Uconn Dance Sport

There are thousands of different dancing styles and within them many variations among different cultures and times. Some are specifically designed to be available to people of all abilities, such as folk dancing. Others are much more difficult and require many years of learning and practicing before someone can begin to master them. There is no single style of dance that can be considered the hardest since every ability is different. Where one person may find a style challenging (more…)

We’ve all heard people say they have two left feet. Nothing can be further from the truth when it comes to dance.

If you can clap to a beat, you can dance. All it takes is a little practice. Wave your arms. Bend your knees. Twist from side to side. Stand tall and graceful. In no time, you’ll be dancing with the stars, or at least with a friend or two.

Many dance styles today are blends of classic, modern and popular forms. The easiest way to learn is to dance with others, or simply sit back and (more…)

Ballroom and Latin dancing popularity has risen in the last several years. People use the Samba and other popular dances to keep in shape.

The Samba originated in Africa, but is associated with Brazil and Rio de Janeiro. It has traditionally been performed on the street. A ring of people would sing, clap their hands and play drums, while two people would engage in an extreme Samba competition, nothing is held back.

The Samba was then performed in the slums surrounding Rio de Janiero. (more…)

So, you’re interested in learning about the core technique of ballet? I will explain to you the core coundational principles on which ballet is based on. Hopefully, you will be a graceful dancer in no time at all. The core ballet technique generally refers to the principles and steps on which Ballet is founded. These include proper posture and lifting as to be more graceful, a technique known as “pulling up”. There are other core techniques of ballet that are crucial to the artform such as being able to point your toe, remaining flexible and maintaining elegant (more…)

If you think you and your dance partner have what it takes to set the floor on fire and win the amazement of judges you might want to consider attending the 50^th Anniversary of the Cross Country Dance Championships (hosted by Fred Astaire Dance Studios) when it’s held at the Mirage Resort and Casino this year from April 13-17^th.When attending this competition you will have the chance to dance, both competitively and socially, as never before in the incredibly lovely venue that the Mirage offers.If you’re planning to attend as a spectator, you’re assured to see all levels of dance competition from beginning to professional and include some of the world’s finest ballroom and Latin styles.Events are scheduled every day and range from International Standards Divisions to Professional Divisions.And when not watching some of the spectacular dancing you can enjoy all that the vibrant city of Las Vegas has to offer including the Eiffel Tower replica, a simulated volcano eruption, and more.If you can’t make it to this Fred Astaire event you might want to mark your calendars for the (more…)

I was recently visiting family in Pennsylvania when I ran across the most interesting television show (the term “interesting” is left wide open for interpretation at this juncture) that I just could not pull myself from regardless of how much my own befuddlement and curiosity puzzled me. I can’t recall the exact name of the show but it was something along the lines of “Dancing in the Poconos” or “Polka in the Poconos,” but the crux of the show was people (typically over the age of 70) doing the polka and I believe it was broadcast from the Poconos. Now the reason I say that the dancers were “typically” over 70 is that there was one dancer who happened to be a police officer from the state of New York and he looked to be about 32 35. He loved what he was doing, no doubt, as he rhythmically strutted to the accordions with his over six foot frame guiding his 4 foot 2 inch partner. Don’t get me wrong, I love all forms of music and all forms of dance; it’s just that I was taken by surprise that such a show existed in today’s VH-1, MTV, and Dancing With the Stars fervor. The point is that I just happened upon the (more…)

You may have done it years ago or heard your mother or aunt talk about it. Jazzercise was the fitness craze founded in 1969 by Judi Sheppard Missett when she was attending classes at Northwestern University in Chicago and also teaching dance classes at a local jazz studio. Realizing that the dance movements could benefit non-dancers in their fitness goals, Missett reworked her class to attain a newly defined mission: to develop and market fun and effective fitness programs and products that enhance the well-being of people of all ages. Jazzercise classes have several formats with the classic session consisting of dance movements set around aerobic exercise and strength training. Other formats include (more…)

If you danced when you were younger but fret you might be too old to get back into the swing of things you might want to take a cue from Jennifer Grey, Season 11 winner of Dancing with the Stars at the age of 50! Best known for her role playing Frances “Baby” Houseman opposite Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing when she was 27, Grey hit the dance floor again 24 years later and won the competition dancing with her partner Derek Hough. Sure, Grey had her share of physical woes that come from being a woman her age coupled with the fact that she was in a head-on automobile accident resulting in severe whiplash back in 1987, but she worked through her pain and managed to compete in every dance that was asked of her quite frequently scoring perfect scores of 10 out of 10 from the judges. And if anyone happens to wonder if she was channeling Patrick Swayze to give her courage throughout the competition, the answer is yes since she physically broke down at one point as (more…)

For many of us, going to the gym is a chore. Not only is it awkward to sweat next to a complete stranger, but the monotony of the treadmill machine is boring. If you want to lose weight, but avoid the gym in the process, Zumba fitness is the ideal course for you. The Zumba class uses fast pace Latin dancing to help you move from out of shape to completely fit. Better yet, you can choose from attending a class or purchasing a DVD for your home.Originating in Colombia, the program started as an accident. Beto Perez was an aerobics teacher who came to his class unprepared. Improvising, Perez pulled the Latin songs from his bag and, since the music wasn’t aerobics inspired, the trainer created a brand new approach to working out; Zumba fitness. After the accidental course, Perez headed over to America, and the program became an even bigger success. (more…)

If you love dancing you should definitely tune into American television. From ABC to MTV, each channel is broadcasting its own dance competition. The stakes are high, and dancers perform a variety of weekly routines (incorporating anything from Hip-Hop to Ballroom). If you’ve never watched one of America’s dance show’s before, here’s a few to choose from.”Dancing with the Stars”Professional dancers take on their biggest completion yet: training celebrities to perform various, complicated dance routines. This season, celebrity dancers include Jennifer Grey, Kyle Massey, Rick Fox, Brandy, and Bristol Palin. Tune in to ABC on Monday and Tuesday to watch the show. (more…)