So you’re thinking about joining the Women’s Dance Team?

First off congratulations!  It’s going to be a SUPER fun time in your life.  It will push your comfort zone – in the best way – and make you shine!

Before I get ahead of myself, I can imagine between the bouts of nerves and excitement, you’ve got some questions before you take that next step.

I hear you, and I’ve got answers!

Below, I’ve tackled the questions that I get asked the most, to help you decide if this is the right time for you to join the team.

  Let’s jump in!

1) I’m newer to dancing. Will I be able to keep up with the team?

Great question! Most of the Women on the team are taking ballroom dance lessons as well as participating in the formation. It is a HUGE help because it dives deeper into the fundamentals of movement, (if you are interested in this, you can contact us for a complimentary lesson!).

In addition, here are a few suggestions that will help you grow quicker!

•  Essentials: Every second month we do a movement or performance-based series called Essentials, that helps get you in the right shape for the routine. It moves at a slower, and deeper pace.
• Private Lessons: Many of the Women like to get the most out of the choreography and take private lessons for the routine on the side. This is a big help when you want to learn individually how to move and look better.
• Make friends: The Ladies of the team are AWESOME, and they’ll often practice together which is a big, big help!

2) Stage fright, my struggle is real! Any tips?

Yes, the Women’s Dance Team does perform, but by the time we get to that stage, you will have had the routine drilled in, and drilled in, annnnnd drilled in (just ask them!).

Plus, you will also have opportunities to take performance workshops, and dance in front of one another many times; which may make you giggle in the beginning, but will help you kick those nerves to the curb.

3) I’ve got a bad memory, I’m worried I’ll forget the choreography?

Back to point #2 – it will be drilled in!

I want your mind to remember, but more importantly, I want your body to remember!

Listen, people forget sometimes, but the skills we teach will help you to jump right back in if that were to happen.

4) What can I expect over the next 6 months?

Good one! The first 6-8 classes you’re going to learning a LOT of choreography.  We dive into this right away, so your memory starts happening quickly. You may feel a tiny bit overwhelmed, but the feeling will pass. As well, you’ll get weekly video recaps to practice at home too.

After that, we take the next few months to work on movement, styling, and performance… my absolute faves!

Then at the end, we get all dolled up, and it’s lights, camera, action!

What you can also expect, is a workout, lots of laughs, and incredible women that you’re going to make friends with.  Plus, an ultra fun wind up brunch of mimosas and girl time!

5) Should I do it?

That last time I asked our team what they would say to someone thinking about joining the formation they said:

“Just do it, don’t think about it! Go for it!”

I would say come to our next information session or reach out to me personally, and we can discuss wheter it’s a good fit for you at this point in your dancing.

Likely, the answer will be YES!

Hope to see you on the dance floor!

The post FAQ’s about the Women’s Dance Team appeared first on VS Dance Club.

To toast the end of an incredible formation season, the Woman’s Dance Team comes together to enjoy a celebratory brunch. This took place on November 19 at Yew restaurant. Over giggles and mimosas, we reminisced about the recent Flamenco formation, relived our routines of the past, and discussed the challenges and successes we’ve faced thus far.

During our brunch, I asked the Ladies if I could interview and record them to hear in their own words what being on the team is like. So, today you’re getting a rare glimpse into what goes into being a part of the Woman’s Dance Team, who these fabulous women are, and whether joining the team would be a good fit for you!

Here is what they had to share:

1. Sarah: To get started – How many routines have you been in?

(This question took a few minutes, and multiple hands to count.  These have been going on for years, so  we first had to calculate how many formations have been created– We agreed on 15)

G: 11

S: 7 or 8

V: 15

H: 15

K: 13

2. Sarah: What appealed to you about the Flamenco  Woman’s character? What drew you to her, or drew you to Flamenco?

H: The strength and confidence

K: It shared the same fierceness as Be Italian (Past routine from the musical Nine). The same type of quality.

V: It’s a very strong woman who only gets better with age!

All the Ladies – Oh I like that!

V: You’ve all seen the flamenco dancers, and as they get older it’s appreciated. It’s appreciated!

G: The flirtatiousness in it.

3.   Sarah:  What were your favorite characters of all the woman you’ve played in the formation routines?

V: I loved Be Italian. It was so out there I tell you!

K: You know what was so much fun? The mop one (A 1950’s routine)! I was watching it the other day because I had a friend over and was showing her all the formations. It was fun you know – something about that one…

H: Oh, I like them all Sarah! It’s hard, it’s hard! Every time you captivate a certain part of you that you already are, or who you want to be. The flamenco is a dance I’m always attracted to, and the character I’m able to connect to the most, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best character for me or the best dance for me. Be Italian was different, and even the Shakira one brought something out of me that I didn’t know was there – and I wanted to work on more. I think even the Pink Panther; the mischievous part of it.

Sarah: You knew that mischievous part was already there, right? (Women laughed)

H:  I knew that that was there. So, I think it’s hard for me to pick one, and say that’s my favorite.  And then the Marilyn Monroe was the last character I thought I’d be able to connect to, but I really enjoyed playing that character.  A blond bimbo –  I thought, “yes I can do that!”  Well, that’s what she was labeled as anyways.

G: All different. But my favorite is Be Italian. I think it involves being synchronized with the tambourine. And then as a group, I think it was a very, very hard routine, but at the end, we pulled it off! (Followed by group giggles) I liked it!

S: I think flamenco. I felt strong and proud.

4.   Sarah:  What is the most challenging thing about Women’s Dance Teams? About being part of the team, or the routines?

V: The challenging part for me – I mean a lot of it is challenging – but the lines. I have to watch my spacing, watch where I am.

G: For me, it’s getting into the character of the dance. Especially when it’s something out of the comfort zone– like being sexy. That’s really challenging.

H: There is a lot of things – precision, consistency… The reason I started dancing was for social dancing, and I’d just do whatever I want, and even dancing with my teacher there is a lot of inconsistency in me that he tolerates, but it’s not tolerable in a formation.

K: Yeah, not tolerable in a formation.

H: So that’s something that is quite unique for me in dancing with a group versus any other dancing. And precision, it’s not up to me to choose what I think feels good for my body. It’s very obvious when I watch the video if my arm is a little off.  It doesn’t matter how good I feel, it ruins the entire formation. So, those are my challenges. And it provides discipline which I  personally want to work on more in all areas of my life.

K: It’s adjusting to the team. So, I naturally take bigger steps and I just can’t. Then I think I get it, then I’m like, “darn I missed it again.” And for the team piece, trying to be the same as much as possible. And that character stuff – the sexy character stuff…

V: Yah, the sexy character is tough.

K: I hate it when you say “get into your sexy“, I’m like ohhhh… (Giggles)

Sarah: The next one is going to be all about that!

G: It helps when you get into the character of the dance. Your body may tell you differently, even if you feel stiff or something, somehow, if you get into the emotion of it, they kind of influence each other.

K: It’s like learning to act!

5. Sarah: What is the best part? 

K: It’s the teamwork. It’s the most difficult and the best.

(All Ladies agreed)

G: Well the best part of this whole formation team for me, is I get my exercise. The best exercise ever. Exercise for the brain, exercise for the body. It really trains you well. Plus you get a good group of people that you get to socialize with as well.

6.  Sarah:  What advice would you give someone who is thinking about joining?

All: Join!

K: Just do it! Don’t think about it – go for it! (Echoed by all the Ladies)

H: Now we have done this so much together, not only do we know how we feel about ourselves, but we know how we feel about each other. I think that’s a big part of it – we know how you work with us now, and you have certain expectations from all of us, in every way. So that makes us a much stronger team. For anyone who joins us, they will right away just take on the culture we already built. Not that we’re going to force it on anyone, but whoever comes in, they will just become a part of it.

K: Yeah, we created that culture. We also have a trust in you, like; we totally trust what you do with your choreography and how you train us, very much so.

Sarah: Thank you! 

V: I think one thing if someone felt intimidated about joining, would be that they understand the process of learning. For me, it’s been stretching my emotional and physical capability, these things are very important. Even if we were to never perform this at the end, I would find it a beautiful exercise in the broadest sense because that makes the difference. The performance is the terrifying and wonderful thing if well executed, but the process is so totally enjoyable, and even though at the time it’s challenging, and some days I really feel like “ARR” but other days I say “Okay, got it!”

G: And that is it right?  If somebody was thinking to join, I remember the first time, I had been dancing already for so long. But the first time I joined the formation I was sore the night that I came home. I was so sore, I was like “darn it, Sarah, darn it, Sarah!”. Then I was like “wow this is really good exercise”. But it’s really not to be intimidated – don’t give up. I mean you will obviously feel the pain – but you’ll train your body.

V: It’s like a muscle right.

G: Yeah, muscle memory!

I hope you enjoyed this peek into the world of our Woman’s Dance Team. We are always looking for new wonderful woman to join our team.  If you are interested or have some questions, please feel free to contact us for more details.

Till next time,

The post An Insider Look at the Woman’s Dance Team appeared first on VS Dance Club.

There is so much that goes into making an impression on the dance floor.  From the choreography to the technique, the makeup to the costumes – it ALL counts.  Choosing the right costume isn’t as easy as simply finding something that looks good in the mirror, there are multiple factors that (should) come into play.  Since getting a costume is an investment, you want to make sure it’s one that pays off.  To help you with your next costume purchase, here are 5 questions you should ask before saying “yes to the dress”.

1. Does it accentuate my strengths?
2. Does it conceal my “work in progress” areas?
3. Is it appropriate?
4. Does it move well?
5. Does the dress compliment my style?

Let’s take a closer look!

Does it accentuate my strengths?

What is the area you excel in?  Do you have strong powerful legs?  Or perhaps, you have great movement in your back?  A costume that shows off the areas that are your strengths, directs the audiences and judges eyes to those places.

Plus, you will feel rocking every time you see a video of a dress that does this!

Does it conceal my “work in progress” areas?

A costume can also give you a leg up on concealing those “work in progress” areas.  For example:  If you are still developing strength in your legs and may not have your balance on point (yet!), an ultra-short skirt will not work to your advantage, but a longer diagonal cut may do just the trick!

Is it appropriate?

In this category, there are a few things to do the “appropriate” test on

1. Is it “appropriate” for the style of dance?
2. Is it “appropriate” for the ballroom? Too revealing is a big faux pas
3. Is it “appropriate” for your age? To see a 10-year-old in a scandalous costume doesn’t sit well.  Choose costumes that compliment you.

Does the dress move well?

If it looks good in the mirror it doesn’t mean it will look good on the floor.  You will be moving 95% of the time you are wearing the costume, so it’s imperative to see it move.  When finding a costume designer, you should look for someone with quality sewing skills, and someone who is either a dancer or has had heavy exposure to the dance world.  A designer who knows the type of movements that the dance style requires will help you bring the dress to life!

Does the dress compliment your style?

Feminine and classic, sassy and powerful, we all have a style that is unique to us!  One way to express your interpretation of dance is to pick a costume that compliments your personal style.  If you would describe yourself as a “classic”, a hot pink leopard fringe dress may not work towards building a cohesive story.

Remember, dancing is a visual activity.  You are bringing to life a story, and expressing it from the inside out.  Choosing the right costume is important in creating a cohesive story, but when it comes to styling it’s only one piece of the puzzle.  To invest in the dress but not pay enough attention to hair and makeup, can result in a sloppy look on the floor.  Talk with your instructor about the image you have for your dancing, and employ their help to assist you in creating that winning look.

I’d love to hear your experiences with choosing a dance costume in the comments.  How was the experience for you?

Until next time,

Freebie: Event Preparation Checklist

The post 5 Questions to Ask when Choosing a Costume – Ladies Edition appeared first on VS Dance Club.

Hello Ladies!

Quick exercise before we strut on in:

Raise your hand if…

1. You think feeling “sexy” is an innate characteristic. However… nothing about it feels innate to you.
2. You think feeling “sexy” can be an acquired characteristic. You’re just looking for some direction.
3. You know “Sexy” is your middle name, and “Feeling” is your first.

If any of these “women” feel familiar, or you can recognize yourself somewhere in-between, I want to first express you’re not alone.

I also want to challenge you to think for a minute:

What would it feel like to have freedom to express fully?

If you’re anything like me, you think having that type of freedom would be invaluable!

So, I’ve got you!

Today I’m sharing tried and true strategies that I’ve used in my own dancing. You’re going to walk away knowing 5 tactics to get your sexy back (pun intended.)

1) Dress the Part:

“You’ve got that James Dean daydream look in your eye, and I got that red lip, classic thing that you like.” ~Taylor Swift

It’s no secret that how we look impacts how we feel, and by no means am I implying we need to “dress to the nine’s” on the daily, but am rather suggesting a little effort goes a long, long way.

Take it from Virginia, a long term members of our Women’s dance team; before every class you can find her prettying her pout with that day’s lipstick of choice. By the time she starts dancing, her mood is already warmed up.

2) Keywords:

Now that you look the part, you’ll want to start to focus your mind using a keyword. The purpose of a keyword is to provide you with inspiration and motivation. It can be almost anything!

Examples of a keyword could be ‘confident’ or ‘feminine’; it can even be the name of an alter ego, like Beyoncé had created with “Sasha Fierce”.

To use a keyword you just ask yourself:

“Am I moving in a confident way?”

Or

“What we make this move look more feminine?”

Or

“How would Sasha Fierce dance this?”

3) The Process:

“I woke up like this” is the new slogan promoting micro blading; a way to wake up without having to apply makeup. If this is new to you, basically it’s a huge trend right now where a cosmetic tattoo artist fills in the eyebrows to create the perfect arch.

So why am I talking about this?

Let’s go back to the slogan for a minute, do you in fact wake up like this after a micro blading treatment? Yes you do! But… if we dug a little deeper the fine print would read:

“I woke up like this because someone carefully tattooed my face, and now I no longer need makeup!” Voila!

My point is there is always a process behind everything. I’ve heard over the year’s students express, “I just can’t move my arms nicely” or “I’d love sexy legs, but I just don’t have them.” The solution is process, process, and process!

Your slogan should read: (Insert your name here) has ultra-feminine arm styling
Your fine print: (Insert your name here) has spent multiple hours learning the mechanics behind moving her arms, and now has ultra-feminine arm styling.

4) Partner Up:

Now we know we want to look the part, use our keywords, and develop the process, but how do we keep this going once it gets to a performance or competition?
Feeling sexy when we’re by ourselves is one thing but embodying that while playing to a crowd is quite another.

Often people say “I’ll emote once I get to the performance”, and to that I would say, “I can promise you this only works 1 out of 100 times (the odds are not in your favor).

On the day of performance you have adrenaline, stress, and many unknowns, so you want everything that you can practice in, to be practiced in.

If you can partner up and perform in front of a friend it helps alleviate the jitters so by the time you get to that big performance day, it’s doesn’t feel like your first rodeo.

5) Analytics, Be Gone:

A women’s brain is loud. We are the queens of multi-tasking, and it can be so very, very noisy in our heads. (A woman’s brain is also brilliant, but this is not my topic today)

Sometimes we need to shut of the analytics. Tell that friendly voice inside your head that it is “FEELING TIME”

Here’s how you play:

• When you are practicing your hips, pause the technique and really allow yourself to feel your hips moving in rhythm.
• If you have an arm movement that touches your body, turn up the senses by feeling the palm of the hand as it touches the skin.
• Fun food example: When you have your favorite dish, eat it slowly. Turn off your phone, and turn up your sense of smell before you take a bite.

I hope you’ve found some helpful takeaways. Remember to have patience with yourself, focus on one thing at a time, and enjoy the process. As always, I’d love to hear what you’re trying out, and how it’s working for you!

Till next time,

The post You’re Sexy and YOU Know It! appeared first on VS Dance Club.