Dance Lessons??

naughtoj

naughtoj

Cathlete
Anyone take dance? Any kind?


I was flipping thru the channels tonite and hit on a local channel (Maricopa County TV on Cox) that was airing a local dance show at a community college here. The dancers were all college age and were so good!! They did so many different types of dance and it was all very moving! I have always loved dance, took a few lessons as a kid, used to do "presentations" to my family as a kid, you know..make up my own dance routines and such. I listen to music and just want to MOVE. Used to dance in clubs (back when I was on the prowl) but now that clubbing has gone away, I really miss that type of movement.



Anyway, I watched this show and was so envious of the dancers. I wish I could be THAT good at something, especially dancing! Got me thinking about dance classes? Is that something you wouldn't expect to get very proficient at later in life? What sort of dance classes would blend all types of dancing, like the show I watched tonite?


Since this is a fitness board, I thought someone may be into this!
 
Hi Janice. I've been taking ballet classes as an adult for years and I love it. I'd say I'm at an intermediate/advanced beginner level at this point. I'm decent and I know how to do a lot of combinations, but constantly struggle (mostly without success) to actually look like a dancer when I move. So I'm not sure how to answer your question about whether it's possible to become highly proficient if you're starting out as an adult. Certainly it's possible to become good at it, plus if you love to dance, the whole process of learning and actually dancing is fun. For me at least, though, I have found that it's counterproductive to focus on whether or not I look like a dancer--I *don't*! and thinking about it and focusing on how klutzy I look just makes things worse. So I instead force myself to focus on technique--pointing my toes, bending my knees, etc. That's helped a lot for me, but everyone is different (I am actually pretty shy) and probably plenty of people are more coordinated and naturally talented/able to learn faster than I am!

In any case, even if I don't look like a dancer, who cares--I'm doing it because I love it, not because I want to quit my day job. So I say, go for it and see what it's like for you. It's great fun.

Bunbun
 
Hard to tell janice. Did you watch modern/jazz and tap or ballroom?

Either field of dance would be totally fabulous. I say, go for it!! I've wanted to dance for a long while now, I want to do latin ballroom but you need to register with a partner and my husband won't do it with me.

With this type of dance, especially ballroom, you don't have to start learning at young age. And learning something new is so good for the brain and keeping you young.

Follow your passions!

Clare
 
I didn't see that show, but if you want to take dance lessons, do it! My husband and I recently started ballroom dance that includes swing and latin dances (really fun). It's something we can do and learn together. And it is really fun. . .did I mention that already?;-)
 
Janice! I could have written your post!!! The presentations as a kid and everything! i wish i had seen the show. i have been kicking around the idea of dance lessons for a while now. Dh is hardly ever here, but he wanted to take some so he could dance at our wedding. I think if you take ballroom you get teh most out of it, b/c you learn waltzs, quickstep(OUCH!), latin styles, and alot of other stuff that i'v seen and don't know the names of. Latin is my favorite, but i only know cumbia and salsa. i would love to learn more and i don't think you are ever to old to have fun!


jes:+
 
Hi Janice,
I'm just like you, I hear music and see movement! I was a Baton twriling champion in my teens ( actually had a twirling scholarship at San Jose State...) and had to take some ballet and jazz dance to support my twirling. You know there is nothing like dance. Those who love it, must do it. Janice, I say that if you want to move then do it! Does it matter how proficient you become? Do it for the joy of it! Chances are you will find other adults just like you there. Go for it girl! Dance!

dmd:D
 
Well, I think me need for movement is what partially keeps me unhappy at my sedentary job! I have decided that when I quit my job for nursing school in the near future that I am going to also sign up for either HOT LATIN dance or SALSA and maybe a DANCE SAMPLER class at my local CC. Hubby would never go for it in a million years. I'll talk him into rock climbing class instead!


I swear, if I could do it, I would stay in community college forever just to keep taking all their elective classes! So fun, and so cheap!!


I danced to Janet Jackson's "Control" (ducking) once when I was in elementary school and won first prize. I choreographed it and everything. Can't remember it, so can't tell you how good it was! It was funny...one of the dance last night on that show was to "Control". Brought back so many memories!!!:)
 
Janice,

I watched "Shall We Dance" with Richard Gere a few days ago. Not my favorite movie, but it was 3:30 am lol. Anyway, it made me want to take dance lessons. I never dance and probably would if I were better at it. I think you should definitely go for it, especially since you seem to be a good dancer to begin with.
 
If you like to watch people dance, then it isn't bad. Not terrific, but if there's nothing else on, watch it lol. I'm not a big JLo fan, but she was pretty good. The movie seemed to center more on Richard Gere, and there were definitely some funny moments.
 
I've taken belly dancing classes at the Y, and I loved it!! My DH always said that I came home in a better mood after going to one of the classes. I say go for it!

Lindzebird
 
Janice, I studied ballet as a child and modern jazz as a teen. After that, life swallowed me whole and currently 35, I find that my body is like the Tinman's: needs oil. My son was asking me to show him ballet moves and I couldn't stand on my toes anymore, much less stand on one leg as I move my arm forward and the opposite leg back and up.

So... if you want to take classes, do it. If you choreographed a number to Janet Jackson before, you might like hip-hop. Those latin dances are great as well. I've always wanted to learn how to tango. Maybe when my son goes to college.

Me, I'll stick to yoga for flexibility.:)

Pinky
 
Okay Janice,

I love salsa dancing! In fact my running music is almost entirely salsa, mambo and romantic slow songs. The sycapated rythems stir my soul.

I have taken salsa lessons and even gone to salsa bars without my husband ( who refuses to dance). I have a group of lady and male friends with whom I feel safe. We dance and dance. No drinking...just dancing until midnight.

I'm with you on the dance thing. I have a dvd of Gloria Estefan dancing with Marc Anthony that literally makes me weep with dancing glee when I watch it. So moving, so raw and hot! dmd:)
 
For amazing Salsa dancing Janice, try Dance with Me starring Vanessa Williams and Chayene ( gorgeous Mexican actor who plays Raphael). The night club scene and the soundtrack are hot! dmd:)
 
Don't know what you saw but I love to dance. I took belly dancing and quit after 2 lessons, then I took exotic dancing and loved it. Have always also wanted to do latin dancing, is that the salsa? If not I like salsa also. Love ball room dancing. Women look so elegant and most of all, love the dancing attire.

~~TyTbody~~
Working towards Perpetual Motion
 
" After that, life swallowed me whole and currently 35, I
>find that my body is like the Tinman's: needs oil. "



Boy Pinky, I can relate to that one. If you saw me, you would laugh out loud at the idea of me as a ballet dancer!:)


Anything that really rips up the carpet will work for me! Ballet has to mixed with something else. I am not calm enough. It would be like yoga for me, which can be frustratingly slow (which is probably what I need!)

dmd.......I am sooo jealous!! I only had one friend who would go to the clubs with me back then and she moved away. We would drink, but very little and then drink TONS of water. We would sweat so much on the dance floor that sweat would fling from the ENDS of our hair. I absolutely LOVED IT. It was such a release for me I think. Hubby does not feel comfortable with me "going out" again, the whole guy thing. I wish I had such a circle of friends like the ones you speak of! I will check out that movie!


I wish you guys could have seen the show I saw! It was so neat and beautiful!! I thought it was the community college dance troupe but it was a professional type place. I actually thought, "Hey, if they can do this and they are college students, maybe I could too!" Then I visited a web site and saw that they did auditions and had to have references from dance teachers, blah, blah. Oh well!!!:) I think I think I am better than I am!


Boy, even still today, Irene Cara's "Flashdance", Dirty Dancing's "The time of my life", and Grease's "The one that I want" can still ignite fire under my feet!! (hubba hubba on Patrick Swayze there):)
 
i have been taking lessons in country western,ballroom,swing,and latin for five years and it is a blast! we have a practice party every thursday and go out as a group to a club on fri and have parties like thanksgiving,xmas,etc in which we have shows from professional dancers and novices. try it-you'll like it! my teacher is a worlds champion and he can do the splits,and leap in the air. night club-2-step is my favorite partly because we do different tricks like lifting me off the floor.
 
Yep! Tytbody, Salsa dancing is almost always done to some latin music and your right the attire is so pretty and different.

I am a singer with a Big Band and our director had all of us take dance lessons so we would know how it felt to be on the other side of the bandstand. It was so interesting! Our band actually got better at our meters and song selections after the dance lessons. It's one thing to think like a musician and anothe to think like a dancer. dmd;-)
 
so what we are feeling is totaly different than what is being played?

Does that make sense?? Maybe you can better explain the difference in being the player and the dancer.


what did you feel when you were dancing versus what you didn't feel when you were playing.


~~TyTbody~~
Working towards Perpetual Motion
 
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