. Advance ticket prices are $30 per person or $50 per couple before December 17th. Contact the Grande Ballroom or Dance With Me for advance ticket purchase information. You may purchase your New Year’s Eve Ball tickets online at www.DanceWithMe.us.

Complimentary Valet Parking is available for your convenience.

For tickets or more information, call 417-869-6789, 417-869-0727 x104 or email dance@dancewithme.us.

Halloween Party with Swing Springfield at Trolley’s!

Come join Swing Springfield for some Halloween fun and a lot of swing dancing Wednesday night, October 31^st!

Make sure to dress up for our costume contest! Swing Springfield club members will vote on the winners! Winners will win prizes such as temporary club memberships (for discounts on swing dance classes, discounts on private swing dance lessons, discounts on swing dance workshops, swing parties, and more!), free swing class admission, and even free private swing dance lessons! If you enjoy east coast swing, west coast swing, single time swing, lindy hop, hustle, jive, or any other social dance, this is the opportunity you’ve been looking for! A great night of good food, good company, good music, and dancing!

Visit Swing Springfield’s online forum at www.USDanceXchange.com and find out more about our ongoing activities and how you can join in on the fun! This forum has information on Swing Springfield’s swing dance workshops, special events, swing dance parties, regular classes, and how to find private swing dance instruction. Our swing party at Trolley’s is always FREE, however the 7pm class is $3 per person and the 7:30pm class is $7 per person, with admission to both for only $8!!

As part of our Halloween evening fun, we’ll be teaching the Time Warp! We’ll mix in some single time swing and show everyone how to fit it all together! Then, for fun, we’re planning on recording our craziness and post it on YouTube for anyone willing! The evening will also include a fun trivia game that all class participants will be eligible to play for prizes including free swing dance lessons, free private instruction in swing dancing, and temporary swing club membership so that you can take advantage of swing club member discounts for things like swing dancing classes, private swing dance instruction, and special swing dance workshops and parties!

The evening will then be a crazy mix of all kinds of swing dancing to our normal mix of music, east coast swing, west coast swing, hustle, lindy hop, nightclub sway, charleston, and anything else you request! If you’re looking for THE swing dance party to be at, look no further than Swing Springfield’s regular dance parties at Trolley’s Downtown Bar & Grille.

The evening won’t end at 11pm as normal, however, because the whole crazy swing dancing lot of us are going out to see the Rocky Horror Picture Show! There’s a midnight showing at the Shrine Mosque, being put on by the Springfield Little Theatre and the Moxie. Tickets are available at the Springfield Little Theatre for $10 general admission, plus there are audience participation kits available at the door for $5 each. Should be a lot of fun!

Remember, keep checking on Swing Springfield’s online forum at www.USDanceXchange.com for the latest happenings in the world of swing dancing, plus there are other forums and a calendar of events to help you find other dance opportunities in your area!

Check out www.DanceWithMe.us for information on registering for special dance events or purchase your instructional dance DVD today! We have a growing collection of dance videos to give you the most dance instruction for your money! Plus, find out about learning other styles of ballroom dancing, latin dancing, salsa dancing, country dancing, and of course swing dancing!

Tulsa Fall Fling 2007

What a great weekend! Full of good dancing, good music, and good friends!

We had a good-sized group representing Swing Springfield show up and dance this weekend! I am certain everyone was able to get their fix of west coast swing. Whether you did or not, I expect to see everyone out dancing at swing night out at Trolley’s!

There were many great workshops taught this weekend. In spite of the small size of the event, attendance was really nice and you won’t find much better people to hang around with than swing dancers. They had some of our favorite west coast swing professionals, like Jeanne DeGeyter, Will Carlton, Stevie Young, Austin Murrey, and Doug Rousar. All the professional demonstrations were incredible, but by far the best show this weekend had to be Doug Rousar dancing with Chelsea to Thriller! It wasn’t even part of the showcase, it was just so cool, no one else could even take the dance floor because everyone was mesmerized. Trust me, you watch some of these professionals on the dance floor, and you can’t help but be inspired and amazed at what can be done with west coast swing.

Looking forward to seeing everyone this weekend at Swing Springfield’s regular wednesday night swing night out at Trolley’s. We’ll do west coast swing classes again this coming week. Keep an eye out in the future, because we also plan to offer classes in east coast swing, hustle, lindy hop, and nightclub sway. In spite of the class on any given week, there’s always a mix of swing dancing afterward. So, for good company, good music, and good dancing, you have to come join us at Trolley’s!

Make sure you check out the appetizer and drink specials! Plus, invite your friends for the best mix of west coast swing, east coast swing, lindy hop, hustle, and nightclub sway in town! New people are always welcome to take advantage of our classes, plus remember that we always do a half hour class on just basics at 7pm, to make sure that everyone has a chance to no only learn the basics, but help reinforce your knowledge and comfort level with your basic technique. Plus, there’s a lot of good advice that we try to pass on so that everyone can really enjoy the fun and adventure of social swing dancing.

Don’t forget, we have upcoming west coast swing workshops with Will Carlton and Stevie Young happening December 1st! Check our Swing Springfield forum at www.USDanceXchange.com for more information plus visit www.DanceWithMe.us for registration information for the west coast swing workshops as well as purchase the instructional DVDs reviewing all the information taught in the west coast swing and other workshops! The DVDs are a great way to have a visual review of information concerning west coast swing and not only the patterns taught, but they are full of gems that will help you refine your dance technique so that your skills as a dancer can constantly improve.

Swing Dancing in Springfield Missouri

Swing Springfield, a social swing dance club based out of Springfield, MO, promotes swing dancing in the southwest portion of Missouri.

In addition to offering regular opportunities for social swing dancing, they offer regular swing dance classes every week. Trolley’s Bar & Grille right on the square in downtown Springfield, MO hosts the dance club Swing Springfield every Wednesday night where the dance instructors Anne and Andy Walls offer dance classes in west coast swing, east coast swing, hustle, lindy hop, charleston, and nightclub sway (or nightclub two step). These dances are some of the most popular dances around the nation in the social dance scene and are among the fastest growing in popularity among dancers in general.

East Coast Swing is known as a very lively, bouncy, and athletic dance. Learning to east coast swing can be quite the challenge, but definitely one of the most fun social dances to know. East coast swing comes in many variations. Lindy hop is a form of east coast swing that is actually the grandfather of west coast swing. Lindy hop can be a little sexy in the midst of a mostly lively and fast dance. Single time swing is probably the most common style of swing since its basic step pattern is very simple and easy for most people to pick up in only a few lessons and gain comfort to dancing it fairly quickly. It has many variations and can be danced to a wide variety of swing and rock music and is for many people the first style of swing dancing they ever learn. Charleston is a fun dance involving lots of flicks and kicks, kind of like jive or the ballroom world’s version of east coast swing, however its posture and feel is very much like lindy hop as they are most often done and taught together and many patterns intertwine between lindy hop and charleston. The hustle is a style of swing that evolved around the disco era and has developed into a very smooth and elegant dance involving lots of turns. The hustle follows any music that keeps the steady pulse that defined music in the disco era and is still found in many pop, hip-hop, and other styles of popular music.

Anyone looking for something new and fun should come try swing dancing in downtown Springfield! Swing Springfield is proud to be a part of the Downtown Dance Project, bringing social dancing to the downtown area of Springfield, MO. If you’re already a dancer and are interested in learning one of the coolest, smoothest, and sexiest styles of swing dancing, you need to come try some west coast swing! Of course, if you are already an avid west coast swing dancer, you should come take advantage of the largest swing dance club in our area hosting the best in swing dancing events!

Check out the online forum at www.USDanceXchange.com for more information about Swing Springfield, or visit www.DanceWithMe.us to take advantage of online payment for upcoming workshops, or to order swing dance instructional videos reviewing material taught at Swing Springfield events! These instructional DVDs are a wonderful resource to take advantage of as they show some of the best stuff being taught around the nation by some of the best instructors around!

Swing Dancing in Springfield Missouri

Swing Springfield, a social swing dance club based out of Springfield, MO, promotes swing dancing in the southwest portion of Missouri.

 

In addition to offering regular opportunities for social swing dancing, they offer regular swing dance classes every week. Trolley’s Bar & Grille right on the square in downtown Springfield, MO hosts the dance club Swing Springfield every Wednesday night where the dance instructors Anne and Andy Walls offer dance classes in west coast swing, east coast swing, hustle, lindy hop, charleston, and nightclub sway (or nightclub two step). These dances are some of the most popular dances around the nation in the social dance scene and are among the fastest growing in popularity among dancers in general.

 

East Coast Swing is known as a very lively, bouncy, and athletic dance. Learning to east coast swing can be quite the challenge, but definitely one of the most fun social dances to know. East coast swing comes in many variations. Lindy hop is a form of east coast swing that is actually the grandfather of west coast swing. Lindy hop can be a little sexy in the midst of a mostly lively and fast dance. Single time swing is probably the most common style of swing since its basic step pattern is very simple and easy for most people to pick up in only a few lessons and gain comfort to dancing it fairly quickly. It has many variations and can be danced to a wide variety of swing and rock music and is for many people the first style of swing dancing they ever learn. Charleston is a fun dance involving lots of flicks and kicks, kind of like jive or the ballroom world’s version of east coast swing, however its posture and feel is very much like lindy hop as they are most often done and taught together and many patterns intertwine between lindy hop and charleston. The hustle is a style of swing that evolved around the disco era and has developed into a very smooth and elegant dance involving lots of turns. The hustle follows any music that keeps the steady pulse that defined music in the disco era and is still found in many pop, hip-hop, and other styles of popular music.

 

Anyone looking for something new and fun should come try swing dancing in downtown Springfield! Swing Springfield is proud to be a part of the Downtown Dance Project, bringing social dancing to the downtown area of Springfield, MO. If you’re already a dancer and are interested in learning one of the coolest, smoothest, and sexiest styles of swing dancing, you need to come try some west coast swing! Of course, if you are already an avid west coast swing dancer, you should come take advantage of the largest swing dance club in our area hosting the best in swing dancing events!

 

Check out the online forum at www.USDanceXchange.com for more information about Swing Springfield, or visit www.DanceWithMe.us to take advantage of online payment for upcoming workshops, or to order swing dance instructional videos reviewing material taught at Swing Springfield events! These instructional DVDs are a wonderful resource to take advantage of as they show some of the best stuff being taught around the nation by some of the best instructors around!

Mambo Salsa Class in Springfield Missouri

For the best bang for your buck in ballroom dance instruction in the Springfield area of Southwest Missouri, you have to check out the Mambo Salsa class series at the historic Vandivort’s Grande Ballroom taught by Anne and Andy Walls of Dance With Me. This endeavor is proud to be a part of the Downtown Dance Project, an endeavor to bring more social dancing opportunities to the downtown area of Springfield Missouri.

This class series is the best alternative to learning to dance if you can’t afford private instruction. It’s a special closed class series that will not allow new people after the first class. This way all of the participant get to progress at a steady pace and they get to learn new information in a very structured manner to help everyone digest new information and develop their skills in the best possible way short of private instruction. Both Anne and Andy Walls are available for private instruction, but this is an excellent opportunity to receive training from their extensive experience in training and competing all across the country with some of the best coaches available in the world in both ballroom, latin, country, and swing dancing.

The class time each week starts off with 30 minutes of review and practice time where you get to work on your skills with 2 excellent instructors on hand to answer individual questions before the class even starts. Then, there’s a full hour of instruction either reinforcing or presenting new information to reinforce previously learned skills, as well as new information, patterns, or techniques taught in detail with the opportunity to address individual concerns since the class size is limited to keep any participant from feeling neglected or overwhelmed. Plus, there’s 30 minutes at the end for practicing to music with the instructors still on hand to answer questions and address individual concerns. This class will teach patterns appropriate to both mambo and salsa as well as show the similarities and differences between both the dances and the music used for salsa and mambo dancing.

Essentially, you get 2 hours of excellent instruction in mambo and salsa dancing in 6 progressive class periods where every participant has the opportunity to grow, learn new skills, and achieve a greater comfort level to help them feel and look great on the dance floor! Our past classes have had great success in giving people a new level of skill and comfort for themselves and to share with their dance partners on any dance floor. Anne and Andy Walls of Dance With Me really enjoy teaching these classes series because of the opportunities it affords them to really delve into the classes in a lot more detail than an ongoing classes that are open to new participants each session.

This class is an excellent opportunity for singles and couples alike, since the emphasis will be on social dancing, and not on staged choreography.

Check out information on the class on the online forum at USDanceXchange.com, or register online at DanceWithMe.us and take advantage of this opportunity today!

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