Need a break from carrying watermelons? Tired of being put in the hot, stuffy corner? As the dog days of summer start to settle in over the Low Country, our IBDS dance family is taking a much needed reprieve up to the beautiful mountains of North Carolina and the refreshing waters of Lake Lure with our newest dance adventure.
Now some people may know of this place as a lovely spa and resort with beautiful mountain views…and while all of that is wonderful, we are going for a special reason. This resort was the one of the filming locations for one of the most famous dance movies, DIRTY DANCING! Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina, the Historic 1927 Inn is surrounded by a beautiful mountain landscape right next to the wonderful Lake Lure where Johnny & Baby practiced their iconic lake lift!
A more casual retreat than our Big Band Weekends, we’ll be dancing on the beach lakeside with a bonfire & smores, relaxing on our very own private pontoon charter, movin’ and groovin’ like Swayze and Grey to the sweet tunes of the Radio Sparks Band in our own private ballroom where scenes from “Dirty Dancing” were filmed, and having the time of our life! 🎞
What better way to escape the everyday, and beat the Charleston heat, than with our IBDS dance family on a Summer Dance Retreat!
Welcome to the newest way to stay informed with whats going on in the IBDS dance family! We will be posting about a variety of different things from tales of our students and staff, to some great tips and tricks to better your dance life…Stay tuned!
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.”
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!
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!
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?!?!?
We are excited to welcome Tony Meredith to our studio! In case you don’t know who Tony is…take a look at his credentials!
If you are looking for choreography for a showcase, preparing for a competition, or just looking to improve your fundamentals in your dancing, then talk to your instructor about the benefits of coaching and we can get you scheduled! We have many coaches coming in with world renowned reputations like Tony coming into the studio!
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!
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???
Belly dance is one of the newest classes we offer in the West Ashley location. You might be thinking…how will this help my ballroom dancing? To get the answer to this question, we asked Polly Guffin, our Belly Dance Instructor.
Dancing, in general, as mentioned in both our Benefits to Group Class and our Go Out and DANCE blog, has many physical health benefits. However, it is always good to be cross training in other activities to even FURTHER strengthen and prepare your body. Engaging in belly dancing allows you to target many of the key muscle groups in dancing, one of which is the core! Polly says, “The primary focus of the art of belly dance is to isolate parts of the body. This, when layered skillfully, will result in the sensuous flow of belly dance choreography.” Since the core is such a vital part of dancing, why not train it and utilize it in every way possible?
Another HUGE component that dancers need is balance! “Natural balance is the key to isolating body parts. That skill comes from learning and drilling basic isolation until it becomes muscle memory. Throughout that journey you learn how much farther your muscles can stretch and contract,” Polly explains. In understanding how certain muscle groups work and the ability to control them, you will be able to see and feel the difference in your overall balance. Polly continues, “Much like most forms of dance and sports, practice and muscle memory play a big role in the outcome. Belly dance can help you to recognize which muscles need to be activated to accomplish a specific motion.” ✔
Join Polly every other Tuesday for her amazing belly dance class. To see when the next one is, check out our latest calendar for West Ashley.
