Time and time again, I see too many dancers waste their time “practicing”. They think that being at the ballroom for 2 to 3 hours means that they are hard working and diligent students; but in reality, they really don’t accomplish much. Either they are running through material aimlessly, not knowing what to fix and how to fix it; or they are standing on the floor “discussing” (or worse arguing) about what they should be doing.
read moreI have to say that I am a tad disappointed to see that more competitors don’t come out to Robson Square. I know that everyone is super-busy and that there are a million other things to do, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say… I suspect (and you can all comment and correct me if I’m wrong) that many competitors don’t come, because they are not comfortable dancing outside their comfort zones!
read moreBallroom Dancing has certainly changed over the years! Just the name itself already gives you a hint to where it has gone: DANCESPORT. Whether you like it or not, Ballroom is definitely more athletic these days. Especially in the IDSF amateur categories, dancers are pushing the limits as to how fast they can go and how far they can move!
read moreShaping is one of those things that are so often misunderstood. Often dancers break their backs and necks in order to attain what they perceive as a big shape. One of my biggest pet peeves is ladies that dance with a straight right arm. It is obvious that they do not know how to create shape properly, and are therefore using that right arm to push themselves into the space that they think they should be in.
read moreAs the Snowball Classic draws near, many people are feeling the pressure of competing at this important local event. Here’s one main ingredient that causes tensions to rise and emotions to flare at this stressful time. Please read this article, keep your cool, and have a positive and productive practice…
read moreAs I am reading and re-reading the Baby Whisperer, I discover so many parallels that could be very useful for Ballroom dancers. Just like for the Baby Whisperer, there is no singular almighty solution that is perfect for everyone; each baby and each family (or each dancer and dance partnership) needs to look within themselves and find the strategy that best suits their individual situations.
read moreLast weekend was the 48th Annual UBC Gala Ball. Being organized entirely by student volunteers of the UBC Dance Club, the Gala Ball always has a very fun, exciting and youthful atmosphere about it… and this year was definitely no exception! Congratulations to all the executives of the Club and the volunteers of the Gala committee for putting on such a great event.
read moreThank you to Emanuel & Tania for sharing their experiences with us to help inspire up and coming local dancers, as well as dancers from all over the world. Here is Part II of their Interview…
read moreWith the upcoming UBC Gala Ball this weekend, I thought I’d post some of the most common mistakes that I’ve observed from first-time competitors. If you are indeed a rookie competitor, please read!!!
read moreAt the Snowball Classic earlier this year, Joel and I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with the winners of the IDSF Standard event, Emanuel Valeri & Tania Kehlet. Although Emanuel is Italian, the couple represents Denmark and are currently ranked 2nd in the IDSF Standard World Ranking List. Having traveled to Denmark and having trained with their Danish coach, Hans Laxholm, ourselves, Joel and I had a lot to talk to them about.
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