“Caligari” is an adaptation of the classic silent film and features our friends Kent Lowell and Natalie Linthorst.  The Astra Dance Company creative team will bring the mysterious story to life through sets, costume, music, and of course dance.

Best of all, Astra Dance Company is offering a discount for USA Dance members and friends.  Visit the company website http://www.astradance.com/ to order your tickets, and use the following discount codes:

For $10 off Premium/Orchestra Seats, use discount code PORTAL

For $5 off all seats, use discount code DANCE

Full price tickets range from $19 to $35, a bargain in the L.A. theatre world.  The El Portal is a beautiful and completely modernized theatre and it is well worth a visit to NoHo to see a brand-new, and sure to be unique, dance production there.

TEA DANCE AT THE GRANADA PAVILION!

Join us for a complimentary ballroom dance class with Christian Perry of Rose City Ballroom in Pasadena, followed by elegant Ballroom Dancing, Smooth and Latin, plus Hustle and West Coast Swing music spun by DJ James Woo.  Learn more about Christian and his team at http://www.rosecityballroom.com/wp/

In honor of Armed Forces Day, a portion of our proceeds will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.  Learn more about this great organization at http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

Please help us promote by downloading and distributing the flyer: Download USA Dance Flyer – May 2012

* Beginners Welcome
* No Partner Needed
* Dance Hosts for Ladies
* Mixers
* Performances
* Complimentary hors d’oeuvres

Schedule

*Doors open at 12:45 p.m.

* 1:15 p.m. Promptly – Dance Lesson

*Open Dancing from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Where & When

SUNDAY, May 20, 2012 at the Granada Pavilion. FREE PARKING!

11128 Balboa Blvd., Granada Hills, 91344

Admission:

$15 USA Dance members (please bring card)

$18 for non-members*

*Or Join at the door ($25) and enter for just $10 ($35 total)

Ask us about free admission as a volunteer!

Well … look at it this way.  Last year, the typical show dance was two and a half minutes long.  The typical group routine was three and a half minutes long.  Average those and you get three minutes, which is twice as much time as a dancer has to perform in competition.

Most serious competitive dancers work on their competition routines on an ongoing basis.  They are continuously creating and refining choreography, working on technique, developing higher levels of performance skills, and otherwise devoting a great deal of time (and often money) to giving themselves the best odds of winning.

In a showcase, there is no winning or losing – but at the same time, you don’t want to go out feeling unprepared.  Ideally, you know your choreography so well that each partner can do it alone, with or without music.  This doesn’t happen in three weeks, or six, or even nine.  Your proficiency level (whether you are a beginning, intermediate, or advanced dancer) and your level of experience (first-time show dancer, occasional performer, or frequent competitor) will determine to a great extent how much time you need to prepare a dance.

So, what are the most important factors in preparing for a Showcase?  And how can you organize your prep time?

• Decide what kind of routine you’d like to do: a pro-am duet, am-am duet, or group routine
• Choose a dance style
• Find a coach, partner, and/or teammates
• Choose a piece of music
• Edit the music if necessary – faster/slower, fades in/out, any sections removed, spliced, or duplicated
• Break down the music (on paper) into measures
• Create the choreography
• Develop basic styling, and adjust choreography as needed
• Practice
• Follow-up coaching
• Practice some more!

Your music is the third most important element to have in place (after partner/team and coach).  A great piece of music can do a lot of the work for you, literally setting the tone for the type of movement and styling you’ll apply.  A piece of music that you don’t hear everywhere you go can be a great advantage.  On the flip side, a piece of music that’s been overplayed can be a distinct disadvantage.

Being able to choose your own music is a huge benefit to show dancing versus competition.  But you have to expect that if you use a super-popular track, one commonly played at studio parties or in competition, someone else may choose the same track.  We’ve had duplicate tracks before, and we will again – but you can avoid this if you choose from uncommon sources.  Trust me, there is no shortage of great music out there.

Editing the music to suit yourself and your performance is another benefit.  If you have a PC and a modest amount of technical savvy, get yourself a copy of Sony Sound Forge (about $40) and learn how to make basic edits.  If you use a Mac, try Sound Studio 3 (about $25).  If all you want to do is change the tempo of a track, and you use an iPod, try Tempo Magic Pro, $4.99, lolofit.com.

If you are working with a coach (recommended), make sure s/he knows what your ultimate goals are.  If you are a newcomer to performance dancing but you are toying with the idea of competition, ask your coach for help finding an amateur partner.  Working with an amateur partner in the context of a show dance is much less stressful than in the context of competition, and as a consequence it’s great preparation.

Meanwhile, don’t stop working on your social lead/follow skills.  If someone blanks out during performance, or goes off the choreography, the worst thing you can do is stop dancing.  Make sure that you and your partner can dance well enough on a lead/follow basis that you can keep moving until one or the other of you remembers what comes next.  Keep in mind: the audience does not know your choreography.  The only way they will know you’ve made a “mistake” is if you tell them – or show them.

Finally, bear in mind that the closer you get to Showcase, the more jammed the coaches’ schedules will be.  It may be wiser to prepare your routine very early, put it on video, and then simply brush it up later in the year than to wait till the summer to get started.    Also, if you prepare early, you will have many opportunities to “workshop” your routine at a studio party, in an Outreach performance … or even at a USA Dance social.

Have a question about competition or show dancing?  Want to share your story?  Email me at dancesport@usadancela.org!

Cheers,

Alexandra

The Freestyle-Showdance is exactly what you would think: a solo routine performed to preselected music.  The biggest considerations for amateur dancers interested in preparing a routine are the following rules (more detail available in the USA Dance Rulebook – free download from www.usadance.org):

• Competitors from all four disciplines may enter: International Standard, International Latin, American Smooth, or American Rhythm; all will dance against each other in a single event (as on “America’s Ballroom Challenge”).
• Submitted routines must be between 3:30 and 4:00 in length, excluding entrance and exit, with a maximum of 30 seconds for entry prior to beginning the dance and a maximum of 30 seconds for exit after concluding the dance, with a brief coda of music permitted to underline the couple’s exit.
• Each routine must, to be considered for competition, include sections of choreography representing at least three of the dances included in the couple’s discipline.  For example, a couple entering an American Rhythm routine must include some combination of Rumba, Cha-Cha, East Coast Swing, Bolero, and/or Mambo.  In other words, it can’t be three minutes of Charleston or Lindy or West Coast Swing with a few East Coast Swing figures thrown in.
• At least 75% of each routine’s choreography must represent the dances selected from the discipline.  Thus, for the illustrative four-minute Rhythm routine, at least three minutes must represent the selected dances, while up to a minute may involve elements of other dances and styles.
• Props are not permitted – that is, nothing that must be carried on or off the floor and/or is not part of the performers’ costume.
• Lifts are permitted – a maximum of three lifts per performance, but only in the transitional elements between dances, and not exceeding two measures of music or 15 seconds in duration each.  A lift is defined as any movement in which a dancer has both feet off the floor at the same time with the assistance or support of his/her partner.  (For anyone who watches DWTS, this helps make clear why it is not considered a “lift” if the partner is being assisted or supported, but at least one foot is on the floor.  It’s a trick, yes – but not a lift.)
• Thus, for the exemplary Rhythm routine, a couple might choreograph a 15-second passage of mambo or tango; transition with a 1st 15-second lift to one minute of cha-cha; then transition with a 2nd 15-second lift to one minute of rumba; then transition with a third and final 15-second lift to one minute of bolero for a total of four minutes.
• One important detail not made clear in the rulebook: the various styles of music must be set at competition tempi.  That is, the rumba should be 32-36 mpm (measures per minute), the cha-cha 30 mpm, and the bolero 24-26 mpm.
• Finally, the Showdance is an invitational.  Because NQEs are not required to offer a Showdance division, prospective Showdance competitors must submit a representative portion of their routine on video.

The Freestyle-Showdance event is considered a championship-level event, suitable for couples already well advanced as competitors.   Showdance winners at Nationals will be eligible to compete in the World DanceSport Federation’s Showdance division.

Our Los Angeles dancers were sadly under-represented at the USA Dance Nationals which occurred here in 2010.  Nationals will return to Los Angeles in 2013.  I hope some of the championship-level couples in our chapter will consider this event.

Have a question about competition or show dancing?  Want to share your story?  E-mail me at dancesport@usadancela.org!

by Alexandra Caluen

City of Angels Swing, LAX Sheraton, 29 March – 1 April.

Contra-Tiempo Gala, April 3.  This Urban Latin Dance Theatre group is putting on its 7th annual Charity Gala, a fundraiser event.  If you are interested in dance education, this may be of interest.  http://contra-tiempo.org/

Avalon Ball, Catalina Island, May 12.  The tenth annual Art Deco Society’s Avalon Ball, in one of the most spectacular dance venues in the world, the Avalon Casino on Catalina.  Take the Flyer over and dance to Dean Mora’s Avalon Dance Orchestra in this historic Art Deco masterpiece.  Reserved tables are limited.  Non-reserved tables are first-come, first served.  Order tickets through the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles, http://adsla.org.  $35 for ADSLA members, $45 for non-members. http://avalonball.com/

USA Dance National Dance Cruise, Seattle-Alaska, July 15-22.   Members will be receiving messages from National about the cruise.  Don’t wait too long to book!  You can follow this event on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/usadancenationaldancecruise

Camp Hollywood, LAX Marriott, 26-29 July.  Swing dance convention.  www.camphollywood.net

Ballroom Vermont presents the 14th annual Vermont Ballroom Dance Camp.   $200 discount to first-time attendees (couples pricing) from USA Dance; additional discounts for groups of 3 or more couples from a given USA Dance chapter.  August 19-24. http://www.ballroomdancecamp.com

You ride along with your friends, with the music blasting expecting a fun night. You arrive at the club and you hear the beat of the conga. You watch as smooth gentleman whisk women away to the dance floor and the ladies gracefully move to the beat. “Wow” you think to yourself…”everyone is just so good!” Before you know it you’re in the back of the room with clammy hands avoiding eye contact. You’ve gone from hoping for a night of dancing and great times to feeling like your back at your 6th grade Sadie Hawkins dance.

In an effort to maybe meet someone or bring a bit of attention to yourself you move to the bar. No one says anything to you and certainly no one asks you to dance. You think to yourself…”Maybe I should buy a drink to loosen up”. You get the drink…and feel a little better…but no one comes over to you. Your friends have already spread out. The ones who had no intention to dance are hovering near you while the brave are out on the floor.

What went wrong? If you’re like most women, especially women who don’t get out much…within the first 20 minutes of being out you started to doubt yourself. Women, we are our own worst enemy. We tear ourselves down before we give anyone else a chance too. I have taught countless dance classes where I have heard the following…

I don’t go out because no one will dance with me…I’m overweight.

No one will dance with me because I’m ugly.

No one will dance with me because I don’t have nice clothes.

No one will dance with me because I’m not that good.

No one will dance with me because I’m not sexy.

No one will dance with me because I’m not thin enough.

The list goes on. What I am here to tell you and what I have told many of my students is that NONE of that is true. I have given the following advice to countless women who after following my simple tips would find that not only were they being asked to dance, but they could barely get off the dance floor!

I wrote this quick guide to getting on the dance floor to help women everywhere get out…get moving and feel better about themselves.

Rule #1

Realize there is NOTHING wrong with you. When you feel insecure you act insecure. Sometimes insecurity or shyness comes across as unfriendliness. So first thing is first…realize there is nothing wrong with you. You are beautiful. You are smart. You’re entertaining and you are worth someone’s undivided attention. Remember self esteem is what one thinks of them self. It comes from within. You decide how you view you. So from this point on see yourself as the gorgeous and sexy vixen you are!

Tip: Want instant weight loss? Stand up straight! Just by paying attention to your posture and standing up straight you will appear thinner and more confident.

Rule #2

Smile.

Smiling does wonders not only for your face but others’ perception of you. People who smile often appear to be friendlier. What women often fail to realize is that asking someone to dance is a nerve-wracking experience for men. Just like they were in the 8th grade…they’re often still a little afraid of the other sex. No one likes rejection. You might be thinking no one is talking to me because I’m not pretty but it might be the exact opposite. There might be tons of men in the room that think you’re the most beautiful woman in the world and are just too afraid to say something to you…let alone ask you to dance with them. Now imagine if you’re unconsciously scowling. No one is going to come within 10 feet of you.

Now you might be thinking…”smiling sounds nice and all…but what the heck am I supposed to smile at?” Yes staring off into space and smiling will in fact make you look like a lunatic. You don’t want to go that far. What you want to do is look for reasons to smile…such as people or things to smile at. Personally I like to go places where there is a live band. When I am watching a live band it’s hard for me not to smile and bounce to the beat. Another easy way to slip in some smiles is to spot a couple on the dance floor who is either having a great time or are phenomenal dancers or both. As you enjoy their dancing smile!

The easiest way to smile…find someone hot…make eye contact and smile at him. He just might smile back!

Once you’re on the dance floor, keep the smile on your face. Smiling really softens you and it will appear to your partner and to those watching that you’re actually having fun!

Rule #3

Get near the dance floor.

One of the first mistakes women make is to head straight for the bar or to find a seat. It’s ok to find a place to set your jacket down…but if you want to dance don’t sit. You have to make it a point to stand and to stand near the dance floor. Men tend to assume that women who are sitting don’t want to dance and women who are near the bar are getting a drink and will not want to dance. You want a fast track to the dance floor…stand next to it and bounce to the music. I guarantee someone will swoop you up in an instant. I have heard guys refer to women who stand near the dance floor as an “easy target” because they can tell they’re ready to dance. Don’t forget to smile!

Rule #4

Dress Appropriately.

If you’re studying a specific type of dance and you’re out for practice and to have a good time then dress the part. If you’re learning Latin dance, invest in a good pair of Latin style ballroom shoes. If you’re learning general ballroom, same thing get a good pair of closed toe ballroom shoes. There are appropriate types of shoes for almost every dance. If you’re serious about learning the dance or could see yourself going out to dance that style often, invest in the shoes.

Firstly men who are out dancing and want to dance will often scout out the scene and find the ladies who have the correct footwear. They target the ones with appropriate shoes because they assume they know how to dance and they rightly assume that the women wearing the proper shoes want to dance. Second you’ll be more comfortable. When I first started dancing socially I wore regular high heels and could not understand why after one hour I was sore and wanted to go home. One night a lady was nice enough to clue me in on her secret which was ballroom shoes. Shortly after I bought my first pair and never looked back.

You also want to make sure that you’re not dressing too skimpy. A lot of women feel like they have to show all of their body parts in order to get some attention. This simply just isn’t true. While wearing a super short mini dress and platforms will get you attention…chances are it will be the wrong kind of attention.  Just like there are different types of shoes for every dance there are typically different types of dress that go along with each style. Observe what is most appropriate for the style of dance you’re interested in and try to stay in that realm. If you’re into Latin dance like me, you will soon discover that there are many ways to be sexy yet classy.

Rule #5

Be a Kind and Gracious Dance Partner.

Once you get on the dance floor, be nice! Some women go from being on the sidelines to turning into an instant snob once they hit the dance floor. Be kind to your partner. Also don’t shy away from the ones you believe to be poor dancers. If they are there to learn be kind enough to let them practice with you. Everyone has to start somewhere. Even if they are terrible (in your eyes)…smile. If they are off beat…be off beat with them. Dancing with a partner is about lead and follow…it’s not always about doing the dance correctly according to the “textbook”. Let him lead.

There is nothing worse than watching a woman with a back-lead that is so strong that it looks like she and her partner are doing karate instead of dancing. Believe it or not…if you’re in tandem most people won’t even realize you’re doing it “wrong” or off beat. Just smile and have a great time. And unless you’re insulted, injured or there is a fear of injury never just leave your partner on the dance floor. Finish the song and allow your partner to escort you off the dance floor.

Not only will your partner thank you for your patience, but other men are watching you. They will take note of your kind and gracious behavior.

You don’t have to dance with a poor dancer all night, but make sure you try and dance with everyone at least once. There is something that can be learned from everyone. You should make an effort to dance with people of all skill levels.

Be sure to always thank your partner at the end of a dance. It will make him more likely to want to dance with you again.

Now get up…get out and get dancing!

###

Johnnya Burruss (Center) is a Los Angeles based lover of Latin music and an avid Salsa Dancer/ Instructor. She has dedicated her free time to spreading the love of Salsa and Dance fitness to the South Bay area of LA County via her website www.SalsaSouthBay.com. By day she works in television…holding a BA in Broadcasting and by night she hits the dance floor to the hottest Latin beats. She enjoys helping others enjoy music as dance as much as she does. For more information contact Johnnya directly info@salsasouthbay.com or 909-268-8212

USA Dance National has recently released information on its 2012 Cruise.  This year, the national dance cruise will depart from Seattle and journey north to Alaska!  This is a great opportunity for our West Coast members and friends to experience a cruise to our beautiful Pacific Northwest coast and at the same time to experience wonderful dancing as a primary focus of the trip.

We are told that cabins for these events sell out quickly, so if you’re interested, don’t delay.  Even though the cruise will happen in July, the most desirable cabins may be sold out by April (or even earlier).

Find more information at the National website!

There are still some tickets available for the USA Dance Orange County Presidents’ Ball, at the Nixon Library next Sunday, March 4.  Click on over to the USA Dance Orange County website to order: (copy and paste) www.usadance-oc.org.  Don’t delay – tickets may not be available at the door!  Download this flyer for full information: Download Presidents Ball 2012

DANCE AT SEA!

USA Dance has been approached by the organizers of a ballroom-oriented Carnival cruise featuring DWTS Season 13 Champion Karina Smirnoff.  There is a February special running in case our members are interested in this cruise, departing Los Angeles for the Mexican Riviera June 3-10. Download CWTS Feb offer

The cruise organizers would also like our gentlemen members to know that some positions are open for dance hosts on the cruise.  Gentlemen who are interested should contact the cruise organizers directly to set up an audition.  Those who are chosen will pay only port fees and taxes for their cruise.   For more information, copy and paste this address into your browser:  www.cruisingwiththestars.net

YOUR DREAM LIFE

New reality show “Your Dream Life” is looking for aspiring dancers who for one reason or another have not been able to fulfill their dreams, but are now in a place in their lives where they want to go back to that dream. Download YDL flyer

Here’s some more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/210637222363546/

USA Dance chapter members are getting involved with more and more interesting projects these days.

Among such projects are …

Ballroom Dance Academy’s Performance Troupe!  This by-invitation ensemble will be working with Natalia Lind, Alicia Richardson, and Michael Kuka on performance choreography for various show engagements.  Several chapter members (Jerry Hernandez, Laura Harvell, Fred Guerin, and Ogie Espinosa) are participating and will be seen very soon in performances in our community – starting on January 28, at Hollywood Academy in Van Nuys.

St. Monica Schools’ “Dancing with our Stars” fundraiser!  St. Monica’s is trying to bring back band instruction after an 18-year hiatus, and approached our chapter to provide experienced partners for their own volunteers.  Nine of our members are participating as partners and coaches/facilitators.   This event is open to the public, on February 3 at the St. Monica High School auditorium.

Central Avenue Dance “History of Black Dance in America”!  Longtime chapter member and volunteer Ron Parker is an integral part of this production.  This year the show will take place at the Santa Monica Bay Women’s Club, familiar to many of us from social dancing at Ballroom by the Bay.  Feb. 23-25.

We encourage our membership and our community of dancers to support these and other dance-related events.