Favorite Form?

Jason asked, "What is your favorite form of dance?" Well Jason, I would have to say hip hop. Although I do enjoy other forms of dance, hip hop is a dance that really allows you to let go of yourself and give into the music. I think that's what I like most about it. The music for hip hop usually has a great, deep beat that will make anyone bouce a little as it plays. Your emotions don't have to show just through your face, but a big part of it is your body language and the intensity shown through that. My favorite is when the motions are big, exaggerated and strong because the bigger you do them, and the more power you put into it, the better the dance becomes. It's the best rush I think you can feel and is a great stress reliever on top of it!

Salsa vs. Hip Hop

Although salsa and hip hop are both forms of dance; there are many things that make them different. It's really up to you and your preference to style. Would you like to be with a partner showing off more fluid, sexy movements to upbeat music? Or would you rather be an independent dancer allowing a little bit of your own style to show through? This is the difference between salsa and hip hop:with salsa, you need a partner and there are certain steps that you must do to make the dance successful. In hip hop however, most of the dance is done independently and you don't have to follow the choreography exactly. But what makes both salsa and hip hop two of the more exciting styles of dance is their upbeat music and quick, sharp movements. Attitude and expression are both necessary in these styles of dance and is for people who are strong willed and typically very passionate about music and dance. So before you make up your mind, I suggest you try a class in both. After you do so, your body will tell you which is for you because you can feel your comfort level relax or tighten during each class. Then, once you've decided, you can study further into your desired course and compare and contrast each form for yourself!

What To Do Before You Dance

Just like exercising, dance is a type of rigorous activity that, if not careful, can cause injury to your body. That is why I'm here to remind you the importance of stretching before and after you dance. It may sound simple and obvious, but you'd be surprised to know how many people do not stretch and get hurt because they forgot this simple task. The first thing you need to do is pick out appropriate attire that allows you to move as well and shoes that allow you to dance freely. Yes, if you do not wear clothing you can move around in or put on hazardous shoes, like baggy pants and loose fit sneakers, you can injure yourself. No one wants to explain that the reason they sprained their ankle was because they tripped over their own pants or fell out of their shoes! Second, take the time out to stretch all of your body. You can start with your upper body. Reach your arm up and bend your body to one side then the other,cross your right arm across your chest and hold it there with your left hand then switch, also you could swing your arms around in big, wide circles. Those are just a few arm warm-ups. Now, for your legs. This can be done by reaching over and touching your toes, lunging, squats, and sitting on the floor with your legs apart and reaching to grab each foot. (this may be difficult for a few people so go as far as you can and with practice you'll soon make it to your toes!) Putting on your favorite tunes can help you become motivated to stretch as well. There are many other stretches out there so don't be afraid to find them out! Go to a yoga class one day, observe fellow dancers, or even throw in some of your own moves that you believe are affective. Now that you're nice and warm, you can begin dancing. But don't forget when you're done to do a quick cool down. Just do some deep breaths, reach up to the sky, bend over and touch your toes then pull your legs into your chest. Cool down streching can help your muscles relax and also help reduce the risk of sore muscles, so it's worth a try! And there you have it, some simple steps that will keep you safe and less likely to pull a muscle during your dance experience.

Assignment 3: What Ballerinas Really Feel on Pointe

Have you ever watched a Ballet performance and seen the graceful, almost effortless work of a ballerina on pointe? You might be thinking, "What is pointe? I may have seen it before if I only knew what that term meant." Well, pointe is a type of dance where a ballerina wears special ballet slippers that allow her to arch up on her foot all the way until she is literally standing on her toes. To us, it sounds extremely painful, but when you watch them perform this dance you would never guess there was any pain afflicted onto the dancer. This, however, is the secret behind pointe. It actually causes tremendous pain, but the dancers train themselves to endure past the pain and strengthen their toes so they are able to make the graceful movements you see in their performance. It is very important that you are with a professional instructor while usuing pointe shoes so they can teach you the proper technique. If you are new to pointe and are trying to use them alone; serious damage can be inflicted permanently on your toes by using them incorrectly. Using a dance bar to hold on to helps beginner dancers with support while learning to lift onto your toes. When dancers become serious in pointe most of the time they get blisters and bloody toes from the rigorous work. This is when they wrap their toes with tape, put extra stuffing at the bottom like paper towel, llambswool, or toilet paper just to get even that much more cushion. It takes a lot of practice and a lot of bloody, broken, and bruised feet to get to the professional level performance ballerinas are at. So the next time you see the flowing movement of a ballerina remember, it didn't come easily.

Assignment 2: My First Recital

The rapid footsteps all around me, the smell of harispray entering into my lungs, the hands of instructors pressing gently but with a purpose on my back; I may have only been three years old but the memory is still vivid in my mind. It's the memory of my first dance recital.
I could hardly wait, I had been practicing those simple steps that I had learned in class over and over in front of my family and now it was finally time to show them off. I excitedly put on my costume, the sequins scratched up and down my arm as I swinged them back and forth but I didn't care, it was my big day! The heat electrified of the curling iron that was being twisted through my hair releasing each time a long brown curl. The elastic tightened as my bow was placed on my head. Before I knew it my mom was bringing me into the room that held the 3-4 year olds. The room mom was handing me crayons and paper to keep me busy while I waited for my turn. I looked around and began to feel something wonderful build up inside me, all of my friends were in the room and they were in their costumes too. I then realized that this was a special day because we were all dressed up and my friends were talking about their grandmas and grandpas being there to watch them. Soon, I heard a lady come into the room and say it was time for us to go. The commotion of voices and pushing began to become overwhelming and I quickly grasped on to my best friends hand hoping she understood what all of this meant. We were brought behind the backdrop to wait for our turn. I could hear the wild cheers from the crowd as the song stopped and the dance before us ended. Butterflies raced through my stomach. We were frantically told to hold our neighbors hands and before I knew it my feet were swept out from under me by the force of each person being pulled. I quickly began to pick up my pace and found my X on the dark stage. I could see my dance instructor smiling and showing us our first position. Then, the music blared and I began to bounce up and down with the rythm. I could hear shouts of encouragement and saw my family cheering for me. I followed along with my instructor and delightedly smiled at all of the faces watching our dance. When the dance finished, the roar of the crowd washed over me. I could hardly contain my excitement while I held my ending pose until the lights went out, then I darted off the stage right into my mom's arms. I loved every second of that recital and it turned out to be apart of my life ever since.

Dance

Dance and music have been apart of my life since before I was born... literally. While my mom was pregnant she would put headphones on her stomach and feel me move around. It has been in me ever since. As a baby, I would automatically start moving my body to the beat of the music. I was enrolled in dance by the time I was three. I grew up loving to be in the spotlight and expressing myself through my dance. I never really have been open with my feelings, but once I step onto the dance floor every part of my soul pours out and I let my feelings take over. I can express myself through many different types of dance, but the one I prefer is hip hop.
Though many people don't think so, hip hop does require technique and control. You have to train your body to lock and pop, be loose then tight and hit with the beat of the music. Facial expressions are also very important while dancing. To entice the audience you must show your love for the dance not only through your movements, but in your face as well. This helps the audience make the connection between the music, the choreography and your emotions. Your feelings can be shown in big, exaggerated movements or in little intricate motions.
People dance for a lot of different reasons. For me, it's who I am. It's like breathing; I've got to have it to survive. Dance allows me to release all the stress from the world and take it out through my body, to let my movement do the talking. It gives me a sense of power and confidence that nothing else can really give me. Dance is part of my emotion.