Just Dance!

Late last year, as a family Christmas present, we bought the Kinect for the XBox 360. This is something that Klint and I have been holding out for ever since we first heard about it in development and despite the ever popular Wii coming out. For those of you who don't know what the Kinect is, it is a controller free gaming device that is connected to the XBox 360, very similarly to the Wii in how you interact with you game in terms of movement. The beauty of the Kinect though is that there are no controllers at all and no special mats.... just you and your game.

There are many cool features about the Kinect but for me personally, I wanted it for the dance game called Dance Central.



This game is a BLAST!!!! It doesn't matter whether or not you are a dancer because the flashcards teach you and in easy mode even little kids can do the moves. But, if you are a dancer it is even better! The game uses actual dance moves like a jazz square so it is really easy to start to learn the hard versions of songs. And let me tell ya, the hard dances are HARD! I am really digging the music choices and can't wait to bring some of these moves to the studio for jazz and hip hop.

For those of you who really want a good workout (I spent over an hour dancing the other night!) but don't want to feel like it is work, I highly suggest a dance game like Dance Central! The characters are cool, the moves are hot, and you will drop the pounds dropping it like it's hot!!!

Interesting...

Looking through past posts I had a startling revelation. I have written so little about one of my biggest loves, one of my most enduring loves- dance.

Of course I share thoughts about my kids, and I can't really write too much about the hubby because of what he does. I talk about my crafting, love of Etsy, and all manners of things. But for some reason I keep dance to myself. All I know is that if it wasn't for dance, I wouldn't be here. It may sound dramatic but it is true.

Dance has been my safety net when life went wrong over and over again, a place where I could go inside myself where I forgot how hungry I was, how tired, how sad or confused. Just me, music, movement. Nothing else exists when I dance. Now that I am a dance teacher I am trying to show my students how much fun moving can be. I don't care about pointed toes, pretty arms, or even rhythm. Just listen to the music, move your body, and have fun I tell all the little ones that come to me every Sat. morning. Who know? Maybe dance will save one of them?

“When you perform you are out of yourself-larger and more potent, more
beautiful. You are for minutes heroic. This is power. This is glory on earth.
And it is yours nightly.” ~Agnes De Mille

A Lil Bit of Zumba Does a Body Good

OH MY GOODNESS!!! I am just now catching my breathe from my Zumba class that was from 6-7 and I feel like my butt was kicked by a pro. I promised myself that I was going to take it as much as I can since I get to take it free at the dance studio where I teach and it is ultra convenient that two out of the three classes offered follow two of the classes I teach so I don't have any excuses not to go. I have never felt as energetic and worn out at the same time, this is no comparison to taking a class instead of "working" out at home. I can never push myself the way a class can!

I heavily suggest to anyone who hates working out, loves shaking their butt to latin beats, and wants to just have fun to come to a Zumba class, especially the ones offered at Rock City Dance in Middlburg Heights. Aside from having great teachers (*wink*) Rock City's fitness package is awesome- for just $45 a month you get unlimited fitness classes which range from Cardio Boot Camp to Yoga. And you can try out a class for free to see if it is for you... with an offer like that what do you have to lose except for those pesky holiday pounds???

I can't wait to see everyone there!!!! (Be sure to bring a lot of water and a small towel, you will need it!)

My little Dancers!

About 2 weeks ago my dance studio had two performances, one at the Middleburg Heighs Rec Center and the other at the North Olmstead mall. Both went really well and I am so proud of all my little dancers! (Doesn't Gabby look cute in her fur vest?!)

Cleveland Craft Show Opportunity!

If any of my fellow Cleveland gals out there are interested in participating in a craft show here is your chance. My dance studio - Rock City Dance- in Middleburg Heights is hosting a craft show on Dec 13th at 1-6pm. It is a "bring your own table" event and only costs $10 to hold a place.
I will be there with all my clippy glory and hope you will come too!!! It is sure to be a hit and just in time for the holidays!

For more info email: info@rockcitydance.com or call 440.243.4999

(Oh, and come try out my adult beginner tap class! It is a blast!!)

Hip Hop at it's best!

I love where hip hop is going, especially on So You Think You Can Dance. Gone are the days of crotch grabbing, thug stomping dances. Now lyrical hip hop is acceptable and when done right is magical. This is probably my favorite dance of the season so far.

Surf's Up Sunday

Dance- Bailar- Danse- Ballo- танцулька- ダンス- Tanz- Dans- dança

“When you perform you are out of yourself-larger and more potent, more beautiful. You are for minutes heroic. This is power. This is glory on earth. And it is yours nightly.”

Ok, ok, ok... I know that I usually do Surf's Up on Saturday, but with all the dancing going on I got a little sidetracked. So here it goes, and in keeping with the new theme of my life- it is all about DANCE! Viva la dance!!!

First off I have to acknowledge a super tapper that I just discovered on YouTube- Tap Dance with Rod Howell. He is beyond fabulous and more importantly his instructional tap videos are easy to follow. He goes from beginner to intermediate with lots of combinations too. Just the thing this rusty hoofer needed to get the gears going again in tap! This is my favorite combination- try it out!

Next is an addiction of mine that occurs every summer- Fox Channel's So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD)! Yay for another season of fabulous dancers, amazing choreography, and scathing critiques from judges. I love this show because it showcases true talent and gives dancers who have worked harder than hard a chance to show the world what they can do... I can't wait... here is a taste from last season- Lacey and Danny.

Since there are so many people out there that share my passion for dance it was all but impossible to choose just one blog that I like so here is a quick list of some great resources if you like to dance, watch dance, or wish you could dance: A Time to Dance, African.Dance.Drum.Life!, Swan Lake Samba Girl, My Dance Place, and finally Dance Primer.

Next I want to share a great resource for clothing the dancer- Discount Dance. I have ordered from here countless times and I am never disappointed. They have a great collection of shoes, costumes, and anything else that a dancer needs from extra taps to silicone disks to cover your goods under those sheer camisoles. Here are my new shoes since my old ones bit the dust after ten long years of love- the Bloch Neo Hybrid.

Finally I have to include the workout to end all workouts for dancers- the New York City Ballet Workout. This workout not only kicks dancer butt, it makes you want to work because you get so jealous staring at the cut bodies of the dancers demonstrating the moves. It is easy enough to follow if you are not classically trained, although you have to have some grace and ability. Knowing terms like battement, pas de bourree, and plie is helpful, pairing the video with a ballet primer would be a good idea if you have no idea what "Floor Barre" means. And "don't forget to breathe!".

I am sure that there will be more dance related posts in the future... for now I am just going to enjoy the fact that I looked, I leapt, I fell, and I landed in a place so much better than I had thought I could ever be!