Pivots & Turns Continued…

Right pivots are difficult. But if you have been doing pivots and it does not feel quite right, or if you cannot stay on a straight line, try the following two techniques:

First, make sure that, while turning, the ladies right knee is firmly locked to your right knee. The lady has to take a good sized step forward, into you, when you take your first left foot step in front an around her.

Stay upright but keep your weight slightly on your heels and suggest the lady do the same. As you put weight on your left foot, stay back on your heel and rotate the lady around you so that when you put your weight on the right foot again, you face your line of progression. In other words, you execute a full 360 degree turn with each two steps.

I find that if I have a partner who follows the above technique, I can easily pivot many times and keep progressing on a line in the same direction.

Make sure your that partner by starting off in the right pair of shoes from The Dance Shoe Depot.com.  We carry a wide selection of Latin ballroom dance shoes, Cuban heeled dance shoes, ladies, mens and even kids ballroom dance shoes. Visit us and enjoy the shopping experience  that experts have been using around the world!

Happy Dancing!

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Pivots and Turns

When turning, such as in the Waltz, or when executing a pivot imagine a horizontal wheel. One partner is always at the hub of the wheel, while the other partner is at the rim. The partner at the rim provides the force and momentum, the partner at the hub provides the stability.

In a Waltz left turn, the partner who takes the left forward step on the one count is at the rim. He/she is responsible to provide the rotation and must take a long forceful step forward. The partner at the hub only takes a small step backward, letting the rim partner move around her/him. Thus, each partner takes his/her turn at the rim or the hub, depending which one moves forward on the left foot on the one count.

In a right pivot, the same principle applies. The partner who steps forward on his/her right foot is at the rim and is responsible for the rotation, while the partner at the hub stays almost immobile, letting the rim partner move around him/her. Again, both partners alternate between hub and rim.

Perfect your pivots in a new pair of stylish ballroom dance shoes from The Dance Shoe Depot.com.  We like you and want to put you in the best type of shoes so that your dancing is taken to the next level.  Check out our great selection of cuban heeled dance shoes, low heeled dance shoes, dance sneakers and even ballroom dance boots and you’ll surely agree that we have your best interests at heart.

Happy Dancing!

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Arm Tension Principles

Arm tension is especially important when executing turns. For simplicity’s sake, maintain firm wrist, elbow and shoulder tension for sideward, forward and backward movement. Up and down arm motion should be free from resistance. In other words, keep your arms relaxed when they go up or down, in order to easily lead into a turn. However, once the joined hands pass eyebrow level on a turn, the person performing the turn should begin to provide upward pressure and turn under his or her own bent wrist in order to prevent being clotheslined on their partner’s arm. Getting knocked in the head is not the goal!

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Happy Dancing!

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How To’s and How Do’s of Ballroom Dance

While traditional etiquette stipulates that the man asks the woman for a dance, it is becoming increasingly common for women to ask men. People who ballroom dance are there to do one thing: ballroom dance. In other words, you don’t need to feel pressured into doing anything more than dancing. Tired of those silly one-liners? Well, in ballroom dancing there’s only one one-liner, and it never gets old. The only pick-up line in ballroom dancing is “May I have this dance?” And ladies, you can ask the men to dance with this same one-liner. Pretty easy, isn’t it?

When you get more than two people out on the dance floor, collisions can become a problem. So here’s another rule of etiquette. Ladies, if you see an oncoming couple about to collide into you and your partner, simply tap your partner gently on the shoulder. This is known as the “internationall dance panic signal.” Remain calm! Do not grab on for life. If you do, you will probably end up startling your partner and colliding into the oncoming dance team.

Another point of etiquette comes at the conclusion of the dance. Men, it is polite to walk your partner back to her seat. (Generally, it is the man who walks the woman back even if she asked him to dance.)

The last and most important point of etiquette is this: No matter what happens, have fun! Ballroom dancing is meant to be enjoyed – like a fine wine or an afternoon walk in the park. Mingle. Get to know other dancers. Watch the way they move and improve upon your own dancing. Enjoy yourself!

Ballroom is Back!

It is no surprise that ballroom dancing is making such a tremendous comeback. Ballroom dancing carries with it a timeless quality. Remember those romantic scenes when Fred Astaire would sweep Ginger Rogers in his arms and whisk her around the dance floor. Face it, women still love to be romanced, and men, believe it or not, enjoy the chivalry involved in romancing. Ballroom dancing also seems to convey a richness and luxurious quality. In the past, it was a leisure activity which could only be afforded by the well-to-do. Today, while ballroom is being enjoyed by millions of people from all economic brackets and ages, it has not lost its sense of elegance and grace. People enjoy feeling like princes and princesses. Ballroom is bringing all of these qualities back into people’s lives.

Let the Dance Shoe Depot.com bring back some more quality back into your life by providing you with some comfortable, quality dance shoes. We would love to see you in a pair of our shoes and so use this discount code Luv2Dance to join in on the savings! Yes, we like you that much!

Happy Dancing!

via Ballroom Etiquette.

Becoming a Survival Dancer

So you’re ready to brave it on a dance floor? Put away your combat boots and fatigues. You won’t be needing them in this jungle. There are some basic points to remember now that you’re going to be around other dancers.

 Taking Cover in a Crowd

If you’re feeling a little nervous about being observed by others, here are some suggestions to maintain a little camouflage. If you are a beginning dancer and you want to avoid the fast lane, stay closer to the middle of the dance floor. This is an excellent place to take cover if you’re worried about being seen by others or just want to move along at a slower pace.

The Internationally Recognized Dance Panic Signal

Another element that will be new to you in a sea of other dancers will be the potential for collisions. Many times, the leader will not see an oncoming couple. In such cases, it is the follower’s responsibility to gently tap him on the shoulder. We know the temptation may be to scream “Watch out!” and clench onto your partner. However, a gentle tap to indicate a potential collision will be greatly appreciated and will result in a more graceful style and friendly relationship with your dance partner.

In a Jam? March!

Have you ever found yourself in a sticky situation on a dance floor? You know the kind. You’re dancing with someone who doesn’t have a clue as to how a Cha-Cha differs from a Waltz? Or perhaps, you’re the clueless one. In either case, here’s a bit of advice. Remember the “quick” rhythm we discussed? A quick equals one count. Remember, “quick, quick, quick, quick,” or “march, 2, 3, 4.” Well, you can apply these “quicks” in such awkward dancing situations. Simply march to the music. It will allow you to get through a lot of sticky situations with confidence.

To survive, is to look the part and so we recommend a new pair of dance shoes from The Dance Shoe Depot.com.  Check us out and I think you will agree that we got you covered from dance sneakers to ballroom dance boots as well as kids dance shoes. We love to dance and it shows!

Happy Dancing!

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Fancy Footwork in Social Dance

Proper footwork is essential for good form and style. Some general principles to develop good footwork include:

Carry your weight more on the ball of your foot than on your heel.

Align your feet so they are parallel to your partner’s feet. Your right foot should be pointed in between your partner’s feet. Take straight steps with your toes pointed straight ahead, either forward or backward.

When stepping, the motion should originate from the hip, allowing the leg to swing freely from the joint.

Don’t drag your feet. Take definite steps.

If it’s a fast song, take shorter steps. If it’s a slow song, take longer steps.

When you change directions, you will maintain your balance better if your feet are closer together.

We here at The Dance Shoe Depot.com also recommend a quality, comfortable ballroom dance shoe.  It just do happens that we carry a great selection of discounted, quality dance shoes.  Come see us and I’m sure you’ll agree that we got it all and not in a conceited way!

Happy Dancing!

via Fancy Footwork in Social Dance.

How to Keep from “Popping the Clutch”

How to Keep from “Popping the Clutch”

Remember the days when you first learned how to drive a manual transmission automobile? If you were like me, it probably took you a long time to be able to start the car smoothly. But eventually we all learned how to ease in to gear by letting out the clutch gradually.

The beginning of a dance poses a similar problem. Many men don’t give their partner any clues that they are about to begin, and by the time they actually start moving their partner feels a sudden jerk. Dancers call this “popping the clutch”.

To prevent such bad starts, become familiar with the principle of leaning. A lean prevents you from “popping the clutch” and getting off to a rough start. By preceding all movement with a lean, you decrease the potential for false anticipation by your partner and build her confidence in your ability to lead. Ladies, by tapping into the man’s lean, you will be able to correctly anticipate the direction he wishes to go. The amount of lean directly corresponds to how large or how small the step will be. If the man leans a lot, get ready to take a big step. If it’s a small amount of lean, take a shorter step. Pretty simple!

Here at The Dance Shoe Depot.com we fell that you should take those first short steps in a new pair of dance shoes. We carry mens ballroom dance shoes too! Come see us as we have got all your ballroom dance shoes needs covered in one spot.

Happy Dancing!

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