Using routines and choreography on the dance floor
One of the most difficult, and sometimes terrifying, skills leads are asked to do is memorize routines or choreography. At first, the lead has a limited repertoire, but over time, simply remembering a long list of moves you have mastered seems tedious. Whether you are...
11 Tips to Remember Your Routines
1. Familiarize Yourself with the Language Every instructor, studio, and syllabus has different words for the same move. Oftentimes past bronze, there are no names for the infinite number of moves you can create! For each instructor you have, familiarize yourself with...
Ballroom Dance Experience: Story of the Studio Owner
Long before Emily, the owner of the Dance Plus Ballroom, had thought about ballroom, she would go dancing with her dad. Every year, Emily's high school would host an annual father-daughter dance downtown that they would attend. There was always a fun theme and a mini...
What Exactly is Social Dancing?
Time and time again, dancers will hear “I don’t do competitions, I’m just a social dancer.” A new student might understand that statement to mean that they don’t compete. Yet, even at a competition, competitors will find themselves ready for the evening social...
Choosing Your Competition Dress: The Must-Have Checklist
Finding the right dress for your first or last competition can be one of the most exciting and scary parts of competing. The fabulous, glamorous, and be-dazzling dresses are some of the most prominent features of the ballroom world. While the rhinestones and glamour...
May I Have This Dance?
One of the most intimidating experiences of life and in ballroom is working up the courage to ask someone for a dance. Whether you are a lady or gentleman, asking someone for a dance not only requires social grace, but also confidence in your dancing ability. ...
Experience Companionship: Giving the Gift of Dance
Too often we hear from non-dancers how they would love to dance, but their loved ones just won’t come with them. Although their loved one would most likely really enjoy it, their partner just doesn’t have the drive or the confidence. While everyone would like to...
Choosing the Right Wedding Song
For most people, wedding songs and dances are tricky choices. It can be difficult to find song choices that all parties are happy with. While many people base their song selection off of the lyrics, just as many people want their dance to convey the overall theme of...
Wedding Dance Essentials: The Checklist
For Her: Have you chosen the right shoes? You will be able to dance in flats, but it might be a little difficult to dance in platform shoes while doing a dip. Make sure that your shoes are not only suitable for your big day, but for your dance as well. If you...
Easily Fixed, Common Mistakes seen in Uneducated Dancers
In all sports and hobbies, rookies are easy to spot. Even to uneducated enthusiasts, rookies come across as overly-confident since they are unable to catch even the obvious mistakes. Even though dance is easy to learn to doesn't take an expert to notice simple and...
Life Perspectives: Dancing with Gratitude
It can be very tiresome, and very lonely as a dancer. At all levels, at all stages, everywhere you go, you discover people who tirade about how you need to be yourself, who rant about how such a person is terrible, and who complain about what’s wrong with anything and...
10 Quotes for Your Dance Journey
We all have moments in our dance journey where we doubt our ability to continue. Sometimes we just need a little bit of support and a third party perspective to keep us going. Our internal gremlins can eat away at our ability to be successful, confident, and...