Standing tall...

Dancing improves your posture, both on and off the dance floor!

Having a good posture and body alignment are important to all dancers. A good posture makes a dancer appear more elegant and confident. Good posture also improves overall balance and body control.

Not only does good posture make you look more confident and alert, slouching or slumping can actually be bad for your body so it might be a good idea to keep in mind.

Dance of all genres can help to improve your posture both on and off the dance floor as it will eventually become so natural that you will walk tall naturally and sit up straight instead of slouching out of habit. Even if you are not a dancer, improving your posture can have positive effects on your body, as well as making you appear more confident.

Incorrect and correct way of standing

Some steps to help improve your posture:

1. Firstly you need to find your center of balance. You can do this by imagining a straight line running through your spine
2. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart
3. Your weight should be evenly distributed (Don’t put more weight on your one foot than on the other)
4. Stand with your body weight forward, your weight must be placed more on the balls of your feet than on your heels
5. Straighten your legs by pulling the muscles in your legs upwards, knees straight not bent, but don’t lock your knees
6. Tighten the muscles in your bottom
7. Tighten your tummy muscles
8. Widen your shoulders, keep shoulders square and relaxed by pushing them down and back (This sort of makes your chest pop out)
9. Relax your arms down the side of your body, more in front but not touching your body, keep your elbows slightly bent and hands soft
10. Lift your chin parallel to the floor, lengthening the neck
11. Keep your head in line with your spine
12. Eyes looking straight ahead not at your feet
13. Breathe deeply and relax
    

Tips:

• Keep your shoulders down and open as often as possible
• Look up and out, never down at your feet when you are walking
• Look in a mirror to check your posture
• Practice the steps for a few minutes each day

Hope these steps help you walk through life a little taller...

 

Love as always & forever, in dance
Mia xxx

Forget your worries

Have the time of your life!

Dancing isn’t just about the steps, music, commitment, dedication and time it takes to learn to dance. It’s a perfect combination of physical activity, social interaction and mental stimulation which can enhance your life. It requires concentration but by expressing yourself and being creative you will see that it is a pleasurable and rewarding process.

Dance provides an emotional outlet where a person can express their inner feelings through body movement and creativity. 

It relieves stress. It is an all-around escape from day-to-day pressures. Leave your baggage at the door, forget about your worries and just dance.

Lift your spirits by just having fun. Enjoy the buzz and excitement the world of dancing creates. Let go of your inhibitions. 

When you have finished dancing you will feel very relaxed from releasing all your inner feelings and emotions and from a good work out.

Dancing sets you free from your emotions and what you feel inside, whether its happiness or sadness, can be expressed in your dances.

As you embark on your unique journey of dance, laugh, dance and twirl. Step on toes. Apologize. Dance and laugh some more. Let your worries go.

Love as always & forever, in dance

Mia xxx

Dancing costs nothing

Yes it's free!

It’s so wonderful that you can dance anytime and anywhere for free. How and where you do it is up to you.  You can learn how to dance from your friends, watch people who are dancing and copy them.

You can learn many things from just observing people and teaching yourself how to do it.

You can even learn to dance by watching dance clips on the internet or looking for online dance classes which teach you dances in easy to follow step by step instructions.

The only time you will need to pay is if you want to attend dance classes or for club entrance fees.

Forging friendships

Bonding through dance...

Attending a dance class creates a social setting where you can meet new people and form friendships, besides learning to dance and improving your skills. It is a great way to have fun meeting new people in a safe, positive, environment.

It provides you with something in common with the rest of your class mates – a passion for dance, an easy topic to use to make conversation and learn to get to know someone new.

So sweet

 It’s great for couples too:

A couple doing the Tango

Joining a couples dancing class such as Ballroom, is a great way for couples to have a shared hobby which encourages attention towards one another. A great way for men to be true gentlemen by leading their ladies around the dance floor – how romantic.

For all the singles:

It can help you too by building confidence that others will find attractive and teach you moves which you can show off on the dance floor on fun nights out at the club or social events. Would you rather approach someone that is having fun dancing or a person sitting bored in the corner?

I wish you a lifetime of happy friendships...

Love as always & forever, in dance
Mia xxx

Glowing confidence

Dancing can be a great confidence booster!

Many dancers possess great confidence which can be noticed in the way they walk and carry themselves. (They walk taller, have good posture and are more aware of their bodies than non-dancers). On the dance floor they stand out from the rest and just make what they do look so easy.

Dancing is a great way to build confidence as it builds self-esteem, provides discipline and a sense of accomplishment. Being confident and able to dance gives you an ability to enjoy yourself more in public settings. 

Most people love to dance but when it comes to dancing in front of people or dancing at weddings or events they prefer not to dance - they lose their nerve or don’t feel confident enough to dance. Many people, especially men, just DO NOT DANCE. They feel awkward or clumsy if they get asked to dance at a wedding, a simple standard ballroom dance or “sokkie”.  for example.

It’s a great feeling to know that you can get up and dance if you want to. Being able to go to clubs, parties, band concerts, weddings or any special event and being confident enough to dance instead of being that one person at the party who sits alone in the corner watching everyone else dance and have fun?

If you're generally a shy person, it may be difficult to do at first. It's normal to be nervous, but once you push yourself to do it once, you`ll notice yourself doing it more and more until it almost becomes natural to dance when the music starts playing. Before you know it, you might even become the life of the party!

NEVER think less of yourself or compare yourself to others, you are UNIQUE

Some tips to help you dance with confidence:  

• Find the type or style of dancing that you enjoy and feel comfortable doing. If you feel awkward or silly, chances are you look it too.
• Go for lessons. Find a good teacher who will improve your skills and boost your confidence. Knowing what you are doing often makes you feel more prepared which will lead to you feeling confident on the dance floor.  
• If you don't want to pay for lessons, watch people who are good at or ask them to teach you! Observe people who you want to dance like and copy them!
• Go out and dance, remember that practice makes perfect. Try out what you have learnt, keep smiling and have fun.  
• Don't stress or beat yourself up when you make mistakes, laugh it off and keep smiling. Chances are that no one will even notice that you made a mistake. Dancing is about fun after all
• If you feel nervous and don’t like feeling like everyone is starring at you, wait until the dance floor is full and then go dance - it's usually dark as well!
• It’s important to believe in yourself - you can do it! Dancing is about moving your body to music – it’s natural.
• Some dancing and some steps are more difficult than others, but through practice and perseverance you will get it right in the end. Even the top professional dancers have to practice and make mistakes. They are always learning new moves or have another technique that they need to perfect.
• Don't let trying to be perfect at everything get in the way of having fun and enjoying what you are doing. You will never dance with confidence if you focus on the negative, rather be positive - concentrate what you CAN do, not on what you can't do yet.
• Look confident and smile, it can cover lots of mistakes. Mistakes will mostly only be picked up by your reactions, so don’t react and broadcast to the crowd that you’ve made a mistake, just keep smiling and carry on dancing.   
• Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy! Dancing is fun, it’s a release and it’s good exercise. Just get out there and try your best!

Looking confident is the best fashion accessory you can have as it helps you stand out. Nothing is more beautiful than a big smile and confidence...

Love as always & forever, in dance
Mia xxx

Great way to exercise and stay fit

Stay in shape!

Dancing is a fun way to exercise and stay fit. If you don't like going to the gym like me, it's a great way to burn calories and lose weight without having to head down to the gym. It takes the 'work' out of the exercise session and replaces it with 'fun'!

Dancing brings the fun back into exercising, plus the added benefit of being able to dance practically anywhere. In your bedroom, at a friends house, in a dance class or outside. Maybe even in the shopping mall - depending on how brave you are :). 

You control how far you push yourself, how vigorously you dance and for how long. The more you exert yourself, the more weight you will lose.

You can rev it up for a high intensity workout or take it easy for a relaxing, yet beneficial workout. 

Listen to music while working out is a good way to motivate you to push hard and lift your spirits, Making losing weight fun and more enjoyable.

Possible side effects: 

• Dancing regularly can lead to a slower heart rate, lower blood pressure and improved cholesterol profile.
• Toned fit body
• Better self-esteem

Keep dancing to be fit...

Love as always & forever, in dance
Mia xxx

Feeling down or upset?

Dancing is the best medicine!

Often we let life become too serious which creates stress and unhappiness. We often forget that it’s so simple to turn our frowns upside down.

Listen to music while working, cooking or cleaning but don’t just listen – move. Tap your feet, nod your head to the beat or wiggle your bum like no one’s watching.  This is guaranteed to cheer you up, lift your spirits or instantly put you in a good mood.

We all have that favourite song or album that puts us in a great mood and gets your body moving. So turn up the music and have the time of your life dancing like you just don’t care. 

Possible side effects:

• Sore feet
• Unstoppable smiling
• Sore tummy from laughing at yourself

May dancing bring a little joy into your life...

Love as always & forever, in dance
Mia xxx