Posts Tagged ‘dancing’
Fred Astaire – Ballroom Dancing for the People
May 13th, 2010 | 
Author: “The history of dance on film begins with Astaire” – Gene Kelly
Who has not seen Fred Astaire dance on film and not wanted to learn to dance? During his long career on the stage and in film, Fred Astaire has inspired many people to take ballroom dancing lessons and make dancing a part of their lives. Astaire used a mix of ballet and tap that he integrated into his ballroom dance performances to create unique musicial numbers to captivate audiences and inspire current and future ballroom dancers.
Astaire, great dancer and great partners in ballroom dance
Not only did Astaire look good and dance well on his own, he made his partners shine as well. “Let’s Dance” had Astaire partnering with a piano, chairs and a flight of stairs. A hat rack was transformed into a graceful partner in “Royal Wedding”. In one of his most well known dance numbers, “You’re All The World To Me” Astaire partners with an entire room, dancing on the walls and celling because he has fallen in love with a beautiful women who also loves to dance.
These great dance numbers influenced dance numbers in film, including Mel Gibson’s “I Won’t dance, Don’t Ask me” dance number in “What Women Want” and Kermit the Frog’s hat rack dance in “The Great Muppet Caper.” We would not have had Lionel Richie’s “Dancing on the Celling” music video if Fred Astaire didn’t do it first.
But some will say that the most inspiring dance partnership with Astaire was Ginger Rogers.
Dance commentator, John Mueller sums up Rogers’s abilities as follows: “Rogers was outstanding among Astaire’s partners not because she was superior to others as a dancer but because, as a skilled, intuitive actress, she was cagey enough to realize that acting did not stop when dancing began… the reason so many women have fantasized about dancing with Fred Astaire is that Ginger Rogers conveyed the impression that dancing with him is the most thrilling experience imaginable.”
That combination of artistry and emotion hooked American audiences on “Fred and Ginger” movies and helped to leap frog ballroom dancing from a past time for the few and elite, to a fun activity for the masses.
Astaire opened his first dance studio in 1947 in New York City. His plan was to create an international chain of dance studios. Astaire once said, “Some people seem to feel that good dancers are born, but all the good dancers I know have been taught or trained. To me dancing has always been fun and I enjoy every minute of it. I am glad that I can know put my knowledge to use in bringing personal confidence and and a feeling of achievement to so many people.”
Are you ready to start dancing now?
I know that walking into a ballroom or dance studio for the first time can be a little intimidating. Why not start learning how to dance in the comfort of your own home? With ZeDiamond Dance Method Learn the East Coast Swing 2 DVD set, you will be up and dancing in less than 90 minutes… You won’t be dancing on the celling, but you will be out on the dance floor, showing off your dance moves with confidence. You will be experiencing the same joy for dance that Fred Astaire did… and sharing it with the world.
See you out on the dance floor,
Posted in East Coast Swing, Learn to dance, Swing Dance | 
Tags: ballroom dance, ballroom dance partners, ballroom dancers, ballroom dancing lessons, Dance, dance moves, Dance partnership, dance studio, dancing, East Coast Swing, fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, learn the East Coast Swing, Learn to dance, learning how to dance | 
No Comments »
History of East Coast Swing Dancing
What did you do last night?
When someone refers to the good time they had out on the dance floor, typically a story about swing dancing will follow. The term “swing dance” can refer to any of 40 or more dances currently seen out on the dance floor today. For those who do not dance, the term “swing dancing” may bring to mind images of Lindy Hop, Charleston, Jitterbug and the Boogie Woogie dancing they watched their parents or grandparents dance at weddings and family reunions.
I went Swing Dancing!
Once exposed to the Swing Dance World, dancers learn that swing also includes, Carolina, Collegiate and St. Louis Shag, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Hand Dancing, Jive, Bop and Balboa just to name a few. Your local “Swing Scene” may have wide variety of dances offered or have more of a specialized community that focuses on only one or two swing dances. The focus of this blog is that of East Coast Swing dancing and dancers.
Granddaddy of Swing Dancing
In order to understand the current form of East Coast Swing, as it is danced today, you must understand its rich history and growth through time. Lindy Hop came from Partnered Charleston. Lindy Hop was developed and enjoyed in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Traditionally, Lindy Hop had and an 8 count circular basic known as a “swing out”. In time, Lindy Hop dancers were allowed to improvise dance moves and adapted dance steps and moves that included 8 count and 6 count patterns. Through improvisation, variations in the dance were created and independently became quite popular.
East Coast Swing gets its start
One of the popular and simple 6 count variations developed into its own dance, East Coast Swing. In the 1940s, the East Coast Swing evolved with current swing band music and the help of Arthur Murray dance studios. Arthur Murray dance studios helped to make ballroom dance lessons assessable to the masses. Arthur Murray studios took East Coast Swing and standardized it to make it teachable and marketable to American dancers. This paved they way for East Coast Swing to become a competitive ballroom dance and recognized by the National Dance Council of America. Walk in to any ballroom dance studio today, and in an hour or two, you will dance out the door with single swing or single time swing, (a simplified version of East Coast Swing) and a little East Coast Swing (sometimes called triple swing or triple time swing).
ZeDiamond Dance Method helps new Swing Kids get started
ZeDiamond Dance Method was developed by two dancers, Deborah-Marie Diamond and Zeki Maviyildiz from Asheville, NC, who were both originally taught to dance East Coast Swing the way Arthur Murray dance studios have taught swing dancing for years.
When she first started taking ballroom dance lessons, Deborah-Marie noticed that many of the beginner dancers were dancing off time or off rhythm to the music. At first, Deborah-Marie dismissed her observation and thought that dancing off time to the music was just the result of being a beginner dancer. After awhile, Deborah-Marie noticed that dancers who had danced three, four five years were still dancing off time and off rhythm. This got Deborah-Marie thinking that there must be a better way to teach dance steps and rhythm to dance students.
The rest is history… or at least the history of ZeDiamond Dance Method.
See you out on the dance floor,
Posted in East Coast Swing, Learn to dance, Swing Dance |
Tags: Arthur Murray dance studios, Asheville, ballroom dance, ballroom dance lessons, beginner dancers, Dance, dances, dancing, East Coast Swing, East coast swing dancing, NC, single time swing, Swing Dance, swing dancing, swing kids, triple time swing |
No Comments »
It’s EASY to learn how to East Coast Swing Dance for your Wedding!!!
Have you always wanted to learn how to ballroom or swing dance?
- When was the last time it was just you, your dance partner and the music… and everything else just melted away?
- Have you dreamed about floating across the dance floor?
- Imagine the thrill of being asked to dance and knowing that you can!
ZeDiamond Dance Method is the beginning of your life with dance.
Start dancing now with ZeDiamond Dance Method Learn the East Coast Swing 2 DVD set. Watch the video clip below and see how easy it is to learn to dance at home.
You can learn to swing dance in the comfort and privacy of your own home.
Learning to dance can be very scary for some people. The fear of the unknown, failure or looking silly keeps many would be dancers off the dance floor and firmly seated on the couch. But what if there was a way to learn to swing or ballroom dance in the comfort and privacy of your own living room or kitchen?
Deborah-Marie Diamond and Zeki Maviyildiz will guide you, step by step, in learning how to East Coast Swing. They use the ZeDiamond Dance Method to help you quickly and easily learn how to swing dance.
After dancing along with your ZeDiamond Dance Method DVD’s, you will have learned how to Single Swing and East Coast Swing Dance, plus you will have a number of swing dance moves, to keep you and your partner dancing all night long.
Want to learn to ballroom and swing dance in a special wedding dance class?
Starting in April, Deborah-Marie Diamond and Amy Barnes will be teaching Beginner Ballroom Dance Classes in Asheville, NC area. Classes will be taught using ZeDiamond Dance Method.
The focus of the April dance workshop series is to teach 4 beginner ballroom dances that are appropriate for wedding receptions and parties.
This dance workshop series is perfect for eager brides, reluctant grooms, excited bridal party members and family members who want to dance the night way at the wedding reception.
Wedding Dance Workshop Series
Classes are held at The Farm Party Barn
215 Justice Ridge Rd
Candler, NC 28715
828-667-0666
Bev at 828-667-0666 for more information and to register for dance lessons.
See you out on the dance floor,
Amy Barnes
Posted in East Coast Swing, Learn to dance, Swing Dance |
Tags: Asheville, ballroom, ballroom dance, Beginner ballroom Dance Class, dance partner, dancing, DVD, East Coast Swing, Learn How to Dance, Learn How to East Coast Swing, learning to dance at home, NC, Single Swing, swing, Swing Dance, Swing dance moves, wedding dance, Wedding reception |
No Comments »
East Coast Swing Dancing with your Baby
I’m not sure you have noticed… but I’m a pregnant swing dancer.
Currently, I am 20-something weeks along and still dancing up a storm. Well, I’m dancing up as big a storm as my dance partners will allow. As my belly has gotten bigger, my ballroom dance connection improved for awhile. The curve of my belly fit the curve of my husband’s belly nicely. But now, the belly is starting to make Tango a little more interesting. Luckily, I am a swing dancer and the versatility (and distance) of open dance position keeps me smiling and in my favorite dance shoes rather than on the sidelines of the dance floor.
I have been told that “Baby Barnes” is going to come out spoiled. Baby Barnes will have spent 9 months in the womb being rocked for hours by all the East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing and Hustle dancing I do. After being born, the baby will still want to be rocked (or Swing) for hours on end.
I have noticed that the baby tends to wiggle and kick when I am still. Right now, I’m getting kicked because I’m sitting very still while writing this blog. But get me to the ballroom or dance studio and the kicking stops soon after my first dance. The swing dance steps and the movement of my body rocks the baby to sleep while I am working up a sweat to some very loud music.
This got me thinking about dancing with babies. I found this article and thought I would share it with you. Susan Peach has over 20 years experience as a Latin dance and fitness instructor. She is also the creator of Mambo Moms, a fun and gentle Latin dance based fitness program that helps new moms get back in shape while spending quality play time with their babies. http://www.mambomoms.com
Shared Dancing has Benefits for Babies and New Moms Alike
by PregnancyAdmin on May 5, 2009
“Shared Dancing has Benefits for Babies and New Moms Alike
Every parent knows the calming effects on their baby of rocking and gentle motion. After all, who among us has not paced the floor at 2 am trying to entice a little one back to sleep by rocking, bouncing or swaying?
While you may not be able to do much about those late night pacing sessions, you can capitalise on your baby’s love of rhythmical movement to benefit both of you in many other ways as well. Instead of saving your dance sessions for the wee hours, why not make music and dancing a regular part of your routine with your baby?
Babies begin to develop rhythm skills very early on when they are consistently exposed to music and movement. In fact, it’s probably more accurate to say that babies are born with natural rhythm and all we need to do is nurture it. If you exposure your baby to the joys of dance throughout his childhood, just think how much more confident he’ll feel as a teenager at his high school prom! In cultures where music and dance are a part of everyday life, no one grows up to be “rhythmically challenged!”
If rhythm and movement are a consistent part of your child’s life from an early age, the ability to express herself through creative movement will stay with her throughout her life. Many parents are concerned about the effects of inactivity on their children in this age of easy access to computers and video games. Cultivating a love of music and dance early in life provides an excellent introduction to other healthy physical activities.
Even when your baby is very young, dancing in your arms can be an exciting play and social time that he will look forward to. You will probably find that as your baby grows he will soon begin to eagerly anticipate his favourite dance moves like dips and spins. He’ll also tell you by his reactions what type of music and dancing he likes best.
For parents, sharing movement and music with your baby helps in creating a stronger parent child bond. Many parents find that the more time they spend in close contact with their baby, the more sensitive they become to their baby’s needs and signals, and the more easily they are able to decipher what their baby is telling them. Done regularly, shared dancing can become a wonderful way to communicate with your baby.
For new moms especially, moving to music with baby is a delightful way to get some gentle exercise and helps with getting back in shape after childbirth. Most new mothers are eager to lose those extra pregnancy pounds, yet it’s also important to eat well and not exert yourself too strenuously, especially in the early postpartum weeks when you may not be getting much sleep. Holding your baby in your arms while you both enjoy a waltz, a 2-step or even some good old fashioned rock ‘n’ roll, is a wonderful way to get some gentle exercise, and it’s fun too!
And finally, we all know that a stressed out mom equals a stressed out baby. But because dancing is such good exercise, it tends to produce endorphins, the body’s natural “feel good” chemicals. These are the same ones responsible for “runner’s high.” So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed out, try picking up baby and taking him for a spin around the living room to your favourite music. You might just find that you both become calmer as a result.
So why not make good use of your natural instincts to cuddle and rock your baby? Put on your favourite music and enjoy a few dances with your baby on a regular basis. You’ll get a much needed break and some fun exercise. And whether your baby falls asleep or dances right along with you, she’ll be enjoying this special bonding and playtime with you while developing an appreciation for music and movement that has the potential to stay with her throughout her life.”
Excerpt by Susan Peach found at http://www.firsttimepregnancy.com/30.html
Dancing Bellies and Dancing Babies
One of great things about dancing with a baby is that YOU choose how little or how much you do. Though East Coast Swing dancing may look exhausting to you, you really get out of it what you put into it. You choose how much you bounce. You choose how big your steps are. You choose to dance this one or sit this one out. You can request music to control the tempo and speed at which you swing dance. You even get to say ”yes” to this partner and ”no” to that partner. Unlike a fitness class controlled by an instructor, you have lots of control over what happens to you and your body at a swing party or ballroom dance. So you can East Coast Swing and your baby can rock (or Swing) all you want. Rest when you want. Then you can start again when you are ready.
Learning to swing dance with ZeDiamond Dance Method is a fun way for you to bond with your partner, get some exercise and rock your baby in your belly all at the same time. While in the belly, the baby learns the familiar rocking and swinging motions of East Coast Swing dancing and can even hear you sing along with the swing music. Once born, the baby will find comfort in the same rocking and swinging motions as you dance around the room to the music it heard in the womb. He or she will enjoy swinging in your arms as you “Boom a Boom Ta Te” around your house. Want to see how ZeDiamond Dance Method works? Click here to watch a video clip that will show how much fun it can be.
After the baby is born, dancing with your baby and with your partner can strengthen the relationships and bonds between you. ZeDiamond Dance Method focuses on building an energetic connection between you and your dance partner. Not only will you touch your partner while dancing, you will join together as one as you dance around the room. You have shared a joyful activity that everyone can be a part of. East Coast Swing dancing and ZeDiamond Dance Method do not require special equipment or lots of room. You can learn how to swing dance with your partner or baby in the comfort of your at home in your living room or kitchen then go out dancing at a local weekend ballroom dance or swing party. Just pop in your ZeDiamond Dance Method Learn the East Coast Swing 2 DVD set and dance along with the other students. You will be East Coast Swing dancing in less than an hour and have several more dance moves by the end of the 2nd DVD. Visit our website to learn more about the history of East Coast Swing dancing and the history of ZeDiamond Dance Method.
I look forward to seeing you out on the dance floor,
(When in Asheville, NC, please ask me to dance. I’m the pregnant one.)
Posted in East Coast Swing, Learn to dance, Swing Dance |
Tags: Asheville, ballroom, ballroom dance, connection, Dance, dance partners, dancing, East Coast Swing, learn to dance DVD, learning to dance at home, Rhythm, Swing Dance, swing dance steps, swing dancer, swing dancing, swing music, Swing party, west coast swing |
9 Comments »