Private Dance Lessons

Once you've gotten the basics down in group lessons, you're ready for some private lessons! You might notice that sometimes in class you end up on the wrong foot, on the wrong beat, or that things work out relatively smoothly in class but they never seem to work out as well when you're practicing in the club or in your living room. All those classes, and social dancing, are going to leave you with LOTS of questions. Take private lessons to get your questions answered! The truth is, even if you pay exceedingly close attention in your group lessons, there's no way you can get all your questions answered in class. A private lesson is the best way to get your particular issues resolved.

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Foxtrot at the Ballroom

The origin of the Foxtrot dance is very straight forward. It originated in early 1914 in the Jardin de Danse on the roof of the New York Theatre. This was one of the largest theatres in the World and was being converted into a movie house. Between the shows the theater's management decided to try vaudeville acts and selected Harry Fox and his company of "American Beauties" to put on a dancing act. Harry Fox was doing trotting steps to ragtime music as part of his act, and people referred to his dance as "Fox's Trot."

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Two for Tango

Two for Tango

The "authentic" tango is closest to the dance that originated in Argentina and Uruguay, though other types of tango have been developed and become mature dances in their own right. Ballroom tango is divided into the "International" (English) and "European" styles. These two styles developed when the tango first went abroad to Europe and North America. English Tango was first codified in October 1922, when it was proposed that it should only be danced to modern tunes, ideally at 30 bars per minute. As a result the English Tango has evolved into a highly competitive dance, while the American Tango has evolved into a social dance where the emphasis is on leading and following skills.
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Want to meet new friends?

If you are looking for an entertaining night out and want to meet new people of all ages in a friendly and active environment, then ballroom dancing is a great way to achieve this. No matter how old or young you are ballroom dancing provides both mental stimulation and physical exercise.

Ballroom dancing is also great exercise and a brilliant way to stay in shape. It is far more fun than going to the gym or merely exercising to music.

All dance clubs welcome new members of all levels with open arms. If you know nothing about ballroom dances then don’t worry. The dances are not difficult to pick up and there will always be plenty of people keen to help you out, without having formal lessons.

Get out, Get Fit, Be Social, Go Ballroom Dancing

Forget the Right Footmoves , Get the Right Footwear

You have sat and watched the stars dance around your TV. You have seen the how absolute beginners can be transformed, with expert tuition, into gods that float effortlessly across the ballroom floor. So now you want to join them.

The lessons are going to be tough, that goes without saying, but you if you are not careful your body can suffer too. The question that you should ask is whether it is you or the shoes that should good.

Normal shoes are designed for walking where grip is important, this is not the case on the dance floor where too much friction can affect your speed of footwork and may even lead to ankle, knee or back problems. The reason is obvious; dancing requires your legs to move fluently and the difference could all be down to the choice of footwear. Your ankles, knees and back will try to compensate for any lack of slick foot moves.

A little investigation quickly reveals why good dancers wear the ‘fancy’ dance shoes. These will be made from breathable fabrics such as leather or suede. Generally the soles are made of suede. These shoes bear a resemblance to bowling shoes in their suppleness and feel. Men and women will tend to have different shoes for Latin dances with the men’s shoes having one and a half to two inch heels, and there should be room for the toes to move.

Buying a beautiful looking pair of shoes from your local shoe store may seem appealing, but if you want to dance your best you should wear proper dance shoes. You will need to try out any pair of shoes before you buy them. It is not only the looks but the feel as you step, turn and twirl. There should be no ‘stickiness’ and yet the shoes should not slip or slide uncontrollably. Also check that they stay on your feet when you go up on your toes!

Badly fitting shoes can lead to some serious foot problems such as metatarsalgia (pain in the ball of the foot), plantar fasciitis, hammer toes, and bunions. This is especially true with the Latin dances. Due to the stress on the lower limb and foot during dancing, injuries and complaints are quite common. If the problem is serious then you should see your GP or a podiatrist as soon as possible

Before buying a pair of new dancing shoes, you should do your research to find out exactly what is required for your particular type of dancing, and also make sure you get a proper fitting by a professional. Ill-fitting dance shoes can lead to numerous foot problems that can affect your dancing and enjoyment. Seek help from your dance instructor or leading dance shoe retailers. Remember that the choice of shoe depends on whether you're going to class, a studio dance or a competition. To begin with a leather soled shoe, such as a loafer-type, or for men, a dress shoe style, will do perfectly well in the studio.

To preserve the life of suede and leather soles, dance shoes should never be worn outside. Two other accessories that will extend the wear of your dance shoes - a carrying case for transporting them, and a sole brush to lift the nap of the suede every couple of weeks or so. Remember that the foundation of a dancer is the pair of shoes on their feet.


Roger Titley is a successful entrepreneur, both in the offline and online arenas. To read more tips and techniques like the ones in this article, please click here: (http://www.studiodancing.com/)