PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ: SWING
AND FOXTROT -
Jack
Prerequisite: None
Swing is the
All-American Dance!
Foxtrot is dance of Inaugural Balls, Wedding Receptions,
and Formal
Dinners. It is also a great dance to use to Sinatra music played at
night clubs.
What these two classic dances have in common is the
same Rhythm: Slow Slow Quick Quick. Swing is danced to fast Big
Band Music, Foxtrot is danced to Slow Big Band music. Together
they make for a great night on the town.
Swing is the stuff of one-hand turns, Pretzels, and
Sweetheart patterns. You will dance it all night long at the Kool
Kat Party.
The Foxtrot works best as a social dance. Used to Big Band Swing music,
Foxtrot resembles a leisurely stroll around the floor. Since it is
not generally a fast dance, Foxtrot gives people plenty of chances to
chat and enjoy the ride.
AMERICAN TANGO -
Dakota
Prerequisite: None
Tango is a timeless symbol for the dark side of
romance. The music is haunting and mysterious and the
movement of the dance very dramatic.
With songs like "Jalousie" (Jealousy) and
"Ecstasie" (Ecstasy), Tango takes it place in legend as the
dance of pride, anger, and most of all, passion.
It is said that if Count Dracula were to choose a dance, there is no
doubt it would be Tango.
Stylish and very dramatic, Tango combines sleek,
hip-locked, gliding steps with abrupt stops into fans, flicks, flares,
dips, and lunges. The eerie music, sultry motion, and the haunting sense
of dark moods barely under control make Tango a truly fascinating dance!
American Tango is more structured than its Argentine counterpart. Using
the game of Basketball
for example, American Tango relies more on "set,
predetermined plays" while Argentine Tango is more improvisational,
make-it-up on the spot. Another difference between
the two systems is that American Tango tends to travel around the room
while Argentine limits itself to one spot on the floor.
Most insiders consider American Tango vastly
easier to learn and to use for occasional
opportunities.
SLOW DANCE AND ROMANCE -
Marla
Prerequisite:
Couples Only, No Switching
This is the one
dance class that any man with an ounce of common sense should take. As a
word to the wise, there are moments in every man's life when the ability
to dance gracefully to romantic music is mighty important.
You could be on a cruise, you could be on a date, you could be at a
party, or the moment could come as a complete surprise. The smart ones
learn how to Slow Dance AHEAD OF TIME. As they say in the Boy Scouts, be
prepared. You never know when you will need to learn how to Slow Dance.
As Time Goes By, there are moments when the ability to slow dance
gracefully becomes the most important skill in the world. If you don't
have that skill, you're out of luck.
There are special occasions like the First Dance at weddings, a fancy
New Years Eve party, or a torch song at a nightclub that call for the
Art of Formal Dancing.
Slow Dancing is a derivative of Foxtrot. Most people can shuffle from
foot to foot, but when it comes to Slow Dancing with panache, the
majority of people are clueless.
This is the perfect chance to learn more about the Lost Art of Formal
Dancing. It is also the perfect class to take if you need to prepare for
the First Dance at your wedding.
RUMBA - THE
LATIN DANCE OF ROMANCE - Rick
Prerequisite: None
The Rumba is a slow, very elegant
dance that is quite sensual and provocative.
The Rumba was a popular dance in middle class Cuba before World War II.
It was introduced into America in the 1920's and 1930s.
Rumba is sometimes called the "Latin Waltz" or "a Waltz with a Sizzle".
Indeed the patterns to both dances are practically interchangeable while
the "Look" of the two dances is completely different.
The Rumba is a "spot dance" because it is danced in one spot on the
floor. The character is romantic and sexy due to the style known used
cuban hip motion.
Danced to certain popular music (e.g. the Beatles’ classic “And I Love
Her”) and to slow beautiful Latin rhythms (Besame Mucho), a modern use
for the Rumba is to slow jazz music such as Diana Krall's "The Look of
Love" or Celine Dion's "Falling into You". It is an exceptionally
graceful, sensual dance that is fairly easy to learn.
