If you don’t have time to take dance lessons before your big day, check out these 6 simple steps that help you DIY your first dance! 1. CHOOSE A DANCEABLE SONG Whether you have a special song or not, it is important to make sure the song you choose for your first dance is “danceable” and the lyrics are appropriate for your wedding. A good danceable song should have a strong beat and isn’t too fast or too slow. And it shouldn’t be too long either. Keep it short (2-­3 minutes long) and sweet so that your guests can enjoy...

The way people move is as unique as their DNA — indeed, it is their DNA in action, living proof of their singularity. But most dancers have to give it up to become professionals, to lose themselves in the style of a school, a choreographer, a company, an image of unanimity. Not Michael Jackson. It was his supreme achievement as a dancer to remain indomitably himself and, in the process of entertaining us, to offer a vision of expanded human potential. What’s more, long before excesses and obsessions claimed him, he helped turn MTV into DTV, making television the place...

1. HIP HOP INTERNATIONAL (HHI) San Diego Arguably the most popular dance competition in the world, Hip Hop International started way back in 2002 with two categories: World Battles and World Hip Hop Dance Championship. Moreover, there are four divisions in the latter category: junior, varsity, adult, and mega crew. Aside from this, Hip Hop International was also the brains behind America’s Best Dance Crew and the USA Hip Hop Dance Championships. Past winners of HHI have included A-Team, Brotherhood, UPeepz, and Royal Family. 2. WORLD SUPREMACY BATTLEGROUNDS This hip-hop dance contest happens in Australia and it was known as...

Hip-hop dance refers to street dance styles primarily performed to hip-hop music or that have evolved as part of hip-hop culture. It includes a wide range of styles primarily breaking, locking, and popping which were created in the 1970s and made popular by dance crews in the United States. The television show Soul Train and the 1980s films Breakin’, Beat Street, and Wild Style showcased these crews and dance styles in their early stages; therefore, giving hip-hop mainstream exposure. The dance industry responded with a commercial, studio-based version of hip-hop—sometimes called “new style”—and a hip-hop influenced style of jazz dance...

REASON 1– THE MUSIC Ballroom and latin dance music is quite simply fabulous and it makes you want to dance. I defy anyone to listen to ‘Shout It Feel It’ by the Count Basie Orchestra and not want to at least tap their feet! Dancing aside there has been a resurgence in interest in jazz and swing music, Michael Buble and Jamie Cullum being two modern exponents of the genre, and this has only helped dance to once again capture the public imagination. Being a fan of all types of music from Pink Floyd to Richard Thompson but nothing quite matches...

Used to getting loose and limber before going on a run? It may be time to think twice about reaching for those toes. There’s a good chance we’re stretching out the wrong way or for the wrong reasons. It’s time to debunk the biggest stretching myths, so we can bend, flex, and stretch— the right way. 1. Myth: Stretching prevents injury. Researchers are finding that stretching won’t necessarily prevent sitting out on the sidelines. Injury is due to many factors, including poor technique, muscle imbalances, and not warming up properly. Greatest expert says the risk can be minimized by stretching regularly...

While pointe work is not exactly like wearing slippers, it should not be painful for the beginner. There are a few reasons why dancers may get pain en pointe, and each can be easily corrected. If you are strong, have well fitting shoes, and are sensible with how long you are in the shoes, pain should not be a problem. Shoes too tight/narrow. If the shoe is fitted correctly, it will be firm around the front part of the foot, but should not be squashing your toes in together too much. (Click here for tips on fitting your pointe shoes correctly)....

Ballroom dance is a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world. Because of its performance and entertainment aspects, ballroom dance is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television. Ballroom dance may refer, at its widest definition, to almost any type of partner dancing as recreation. However, with the emergence of dancesport in modern times, the term has become narrower in scope, and traditionally refers to the five International Standard and five International Latin style dances The two styles, while differing in technique, rhythm and costumes, exemplify core elements of ballroom dancing such...

Alignment is essential for dancers to achieve strength, flexibility, coordination, weight placement and injury prevention. Dancing is fast-paced and there is a lot of pressure placed on dancers to be perfect. Therefore dancers will often ignore pains without noticing that they are developing injuries that could take them off the dance floor for a long time, or in some cases forever. Dancers train many hours each day. Because of this intense work load, dancers, just like athletes, need to be in top condition, and dancing alone won’t achieve this. Dancers are expected to have the perfect ‘look’ and often push...