Life in rhythm
Few people can watch a beautiful dancing couple without envying their gracious, light, and subtle movements. There is hardly a woman who has never imagined herself in a dancer’s shoes, wearing an elegant dress and moving graciously. It is easy to make these dreams a reality. All it takes is time, money, and, most importantly, keen desire.
I WANT TO DANCE
If your heart beats faster when you watch dance competitions, if you cannot stand still when music is playing, if you can dance with your soul, then don’t waste another second: go and enroll in a dance school. Your age does not matter. It is never too late to learn to dance. Of course, if you are over 30 you will hardly become a top professional, but you will certainly surprise your friends at parties. Dance classes can improve your health by strengthening your cardiovascular and respiratory systems. All dancers have splendid figures and a beautiful, light gait. They owe this to their graceful bearing: dancers always walk with their heads held high and shoulders back. The more you practice dancing, the lighter and less constrained your movements will be.
A beginner’s course does not require much time or money. On average, a month of training will cost you between 100 and 150 hryvnias, with three hours of classes per week. Of course, ambitious aspiring dancers, who are not content to remain at the amateur level, will need much more time and money. Professional dance classes are much more complex and time consuming, while participation in dance competitions is not exactly cheap.
WHAT TO CHOOSE?
Once you have decided to learn to dance, you are immediately faced with the task of choosing the type of dance you want to learn. Kyiv now has a rich variety of dance clubs and schools. What you choose depends on what you want to learn and how quickly you want to reach your goal. If you want to be the hottest dancer at the disco, your most likely choice will be one of the contemporary dances: hip-hop, break-dancing, disco, etc.
Although not as fashionable, ballroom dances are considered more dignified. They include two programs: Latin American and European. During the first years of your training you will be offered the choice of mastering eight dances: the fiery Latin American dances cha-cha-cha, samba, rumba, and jive; and the more gracious dances — slow and Viennese waltzes, the tango, and quickstep, which are part of the standard European program. The paso doble and slow foxtrot are more complex, and you can only start learning them after two years of classes. Since it is impossible to do ballroom dancing on your own, it is best to enroll in dance classes with your own partner.
Latin American club dances — salsa, bachata, and merenge — are gaining in popularity. They are a more improvisational and free type of dancing, and it takes far less time to master them than ballroom dances. You can learn the basic moves in a matter of months and go on to improving yourself by practicing more complicated steps. To attain a high level of professionalism it is recommended to start practicing ballroom dances from a young age. Meanwhile, Latin American club dances are more suitable for adults, and there are significantly fewer children’s classes in this group.
If you want to achieve results as quickly as possible, enroll at the Salsa Club. If your goal is to master dancing at a higher level, ballroom dancing is for you, even though it requires more time, effort, and money.
Eastern dances are unique and filled with special magic. To learn the art of belly dancing is no simple task. However, a woman who has mastered this dance will invariably be admired by men and envied by other women. Moreover, belly dance is a powerful energy source that can positively affect a woman’s mental state and thus her appearance.
CLOTHING
The main criterion for choosing clothing for dance classes is comfort. The clothing should not restrict your movements or interfere with your dancing. It is therefore best to come to class wearing closefitting clothing. When the contours of your body are visible, it is easier for the dance instructor to notice your mistakes. For ballroom dance practice men will be comfortable in T-shirts and ordinary pants. Women who learn the dances in the European program will be comfortable in a long, wide dress, while for Latin American dances a skirt worn above the knee is recommended. The best option, however, is all-purpose Spandex tights.
If you want to participate in dance competitions, be prepared to buy some expensive outfits. Requirements for competition outfits are constantly changing, so a couple that is not dressed to a certain standard may be banned from participating.
Several pairs of footwear are required for dance classes. Gym shoes or jazz shoes are best for warm-up exercises. Tennis shoes can be worn for modern dance classes, but they are not comfortable for ballroom dance practice. Men in ballroom dance classes will be comfortable in soft, low shoes and their partners in toeless shoes on heels.
THE MAIN THING IS NOT TO BE AFRAID
Even if you think an elephant stepped on your ear in childhood and you are tone-deaf, don’t worry: you can develop an ear for music. In any dance school the instructors will start by helping you acquire a sense of rhythm, one of the most important criteria used by judges in dance competitions.
Then you will be taught the basic elements of the dances. They are quite easy but require a very serious attitude. It is important to learn to dance these steps correctly because further training is based on them. The longer you practice, the greater emphasis will be placed not on individual elements but on dancing compositions. Correct execution will determine how well you have mastered the fundamentals of dancing.
Many dancers prefer the fiery Latin American dances, but they admit that the dances in the standard European program are much easier to master. This is not a solid rule, and you will have every opportunity to shatter this stereotype.
WHERE CAN YOU SHOW OFF YOUR SKILLS?
A disco is a perfect place for honing your plasticity and sense of rhythm. Even if you have been practicing ballroom dancing for a short time, you will still dance much better at the disco than most people. Most dance schools stage performances and competitions to encourage new members to join. Competitions involve different dance groups or different schools. Many Kyiv dance clubs often organize Latin American parties where your salsa skills will come in handy. Meanwhile, you will not be able to dance the Viennese waltz at a disco. This dance is meant for performances during competitions. Another option is to attend the Viennese Ball. This has become possible now, as the tradition of staging winter balls is back in vogue. Kyiv has already seen five Viennese Balls; the latest one was held at the October Palace on Feb. 18. However, in order to participate, you will have to learn not only the art of dancing but a long list of rules on how to conduct yourself in high society.
