Dancing at the tennis pavilion—outdoors, socially distanced, and with masks.
Diana Wille
Good news! SaddleBrooke Ballroom Dance Club (SBDC) is now offering mini versions of its very popular ballroom dance lessons. Classes are from 3 to 4 p.m. on Friday afternoons in the SaddleBrooke One Tennis Pavilion. Social distancing and masks are required of course. Each Friday will feature a different dance style and focus on a basic and a special move that will help you get up on the dance floor. The classes are free for our members. If you are not a member, you are welcome to come and try one lesson to make sure it’s a fit for you.
Following each lesson from 4 to 5 p.m. at the tennis pavilion is a dance hosted by one of our SBDC DJ’s. They will play a variety of music, so you can dance various styles.
SBDC also has other dances for its members, on Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m. in the SaddleBrooke One Vermilion Room. Registration is required as we are limited to the number of dancers we can have indoors. Register at [email protected].
Interested? These members would encourage you to join up. Dick Dunbar says, “Join! It is great fun and truly serious exercise.” Mary Borkovec said, “I would tell people to take the lessons, practice at the various dance opportunities offered, enjoy all the new wonderful friends that you will make, and have fun dancing.” Deb Adinolfi said, “Come and join us to see what we are all about. Individuals who don’t know any formal dancing may be very intimidated to start dancing. We encourage people and give them praise every time they come.”
Check our website at www.sbballroomdance.com to learn how to join and find registration times and places for lessons and dances. Our dances are not only fun and great exercise, they are a wonderful way to get together. Join friends at SBDC, where the learning continues and the fun never ends.
How Do I Know if I Can Dance?
Diana Wille
Have you ever watched people dance and felt a little intimidated or overwhelmed? Dance can look pretty difficult, and some dances really are complicated. However, at its most basic level, a dance starts with simple movements in time to the music. So, if you have ever tapped your foot or clapped your hands to music that you’ve heard, you are ready to dance!
Dance is basically steps and body movements. Depending on the dance, the movements have different patterns and speeds, but each type of dance has a basic step that you can repeat throughout the dance. We all learn any dance one move at a time. Once the dancer in you is comfortable with the basic step you can learn to go forward, backwards, or to the side, and add turns and other moves. One basic move can occur in many different dances, so if you learn one dance, you probably have the basic pieces of several others. For instance, consider the underarm turn. The leader holds the partner’s right hand in his left and lifts his left arm. The partner goes under his arm and turns around. This move is featured in Waltz, Swing, Cha Cha, Rumba, and many other dances. So, learn it once and you know a move in many styles!
Finding the beat of the music can also seem confusing. Think of the constantly ticking clock. The sound of a TV in the room can distract you from the steady beat of the clock. Finding the beat of music is like that. The lyrics and melody are like the TV in the room. Before you can hear the clock ticking, you have to turn off the TV. Likewise, when you prepare to dance, pay less attention to the lyrics and melody, and find the beat at the base of the song.
SaddleBrooke Ballroom Dance Club (SBDC) is back on the dance floor! We have been enjoying the music, the dancing, and of course the wonderful social time. Certain Wednesdays from 3 to 4 p.m. and 4 to 5 p.m., we dance in the SaddleBrooke One Vermilion Room. (Preregistration, masks, and social distancing are required). Fridays from 3 to 5 p.m. we dance at the SaddleBrooke One Tennis Pavilion, with social distancing and masks. No reservation required. Not a member yet? No problem. You can come and give it a try without membership. Just let Wanda know by contacting the email at [email protected]. SBDC’s classes might be available soon, so stay connected to the website to see when and where! Better yet, become a member and get emailed updates!
Please check our website, www.sbballroomdance.com, to learn how to join SBDC and find registration information, dance times, and places. Our dances are fun, great exercise, and a wonderful way to get together with friends. Social distancing has given us an even greater appreciation of our friends and our time together. Join friends at SaddleBrooke Ballroom Dance Club, where the learning continues, and the fun never ends.