YouCanDance.net

Halloween Bash 2009

Halloween came early this year at Barry Jost’s You Can Dance; Friday October 16th to be exact.  Everyone was in fine form, costume and dance wise!  Captain Chrissy Berry arrived in her swashbuckling boots, trusty sword by her side, daughter Amanda as Rosie the Riveter, was the official staff photographer.  Amy Aguilera was a roaring 20s flapper, complete with feather boa.  She kept husband Jesse busy, sweeping up after her trail of feathers. Santiago borrowed friend Juanita’s stethoscope in order to lend authenticity to his costume.  But where did he get those scrubs?  Barry was Santiago’s sidekick, but who would want to be operated on by those two?  Nicole recalled the hippies of the sixties with her fringed vest and rainbow attire. Lisette snapped her fingers and showed us her flamenco moves. Diane Yoshitomi dazzled in her vintage dress.  Thank you Amy for all your help decorating and the awesome cupcakes.

We had a great time. I would To thank everyone who supported our six competitors, fifteen in all.
Congratulations To:

Diane Cha Cha 3rd Place
Rumba 3rd Place

Chrissy Salsa 1st Place
Cha Cha 2nd Place
Rumba 2nd Place
Foxtrot 1st Place
Waltz 1st Place
Tango 1st Place

Dan Swing 1st Place

Rudy Waltz 1st Place

Jessica Int Samba 1st PLace

We have moved to a new location. Starting August 1,2008 our classes will be held at Awakenings Coffee House 24100 Narbonne Ave., Suite 103. Conveniently located in the heart of dowtown Lomita, our new facility is fully air conditioned with ample parking. Private lessons are available Monday through Saturday; group lessons are Monday through Thursday. Our new hours are:

9:00 AM - 10:30 PM Monday through Thursday

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday

9:00 AM - Noon Saturday

Dance Parties are held every Monday through Thursday night following the group classes. We look forward to seeing you there!

Congratulation to our Competitors at the Desert Classic

Come join us and see some of the best dancing Ballroom has to offer. We will be heading out for a fun weekend of competition, dancing, shopping and more.

When planning your wedding day it is important not to over look the tradition of  “the first dance.”  Your first dance is significant as it introduces the two of you as husband and wife.  Proper preparation guarantees that the moment you step into the spotlight, you will  present yourselves with style and grace.

I can help the beginner and the experienced dancer through a series of tailor made lessons designed to make your first dance memorable; whether it be elaborate or simple,  I will choreograph your dance according to your specific needs.

Let us help you dance your first steps into your new life together in perfect time and  synchronicity.

Dance shoes are special shoes used for those who wish to Latin and Ballroom dance. The dances range from the Salsa to the Viennese Waltz. Shoes are a vital tool for the dance. I still get surprised when I walk into teach a class and I see students in their Nike running shoes. Think about it, running on a trail or on a track has nothing to do with dancing.

Ballroom and Latin dance shoes are supple and lightweight with either suede or smooth leather soles. Shoes called flats are for men and women and have 1 or 1.5 inch heels. Ladies’ high-heeled shoes typically have 2 to 3 inch heels.

Good dance shoes enhance your dancing performance. Dancing shoes are also an extension of your body, which can help create a better body line and technical appearance.

In addition, dance shoes will give you better posture, placing your center more over the balls of your feet, rather than back. Other features found in dance shoes include specially designed straps for added support and style, a soft and seamless leather lining, and suede sole.

So now you know what a Dance shoe is. When you look for those of your own do not choose only by appearance, but also for comfort, support, performance and protection. Make sure to look for sharp edges near your ankles and for poor quality interior seams that will rub and cause pain on your feet.

The performance of a shoe depends primarily on its sole. New or well-brushed suede soles are generally considered to offer just the right degree of traction on a wooden dance floor. More-slippery smooth-leather soles may be found on less expensive ballroom shoes.

For most women, a shoe with a heel will make your legs appear more attractive and give them movement. However you should know how to walk in them before you learn to dance.

As we are all different, with different needs and goals, one size does not fit all. A comment I frequently hear is, “I’m not good enough to take a private lesson.” Another is, “I don’t need the private lesson; I can learn all I need to know from the group class.” Neither student understands the purpose of group or private lessons. That being said, let me take a moment to explain the difference.

The main purpose of the group class is to teach foot placement, footwork and timing. This is a cost effective way of learning the skeletal structure of the dance figure. A group class is an ineffective way of practicing your dance figures and getting any sort of feed back, except what you see in the mirror. Most, or all, of the other students are learning the steps also. Practicing the step on your own, or at the studio parties is more effective.

The purpose of the private lesson is to work on the small details that make you look and feel good on the dance floor. Your dance instructor has the ability to physically place you in the correct position so you can feel where you need to be. This is not practical in group classes. A good private instructor evaluates the students’ dancing as they proceed and corrects the student on the spot. thereby eliminating bad habits before they are formed.

A combination of both group and private, along with student practice is the most practical and efficient way of learning.

In addition to our popular group Salsa classes we plan to open a new Performance Salsa class. This will be a class emphasizing showcase style choreographed routines with dips and drops. This class will be held at the South Bay Dance Center in Lomita , CA. Students come from all over Los Angeles San Pedro Torrance Carson Rancho Palos Verdes and Carson to have fun in Barry’s classes. Let us know if you might be interested in trying this out. Drop barry an email (barry.jost@yahoo.com).

United States wins the Ten Dance Team Match in Blackpool for the very first time.

Blackpool Dance Festival

“The Festival began in 1920 in the Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, you can find out more by visiting our History section. 2008 sees the event in its 83rd year.

Covering a period of nine days this is by far the largest of all the five Blackpool Festivals.

The Festival covers Ballroom and Latin American dancing, incorporating the British Open Championships for Adult Amateur and Professional couples, plus Formation Teams. 2005 saw the introduction of two new events, the British Rising Star Amateur Ballroom and Latin Competitions.

The two Invitation events, the Professional Team Match on the Saturday and the Exhibition Competition on the Thursday evening, create a vast amount of interest and crowd appeal.

There were 62 countries represented in 2007 and a total number of 1,829 couples entered the various events. ”

Results