Category Inspirational/Levity
FTD 2013 Schedule
How to Dance Without Embarrassing Yourself
Fusion Tea Dance
Let’s Dance!
January 13, 2013
2:30 P.M.
Lloyd Shaw Dance Center
Let’s Celebrate!
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Fusion Tea Dance Times
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You will find all sorts of different articles on dance, photos and videos.
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New Dancer, a Beginner
I would like to address those of you who are just learning to dance. I want to tell you to have patience with yourself. Everyone, at one time or another, was in your shoes, a beginner. Don’t be discourage. Some dancers are happy to help in your development and may offer suggestions, if you want to, you can take the suggestion and apply it or you can say, thanks for the input and forget about it. These suggestions for the most part are a way a dancer means to say I would like to help you succeed!
Of course, there are times when the suggestion or tip my seem offensive and in that case you can just, let it go. Again, don’t be discourage.
It is in the best interest of dancers to encourage and nurture new dancers.
On the other hand, do remember, that as a new dancer you are encourage to take lessons and improve your skills. This will lead to an enjoyable expereince for both you and your partner. After all, each dance is a partnership and both of you should be able to have a wonderful time. It also makes you a more desirable dance partner.
I’m happy for your new endeavor and hope to see you on the dance floor .
Nancy
Ballroom Dance: Powerful Steps Beyond Autism
~by Nancy LaPierre
(Adapted from the letter ‘He Danced His Way from Disability to Ability’ by Victoria Marin)
“Ballroom dancing proved to be the ideal activity for my child. It provided the opportunity to develop social and communication skills as well as more fluid and coordinated movements . . . . . a sense of self awareness as well as self esteem.” ~ Victoria Marin, mother of Aiden and author of Aiden’s Waltz
Autism rates have shot up 78% in the last decade, announces CNN’s headline, a disturbing footnote to March’s report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention that 1 of every 88 American children is now affected by the disorder.
Therefore, Victoria Marin, a dedicated Fred Astaire dance student at the Westwood, New Jersey studio, couldn’t have picked a better time to write her book, Aiden’s Waltz. At once a sensitive and inspiring children’s story and a tribute to our field, Marin’s words testify to the power of ballroom dance to free her own son from many of the physical, emotional and social challenges of his disability.
Marin, who holds a degree in Occupational Therapy and is the mother of five children, published this chronicle of her “out of the box approach to raising a child with special needs” in February this year. “These misunderstood children have suffered from difficulty in making friends and handling relationships with peers,” she wrote in her recent letter to us. Aiden’s mother is amazed by just how far her son has come through his dancing journey. From a boy who used to do nothing but watch as other children played soccer, she reports, “Aiden rose from the shackles of autism to dance with the grace and elegance of a swan across the ballroom dance floor.”
Marin is convinced of the benefits of ballroom dance, especially when it comes to helping kids like Aiden, who are, her book teaches, “like every other child who needs love, care and respect.” She credits ballroom dance with “a holistic approach to dealing with the challenges of autism,” and attests that the benefits to Aiden have been multi-dimensional and inspiring, reflecting physical, social, emotional and cognitive growth.
Prior to his dance lessons, she says, Aiden, like other autistic children, experienced great difficulty with recreational activities, such as being on a sports team and any other situations where initiating and maintaining peer relationships is necessary. However, through dance, “my son’s communication skills developed to where he could initiate a conversation with his dance partner. After continued participation, his communication skills blossomed to where he could approach other dancers and ask them to dance.”
Autistic students gain confidence in themselves and others through ballroom dance, for it requires that “the child learns to let go of their fears and anxieties and trust the movements of their partner,” Marin explains. The constant contact with a partner it demands also helps overcome the distrust of physical closeness that often comes with autism. “In addition to learning the steps,” she explains, “dancing requires the participants to respect physical boundaries, maintain position and posturing and conform to the social rules of the ballroom,” all lessons that strengthen areas of weakness most autistic children face.
“Another fascinating component to ballroom dancing is the classical music,” she reports. “New research has noted the role of music in facilitating self-expression, creativity and sociability in children. Classical music appears to reduce stress while increasing the ability to concentrate. Muscle tone relaxes and the heart rate slows which causes the mind to be receptive to learning. A positive outlook or increased self esteem often leads to improvements in the creative thinking process.” And, she adds, the effect classical music has on the anatomy of the ear actually “stimulates brain activity.”
“The dance can be viewed as a dynamic conversation between partners where eye contact is necessary, external sensory stimuli is processed, gross and fine motor movements are coordinated and a relationship between partners is developed,” says Marin. To her great joy, Aiden overcame the seemingly-insurmountable hurdles autism erects in each of these areas through learning ballroom dance.
“In my experience, ballroom dancing helped my son to emerge as a young boy who no longer felt ‘different’ from the other children. The world of ballroom dancing opened the door to a fresh and innovative sport. Aiden beamed with self confidence which he gained from being a leading partner on the dance floor. In time, his coordination improved which helped build his self esteem.”
“While Aiden still is not considered a social butterfly,” she adds, “his beautiful ocean blue eyes look right at you when he speaks,” a directness that autism usually inhibits. “Ballroom dancing provided the necessary tools for my son to emerge from his own darkness and dance before the entire student body.”
Marin’s experience has made her faith in ballroom dance unshakeable: “Given the support and opportunities,” she now knows, “all individuals with special needs possess talents as well as the ability to achieve!”
Thank you to Renata Sowul, Manager at FADS Westwood, N.J., for introducing us to Aiden, Ms. Marin, and her book. Ms. Marin and two of her children are warmly welcomed students of Renata’s studio.
Nancy Arenas & John Burchell announce the Release of their new Children’s Book
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Information: Nancy Arenas
505-332-0446 or natear21@msn.com
Authors/Illustrator: Nancy Arenas & John Burchell
Nancy Arenas & John Burchell announce the Release of their new Children’s Book, Sheruddman & Robinne, “A Swing and A Hop”
Albuquerque New Mexico – Nancy Arenas & John Burchell are proud to offer their newest work, Sheruddman & Robinne, “A Swing and A Hop” now available on Amazon.com and soon at local bookstores everywhere.
Sheruddman & Robinne, “A Swing and A Hop” is a new and exciting children’s story about an adventure and the unlikeliest of friends. The book has colorful illustrations and wonderful characters. 8.5” x 8.5” (21.59 x 21.59cm), Color on White Paper, 26 pages, ISBN 13: 9781478141105, ISBN-10: 1478141107($13.00pb).
Local Albuquerque ballroom dance partners, Nancy Arenas & John Burchell, have added another creative project to their repertoire. The two have created lovable characters in Sheruddman and Robinne. This book is a dedication to Nancy’s grandson, Adrian Paul (aka “Cas”). The quirky, colorful, lovable characters will enchant children with their simple lovely story.
A Swing and a Hop
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Sheruddman & Robinne – Nancy Arenas – 505-332-0446 or natear21@msn.com |
Benefits of Dancing & Quick Tips for Staying Healthy
By Barbara Craddock
The Benefits of Dancing
1. Forever Young. Dancing is tremendously beneficial in keeping us young. It retards the aging process immensely. It benefits our heart, cardiovascular system and increases our lung capacity. Fact: The muscle exertion and breathing rates of dancers performing in one dance competition is equivalent to those of cyclists, swimmers and an Olympic-level 800-meter runner.
2. Strong Bones, Lubricated Joints. Dance aids in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, which is a major concern for woman, especially during post-menopause because of the significant drop in estrogen that occurs at this stage. A decrease in our estrogen levels is what stops calcium from being absorbed into our bones. Dance also keeps joints lubricated, which helps prevent arthritis.
3. Calorie Blaster. Dance exercises our bodies to allow for increased circulation. It helps us burn those calories away, while improving our stamina. It is estimated that dance burns anywhere from 5 to 10 calories per minute depending on speed and intensity. For example, swing and mambo burn more calories than a slow waltz. Check out approximately how many calories you burn while dancing to your own tune:
|
STYLE OF DANCE |
Approximate Calories Burned Per Hour |
||||
|
100 lb. Dancer |
125 lb. Dancer |
150 lb. Dancer |
175 lb. Dancer |
200 lb. Dancer |
|
| Disco, Ballroom, Square, Latin, Mambo, Salsa |
264 |
330 |
396 |
462 |
528 |
| Fast, Ballet, Twist |
288 |
360 |
432 |
504 |
576 |
| Slow, Waltz, Foxtrot |
144 |
180 |
216 |
252 |
288 |
4. Better Blood. New research has discovered that it is necessary to measure both good and bad cholesterol levels when determining our health. Dancing aids in lipid control, which raises our HDL (good cholesterol), and lowers our LDL (bad cholesterol). Dancing is also great for diabetics because it aids in blood sugar control.
5. Mental Mastery. Dance improves our memory by making us recall steps, routines and dance patterns making it a great mental exercise for our brains. The big benefit is that increasing mental exercise keeps your mind young, quick, alert and open.
6. It’s All About Balance. Balancing yourself in one position may be easy, but balancing in the numerous types of positions involved in dancing is much more difficult. Dancers have mastered the ability to balance themselves in a number of positions. This strengthens our stabilizer muscles, while protecting our core and keeping us less prone to injury in our daily lives. Dancing also aids in co-ordination and helps strengthen our reflexes. It is a great way to keep our Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System in tip-top shape by improving the connection of our bodies to our mind.
7. Socially Satisfying. Dancing is recreational and entertaining. It creates a social life for us, while affording us the opportunity to make new friends. Friends helps us grow, make us laugh and support us as we learn.
8. Culturally Diverse. Dancing has no cultural barriers. People from all parts of the world, with different ideologies, meet on the dance floor. Cultural interaction improves our health by expanding our mind and sharing our spirit!
9. Groomed to perfection. Dancing is not only fun and romantic, but it helps promote good grooming because everybody wants to look his or her best while they dance. Good grooming keeps us healthy by keeping us high on hygiene.
10. A Happy Self. Dance elevates our mood by raising our endorphin levels. This is what allows us to heal stress and depression – two of our immune system’s biggest enemies! It helps us establish our self-confidence and self-discipline. It improves the harmony between our mind and body, giving us a sense of well-being.
Quick Tips for Staying Healthy
These are a few quick and easy steps that we should follow and apply to our lives to ensure that as dancers, we maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Kick the smoking habit and limit alcohol intake.
If you are overweight, go on a sensible diet. Cut back on saturated fat intake, eat more fruits and vegetables and take a daily multi-vitamin and calcium supplement.
Add strength and resistance training exercises to your workout.
Get plenty of rest and sleep.
Have an annual physical examination, with a cardiac risk profile and a base-line bone density. For women, include a GYN exam and mammogram. For men, see your urologist for a prostate screening.
Reduce Stress! Reduce stress via meditation, joining a support group, massage therapy, aromatherapy. Be sure to take time for yourself every day, even if it is just fifteen minutes.
Immerse yourself in something that you enjoy and something that is just for you. Reward yourself with a special treat, whether it is something that you have always wanted or something that you have always wanted to do.
Be kind and gentle to yourself!
Fusion Dance 