Archive for the ‘Recreation And Sports’ Category

• Ballroom Dancing Weekends Are a Lot More Fun Than Mowing the Lawn!

  Date: 2010.05.03 | Category: Recreation And Sports | Response: 0

  
  Ballroom dancing weekends have become increasingly popular across the country. This is partly due to television programmes, such as Strictly Come Dancing and the annual Eurovision Dance Contest, which have elevated the activity from a social pleasure into a competitive sport.

  Organised ballroom dancing weekends can combine both. The emphasis is always on enjoyment and the sheer love of dancing, but dancing competitions are also often part of the weekend, which have the effect of keeping everyone on their toes – literally.

  In the world of competitive ballroom dancing there are ten basic dances used in competitions. Five of them are classic standard dances, and five are Latin American dances. The quickstep and the slow foxtrot, tango and the waltz, as well as the Viennese waltz make up the standard ballroom dances, while the pasa doble, samba, rumba, cha cha and jive make up the Latin American offerings.

  Those attending ballroom weekends will be very familiar with all these dances, whether in competition or just spending a weekend enjoying the atmosphere of social interaction and healthy exercise.

  Ballroom weekends are not just for the older person any more. Ballroom dancing is increasingly attracting younger people who are discovering at first hand the fun and excitement of mastering complicated dance movements with fluid elegance to the rhythm of tuneful music that doesn’t rely on a heavy, thumping, monotonous beat for its dubious appeal.

  Because of the increased popularity of ballroom dancing, organisations and companies have sprung up all over the country to cope with the demand. They coordinate with large hotels and advertise ballroom dancing weekends, taking bookings from individuals and couples, all eager to experience the old world charm of a dance art form that seems unwilling and unlikely to ever lose its popularity.

  There’s something wholesome and healthy about ballroom dancing. Weekends spent in the company of others of like minds, whirling around a ballroom in sequined dress under the sparkling reflections of a rotating mirror ball has a certain magical quality about it. The elegance and smooth easy motion, whether performed by amateur or professional, has an abiding appeal that stays, weekend after weekend, for thousands of people.

  Ballroom dancing breaks are merely the culmination of many centuries of such activity. It’s difficult to pinpoint an origin to this. However, the 16th century is when the courts of Europe started to see those of the noble class enjoying a form of social dancing that was more refined than the more course folk dancing enjoyed by the masses. This evolved into what is known today as ballroom dancing.

• Swing Dance – Timeless Fun on the Dance Floor

  Date: 2010.05.02 | Category: Recreation And Sports | Response: 0

  
  What is now called “swing” originated as a number of different dance styles in the 1920s and ’30s, primarily in black communities in New York. Swing dancing and jazz music grew together and had a lot to do with each others’ developments. The best known styles of dance that originated during this time are the Lindy Hop and the Jitterbug.

  The dances were so impressive to watch and fun to do that they quickly went mainstream and were embraced by social dance enthusiasts and band leaders, white and black alike.

  It took some time for the professional dance community to accept what was thought of as just a “craze” but swing eventually became an acceptable and competitive form of ballroom still celebrated today.

  Ballroom dance teachers began teaching slower, modified versions of the Lindy Hop and the Jitterbug, and the “West Coast” and “East Coast” styles were born out of this simplification of the dances that were too fast and challenging for beginners.

  The fashions of the time were a big part of the social experience of swing dancing and jazz clubs. Because the ability to move freely was important, pants and short skirts were often worn to allow for the athletic and acrobatic. But as swing worked its way into sophisticated dance halls and ballrooms across the country, pants and short skirts were replaced with classier dresses. Since a form-fitting dress with a tight skirt would not do, and dress styles evolved to accommodate the range of motion required by female participants. And it didn’t take long to figure out that a full, flowy skirt greatly complimented the drama of lifts and spins. Since skirts were going to be flying up and revealing what’s underneath, stockings and undergarments had to be just as presentable as the rest of the outfit.

  Modern day swingers love to dress up in period clothes, hair, and makeup inspired by the ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s when they go out dancing. It makes the experience more fun and authentic. Lots of modern-day designers still create fashions that cater to competitive and casual swing dancers. Broad Minded Clothing and other brands provide full-skirted dresses that, when paired with a petticoat skirt, make swing dancing as fun and fabulous today as it was back then!

  The Great Debate: East Coast vs. West Coast vs. Lindy Hop

  Not since Tupac has there been such an East Coast / West Coast rivalry between two passionate factions.

  While both of these styles can be traced back to the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem in the twenties, they have grown separately to become very different styles. And enthusiasts of each side believe theirs to be the superior dance. The dance that originally started it all was the Lindy Hop, a very fast and acrobatic dance.

  The Lindy Hop begat the Jitterbug, which was even more vigorous than its predecessor. It was a bit too frenzied (and violent) for ballroom, so it was “tamed” and modified again to become the Jive. This is the style most similar to the current West Coast swing style. It’s bouncier, faster, performed mostly to 4/4 time, big band style music.

  In California, the music was more western in influence with slower tempos and country/western instrumentation, which played a large part in the evolution of the dance style taught in California ballroom studios. The dancing became the slower and toned-down style we now call West Coast swing.

  West Coast swingers consider their style to be the most sophisticated and refined. East Coast swingers think the West Coast style is watered-down and less musical. But both require a level of technical skill and rhythm and are equally impressive to watch and most importantly, equally fun to participate in.

  Separate from the East Coast and West Coast styles is the original Lindy Hop, which has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years. Harkening back to the original Harlem dances, the new Lindy Hop is aggressive, athletic, and often involves lifts and flips.

• 10 Reasons Why Dancing is Good For You

  Date: 2010.04.27 | Category: Recreation And Sports | Response: 0

  
  There are so many reasons why dancing is good for you, it’s hard to know where to begin. It’s great fun and good for the body as well as the mind. Besides being a good form of exercise and having a truly positive impact on our health, a recent study actually showed that it also makes us smarter (something to do with remembering the dance steps, thus exercising the brain).

  So, why is it good for you to dance? Here are the top 10 reasons:

  1) Great way to exercise and stay fit

  Dance is a great way to stay in shape. If you don’t like the gym, dancing can bring fun back into the exercise.

  2) Burn calories and lose weight

  Dancing is all about moving your body and moving your body is a great way to burn calories. How many will you burn depends on how vigorously you dance. In an one-hour session you can burn from 250 to 400 calories. Yes, losing weight can be fun and enjoyable.

  3) Improved health

  Dance can effectively promote good health by improving cardiovascular fitness, strengthening the muscles, increasing circulation, decreasing blood pressure, lowering the risk of coronary heart disease, reducing stress, and many other positive benefits.

  4) Greater Coordination

  Great for improving control over your body, timing and coordination skills. You will learn how to move with grace and poise.

  5) Good for bones and joints

  Dance is a weight-bearing activity, meaning it’s great for your bones. Weight-bearing exercises has been proven to increase bone density and help reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

  6) Build confidence

  Dance builds confidence by giving you a sense of success and achievement when you master it.

  7) Great way to meet new people

  Dancing provides a natural icebreaker and is a great way to meet new people and make new friends.

  Lifts your mood

  Any exercise can raise your spirits by raising the endorphins or so called feel good chemicals. This can lighten your mood and reduce the risk of depression.

  9) Good for your Mind

  Dancing will keep your mind active. It will improve circulation to the brain and help stimulate the memory by remembering all the steps. Great mental exercise.

  10) Improved overall well-being

  Dance has an outstanding positive effect on both physical and psychological well-being.

  There you have it – 10 reasons why you should dance. There are, of course, many more benefits of dancing, but we have to stop somewhere.

• Clog Dancing – Offering High-Levels of Attitude, Energy, Exercise, and Fun

  Date: 2010.04.24 | Category: Recreation And Sports | Response: 0

  
  Have you ever wanted to do something excitingly challenging to you, while knowing it’s good for you and won’t require lots of boring work from you. Then, that something is clog dancing, also called clogging. You can do it solo, with a partner, or within a group. All three ways are fun, fun, fun. Also, if you join an organized clogging group, you’ll find yourself having a new set friends while becoming more acceptable to yourself and your peers. Since clogging groups are special in their own way, you will be, too.

  What is clogging?

  Several sources describe the American form of clogging as hillbilly-tapping or foot-stomping folk dancing, where the dancer makes musically synchronized sounds with his/her feet. In the past, it was done to mountain and bluegrass music with high-kicking leg movements combined with foot shuffling, stomping, and tapping. Nowadays, it’s done to many kinds of music the same way. Kids and teenagers generally do it at high speed, faster and more precise than adults.

  Where did clogging come from?

  Clogging dates back to the 16th-Century-or-prior European folk dances and jigs. It’s been traced to the dances done by the Scotch-Irish steppers, Dutch cloggers (done in wooden shoes or in soft shoes having wooden soles), Euro-Russian gypsies, and English-French-German folk-dancers. In this continent, it evolved into its own early style through the immigrants who settled in Canada, the Appalachian Mountains, and the hill regions of the South. Among all the early settlers who liked to stomp and dance were the Native Americans, frontiersmen, African Americans, cowboys, farmers, ranchers, and the backwoods, hill-abiding, and small-town folks. All of these regional sects have influenced the clogging styles in one way or another at one time or another. Today, it’s being shaped further through contemporary clogging groups, and through the various kinds of modern music in addition to the traditional ones.

  How is clogging taught or done?

  Generally, clogging is learned in groups under an instructor who carefully teaches its terminology and step-routines, and who makes sure it’s done to the time of the music. However, if no such group is nearby, instructional videos and DVD’s can be found in a few dance shops and on the Internet.

  Briefly, the basic clog step is a double-toe tap done with one of your feet, followed by stepping on the balls of each foot. First, starting with your left foot, brush your toe forward and then backward, tap-tap, and then step on the same foot (ball). Immediately following that left tap-tap-ball movement, step onto your right ball, and then step back onto your left one, once more. That’s it, the basic step, left-toe-tap-forward, left-toe-tap-backward, left-step-ball, right-step-ball, left-step-ball.

  Now, repeat this step movement starting with your right foot, and then again with your left one, alternately. Once you have learned to repeat this step continuously in a light-footed manner, you will be able to do the slight variations it easily. As your balance and knee-bending capabilities increase, you’ll move into longer and slightly varied routines based on these steps. Additionally, you’ll be able to do them solo, with a partner, or within a group as in line dancing or as a team. You can also develop your own solo freestyle routines.

  Note: the initial double-toe tap of the basic step can also be done as a heel-toe tap as it’s sometimes done in certain parts of the country. The basic movement is same as above, except the initial toe-tap is replaced with a heel-tap, as heel-tap-forward, toe-tap-backward, step-ball, step-ball, step-ball and so forth.

  Where is it done?

  Clogging can be learned or done anywhere, out in the country, or in the villages, towns, and cities, usually on a fairly hard surface. Today, organized clogging is done mostly within local clogging groups under the leaderships of certified instructors. These groups meet and practice in schools, gymnasiums, churches, civic centers, ballrooms, garages, or homes large enough to accommodate them. Membership includes all ages and types, both adults and youngsters. These groups often have members who compete regularly at regional clogging events in addition to their having leisurely in-group fun. Many of the competitive dancers are young people, who can learn it easily, and do it fast.

  Because these groups are generally nonprofit and semi-private, only a few of them are listed in the yellow pages. Still, clogging groups exist everywhere in North America, similar to the way square-dance clubs do. If you have a square-dance club nearby, chances are they can point you toward a clogging group. Some clogging groups can also be found on the Internet.

  Additionally, in the regions where clogging has been done routinely for decades, the local cloggers might get together spontaneously without much organization. These cloggers will show up at local parks, community events, or county fairs, where small portable wooden clogging floors and recorded music are available to them and anyone else who wants to try it. A fiddler, guitarist, or banjo player might show up there, too.

  How is clogging organized?

  Modern clogging groups are organized under nonprofit federations. That is, each group operates under its own bylaws and the general provisions of a state board or council. The state board or council might sponsor annual workshops for the local chartered groups to attend. Such workshops offer expert clogging instruction, demonstrations, competitions, and entertainment, like, performances, games, or parties of sorts. They’ll also provide displays of recent music, cue sheets, equipment sources, and other clogging information.

  What does it cost?

  Generally, group members pay annual dues to keep the group solvent, about $20-50. The dues cover the cost of rental space, member insurance, and a newsletter. For guest beginners, the only cost is for the instruction, $10-50, for about 10 weeks of classes, one-to-two nights a week. If you decide to go further into clogging after graduating, you’ll need leather clogging shoes with “jingle” (double-action) taps attached to them, $35-70. The dues and shoes are the main costs. Normally, the dress codes are casual, T-shirts and jeans or shorts, for weekly lessons or practice sessions. You won’t need special clothing unless you decide to perform competitively with the group, or to perform with them entertainingly for local charities, senior centers, conventions, and festivals. Even so, the outfits often are homemade.

  What else?

  Clogging groups are family friendly and socially fun. Because children are included in them, these groups maintain high behavior standards for its membership. They hold many get-togethers, potlucks, holiday parties, and fun times for everyone. Yet, some groups are setup for the grownups or for youth only. This condition occurs for the older grownups whose kids have left home, or for the youth who travel frequently to many competitions. Still other groups might be subdivided into both grownups and youth for training purposes. This kind of organization means participation of some kind of is available to almost everyone there. So, if you are looking for a clean, fun way to burn off your energy, and to gain some of it back with other benefits at the same time, try clog dancing. Your fancy footwork will glide you gracefully over the floor, faster and more uniquely than most folks can.

• Dance For Fun

  Date: 2010.04.20 | Category: Recreation And Sports | Response: 0

  
  We all have things in life we enjoy doing. Some of these things we love more than others. Dancing is one thing that nearly all of us, as we age, forget to produce the period to enjoy. Although, dancing is one of those simple pleasures in life that can remind us to smile, to play, to spin approximately until we get dizzy, and most importantly to savor the simplicity of having fun without the worry of work, family, or finances getting in the way.

  It expenses very little in most homes to simply turn the radio on, draw the shades and dance. You can dance with your significant other, your lifelong life-partner, and even your children. You don’t must worry about anybody watching and if they are watching you ought to take pity that they are spending their time caring about what you are doing instead of dancing around and enjoying life to its fullest.

  Native U.S citizens had the correct idea when it comes to dancing. Let the beat be your guide and just dance. They danced as a means of worship, to express submission to their gods, to exalt their gods, to display their joy, and as an outward expression of grief. They danced for love and they danced for war. Dancing to them was as natural as walking is to many of us and important means of expressing by themselves not simply as individual people but also as area of a bigger and unified group.

  If you have don’t ever danced for fun, it’s time to check out the various styles of dance and see what interests you as a style of dance. Some believe there is many types of dance and many unusual styles of music for those various types.

  Line Dancing

  Line dancing is a style of dancing in which dancers line up and dance together by making identical dance steps at the same time. It has swept not simply the nation but is rapidly making its way approximately the world as a fantastic source of dancing fun. It’s also a fantastic method to socialize and meet new people. While line dancing was primarily limited to country music at the outset it has speedily made its distance to other types of music as well. Many bars, dance halls, and clubs will proposal line dancing lessons on slow business nights in order to encourage extra business. Line dancing can be enjoyed by both males and females.

  Square Dancing

  This style of dance has a rather long history and has experienced a good degree of evolution over old couple of decades. While it used to be reserved for hoe downs and such square dancing is quick turning into a hobby for many individuals across America and a good way to expend an night-time and get to know others who share this hobby. This style of dancing is best enjoyed by couples and can be such great fun if you let your hair down a bit while participating.

  Belly Dancing

  Belly dancing can be enjoyed by men and women though it is most regularly connected with women. Unless you comprise the appreciation that goes alone with watching instead of participating and in that case the men may actually outnumber the women. Belly dancing is a very exotic and erotic sort of dance that is nearly always an audience thriller. It will take a little time years to perfect your belly dancing moves and many study this style of dance their entire lives but it is a good exercise that is a great deal of fun.

  Dancing for fun is not only the best reason to dance by far, but it is far too often not the excuse that people dance. People dance for competition, for working out, and for many other reasons but not nearly often plenty do we make the moves simply for the pleasure of doing so. If I may make one suggestion to everyone reading it is this. Go out and dance for the sheer delight of dancing.

• Describe Zumba Dancing – 4 Secrets of Zumba Dancing

  Date: 2010.04.17 | Category: Recreation And Sports | Response: 0

  
  As a certified Zumba instructor, personal trainer and having 7 years of dance training as well, I feel that I can describe Zumba dancing for you or at least try.

  Zumba dancing is best described as a fun, joyful Latin inspired fitness class that combines all the rhythms in Latin music.

  Zumba applies dance moves from Salsa, Cumbia, Merengue, Rumba, Mambo, Belly Dance, Flamenco, Samba, Tango, Reggatone and of course Hip Hop.

  I guarantee you — you’you’ll have tons of fun.

  Here is why:

  1. Even if you think you can’t dance
  2. You don’t need a partner to participate
  3. If you are bored with your regular cardio program
  4. If you want to lest loose and DANCE LIKE THERE IS NO ONE WATCHING

  Zumba is for you! I can best describe Zumba dancing as something for everyone — all shapes, sizes, male and female. Just about any age too. Zumba allows you to have fun while safely losing pounds and inches.

  Zumba really is for everyone.

  If you were to peek inside– you would describe Zumba dancing as a party atmosphere. Instead of a typical cardio class that focuses strictly on the physical and boring aspects — Zumba is about the music.

  And it gives you a total body workout unlike any other around. You will quickly find that your stress level is reduced and your energy is increased. Not to mention the weight loss, muscle toning and other results that get people hooked.

  With Zumba dancing the fun comes first, the physical benefits follow. The calorie burning is not a chore unlike traditional cardio classes.

  To describe Zumba dancing body movements — the full body movements engage all the muscle groups and suddenly you will look more toned and shapelier. All because of the cardio interval style of the slow and fast rhythms. The classes are upbeat, the focus is on the energetic instructor and the fun moves! Often when the cool down comes, the reaction in class is — already?

  Remember this is not just about calorie expenditure; you need to put quality fuel into your body. In other words what you consume is just as important for your weight loss and maintenance goals.

  A good Zumba instructor will guide you and give you a step by step program to maximize your weight and fat loss goals. I hope in this article I have been able to describe Zumba dancing for you.

• Learning Pole Dancing is Fun

  Date: 2010.04.05 | Category: Recreation And Sports | Response: 0

  
  Pole dancing is a fun and enjoyable activity that both improves your fitness and offers you a chance to socialise. Over the last few years its popularity has increased hugely. A wide variety of poles are available to buy for home use and courses are held all over the United Kingdom.

  Known as a form of performing art, it’s a combination of dancing and gymnastics. It involves dancing using a vertical pole, and it is often used in gentleman’s clubs and strip clubs because it is regarded as a sexual activity. Advanced pole dancing requires a great deal of strength, flexibility and endurance. Some dancers simply dance around the pole; however others use it for more athletic moves such as climbs, spins and body inversions.
  Fun, exciting, and a great way of improving your general fitness -it will improve your body posture, coordination, flexibility, build your upper body strength, shape your waistline, and tone your thighs. All of this is achieved through doing something you enjoy.

  Nowadays, it is recognised as a form of exercise and can be used for both aerobic and anaerobic fitness. The sex appeal for the exercise has also toned down; making it a much more acceptable and recognised sport, worldwide.
  Pole dances are available everywhere and offer a lot in order for you to improve. Lessons can teach you the following: Basic safety, cardio warm up, pole dance moves, spins, transitions, turns, slides, steps, stretching and much more.

  To conclude, Pole dancing is a great activity for almost anybody. It gives you the opportunity to develop a new hobby and get fit at the same time. It is also now possible to install poles into your house, making your new hobby easily accessible.

• Solutions For Belly Dance Costumes

  Date: 2010.03.09 | Category: Recreation And Sports | Response: 0

  
  Belly dancing is a wonderful exercise and means of expression for any woman. One of its great advantages is that you can reach a good standard quite quickly, and start performing with amateur troupes at concerts, community fairs and festivals.

  But that creates another problem – what to wear! The ornate beading of belly dance costumes mean they’re expensive to buy – a professional Egyptian belly dance costume can cost $500 or $600 – and if you’re not a professional, it’s hard to justify that kind of money. And let’s face it, many of us modern career women don’t have the sewing skills our moms or grandmothers had, so the idea of making our own costume can be daunting – even if we could find the hours needed to sew on hundreds of bugle beads. On the other hand, part of the fun of belly dance performing is getting dressed up in all that “bling”, and feeling like a star.

  Don’t despair, there are solutions. One is obvious – buy from the source! If you can find a supplier in Egypt, Turkey or even India, you’ll pay a fraction of the price for a professional belly dance costume. Of course, that can be easier said than done, unless you’re planning an overseas trip! On that score, it’s worth checking to see if any of your local bellydancing academies are planning an escorted tour: not only can they be great fun, but you’ll be able to set up your performance wardrobe at bargain prices, which will help pay for your trip!

  The easier alternative is to shop online. Suppliers in developing countries have been slower to jump on the internet bandwagon than sellers in the States or Europe, but it is happening, mainly on eBay. Always check the seller’s reputation before you buy, and scrutinize the photographs of the product carefully.

  If you have trouble tracking these suppliers down on eBay, you’re probably not doing your searches correctly. The default search usually gives you products listed on your local eBay site only. That may include some international sellers who’ve chosen to be listed on your country’s site, but it won’t include a host of international members who haven’t asked for a listing, but who would be quite happy to ship their product to your country. Try doing an Advanced Search instead.

  An easier alternative is to use an eBay Partner site, where you’ll find all the searches done for you. eBay pays a small commission to the owner of the site, which comes from the seller’s fees, not from the buyer. So it doesn’t cost you any extra to buy through these stores – you’re still getting those great eBay prices! – and the bonus is they are often supporting a local belly dance community.