Waldorf kids

Yesterday was great! A wonderful bunch at the Waldorf School signed up for Ballroom Dancing elective.
Five boys and five girls in the 6th,7th, and 8th grades, with one boy under 5 feet and another over 6 feet.
I believe I can thank Will for the good turnout. Although he was the only boy two years ago when they last offered the class, he told me the class was his personal "Cloud Nine".
We did some warm up with basic steps, walked in the styles of Foxtrot, Tango, Waltz, Viennese and Polka. The Pattycake Polka gave them enough triple steps that Swing worked very nicely. In response to one girl's worry, I assured the girls they would be going under their own arms for the Swing turn. Changing partners was no problem for once.
Tomorrow I will have to figure out my camera/computer connection and post the Flamenco dance I did in the evening.

Paramount Ballroom

In Palm Beach. My last night in Florida.
I was envisioning a large friendly group, especially when Peggy said it was just a Red and White Ball so that people wouldn't wear blue jeans. Also, we hadn't had supper, and I was hoping for a buffet.
Meanwhile, we had rejected the hotel we had picked on line, so I was still in shorts. Joe was waiting in the car while I checked out the scene and where we might change.

A nice room, but only a few people were there, and Peggy had on a sculptured red short ball gown with her white hair. Perhaps she was going to be on show at 8 PM. No food. A ladies room to change in.
So I gave up.
For Peggy's sake, I hope more people showed up.

Dance Class for Ladies in Their Eighties

New class started today. The simplest foxtrot worked best for these non-dancers, music lovers, one with a cane instead of a partner. We made a circle for Hava Nagila. We stretched out a little bit at the bar, and they were very happy.
Cape Cod Conservatory.

Focusing effects of alcohol

New Yorker article by Malcolm Gladwell talks about the Myopia effects of alcohol. Shortsightedness and a narrowed focus cause people to concentrate on one thing, allowing them to tune out extraneous material. The example given was a person who considers himself to be good looking can let that belief govern his actions. I relate that directly to people who may be good dancers but have to be able to forget their fears that they are not.
Last night at Crawdaddy's was a waste of alcohol since there wasn't anything to focus on.

Cold Florida

44 degrees here. It's 34 in Falmouth.
Oh Well.
Gold Coast Ballroom in Coconut Grove was great fun for me. I got to do an old fashioned hustle that worked beautifully.
Here in Stuart, we visited old favorites: The Ramada where the other good dancers were from Minnesota, and the Copacabana with a Latin DJ and not much of a turn out on a cold night, so the dance floor was easier and the old guy, originally from Jamaica took me through a couple of salsas. Sunday featured a concert in the park.
Last night, a disappointing Mardi Gras. Crawdaddy's used to have Blues bands, but they seem to have sold out with suggestion questionnaires on the tables, a band called Solid Gold, and a dance space full of bouncing people. You have to be happy for them. But really, the night of Mardi Gras should have a Jazz band that plays past 10:30!

Florida

Maybe even Little Havana.
Two years ago, we were asked by our fellow dancers if we were Cuban(!!!)
Anyway, tonight, Gold Coast Ballroom, bigger than Moseleys on the Charles.
Blogging on the fly might be hard.

Cancel?

Difficult decisions. Each school superintendent approaches school closings differently. When Kalparis was in charge, they say, he canceled school so he could go skiing. Peter Clark seemed to want the show to go on. For today's storm, the decision to cancel came last night, then snow came late. Educationally, it makes sense since everyone would be agitated and unable to concentrate.
Dance classes are canceled too. the one afternoon private could be fit in early.

Falmouth Academy

The Winners of the Gala Dance Contest!

Saturday night dance

I have a wonderful time, though I'm exhausted now. Looking from the dancers' point of view, some were tired already, "We just got back from traveling and we're on German time." Some are apprehensive like the one who hyperventilated when I first danced with her. I left her to her husband, and relaxed by the end.
A free lance writer for the Cape Cod Times called looking for a romance story, but I don't play Cupid. I provide a safe, fun place to meet fellow music lovers and dancers, or just to re-connect with a longtime partner. sometimes it works. Congratulations, Christy and Jim on nine months together after meeting at my dance.
I told the reporter to read the blog for more words.

Ladies Workout Express

My friend said it was a nice clean gym and she got a membership for Christmas, so I looked into being a "workout buddy". Free trial is just for the g-d machines. Classes, which I love, are all at 5:15 or 5:30, not a good time for me. I work nights, which sounds like I'm a nurse on a night shift, but is really only the evening dance class hours, very important hours.

Easy homework

My 24 year old son took my class this summer and then had a suggestion for me.
First beginner class should get homework, so I made up this sheet.
EASY HOMEWORK
1) LISTEN TO THE BEAT: Listen to music and pick out the first beat of every measure. Most music is 4 beats to a measure, except waltz which is 3 beats to a measure.
(Ask me about a CD with dance music, labeled as to the appropriate style of dance. )
WHAT YOU LEARNED TODAY:
INVITATION TO DANCE: His L hand and R arm offered. She walks into place. He closes right hand on back as she finds her place.
ONE-STEP: (Slowest music) Replacing the “Huggie Hug”, this first dance calls for rock steps with his left foot and her right foot. Add a travel step, walking easily.
SWING: (blues, rock ‘n’ roll, or 40’s Big Band) This classic dance begins in an open two-hand hold. Triple steps from side to side are counted “one and two, three and four”, followed by “rock step” (back, replace forward) for both, “five, six.” Can be done single steps to the side, using 2 beats of music (counted as “Slow”) with the same rock step, “five, six.”
Finally
POSTURE: Dance classes are about looking good, and the single thing that will make you look better is good posture. Take a deep breath as you lift your rib cage and your back, shoulders down and neck supporting the head. Avoid tension in the shoulders with a shoulder roll.

Origami

I got a page a day origami calendar for Christmas, and finally there's a shape related to dance - music anyway. They call the fancy folded square a "tato",a word unrecognized by this program, barely referenced on google. It will be nice for a CD presentation case.

Continuing Education

Cape Cod Community College used to offer night school courses besides OSHA and Welding. Norah Dale Allen did a ballroom dance course, but I don't see anything like that now. They have all the advertising in place to get it to work. Community outreach could do much more, it seems to me.