Movin' Easy Dancewear

Virginia’s Ballet Austin Experience

Dance class as an adult can be a little scary. Our bodies don’t recoup as quickly as a hard workout, our brains run a little bit slower than they did at age 16, and I am sure none of us look the same as we did 10 years ago.

At the Butler Community School at Ballet Austin these fears all seem to disappear. I have been taking class at Ballet Austin for about 6 months and couldn’t feel better about myself. Not only am I working out with fantastic teachers, I am invited into this amazing environment of people who make art all day and want me to get involved. And let me tell you about the facility. WOW!! State of the art to say the least.

Whether you’ve never put on a pair of dance shoes, or are just squeezing back into that leotard, everyone deserves to take a dance class at Ballet Austin.

What is so great about social dancing is that everyone is there to learn, not to criticize.  And everyone is in the same boat of being a little awkward; otherwise they would be in an advanced class showing us their great moves.  What I do first is to look around at how excited everyone is to “get” this.

Then my job is to get comfortable with my dancing. That is a tall order since I major in clunky.  Here are two clues that help.  First, I go through the awkward steps, I count, I stamp, letting my clunk be what it is clunky.  Second, I try to have fun with each partner learning from what they do better than me and adding my little bit to what they do not remember.

Learning those first steps is challenging.  My brain screams that there is no space for this much fun and is outraged that I would demand that synapses wake up from nose to toes.  So what I have to do is be satisfied to catch only the first two beats, left foot-right foot.  Got it.  That’s all I got, left-right.  OK.

I concentrate on what I know.  Then the next time around I add one more beat, left-right-left.  Wow.  I am doing great.  Calm down mind, we are getting it, just reserve a space for this much, ok?  Anyway, you get the idea of how my mind squeaks and creaks as my brain connects.

Basic to remember is that even the great movers are vulnerable just being there to get the next step.  Here is how I learn from the better dancers in the class.  I learn from my partner, I watch and follow the steps of the ones who learn faster, I stand close to the better dancers because they ask the right questions and get the correct step from the teacher.

Next clue is to do what the better dancers do.  They try the step over and over.  When the music stops they take the last opportunity to do it again before the teacher starts talking.  While the teacher is demonstrating, they are doing the step while watching.  While the teacher is correcting one student they are either following the step alone or in dance position with their partner.

Even with all this, anything beyond the basic step goes literally over my head.  So I have to have so much fun with the basic step that my partner is not bored.

Learning dance is the best because no matter how complicated it looks, all it takes is learning one little simple step after another.  When all those simple steps go together, the result is always surprising.

Before learning ballroom dancing, I spent years doing Scandinavian couple dances and Contra dancing which is an earlier type of square dance.  Of course my basic West Texas two step was a main stay.  Using only that basic step, I loved to make it smooth or make the polka fly across the floor without any of the exciting turns that are taught today.

When I started learning ballroom dance, I could not understand why it took so long to get it.  Learning any dance took some real concentration and work for me, but I could not understand why I felt more comfortable with learning the “folk” versions of Country Western, Scandinavian, Early American Contra, and numerous others from Hungarian to Israeli.

These “folk” dances were easier for me because I learned one pattern that repeated over and over.  After several lessons of putting together usually no more than four parts, I could repeat the one sequence and have the entire dance.  So in one song, I got to practice the one step a hundred times. By repetition number fifty, I was beginning to be comfortable.

In ballroom dancing, if I repeat the same basic pattern over and over, it gets boring for me or for my partner.  Why does the repetition of the “folk” versions not get boring?  I think the answer has to do with the purpose and the focus.

The purpose of “folk” dancing is a community activity whereas ballroom dancing is exploring the individual variations that this one couple can explore.  The focus is different too.  The music is main focus in the “folk” dances.  The repetition is for the purpose of experiencing the music.  In ballroom, the music is the accompaniment for a series of movement explorations of partner with partner.  The complexity of these explorations means that a leader prepares the way and takes the couple there.  The communication in the ballroom couple is totally different from most of the “folk” dances.

Can Anyone Social Dance? The answer is yes.  Anyone can social dance.  In one or two lessons, anyone can learn the basic steps for the Country Western two step to Salsa, from ChaCha to the Scandinavian Hambo.  Learn the basic steps and right then and there we can dance to the music.

Some like me will be stumbling to find the beat or acting like a big boy stomping flat a huge mound of dirt.  I have sat and watched many beginner classes and the differences in the way we all move is delightful.  The fact is everyone is dancing no matter what their style of cool or awkwardness.

The biggest learning curve is being comfortable with our delightful differences.  I am the worst example because I can not remember anything beyond the first two beats.  And I really want my partner to feel comfortable which as a beginner is hard because I am wondering WHEN I will step on her feet and I do not let her know ahead of time what I am doing next.

The best dancing times come when I begin to get comfortable with my own clumsiness and just have fun with my partner.

Heidi at Tapestry Dance Academy says:  “We are a home for so many different dance groups now, Uptown Dance, Austin Dance Arts and their Austin Jazz Ballet Company, Backstage Dance School, Nia, Classical Indian dance, Kid’s Acting, the Lindy Project, African Dancing and Drumming, the Austin Tango Connection, Belly dancing, and a Gabriel Roth 5 rhythms group.

  “Tapestry is really conducive to making connections.  Between all these groups there is not a sense of competition.  It feels so good here.”

The Dance Secret is the tradition of healing, happiness, and communication that has been passed down to us since the first humans began to sing and dance.  See the last paragraph for the ingredients of the Dance Secret.

Dance activates and integrates areas of the brain in ways that no other activity does.

Dance is a direct way to create positive movement patterns and discard old patterns that damage our bodies.

Dance is a direct link to learning how to explore and master the relationship between how we move, how we think, and how we communicate with ourselves and other people.  

Only dance can override age boundries, disabilities, and depression.  The limitations disappear when we begin dancing.

Only dance calls on our subtle movements as well as bold ones to bring our personality together with our outward expression.

Dance along with the other ancient forms of movement seen in yoga and Tai Chi integrates every muscle in the body to act together as a full support system.

Here are a few of the secret ingredients of dance that have inspired and healed people for millions of years:

Circular motion.

An intricate web of twists and turns of body parts that cross the mid-line of the body.

Palms facing each other that complete our energy circuit.

Intricate use of fingers and toes that communicate with every part of the body including organs and inner tissue.

Subtle and bold uses of movement quality such as fluidity and percussiveness builds brain power. 

Subtle use of the head, neck, and eyes that activates the brain.

Use of feet and all body parts in rhythmic patterns that connect and build hardwired areas of the brain.

The Austin area is blessed with excellent instruction for children and youth in all of the dance academies. Teachers are well trained and have an enthusiasm for making sure your child gets the benefit of knowing how to dance. Boys and girls can find a class that fits their personality and satisfies the goals of the parents.

Find a list of all the Austin area dance schools at www.movineasy.com/wheretodance with listings by location, age, and style of dance.

Choosing a dance school is an important step for a family. Your choice will increase your child’s excitement for learning throughout their life, and you will enter a special support network with other caring parents.

Your challenge is to select the type of dance education based on family goals and on the child’s personality and desires.  Choosing a school is a focus for your child and for you as a parent.  That focus can be as varied as relationships with neighborhood friends or a window to the art of professional dancers.  The opportunities offered are different forms of expression in dance styles and performances.

Parents find a support group that is involved in experiencing the growth of exuberance and skill in their children.  This is a focus that is a growing experience for parents as well as their children.

Recommendations from friends are a great way to choose a school. Most schools will allow you to observe a class or come to an open house.

It is important for your child to bond with the teacher and connect with the other students in the school. You will know these things after the first week of class, although most times parents are very satisfied with their decision after visiting a school with their child.

Dance studios have different approaches and each has its advantages. Some options are: 1. Academies associated with professional or semi-professional companies 2. Academies that build performance and competition into their curriculum 3. Training academies that focus on instruction and use performing as an option.

Parent goals are important. Having a neighborhood school where friends dance together may be your priority. Or you may want a school associated with a well known performing youth group or professional company. Or you may decide on one form of dance or a specific set of skills that you want for your child’s development. Honor your preferences for the type of instruction and the kind of involvement you wish for your child. Then be open to the direction that excites you and your child.

It is not hard to find the right school with excellent instruction and caring, dedicated teachers. If you have special needs, the directors and teachers of the academies are always willing to help.

Choosing dance classes for a child, boy or girl, is more important than ever with today’s stresses and the needs for all children to learn to express themselves fully.

The advantages of dancing are increased brain development, growth in the ability to focus, and making learning stick with full engagement of the emotions and imagination..

No excuses, the onslaught of homework from schools and the popularity of sports are no reason to limit dancing lessons.  Boys and girls deserve to experience learning and active bodies with the full exuberance of dance.

ENTRY LEVEL DANCE

1.  Choose your dance form

2.  Select a studio or teacher that works for your location and schedule.

3.  Try out several styles if you can not decide.  Some studios have a monthly package to sample all the dance styles.

4.  Make the choices that will make dance more fun:

Who are the people you love to be around?

What is the dance music or type of movement that turns you on?

Do you want a group class or private instruction?

Are you drawn to the cutting edge, the local rage, formal dance training, improvisation, or folk and ethnic forms?

Do you want to dance with a partner, alone, or in unison with others?

Do you want to move a little or a lot, fast or slow?

Do you want direct instruction or an exercise format following an instructor?

5.  Choose your mentor, an instructor or leader who you feel comfortable learning from.

6.  Find a buddy who will encourage you and you can encourage.  Classes do not require a partner so you can bring someone with you or find a friend there.

7.  Watch television shows and movies to see how others have gone through the process of learning to dance.

8.  Encourage boys, brothers, sons, and husbands.

Bring your buddies or mates  along with you or practice with them at home.  Men and boys are finding the fun of dancing to music.  No excuses should keep them from improving their level of fun, coordination, communication, and build their brain while they are at it.

 Attitude goes up,

 Discouragement goes down,

Laughter and delight are the norm,

You are surrounded by inspired people,

Meet people in a safe friendly atmosphere

Dance fits everyone’s learning style whether you learn best by watching, by following instruction, by getting the feel, or by exploring on your own.