International Ballroom

Autism speaks through DANCE!

April 13th, 2019, we had our annual Red Carpet Extravaganza. However, this one was to be a little different. We had a very special addition to our showcase family…Mr. OJ McNeil!

OJ is a very special student within the IBDS family. He has autism, but that has not stopped him from learning about his love for dance! And with only been dancing for 6 months, the changes we have seen within him are night and day! He started out by just coming to the studio whenever his mom (Dawn) or sister (Alexis) would have a dance lesson. As he got comfortable with certain people, he started talking little by little (mostly about food…) His instructor, Madelaine Kenner, slowly started working with him to gain his trust and finally got him up to dance the rumba at one of the social dance parties…from there, there was no stopping him!

OJ got his first taste of a showcase when he was a background prop handler in our most recent stage performance, “Dream Dance”. Then, we came up with a “bold” plan; what if he did his own showcase? We had no clue what to expect…but this guy was definitely ready for his spotlight debut. As his instructor looked at him to begin, he sat up straight, put on the biggest smile he could, and knocked the routine out of the park! We sat down and talked with Dawn, his mother, to get her perspective on what ballroom dancing has done for him:

How has dancing helped OJ and his autism? “Dancing has helped OJ with his socialization skills. The word “autism” means one’s self. Individuals with this disorder often experience problems with communication with others and prefer to stay to themselves, particularly around a group of people. When OJ first came to the studio he sat in a chair with headphones and did not communicate much with others. Thanks to dancing, he makes eye contact, gives great hugs, and dances his heart out!!!!”
Have you seen change with him outside the ballroom? “Yes, I have. OJ initiates more conversations and he has been using longer sentences to express himself. He makes more eye contact with others and he is overall more engaging. He participated in physical and occupational therapy for years and nothing has helped him develop as much as dancing had in the past 6 months.”
how much does he enjoy dancing? “He LOVES it!!!! He speaks about dancing all the time and he talks about performing in the next Spring Showcase now! None of this would have been possible without the support of the International Ballroom staff, Lacey, and Andrey. Also, the encouragement of fellow dancers has been helpful. It is great to have people in our lives who believe in us despite our challenges. Most importantly, Maddy has displayed undying determination in allowing OJ to become the best person he can be through the art of dance.”

Top 3 benefits to Group Classes

There are so many benefits to dancing! According to Everyday Health, dancing can boost memory, reduce stress and depression, help you lose weight, increase your energy, and gives you a chance to be social and make new friends who share the same passion as you. Whether it be a private lesson, group class, or the social dance parties, dancing weekly can be an excellent way to let go of the daily stresses in a way that is fun and different! Group classes are one of the best ways to dance every week. Here are the top 3 benefits to why you should take group classes.

Great complement to private lessons: In the ballroom dance world, private lessons are key to progressing in your training. You get the one on one instruction and undivided attention from your instructor. So why go to group classes? Think of group classes as an additional tool in your dance tool box; you get to learn new steps (or review your current steps) from a different instructor with a group of people at the same level as you. Also, it can further strengthen your connection and partnership as you will be dancing with different people other than your normal partner. The group class can cover a variety of subjects (arm styling, technique, footwork, etc), and this will allow you to develop questions or ideas of what you want to accomplish in your private lessons as well.
Great social outlet: Why would you NOT want to dance with others who share the same passion as you?! With group classes ranging from 7-10 people in attendance, you are bound to make a few friends. With more people there, it creates a less intimidating environment. Whats better…you are all there for the same reason…to LEARN and (of course) HAVE FUN!
Very Inexpensive: So, you want to learn how to dance but can’t afford private lessons? NO PROBLEM! Group classes are a great and inexpensive way to learn how to dance. Our classes are $12-15 dollars each session and is pay as you go. Group classes are a great alternative to private lessons. Though they may not be as customized as the private lessons, you will still get to learn something new every week, meet new friends, and not break the bank!

So when will you be joining us for a group class? We have group classes all throughout the week! Give us a call or talk with your instructor to find the perfect class for you! Or take a look at our calendar to see what is going on every month!

First Competition? Don’t Sweat it! Here’s what to expect…

So…you started this hobby called ballroom dancing and your teacher says “you should do a competition”…AHHH! The word “competition” is a very tough word to digest..but it’s really not as bad as you think. In the ballroom dance world, dance competitions are a great way to elevate your dancing and propel you to the next level. Here are 5 reasons as to why you should do a ballroom dance competition:

Good challenge and a sense of accomplishment: When you go to a competition, of course you are competing against others within your age group…but that is not what it is all about. At the end of the day, you are competing against yourself. Going out there and dancing your best is ultimately what matters! When it is all said and done, you will have some great constructive criticism to bring back and work on. When you finish your first competition, you will have a great feeling of accomplishment knowing you did your best.
Speeds up your dance progress: Preparing for a competition requires a much more detailed training regimen. Technique, arm styling, timing, connection, partnership, and overall presence will become the forefront of every lesson you take. It’s not just about steps when it comes to competition…its about proper execution. So, in bringing these detail-oriented topics to the top of your list, you will see your dancing improve dramatically in a shorter amount of time.
Benchmark performance to improve on: So after all of the prepping for the competition, you finally get there, finish all of your heats, get your scores, and are heading home…so you did it! You are done now…right??? ABSOLUTELY NOT! This is only the beginning…you now have great critiques from some of the top names in the industry to take back with you to work on. There is no such thing as perfect dancing. So, in doing your first competition, you will find more opportunities to better improve your skills for the next competition!
A truly unique experience: I am sure most people have done some sort of competition in their lives…but nothing quite compares to the experience you get from a ballroom experience. As you walk into the ballroom, you are almost blinded by the beauty and shine of the dresses. The ladies hair and makeup is perfectly made up and the gentlemen are dressed in their competition best and everyone is ready to grace the floor with their presence. And unlike most other competitions, everyone in the ballroom is rooting on everyone. You will hear cheering from all sides as you take the floor with your dance partner and have a smile on your face as you give the judges your very best performance!
It’s just plain FUN!: A ballroom dance competition is definitely a special event. Yes, you are there to make sure you do your best…but that is just a small portion of it. You will get to spend quality time with your studio friends and family. You get a chance to get to know the instructors outside of the ballroom. You get to laugh and joke with all of your teammates as you root on your studio and other studio friends you meet while you are there. Everyone is there for the same purpose…TO DANCE! And what a better way to compete than to actually have fun while doing it!

Competitions are not as scary as one would think. Don’t believe me? Talk to some of the students who have been to a competition and see for yourself!

Get out there and DANCE! Top benefits to go out and dance!

Taking ballroom lessons and not going to a social dance party is similar to getting a driver’s license and not driving. When you first start dancing, sure…the parties can be a little…”intimidating”. But if you never try to get out there and practice, you will never really know what all you have learned. Today, we are going to talk about what to expect when coming to your first social dance as well as some of the many benefits to including social dancing into your weekly routine.

First thing’s first…let’s go over what to expect for your first dance party. There are going to be a lot of people at various levels in their dance training ready to dance the night away! This may be a little intimidating at first…BUT they all started at the same level as you. No one came to judge, everyone just came to dance! With the music blasting and the lights dimmed, you will not only be able to practice what you have been learning in your dance lessons without the pressure of your teacher critiquing you. You will get to observe and participate in dancing other dances that you may not be working on with your instructor as the DJ mixes a variety of music into a night of fun times with good friends!

As mentioned in our Top 3 Benefits to Group Classes post, dancing is a great social outlet for many. Social dance parties epitomize the social benefits of dancing. Scientists have proven that socialization in general boosts feelings of well-being while decreasing depressive feelings. People who are social tend to perform better on memory and cognitive tasks than those who are socially isolated. It has also shown to be a HUGE help in the prevention of dementia. According to an article in The Alzheimer’s Project journal, dancing frequently can reduce the risk of dementia by up to 76%! That is more than any other physical or mental activity.

So, with all of these benefits of why social dancing is so good for you…why not just get out there and DANCE?!?!?

It’s wedding season…do you have your first dance ready?

Your wedding date is arriving soon. You have the flowers arranged, perfect table assignments, perfect dinner, perfect DJ/band, the perfect cake…then it hits you…WHAT ABOUT THE FIRST DANCE?!?!?!?! This is normally the last thing every bride and groom thinks of yet can be one of the most memorable moments of the ENTIRE day! We want to help make sure it is not the last minute stress on your special day. Our wedding consultation is super easy and will help make your day even more special. Here is what to expect when you walk in:

First thing when you walk in you will be asked to fill out a basic information form and be introduced to one of our fabulous IBDS dance instructors. This basic form will help your instructor come up with THE PERFECT plan for your first dance. We go over details such as wedding date, song choice, band or DJ, wedding venue and floor size, etc…we even shoo the groom away so we can make sure we know what type of dress we will be working with for range of motion and movement. Now…here comes the fun part…

Once we walk through the details of the wedding, we will get on the dance floor and figure out the perfect style of dance for your song. At the end of the day, this is YOUR song and YOUR dance so we want to make sure it is absolutely perfect and EXACTLY what you envision. Do you picture a choreographed dance that will go viral? Do you just want some basic lead and follow moves? Are you just looking for something different from the usual “hug and sway”? We will make sure to pick out the perfect dance and even get a step or two introduced to you. From there, you and your instructor will be able to come up with the best plan to get you ready for your big day…and to give everyone sharing that special moment with you a dance to remember!

Don’t let the first dance be a stress in your wedding planning…let our IBDS team help you turn it into a beautiful memory for you and your significant other!

BRING YOUR FRIENDS! Top benefits to the guest program

Ballroom dancing is such a great social activity. You get to meet a bunch of new people who are all here for the same purpose…to DANCE! Everyone knows you have your dance friends and your non-dance friends…but wouldn’t it be nice if you could have ALL of your friends under one roof? What if I were to tell you there is a way you can introduce your two circles that can earn you free lessons? WHAT?!?!? We have an awesome Guest program That not only allows your friends to be introduced to the ballroom world for a great deal…but it also works out to where you can score some free dance lessons! Here are the benefits to the guest program for both the guest and the student:

“Why should my friends come?”

They get to do the group class and dance social for FREE!
They get the whole intro package (2, 25 minute lessons, 1 group class, 1 social dance party) for a fraction of the price.
If you are having fun…why not share it with your friends? Let them get to experience your newest hobby!

“What’s in it for me?”

You get to show off to your friends what you have been doing every week
You are sharing the joys of dancing with your friends!
You get free lessons!

“When can they come in?”

They can join us any week for our newcomer classes and social dances
They can stop in and watch one of your lessons
They can even just call and let us know they are your friend so it can count toward you getting bonus lessons

Every one can dance…and everyone has a different reason for starting…so why not have you be the reason for getting your friends dancing???

Dance Travels: What to expect on our “Fun Trips”

Going on a trip can create a lot of stress when it comes to packing; what type of clothes do i need? Did i pack all of my toiletries? HOW MANY PAIRS OF UNDERWEAR AM I GOING TO NEED?! One thing that you never have to worry about packing is your dancing. That can be taken with you everywhere you go! The big question is…where all can you go to dance? We at International Ballroom love to travel…ESPECIALLY to places where we can dance as well. Take a look at what all we really do on our “Fun Trips”

First of all, what is a fun trip? A fun trip usually consists of a weekend out of town fully loaded with tons of dancing packed in. From New York, Chicago, and New Orleans, to as far as Buenos Aires and Europe, we have found dancing fun all around the world for our dance family to participate in!

So now that you know what a fun trip is all about…lets talk about what to expect when you join the International Ballroom dance family on one of their experiences. No matter where you are going or what you are doing on one of these trips, your instructor is going to make you feel like true royalty. You will be catered to 100% of the time. You will also be dancing…A LOT! All of our trips include dancing every day. We will be your personal tour guide in every location and show you various places to dance that you may have never thought would be prime dance spots. Going around town with all of your dance friends “cuttin’ a rug” everywhere you go…what could be more fun?!

So now you are ready to be treated like the king or queen that you truly are…the next question is…where do you want to go? We have a bunch of really fun staple locations that we attend every year. However, we also love planning new fun trips for people to go on. Do you have a certain place that is on your bucket list? We can turn it into a trip of a lifetime filled with your favorite people and dancing! Take a look at all of our fun filled dance adventures we have planned throughout the year on the Dance Travels page. For more details about the various places we go or if you want to plan a fun trip of your own…talk to Lacey and she will be able to answer any question you may have! NOW…pack your bags and let’s go have some FUN!

Trophy Ball? What’s that? Top 6 FAQs answered

Picture this…you have been dancing for about 6 months and are really starting to get the hang of the dances and feel like you are actually DANCING! THEN…your instructor comes up and says to you…”mark your calendar for our Trophy Ball coming up…” and starts talking “gibberish” about this event; buddy teacher? dance entries? JUDGES? First of all…DON’T FREAK OUT! Your teacher isn’t trying to pull a fast one on you and secretly sign you up for a competition or anything. Trophy ball is a Semi-Annual event for our students to show off everything they have been working on for the past 6 months. It is also a GREAT way to benchmark your progress in continuing to build your dances. Here are some of the frequently asked questions so you know what to expect from this event:

Where is this event going to be? We host Trophy Ball at our West Ashley location. This way, we can have both studios in one location for this fun event!
Who all typically attends this event? This event is open to ALL DANCERS in the IBDS family! Whether you are just starting out and wanting to get a base line on your progress, or you have been dancing for years and wanting to keep up with your personal dance goals, we are ready to see you at your best!
How long does it usually take? Typically, our Trophy Ball starts at 3pm on a Saturday. Depending on how many students are dancing, the event usually lasts a few hours. So it is best to eat a big lunch and/or bring something to snack on so you will be full of energy and ready to strut your stuff on the dance floor!
What should I wear? This is your time to make your self known in front of the judge and your peers…so you definitely want to show it with your attire. For beginners and intermediate level students, ladies can wear a cocktail dress or something that isn’t constricting but still looks polished and the men can wear just a simple collared shirt and tie. Typically, our Bronze and above level ladies tend to wear ballroom practice wear (Dance America, Light in the Box, etc) with the appropriate skirt for both rhythm and smooth. And OF COURSE…LADIES SHOULD REMEMBER TO WEAR DANCE PANTS! Advanced gentlemen should invest in some black dance pants like the pros wear, a black dance vest, and a matching shirt & tie (or bow tie if you’re feeling snazzy)!
What else do I need to bring? OBVIOUSLY, you need to have your dance shoes (unless you don’t have any yet of course). Also make sure you are prepared for a cold ballroom! We turn the AC low so that everyone who is dancing a lot of numbers won’t be burning up. Therefore, if you know you will probably be having long periods of sitting down, you will want to bring a jacket, blanket, etc. to keep you warmed up and ready to dance! Also be sure to bring anything extra your instructor may request (skirts, tights, DANCE PANTS, etc).

REMEMBER…no one is there to judge you harshly! This event is designed to get constructive criticism from a different set of eyes with all of your IBDS dance family! This is a chance for you to accomplish your dance goals in a comfortable environment. However, if you have any additional questions that arise, please talk to your instructor or drop a comment below!

What is a F.R.A.M.E?

Frame. One of the most essential tools for a ballroom dancer…and probably one of those things you hear about in EVERY lesson you are in! But what exactly goes into building a good dance frame? One of our students created a great acronym for you to use as a mental checklist when practicing all of your dances with your partner.

F: Focus on communicating with your partner—When dancing with another person, frame is the ultimate communication tool we have. It’s how the leader tells their partner exactly where they need to go. Yet, for most, it is the one factor that tends to fall the most. We think of the footwork, the timing, the posture, the head position, etc…but without the frame, we lose our partner in the mix of it all. Whether you are the leader or a follower, your frame is the open line of communication that should never break. The man is the sturdy frame that holds the beautiful picturesque woman.

R: Radius of frame should remain big to facilitate communication—Whether dancing smooth or rhythm, your frame needs to stay big and stretched the entire time. One of the first things that tend to drop while moving are the ELBOWS! The elbows drop to the side and moving around becomes more of a chore than effortless. When you stretch your arms out from your sides and keep them up as parallel to floor as possible. BUT the key is to also not stretch them to where your elbows are behind you…that can pull the lady off of her balance. You want to extend out and toward your partner to create a radius that is balanced between both you and your partner so both of you are in balance.

A: Attach and establish firm connection to your partner—Since the frame is THE MOST IMPORTANT tool when it comes to dancing with a partner, it makes sense that connecting to your partner is absolutely necessary to communicate with your partner. For the ladies, making sure to have their left hand on the man’s shoulder and maintaining as much arm connection as possible will strengthen the line of communication. For men, making sure to attach to the ladies shoulder blade with the right hand and keeping the left hand at the ladies eye level will keep the lady more in tune to what you want her to do.

M: Maintain strong frame throughout your dances—As we know, we all start out with everything in place and “perfect”…then we start moving. All of a sudden, the frame drops, the eyes go down, the posture weakens, and it’s tough to bring it back up…which makes sense considering EVERYTHING ELSE you are thinking about. But remember, the frame is ESSENTIAL in communicating through dance. The more you practice maintaining frame, the better communication you will have with your partner!

E: Engage posture, sternum up, head high and belly tight!—This is ultimately the best thing to think before you walk into a lesson, perform your showcase, or walk out onto the competition floor! As mentioned in the other letters for F.R.A.M.E, standing tall and erect are essential…and keeping your core engaged (belly tight) is a big part in maintaining good frame and posture.

Who is Ready for a SHOW?! What to expect from our Showcases

When it comes to events, International Ballroom Dance Studios REALLY knows how to do it up! When you come to a showcase in our studio, there is no doubt in mind that you will be anything less than impressed and have a truly unforgettable evening. We host 4 showcases throughout the year, each with different and exciting perks. Let’s take a look at the various types of showcase events we have so you know what to expect.

Showcase Spectacular (mid March): kicking off our showcase season, this low-key cocktail party will definitely make for a very fun and unique date night! With your entry, you get to see a phenomenal 1 Act show full of both student and professional numbers, followed by an hour and a half dance party with all of the cast who performed as well as your favorite instructors. With it being a more intimate setting, this allows the performers and spectators more opportunities to dance with everyone! Enjoy a cocktail with your IBDS comrades and get the chance to dance dance dance!

Red Carpet Extravaganza (mid April): This event invokes everything that is in the name! This event starts in the early evening and will be one very special night for all! Take a walk down our red carpet and get your photo taken by our professional photographer. As you walk into the beautifully decorated tent, you will be able eat, drink, and socialize with your entire dance family. Walk inside, and you will be able to enjoy general dancing until the show! Then…its SHOWTIME! You will get to enjoy a full blown 2 Act show with both student and professional numbers with an intermission to replenish your beverages, eat some more delicious food, etc. This showcase is great for ANYONE who wants to both participate or spectate as it is truly and EXTRAVAGANZA!

Fall Dance Fair(NEW!!! October): This Fall Carnival style event is our newest addition to our showcase season! Similar to the red carpet set up, you will “fall” in love with this casual yet fun setting. Imagine walking up to the studio and catch the smell of fresh kettle corn popping and delicious barbecue. With fun and festive fall-inspired decor, you will feel like you walked right into the county fair. And, given that Halloween is right around the corner, you will have a full blown 2 Act show filled with some ghoulish showcases as well as many other exciting routines, INCLUDING our always popular Ladies formation! So dust off your cowboy (or cowgirl) boots and get your best flannel ready for this inaugural event!

Holiday Ball (November): As we enter the Holidays, we want to kick off the season of giving with a special gift of our own. Our Holiday Ball is truly a magical night. This exclusive night includes a fully catered dinner, a fun and festive showcase, as well as 2 hours of general dancing with ALL of the dance family! Could it get any better? OF COURSE! On top of the amazing and memorable night, all of the proceeds we raise go directly to the Jenkins Institute for Children. By the end of the night, your heart will be full of happiness and cheer knowing you not only had blast, but that you also are supporting such a great cause!