Two Left Feet Newsletter - November Issue

Holiday Festival 2005 Is Here!

Holiday Festival starts on November 21st!
This is one of the most exciting times of the year at the Fred Astaire Dance studio of Hanover. The Holiday 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 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
James Hayward
Kristina Hess
Mary Calderara
Kristie Mullins
Receptionist:
Rachel
Owners-Directors:
Douglas Banks
Christine Banks
Join us for a fun-filled month of parties, games, prizes, surprises and most of all, great savings and free lessons. Let's prove we are the best studio in New England.

History Of Ballroom Dancing

Ballroom Dancing (a style of partnered dance which originated in the western world) is now enjoyed both socially and competitively around the globe. Its performance and entertainment aspects are also widely enjoyed on stage, in film, and on television. The term ballroom dancing is derived from the word "ball", which in turn originated from the Latin word "ballare” (to dance). The definition of ballroom dance depends on the era. Archaic dances such as; The Minuet, Quadrille, Polonaise, Pas de Gras, Mazurka, which are now placed into the category of historical dances were once danced at Balls. In times past, ballroom dancing was the “social” dancing of privileged upper classes, leaving folk dancing for the lower classes. However, even in times long gone, many "ballroom" dances originated as elevated “folk” dances. Most competitive ballroom dances were social and/or folk dances before being formalized as ballroom dances. Ballroom dancing has been in continual use as a social art form since its inception.

From Students To Students

When I was a kid I took tap and ballet lessons and always enjoyed it. As an adult there are many things in daily life to take care of, so things like dancing tend to take a back seat. I rediscovered how much fun it is to dance when I was invited to a free group dance lesson here at Fred Astaire in the summer of 2002. My wedding was in the fall of that year and I realized that not only was I rusty but my husband to be couldn't dance one step (just ask Richard). It wasn't easy but I convinced him to take a lesson with me and once he discovered that you can be a man and dance, he enjoyed it as much as I did. We got a round of applause during our first dance at our wedding. Well the marriage didn't last long but taking the dance lessons reminded me that I needed to continue to do things that are fun. One of the first things I did when I was on my own again was to sign up for dance lessons.
There are many aspects of the studio that I enjoy. The parties have been a lot of fun, getting to dance with other people and experiencing their leading styles, as well as having the other students teach me a few new steps. The studio is a comfortable and friendly place to learn, and having diverse instructors adds to the experience. I like that I am involved with planning what my goals are for my lessons with my instructors and having a review of my progress at the end of each lesson. Dancing is good for your physical health and mental well being and provides you with more social opportunities. It is a positive thing to do when life gives you challenges; it gives you an outlet to express yourself and an opportunity to see other people smiling. I hope to see you all at the parties.

Dance Spot – The Cha Cha

In 1953, the Cuban orchestra, "America," started playing the Mambo with a different beat. It was slower, allowing the dancers to use a slight hip undulation on the slow count. Gradually this was changed into a triple step and the Cha Cha was born! Soon, dance studios reported that it was their most requested dance. The Cha Cha was introduced to the United States during the early 1950s and by 1959, it was a dance sensation. Today, Cha Cha remains as the most popular Latin dance in the United States. The name “Cha Cha” comes from Cuba, where years ago local musicians began chanting the syllable to compulsive triple rhythm. The dance gathers its flavor, rhythm and charm from three primary sources. It is a derivation of the Mambo, and therefore the Rumba, and it is also a step-child of the Lindy, being danced to the same one-two-three triple step. The Cha Cha is a geographical half-breed, springing up from Latin American roots in Cuba and flowering under North American influence. While closely identified with the Mambo, the Cha Cha has enough intrinsic individuality to be classified as a dance apart. Much has been said about the history of the Rumba and the Mambo, while little has been written about the Cha Cha, although it has many factors of its own that make it a dance to be reckoned with. The Cha Cha tempo is anywhere from slow and staccato to fast and lively. It is so much an on-the-beat dance that you can't help but inject your own feelings into it. This facet, more than any other, makes the dance fun for people of all ages. It is a real let-yourself-go type of dance. The Cha Cha is spot dance that does not move along the line of dance. Cha Cha steps are quite compact, with the feet usually no more than twelve inches apart. Cuban motion is used throughout the Cha Cha, unless like in Rumba it would interfere with the appearance or feeling. A slightly more staccato movement of the hips is characteristic of the Cha Cha.

Events This Month

Happy Thanksgiving!
We would like to wish everyone a joyful holiday and great time on the 24th but... no lesson cancellations will be allowed this month, because of stuffing the turkey, going away for family gatherings, having friends over or any other holiday related excuse. Simply unacceptable! :) We will be closed on the 24th and 25th of November.

The 22nd TRI-STAR Colonial Classic DanceSport Championships. The dates are Friday and Saturday, November 11th and 12th. The place is The Marriot Hotel and Spa in Mystic, CT. Let's get ready for an exciting weekend of great dancing, exceptional entertainment and lots of fun, fun and more fun!!!
Good Luck to all the competitors from our studio!
Showcase
The “Gone To The Movies” Showcase has been rescheduled for next year. Tentatively for the month of June. We will keep you posted on the exact time, date, month and place.
If you are still wondering… No, we don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Ireland and Bulgaria! But we do like turkey! ;)

Theme Parties

	18th of November - Toys For Tots Party Bring a new, unwrapped toy donation for Toys for Tots to our Holiday Festival kick-off party. Bring a dish if you wish.
	2nd of December - North Pole Party Come join us as we journey to the Pole. Never mind the frosty weather, come and let's have some fun together. Bring a dish if you wish.
	9th of December - Pajama Party Get ready for bed and come on over for some insomniac dancing! Bring a dish if you wish.
	16th of December - Holiday Ball Get into the holiday spirit and join us for our semi-formal Holiday Ball. Bring a dish if you wish.

Sponsor any staff member and you can attend any of our theme parties for free. Your sponsorships also enables us to provide the great prizes, decorations and parties, as well as bonuses for your teachers throughout this month of craziness and festivities.
Please note: We are not having a party on the 25th of November. The studio will be closed that Friday.

Let's Dance Post Stamps


The U.S. Postal Service is issuing four stamps featuring dances that trace their roots to the Caribbean islands -- the Let's Dance/Bailemos commemorative stamps. Although the four stamp images are similar in style, the four Latin American artists who produced the stamp images never saw the other's work. The stamps are being issued to coincide with National Hispanic Heritage month, Sept. 15 - Oct. 15, 2005.
Mambo. The "mambo" stamp was created by Sergio Baradat, who left Cuba with his parents as a child, and immigrated to the United States.
Salsa. The "salsa" stamp image artist Jose Ortega, born in Ecuador, grew up in New York City and owns a Salsa club in Toronto.
Cha-cha. Artist Edel Rodriguez, a native of Cuba, resides in Mt. Tabor, NJ, captured the famous "cha-cha-cha" on a stamp with vivid colors.
Merengue. The "merengue" stamp image was captured by illustrator Rafael Lopez, who was born in Mexico City. He now resides in San Diego.
What a great way to show off your dedication and passion about dancing by using those stamps!

Dance Horoscope



Scorpio, the scorpions, lose all inhibitions when they are allowed to dance the Flamenco. They get especially high with heavy metal and classic rock. They lose themselves entirely over Tina Turner's “What's Love”.