RungoDance: Dance to the Beat

RungoDance: Dance to the Beat: Dance to the Beat of the Rhythm Dance on ONE, dance on TWO,  dance wherever YOU want to but for crying out loud, if you are leading,  MAKE...

Dance to the Beat

Dance to the Beat of the Rhythm

Dance on ONE, dance on TWO,  dance wherever YOU want to but for crying out loud, if you are leading,  MAKE IT CLEAR.  Many times I have danced with a partner and it is very obvious that they truly have NO idea where 'their' beat of choice is.  How can we follow a moving target? And it's OK not to know.  It is hard, tedious and can sometimes be boring and repetitive, but YOU want to lead so LEAD.

The RUNGO Rhythm Beat Box is a simple exercise that ANYONE can do. Upon it's perfection we can START to help you to understand the true difference between ONE and TWO, THREE and FOUR and more......Dance to the beat of the rhythm!!!

Our next Music Workshop is October the 15th, 2 PM Long Center in Clearwater. Bring your EARS!!

Dancing is as easy as Counting 1-2-3..........4!

"Hey, do you dance Salsa on the 2?  Who me, uh, uh.....yeah that's what I do,  dance on 2.  How about you?  Oh me, yeah, yeah I dance on 2, of course why wouldn't I, that is the place to be? "

Well if it is the place to be, wouldn't you want certainty as to how to get there, stay there and purposely leave and come back there, with confidence?

I have always been exposed to music, my dad was a musician and it was a daily part of our lives.  I took piano lessons as a child, was in the choir at school and always danced at home assuming everybody did such an activity. My brother had a band as early as I can remember and setting up equipment, practicing in the garage and lots of writing song lyrics was a common occurrence in my environment. Music fed my soul then and now I know it does.......

When I started taking drum lessons is when the flood lights came on.....wow, what a world.  I thought I knew a lot about music and when I realized what I did know, it was made aware to me that my knowledge was mostly intuitive.  It wasn't until I literally got into the music and assessed the rhythm that I gained great confidence in my dancing, meaning I began to count and put emphasis on the accuracy.  Counting is the ONLY way to gain control of the music and rhythm and THEN use the  body to express the part of the song that you intuitively hear and BAM nail that son of a biscuit eater, so you can GET DOWN!

Dancing Makes You Smile!

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A smile is like a magnet that stirs up feelings of joy. Whenever I see a little kid or a baby that smiles at me it just melts my heart. I don't have babies but I have parents and when they smile at me it is with the same intensity of that of a child and it sends joy throughout my being.

Many times my students do something cute or endearing and during class I smile...... I always wonder if they know it's cause of them. So thank you to those who make me smile, smiling is infectious. Dancing makes you smile. 

The dance floor is a palace for a smile.  It is very rewarding to get to the point where one can smile and dance.  It is a really good test; 'is he/she smiling'?  If the answer 'NO' then they are probably dancing beyond their comfort level, which can be great for learning.  Part of the 'dance intrigue' is going out, getting dressed up and having a great time allowing the music to fill your heart.  If the brain is working too hard it will interrupt that process.  Rungo Dance social dance and Rungo Dance Fit dance fitness are designed to break the chains that the brain imposes on us and allow the body and heart to work together.  It is a BZMIS....body zaps mind into submission...... and it happens all the time!

Give it a try! Dance for fun and dance for fitness, and DANCE!

RungoDance: Strong Man; Good Girl!!

RungoDance: Strong Man; Good Girl!!: The roles on the dance floor are clearly defined!  Girls must be 'good' and guys must be 'strong.' A man is the leader; he i...

Strong Man; Good Girl!!

The roles on the dance floor are clearly defined!  Girls must be 'good' and guys must be 'strong.' A man is the leader; he is strong, confident and committed to making the ladies experience enjoyable, memorable and enlightening.  A lady's position it to follow; no matter what.  She is to be respectful, patient and allow the man to deliver his plan with ease and deliberation.  If you both dedicate yourselves to fulfilling these roles: MAGIC!!

A Ballroom Dance Fitness Class

So what exactly do we get from this class......formerly known as rungodance, soon to be 'something' else.  Who cares really,  what it's called?  What the heck is it good for?  Well frankly I have amazed myself as how nicely my students have progressed.  I have taken non-dancing people and created a sense of coordination and fluidity, I tell ya, I have been amazed.

It's easy to learn the ballroom dances in this format; all of them. I use all the rhythms in my class from Foxtrot to Salsa and Bolero to Zydeco and anything else you can think of! It's a must experience kind of thing! The class imposes such movement and demand that the participant disengages the mind and the thinker (always the culprit ) and gives the body a chance to move and grove to the beat and rhythm.  Ladies follow and learn to WAIT for the cue before they move and men do the same as for the key to any good leader is to be a great FOLLOWER (one secret out!).

Calories burned equal any where from 300 to 600,  depending on the energy out put.  Sweat, yes you will sweat and use every muscle in the body. Stretch, yes you will stretch and gain flexibility if not on purpose, by accident.

Your relationship with music will be enhanced NO MATTER WHAT.  Your understanding and predictability of music will get better and better.  I have seen NON music people actually develop a sensitivity and awareness to the music.  It's really all about the music.

Whether you feel like learning to dance, developing your lead or follow, feeling  the music, building your confidence, losing some fat or burning some calories or just feel like being expressive and having a good time,  this class is for you.

Fat Burning Machine Post Cruise Update

June 2nd was the first leg of our Fat Loss Seminar and on June 7th I went on a cruise; 4 days of food, drink, desserts, boose and many decadent choices of items to intake. This is the third cruise I've been on since I has 'changed my eating habits' and I must say this is the third cruise that I have not stressed over 'what am I going to eat today' scenario. I have been a bonified binger/purger and I am so happy to declare that the urge to do either didn't even enter my mind this trip, nor the previous two cruises. It's been about 2 years now since I would say my bullimia is under control. Hallilejiah! It has not been easy, living with food addiction is quite challenging. (Another time to elaborate on that topic)
The point of my story is that can go on a cruise and make good choices AND enjoy yourself. I had decided that I would not stop working out on the trip and also that I would not skip meals. (Remember that this system of fat optimization considers 'skipping meals' cheating) . I ate 4 to 6 meals each day. I drank alcohol and sugar drinks moderatley and I maintained my normal work out schedule. (Most hotels and cruise ships have gyms as to accommodate the guests). And of course each evening hit the nite club and danced the night away. Once your body is on the other side of being a fat storage incubator you can deviate and enjoy life and it's decadence.
I am here to tell you that it CAN be done. You can do it. You can turn your body into a fat burning machine!

Dance Progress in a Year!

Cyndi takes 2 to 3 Rungo Dance classes per week and rehearses with The Rungo Stars Team weekly. She has never had any official 'ballroom' dance lessons but was exposed to jazz and modern in her youth. She is very athletic and retains a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Her Latin blood has always availed her the opportunity to get along well rhythmically no matter what the music that is playing or the dance that is expected. She is no stranger to the dance floor!
About a year ago she accomanied a current student to one of my Rungo Dance Classes; she has been comong ever since. The point of the story is PROGRESS. We chatted last night, as we often do after class, and she said 'come on, be critical with me and tell me how I can improve.' I did, we reviewed her specific issues but more importantly I also was able to praise her for her wonderful achievements and progress. She is dancing as if she has been taking many private lessons.
Cyndi is a married, busy professional, she has three beautiful children and has dedicated herself to maintaining her classes for an entire year. When you see her dance it is breathtaking, I am amazed and taken back. I am so pleased and proud of her and my system because together they have really deveoped a force of synergy! Now, how do we get her husband to dance?

Fat Loss Free Seminar

One of the greatest topics that run through many peoples' minds is.......weight loss, or should it be fat loss.  Come and find out the myths of weight loss, June 2nd at 2 pm.  Joe Bonanno and Corinne Rungo will share their information with you. 

Learn about food, exercise, weight training and more.  It's a must see and it's free. Saturday June 2nd at 2 pm located at The Time Plaza in Clearwater, 1969 Sunset Point Road #13  727-445-9755.

Why Dance?

Shall I list some of the reasons in alphabetical order? Hey, that's an idea! Some ABC's of dancing.
A. Accept the fact that you may need to learn.
B. Be Brave.
C. Count on your confidence escalating!
D. Dare to step out of the box.
E. Express yourself.
F. Feel and Follow
G. Give
H. Help another learn
I. Initiate Interaction
J. Join a group.
K. Keep improving
L. Lead and Listen
M. Motivate and Mediate
N. Nicely question others
O. Open new doors.
P. Pracitce being Positive and Patient
Q. Question your attitiude
R. Reassure
S. Smile
T. Time it just right
U. Understand
V. Visualize the Outcome
W. Wait and watch her Smile
X. X-Ray Sensitivity
Y. Your Very Best
Z. Zealous and Spirited

....and that is the icing on the cake. When you've done this as long as I have you truly believe that EVERYONE should dance. It has so many wonderful benefits. The quesiton is; how do we get this accomplished? Let's start by turning the music on, shall we?

Let's Give Them Something to Talk About!

I must say that all my hard effort and work has paid off. I have been doing this for 22 years and never have I felt so rewarded as I did Saturday night. All my students performed quite well; they surpassed any expectation and provided great entertainment. Most importantly they reached heights that they hadn't reached prior. All the dancers broke through limitations and intimidations. I love teaching dance and my job is so fulfilling.
It's about being the best you can be and not worrying about ANYTHING else. We need to shed the ego and allow ourselves to nurture that place in us that is for our well being and mental and physical prosperity. Possibly doing things for others is getting in the way of our advancement. It's never too late. It you feel like singing; SING! If you feel like dancing; DANCE! If you feel like acting; ACT! If you feel like playing an instrument; PLAY! It's never too late to do the things that nourish our souls. Unleash the perfomer in you; it is very liberating. Who cares what they think??!!!!!Let's give them something to talk about!

The Stars Come Out This Saturday

Lights, camera, action....it's SHOWTIME. Join us for our 12 Years in Business Anniversary Gala where The Rungo Stars will shine! This Saturday at 7 pm at the Rungo Dance and Fitness Center; a school for ballroom dancing. The ladies have been diligently taking their dance lessons and rehearsing for several months to bring forth a Samba/Cha Cha medley that is a SHOW STOPPER!


Make your reservation now for Saturday at the Rungo Dance and Fitness Academy located at the Time Plaza in Clearwater; 1969 Sunset Point Road Suite 13, 727-445-9755.


Every good show needs a great audience so please come and support our exquisite amateur Rungo Stars Dance Team making their debut. We will serve refreshments and goodies at this Dance Party designed especially for newcomer or advanced dancer. Enjoy other dance demos and learn how to RUNGO DANCE; Burn While you Learn! This Saturday at 7 pm 727-445-9755. The stars will brightly shine!

Performance Nourishes the Soul! Rungo Stars Come Out Saturday!

'Click, click, click, click' sounded the sticks as we marched through the players entrance leading to the grassy patched field of the old Tampa Stadium. In our line we stood, awaiting our cue to traverse across the field to our designated spots. We could hear the whisking sounds of our capes as we snapped into our turns like a squad of well trained soldiers. We took our places, the horns belted out their introduction and blinded by the lights, off came the capes and the dance was on! I will never forget the feeling that I had nor the size of my goose bumbs.

This Saturday my group of girls, the Rungo Stars Dance Team, is making their debut. I can't wait for them to collectively experience what I experienced in high school 30 years ago.

It doesn't matter how old you are; performing nourishes your soul. There is something about the absolute charge that overcomes someone when they perform. It is such an uplifting yet nerve wracking proposition. The confidence goes through the roof and the exhilaration lasts a long time like a battery charge. Try it, you may love it!

Brides Your First Dance Can Be Magical!

There's nothing like the first dance as Bride and Groom to bring the entire entourage to tears; the parents, the grand parents, good friends and family, and the wedding party. Of course, my personal favorite is the "Father' of the bride who invariably thinks he's going to hold it together. What a warm and tender experience that I am honored in which to take part. I must say, the wedding dances are by far the most rewarding of my career.

It's a very easy process. I ask a few questions like; where did you meet? How did he propose? What is most important about your dance? Do you have a song? And usually that's enough for me to start my journey of choreography that will tell a story and lead the new couple into a new life of love and happiness. Sometimes we get very fancy and other times we keep it basic; but we ALWAYS send the right message!

It's not a long dance and it doesn't have to be expensive, we can work around that. What is most important is that a lasting memory is created and that it will never be forgotten! In fact I am putting together a Wedding Couple Alumni where we can keep the love alive (and perform our dance AGAIN!) Stay posted!

How Can You Turn your Body Into a Fat Burning Machine?

Well, can you?  yes you can teach your body to burn fat instead of storing it. I didn't think it possible given with my relationship with food that one day I would actually be in control of my intake and optimize my work outs. It has happened, though not as timely as I had wished. It is certainly a work in progress!

Firstly, develop a sense that the body and mind need to be fed for good function.   In a wood burning stove as soon as the fire is ignited to keep the oven burning consistently logs of wood must be administered efficiently and in a timely manor.  My friend, Joe, the Firehouse Chef and Nutritionist says ' Clock , Calorie and Content ' the three C's that got me from fat storing to fat burning (along with a heavy and hard work out routine discussed later).

In other words and secondly,  EAT BREAKFAST  and make it the biggest meal/calorie intake of the day or a very close second. A real easy choice is a banana, oatmeal and 4 to 6 egg whites.  If you can't stomach that, e mail me and we can discuss other options.

Thirdly, eat every 3 to 4 hours and DON'T SKIP a meal. This will be difficult but extremely effective AND mostly will rid you of your carb cravings that sneak in when we starve ourselves and then compensate like a ravenous Gorilla!

Water;  drink it!  How much, well more than you are drinking now most likely. It's very important to flush your body and drink water.

And lastly for today; move, dance, walk, park far away, skip, move, move and move!

So a start to flipping your body to fat optimization as opposed to fat incubation.

rungodancetips@gmail.com

Thank you Students!

Well it's finally hit; the IDHARJ club and association.  I am the President and I am here to report that we dance professionals DO have a real job.  It is what we do, what we love and what we share.  Please don't take that away from us.  Yes we dedicate our lives to helping others build balance and control, gaining grace and poise, overcoming shyness, developing their sense of agility and instilling confidence.  How could anyone do so many things in an eight hour 'work' day?  This dedication takes deep thought, grand visions, masterful skill and colorful imagination. This profession is so rewarding and empowering.  It's me, my music, my ideas and a wise individual who has given me the reigns to change their life through dance.  Wow!  What a charge! 

Thank  you students who take lessons; we love you and appreciate you very much! You make every minute of our devotion worth so much more! 

Dance On!

A Smile Goes A Long Way!

I am a dance professional of 20 years.  I walked into  work this morning and thought 'wow, how lucky I am that I get to go to work everday and do something that I love to do.'  How many can say that? I love to teach people how to dance and achieve their goals!  I may not drive a new car, or have fancy clothes or even be rich in  material things but I am rich in my smile.  I think of the many ways I have touched peoples' lives and the many ways that they  have touched mine and I smile.

I was teaching a Father of the Bride last night and his wife was standing in for the Bride. The one thing  he did most of the lesson,  wasn't get the steps but  it was make a smile.  Though the steps were awkward and foreign he wore a smile on his face and it went such a long way.  Attitude is everything. I  told him the guests at the wedding will be mesmorized by his smile first, dancing second.

My dad's big on smiling.  He always lights up a room when he walks in with his ear to ear.  He's like a Christmas tree. I will always remember him smiling at me as a child when he would zip up the driveway on his way home from work; ah the great memories of the world!

So for those of you who don't smile or underestimate a smile I urge you to take the smile plunge.  Smile and see what happens.  It's impossible to frown when you are smiling. Do a dance, share a smile and have a laugh! Oh, go ahead and do it!

Brides, Your First Dance Can Be Magical!

There's nothing like the first dance as Bride and Groom to bring the entire entourage to tears; the parents, the grand parents, good friends and family,  and the wedding party. Of course,  my personal favorite is the "Father' of the bride who invariably thinks he's going to hold it together.  What a warm and tender experience that I am honored  in which to take part. I must say, the wedding dances are by far the most rewarding of my career.  

It's a very easy process.  I ask a few questions like; where did you meet?  How did he propose?  What is most important about your dance?  Do you have a song? And usually that's enough for me to start my journey of choreography that will tell a story and lead the new couple into a new life of love and happiness. Sometimes we get very fancy and other times we keep it basic; but we ALWAYS send the right message! 

It's not a long dance and it doesn't have to be expensive, we can work around that.  What is most important is that a lasting memory is created and that it will never be forgotten! In fact I am putting together a Wedding Couple Alumni where we can keep the love alive (and perform our dance AGAIN!) Stay posted!

A Dance Pros Dream Come True!

A major milestone was reached this past week.  My competitive and social dance student of two years went out dancing and found himself the 'talk of the night.'  It was a local cafe hosting a hand and line dance party where many women convened. Most of the women were very attractive and close to his age range; it was his perfect opportunity to meet people, practice his dance moves and display his level of confidence.  

After being there a little while, he approached and  invited one of the more athletically fit gals to join him on the dance floor.  With disdain in her voice and attitude in her disposition, she turned him down.  Well, a frustrated man,  he walked himself back to the bar found a seat and sat next to another fine lady who had seen the entire encounter.  After a  little chit chat,  she gladly got up and accompanied him to the dance floor where they engaged in a few dances.  Well, that's all it took because the next  thing you know the line of women asking him to dance was endless. 

After ninety minutes of dancing and socializing, the original lady with disdain and attitude re approached him and profusely apologized for her behavior as she asked HIM to join her in a dance.

Now if that's not a dance teacher's dream come true, I don't know what is !!!!