Dancing With The Stars, Season 11 Commentary

Week Two

By Natasha Oreshkina, award winning ballroom dancer

Michael Bolton was eliminated this week although I thought he got better since the week before. His dance was a strange interpretation of the Jive. The choreography wasn't good for him. Bruno was too mean and his comments were too tough. The problems with the dance wasn't Michael's fault. Chelsie created the choreography and it just wasn't a good idea.

"The Situation" danced a Quick Step for a score of 18. Compared to last week, he improved but he needs to work on his balance and musicality next week.

Margaret Cho danced the Jive for a score of 18. This style of dance worked better for her since personality plays a big part in the Jive. She seemed more relaxed and was much improved in general.

Florence Henderson danced the Quick Step for a score of 19. What a beautiful woman! She can really move and dance! She made the Quick Step look easy and elegant.

Three couples got the same score when they did the Jive: Brandy, Kurt Warner, and Eric Fox. Brandy's Jive was not as good as her dance last week. I was expecting more from her. Maybe "Latin" is not a good style for her. Her outfit was also a little strange. There are some technical points that she needs to work on, including pointing her toes. It seemed as if the Smooth style worked better for Brandy than Latin.

Kurt Warner performed better than he did last week. This dance was better suited for his style. It looked like he was having fun!

Eric Fox's Jive was good, an especially hard dance for a big guy. His dance was full of energy.

Kyle Massey and Bristol Palin both danced the Quick Step and both got a score of 22. I still don't see Bristol as a performer. She needs more confidence but she's working hard. Kyle is a great guy! He made this week's dance look awesome, just like last week. He has excelled in both styles of dance. Although his was not a classical Quick Step, it was still fun to watch.

Audrina Patridge's Quick Step (score 23) was lovely. She looks like a dancer.

Jennifer Grey is still in first place with a score of 24. Her Jive, which had difficult choreography, was incredible to watch. She looked amazing.

Looking forward to next week. Feel free to post comments and I will answer back!

What To Expect...

What to expect at your first ballroom dance lesson

If you're new to ballroom dancing, you might be a little nervous about your first lesson at a Fred Astaire Dance Studio. Many questions will run through your mind. What will happen? How difficult will it be? What should you wear? Here's some information to help you prepare.

What to expect when you arrive

When you arrive at the Fred Astaire Dance Studios your instructor will quickly make you feel at home in the studio environment.
You'll be asked if you have an upcoming event or vacation, and what kind of music or dance styles you like as well as what your short-term dance goals are. If you aren't sure which specific dances you want to try, your teacher will choose a few for you.
Don't worry if you haven't had prior dance experience. Under the direction and guidance of your instructor, the lesson will never feel too fast or too slow and boring. The instructor will go at your pace.
If you partake as a couple, your instructor will give each of you your own responsibilities as the leader and follower so that you can succeed as a team on the dance floor.
By the end of your first lesson, you'll probably be amazed just how easy it was to get started and you'll already be dancing a few steps in several different dances.

Clothing

Wear comfortable clothes to allow easy movement. Dress in layers because as the session progresses, you'll get warm just as with any other exercise. You should wear shoes which fit securely on your feet. Sandal, slingbacks and flipflops are not good choices. If you usually wear high heels when going out, we suggest you wear a similar heel height on your lesson.

Burn The Floor

from the Sacramento Bee (CA):

'Burn the Floor,' in Sacramento through Oct. 10, turns ballroom dance on its head
qwong@sacbee.com
Published Monday, Sep. 27, 2010

It's been more than a decade since producer Harley Medcalf created "Burn the Floor," a Broadway dance production that makes its next stop Wednesday night in Sacramento. He remembers ballroom dance as a dusty art form the public rarely talked about back then.

"In 1999, when you mentioned the word 'ballroom,' people would look at you like you were crazy," said Medcalf.

Then professional dancers started stepping into the limelight, starring in reality TV shows like "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Dancing With the Stars." Almost overnight, the buzz surrounding the dance genre had been reignited.

"It's the new rock 'n' roll," he said.

Premiering in Bournemouth, England, "Burn the Floor" has sold millions of tickets in more than 30 countries and 160 cities. The two-hour production takes audiences on a journey through the evolution of ballroom, from the Viennese waltz and fox trot to the cha-cha and samba. Two vocalists and two percussionists also perform throughout the show.

Directed by ballroom dance champion Jason Gilkison, the dance numbers are split into two acts and four segments. It starts with a comparison between traditional ballroom and what the company does, moves into the swing clubs and the Latin Quarter, and ends with current ballroom expression.

Medcalf said the show tries to step away from the predictability of a ballroom competition, making the dances more about each dancer's personality and unique form of expression.

"What we're looking for are the rebels of the ballroom dance floor," he said. "They're doing things outside the expected norms of a ballroom competition."

Seven of this production's dance "rebels" are from the hit show "So You Think You Can Dance." (The show forces dancers to perform outside of their genre.)

"It's a dance company, but no one is forced to be like the person next to you,' said Anya Garnis, a finalist on Season 3 of "So You Think You Can Dance." Garnis joined the Broadway production last year with dance partner Pasha Kovalev.

Also included in this year's touring production is Robbie Kmetoni, a contemporary dancer and winner of this year's "So You Think You Can Dance Australia."

The piece Kmetoni performs in the opening act of "History Repeating" with salsa dancer Janette Manrara is a fusion of cha-cha and contemporary dance.

"Some of the lifts and throws they do in that number are death-defying," Medcalf said.

"Burn for You," a rumba performed by Garnis and Kovalev, also puts a contemporary spin on the traditional ballroom dance style.

Garnis said there is no overall story line to the production; each number acts as a short story that's left up to the audience to interpret.

She said both the reality television show and "Burn the Floor" have opened up her mind about ballroom dance.

"It's ballroom reinvented," said Garnis. "We try to push boundaries."

Dancing With The Stars, Season 11 Commentary

Week One
By Natasha Oreshkina, award winning ballroom dancer

Opening night for the new season was a great kick off with 12 celebrities, ranging from actors and actresses, athletes, singers, and reality TV stars, performing, and this season looks like it will be much stronger than the last season!

After the show, I quickly divided up all the couples into three different categories based on their performances.

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
I placed three couples in the "Needs Improvement" category: Margaret Cho, "The Situation," and David Hasselhoff.
Margaret Cho (along with partner Louis van Amstel) danced the Viennese Waltz to a very strong piece of music but she made it into a comedy and this wasn't good for the V. Waltz. Her dance wasn't smooth or elegant and I wouldn't be surprised if she was eliminated early.
"The Situation" (with partner Karina Smirnoff) did not have enough time to practice his dance. Although Karina, because she is such a strong professional dancer, can make anyone look good, "The Situation" needs to concentrate on his posture and focus on being a strong leader.
David Hasselhoff (with partner Kym Johnson) danced the Cha-Cha. He is a great actor but he needs to work more on his posture and concentrate on timing. Dancing is not just entertainment; there has to be some technique there as well.

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
Six couples fall under the "Has Potential" category: Michael Bolton, Florence Henderson, Kurt Warner, Bristol Palin, Audrina Patridge, and Brandy. All of these dancers did a great job for the first week!
Michael Bolton (with Chelsie Hightower) has musicality but I was expecting more from him. We use a lot of his songs to dance to! His dance wasn't smooth and he did not have good posture. He also wasn't leading his partner.
Florence Henderson (with Corky Ballas) was very focused and is definitely a hard worker. It will be interesting to see what Corky, who is a very strong choreographer, will do with her since she is so willing to work hard.
Kurt Warner (with Anna Trebunskya) danced the Viennese Waltz. I didn't like his performance. He was too stiff. I didn't see any flow or elegance to his movement.
Bristol Palin (with Mark Ballas) had good hip movement in her Cha-Cha. She looked nice on the floor and not particularly stiff. She has a very strong professional partner so it'll be interesting to see how she progresses.
Audrina Patridge (with Tony Dovolani) was the first to dance last night. She performed well under a lot of pressure. I was happy to see that Tony has a much better partner than last season.
Brandy (with Maks Chmerkovskiy) danced the Viennesse Waltz. She seemed to be very focused. She looked fine and her lines were good but she wasn't as good as other couples performing the same dance.

STRONGEST
I put three couples in the "Strongest" category: Kyle Massey, Eric Fox, and Jennifer Grey.
Kyle Massey (with Lacey Schwimmer) is the youngest celebrity on the show this season. He had the best Cha-Cha. It was a fun performance and he had good musicality. I was also happy to see that he had good technique. It'll be interesting to see how he does in ballroom. I suspect that his Latin dances will be stronger for him.
Eric Fox (with Cheryl Burke) had great posture! He holds his himself very nicely and his lines and movement were very smooth. I thought it would be hard for him because of the difference in Eric's and Cheryl's height) but his dancing was elegant and nice. There was a huge difference between Kurt and Eric - the two athletes on the show! Eric and Cheryl are one of the strongest couples in the competition.
Jennifer Grey (with Derek Hough) performed an emotional dance to music from the famous movie, Dirty Dancing. Her dance was very lyrical. Jennifer and Derek are another strong couple in this competition. I predict that she'll do well in Latin also.

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations to these Fred Astaire couples for their outstanding results at this year’s United States Dance Championships!

Open To The World Professional Cabaret Championships
1st place – Eric Luna & Georgia Ambarian, Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio
2nd place – Jesse Benedetti & Kimalee Piedad, Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio
5th place – Vicente Martinez & Megan Murphy, Chicago Downtown, IL studio

US National Professional Cabaret Championships
1st place – Eric Luna & Georgia Ambarian, Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio
2nd place – Jesse Benedetti & Kimalee Piedad, Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio
4th place – Vicente Martinez & Megan Murphy, Chicago Downtown studio

Open Professional American Rhythm Championships
6th place - Ken Hansen & Christina Penatello, Westwood, NJ studio

Open Professional American Smooth Championships
3rd place – Mikhail Zharinov & Galina Detkina, NY East, NY studio

US Mambo Championships
2nd place – Brittney Bartler & Aleks Nashev, Buffalo Grove, IL studio

US National Professional Theatrical Dance Championships
1st place – Jesse Benedetti & Kimalee Piedad, Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio
3rd place – Justin Guilmette & Katie Guillen, Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio

Rising Star Professional American Rhythm Championships
1st place – Brittney Bartler & Aleks Nashev, Buffalo Grove, IL studio
5th place – Aaron DeSoto & Jaana Lillemagi, Buffalo Grove, IL studio
6th place – Ronald Guillen & Katie Guillen, Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio

Rising Star Professional American Smooth Championships
5th place – Chris Germain & Simona Polmova, Buffalo Grove, IL studio
6th place – Peter Hahn & Juliet Thibadeaux, Norwalk, CT studio

Odds To Win New Season Of Dancing With The Stars!

from docsports.com:

Top Three
Jennifer Grey & David Hough (7/2)
Rick Fox & Cheryl Burke (11/2)
Mike "the Situation" Sorrentino & Karina Smirnoff (7/1)

Pick to Win DWTS11
Jennifer Grey & David Hough (7/2)


Dancing With the Stars - Odds to win Season 11*
Audrina Patridge - 8/1
Brandy - 3/1
Bristol Palin - 20/1
"The Hoff" David Hasselhoff - 10/1
Florence Henderson - 25/1
Jennifer Grey - 7/2
Kyle Massey - 18/1
Kurt Warner - 20/1
Margaret Cho - 12/1
Michael Bolton - 10/1
Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino - 7/1
Rick Fox - 11/2

*odds courtesy of Bodog.

Local Duo Takes First in Dance Championship

from thepilot.com:

Friday, September 3, 2010

Missy Keller and Joe Hasson are instructors at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Pinehurst.

The pair recently won the Astaire World Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Hasson was exposed to ballroom dancing at an early age.

"Both of my parents are professional ballroom dancers and own Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Pinehurst," he says. "Whenever my parents taught, I was usually there, so it became a part of my life."

Keller, whom Joe Hasson taught, started her dance career at the age of 5 with ballet, tap and jazz.

"I continued dancing until I was 13," she says. "After three years, I missed dancing and wanted to learn ballroom dancing. I got addicted and at the age of 18, made the decision to become a professional."

Keller says that she competed as often as possible when she was a student.

"My first competition as a junior, I competed in the Word Pro-Am Dance Championships in the Bahamas, where I won my first amateur title," she says.

"Hard work and practice are important," says Hasson, who adds that he enjoys studying on his own and devotes most of his free time to practicing.

He also feels that eating right and extra workouts prior to a competition are helpful.

"I always visualize my routines and techniques," he says. "I have a third person watch and make suggestions."

Keller says she is still figuring out what works best for her.

"Performing is something I have always loved," she says. "The excitement of what lies ahead just before hitting the floor is an amazing feeling I can't describe."

Hasson says he had a good feeling about their chances of doing well going into the Astaire World Championships.

"We had the support of friends and family," he says.

Keller agrees that she expected to do well, but not necessarily to win.

"Keeping a positive attitude going into an event and throughout a performance is always a great attribute to have," she says, although she adds that she was a "nervous wreck" during the week leading into the competition.

Hasson and Keller competed against 14 other couples.

"I knew that we had to make the top six to be in the finals," Hasson says.

Keller says her favorite dance is the rumba.

"The character of the dance is one that I feel I can lose myself in," she says.

Hasson likes the mambo.

"I like the fun and excitement of the music, and the guy gets to be the cool one, showing off the lady," he says.

Keller says she was shocked when she learned they had won the championship.

"I feel it's definitely a good way to start my career, and it's a step in the right direction," she says.

Hasson adds, "It was fantastic, and I'm ready for the next one."

And at the next one - the International Grand Ball, in San Francisco, Calif. - he won first place in the Rising Star American Rhythm Division.

"Being a competitive dancer takes a specific desire and mindset," says Keller.

Hasson advises dancers to "just start."

"If you don't start you won't ever get there," he says. "There is a plan and a formula; you have to have guidance and practice, practice, practice. Being around competitive dancers from around the world, starting with my parents to today's world champs, has inspired me to compete at as high a level as it will take me."

And Keller and Hasson say that it's never too late to compete.

"Competitive ballroom dancing is something anyone of any age can accomplish with the right preparation," she says.

"If you want to compete there are competitions for every level," Hasson adds. "With the right dedication and desire, you can accomplish any of your dancing goals, as a social or competitive dancer."

Applying Makeup For Ballroom Dance Performances

from ehow.com:

By Michelle Aveyard, eHow Contributor

Makeup for ballroom dance competitions must be more dramatic and heavily applied than day-to-day makeup, which can leave dancers looking washed out and pale under the bright stage lighting. The makeup must accentuate the dancers' features for judges and the audience, who will be sitting far away from the stage. Most makeup is applied to the female dancer's face, but her male partner does need to darken his skin for maximum visibility.

1.Apply skin tanner or bronzer to both male and female dancers' faces, to keep them from looking washed out under the lighting. Apply to all visible skin, including face, chest, arms and neck, to keep the complexion consistent.

2.Cover the woman's face with liquid foundation. Set with powder, to keep the makeup from running.

3.Apply a bright-colored blush to the woman's cheeks. Use a great deal more blush and a brighter color than you would typically use, to distinguish the cheeks and cheekbones.

4.Line the woman's eyes with a dark liner to accentuate their shape and make them seem to "pop" from the stage. Coat each lid and its inner crease with a bright-colored shadow. Attach artificial lashes to the upper lid with eyelash glue. Coat lashes with mascara.

5.Outline her lips with a dark lip liner. Fill in with a long-lasting, smudge-proof lipstick in a bright color. Finish with a shiny lip gloss.

Tips & Warnings
• The dancing as well as the lighting can cause the dancer to perspire, so look for foundations and powders that are long-lasting or waterproof.
• Use a stick or cream blush, which will last longer.
• Dancers often use more than one shade of eyeshadow, and will coordinate the colors with their costumes..

Things You'll Need
• Skin tanner or bronzer
• Foundation
• Powder
• Blush
• Eyeliner
• Mascara
• Eye shadow
• Artificial eyelashes
•Lip gloss

Ballroom Dance Etiquette

from utdallas.edu:

Etiquette and Beyond
Success in a social activity requires awareness of accepted norms of behavior. The importance of dance etiquette to the social dancer can hardly be overstated. Etiquette is important everywhere, but especially in dancing, a delicate activity where unpleasantness has no place.

Dance communities tend to be fairly small, giving a nice self-enforcing characteristic to dance etiquette. Inconsiderate individuals may temporarily enjoy themselves at other dancers' expense. But they quickly develop a reputation, mostly unbeknownst to them, and become outcasts. A good reputation, as a considerate and enjoyable partner, is a social dancer's best asset.

In the following we touch on a few of the more important aspects.

Never blame your partner for anything that may happen on the dance floor. Not if you want him/her to dance with you again.

A request for a dance must be accepted under almost all circumstances. If you decline a dance, you yourself cannot dance until the end of that song.

No unsolicited teaching on the dance floor! There is a good chance this will make your partner feel small and humiliated. Not exactly a great way of encouraging him/her, or others, to dance with you.

Do not monopolize a partner on the dance floor. Dancers are polite and rarely say no to a dance, but this is no carte blanche to impose on their kindness. Dance with everyone, and let everyone dance.

On the floor, be considerate of the other couples. Exercise good floorcraft; do not cut other couples off; no aerials or choreographed steps on the dance floor.

What we discussed so far is usually considered the domain of dance etiquette. Anyone who consistently violates the rules of dance etiquette will eventually be shunned in the local dance community, so the first step towards success in dancing is to follow the rules of dance etiquette. Once we have mastered the etiquette, it is time to move beyond it and learn what else can we do to become popular in the dancing circles. The remainder of this article is dedicated to that topic.

Audrina Partridge & Tony Dovolani Practice For DWTS

from mtv.com:

Audrina Patridge's 'Dancing With The Stars' Partner 'Pumps' Her Up
Former 'Hills' star says Tony Dovolani is 'such a great teacher.'
By Kara Warner (@karawarner)

Now that we know the season 11 "Dancing with the Stars" cast and the celeb/pro-dancer pairings, we're left wondering about partner chemistry and what dances the pairs will roll out when the show premieres September 20.

When MTV News caught up with Audrina Patridge between a flurry of photo shoots, wardrobe fittings and rehearsals recently, she said she's having a great time so far, particularly working with her dance pro, Tony Dovolani.

"He is amazing," she said. "He's such a great teacher. He's very professional, and we have a lot of fun together. It's really fun. I look forward to going to rehearsal every day."

Patridge added that dancing with a partner might spoil her for all other forms of dance. "I almost like dancing with a partner better, because they're leading you and you have someone next to you, so it pumps you up to dance and move to their movements," she explained. "I love it."

The former "Hills" star said she hasn't yet mastered a particular step — since they've only had a few days of rehearsals — but she's having fun learning so many new things. "[During our first rehearsal] I learned so many different things," she said. "It was really just getting to know my way of learning; I'm a visual learner."

One movement she said she's going to have to practice is spotting, a technique dancers use to focus their turns and keep from getting dizzy.

"I practiced doing all the pique turns, [but] I need to practice spotting, because I get a little dizzy," Patridge admitted. "Those are probably the most challenging for me right now: spotting and spinning without getting dizzy."

DWTS Pairings!

Jennifer Grey & Derek Hough

Bristol Palin & Mark Ballas

Brandy & Maksim Chmerkovskiy

Margaret Cho & Louis Van Amstel

Audrina Patridge & Tony Dovolani

Florence Henderson & Corky Ballas

Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino & Karina Smirnoff

Kurt Warner & Anna Trebunskaya

Rick Fox & Cheryl Burke

David Hasselhoff & Kym Johnson

Kyle Massey & Lacey Schwimmer

Michael Bolton & Chelsie Hightower

Dancing With The Stars Season 11 Cast

Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino - reality TV star, MTV’s Jersey Shore

David Hasselhoff, actor best known for his roles on Baywatch, Knight Rider, and America’s Got Talent

Rick Fox, retired pro basketball player from the Los Angeles Lakers

Bristol Palin, daughter of ex-Alaska governor Sarah Palin

Kurt Warner, retired NFL quarterback

Florence Henderson, actress best known for her role on The Brady Brunch

Audrina Patridge, reality TV star, MTV’s The Hills

Michael Bolton, singer-songwriter

Brandy Norwood, singer-songwriter and actress

Margaret Cho, comedienne and actress

Kyle Massey, best known for starring in Disney Channel’s That’s So Raven

Jennifer Grey, actress best known for starring in Dirty Dancing

'Dancing with the Stars' Season 11 Cast Rumor Round-Up

from buddytv.com:

More The new cast of Dancing with the Stars will be announced Monday night during Bachelor Pad on ABC, but as is the tradition, many likely candidates have already been leaked and spoiled.

Here's a quick overview of who may or may not be announced for Dancing with the Stars season 11.

Almost Certain

Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino: The Jersey Shore star could flash his abs all over the DWTS stage, though he should be warned that Maksim Chmerkovskiy is the reigning king of shirtless dancing.

Audrina Patridge: The Hills gal could make two MTV reality stars on this season. She could also be the first person eliminated, if she does make it.

Bristol Palin: As if guest starring on The Secret Life of the American Teenager wasn't bad enough, now Bristol could outshine Levi Johnston in the realm of reality TV fame whoring.

Florence Henderson: Every season needs a token older contestant, so why not sweet little Carol Brady?

Jennifer Grey: Nobody puts Jennifer in the corner. It's fairly the obvious the only reason Grey would be on this show is because of Dirty Dancing and so that Carrie Ann Inaba can deduct points for a lift when Jennifer's partner (Derek Hough, according to E!Online) helps her have the time of her life.

Margaret Cho: Comedians have a fairly terrible track record on DWTS (see: Ashley Hamilton, Jeffrey Ross and Penn Jillette, all out first).

David Hasselhoff: I still don't understand how this isn't a joke, but if he really is on the show, I give him two weeks until he's dancing to his own music. He'll have a lock on the German-American vote.

Michael Bolton: Personally I'd prefer David Herman's character from the movie Office Space to be a contestant, but I guess the 40-something women who watch DWTS need something, and this might be it.

Brandy: Ray J's sister could fill a lot of the token quotas for DWTS, including musical genre and racial diversity.

Rick Fox: This former NBA was married to Vanessa Williams and now dates Eliza Dushku. In other words, he's a winner.


Other Rumors

Kurt Warner: While NFL stars typically do well, DWTS has never had a quarterback. Warner could break that streak.

Ali Fedotowsky and Roberto Martinez: ABC loves reality synergy with Trista Sutter, Melissa Rycroft and Jake Pavelka as past dancers, but even so, Ali and Roberto are already long forgotten.

Landon Donovan: World Cup fever has died down as has talk of Donovan being on the show.

Troy Aikman: Early rumors were quickly shot down, thus ruining Dallas Cowboys fans of having Aikman on DWTS and Jimmy Johnson on Survivor at the same time.

Kirstie Alley: While the Cheers and Fat Actress star would make for hilarious TV (and provide a season's worth of material for Joel McHale on The Soup), she has denied it, thus ruining the joyous possibility of seeing a Samba to the tune of Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby Got Back."

Ongoing: Dance lessons at Fred Astaire in Arrowhead

from azcentral.com:

by John Stanley - Aug. 27, 2010 09:09 AM
The Arizona Republic

For several years now, millions of Americans have enjoyed shows like "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance."

While most of us are content to fox trot in our fantasies or mambo in our minds, more than a few viewers have been inspired to get up off the couch and venture onto a real dance floor, said Robert Doyle, owner and director of the Fred Astaire Arrowhead Dance Studio, which relocated to Glendale last month.

"Those (programs) have helped us tremendously," he said. "I can't even tell you."

Doyle - Mister Doyle, in the formal parlance of the dance studio - has seen the dance demographic evolve.

When he was younger, he said, it was mostly senior citizens. Now his students include middle-age couples and singles of all ages.

Some come because of an upcoming wedding, charity ball or other occasion with dancing.

More and more, though, people simply want to take up a fun activity they've seen showcased on TV or learn one of the enduring social graces.

Most of Doyle's students are beginners; a few are quite advanced.

When Lauren Froderman was named a finalist on Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance," judge Nigel Lythgoe advised her to brush up on her ballroom skills. The effervescent 18-year-old Greenway High School grad turned to Doyle.

"I was with her three lessons a day for two and a half months," he said.

It was time well spent, as Froderman was named "America's Favorite Dancer" on Aug. 12.

Anne Robbs of Phoenix is one of Doyle's longtime students.

Earlier this year she and her dance partner, Ken Euge, won the People's Choice Award for couples at the "Dancing with the Stars Arizona," the Arizona Kidney Foundation's ballroom dance competition.

Dancing, she said, is a great activity for all ages.

"You're never too old to dance. And if you need to keep your shape or lose a little weight, it's a wonderful exercise," she said. "You use your whole body and you don't have to lift a lot of weight and you don't have to be in good shape to start. As long as you can walk, you can dance."

The most requested lessons these days, Doyle said, are for country-Western and Latin dances.

"Things that are practical, that you can go out and use that night," he said.

Students can sign up for an introductory $40 package of four lessons - three private, one with a group. Instructors customize the private lessons to suit their students. And the studio hosts a free open house dance party every other Thursday.

While they're dancing, Doyle said, his female students feel like Cinderella, the male students "like Bond, James Bond."

He also touts the benefits of dancing - it's good exercise, an effective stress reliever and a fun social activity. And while it's not unusual for students to feel a little awkward or self-conscious at first, they quickly get over it.

The variety of dance is part of what keeps Robbs on the floor.

"You can have a romantic dance, you can have a wild dance and kick up your heels," she said. "I just love it. You're out on the dance floor with the music and you go into another world with no problems. You're just out there dancing and learning and having fun."

Charles Casanave, One of the Original Members of Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Dies

Longmeadow, MA – August 28, 2010 (Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Inc.) Charles L. (“Chuck”) Casanave Jr., one of the original members of the Fred Astaire Dance Studios along with legendary dancer Mr. Fred Astaire, died on August 23, 2010 at the age of 93.

Born to Artimese and Charles Sr. in Chicago, Illinois on September 3, 1917, Chuck graduated from Principia College in Elsah, Illinois and then became a Naval Aviator, answering the call of duty in World War II. At the close of the war, Chuck entered the business world by joining a motion picture venture of his father’s. In 1947, the senior Casanave created a partnership with singer, dancer, and actor Fred Astaire to launch the Fred Astaire Dance Studios. Chuck and his brother, Chester, joined the new dance business in its New York headquarters and took over its leadership upon the death of their father in 1954. Together, they grew and operated the dance franchise business, moving it and their families to Miami in 1962, where it operated until it was sold to investors in 1990.

“If ever there was a man who had similar qualities to Fred Astaire, Charles would be it,” says Jack Rothweiler, the current President of Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Inc., “On a personal level, I marveled at his ability to convey his thoughts in writing. He was calm when handling problems, sophisticated in his looks, and would listen to any problem you brought him. He had a heart of gold, and the way he presented himself brought class and dignity to our whole organization for all the years he was associated with it.”

The tradition of intertwining business and family continued when Chuck, along with son Cory, launched a new technology company, Data Access Corporation, in 1978. Elder son Charles III, known as Chip, joined shortly thereafter. Following the sale of the dance business, Chuck took on an executive role with Data Access to enable his sons to focus on growing its technology, products and worldwide markets.

Chuck’s outside hobbies include flying and horses. Chuck owned personal aircraft, a common interest he shared with his sons. The family built homes with stables in south Miami-Dade and were active in the equine community in south Florida.

Chuck once wrote that he tried “to be a good representative of the human race.” Family, friends and business associates alike will agree that he exceeded his goal in all aspects of his long life. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years Bee, sister Gloria, brother Don, daughter Bonnie, sons Cory and Charles III (“Chip”), daughters-in-law Cheryl and Claudia, grandchildren Brittany Doerpfeld, Tristyn Tavolara, Brienne, Chelsea and Connor Casanave and great-grandchildren Sebastian, Caroline and Josephine Tavolara.
Funeral services will be held at 2pm on Saturday, August 28th at the Caballero Rivero Woodlawn Funeral Home, 11655 S.W. 117 Ave., Miami, FL 33186

Fred Astaire Dance Studios offer all types of dance instruction through private, group, and practice lessons in all the social dances such as Swing, Fox Trot, Slow Dancing, Salsa, Tango, Waltz, Cha-Cha, Polka, Samba, and Mambo. Visit http://www.fredastaire.com for more information.

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Step lightly for a perfect wedding dance

from seattletimes.com:


By LEANNE ITALIE

The Associated Press

Looking silly or worse during the first dance as a married couple rates way up there on the scale of wedding stress for grooms who are terrified of anything fancier than the high school prom sway.

"It's not Emily Post's dance anymore," said Crista Tharp, a wedding planner in Kokomo, Ind. "Some are doing rap, hip-hop, break dancing in little snippets. Most grooms would probably nix the dance, but they're not given that option."

Motivated by television's "Dancing with the Stars" and wacky wedding dance YouTube videos, more couples are building fancy footwork into their big-day budgets, turning up the pressure on members of the wedding party with two left feet.

For those who can't dance but will be singled out by cameras and watching guests setting a clear goal is a good place to begin, dance instructors suggest. Are you merely looking to survive with a few basic steps, or are you going all-in with dance sequences put together with help from an instructor or a wedding choreographer?

Groom-to-be Jerry Karran, 28, a video editor in New York City, decided on regular lessons at a dance studio ahead of his wedding in July with 400 invited guests. He tried watching instructional videos online, but they left him confused.

"I'm very nervous," he said. "I'm not nervous about anything else concerning the wedding but that. I can't dance, like, at all. Everybody's looking at you. I don't want to look stupid messing up, or stepping on her toes or something."

Dance lessons helped calm Jeremy Gorelick, 30, when he got married in April at Johns Hopkins University, where he met his wife. He has always enjoyed dancing in clubs, but slow dancing was "THE worry of the wedding for both of us."

They took lessons together, but he often practiced on his own with a broom. That, Gorelick said, was a misstep because it wasn't at all like leading his bride on the dance floor.

"A broom will do whatever you do, so it was actually an exercise in futility and probably did more damage," said Gorelick, of New York City and White Sulphur Springs, N.Y.

Start taking lessons well in advance of the big day to make your movements more instinctive and less dependent on shaky, short-term memory, instructors recommend. Beginning at least six months ahead of a wedding is ideal, but six weeks would suffice, so long as at least four lessons are involved.

Start with group lessons, many suggest, to get comfortable on a dance floor and boost confidence. Then take private instruction to work on a specific routine or dance.

Jackie Horner, who was Gorelick's instructor, often teaches whole wedding parties how to dance. While women, too, can be dance-challenged, men are often more nervous because they must also learn how to lead, she said.

"I say to them, dancing is just walking to music," Horner said. "I have them walk around the room for me to just feel the music a little bit, because there are men who do not have any rhythm at all. Usually it's a little easier than they thought."

Gorelick said beginners should advocate for a short song. He and his wife chose "The Way I Am" by Ingrid Michaelson after their instructor steered them away from a longer tune, "based on the fact that I seemed so tense. She didn't want me to be out there for an eternity, which is sort of what it felt like."

James Joseph, who wrote the book "Every Man's Survival Guide to Ballroom Dancing" (BlueChip, 2010), said taking lessons is fine if couples have the time, money and inclination. For those in dance-floor survival mode, try embellishing the basic side step with a simple change of footwork, a slow rotation or some underarm turns.

"If anyone asks, tell them it's a foxtrot," he said.

Change steps when the music changes, from verse to chorus, for instance, to avoid getting lost. Making four or five changes, with a dip in the middle and at the end, can look more difficult than it really is.

Working with a choreographer, Joseph said, may be more trouble than it's worth.

"If you work with a teacher, there's a temptation to add choreography that you might not be able to handle," he said.

"Don't get in over your head."

Practicing in wedding clothes, including shoes, also helps lessen anxiety, said Joseph, a former two-left-footer who lives in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Videotape a practice session to see what needs work — and practice, practice, practice.

Grooms aren't the only front-and-center wedding participants who may be jittery about big dances.

In 2006, at age 62, bawdy TV personality Jerry Springer brought tears to the set of "Dancing with the Stars" with an on-air kiss for his daughter Katie after a waltz he learned so he could dance at her wedding that December.

"I've never really danced," Springer, now 66, said in an interview. "So the night of the wedding, it's time for the big father-daughter dance. In the middle of it, Katie looks up at me and says, 'Dad, nobody can see our feet.' They were covered by her big gown. My advice to dads unsure if they can dance for their daughter's wedding is to make sure they have a big gown. Then you can get by doing anything."

Shelley Kapitulik, 29, and her fiance, Michael Drazin, 27, both of Greenwich, Conn., hope to do more than just get by when they dance to the Michael Buble cover of James Taylor's "How Sweet It Is (To be Loved by You)" at their June reception. They plan a swing dance, and took lessons to get a nervous Drazin over the hump.

"The more we dance and I make mistakes, we figure out how to just keep going, which has decreased the anxiety level," he said.

Why Do You Dance?

from Psychology Today:

Why Do You Dance? It seems you're lost in music

By Peter Lovatt, PhD
Created Feb 26 2010 - 7:51am
You don't need bits of fancy scientific kit, a psychiatrist's couch or a brain scanner to get to the heart of basic human nature, all you have to do is to ask one simple question, stand back, and wait for the "whoosh" as the flood gates open. I asked people what I thought was a simple question, "Why do you dance?" and the responses I received were over-whelming in their sensitivity and honesty. They were beautiful, heart-breaking, surprising and funny.

Hundreds of men and women from 13 to 77 told me why they dance, or why they don't. People told me that they dance because it makes them feel sexy, or that their girlfriend makes them dance, or they dance to get in touch with their body. Some people told me that they only dance when they are on their own, and for them dance is a secret guilty pleasure that nobody else knows about. For a large number of people music played a central role in their reasons for dancing.

For some dancing is not only a natural response to music, they report feeling compelled to move when they hear certain music or rhythms and they tell me that the act of dancing connects them with the music in a completely unique way. People have told me that when they hear certain songs they have to move and dance, and this act of dancing helps them make sense of the music. This feeling, and compulsion to dance, is so strong that, as one man wrote, "When I dance I become part of the music and the music becomes part of me".

When people connect with music through dancing it can affect their body, their thoughts and their mind. A woman wrote that she loves to move around and feel the music flow through her and another women wrote that she feels enveloped by the music, writing that dancing makes her feel as though she is "inside" the music. Indeed, there are many examples of people being moved by the music. One shy young man wrote that he dances because the power of music gives him wings to fly away from everyday life. For him the combination of dance and music facilitated an escape, the kind of escape that other people have experienced, such that when they dance to certain rhythms they go into a trance-like state. But, of course, we don't always dance alone and the connection between dance and music can also enhance the connection between dancers. A 39 year old woman wrote, "I love the additional sense of connection to the music that I get from dancing close with another person. There's a real sense of being able to hear the music the way that other person hears it - and to share how I hear the music with them."

There are many reasons why people dance and there are lots of reasons why people don't dance. In my next blog entry I'll outline the reasons people give for not dancing. If you would like to tell me why you dance, or don't dance, please go to my website: www.dancedrdance.com and click on the big yellow square. You can write as much, or as little, as you like. No need for a brain scanner.


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Source URL: http://www.psychologytoday.com/node/38857

Calling All Wedding Couples!

The Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Upper Montclair, NJ has some great tips for brides and grooms. Click here to read all about it!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Lauren Froderman for winning the title of "America's Favorite Dancer" on the hit television show, So You Think You Can Dance!!! Along with the title, Lauren won a $250,000 cash prize, and will appear on the cover of Dance Spirit magazine. She will also be featured as Gatorade's first dance athlete in Gatorade's G Series advertising campaign this fall. Lauren took dance lessons at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Phoenix, Arizona. Click here to view a video of Lauren dancing with her FADS instructor before the show that made her famous...

Coach Michael Petr Visits FADS Madison, WI Studio After Appearing on “So You Think You Can Dance”

Millions of people across the US have become fascinated with the TV show “So You Think You Can Dance.” Michael Petr is one of the few ballroom dancers to ever make it to Vegas week. The Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Madison is fortunate to have had the opportunity to host Michael as a visiting coach for the week of August 1st.

Aside from being a professional Latin and Ballroom dancer, Michael has been a finalist in many prestigious ballroom competitions around the world. Just this past February, Michael placed 4th at the Nations Cup Team Match Championship in Bad Pyrmont, Germany. He has also competed in World Professional Latin Series, the World and Euro Championships, winning 5th place in the World Mambo Championship and 4th place in the World Open Salsa Championship in Puerto Rico. Michael has also had the great distinction of appearing as a Finalist in the Paris Open Rising Star Latin Championship in Paris, France, and in the European 10 Dance Championship in Chemnitz, Germany. He has also performed in far flung corners of the world, including Thailand, Jordan, Australia, New York, and Singapore, and Egypt.

Aside from his incredible performance on “So You Think You Can Dance,” Michael has appeared on TV several other times, most notably in his performance with Czech Country Star Lenka Filipová on “Dancing with the Stars - StarDance II” in the Czech Rebuplic. He has also acted as a choreographer for JigTV, the US based dance education website.

During his time in Madison, Michael was able to work with teachers and students alike, offering his expertise and experience. “Michael brought a unique perspective and introduced me to several new ideas,” says Cathy Holmes, Bronze student and competitor at Fred Astaire Madison. “It was really special to get such a global view of ballroom. I’d definitely say that this was an incredible, once in a lifetime experience.”