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In Sunday's "Ballet Technique for Partner Dancing" workshops, we will be utilizing a very specific set of exercises and movements from a traditional ballet class. The goal is not to turn you into a Ballet Dancer, it is to improve your skill level and ease of movement by focusing on those elements from ballet which can be applied directly to partner dancing.

Ballet Technique
for Partner Dancing
(W.C.Swing will be used as the example dance)
 

at D'Valda & Sirico's Dance & Music Centre
Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007
with Anna Brady & Erik Novoa
Direct Link to this web page at: DValda-Workshops-20071007.html

Many of the top dancers in the West Coast Swing and Hustle communities are trained in more than one form of dance.  Some have experience in multiple partner dances, while many have a background in classical forms of dance like ballet, jazz and tap.

Although some people think that they must be very young to experience ballet, jazz or tap dancing;  I believe that it is never too late to learn.  These workshops will provide an opportunity for the social dancer to experience the technical world of Ballet and benefit from those techniques that usually separates the civilian from the professional.   Anna and I will introduce this world to you and show you how to integrate it into your partner dancing.  

Great dancing consists of many parts...I think of them simply as technique, musicality and movement-patterns.  This day will focus on the technical aspect....which will be the foundation to better lead-follow understanding, balance, transfer of weight, turns and spins. 

It's your time to become a technical dancer! And party after you've worked!! 

Requirements: Consciousness of your own physical limitations and socks (ballet slippers)

Dress:  Comfortable clothes to move in.  Tights not required or expected. Sweat pants would be perfect but jeans or regular pants will work.  Dresses and skirts won't work well.
 

Requirements: Consciousness of your own physical limitations and socks (ballet slippers)

Dress:  Comfortable clothes to move in.  Tights not required or expected. Sweat pants would be perfect but jeans or regular pants will work.  Dresses and skirts won't work well.
 

Requirements: Basic knowledge of basic W.C.Swing (steps and terminology).  This class is not for day-one beginner WCS dancers.  You must know the basics.

Dress:  Regular clothes for partner dancing.  Jeans, dance shoes (please no high pointy heels), dance sneakers are ok.

* Please do NOT wear high heels (or shoes) that might cut/tear into the professional floors of the dance studio.  Dance Sneakers are allowed but suede or leather bottom shoes would be best.
 

Dress:  Regular clothes for partner dancing.  Jeans, dance shoes (please no high pointy heels), dance sneakers are ok.

Music will be of the West Coast Swing variety: Blues, Swing, Pop and groovy stuff.
* Please do NOT wear high heels (or shoes) that might cut/tear into the professional floors of the dance studio.  Dance Sneakers are allowed but suede or leather bottom shoes would be best.


 

 All workshops are at the discretion of the instructor.
 

All workshops are at the discretion of the instructor.
 

This package is not suitable for people to just take the WCS Placement workshop since we will be using terminology and concepts from the prior ballet classes.   Includes Pizza Party and dance.

All workshops are at the discretion of the instructor.

Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, trained and performed in both classical and modern styles with Minnesota Dance Theatre & School and Minnetonka Dance Theatre. She studied and competed in ballroom/latin dance as an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison while completing a degree in the life sciences.

Anna continued dancing at the University of Chicago, teaching, choreographing and performing with the resident ballet organization while working on an advanced degree in biological sciences.  After attending a summer intensive at the Alvin Ailey School, she moved to New York in April 2005 and has performed with Bernier Dance Company and the Little Orchestra Society. 

Most recently, she has performed "Ordinary Day", a contemporary ballet piece, with Erik Novoa at the New Year's Extravaganza and for the Chicago Rebels Swing Club.

Erik Novoa has been competing in West Coast Swing since 1998. In that time, he has risen to compete in the Invitational division. He has placed top-10 at the US Open in the Classic Division three  times and has excelled in Strictly Swing and Jack & Jill competitions at numerous national events.

Erik has also been competing in Hustle since 2000 and immediately stole the show by becoming a 2 time national champion in 2001 & 2002.  He later became a finalist on ABC Family's revival of Dance Fever, becoming the only Hustle act on the premier series which aired in July 2003.

Erik is also an outstanding follower.  Anyone who has seen him follow in a Jack & Jack competition knows that there is nothing he can't (or won't) do. His 19-year background in ballet, jazz, modern, musical theater and tap is evident in his avant-garde routines, creative social dances, and expert teaching style.

Erik began developing the West Coast Swing (WCS), Hustle and Salsa communities in southern Connecticut in January 2006, offering regular weekly dance classes in Fairfield, Stamford and South Norwalk.  In his first year in business, Erik was recognized and selected as the editor's choice for the "Best Way To Get In Step" in Fairfield County's "2006 Best Of The Gold Coast" rankings.

Erik's former training in ballet, jazz, tap and musical theater enables him to teach in a style which is knowledgeable, clear and concise.  He is a featured instructor for many regional and national events because of his ability to get people dancing quickly using his humor, personality, style, rapport with students, and his solid knowledge of dance fundamentals and technique.  Students complete each workshop with a better understanding of the specific dance, overall dance technique and musicality.

Q:  I have balance problems and I have trouble turning!  What can I do?

A: Most problems with balance have more to do with strength than with actual balance.  These workshops will identify and strengthen hard-to-find muscles that are crucial for balance during cool moves and turns!  Don't think that turns are only for followers.  Every great leader I know is able to use male-turns to show his virtuosity. 

Q: But isn't Ballet for girls?

A: The longer you think this, the better Erik looks on the dance floor.  Unfortunately, men have stayed away from ballet because it is really, really hard and because of tights.   Sunday will be a) 2 very easy, introductory workshops specific to partner dancing and b) you don't have to wear tights (try sweat pants or comfortable clothing).   Here's an article about the football player Lynn Swann (Former Pittsburgh Steeler wide receiver) who took ballet to increase his speed and agility.

Q: Will Ballet make me look gay?

A:  If you think this, then you probably shouldn't be partner dancing either.  Actually, good technique might make you more pleasant to dance with.  It might enable you to do more creative movements.  It might make you look better than the dancer standing next to you.   It might actually make you a better dancer.

Q: What do I do with my arms?

A:  At the workshop we will be teaching movement which coordinates arm and leg movement.  With a little practice, you won't have to think about where your arms go very often!  I find that if a dancer knows where to put their arms the body falls into place.  This is because the arms act like stabilizers to counter-act weight transfers.  Don't be fooled, arm placement isn't just follower's arm styling, it's also just as important for the leaders (ever see a leader with dead-arm)

Q: How does he move so fast? How is she such a smooth dancer?

A:  There are many simple movements in ballet that isolate muscles to increase foot/leg speed as well as improving fluidity of movement.  West Coast Swing is both a smooth and a rhythmic dance.  It goes from very slow to very fast.  Sad fact #1: most civilian dancers dance from 90 beats per minutes (bpm) to 120bmp with a comfort zone around 110bmp.   Dancers with training are able to explore tempos from 60-140bmp.  Perhaps you should skip the next song while I dance with your friend.

Q: Will one day really help my West Coast Swing or Hustle (or Salsa)?

A:  Simple answer: yes.  Becoming aware of your body and how  your body works enables you to make small changes that will have dramatic effects.  Just simply learning how to use your arms can make you go from no turns to 2 turns in just 30 days.  Bring a notebook and pen for all the tips and secrets you start to unlock.