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Articles on Dance

GENTLEMEN:

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

Timing Concepts

Stand up and take an ordinary rubber ball (ie: tennis ball) and listen to a piece of music. Count out the mini phrases of eight. Try to make the ball contact the floor on the musical count of "1" on each mini phrase. As you gain a little accuracy you will notice an interesting effect:  You must prepare your drop of the ball with a movement prior to the count of one. Accuracy is increased when the preparation occurs on the +a PRIOR to the count of one. To move into a space on the desired count you must explain the prior (preparation) movements as well.

 Now try this count "+a1+a2+a3+a4+a5+a6+a7+a8" and notice how your timing accuracy is increased and the preparation occurs on the +a PRIOR to the count of one. To move into a space on the desired count you must explain the prior (preparation) movements as well.

Explanation of Levels of Dance Classes

 Beginning Level 1
For the absolute beginner dancer. This class covers basic footwork, balance, frame, leading & following techniques, rhythm, and how to find the downbeat in music. Most students find they gain a better foundation and understanding of dance concepts when they take this class twice before moving on to the next level.

 Beginning Level 2
For students who have taken a Beginning Level 1 class at least once and feel comfortable with the basic steps. While you will learn new patterns, the focus of this class is to concentrate on improving your dance techniques, which will make every other dance easier to learn.  

Intermediate Level 1
For students who have taken Beginning Level 1 & 2 classes at least once and are comfortable with the basics of a particular dance. Students in this class learn more challenging patterns and begin to concentrate on spinning and turning techniques and experimenting with different tempos of music.

Intermediate Level 2
For students who have taken Intermediate Level 1 at least once and are interested in learning more combination patterns and perfecting their dance techniques.

Advanced Level
For students who have mastered basics and combination patterns, who have a clear understanding of dance techniques, and are interested in learning intricate combination patterns for performing, competing, or simply to make their social dancing more exciting.

You know you’re hooked on social dance if…

ARTIST:  Curt Hopper is an exceptionally gifted artist. His preferred media is sculpture, creating free-form statues and pots in wood, sandstone, and flagstone.  He also creates pieces using leather, and makes jewelry as well.  If you've been to my home you've seen his work - he created an end table, a coffee table and a pedestal that look like boulders.  I also have several of his free-form pieces and a fabulous new wood carving that looks like flames.  Several of the dancers have purchased his pieces - if you're looking for something unique for your home or office, give Curt a call at 399-2737.

HAIRSTYLIST:  Brittney Daniels is a new hair stylist in town. A transplant from Laguna Niguel, she works out of Attitudes Salon, and is the Bumble & Bumble rep for Kern County. Brittney's a good little dancer, too - having mastered East Coast Swing and all the basics of West Coast Swing, as well as Country 2-Step, Salsa, Rhumba, Foxtrot and Waltz.

ARTIST:  Cynthia Hallstrom is a very talented local artist who creates signs, lovely watercolor paintings, and she specializes in wall murals.  She’s done one for me in my bedroom, copying the pattern from my bedspread onto the headboard wall – it looks great!  Her son’s room IS outer space, and I saw her sample book with photos of other murals she’s done and they are very impressive (go see Molly J's on Panama Lane).  You’ll see her at the Marketplace’s Via Arte every year, and she’s done some great work on the outside of some businesses in town, too – if you get a minute you’ve just GOT to go see the huge insects she painted on the outside of a pest control business on 18^th Street near Baker. The detail is incredible! You can reach Cynthia at 871-5495, or email her at cynbad2@cox.net  Also check out her cool website at http://hometown.aol.com/wallartbycynthia/index.html 

COMPUTERS:  Mike Stelow, who I’ve known since I was 14, is my knight in shining armor when it comes to computer repairs.  In addition to a full-time job with Frito-Lay, Mike owns his own home-based business building and repairing computers.  He built my computer (and wow is it fast!) and is wonderful in a crisis.  If you aren’t the most computer-literate person in the world, he’s a sweet and patient man who won’t spout “tech-speak” at you or make you feel stupid because you don’t know what a POP-Server is.  Mike will gently guide you step-by-step through explanations of processes that would normally be very confusing.  He works the night shift, so call him after 11:00 a.m. at 663-9129, or e-mail him at mstelow@bak.rr.com.

 WEBSITE DESIGN:  Chris Baker, a dancer, was a huge help to me when I was trying to create my first website.  He is in school right now and will soon be graduating with a degree in web design.  So if you’re interested in creating a website, whether for a business or just to post pictures of your grandkids, give Chris a call at 589-8337 or e-mail him at jbaker2@bak.rr.com.

HAIRSTYLIST:  Robin Enos, owner of Lashes and Mustaches, is a wonderful friend and an incredible hairdresser. She's president of the Kern County Cosmetology Association, and has awards for her countless hours of time donated to the "Look Better, Feel Better" program which helps cancer survivors with wigs and ways to look better after hair loss from chemotherapy. Now a cancer survivor herself she has first-hand experience at how appreciated she has been.

 ARTIST:  You’ve got to have heard of Tom Zachary, aka “Zak”.  He had a lovely write-up in The Bakersfield Californian a few months back for painting a HUGE wall mural of Lady Liberty on the back of the Bakersfield Music Theatre (aka: Stars Dinner Theatre). If you’ve been living beneath a rock and haven’t seen this huge painting, take a drive by Stars Theatre and see
"Miss Liberty" at 20th and Eye Street one of these days and check it out – it’s unbelievable!  I hear tell he's currently (January 2005) working on a new mural next to the Woolworth's building (or on it). Keep your eyes on the newspaper to read about it when it's done, or do some drive-by's in the next few weeks. Zak's just waiting for the weather to get better to get back to it. What you might not know is that Zak is not only a dancer, but he also created both of my business logos – one for my Bakersfield Boppers Swing Dance Club (the cute little swing-dancing bees on the back of our team jackets) and also the logo of the dancing frogs that was my “Crazy Legs” logo.  Tom was part of the “Tes Tos Terone” art exhibit at Maestri Gallery, and displayed some of his very large pieces of art including Charlie Chaplin, “I Love Lucy”s Lucy & Ricky Ricardo in a vintage car with Fred & Ethel Murtz, and some darling 40s-era swing dancers. His home features a delightful array of his work, including etched glass and even fountains!  If you love art and you want something really special for your home or business, you can reach Zak at 872-8975.

 SIGNS:  I just wanted to give a little plug to Kwik Signs, this great little sign shop on Rosedale Highway.  I have all my signs made there because they are fast, friendly, and very reasonably priced.  They did my big yellow banner on the dance studio where I’m teaching now, and my Crazy Legs signs too.  You can call Rebekah Hogan at 589-0450 or e-mail a quote request to her at kwik@signskwik.com.  I haven’t got her dancing yet, but I’ll keep working on her.  Be sure to tell her Cianne sent you.

 T-SHIRTS:  When you need shirts (or anything else) screen-printed with logos on them, call Dave at Panther Printing at 837-2247.  He’s done my Bakersfield Boppers Swing Dance Club shirts, my Crazy Legs shirts, and my performing team’s bright turquoise costume shirts.  He’s fast and reasonably priced, and will help you out with any advertising needs you have. Even if you don’t need to order anything right now, go introduce yourself because you’ve just GOT to experience his dog “Killer” – I have never seen a tinier Chihuahua in my life.  It is the cutest thing I have ever seen!  Dave is also a talented guy in other areas – he makes the coolest birdhouses I’ve ever seen.  At one time he had a whole house and yard full of them, from little bitty ones to very large ones with fountains in them. It’s just a fun hobby for him, but he is very talented, so if you want a birdhouse for your yard or house, ask him about it – I’m sure he’d do one and sell it to you (but no promises, I haven’t asked him about this).

Want to trade services or labor for dance lessons?

I'm a firm believer in the barter system. If I need this and you need that, we can trade services and no one has to come up with cash.  I'm willing to trade my skills in dance lessons and/or tutoring in computer software (primarily Microsoft office products such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher and Outlook).  Below are some of the services and/or products I'd be interested in trading for:

Weddings

TUXEDOS:  If you're looking for a tux for your wedding, be sure to check out A.J.s Tuxedos http://www.ajstuxedo.com/

DJ: Contact Pam Milton at  pam@theladydj.com

MUSIC: Below are listed some wedding songs to help you make your choice. I'm still working on getting all the dances listed that go with the music. Be sure to keep in mind that the dance MUST fit the music, so before you get your heart set on a song, call me and tell me your choice. I can tell you which dance will fit, or if the music is even danceable. Unfortunately there are songs with beautiful lyrics that are just not meant to be danced to. I'm happy to help you find the perfect song and also choreograph the perfect dance to it.