NEW OAKLAND CLASSES!

We're starting classes in Oakland this Friday everybody!  Yeah!!  Here's the info:

OAKLAND NEAR CLERMONT at Center for Dance and Performing Arts

Starting Friday 7/29/2011

7:00 INTRODUCTION TO BALLROOM DANCE

8:00 BEGINNERS SWING

Classes are on Fridays.

Center for Dance and Performing Arts

301 South Tubbs St

.

Oakland, FL   34760 

Tell all your friends!

I missed the dance!!!

Hey,
Scott here...
I missed the Crystal Ball last night... How was it???

A note from a fellow student...........

About six months ago one of my long time, and of course wonderful, students sent me an email about repeating classes.  I asked him to do this because it always sounds better coming from a fellow student.  Here is what he sent me:

Repeat Classes! Why???

Hi, my name is Don, and a student of Nannette’s since 2005. I have taken Waltz, Foxtrot, Rumba, East & West Coast Swing, Tango, Samba, Salsa, Cha-Cha, Merengue, Hustle.  I have taken beginning, intermediate, and advanced lessons in most of these dances.  Most of these dances I have repeated multiple times.  I still remember taking Ballroom I, and Nannette stated that students should repeat classes.  I’m thinking, “Why would I do that, when I’ve already had the class and know the dance?”  Why would I or anyone do that?  Many classes later, I can only tell you why I repeat classes.

First, I really enjoy learning to dance.  I am having so much fun.  It is something that I always wanted to do.  When I was younger I wouldn’t dance because I didn’t know how.  It is so cool now going to weddings, parties, etc. and being able to do a few moves on the dance floor, instead of sitting on the side watching other people have fun. 

Second, it is good exercise and I don’t mind doing it.  I have a gym membership that I have to force myself to use.  I can come up with many excuses not to go to the gym.  I need to work late, the house needs cleaning, I’m too tired, etc.  The nights that I am scheduled to take dance lessons, work can wait, house cleaning can wait, and even if I am tired I go.  I always feel better afterwards.

Third, I enjoy the social side of dancing, the people that I have met.  I have met so many fantastic people over the years.  These are people that I never would have met, with many different professions and careers.  The common denominator is learning to dance and enjoying it.  Many times in the past, before attending Nannette’s Practice Parties, a group of us from class would get together for dinner beforehand.   I have really enjoyed getting to know my fellow classmates.  Hey, I even found someone to play golf with, something else that I like to do.

The last reason I repeat a class is because I want to get better.  When repeating a class, I never fail to learn an additional pointer that I didn’t pick up or remember from the 1^st time that I took the class.  I found out that it is impossible to know a dance in 8 weeks.  Classes are 8 weeks at a time, and by the end of the 8^th week, I feel I’m getting better.  Then I start taking the next class. Two weeks later, I’m having a hard time remembering the steps of the dance from the 1^st 8 weeks.  I don’t feel so bad about this, because I have talked to fellow class repeaters, and they have the same problem.  It’s not just me!

Usually, when I take a new dance, the 1^st time through, I concentrate and learn the footwork, where your feet should be for each step.  The 2^nd time through, the footwork comes a little easier and more automatic, and I can focus on my frame (upper body & connection to partner), and proper signals to lead the next step.  The 3^rd time through, the footwork comes naturally, frame is better, and I focus on styling to make it look better, such as rise and fall in waltz. 

The waltz is a good example of a dance that I took many times.  I repeated this class 4 times before I would attempt to get on the dance floor with a live person.  I was worried about injuring them by stepping on their feet.  For some reason, when trying to incorporate everything that I learned in this dance took a lot of practice and a while to sink in.  If I focused on my footwork, then I would drop frame.  If I focused on holding proper frame, I would forget my footwork.  When I tried to adding styling, rise and fall, up-down-down, up-down-down, all bets were off for footwork and proper frame.  Finally, the 4^th time of taking this class everything started to click. 

Again, taking classes for 8 weeks doesn’t make you know the dance.  Dancing is like golf or any other sport, hobby, or activity that you take up.  Practice makes perfect.  The more you do it, the better you get.  I mention golf because I thought golf was easy.  The ball is not even moving.  There should be nothing to hitting a little round, white ball, but I found out it is not that easy.  There are a lot of things that have to come together to make that stupid ball go straight when you hit it.  Dancing is the same way.  There are a lot of things that need to happen and come together so that your fans will vote for you when you appear on Dancing with the Stars. 

In summary, the reasons I repeat classes: I really enjoy dancing, the exercise, meeting and getting to know wonderful people, and the desire to dance better.  Whether you repeat classes for these reasons or have your own, be sure to “dance like no one is watching” and enjoy life.  See you in class.

Don Miles

Social Dance Club

Hey Everybody!

We now have a social dance club!  You can join by going to this link on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Nannettes-Social-Dancing/195330363847526

We provide the Crystal Ball monthly dance so you can come and practice your dancing in a semi-controlled atmosphere.  But it's also fun to go out in the real world once in a while and strut your stuff.  Just remember to take Nannette's Inc. business cards to hand people when they ooh and ahh over your dancing. :)   What better way to go out and have fun than with a group of your dance class friends!

The group has met twice now and has had a wonderful time.  I hope you join Nannette's Social Dancing today!

Nannette

Crystal Ball Public Dance...

Each month Nannette's Inc. puts on a public dance so that our social dance community has a good place to go and have fun.

Come on out and enjoy our Public Dance and mix with all of your classmates and fellow dancers from throughout Central Florida.

Nannette's Crystal Ball is held at the First Christian Church, 2565 East Kaley Ave., Orlando, FL from 8 to 11pm. Go to Nannettesballroomdance.com and Click on our Events link on the Main Menu to see the schedule. Our monthly dance is open to the public, so please...spread the word and come to have fun and to get out on the dance floor!

Welcome to Nannette's

Hi all, Nannette here...
I wanted to create a place where I can post some of my thoughts, and the thoughts of others in our community, on Central Florida's Dance community and where we can go to dance and enjoy our time on the floor.

I am hosting my blog both as an independent blog on Bloger.com and on our website at http://nannettesballroomdance.com so you will be able to drop in and add your comments...and for some of you, there will be access for you to place your own posts...so let me know if you would like to contribute.

More later...
Nannette