Dancing skirt

Pink and shiny gold. Sloane takes up with bits of cloth to hold onto and play with at naptime. This however is kind of scratchy, so I've just whipped up a tiny skirt for tiny person dancing. Jump and turn! at the same time is her new move.
They say, "It's all about the dress," and that certainly plays into the fun of dance.

AC

Once again we wonder if AC would be good for the little studio in Cataumet.
The exhaust fan does a good job, and most of the time, the air cools at night on Cape Cod. The humidity was thick last night, but we just went into Bolero and melted our steps.
A straw poll revealed the students preferring fans. Sometimes the AC can make you feel ill.
Not that it's up to me.

Tango & Futbol

Argentina beat Mexico and advances in the 2010 World Cup. Was it the Tango?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95BV0WG591o
Sunday, I peeked at Ron's class at the Cape Cod Danced Center, Tango devotees for years now. Boy, did they look good.

SYTYCD with Ali

My daughter-in-law has a surer sense of dance judgment, so watching the show with her is fun. We are tired of Nigel. That remark he made to the young blond dancer, "Do you have a sway back?" was just weird. Mia said it was her costume and nice butt.
We noticed an awful lot of costume and choreography criticisms which the dancers have no control over. We disliked several costumes as well, notably the "Earth Mother" and the "Slave Gladiator". Tyce is a least favorite overall, including his choreography.
Lovely dancers, however.

Meryl's Music

By chance, Sloane's mother and I took her to Meryl's Music at Arts Alive on Sunday.
It was a pleasant little class with nice instruments. Perhaps a tiny bit canned.
The songs were age appropriate, naturally simplistic, targeted at the 2 to 5 year old. Specific education goals were being reached. Folk songs do the same thing with deep layers of meaning embedded, so I was pleased with "I've Been Working on the Railroad". Their version of Goin' for a Ride in the Car, Car" was not quite as good.
As for dance, the instructor did not suggest it, and only Sloane stood up to move to the music.

Summer Solstice

Batches of flowers have finished their bloom for the year.
Some cultures dance all night.

The first visitors are my beloved, lovable granddaughter and her parents.
My mother-in-law has followed.
Keeping up with the rest of my life happens at nap time.

Matinete at Arts Alive

Last night in our our a month Flamenco class, we got a new and difficult rhythm, similar to clave, but with a different phrasing, 1 (2), 2 (2), 3 (2,3, 4 (2,3), 5 (2), AKA Short, short, long, long, short. Traditionally beat out with an anvil and hammer, the slow progression can be hypnotic, but never to the point where you can forget to think.
I loved it. I love any of the slower rhythms of Flamenco, stomped out on a wooden floor.
Come see a sample class at Arts Alive Sunday, Falmouth Library lawn, somewhere around 2 PM. One of the students, Hortense Gerardo, is presenting her play at 2:00, so we might wait for her. That perfromance or the craftspeople will pass the time beautifully, especially if it's a glorious June day like today.
I showed up to see Java Swing Band last night at 5:00. They were very good, with Jeff Myers, retired Conservatory director, on drums.

More than a competition

SYTYCD is a combination of audition and contest, with the show element as well very strong. These young dancers have studied the many elements of movement and performance, or if they haven't, they learn or are voted off. That's why I prefer it to the ballroom competitions for young people where the one style dictates their dance.

All those tiny dancers make Cat Deely look like a giant - or a mother, which sometimes is needed for those kids.

The elimination seemed to come too soon. I suppose they had 20 and eliminated 2 at a time, so this is the same in some ways. Only 3, all girls, danced for their lives. Will we find the male athleticism dominant and all the girls go first? Alexie had a lot of potential and will certainly go far.

"American Dancer"

A good issue of the USA Dance organization just arrived. They struggle to get material, I think. Jean Krupa wrote three articles herself, one a sales pitch for the USA Dance Cruise.
New in this issue, The Public Eye, with web suggestions like "Move" the Film. and Dancechanneltv.com.
Missing were the selections from local chapter newsletters which can be hokey, but sincere and a big thrill if your name gets in. Also easier to relate to than the competition articles.

I was wrong

Arts Alive is this week. I can see the Java Swing Band at 5 PM Friday because I don't want to see Groovy Afternoon at 9:00 even if they are billing it as the Town Dance.
In other news, Stage Door Canteen at Liam's tomorrow, at the Buzzards Bay Gazebo on July 1 and at the Peg Noon Park on July 2.

Summer Students

A couple just for the week - in from LA, visiting an aunt in West Falmouth - and they loved my class!
In their city, they go to the studio where the Stars (DWTS)have their lessons, and the ballroom is competition training. It sounded like the teacher was more interested in keeping them happy than in getting them to dance. "She's very nice. She never criticizes."
For social dancing, there's only Argentine Tango or Salsa.

Prom at Betsy's

Thank you, CCBD, for the idea, the photos, the fun and games. Sorry I didn't get to see who was crowned in person, but surely there will be photos at the website soon.
Jack Gilmore had some great musical selections in the theme.
I was just catching onto the Stroll when it was over - too bad.
The Celtics won.

Day of Portugal

The dinner dance at the local club went very well - better than expected, but that's how it goes if you don't expect much. Pro-mix does a good job with the beat, and the little Portuguese Polka/Two-step was very much in evidence (quick, quick, slow). We tried to waltz, but it was very much a Viennese. The floor is still too small for a real Waltz anyway.
I'm still working on moving the construction along.
The Ellisons, veterans of dancing every night in Arizona, always have a good time there. Gus and Zelda, recent immigrants, look great.
Now that I'm a member I know even more of the people there - not as many as Joe who works in the trades. My pal is the retired banker who can talk on the phone.
Every event has a different volunteer chef. This time Lucy was in charge of the kitchen so the Bacalao was delectable, with just the bit of salted cod for flavor - caciola and roasted chicken also great, bread very fresh. Salad was only disappointing because I'm eating my own lettuce every day. An exotic dessert was a little custardy pie with cinnamon.
To get our 501(c)3 designation back, how about Portuguese Cooking classes?

Just My Imagination

"The most mellow song ever," said the father of the groom.
They chose that for their song after hearing that they had to dance.
Turns out they were very capable and able to manage a rumba with crossovers during the single lesson. I hope they come back after the wedding, but I won't count on it.

Dance for days

My students drop out if they have to dance three nights in a row!
Must be all that Pilates core muscle work that keeps me going.
And the support of my family and home.
But don't forget passion

Dance Teachers at the Wianno

Sitting next to dance teachers, as a dance teacher, I got a couple of comments to share.
From Naomi Turner, "Watch their backs!" which is to say, the best dancers will use their back muscles when they dance. People just doing steps will not.
From Jack Kelly, creativity can happen on both sides - the woman dancing can be a co-creator if her partner is watching what happens when she dances. His next move depends on where she lands. If he isn't trying to be completely in control, life can be beautiful.

Big Dances

What makes a dance important is how much you're expected to dress up.
Meanwhile, the dance teacher hopes that all year you have been working on what's inside the dress, your form, posture especially, which has been a big request on my part all this year.
I'll be looking at all the fashion and fabric, which I love, and hoping to see the bodies move with grace and pride.

Just My Imagination

The song chosen by the parents of the groom for their dance as requested by the wedding couple. I have hopes for an easygoing rumba. Meanwhile the father of another bride has no idea as to what song to use. He is anxious, so I will try him on "Isn't She Lovely" or maybe the Paul Simon "Father & Daughter" song. Perhaps he will settle on "What a Wonderful World".

Chan's of Woonsocket

Friday, We went to the Famous Chan's of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Chinese Restaurant and Blues Bar, to see Debbie Davies whose CD of original songs "Tales From the Austin Motel" has the particularly danceable "Half-Caf Decaf" & "Percolatin'".
On our way to the family reunion in Stockbridge, we figured we could break up the trip and miss traffic. Gotta say we would have been disappointed if we had driven there special. The food was very dull. The room was nice and the audience enthusiastic, but they had covered up the dance floor with tables.
Another adventure off Cape.