How to dance in sso
Fort Pinta - Star Stable Nightlee
Fort Pinta is situated on a promontory in New Jorvik and was originally built by Jon Jarl in the 1200's. In the 1600's Lt. Gov Gareth, foreseeing a pending war, remodeled the town with defense structures and renamed the area Fort Pinta. Today the fort is a popular tourist destination run by Alex's little brother, James.
|
Approaching Fort Pinta |
Fort Pinta today |
Statue in honor of Lt. Gov Gareth |
|
Fort Pinta beach |
Fort Pinta courtyard |
Fort Pinta Championship Start area |
Pet Shop Girls is the name of the Fort Pinta pet store, the only store of it's kind in Jorvik. The shop sells cats, dogs and rabbits and outside the store is where you find the pet accessories stall.
|
Fort Pinta Bag Store outside the Pet Shop Girls Pet store. |
Inside the Pet Shop Girls pet store. |
Cafe Pinta is a cafe and a disco all rolled into one, with very pretty sea views and a popular meeting place. This is due to the fact it is one of very few locations in Jorvik where players can actually sit down on a chair, contributing to a more natural atmosphere. The disco is a highlight for many and runs every Friday and Saturday evening. Players gather together to chat, meet new friends and to dance.
|
|
|
James tends to the stables and race |
Guard for Café Pinta and Disco. |
Horse Trainer levels up your horse |
The horse trainer trains your horse so that it gains another level. The higher level your horse is the more the trainer has to work on training it to get to the next level. This is why the higher levels cost more than the lower ones. The horse trainer can only help one horse each day.
|
The Disco runs Friday and Saturday Night |
Fort Pinta Stables |
|
Gunther the tourist from Germany. |
Gunthers wife, Helga |
Gunther and Helga's only child, Gretchen. |
We meet three new characters near Fort Pinta. Gunther with his wife Helga and only child Gretchen, who is an adventurous young girl.
Later on, we meet up with these German tourists again over at Steve's Farm, Hollow Woods and finally at Firgrove.
SSO Blog Archives - SHE SHINES ON
27 May
In
- SSO Blog
By SSOMarketing
There’s no doubt about it, COVID-19 has managed to affect every single industry in the world, and the dance industry has not been immune to it. Dance classes have halted at studios, Broadway shows have closed their curtains, and social distancing rules have made it pretty hard to dance as a team. What has all of these meant for the dance world? Surely there has to be some sort of silver lining to all of this?
Here are our top 4 ways lockdown has positively changed the dance industry for the better!
1. Dance classes have moved online
Photo credit: @brooke_lorelle with @danceworks_official
Not even a pandemic can stop us from dancing! It’s been so nice to see all the dance studios rally together to ensure that their students can continue taking dance through online classes.
The transition has been a bit of a learning curve for everyone, but how cool is it that thanks to the crazy lockdown dance studios now have the capability of providing online dance classes as an additional option? We’ve even found a creative way to bring our dance tours to you through our new Interview Series!
2. More dance enthusiasts have emerged on TikTok
@sheshinesonThe different types of dancers at every dance competition 😂 💃 ##fyp ##foryoupage ##dancelife ##dancejoke ##actualdancer ##viral♬ original sound – sheshineson
For months so many of us have avoided downloading the TikTok app for a variety of reasons- some felt too old for it, while others felt too busy for it. Raise your hand if you’ve downloaded TikTok since lockdown. HA! We see you! Millions more of us are now happily showing off our dance moves on the beloved app, and SHE SHINES ON is right there with you!
3.
Performers have taken to Social Media for free showsDancers, singers, musicians, and even DJ’s have taken to social media to provide FREE shows online! We love seeing community spirit lift thanks to performing artists around the globe. Beyond amazing!
4. Families have found the time to dance more together
It’s a quarantine Monday PLEASE VOTE. My daughter challenged me to a dance off and said I don’t have it anymore. See that closet in the back she is still crying in it!!! VOTE VOTE!!!
Posted by Chris Starkey on Monday, March 23, 2020
Thanks to lockdown, families have spent much more quality time together. This has lead to some pretty impressive family dance offs. We hope this never stops!
31 Mar
In
- SSO Blog
By SSOMarketing
So you’re running out of ideas of things to do at home while in isolation! Have no fear- we’ve got a goodie for you… Vision boards! Before we get into ways to make a vision board, let’s talk about the importance of having a vision board!
The whole idea around vision boards is that they help you to visualize what you want in life.
By simply seeing it and envisioning your dreams every day, this puts your goals out into the universe and helps keep you focused on achieving them. Yes, the hard work still needs to be put in, but the vision board is a helpful tool to help get you there faster!
Visualization is one of the most powerful mind exercises you can do. You have probably heard of the law of attraction and how it can form your entire life simply through your thoughts. By visualizing and looking at your vision board every day, you are fueling the law of attraction!
The first step in creating your vision board is deciding HOW you want to make your vision board. We’ve narrowed it down to 3 easy ways to make a vision board:
1. Make a physical version
You can use whatever sort of material tickles your fancy for a physical vision board. Some prefer a sheet of cardboard, while others pick a pretty push-pin board that matches their home decor. Whatever board you go with as your base, the next step is getting images onto your board that speaks to you.
You can print images, draw them yourself, or cut them out of magazines. Once you have your images chosen, you simply have to glue, tape or pin them onto your vision board.
2. Go digital
The other alternative is a digital vision board. You can use any editing software available on your devices- Word, Powerpoint, InDesign, etc. Some people make their digital vision board their desktop background or phone lock image so that they easily see it every day. For a digital version, the biggest pro is that it’s easier to get the exact images you want for your vision board, as all you have to do is search, copy and paste it from the internet! This makes updating your vision board much quicker.
3. Use Pinterest
For those of you who might not have access to editing software, you can simply download the Pinterest app on your phone. Pinterest makes it super easy to make vision boards. You can create multiple boards and easily organize them by category. Within the Pinterest app, you can also pull inspiration from other people, which is super helpful!
What to put on your vision board
Now that you know what type of vision board you want to make, it’s time to decide what you want your vision board to focus on.
Vision boards are unique to each person, but some areas to focus on when deciding on the content of your vision board include daily affirmations and goals. You want to add images of all the types of things you want in your life, in each area of your life. For example, under the area of relationships you might want to include images of groups of girls laughing and having fun together to represent positive friendships or under career you might want to put images of professional dancers on world tours or whatever your dream profession is. Make sure you do not hold back. DREAM BIG.
Vision boards change and evolve as you do, so once you start to achieve what is on your board, update it and dream even bigger! “If you believe you can, you WILL!” Now go and let your creative juices flow!
31 Mar
09 Mar
In
- SSO Blog
By SSOMarketing
The team at SHE SHINES ON is dedicated to inspiring girls’ confidence through dance, travel and personal development.
In order to make this happen, we have an amazing team of, yup you guessed it- GIRLS! The SSO team is made up of such inspiring women! We wanted to introduce you to a few from our various departments.
KIM (
Our Boss Lady)
Kim was born and raised in New Zealand where she was actively involved in dance, theatre, and the performing arts. Kim went to Victoria University of Wellington where she completed an LLB/BA – Politics and Theatre. After 7 weeks at a law firm, Kim decided she was not being true to who she really was and quit to go traveling. Kim has won numerous entrepreneurial awards such as Rock Your Business NZ and the Global Entrepreneur X-Factor Competition.
In 2013, Kim launched SHE SHINES ON to inspire, empower and build confidence in dancers worldwide. Over the last 10 years, Kim has transformed her life into one of passion and purpose, combining her love of the arts, travel (all 7 continents) and personal development into a business committed to empowering dancers to live out their full potential.
Currently, Kim resides between New Zealand and the USA, as a working TV host, personal development coach and mentor and is married to her wonderful American husband, Jason.
Quick Questions:
- Hometown: Napier, New Zealand
- Current City: Los Angeles, California, USA
- Favorite Female: “Once upon a time you were a little girl with big dreams that you promised you’d make real one day. Don’t disappoint yourself.”
- Advice to young females: You are 100% responsible for your life. Therefore, your successes are in direct relation to the effort you put in. Step out into the world, think BIG, do what no one else is willing to do and purposefully go after your dreams. You can achieve everything you believe you can achieve. Therefore, your self-confidence, self-belief, and mindset should be your full focus. Mindset is everything. Invest in yourself and your personal development, it is the foundation of an extraordinary life.
- If you were a superhero, what power would you have? Learn the truth of the world, everything past and present.
- What female has inspired you the most? Oprah- she created an empire out of nothing but hard work and authenticity.
- What’s the toughest decision you’ve had to make and how did it impact your life? Leaving a life of what I thought I should do (law) versus what was in alignment with my heart, even when I had no idea of what that looked like or how that would pan out.
- What accomplishment are you most proud of? Building SHE SHINES ON and impacting the lives of thousands of young dancers worldwide, traveling to 7 continents in one year, building a strong property portfolio, and pursuing my hosting career in Hollywood.
- What inspires you? Successful people, philanthropy, love, and kindness.
- What are you most grateful for? The life I have created based on my passions – travel, the arts, and personal development.
My incredibly supportive family and husband, as well as myself for having the insight early on to realize that I am responsible for my life and investing a lot of time and resources into my personal development and mindset to create an extraordinary life. - Where would we find you on a Saturday morning at 10 am? Ha! It depends on the country I am in! But I definitely believe in working hard and playing harder!
- Why do you love the most about SSO? I hope we are the gateway to a life of bigger thinking, discovering opportunities and realizing it is a big world out there and absolutely anything is possible if you step outside your comfort zone, believe in yourself and take action. SSO is currently the first step into this way of thinking – with some incredible new opportunities that are coming out soon! That will really take lives to the next level!
KAT (
Our Marketing Wizz)Kat was born and raised in a small beach town in Florida.
After completing her Masters in Advertising at the University of Florida, Kat began her marketing career in New York City.
After 5 years of living in the big city, Kat decided to book a one-way ticket to New Zealand for a well-deserved break! However, she never made it out because of a crazy little thing called love. Fast forward, 9 years later and Kat’s now married with two beautiful ½ American, ½ Kiwi kids!
In her spare time, Kat enjoys spending time with her family, travelling, and of course dancing! In addition to SHE SHINES ON, Kat runs a BnB, is an Instagram Influencer and always has other projects in the works!
Quick Questions:
- Hometown: Pace, Florida, USA
- Current City: Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
- Favorite Female Quote: “You get in life what you have the courage to ask for!” – Oprah Winfrey
- Advice to young females: When you leave high school, find a way you can get paid to travel (i.
e. flight attendant, cruise ship, etc.). Live it up for a handful of years and SAVE what you make! Then come back knowing who you are, what you want, and hopefully with a big chunk of savings to invest! - If you were a superhero, what power would you have? I’d like to teleport. There are so many places and people all over the world that I’d LOVE instant access to!
- What female has inspired you the most? I don’t have one person in particular who I look up to the most, but I do like to surround myself with women who are strong, fearless, positive and ambitious- this way I am constantly inspired!
- What’s the toughest decision you’ve had to make and how did it impact your life? When I chose to stay in New Zealand for good. Most people only see the beautiful, happy photos. But what they don’t see are the hard times- being extremely homesick, growing apart from some of your best friends, and raising kids without family nearby.
Being 8,122 miles away from your closest friends and family is definitely a challenge. But the good thing about a challenge is that it provides a huge learning curve that results in a whole lotta personal growth! This growth, plus all of the once-in-a-lifetime experiences you collect while living abroad, makes it all so worth it! - What accomplishment are you most proud of? My kids, Ezra and Lennox. Raising two beautiful humans (inside and out) is hands down the GREATEST accomplishment I will achieve in my lifetime. No matter how much money I ever earn- nothing will top the fulfilment I feel through motherhood. By raising two exceptionally stellar humans, the positive mark and impact I leave on this world is literally multiplied 3x’s over thanks to them!
- What inspires you? My kids inspire me every day. It’s funny how as a mom you think you are the “teacher”, but how amazing is it when you realize that your kids actually end up teaching you so much more about yourself and life than you could ever imagine?! I also have finally started investing time into personal development (thanks Kim!)- now that I am purposely working towards my goals and constantly improving myself as a person, I am more inspired than ever!
- What are you most grateful for? Being healthy and safe- without these things, I’d literally have nothing!
- Where would we find you on a Saturday morning at 10 am? Either being productive working on projects or just enjoying the outdoors with my family!
- Why do you love the most about SSO? Being able to work with other inspiring and passionate women.
Plus- It is truly fulfilling working on a mission that positively impacts the lives of so many young girls!
JOJO (One of O
ur Loveable Tour Managers)
Josephine grew up in Hollywood, California, which has naturally given her a huge passion for the arts. She began dancing, acting, and modeling at the age of 8.
Josephine attended Azusa Pacific University, where she studied Theatre and Creative Writing and was head of the Azusa Pacific University dance team. Her love for travel has brought her to study in the UK and to teach dance in South Korea, China, and Thailand.
Josephine is excited to work with SSO because of the inspiration, creativity, and sheer excitement the program births! “Dancers come to Los Angeles on tour with SSO and their lives change—in the BEST possible way! I LOVE that and can’t wait to meet you!”
Quick Questions:
- Hometown: Los Angeles, California, USA
- Current City: Los Angeles, California, USA
- Favorite Female Quote: Read the poem “Our Deepest Fear” by Marianne Williamson
- Advice to young females: Start investing in YOU early… read books, learn your likes and dislikes, watch inspirational videos, develop your talents.
You’ll be so glad you did. - If you were a superhero, what power would you have? I’d want to be able to teleport so that I could impact and experience as many people and cultures possible in a very short amount of time.
- What female has inspired you the most? I’ve always been impressed by a woman known in the 50s as “The Peace Pilgrim.” She has an amazing story and I loved learning about how her radical determination to commit to what she believed in gave so many people hope and changed the world.
- What’s the toughest decision you’ve had to make and how did it impact your life? The toughest decision I’ve made was to set myself apart from my family and begin to work towards a life that they all said and believed I couldn’t have. Not having their support was so painful, however, my stopping out in faith has helped me to be a light to them and has given them hope that they can also pursue their dreams. It was worth it in the end.
- What accomplishment are you most proud of? I’m most proud of pushing past the generational limitations of the women in my family.
- What inspires you? I’m inspired by people who move in spite of obstacles. People who face hardship have the choice to quit or persevere… I LOVE to see the stories of people who have pushed through things.
- What are you most grateful for? Love.
- Where would we find you on a Saturday morning at 10 am? I’m probably finishing up my morning routine, reading something that makes me smile, writing, or working.
- Why do you love the most about SSO? I love the ability SSO has to impact young people. Watching them develop, begin to believe, and then start to strive for what they want is SUCH an amazing feeling.
09 Mar
In
- SSO Blog
By SSOMarketing
Let’s face it- being a teenager can be pretty stressful at times.
You often find yourself feeling too busy you’re juggling SO much – school, extracurricular activities, family, friends… just to name a few! You’re a go-getter and a high achiever, which can make life hectic. But are you doing too much? It’s important to ask yourself this before it’s too late, as being too busy and stressed out can actually lead to depression. Finding a healthy balance of activities and relaxation time is key. You simply need to take time out to recharge! We want to help you do this with 3 simple steps.
1. Make Your List
Grab a pen and notebook or simply type out a list on your phone. List everything you spend your time doing.
2. Order It For Visibility
Order your list of things that you do (1 – 10+) from your most to your least favorite. Here you’ll learn what you love doing most in your life.
3. Make Some Cuts
Once you have your list in order, it’s time to cull some things that are taking up your time but not bringing you that much joy.
Look at the bottom 5 things on your list.
Ask yourself, “If I wasn’t doing this anymore, would that make me sad?” If the answer is “no” then cull it! If the answer is “yes”, then ask yourself “If I had more time in my life to breathe and relax and focus on my most favorite activities, would I be happier? If the answer is “yes” then start the cull.
Literally cut out your least favorite activities (school is a non-negotiable!). This will free up valuable space in your life, allowing you to focus on the most important things in your life. By focusing on your top activities, you’ll be able to thrive even greater in these areas and in life overall!
Less is always more. You can do everything, but you can’t do it all at the same time. Work out what is MOST important to you for this year, this term and FOCUS on a few things. When you do this, you will be more engaged, focused and ultimately successful in that activity. Your mindset and mental health will thank you for it!
05 Feb
In
- SSO Blog
By SSOMarketing
Ask yourself this – do you love your life and are you happy how it currently is? Did you know that most people would answer no to this question? The first step to love your life more is to accept responsibility for creating your own happiness.
You can take easy steps to start loving your life more right now. Here’s how.
1. Live in the present
By living in the present, you focus on only what is currently happening – not what happened in the past and not what may happen in the future. The truth is in any present moment, so long as you are healthy and safe you really have nothing to complain about! By enjoying the present moment, you will find that you are able to appreciate and love your life more.
2. Do what brings you joy
What are your true passions? What activities bring you the most joy? These are the things you should spend most of your life doing. You have one life to live, so make it count! With time being so precious, spend each day doing what you love the most. You’ll create more happy emotions and start feeling great about your life!
3. Practice gratitude
By practicing gratitude throughout your day, you are allowing yourself to focus only on the good things in life that you are thankful for.
This is when positivity takes control of any negative thoughts you have. Gratitude keeps you feeling thankful, happy and positive!
4. Surround yourself with good people
They say you are the average health and wealth of the top five people that you spend the most time with. Marinate on that for a second, and you’ll realize how important it is to spend time with only good people. These friends and family are the type of people who inspire you to be a better person and support you when you need it the most. They lift you up and never make you feel bad about yourself. By surrounding yourself with good people, their positive energy will rub off on you and you will continue to grow into a person that loves life!
5. Get moving
Every day make it a priority to get your body moving and heart rate up- even if just for 15-20 minutes a day. You can choose whatever type of physical activity that you enjoy the most – running, dancing, yoga! After you exercise, you’ll feel recharged and focused – giving you the clarity to live the life you love!
6.
Dress for successThe way we dress and look totally influences the way we feel. If you dress in old, soiled clothing, chances are you’re not going to feel like taking over the world. If you wake up and immediately put on work out clothes, you’ll be more likely to have an active day. If you put on a pretty dress and do your hair and makeup, you’re going to feel beautiful and confident. You get the point! Present yourself in a way that best expresses who you are and your confidence will shine through every aspect of your life.
7. Do something new
By constantly trying new things and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, you will naturally ignite excitement and happiness in your life. Think about the last time you traveled somewhere new. How did it make you feel? Most likely you felt relaxed, inspired and happy! So get out and experience something amazing you’ve never done before.
8. Stop expecting
One of the most important keys to loving your life more is to accept that the only person you have control over is yourself.
Start by dropping any expectations you might have for other people. This includes your parents, siblings, friends, partner, workmates, and even strangers you come across throughout your day. Time to cut them all some slack! Everyone is their own person, and you can’t expect them to live life exactly like you do. By accepting this, you won’t feel hurt or let down as often. Be your own person, be responsible for yourself and let everyone else do the same.
05 Feb
In
- SSO Blog
By SSOMarketing
Only after you truly learn to love yourself will you be able to love the people and things in your life. Self-love starts with your thoughts and feelings. This is why focusing on positivity and gratitude is super important. Here are 4 simple things you can do each day to help turn on self-love.
1. Let your self-love out into the universe
Have positive things that you want to believe about yourself and let these thoughts out into the universe.
You can write these thoughts down, say them aloud, or simply visualize them in your head. Finding a quiet and place where you can be by yourself will help you focus on the thoughts and feelings you need to work on.
2. Read inspiring words
Reading is one of the strongest tools that you can use to learn and grow as a person. By simply reading inspiring pieces every day, you will be that much more ahead of the game. No matter what you are struggling with internally, find a personal development book or article around the topic to gain insight on how to resolve your issue. Even simply reading short, inspirational quotes daily will make a huge positive impact on turning up your self-love.
3. Celebrate your achievements
If you’ve achieved something, no matter how big or small, you must take the time to acknowledge your achievement. Whether it be a simple pat on the back, a happy dance in the living room, or a celebratory dinner at your favorite restaurant, you’ve earned it and it deserves to be praised!
4.
Take care of yourselfDon’t forget to love yourself by giving yourself healthy amounts of all that you need to be healthy. Sunshine, fresh water, exercise, whole foods, fresh air, positive relationships and spending time doing your passion … the basics! It’s so important to put your wellbeing as top priority on your journey to self-love.
16 Jan
In
- SSO Blog
By SSOMarketing
It’s a new year, which means a fresh start! It’s the perfect time to set some new year resolutions and goals. If the pressure of making huge new year resolutions is too overwhelming for you, pick easier goals instead. Even the smallest changes can have a huge impact on your life! Here are 8 super easy new year resolutions that you can easily start practicing now!
1. Spend more time with positive people
Your time and energy is extremely valuable. This year, spend it on only the most important people in your life and make sure these people bring positivity and inspiration to your life!
2.
Travel somewhere newThis somewhere new could be anywhere, from a local park to a totally new country you haven’t visited yet! No matter how far you choose to explore, travel is one of the best ways to learn and grow as a person.
3. Speak kindly
Practice speaking kindly to yourself and to others. Cut out the negative talk and only allow yourself to say kind and positive things.
4. Put your phone down
This year spend less time on your phone, computer and TV. Instead, spend more time enjoying the outdoors and spending quality time with your loved ones!
5. Use less and consume less
The next time you’re tempted to buy something ask yourself, “Do I really need this to survive?” If the answer is no, put it right back on the shelf and walk away! Your wallet and the planet will thank you!
6. Focus on the positive in every situation
It’s time to live on the bright side! No matter what life throws you this year, turn every situation into a positive experience by focusing on what you’re thankful for.
7. Eat more whole foods
You have one body, and it deserves the best! You are what you eat- and by simply eating organic whole foods, you will immediately feel better physically, mentally and emotionally!
8. Sit up straight
So simple, right? By maintaining good posture, you are automatically passing positive vibes to yourself and others around you. By just sitting up straight, you’ll feel more confident!
16 Jan
Learning how to set goals is such an important life skill and you should start now- yes, as a teen! Goals are great because they constantly give you something to work on and help make you a better version of yourself! By mastering teen goal planning, you’ll live a more motivated and successful life.
Here are the 5 main steps that’ll make teen goal planning much easier:
1. Write down your goals
Your goals can be as big or little as you want. You may have a short-term goal of wanting to pass your next exam or you might have a long-term goal of wanting to save money for one of our dance tours.
Narrow it down to your most important goals and write them down. Feeling stuck? Think about what you really want to do with your life. What are your biggest dreams? What would you really regret not doing? What areas do you want to improve? Is there something you want to do less or more of?
2. Give each goal a time frame
After you decide on what you want to accomplish, identify the time frame you want to give yourself to achieve each goal. Do you want to reach this goal within a month, 6 months, 1 year or 2 years?
3. Write down what you need to do for each goal
Underneath each goal, list the tasks you need to complete in order to achieve the goal. What steps do you have to take to get where you want to be? Further, write down the things that you need in order to complete each of these steps. For example, if you’re trying to save money, one of the things you might need could be a job.
4. Schedule your to-dos
Map out all of your goal to-dos onto a calendar.
Schedule what you need to do daily, weekly or monthly in order to achieve your goals. By scheduling your to-dos, you’ll stay organized and on track to reaching your goals!
5. Start working towards your goal and review your progress
Now is the time to just go for it! Every so often, review what you have accomplished and celebrate! Be proud of the progress you’ve made, and take time to reflect on what you’ve learned along the way. Once you’ve achieved a goal, create a new goal or revise an old goal to give yourself a new challenge. Before you know it teen goal planning will become second nature to you, and you’ll be on the road to success!
16 Dec
Schools out for most of us, which means nearly 2 months off before we have to head back to reality! While this is amazing because you get more time to just chill- it’s also super important to not lose what you’ve worked so hard to get throughout the year. Yes, I’m talking about dance technique! Here are my top 5 tips to keep strong dance technique over the long Christmas break!
1.
Make a planChoose a goal. Your goal may be to maintain your strong dance technique, or it might be to improve your technique over the summer break. Whatever it may be, come up with an action plan on what steps you need to take in order to achieve this goal. This may be as simple as a half an hour of stretching 3 times a week to help improve flexibility, or you might even commit to doing daily dance workouts! Just make sure whatever you’re doing gets you closer to achieving your goal!
2. Get Outside
Get outside and walk, swim, bike, hike… whatever you love doing! Summertime is the perfect chance to stay active without trying so hard because long, sunny days brings more time to play outside. The fresh air and sunshine does wonders for your health… trust me it’s been proven! You can’t have strong dance technique without good cardiovascular fitness, so make sure you are making the most of the beautiful weather and get outside!
3. Youtube Dance Videos
There are so many awesome dance videos just on Youtube.
You might want to search for a dance video that teaches you a new style, technique or combination. There are even some great workout videos for dancers. Pilates and yoga are a couple of my favourites because they help with my flexibility, core and mindset- all really important when it comes to strong dance technique!
4. Summer Intensives
Find a summer intensive and get involved! Summer intensives are a perfect way to keep your strong dance technique and cardiovascular fitness in tip top shape! Plus- you meet new people and form amazing friendships! Nothing better than making lifelong memories and bonding with other people over dance- something that you all love so much!
5. Don’t Forget To Relax
Yes, it’s important to maintain your dance technique over the holidays, but it’s also just as important to kick back and relax. Find time to relax, rejuvenate and rehabilitate- your body (and mind) will thank you for it! After all, the summer holidays are in a way a gift to us for how hard we’ve worked all year.
So reward yourself with some rest and relaxation… you’ve earned it! If you consciously take some time off from dance, you’ll be able to come back fresh and ready for an amazing new year!
These 5 things can be easily achieved, right? I hope you all have an amazing Christmas Holiday, and can’t wait to see you on the dance floor in 2020!
xoxo,
Lauren
I want to dance. 10 misconceptions about dancing
The desire to learn how to dance is natural and natural in the modern world. You can list the reasons, starting with obvious and popular pragmatic desires, for example, to start moving or losing weight, ending with unconscious and even existential ones.
This is due to the fact that dances are at the subtle intersection of the inner and outer worlds, physical and spiritual. Above this, music becomes a driver that cannot leave anyone indifferent.
In dancing, there is magic inside a person, which is not always noticeable when viewed from the side.
At the initial stage, it is the external picture that attracts to dances, and sometimes repels, as it seems too frivolous and superficial.
But there are even stronger obstacles that stop many people from starting dancing. These illusions and delusions roam the minds of the majority, and are often afraid to ask about them directly, or they ask the question about it so often that they are no longer ready to hear an honest direct answer. I will try to do it in this article.
There are many examples of contemporary dance instructors sharing their thoughts about not expecting to be in the dance industry. Once upon a time there was a man and was engaged in adult, serious business. Sometimes even very serious. A person could have children and even grandchildren. I saw dances only on stage or on TV. For reasons unknown to himself, he ended up in dances. At first, everything seemed like entertainment and a useful pastime. But time has passed, and a person catches himself thinking that he thinks about dancing not just every day, but really all the time.
A couple of years pass, and he already becomes a teacher or organizer of some event.
A similar path can start at 15 or 55 years old. The only difference will be in the self-perception of the starting stage, that it’s too late to dance. In fact, for each age there is its own dance direction, which can reveal it to the greatest extent at this stage. Hip-hop or breaking is closer to children and teenagers, and Argentine tango is closer to adults. It's never too late to start dancing. You need to make the right choice of dance style based on several parameters: age, gender, music, goal. There is a dance direction for any arrangement.
Misconception 2: Men don't dance
Our culture has a number of restrictions related to dancing. Most of these causes are psychological and lie outside the realm of rational reasoning.
First, in our culture, in principle, dancing for pleasure or self-expression appeared relatively recently.
20-30 years ago dance clubs were only for children. To start dancing even in adolescence was considered exotic.
Secondly, the aesthetics of the body in our country for men is not in the focus of attention. In general, this can be attributed to the fact that Russian men try hard not to draw attention to their appearance and clothing. Men in our country use other tools for this.
Third, dancing is associated with entertainment and alcohol. If a man feels serious and respectable, then he either does not have time or desire for this.
Nowadays the general cultural background has changed and the result is that men are learning to dance. It becomes as much a sign of masculinity as clothing, hair or beard.
Unfortunately, many misconceptions remain even among those who have already started dancing. Dance teachers do not always pay attention to this, as it seems to them that this is a matter of course.
Fallacy 3: special training is needed
For an outside observer, there is always a cognitive dissonance about what dance is.
What he sees on the big stage in the form of a show with sweeping movements and splits is obviously dancing. Breakers doing unimaginable elements in the air and on their hands, competing with each other, also seem to be dancing. Pensioners in the park waltz. Dancing again, but for some reason everyone is so different. How to understand that this is a dance, and what physical criteria should be in the body.
In fact, any self-expression through the body to music can be attributed to dance. There are a number of reservations, but they are not essential. For self-expression, a person uses the set of plastics that he has. Subtlety and technique do not depend on extreme ways of self-expression, and it often happens that splits and somersaults interfere with a meaningful dance. The development of plasticity and the expansion of the body's capabilities are part of the preparation of the dancer, but not an end in itself.
Fallacy 4: You must learn to dance in pairs
In couple dancing, the final learning outcome is that the couple dances at a party.
It would seem that you should always train together to get the desired result. This is not true. Let's take an example from boxing. An indicator of a boxer's skill is a fight with an opponent, but this does not mean that he constantly has to fight. Also, the ability to dance is built on the possession of one's own body and the ability to interact.
The skill of the teacher is the correct selection of methods so that the student masters the skill. Based on the skill, you can engage in creativity and self-expression in dance. Not everyone knows, but it is no coincidence that almost all social dance dancers have a serious dance background, which is based on the development of individual techniques.
The same can be attributed to the interaction in a pair. The ability to separate in oneself the one who leads and the one who follows the lead is impossible within the framework of studying the sequence of movements in pairs. For this, there are special exercises that make the skill more versatile.
For this, the presence of a permanent couple is not necessary, as well as the regular presence of a partner in general.
IMPORTANT! You can’t experiment at a party, and everything should be in its place there: men dance with women.
Getting rid of illusions is a complex internal process. If you leave them to yourself, you can even get the opposite result.
Fallacy 5: plastique and stretching are mandatory attributes of dance
Much depends on the genre of dance that you want to master. In previous articles, I have already mentioned that different dance styles are suitable for different ages. It is appropriate to dance hip-hop in adolescence or youth, Argentine tango is a more adult dance, it is important to enter classical choreography at a young age.
The degree of necessary plasticity and sensitivity to the dance direction also correlates. For example, breaking requires great physical effort and dexterity. Elements are built on acrobatics and high speed of execution.
Who are they more suitable for? Obviously young people.
There is a lot of interaction in salsa. It is necessary to feel the partner subtly, to be able to show a variety of figures and elements. Twine or acrobatics are completely inappropriate here. However, a variety of ways to show oneself are required. Accordingly, the dance is youthful, but not at all childish.
The older the dance, the less stretching or acrobatics is required. The main emphasis is on the quality of technology, the variety of ideas and the ability to show plasticity.
Misconception 6: Mirrors are necessary for learning
There is a set of instruments that dancers use to learn how to dance. The fact is that the dancer needs to receive feedback on how his movements look from the side. It is impossible to dance and see yourself from the side at the same time. The most common tool is a mirror. But not the only one.
Like any auxiliary tool, mirrors have positive and negative effects.
The positive is that they can receive feedback in real time and technically it is not very difficult. The downside can be dependence on mirrors. A situation where a dancer cannot capture the feeling of dancing, such as on stage or at a party. For these purposes, you can use, among other things, video filming or proper preparation.
In many countries in Latin America, dance classrooms are not equipped with mirrors. Classes are held in bars or large halls. The dancers initially form the skill of focusing on the inner sensation, and not the habit of looking for their reflection in the mirror with their eyes.
Misconception 7: there is a lot of obsceneness in dancing
A common question from novice dancers who are taking their first steps in more contact couple dances is “in order to dance cool, there must be passion inside the couple?”. I immediately answer that no, not necessarily. Kizomba, bachata and Argentine tango attract many with their close contact.
Like any other contact in our everyday life, in dances, contact can be different. We hug friends, parents, children. These hugs can wear many different shades. Sexual overtones are one of many.
The culture of dance also includes the boundaries of what is acceptable. A compliment from a well-mannered person is different from a statement about female sexuality by a gopnik. Usually, those who study at a dance school already have an idea of what boundaries should not be crossed. A good dance from a technical point of view will never look vulgar or vulgar.
Dancers always have a choice about the boundaries of contact. Most prefer to leave a good impression of themselves, as word spreads just as fast in the dance world.
Misconception 8: the best dancers are the bearers of culture
Even the very question of the origin of this or that dance can be paradoxical and ambiguous, especially when it comes to its development and performance.
For example, the Viennese waltz did not originate in Vienna, but in Germany. Salsa has its main roots in the USA, not in Cuba. The famous Greek folk dance sirtaki was invented for the film Zorba the Greek and appeared only in 1964.
The same can be attributed to the development of modern dance styles. Korea is known for its world-leading break dancers. People go to Turkey for Argentine tango, Spain is strong with excellent salsa and bachata dancers, in Egypt, Russians are considered the best belly-dance performers.
A good dance is based on quality training and diligence. Skin color, place of birth and age are secondary. Exotic appearance, unfortunately, is often a reason to be more superficial about one's own professional development. This becomes the reason for the low level of teaching among the bearers of culture. I am sure that few readers of this post will be ready to conduct a master class in Russian folk dance outside of Russia.
The mastery of mastering and teaching a particular style does not depend on the dancer's homeland.
And "they absorbed the dance with their mother's milk" is nothing more than a common misconception.
Misconception 9: You have to know a lot of moves to learn how to dance
Focusing on learning a lot of moves often detracts from the essence of dance. Of course, the sequence of figures is important. Especially at the start. Over time, the dancer should have an understanding of how movements can be generated independently. Accordingly, instead of memorizing millions of figures, you can understand how to create them.
From every system of improvisation that a dancer can use as an instrument, dozens, hundreds or thousands of variations are derived. This frees the head from trying to reproduce the exact sequence and definitely adds freedom in the performance of the dance.
The huge theme of musicality can be attributed to the same question. Not every pre-conceived or learned sequence will fit specific music. The dance should give freedom, and not drive the dancer into the shell of the ropes.
Misconception 10: dancing is homosexual
The unusually high attention to the body and flair from stories about professional ballet led to the spread of this myth, among other things. Unfortunately, such an idea still exists in the minds of our fellow citizens.
The dance industry is now very broad and is represented by many dance styles. Some of them can even be called homophobic. Dances reflect the general attitude to the world and it is different depending on the life position and worldview of a person.
In many dances there is contact between the dancers. In Russia, dance contact between men has always been perceived very intensely. In most other countries it is different. An example of the fact that this tension is associated only with the dance theme and does not apply to other areas is, for example, wrestling. When practicing techniques, men are in much closer contact with each other. Sometimes lying on the floor and holding each other tightly.
The historical roots of Greco-Roman wrestling are also ambiguous from a sexual point of view. But in our country, unlike dance, they are perceived as acceptable and brutal.
Dance, like the culture of speech, makes a modern person more successful and self-confident. The ability to control one's body, tune in to another person and the ability to be aesthetic in the plasticity of movement is valuable in the modern world. If we add here the pleasure of the process and the availability of dance as such, then the possibilities of this activity can hardly be overestimated.
It's sad when interested people are stopped by prejudices and myths that have nothing to do with dancing. Freedom in body movements begins with freedom of thought and willingness to change.
I hope that this review will help to take a different look at the dance culture for those who still have doubts about whether to start dancing.
Share on social networks:
Modern dance to modern music
How dancing can become an addiction
The fear and magic of tango
Dangerous sexuality
How dancing in videos differs from dancing in movies
The self-destruction of the pair dance community
The Salsa series as a mirror of the community
Destroying the myths about leading pair dance
Does dancing make us better?
12 life hacks to quickly learn how to dance
The seven deadly sins of teachers
Why we will never dance bachata like the Dominicans
Why tango?
Debate over musicality
Selection of dances according to alcohol preferences
Where to find inspiration for dancing?
Terrible tango nuevo
Distribution of roles in a salsa party
Argentinean tango through the eyes of a salsa dancer
Is there a predisposition to dancing?
Which is more effective: individual or group lessons?
Sexual connotations in partner dancing
7 tips for those who want to learn how to dance
September 9, 2020 Reno5 Life
Dancing is a great way to make friends with your body and gain self-confidence.
And yes, they can be mastered at any age.
1. Choose your style
The idea here is the same as for sports: if you secretly hate yoga or iron exercises, you are unlikely to go to workouts week after week. To achieve noticeable progress in dancing, a beginner will have to practice a lot and regularly, so it’s better not to torture yourself and choose a direction that really ignites.
You can focus on the music that you like - you need to catch the drive from movements to it. It is music that forms the style of dance and its energy, so decide what is closer to you: for example, funk lovers should try popping or locking, folk fans may like Irish dancing, and if you respect jazz, swing and everything like that, take a closer look at lindy hop.
Another criterion is the nature of the movements. Some are closer to dynamic, as in hip-hop, others are smooth and sensual - for this in tango. There are also health restrictions to consider. So, twerk is not suitable if there are problems with the lumbar spine, with sore knees it is better not to get involved in shuffle, and it will be difficult for an aged person to master house.
2. Set a goal
Photo: Iakov Filimonov / ShutterstockYou can start dancing at any age, but it's important to keep in mind why you started it in the first place. It is perhaps too bold to expect that in half a year of classes it will be possible to reach the level of international dance championships from scratch. But if you want to try dancing in order to develop plasticity and learn to feel the body better, great, go ahead.
Don't expect everything to work the first time. When you learn from scratch, difficulties are absolutely normal, the main thing is not to score in classes. Over time, both the correct posture and a beautiful gait will be developed, and as a bonus you will also get self-confidence - with freedom of movement, freedom from complexes will come.
3. Don't forget about sports
Some dances in themselves make for a good workout. A vigorous shuffle will replace cardio, and a break can give a load to almost all muscle groups. And yet, without preparation, it will not be easy.
A more or less good stretch is needed in any type of dance, and, for example, strong arms and strong abdominal and back muscles are also useful for pole dancing. You can combine dancing with strength exercises, but you need to give the body time to recover and not plan classes in a row, but allocate at least a day of rest between them.
And don't forget to warm up before dancing. So that the training does not end with an injury, the muscles and joints need to be prepared for the load. You can allocate 10–15 minutes for a warm-up, it should include simple articular gymnastics (at least elementary rotational movements of the shoulders and knees), tilts and dynamic stretching.
4. Take some lessons from a trainer
Especially if you have never danced before. Those with experience can learn new styles at home with video tutorials, but that's because they already know how to control their bodies. Beginners are unlikely to succeed, but disappointment in themselves and demotivation are guaranteed - if you can’t repeat elementary movements, then there’s no point in doing it.
Nothing really strange here. Without preparation, it is difficult to just take it and start moving freely. At least the basic elements are better to master under the guidance of a pro, and when you feel that you are coping, supplement these lessons with home workouts.
5. Learn something new in every class
When you repeat the same set of exercises and movements over and over again, classes turn into a good way to pass your free time, only you can forget about progress. Acquaintance with new elements is the same mandatory part of any workout as a warm-up. It doesn't matter if you work with a mentor or on your own.
Do not immediately try to copy cool dancers. First, study the basic movements, then try to combine them into bundles until you hone them to automatism, and then experiment and improvise, creating something new based on familiar elements.
6. Record yourself on video
You don't need to record the whole workout from the warm-up on, it's enough to record only those moments with which you have problems.
These can be separate movements or bundles that are not given in any way. Review the video and, if possible, objectively assess what is wrong: perhaps there are technical problems that are difficult to notice in the process. When you understand what's wrong, try to repeat the movement and record it on video again - and so on until you achieve a good result.
This approach will help you find errors and track progress. You can not even limit yourself to memorized ligaments, but improvise - then see how it looks from the outside.
7. Find like-minded people
Photo: Iakov Filimonov / ShutterstockIf you need an extra reason not to miss classes, then meeting new people can be a good motivation. It is easier here for those who train in a group. Often the dance school becomes the center of a close-knit community, where people come not only for the sake of classes, but also just to spend time together at dance parties.
Finally, the more partners around, the more experience.
Do not limit yourself to dancers of your level of training and practice with those who are stronger or weaker than you. In the first case, you will be able to improve your skills, and in the second, you will try yourself as a coach - this, by the way, is a good way to learn to take more initiative and understand the very principle of movement in dance, and not just memorize the alternation of chords.
Stay fit and connected with the OPPO Watch. They have two powerful processors, a bright AMOLED display, 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal memory, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and NFC modules. And more than 90 training modes, including those designed specifically for ORRO. Work out cooler with music, you can listen to it in streaming services or download tracks to the memory of your watch.
If you want to enjoy clear sound, the OPPO ENCO W31 Wireless Headphones are for you. Two-level noise reduction system, easy operation and stable connection will make listening to music and talking on the phone as comfortable as possible.
