Category Archives for "Learning dance"

Learning to Dance on Youtube

connection in dance , dance videos , dancing for joy , leading and following , Learning dance , social dancing , teaching dance

My friend Stu Sweetow, videographer extraordinaire, sent me the picture at the right with the excellent phrase, “Real men take dance lessons, because you can’t learn connection on youtube!”  This inspired me to once again take up my blog, which my many fans have no doubt noticed I have let slip for several months due […]

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In Honor of Frankie Manning

about LaurieAnn , Dance History , dance videos , dancing for joy , dancing in the golden years , inspirational dancing , Learning dance , Lindy Hop , teaching dance

This is the week Frankie Manning would have turned 101 had he lived and I always like to leave a tribute for him every year.  I was privileged to have been friends with this wonderfully positive and highly charismatic man for the last fifteen years of his life.   Frankie was one of the people […]

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Using Your Dance Skill for Free Cruises and Parties

Connecting Socially , dancing for joy , dancing in the golden years , leading and following , Learning dance , social dancing

If you’re a man who enjoys the company of senior women, can dance, and likes to be of service to others, you’re in luck!   Older women vastly outnumber their male counterparts on the dance floor, and people who organize cruises and parties for seniors are on the lookout for dance partners for their guests.   […]

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Behind the Urge to Teach Others to Dance

about LaurieAnn , dancing for joy , Learning dance , rhythm , teaching dance

  I recently saw a video that gave me another insight into why I so love teaching dance.  It was a science experiment in which altruism was proven to be a natural instinct not only in humans but also in chimpanzees.  You can check it out here: [embedplusvideo height=”390″ width=”640″ editlink=”http://bit.ly/1831wKw” standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/aS-QLB8ELyk?fs=1″ vars=”ytid=aS-QLB8ELyk&width=640&height=390&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=” id=”ep7421″ /] […]

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Dancing for Seniors

Connecting Socially , dance videos , dancing for joy , dancing in the golden years , dancing with physical challenges , inspirational dancing , Learning dance , social dancing

Let’s Dance A short article in United Health Care’s Magazine Renew entitled “Let’s Dance” reminded me to take up this subject again.  There has been much research on the subject of the best exercise for aging bodies, and dance keeps coming up number one.   Dance if it brings you joy Of course, I still […]

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Dancing Ambassadors

about LaurieAnn , Connecting Socially , inspirational dancing , Learning dance , Lindy Hop , Outdoor Dancing , social dancing , teaching dance

  I didn’t get Fridays dance blog written because I spent all weekend at a very inspiring conference for Airbnb hosts, of which I am one.  For those of you unfamiliar with the phenomenon, Airbnb is a company that matches travelers with people who rent out places to stay. Dance Lessons for Internationals Tourists Hobnobbing […]

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Why Do Dance Teachers Take Dance Lessons?

about LaurieAnn , Brazilian Samba , dancing for joy , inspirational dancing , Learning dance , performance dance , rhythm , teaching dance

  My last two posts were about two amazing dance teachers who are influencing me now.  More than one person has asked me, since I’ve been teaching for more than three decades, am I still taking lessons.  There are so many aspects to that question that I thought I’d address some of them here. Dance […]

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Do Justice to the Culture Whose Dance You Are Borrowing Part II

inspirational dancing , Learning dance , music for dance , performance dance , rhythm , teaching dance

Last week I wrote about my Samba teacher Jacqui Barnes.  Today I’ll introduce you to my latin rhythms teacher, Yismari Ramos.   Like Jacqui, Yismari is passionate about the music of her culture (Cuban) and the the way the dance feels.  Her classes consist of complicated choreography that incompasses the various rhythms of Cuban dance. […]

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