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!!

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.

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?

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!

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!

Try Turning Your Critic Into Your Coach!

Try Turning Your Critic Into Your Coach!

I often wonder why we are so compelled to immediately focus on the bad,  instead of the good.  Can anyone help me understand?  I think it's a good plan to ask yourself questions that put you in the positive end of the spectrum. ' What is right?  What is going well?  What are you proud of and pleased with?  What is good about the situation?  How can I make things better? 

When you learn a skill it is somewhat imposed upon you to force the focus to be of a seeking nature, as in seeking know how; and that can be positive.  it also keeps your brain moving in the direction of 'toward' instead of 'away' from.   When I teach a person a new dance technique or pattern they go inside and search for the 'how to' and if I time it just right they don't have time to ask 'why not or can't' I get this?

I think teaching and coaching is an extremely honorable thing to master.  Communication and sensitivity are such key elements in delivering information to one who is trying to learn a skill or technique.  I want the focus to be, what I can do and what I am good at, not anything else; the alternative is just very limiting and in some cases very destructive. 

So let's gather together and ask ourselves some questions that force us to answer in positive spin.  What am I good at?  What do I do well?  How am I helpful to others?  I have shared just a few questions that if you truly take the time to ask yourself,  the answers may amaze you. Turn your critic into your coach!