25175 1066 Performing Arts Dance Ballroom Dancing true Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:45:39 -0700 /system/videos/3/75/51/02/25175.flv performing, arts, dancer, mastering, learning, partner, ball, room, waltz How To Master Simple Ballroom Dancing http://www.howcast.com/videos/25175-How-To-Master-Simple-Ballroom-Dancing http://www.howcast.com/videos/25175-How-To-Master-Simple-Ballroom-Dancing/edit approved 211 640 480 <object width="425" height="352" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="howcastplayer"><param name="movie" value="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=25175"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=25175" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="352" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" ></embed></object> 20 michaelrsanchez http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/25175/Picture_12_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png 20915 false false false 43693 1 27 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/25175/27.jpg Get a partner While belly dancing and ballet can be done solo, ballroom dancing is always done in pairs. Ask a friend to help you out.

]]> 43694 2 35 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/25175/35.jpg Perfect your posture Perfect your posture. Unlike casual dancing, a ballroom dancer doesn’t slouch or lean on their partner. Both the man and the woman must elongate their neck and body. Practice correct posture by standing straight against a wall.

]]> 43695 3 48 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/25175/48.jpg Position the head Look over each other’s right shoulder. Now imagine you’re the most beautiful person on earth who has just met the other most beautiful person on earth. What’s that feel like? Exactly. Keep that expression throughout the dance.

]]> 43696 4 61 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/25175/61.jpg Adjust your hand position Hold hands correctly. This means the man’s raised left hand holds the woman’s right hand, palms facing each other. The man’s right hand connects with the woman’s shoulder blade. His hand should be cupped, fingers together. The woman’s left hand should be on the man’s right shoulder, her fingers at the seam of his sleeve.

]]> 43697 5 77 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/25175/77.jpg Position your body Having the perfect “closed dance hold” means the woman is just slightly to the right of the man. This way the legs move between each other and the knees don’t hit.

]]> 43698 6 87 Tip Position your body When the couple is a man and a woman, the man generally takes the lead. In couples with just one sex, a decision will have to be made.

]]> 43699 7 94 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/25175/94.jpg Draw a square on the floor Now that you have the basic positioning, learn the basic waltz box step, the most common step in ballroom dances like the rumba, waltz, or foxtrot. Start by taping out a small box on the floor.

]]> 43700 8 105 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/25175/105.jpg Practice counting Practice counting one, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three. This will be the essential timing, and the sooner it feels natural, the better.

]]> 43701 9 114 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/25175/114.jpg Make a box with your feet Practice alone making a box with your feet. To make the first half of the box, step forward with your left foot — which is “one” — and slide your right foot to meet it and then step to the right (two). Your weight now shifts to the right foot so your left slides to meet it (three).

]]> 43702 10 130 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/25175/130.jpg Finish the box Now finish the box. Step back with your right foot (one) and slide your left to meet it and then to the left (two). Your weight now shifts to the left foot so your right slides to meet it (three).

]]> 43703 11 142 Tip Finish the box If you’re in the women’s role, you will step backward to start.

]]> 43704 12 147 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/25175/147.jpg Practice counting to music Now put it together, doing the box step by yourself in time to your one-two-three counting.

]]> 43705 13 151 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/25175/151.jpg Practice with a partner Now practice with a partner. Count off five, six, seven, eight before you begin so you’ll both be prepared to start together on one.

]]> 43706 14 160 Tip Practice with a partner Dancing is a close contact sport. Make sure your breath is okay before you start. Use a breath freshener.

]]> 43707 15 167 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/25175/167.jpg Move around the floor After you feel comfortable with the box step, forget confining yourself strictly to the box, and let yourself move more naturally around the floor.

]]> 43708 16 175 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/25175/175.jpg Start to turn Once you’re able to loosen up while keeping time with the beat, try turning. Turn slightly to the right as you step on one and two; you’ll begin traveling in a circle as you keep your basic box pattern.

]]> 43709 17 186 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/25175/186.jpg Remember to maintain posture Remember to maintain your posture at all times, keeping your connection points. Stand up straight, Quasimodo! Good ballroom dancers never slouch or disconnect.

]]> 43710 18 196 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/25175/196.jpg Practice every chance you get Now that you know how to do a basic waltz box step, practice every chance you get. This is just the beginning. Get out there and dance, dance, dance!

]]> 43711 19 205 Fact “Waltz” comes from the German word “walzen,” which means to turn or roll.

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Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, performing, arts, dance Performing Arts Dance General Dance 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/83350/5_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/83350-How-To-Belly-Dance 1064 113637 How To Swing Dance AssignmentGuide 5069 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:05:26 -0800 8 natewood ]]> 98 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/37/36/11/113637.flv performing, dancing, dances, learning, moves, swinging Performing Arts Dance General Dance 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/113637/Picture_10_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/113637-How-To-Swing-Dance 1064 217848 How To Hula Dance AssignmentGuide 4383 Thu, 27 Aug 2009 07:47:01 -0700 6 NelsonN ]]> 156 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/05/65/22/226505.flv performing, arts, dancing, hula, hawaii, hawaiian, learning, moving, moves, girl Performing Arts Dance General Dance 4 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/217848/hula_dance_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/217848-How-To-Hula-Dance 1064 241552 How To Ace a Dancing Audition AssignmentGuide 593 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:06:27 -0700 1 natewood ]]> 106 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/54/39/26/263954.flv dancing,audition,ballet,tap, Performing Arts Dance General Dance 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/241552/dancing_audition_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/241552-How-To-Ace-a-Dancing-Audition 1051 218217 How To Join the Circus AssignmentGuide 425 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:17:26 -0700 0 k8jonez ]]> 117 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/0/81/88/25/258881.flv join, circus, performing, arts, performing arts, art, show Performing Arts General Performing Arts Circus 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/218217/Picture_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/218217-How-To-Join-the-Circus 1056 19179 How To Enunciate AssignmentGuide 3405 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:00:47 -0700 22 michaelrsanchez ]]> 149 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/79/91/01/19179.flv performing, arts, acting, act, actor, actress, enunciate, speak, speaking, voice Performing Arts Acting General Acting 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/19179/Picture_12_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/19179-How-To-Enunciate 1056 127333 How To Cry Convincingly on Stage AssignmentGuide 2391 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:16:53 -0800 8 natewood ]]> 115 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/33/73/12/127333.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, performing, arts, acting Performing Arts Acting General Acting 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/127333/Picture_20_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/127333-How-To-Cry-Convincingly-on-Stage 1056 144556 How To Overcome Stage Fright AssignmentGuide 4403 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:16:57 -0800 11 natewood ]]> 165 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http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/0/87/16/21/211687.flv performing, arts, acting, preparing, auditioning, choosing, practicing, monologues, learning Performing Arts Acting General Acting 4 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/211687/Picture_7_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/211687-How-To-Prepare-a-Monologue 1058 130997 How To Impress a Casting Director AssignmentGuide 2328 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:38:10 -0800 12 natewood ]]> 226 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/97/09/13/130997.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, performing, arts, acting Performing Arts Acting Auditions 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/130997/Picture_11_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/130997-How-To-Impress-a-Casting-Director 1061 13220 How To Look Good in Your Roller Coaster Snapshot AssignmentGuide 4043 Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:45:24 -0700 9 natewood ]]> 71 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