Preparing for a Dance Competition

With the Fred Astaire Franchised Dance Studios National Dance Championships only a few weeks away, many dancers are already starting to prepare for the competition. In order to be fully ready for competition, you want to make sure you are treating your body right for the next few weeks so you are able to handle the demands of competing. Follow these nutritional guidelines to help yourself have the best performance possible!

1. Drink Plenty of Water

Drinking plenty of water throughout the day is essential when it comes to your health and your performance. Once you feel thirsty, dehydration has already begun to set in. Even being slightly dehydrated can lower your ability to concentrate and impact your performance. You must drink water regularly throughout the day, especially leading up to competition.

The amount of water you should drink per day is based on your body weight. Take the number of how much you weigh and cut it in half. That shows you how many ounces of water you should be drinking per day. For example, someone who is 150lbs would need 75 ounces of water per day. Divide the number of ounces by 8 to estimate how many cups of water per day you need, and you get 9- 8 oz. glasses of water. Drink up!

2. Do Not Focus on Losing Weight

With the pressure of having to fit into costumes, it is understandable to experience some anxiety before a competition. The last thing you should do in the weeks leading up to competition, though, is go on a crash diet. That would drastically change what your body is used to and would deprive your body of the fuel it needs to strongly perform. Your strength and stamina will decline as your muscles and body lose the nourishment needed to keep up with the competition.

Instead, only adjust your diet to make sure it includes a balance of various healthy foods and leave out the “junk” foods. If you make this adjustment while also increasing your water intake, you will feel noticeably better and may even drop any extra weight you may feel you have in a natural way that won’t deprive your body.

3. Eat the Right Types of Food

Many styles of dance can cause the muscles to fatigue at a fast pace due to the short bursts of intense movement required for the choreography. During these types of activities, your body relies on blood sugar and your body’s stored carbohydrates to get through.

To avoid that feeling of exhaustion after a routine, introduce foods with complex carbohydrates into your meals for the weeks leading up to the competition. These include whole grain breads, pasta and fruit. These will give your body the energy it needs while keeping your blood sugar level consistent. Foods such as candy and soda will spike your blood sugar and should be avoided because after the initial short burst of energy it provides, it then causes you to crash quickly with little to no energy left afterwards.

4. Don’t Try to Drastically Change your Diet

You want to make sure you are eating healthy leading up to a competition but doing a 180 degree turn with your diet will do more damage than good! Your body has adjusted to your day to day diet so changing too much, too fast can have a negative effect on your strength and stamina. A bigger potential risk is not knowing the type of reaction your body could have to a newly introduced food. Having an adverse reaction to something this close to competition could potentially put you OUT of the competition!

Instead of completely changing your diet right away, slowly make healthy adjustments in the weeks leading up to the competition. A healthy diet for dancers consists of 50-65% Carbohydrates such as pastas and baked potatoes, 12-15% Proteins such as lean meats and legumes and 20-30% healthy fats from foods like avocados, nuts and seafood. Keeping this balance will help increase your stamina, energy and help to repair and build muscles.

For 24-48 hours before a competition, it is also probably a good idea to avoid foods that are salty and that can cause bloating such as beans, cucumber, cabbage and cauliflower. Bloating triggered by these foods could cause pain which will pull your focus away from your performance.

5. Portion your Meals Correctly

It is easy to notice that over time, food portions have gotten larger and larger. Many times, you may not even realize that you are unintentionally consuming numerous unnecessary calories. Even if you are eating the right types of foods, eating too much of them can still have a negative impact on your body.

A simple way to determine an appropriate portion size for your body is by actually using your own hand as a measurement. By cupping your hand and imagining how much food you could hold in it (a level amount, not heaping) is considered one handful. If you use that as a measurement and base your portions on serving yourself approximately two handfuls of carbohydrates or grains, two handfuls of fruits or vegetables and a portion of meat or protein the size and width of your palm, you will avoid overeating.

Another way to avoid overeating at a meal is to make sure you eat small, healthy snacks in between meals if you get hungry. Beginning a meal when you are very hungry will make it easier to go for the second or even third portion. By curbing that hunger beforehand with a healthy snack, you can make sure to choose your portions based on health instead of hunger.

6. Eat on Performance Day

It’s normal to be stressed before any performance but make sure you don’t let that stress keep you from eating on the morning you are supposed to perform at the competition! When you skip a meal before performing, you set your body up to fatigue quickly and you risk experiencing the side effects of low blood sugar. These side effects can include shakiness, nausea, dizziness, or even blurred vision, all of which could very much lower the quality of how you dance.

Even enjoying a few healthy snacks leading up to your performance such as a banana, yogurt, a handful of nuts, or a classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole wheat bread will help curb the side effects. It could also help calm your stomach if you tend to experience that ‘butterfly’ feeling before going on.

The Health Benefits of Dancing

Whether you flaunt your every move on the dance floor or sway to your favorite songs in the car, dance is an activity that everybody enjoys in one way or another. Luckily, dancing is something that will not only bring a smile to your face but will also help improve your physical and mental health. It is great exercise that gets your mind and muscles working no matter who you are. With so many styles from Ballet to Ballroom Dancing, it’s easy to find a dance class and get started. Enjoy your favorite past time while gaining all of these great benefits with every step you take.

• Increased Strength and Health- Dancing is exercise so, naturally, it will assist in strengthening your bones and muscles. As your strength increases, you will have more energy to continue dancing. Your increased level of physical activity and exercise will help prevent illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and depression and reduce the risk of osteoporosis as your bones become stronger.
  
• Boost Memory- When you exercise, the levels of chemicals in your brain that encourage nerve cells to grow is increased and since dancing requires you to remember various steps and sequences, your brain power is boosted which helps to improve your memory. Dancing incorporates several brain functions at once- kinesthetic, rational, musical, and emotional. Utilizing all of these at the same time can further increase your neural activity, helping to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
  
• Improve Flexibility- To get the most out of your dance moves, it helps to consistently stretch your muscles. Start with some simple, at home stretches and don’t push your body beyond what it can handle to keep from hurting yourself. Soon, you will notice the stretches will become easier and you will not be experiencing as much soreness or joint pain after dancing as you may have experienced when you started. Over time, your flexibility and agility will increase and you will notice you have better overall coordination.
  
• Balance Better –In order to execute each move and sequence correctly, you will need to be able to maintain a strong center of gravity.  As you learn each movement and begin to gain increased flexibility and strength, your posture, balance and spatial awareness will naturally begin to improve, making each step easier for you to complete.
  
• Strengthen Your Heart- Dancing is great cardiovascular exercise. As you continue to dance and notice your strength and grace improving, you will witness an increase in your stamina. Your heart rate will stay steady longer and you will not have the feeling of being out of breath as the condition of your heart and lungs improves.
  
• Reduce Stress- When you are dancing, your body is fully in that moment, focused on the music and your surroundings. Being around friends or that someone special to enjoy dancing to your favorite music can help you focus on strictly the moment you are in and aid in reducing the amount of cortisol your brain produces (the hormone that is associated with stress), lowering your stress and tension levels.
  
• Diminish Depression- Learning to dance is an accomplishment that everyone can achieve. Not everyone believes that they are capable of achieving it so once you start dancing and begin to see how quickly you improve, your confidence and self-esteem naturally increase, both on and off the dance floor.
  
• Lose Weight- The consistent movement that dancing provides utilizes multiple muscle groups at the same time, helping to tone your entire body. A study in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that an exercise program of aerobic dance training is just as effective as jogging or cycling in order to improve body composition and aerobic strength. You may even notice a natural shift in your eating habits as you begin to feel healthier from your dancing, which also will aid in weight management.
  
• Social Improvement- Everybody enjoys meeting new people and dancing provides a fun environment to meet people who have the same interest as you- they want to learn how to dance! This type of environment is perfect to either utilize your social skills if you are outgoing or to help strengthen your social skills if you have a quiet personality. Dancing is a great way to meet new friends and improves your social outlook while in an atmosphere where you can feel safe and comfortable.

As you can see, dance is a fun and exciting way to become and stay the healthiest you possible. With the holiday season right around the corner, dancing is a great way to stay in shape! Start dancing today!

The Importance of Good Technique

When it comes to dance, no truer words were spoken than what was said by British poet and dramatist, John Dryden in the 1600’s, “Dancing is the poetry of the foot.” Whether dancing in front of an audience or dancing down a street on a sunny afternoon, the feet write and display the graceful beauty of dancing. They are, after all, the most fundamental aspect and building blocks for any dancer.

In the world of dance, the requirement for good technique and precision means correct use of the legs and feet, the footwork. Similar to building a home, careful attention is taken when constructing the foundation. No one would say to a builder, “Forget about the foundation; just focus on making the walls and architecture look pretty!” You don’t have to be a builder to know that a home with a poor foundation will not stand when it is subjected to even the smallest amount of stress. Paying close attention to the footwork in dance is also the fundamental foundation to good technique.

Incorrect use of the feet while dancing can lead to a ripple effect of issues that, in return, impact the rest of the body’s movement: lack of transition into the next move, change of rhythm, inability to keep up in speed, unable to keep up with a partner, loss of rhythm in hip and torso action and the list goes on. The cure for all of those issues is correct use of the feet and legs along with accuracy when performing the footwork. Everything a dancer does, rising, leaping, slowness, quickness, swaying, and action, are all connected with and credited to the feet.

When we stop for a moment and realize what the feet are capable of and how intelligently they work with the legs, it is amazing how often they are ignored. Many doctors recommend the best way to keep your body feeling young is to stay active. Dancers have to move in 10 different directions at once and be able to switch quickly, building great coordination along with weight bearing, increasing bone density and strengthening joints. Footwork also has a positive effect on the rest of the body like improving cardiovascular fitness, increasing circulation, and decreasing blood pressure.

 If you are looking to get started in ballroom dancing lessons for the benefits in footwork or health, our dance studios are required to maintain the highest standards of excellence through our National Dance Board and Fred Astaire Franchised Dance Studios curriculum certification.

 Mr. Fred Astaire, considered to be the greatest multitalented dancer of all time, wanted to establish a chain of studios under his name to make sure that his techniques would be preserved and passed onto the public. Our chain of studios all over North America offer an array of ballroom dancing lessons for beginners and professionals alike. For more information on Fred Astaire Dance Studios, visit www.fredastaire.com. 

Last weekend was the annual Fred Astaire Dance Studios World Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fred Astaire Studio Locations from around the world all traveled to The Mirage Hotel and Casino to compete in several categories. 

Here is a list of our 2014 FAWC champions: 

Category: Closed Bronze/Silver Smooth

Dance Champions: Matthias Kruschel and Christine Schlegl

Fred Astaire Dance Studio: Norwalk

Category: Showdance

Dance Champions: Aaron and Iryna DeSoto

Fred Astaire Dance Studio: Chicago North

Category: Closed Bronze/ Silver Rhythm

Dance Champions: Dennis Sy and Mae Lozada

Fred Astaire Dance Studio: NY Midtown

Category: American Rising Star Smooth

Dance Champions: Adrian and Hannah Dydynski

Fred Astaire Dance Studio: Chicago West Loop

Category: American Closed Mixed Novice

Dance Champions: Ty Gibson and Nikki Azcona

Fred Astaire Dance Studio: Montville

Category: American Rising Star Rhythm

Dance Champions: Aaron and Iryna DeSoto

Fred Astaire Dance Studio: Chicago North

Category: Open Cabaret

Dance Champions: Brandon barker and Chelsea Cherie

Fred Astaire Dance Studio: Canal Winchester

Category: American Open Smooth

Dance Champions: Misha and Galina Zharinov

Fred Astaire Dance Studio: Miami Beach

Category: Open International Latin

Dance Champions: Hayk Balasanyan and Emilia Poghasyan

Fred Astaire Dance Studio: Montville

Category: American Open Rhythm

Dance Champions: Vard Margaryan and Sofya Fil

Fred Astaire Dance Studio: Hartsdale

Category: Open International Ballroom

Dance Champions: Dmitry and Christina Durante

Fred Astaire Dance Studio: Madison

Congrats to all our champions and a special thank you to all the Fred Astaire Dance Studios who came to Vegas to compete! 

Here are a few more pictures from the competition: 

This Month's Obesession: The EasyGo Dispenser Protein Powder Dispenser

As dancers you must take your post-exercise nutrition seriously in order to provide your muscles with the raw materials and nutrients they need. Any nutritionist will tell you that post-workout eating is the most important aspect of fitness nutrition. Within 45 minutes of any workout, you need to have protein to supply your body with amino acids and help promote muscle building and recovery.

If your daily activities rarely allow time for a home cooked meal, you can still make sure you get your protein fix with the EasyGoDispenser. The EasyGo Dispenser is a protein powder dispenser that was designed for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. It will carry a full day’s worth of protein powder and the measuring unit dispenses precise amounts of powder and fits into any shaker cup or water bottle. The base storage unit keeps your powder fresh and the EasyGo Dispenser is small enough to fit into any bag and bring with you no matter where you go.

The EasyGo Dispenser was developed by three Army soldiers. While deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, they realized that there was no easy way to make an instant protein shake – a common source of nutrition for soldiers. So in order to make it easier to get a proper meal replacement via protein powder, they came up with the idea for the EasyGo Dispenser. 

With the EasyGo Dispenser you will recieve the perfect amount of protein to help rebuild and recharge your body after your workout or dance practice. 

This Month's Obsession: Laura Mercier Face Primer

As your dance students and pros transition from practice to performances, you’re feeling prideful and so are they. You’ve taught them the dance skills they need to stand out on the dance floor, and now it’s time to show them how to make their makeup pop too! Introduce your performers to this month’s favorite beauty pick - the new Laura Mercier Face Primer in Radiance. 

Primer is the secret weapon for achieving flawless skin and making your makeup last. It preps the skin for makeup, fills in pores and fine lines, and creates a smooth base that makeup can adhere to.  With this beauty must-have, your performers can say good-bye to their makeup slipping and sliding as they sweat their way through their dance routine.

Laura Mercier created the beauty industry’s first ever makeup primer and just recently reinvented her popular primer and made the newest version which adds luminosity and radiance to skin. This lightweight, creamy vitamin-rich gel not only makes your skin glow, but also acts as a buffer to outside elements and holds your foundation in place for hours. 

Not sure how to apply primer? Here are step by step instructions:

Step 1: Apply primer onto your face the same way you would apply your moisturizer. Be sure to apply all areas as evenly as possible, but it’s okay to use a little extra in places where your makeup tends to wear off quickly, such as in the T-zone area.

Step 2: Apply your foundation and concealer as you normally would. Notice that the colors of your makeup look so much better!

Note: There are also primers designed for eyelids which make your eye shadow last all day and night and help you get the most out of even the cheapest eye shadows.

Use this secret weapon to help your students achieve the ultimate makeup look before the next event or special occasion. Now people won’t just recognize Fred Astaire dancers for their suave moves, but for their flawless, long-lasting makeup as well!

Are the "Healthy" Foods You're Eating REALLY Healthy?

Reduced-fat peanut butter: Reduced-fat peanut butter has nearly as many calories as the full fat version plus added sugars, more sodium and partially hydrogenated oils which are the unhealthy fats that raise cholesterol. So basically, when you’re making this substitution you’re really trading heart-healthy fats for empty carbs and sugars. One tablespoon of reduced-fat peanut butter is 95 calories, has 6g of fat and 110mg of sodium. Instead, opt for an all-natural peanut butter like Smucker’s Natural Creamy Peanut Butter which has no salt and is 105 calories and 8g of fat.

Granola: Granola is loaded with carbs and high in calories. It usually also contains high amounts of added sugars and oil. Instead, choose a whole grain cereal which tends to be a great source of healthy fats, fiber and protein.

Flavored oatmeal: Flavored instant oatmeal can be high in sugar and sodium causing you to eat empty calories that provide no nutritional benefits. Swap flavored oatmeal for whole rolled or steel cut oats which don’t contain added salt or sugars and contain the same amount of fiver and protein. Add some fresh fruit or honey for extra flavor.

Bars: Many energy, fiber and protein bars are just glorified candy bars. Save yourself some sugar and calories and substitute these for an apple or a spoon of peanut butter instead. You’ll get your protein fix without bursting out of your skinny jeans. 

If you need a quick meal replacement while on-the-go you can make your own protein shake. However, be very cautious about protein shakes that you can buy at smoothie stores or gyms. Instead, carry your own supply of protein powder in a powder dispenser like EasyGo Dispenser so you can quickly make a shake no matter where you are. The EasyGo Dispenser allows you to carry a days’ worth of protein powder and easily dispenses into any water bottle or shaker cup so you can make a mess-free shake for a snack or meal replacement.

Multigrain bread: Whole wheat bread has more essential nutrients and dietary fiber than multigrain bread. Unless your multigrain bread is made with whole grains you might as well be eating white bread!  

Tips to Perfect Your Dance Technique

No matter what level of experience your dancing is, there is always room for improvement. Professional dancers spend their entire careers perfecting their technique and so should you. After all, technique is what separates the best dancers from average dancers. Always remember that perfecting the skills you already know is just as important as learning new moves.  

Here are a few tips to help you dance your way into better and more professional moves:

• Perfect your posture: Dance is all about body language and movements. Posture is extremely vital for a dancer’s success as well as the delivery of each dance’s story.
• Watch other dancers for inspiration: Watching old dance movies or professional competitions can be extremely helpful. Pay attention to their technique, posture and body alignment and make a mental note to incorporate these into your own dance style.
• Find a great instructor: Having the right dance teacher to correct your mistakes and help teach you new steps can really help perfect your skills.
• Exercise: Make your moves look more effortless by building muscle. Make your jumps look stronger, your turns more balanced and your moves more graceful, all by exercising your whole body.
• Eat right: As a dancer, your body needs to be healthy from the inside-out. A healthy, well-balanced diet can help you feel more energized.
• Don’t just dance it, feel it: Dancing is all about telling a story with your body. Facial expressions are extremely important in portraying what you want to say without using actual words. Don’t just focus on the steps – put your feelings into it. If it’s a happy, upbeat song make big sharp movements and smile. If it’s a sad or emotional dance, make sure your facial expressions represent that.
• Practice makes perfect: Don’t practice until you get it right, practice until you can’t get it wrong! Practice, practice, practice!
• Stretch: A great dancer makes difficult moves look effortless. Stretching daily will make your body more flexible and help make your moves look more graceful.

Dancing with the Stars Celebrates Cinco de Mayo

Monday may not be everyone's favorite weekday, but thanks to Dancing with the Stars, it's a definite contender for favorite weeknight!  Where else can you see a handful of your favorite celebrities from past and present learn ballroom and Latin dances from some of the world's best dance talent, including some of our very own Fred Astaire Dance School talent?

This week's program kicked off with a special Cinco de Mayo celebration featuring Mark Ballas, son of former FADS board member Corky Ballas and the "Queen of Latin" Shirley Ballas, showcasing not only his dancing skills but also his musical chops.  Donned in an old-school red blazer, Converse high-tops and bow tie, Mark performed his first single “Get My Name” [available for download on iTunes:https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/get-my-name-single/id871897350 ] live while the DWTS pros and troupe performed a contemporary Cha-Cha.  Mark stepped in to Cha-Cha during the instrumental section, reminding us that he's a double threat.  Singing, dancing...the perfect Monday night!

Spring Has Sprung – Dance Your Way into a New You!

If you’re anything like us, you may be finding you have more “pep in your step” with spring right around the corner! Warmer temperatures and longer days bring us blooming flowers, singing birds, and the joy of a new season. We believe spring is a great time to take on something new; something fun, challenging, and beneficial to your mind, body and soul.

Not only is dance a great form of exercise – summer is right around the corner, after all – but it’s also a pleasurable creative outlet and a great form of expression. Studies show that dance not only reduces stress but helps you lose weight and stay flexible – who wouldn't want that?

From the Foxtrot to Salsa, we have classes that appeal to everyone. At your first lesson, you'll learn the basic elements on which all dance patterns are based and by the end, you'll be on your way to dancing!   

Spring represents change; a time for growth and fresh beginnings. So why not use this time to challenge yourself, physically and mentally? You will meet new people, get in shape, and learn something new all while having a great time! 

Visit www.FredAstaire.com to find a local Fred Astaire Dance Studio near you! 

An Update and a Request Concerning FADS Beirut.

We'd like you to be aware of this situation, and we suggest writing franchisee Marwan Jammal to wish him a speedy recovery from these latest events. Please read on. Marwan Jammal is dealing with more than his share of pressure and difficulties. Almost exactly one year ago, on January 11, we posted this image (above, right) on our blog with an article about Marwan's studio in Beirut, Lebanon. Back then, snow pummeled his region in what experts called "the worst storm the area has ever seen." Marwan sent us photos of the devastation. Our response was that blog, called "When Life Hands Us Lemons....,' and it was a celebration of the power of positive thinking by folks who carry on despite huge obstacles and problems.  Last week, Marwan wrote the Corporate Office, "Unfortunately, a car bomb rocked Dahieh's neighborhood of Haret Heik Thursday afternoon, causing the death of at least five people and several were injured. It was close by the studio, we are all ok but plenty of cancellations occurred."  [If you're following the news on the Middle East, you know there were 2 other car bombs in Beirut in the weeks prior to this.] His note was accompanied by this image from The Nation:

Once again, we'd like to send encouragement to Marwan and his staff, wishing them positive thinking and positive results. We also wish all people in Lebanon a speedy resolution to the difficult issues being addressed. And we are also reminded of how fortunate many of us are today to have only the weather to deal with.  We, like Marwan and his staff, pledge to continue to dance through it all, no matter what. It would be beneficial if some of you would send Marwan a note wishing him a speedy recovery from all this. Thanks.

Fred Astaire Dance Studios: Our Wish to You for the New Year

While I dance I can not judge, I can not hate, I can not separate myself from life.  I can only be joyful and whole. This is why I dance. - Hans Bos 

Dancing is just discovery, discovery, discovery. - Martha Graham

Discovering Joy Today and in Every New Year to Come

Dancing is a sport/art form/exercise/pasttime. 
It defies definition.

It is a paradox.

It is a prescription for healing without medicine.

It is freeing, not confining, though it constantly re-shapes.

It restores and re-vitalizes without a single smudge of makeup.
Carefully applied, it makes things whole again.

Dancing enlarges life

and the soul,

And its thrills last forever,

like memories of a bicycle ride, flying.

People together

beneath warm, bright lights

focus on learning

a new Dance of Life.

And from their efforts

discover a harmony 

that blends inside with out,
one they never thought was there.

The dancer who’s been properly taught

to think carefully about their steps
May then forget them all
to move joyfully and wholly,

with no second thoughts,

with respect for everyone around them, 
into what the next dance brings.

This word that defies the world's definitions
can define the world instead.

It can make it a better place. 

Wishing each of our dear Fred Astaire family members and the whole wide world a New Year filled with the benefits of dancing! 

How to FEAR NOTHING! (Even Asking a Woman to Dance), by Michael Amato, a Dance Student

{When Michael Amato, a student at Florida's Boca Raton Fred Astaire Dance Studio, sent us his thoughts on the great new life he's built for himself since he began his dancing lessons, he thanked us for asking him to tell about it: "Writing these words," he said, "further validates my choices and makes me proud to tell my story so that it might inspire others: fellow students, to show them that it is truly worth the investment and the effort, and instructors and studio owners, to show them that their efforts are appreciated and life-changing for us." We thank you, Michael, for your thoughtful, kind words.]

Michael Amato today, 'walking a little taller.'

I've always been fascinated by dancing. Whenever I went out I would enjoy watching others and I wished I could dance like them. But, like many men, I felt intimidated by it and was afraid I'd embarrass myself if I tried it.

  That all changed in January, 2013, when I met a woman who was a student at Fred Astaire in Boca Raton, Florida. She invited me to attend a guest party and after putting it off, I finally went on Valentine’s Day.

It was there that I met my instructor, Mariya-Khristina Shurupova, and from that moment on, my life was transformed. One of the things that I realized was how much fun it was! It was a slow start but my determination (and eventually, my enthusiasm) drove me to learn. Once I learned the basics of smooth and rhythm dances, I was on my way!

  My private lessons with Mariya and my second instructor, Sayra Vasquez, were the most fun I've had in years. Group classes and dance parties I attended helped me reinforce what I was learning. Soon I was feeling confident and brave! Asking a woman to dance was no longer an exercise in rejection, but one of joy and acceptance. I made great friends with the students in the studio, especially the women! They enjoyed dancing with me, which did wonders for my self esteem and confidence.

Mariya-Khristina Shurupova, Pro, and Michael
(his 3rd month of lessons)

  Then the weight started coming off. I think that was the best effect, one I never imagined would happen. People at work and the studio began to notice the change, not only in my physical appearance but in my attitude and how I projected myself. I would talk to my customers, friends, and family about my experience and they would always comment on how enthusiastic I sounded!

May 2013: At the beginning, a lesson with Shurupova

  Of course, the question of cost would come up and I would always point out that for me, the benefits of dancing lessons far outweighed the expense. How many of us go out and buy expensive clothes or cars thinking that will change things and make our lives better? Material things are satisfying at first, but once the novelty wears off, what are we left with? Learning to dance is something that stays with you for your entire life. It's a community of people who have fun and love what they're doing. My enthusiasm for, and devotion to, the craft impresses those I've shared it with, and I'm extremely proud of that.

 In August, 2013, I competed in my first dance competition. I danced nine times: the Rhumba, Cha-Cha and East Coast Swing. I was extremely nervous leading up to the first dance but just like my instructors told me, once the music started, the butterflies disappeared, and I danced with confidence, enjoying every minute! I placed first in seven dances and second in two, and I was hooked!

 The next big event was dancing in a production number at our showcase event in November. The rehearsals were a lot of fun and dancing in front of 350 people in the studio was more satisfying and enjoyable than I could have imagined. I'm looking forward to the next one with great anticipation, and I will dance with one of my instructors.

  What have I learned from this? FEAR NOTHING! Life is short, and I've wasted too many years wishing and hoping for something to come into my life that would make a positive difference. I've been a widower for the past 13 years and my wife loved to dance, so I can only imagine that wherever her spirit is, she's watching and smiling at me!

  Now that I've learned to dance I enjoy going to local ballrooms, knowing that I can ask a woman to dance and feel confident enough to carry myself on the floor. The proof of that was being asked to dance by women who saw me on the floor and wanted to dance with me! I find myself walking a little taller, with my head up, and filled with a feeling of accomplishment which carries over into my job. My only regret was not starting sooner, but fate and destiny made this moment the perfect time.

  The attached pictures reflect the changes in my appearance (backwards, actually). The third was taken during a lesson with Mariya back in May at 245 pounds! The second is with Mariya in August at the competition. The first was taken this week: now 215 pounds! The last picture is of the custom plate I had made for my car to express my new-found passion.

 The journey of the rest of my life has started and I'm off on the right foot (or should I say the left foot LOL!) I don't know where it will lead me, but I know I'll enjoy the trip. The next thing would be to find the right partner to share this with, and thanks to my new found dancing skills, I know she will be the next love of my life.

Appreciatively yours,

Michael Amato  

(P.S. DANCE ON!)

Wishing You A Wonderful Holiday Season

New Book Affirms FADS Dance Teachers are Professional 'Unstickers'

We first posted this article for you here more than a year ago. Back then it was called “Dancing with the...," by Karen Amster-Young, a warm, witty, tongue-in-cheek account of Karen and her husband’s first dance lesson at Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Manhattan. 

We are thrilled to announce that “Mr. and Mrs. Clueless” (the term Karen herself uses to illustrate their lack of dance knowledge), and their fabulous experience with us have now been immortalized in a wonderful book called The 52 Weeks, by Amster-Young and Pam Godwin!

Renamed “Dancing With My Star,” our story begins on page 3, and it is surrounded by other stories Amster-Young and Godwin acquired through “a year of discovery.” There are more great pieces in the book by guest writers, and we also get expert advice on how to live a life of discovery from a psychiatrist, a nuclear cardiologist, and a half-dozen more highly-educated professionals.  

In ‘Note to the Reader,’ the authors explain that “The 52 Weeks was conceived as a fun idea between two good friends. Our plan was to get going again, get unstuck and just feel better….,”

Sound familiar, Fred Astaire Dance Studios teachers? And, teachers, whether it was your intent or not, we know that because much of your life’s work involves new students, you often need to address this exact theme:  how to help people “get going again, get unstuck, and just feel better.”

Know that what you do matters. And know that what you do, you do very well. It takes dedicated people with high levels of skill to bring about positive change for people, which is why we, at Corporate, dedicate this story to you.  All the good you do doesn't stop at the edge of the ballroom floor, ladies and gentlemen — we know that, and we thank you.

‘Dancing with the...’ first appeared October 13, 2011 on Amster-Young and Godwin’s co-authored blog, The 52 Weeks. The book by the same name resulted from a collection of their blogs, drawn from their experiences as they tried out “one new thing every week for a year — from test-driving Maseratis to rock climbing to dance lessons.”

So glad that dance teacher was in the Manhattan studio that day, ready and eager to help!

 Read 'Dancing With My Star' below...

The 52 Weeks: the authors — Karen
Amster-Young (L) & Pam Godwin

'Dancing With My Star'

‘You write better than you dance,’ my husband joked as we awkwardly tried to do the Rumba. The last time we took a dance lesson was the obligatory, “I am twenty-something,” pre-wedding dance lessons 100 years ago. Let me put it this way:  the year I got married the average price of gas was 1.05 per gallon, Princess Diana and Prince Charles separated and Gotti was sentenced to life in prison.  Back in 1992, our first dance as Mr. and Mrs. Clueless was Eric Clapton’s ‘Wonderful Tonight’ and I didn’t need anything even remotely similar to SPANX Shapewear. And just by coincidence, Scent of a Woman was released in the theaters and we all watched as Pacino danced the Tango at the Plaza.

Mr. Sometimes-still-Clueless is a closet Dancing with the Stars fan.  On the rare occasion when he isn’t working and has a few moments before his ridiculously early bedtime, my daughter and I will catch him watching the show. He used to try to hastily switch channels to hide his addiction; he finally just relaxed about it when the newest season made its debut. I actually find it pretty endearing:  a pretty big, football-watching guy glued to an addictive dance show on television to unwind.  I am glad he finally ‘owned’ it so I could write about it.

Coincidentally, I’ve been wanting to take dance lessons… again, if you count 1992. ‘Mr. Dancing-with-the-Stars’ seemed okay with it, actually; it was finding the time together that was difficult. I wanted to do something as a couple that was new, active, fun and out of our ‘couple comfort zone.' I also wanted to learn a few moves that would surprise my body and give me a sense of accomplishment.  The fact is, like most people, we’re ‘average’ dancers – if that. Of course, over the years, mostly in our 20’s and 30’s, there were some tequila-infused moments when we actually thought we were pretty good but  the Salsa? No way. The Tango? Yeah, right.  I just wanted to know what these dances were all about. Would they feel sexy? Would I feel like a fool?  Was I 20 years too late?  So I called Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Manhattan. When in doubt, think Fred and Ginger, I thought to myself when I booked the lesson.

This location was pretty close to Bloomingdale’s. As we arrived for our first lesson, I was glad it was 9:30 at night and the store was closed. I may have been tempted, just for a minute, to beeline to the Lancome counter.

After an elevator ride to the 5th floor, we were greeted at the studio door by Desi. She was terrific on the phone, so it was no surprise she was the same in person.  I looked around at the big dance floor, lights and huge photo of Fred and Ginger and started to feel a bit hesitant.  Thankfully, we were soon greeted by a cheerful, pretty instructor named Gala.  She was warmly friendly and immediately made me feel comfortable.  We chatted for a few moments on the dance floor, then she casually inquired about our wedding song and before we knew it, it was playing.  Okay, this was a bit corny but it did the trick: we laughed and started following her confident lead, doing the Rumba and stepping a bit on each other’s toes. I had selected a “sampler” private class so we went from the Rumba to the Hustle to the Tango and Salsa all within 45 minutes.  When necessary, she danced with each of us and never made us feel uncomfortable or awkward.  I loved it.  I loved doing this with my ‘oh-so-busy’ husband and I loved not being on the treadmill or doing my usual tedious stuff.

By the end of the session we were moving a little less awkwardly and smiling, showing a little more spunk in our steps despite the fact that it was past a certain someone’s bedtime. That is what mattered most – our moods.  I am definitely considering doing this again. Certainly with Gala as our teacher and definitely when Bloomingdale’s is closed.

Knight's Take

Do You Have the Competitor's Edge?

by Stephen Knight

Stephen Knight,
Co-National Dance Director,
Fred Astaire Dance Studios

In October, I was at the Fred Astaire National Dance Championships in Orlando, Florida, with three very exciting nights of professional competition to look forward to! 

One of the most amazing things I noticed while I was watching all the swirling, smiling competitors is that there are many up-and-coming talented new couples hitting the dance floor. Since the West Coast Dance Championships in sunny San Diego are just around the corner (January 16-18) and CCDC (in Atlanta for the first time) will be here before we know it (April 22-26) this is probably a perfect time to educate our new competitors and, perhaps, even some of our seasoned ones, on what it really takes to be really good at competition.

Really good at competition, like these people
(if you so choose)! 

1. It starts with rehearsals – good ones.

 “Rehearsal“ means a minimum of practice 2 hours a day at least 6 days a week. “Good” means working with your partner as a member of a team, and not arguing about what he or she or you might have done wrong. Remember, your dance partner does not make mistakes on purpose; that’s the reason why we practice and rehearse! Try treating your partner like you expect to be treated, and you will find you’ll get to your goals a lot faster without the wasteful setbacks that arguing causes.

We all put on our dance shoes one foot
at a time...

2. The next most important thing you need is a super support team. 

That may consist of your management team at the studio, coaches you have chosen to work with, the people who design and create your costumes and anyone else you feel you need to help you get to your desired goal. At times, you may need a personal trainer to help keep you at the physical level that your sport requires, so don’t hesitate if this is the case. I had a trainer most of my career because it kept me physically and mentally stronger, which allowed me to be more prepared and capable when I competed. It paid off, believe me!

A support team like the folks at FADS (these wonderful people are from
 our Madison, WI, studio) can make a huge difference in your
dancing career -- and your life's happiness!

3. Now I'm going to address the never-ending battle of grooming. 

This is so important because of the impression it makes on the judges. Costuming can make or break any couple in a competition. So, if you are going to invest the time and finances it takes to rehearse, be coached, cover entry fees, buy airline tickets, and pay for hotels, let's make sure that grooming is the very last problem we could possibly have! “Properly groomed” simply means we’re in costumes that enhance our bodies, with makeup and hair done correctly. There are plenty of professionals in these areas who are at your disposal, and they will love to help make you look like a champion, so invest just that little bit more for their services, then watch it pay off in a grand way!

"You are so pahfect, my dahling!"

4. The last qualification for being a great professional competitor is good sportsmanship. 

Obviously, in any competition there will be winners and losers. It is so important to lose gracefully!  But I have seen far too many times when couples act unprofessionally due to a particular result and I'm here to tell you FOR SURE that it does not fare well with the judges. That impression of you will stay with them for a long time. So, do yourself a favor when you don’t like what you’ve heard: go up to your room and have your pity party there, out of sight of anyone who could form a bad image of you!! The players and the results will change all the time, so just learn from your mistakes and move on. Remember, this is not just about being a good dancer; you must also be a good winner and a good loser — to put it in a nutshell, a good person! That alone, my friends, will take you a long way in this industry and help assure you a long and prosperous career.

You? A sore loser? No way! You'd better just
get over yourself, now, y'hear me? 

So keep dancing, everybody, pay attention to the words of wise dancers (like Fred here), and no matter where you are in your ride right now, enjoy your trip to the top!!