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Sapphire Ballroom News - September 2020 |
Hey there past, present, and future dancers! I’m sure that you have been watching the COVID numbers, just like us and wondering what the Fall has in store for us. While we are slowly getting used to the new environment in our day-to-day activities, it can still feel pretty strange to partner dance right now. We are doing our best to provide a safe and clean space for you to dance, lots of options for dancing online, and ways to have fun dancing on your own. It’s not perfect, and we definitely miss seeing all you at dance parties and such, but with your help it will get us through to the other side of this crisis, however long it takes.
Here’s a quick summary of what we currently have to offer:
In Person
Private Lessons and Small Group Private Lessons
What’s Next Workshops on Mondays for established dancers
Date Night Dance Classes (beginner friendly)
Line Dance Workshops (beginner friendly)
Online
Friday Beginner Workshops
Custom Group Classes
Everything listed above
We are also planning on hosting Blacksburg Group Classes in October, depending on how things go over the next few weeks. Watch for our October newsletter for more details!
In the meantime, I hope you stay safe, stay happy, and keep dancing in your life, in whatever way works for you.
Why should you, a Swing/Latin/Ballroom dancer, learn line dancing?
New Friday Beginner Workshop format
Line Dance Playlist - Hello Variety
Upcoming Dance Classes, online and in-person
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Why should you, a Swing/Latin/Ballroom dancer, learn line dancing?
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 When I was in high school, I started partner dancing. I was pretty good at it - picked things up quickly, could remember things from one class to the next. Then in college I started line dancing. At one point, I line-danced at various places 5 nights a week, befriended the DJs, knew all the teachers and bartenders by name. At a time when I couldn’t find people to partner dance with me, line dancing filled my dance life. Little did I know what marvelous things it was doing to my dancing skills. But, looking back, it totally makes sense.
Think about the demands that challenging partner dancing puts on you - remember the moves, control your momentum, keep your balance, move your feet, hear (and analyze) the music, stay with the beat, track your position, turn your body… all while communicating with your partner. It’s a lot, whether you are a brand new dancer or have been dancing for years. It requires strength, stamina, balance, agility, brain power, and most of all practice. In fact, practice is the best way to get the strength, stamina, balance, agility, and brain power you need. Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a way to get that practice and have fun at the same time?
If you’re like me, you promise to practice. But then you have to decide what to do, how often, how fast, etc. Ugh. Could someone just make those decisions for me? And maybe you start practicing your travelling turns, or something like that. That’s pretty simple - you just do them in a line, back and forth across a room. But pretty soon, your mind wonders, you slow down, and you suddenly realize you just goofed off for the last ten minutes. It’s just so boring to do the same thing again and again.
Enter the line dance! (Play heroic music here.)
 A line dance is a short piece of repeatable choreography, usually 24, 32, 48 beats long, usually done without a partner. You learn the steps and then repeat them until the end of the song. You might face one wall the entire time (unusual), or change walls everytime you repeat the dance (more popular). You could repeat the same dance 10 times before the song ends. That is practice.
Most line dances combine several dance elements into one piece, letting you practice more than one thing at a time. You might learn a funky rhythm followed by an exciting turn. Or maybe you’re supposed to move your arms and feet at the same time. That’s efficient practice.
Most line dances, especially the ones that get taught over and over again because we love them, have at least one element that makes them unique and interesting - a turn that you don’t see very often, a slide that fits perfectly with the music, a combination of steps that just flows beautifully. That is fun practice.
At Sapphire, we host Line Dance Workshops with Lisa Utz twice a month on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Lisa has travelled all over the country learning at huge conferences and dancing with some pretty awesome choreographers. As well as being a delightful and patient teacher, she has a massive repertoire of dances at her fingertips and loves to share.
Additionally, we frequently teach targeted, dance-specific line dances that really adhere to the moves you would find in a particular dance style. We have line dances for American Tango, Salsa, Waltz, Rumba, West Coast Swing, Cha Cha, Fox Trot, Nightclub 2-Step, East Coast Swing, and more. They are a great way to master challenging figures before trying them with a partner.
Whether you’re doing a dance-specific line dance or any of the thousands of popular, published dances, line dancing will improve all of your dancing. You will learn how to remember the moves, master your momentum, improve your balance, move your feet, understand the music, increase your speed, track your position, and control your turns… all on your own, without the help or hindrance of a partner. And you’ll have fun doing it.
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New Friday Beginner Workshop format
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 After talking to several students, we are shifting our Friday Beginner Workshop format. Starting Sept 11, we will be embracing a feature + teaser structure similar to the format we had before going on-line.
This means every Friday, you will learn a couple of basic steps of a fun, popular dance style - “the feature.” And then you’ll get just a taste of next week’s feature - “the preview.” This format gives you plenty of time to learn a dance style well enough to use it and, at the same time, gives you the chance to get a leg up on the next lesson. How much you learn, both in the main part of the lesson and the teaser, is going to be different for every dance style. Some dances are harder than others and just take more time. But no matter what, you’ll get enough information to start dancing and having fun.
Check out the schedule for September:
Sept 11 - Rumba & Single Time Swing
Sept 18 - Single Time Swing & Salsa
Sept 25 - Salsa & Waltz
Visit our website or facebook event for more details on Friday Workshops: http://www.sapphiredance.com/GroupLessons.php?d=1
https://www.facebook.com/events/341441067239273/
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Line Dance Playlist - Hello Variety
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When I started line dance, it was called country line dance. And, honestly, country line dance is why I learned to like country music. I was not a fan before I started Line Dancing. But even way back then, it wasn’t all country, maybe 80%. Now it has evolved to the point where if you’re going to put an adjective up front, you would have to call it country/pop/classic rock/disco/alternative/funky line dance. Let’s just call it Line Dance.
Below I’ve listed some of the songs we’ve danced to in the line dance workshops we started hosting in January. I’ve also included the line dance we learned to each song (though some of them have several), a URL for that line dance, and what partner dance you might choose to do to that song instead of the line dance.
See all of our YouTube Playlists on our YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/SapphireBallroom/playlists.
What songs do you think should have made this list? What would you like to see in next month’s playlist? Let us know - we’d love to hear from you on Facebook or by email.
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Upcoming Dance Classes: online and in-person
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Events are hosted by Sapphire Ballroom & Dance Center: online, at our studio in Christiansburg, or at the Blacksburg Community Center. Please check locations before traveling!
Taking online classes is affordable and easy, once you try it. You do not need a partner; you do not need a fancy space. You do not have to share your picture or video. Online events require a Zoom link (included below), but not a Zoom account.
In-person classes have maximum enrollments. To prevent being turned away from a full class, please register ahead of time by emailing us at info@SapphireDance.com or contacting the Blacksburg Community Center.
All group events and lessons cost $6-$15/person/hour. Visit our Square Store to pay online for classes and private lessons.
More information available on our webpage or Facebook page.
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When the Rumba Rhythm starts to play...
Rumba and Single Time Swing Friday Beginner Workshop
Friday, September 11, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Rumba is slow, casual, and romantic, making it an awesome choice for a date night or special occasion. Swing is fast, fun, and full of bounce. Yeah - kind of an odd couple, but between the two of them, you'll be able to dance the night away!
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83888968088
Prerequisite: None - this is just for beginners!
Location: Online with Sapphire
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Date Night Dance Class (It's so much better than Netflix!)
Rumba and Swing Workshop
Saturday, September 12, 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Looking for a great way to woo your sweetheart? Want to add a little variety to your next Date Night?
Join Sapphire Ballroom for a special evening of beginner-friendly dancing just for couples; it will make you fall in love with partner dancing!
Absolutely no experience needed - all dances will be taught from the beginning by Maggie and Pierce. Coordinate with friends and make it a double date!
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86129575889
Prerequisite: None! Just come and have fun for an evening with your sweetheart!
Location: Online and at the Sapphire Studio
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Unraveling Travelling Twinkles
Waltz What's Next Workshop
Monday, September 14, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
This classic Waltz move is not easy. But once it's in your repertoire, it will become a long time favorite.
Prerequisite: Participants should be comfortable with Level 1 material in the dance style.
Location: Online and at the Sapphire Studio
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Exercises to Improve Balance
What's Next Workshop
Monday, September 14, 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
So many people asked for Jen to come back and do more... Of course we had to make it happen.
Prerequisite: None!
Location: Online and at the Sapphire Studio
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Line Dancing With Lisa
Line Dance Workshop
Tuesday, September 15, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
With an exciting combination of beginner friendly and more challenging dances, as well as tips on how to jazz up any choreography, this workshop will get your toes tapping in no time.
- Early registration required for in person attendance! (Email us now!)
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87992146924
Prerequisite: None! Beginner and advanced line dancers will find lots to love at this workshop.
Location: Online and at the Sapphire Studio
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Fast, Fun, and Fabulous
Single Time Swing and Salsa Friday Beginner Workshop
Friday, September 18, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Single Time Swing and Salsa - together they will surely get you moving to exciting music.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83888968088
Prerequisite: None - this is just for beginners!
Location: Online with Sapphire
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Scallop Steps and Forward Locks
Cha Cha What's Next Workshop
Monday, September 21, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
We touched on this over the summer, but I promise to up the technique for anyone who was there. For those who are new to Scallop Steps - no worries. This class will teach you at least one excellent way in and out of them.
Prerequisite: Participants should be comfortable with Level 1 material in the dance style.
Location: Online and at the Sapphire Studio
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Scorpion Kicks and Pivots
Tango What's Next Workshop
Monday, September 21, 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The last Tango workshop included Step-Points, Progressive Rocks, and a Promenade Ronde. This one will focus on Scorpion Kicks and Pivots. Don't know what those are? Take the class and we'll show you!
Prerequisite: Participants should be comfortable with Level 1 material in the dance style.
Location: Online and at the Sapphire Studio
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Salsa and a Taste of Waltz
Salsa and Waltz Friday Beginner Workshop
Friday, September 25, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Join us for a great pairing - Salsa and just a bit of Waltz. Like salty and sweet,
both of these dances are excellent on their own, but get even better together. This is an extra prefect workshop if you don't have a lot of dance space.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83888968088
Prerequisite: None - this is just for beginners!
Location: Online with Sapphire
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More Charleston!
Lindy Hop What's Next Workshop
Monday, September 28, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Jen is back to show us more Lindy-style Charleston variations.
Prerequisite: Participants should have seen the Charleston Kick basic before.
Location: Online and at the Sapphire Studio
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Flip Flop and Open Cuban Walks
Rumba What's Next Workshop
Monday, September 28, 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Traditionally a Samba move, we are taking Flip Flops (which do have a fancier name, but oh well) in to the slow grooviness of Rumba. Also talking about how to make your Open Cuban Walks look and feel awesome, with a bit of a tie-in between the two moves.
Prerequisite: Participants should be comfortable with Level 1 material in the dance style.
Location: Online and at the Sapphire Studio
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Classic and Sassy
Waltz and Bachata Friday Beginner Workshop
Friday, October 2, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Dive into the smooth and graceful Waltz. A dance with so much history and elegance might be intimidating but we will make it friendly and comfortable for you. Then turn on the sass with a little Bachata - hey - you can't behave all the time!
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83888968088
Prerequisite: None - this is just for beginners!
Location: Online with Sapphire
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Line Dancing With Lisa
Line Dance Workshop
Tuesday, October 6, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
With an exciting combination of beginner friendly and more challenging dances, as well as tips on how to jazz up any choreography, this workshop will get your toes tapping in no time.
- Early registration required for in person attendance! (Email us now!)
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87992146924
Prerequisite: None! Beginner and advanced line dancers will find lots to love at this workshop.
Location: Online and at the Sapphire Studio
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All of our classes are listed at http://www.sapphiredance.com/GroupLessons.php.
For more information about anything or to register for any of these classes, please email us at info@sapphiredance.com.
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Thanks for reading; we hope you found something you liked.
Until we see you again, happy dancing! |
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