On the road to dance

Sapphire Ballroom News - July 2022

So, I kind of skipped the newsletter last month. It was just too much to pull together, and so I sent (essentially) a list of events and called it done. The result? Way too much to share this month!

Sorry for the length of this newsletter, please feel free to skip to the parts that interest you.

We have tons going on this month - a Dance Party, Date Night Dance Class, Happy Hour - and even more coming next month - a new event with Nesselrod on the New, IRWCS, and another Date Night Dance Class. See all the details below or on our webpage at SapphireDance.com.

Remember, you can keep up with our news on Facebook at SapphireBallroom and Instagram at SapphireBallroom. We are also working to improve our presence on Twitter at DanceAtSapphire.

In this issue...

Schedule Highlights:
Blue Ridge Summer Road Trip Dance Party
Date Night Dance Class
Friday Night Bachata
Happy Hour

Headlines:
Swinging the New
Choreo Class Update
IRWCS 2022
Help Us Out

Take care of Yourself - 6 strategies to speed the trip to Dance Indulgence Recovery

What’s New Playlist

Upcoming Classes & Events
 

Schedule Highlights

Saturday, July 9
Blue Ridge Summer Road Trip Dance Party

OK - this Dance Party has gone through so many names. I’m still not haaa-ppy with this one. But you’ll be happy dancing with us! We’re focusing on music that celebrates summer, travel, and vacations, as well as our lovely little part of the world. The pre-dance lesson is Country Two-Step - a light-hearted dance full of twists and turns, just like taking a spin on a windy mountain road. If you’ve never done Two-step before, be sure to show up at the beginning of the lesson at 7:30 so you can practice the foundations before trying the fancy spins.

Tuesday, July 12
Date Night Dance Class This Tuesday

Want to spend more time with your special someone? Learn to dance together. First share the learning experience, then share the dancing for years to come.
Blacksburg Date Night Dance Classes (DNDC) make for fantastic memories of fun, laughter, and joy. Sign up today, before it sells out, by visiting the Blacksburg Community Center registration page at https://recreation.blacksburg.gov/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/search.html and search on Adult Dance. You’ll have the Time of Your Life!

Friday, Jul 15
July Happy Hour

Looking for a mellow meeting of fellow dancer-people? There's no alcohol at this happy hour, just awesome dancing to fun music. It's not quite a Dance Party, but it is a nice, relaxed chance to practice some of your favorite dance moves after work. As always, feel free to ask for your favorite tunes or dance styles at the party! More details at SapphireDance.com.

Friday, July 8 & 15
Friday Night Bachata

Want to get groovy without stress? Try a little tropical Bachata! It’s a beginner-friendly dance: not too fast, not too slow, with an approachable basic. The fun starts with the spins and all the many ways you can make them happen.
Each week we teach a 40-50 minute, starting with the basics in a fun, popular dance style. And then, finish off the hour with a little taste of the style that will be on the schedule later in the season. Our next dance style will be Hustle starting on July 22.

Back to Top.

Headlines

Sunday, August 14
Swinging on the New

We are teaming up with Nesselrod on the New for a couple of swing dance workshops and a swinging dance party at their gorgeous outdoor pavilion. Join us August 14, 4:00-5:30 for either a beginner or intermediate East Coast Swing workshop and then stay for a dance party at 5:30. The party is included for class participants, but it’s also open to the public for just $5/person. While the party playlist will focus on East Coast, it will also include all those other swing styles you’ve heard about and love: West Coast, Hustle, Lindy, Carolina Shag, and more. Feel free to bring a snack or your dinner, but beware of the “teacher tax” - teachers get to sample all cookies on site. ;-) More details, as well as online registration will be available soon at SapphireDance.com/SocialEvents.php and SapphireDance.com/GroupLessons.php.

Choreo Class Update

Our “How to Choreograph Your Own Dance” class is well underway! We’ve got ten students with a wide range of skills, choosing their songs, analyzing them, and researching ideas. These intrepid dancers deserve the chance to share what they create, don’t you think? Be watching for a mini-showcase coming this fall or winter.

IRWCS 2022

It’s summer and we’re gearing up for the IRWCS (formerly International West Coast Swing Flashmob). We will be learning the choreography On Mondays in August. If you want to join in, let us know! This class is not for beginners - you should be experienced with WCS and able to absorb new content quickly.

Want to lend a hand?
We need a presence in the studio during downtown festivals.

Want to help us out and get our lovely dance floor all to yourself? We need people to be in the studio during downtown festivals and other events. Frequently these events cause a dip in lessons because it can be hard to find parking and to learn while stuff is going on outside. But this is when we have the chance to make a first impression on hundreds of new people. We’d love for that impression to be warmth, light, and dancing (no matter the level) rather than an empty, dark studio.

Let us know if you’d be willing to hang out in our space for any part of any of the upcoming festivals; Wilderness Trail, Food Truck Rodeo, Rocking Main Street, etc., and we will talk details. Thanks!

Back to Top.

Take care of Yourself - 6 strategies to speed the trip to Dance Indulgence Recovery

We frequently, playfully, refer to dancing as a drug like alcohol. We look for our next fix and complain about withdrawal. And frequently suffer from a hangover when we overindulge. So - what’s your dance-hangover cure? How do you recover from a big dance weekend or event? Well, we asked several Sapphire instructors (current and former) to share their go-to recovery regimen. I doubt you’ll hear anything earth-shattering, but you will detect a few common themes and maybe get inspired for the next time you need to recover from a dance binge.

Lisa

At the end of a long dance day, I make sure to stretch before I go to bed. There are a few oils (frankincense and Deep Blue) that I put on my feet and calves that help with inflammation and muscle recovery. The next day, I stretch again and use my foam roller. I always make sure to hydrate extra after a busy dance day or weekend. And lastly, I try to do something active (walk, jog, Jazzercise, more dancing) because I've noticed it actually helps my muscles recover faster.

Liz

A Dirty Dancing weekend can be a lot of hours on my feet. To minimize recovery, I try to stay hydrated and have some Gatorade, and bananas. Perhaps I really am a minion. It always hits me hardest two or three days later. I also benefit from some light exercise.

Dennis

The day after an intense dance experience I go for light stretching, drinking plenty of water and or electrolytes, and taking a 15 minute easy walk. The following day involves more stretching, more water, a light workout (50% of a normal workout) like biking about 4-7 miles or jogging/brisk walking 2-4 miles. And by Day 3, I’m back to my normal routine with continued extra stretching. You may still experience slight soreness but by continuing to stretch and activating those muscles through workouts, it'll help your overall recovery. It's okay to work through soreness but if there's pain then stop and ice, rest, pain meds, etc.

Kaleb

I’m on my feet a lot even when I’m not dancing, so I don’t find myself sore or otherwise in need of physical recovery. But I do find myself mentally exhausted. When I get home I have a warm shower before bed. The next morning I’ll go to a local restaurant for a good breakfast and, weather permitting, do my dining on their outdoor patio. Food, fresh air, and a bit of time to just sit down and relax (maybe even do some reading) are just the ticket to restore my energy.

Debbi

I try to be nice to myself. I try to set aside time to introvert, time to rest, and no big challenges. Even though the physical toll of long dance days is significant, it’s the mental fog that really trips me up. So, I try to arrange my responsibilities such that I am not required to make important decisions, because pressure is the last thing I need when I’m tired. Physically, I make sure I get up and move every 20 minutes or so, even though I feel like being one with the sofa. I will arrange my travel plans so that I am not stuck in a car for hours the day after a big event. I have also started enlisting the help of friends, scheduling time with them to stretch, move, etc, in the day or two after big events. I leave those sessions feeling better physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Jen

1. Hydrate: You lose a lot more water dancing than you think, especially if you're focused on hosting and getting everyone else to move. I'd try to get at least two full glasses of water down before lunch the day after.
2. Stretching: Stretch the same night before you fall asleep. It helps your muscles stay more relaxed in the coming days. The second day after the event is going to be the worst in terms of soreness, so I always make myself go on a short walk the day after and then stretch some more, no matter how tired I am. Basically I'm trying to move just enough that my muscles stay warm and loose.
3. Eat protein: It helps repair your muscles and makes you feel full longer. I personally like fish or chicken versus red meat. If you're of the vegan or vegetarian persuasion, this could just be putting a good protein powder into a smoothie or a bowl of oatmeal.

What did you get from those responses? I heard fluids, movement, eat good foods, and time to relax. Kind of the things you should do to take care of yourself all the time.
Back to Top.
 

What’s New Playlist

We are always adding to our music library. Sometimes we discover old songs we’ve never heard before. Sometimes we discover new songs while listening to the radio or diving down a YouTube rabbit hole… Sometimes we realize we’ve lost an old favorite; or there’s a better version out and we should replace the one we have. Sometimes you tell us about a great song, old or new, that we really need. This past month, the Choreo class was getting started, so you’ll find lots of unusual songs on the list - I love it! This is just a sample of the new music we have acquired over the last month.
If you have a suggestion, we’d love to hear it!

Arwen's Vigil by The Piano Guys

Viennese Waltz
https://youtu.be/p0tBS_IAX-M  

Bad Habits by Ed Sheeran

Cha Cha or Hustle
https://youtu.be/HeOpRzcqKrE

El Tango De Los Celos by High Strung

American Tango
https://youtu.be/0b9EBgZ7O50

I'll Make a Man Out of You by Taylor Davis featuring Peter Hollens

American Tango
https://youtu.be/b29MyotWVEY

Jenny Lee by Mojo Blues Band

Carolina Shag
https://youtu.be/8E2u24iv7YU

Mango Tree by Zac Brown Band featuring Sara Bareilles

Fox Trot
https://youtu.be/FBSrMcrOaTE

Marry Me by Meghan Trainor

Foxy or Rumba
https://youtu.be/AEEoc6SYwE8 

The River of Dreams by Billy Joel

East Coast Swing or Samba
https://youtu.be/hSq4B_zHqPM 

Skyrim (Main Theme) by Lindsey Stirling & Peter Hollens

Paso Doble or (fast!) Viennese Waltz
https://youtu.be/BSLPH9d-jsI

Time Is Love by Josh Turner

Hustle or Foxy
https://youtu.be/fefu8tca4EY

What You're Made Of [From "Azur Lane" Original Video Game Soundtrack] by Lindsey Stirling featuring Kiesza

West Coast Swing
https://youtu.be/-OVO8ZJ-IpI

90 Days by P!nk featuring Wrabel

West Coast Swing or Nightclub 2-Step
https://youtu.be/9-lkv7YakGQ

What songs do you think should have made this list? What would you like to see in next month’s playlist? Let us know - we’d love to hear from you on Facebook or by email.

Back to Top.
 

Upcoming Events & Dance Classes

Events are hosted by Sapphire Ballroom & Dance Center: online, at our studio in Christiansburg, or at the Blacksburg Community Center. Please check locations before traveling!

Taking online classes is affordable and easy, once you try it. You do not need a partner; you do not need a fancy space. You do not have to share your picture or video. Online events require a Zoom link (included below), but not a Zoom account.

All Group Lessons have a maximum of 10 people in-studio. To prevent being turned away from a full class, please register by or before noon the day of the class by emailing us at info@SapphireDance.com or contacting the Blacksburg Community Center.

All group events and lessons cost $6-$15/person/hour. Visit our Square Store to pay online for classes and private lessons.

More information available on our webpage or Facebook page.

Back to Top.

Thanks for reading; we hope you found something you liked.
Until we see you again, happy dancing!

To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please reply to this address with “Remove me” in the subject line.  If you would like to change the subscribing address, reply with “Change My Address” in the subject line. Thanks!

To subscribe to Sapphire Ballroom News, our monthly e-newsletter, visit us at SapphireDance.com/ContactUs.php.