Two Left Feet Newsletter - May Issue
Summer Festival 2005
Summer Festival starts in June!This is one of the most exciting times of the year at the Fred Astaire Dance studio of Hanover. The Summer Festival is a four week contest held by all the Fred Astaire Dance Studios in the country. The schools are divided into several regions, and all the studios within a region compete against each other for the TOP STUDIO TROPHY. Each studio is attempting to prove that they have the most enthusiastic and cooperative students in the region. The contest is based on a point system, and the school with the most points at the end of the Festival wins!
You can help your studio win by sponsoring your teacher. By doing so you become eligible to accumulate points for yourself, your teacher and your studio! Your sponsorship also enables us to provide the terrific prizes, decorations, parties and bonuses for your teachers throughout the month.
Sponsor?
Am I eligible to become a sponsor? - you will ask. Heck, yes! We need you! - we answer. Do I have to know how to dance? Heck, no! You need us! Sponsor your teacher now, when it means so much! Who can I sponsor?
You can sponsor any teacher or staff member as many times as you wish at $15 per sponsorship:
Our Teachers:
Richard Hutton
Deyan Stefanov
Victoria Cloyes
Kristina Hess
Kristie Mullins
Receptionist:
Eleanor Canty
Owners-Directors:
Douglas Banks
Christine Banks
Join us for a fun-filled June of parties, games, prizes, surprises and most of all, great savings and free lessons.
Party Time!
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...but wait there is more!!! Once you become a sponsor, you get to go to all our fabulously fun parties in June for FREE!!! Starting every Friday of the month at 7:30 pm, till 9:45 pm the parties will bring to life a different theme to the studio. The ballroom will change its look every week and your teachers will dress up according to the theme every Friday. We are not going to reveal the themes just yet, but we'll give you some picture hints, as you can see… Try and guess what are they, it's not as easy as it looks! |
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The Warm-Up... How?
(continues from April's issue)
A warm-up is necessary no matter how warm the environment. All the benefits from the warm-up can be obtained by a routine that should include the following features in this order:
• Gentle jogging, marching, skipping or similar rhythmical activity.
• Exercises of a steady rhythmical nature involving other joints of the body, such as gentle knee bends, arm swings, sways, trunk rotation, step ball change. None of these should reach end of range of movement so muscles and joints are not overstretched. Incorporating arm movements at this stage will increase the effects of the warm-up.
• Gentle stretches to the large muscle groups, holding each stretch for 10-15 seconds. An increase in flexibility through stretching may reduce the incidence of muscle and tendon injuries. You might want to stretch your quads, hamstrings, inside-thigh and calf muscles at this time.
• Balance exercises, such as standing on one leg, then being able to control bending and straightening the supporting leg and rising on to your toes.
How long a warm-up takes will depend on your age and fitness level.
Interestingly, the fitter you are and the more often you train, the longer your warm-up needs to be to have the same effects.
The steps in the warm-up should be not overstretch you and should not include sudden changes in direction, complicated moves or turns. Keep the steps simple and repetitive and leave the technical bits to the lesson when the body is warmed up and better able to cope with them. At the end of the warm-up you should feel warm, relaxed and ready for action. If not, you have either done too much, or not enough!
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On The Horizon |
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Dance Spot – The Bolero
The Bolero was introduced to the United States in the mid 1930s. At that time, it was danced in its classical form, which was performed to a constant beat of drums. It emerged from this classical form to what was called “Son”. From the “Son” came the livelier and faster tempos, which were later termed Rumba and Guaracha. Originally created by Sebastian Cereza in the year 1780, the Bolero has remained a true source of expressing sensuous feelings which accounts for it being called “The Cuban Dance Of Love”.
For many years, the Bolero was only taught to and danced by students in their gold or higher levels, because of the fact that it was, along with the Viennese Waltz and Paso Doble, a dance that did not seem as popularly requested as the others. However during the 70s and 80s, these three dances were being seen in many of the larger competitions. As a result, the Bolero is now included in the Bronze curriculum of the Fred Astaire Dance Studios.
The Bolero is a dance that does not move along the line of dance.
Like the Rumba, the Bolero utilizes many of the same movements such as Open Breaks, Spot Turns, Cross Body Leads, spins and many others. The Bolero is truly one of the most expressive dances.
Events This Month
 Happy Mother's |
In the month of May we would like to invite you to our continuing Country Western Series. Classes will meet every Friday at 7:30 pm for four weeks starting on May 6th. Cost is $50 per person; series must be completed within the month; no carry over to another month; no refunds after starting date; you may use 4 of your existing group classes. |
Who is Richard Hutton?
Originally from Ireland, Richard has been dancing for 20 years. He first started traditional Irish dancing when he was 7 years old, and then started International Style a few years later. He has competed in both Irish and Ballroom dancing throughout his youth representing Ireland at major championships including the European's and World's. As an Amateur he was the Irish Open Youth Champion, All Ireland Amateur Champion, Republic of Ireland Amateur Champion and undefeated All Ireland Waltzing Champion. Since turning professional he has won the DanceSport Montreal Professional Rising Star Championship and is currently the Fred Astaire National Champion. Richard is qualified in both International and American style and is also a licensed adjudicator through the United Kingdom Alliance and the Irish Dance Teachers Association. He graduated from college in 1999 with a degree in Architecture and practiced as an architect for three years, designing commercial and residential properties. He also enjoys playing the drums and was involved in many youth band projects in Ireland. Richard is always up for a laugh and once taught a whole day at the studio in a blue tutu.
Dance Horoscope
People born under the sign of Taurus, the Bull, prefer the Polka, belly dancing and the songs of love. They possess a broad musical interest and they quickly get into the musical mood with classical opera and folkloric music.
Unlike other forms of dancing, where the individual dancer's primary development is as "solo performer", the art of social ballroom dancing requires the added development of “performing with partner”. This requires an understanding of the Principles of Partnership Dancing, which are specifically:
