In an era where smart phones and social media seem to set the standards for how we interact, and teens are better at texting than speaking, ballroom classes are a truly awesome way to get your kid away from that device and interacting with their peers.
 Lately, I’ve been reading article after article about the benefits of Ballroom dancing for teens and tweens. What they say always seems to boil down to a few key points:
Social Skills - Partner dance classes help teen and tweens build social awareness and confidence because they are having face-to-face interactions with their peers constantly during class. Asking their partner to dance, talking while practicing, working through a new move together: all of these things build communication skills.
 Coordination - Ballroom dancing is a sport, and like most sports, it helps build body awareness and coordination. Asking your feet to move in one direction, while your arms do something else, is all part of the fun. Unlike most sports, ballroom dancing does not have to involve competition and very rarely risks injury. In fact, at Sapphire, competition is not part of the program and we’ve never had a kid get seriously injured during class (a few toes have been stepped on, but that’s it).
Life skill - Partner dancing ability is something your teen will be able to draw on for the rest of their life. Many colleges, including Virginia Tech, have ballroom, swing, or latin dance clubs, which provide a great social outlet for students. Even into adulthood, partner dance will continue to be there for your child as a source of healthy, social activity.
 Cognitive Ability - the People’s Pharmacy just released another podcast highlighting ballroom dancing as promoting neuroplasticity (the ability of the brain to make new connections while learning) in seniors. Well, guess what? What’s good for the elders is good for the youngsters. Learning any new skill makes learning others easier. Ballroom dancing has a unique combination of movement, memory, and rhythmic challenges that really get those juices flowing.
Fun - Well, are you convinced? I am - ballroom dancing is good for everyone, but offers extra benefits to teens and tweens. But what’s the best reason to get involved? It offers all those things above and still manages to be fun. Just fun. These kids come bounding through our doors once a week and what follows is an hour of smiles, laughter, and dancing.
 If you want to get your child involved, get out your calendar and mark down these dates:
- Sunday, February 18, 3:00pm - Winter Dance Party - open to everyone! Come see what the current classes have been working on and learn just a little dancing, too. Free, no registration required: a great way to check things out before trying a class.
- Friday, March 2, 4:00pm - New Tweens class starts - intended for ages 10-13 (but can flex based on enthusiasm)
- Friday, March 2, 5:00pm - New Teens class starts - intended for ages 12-18 (but can flex based on experience)
Each session will include a Swing Dance style - this spinning, up-beat dance is sure to get some of their energy out! - and another style based on the class's interest.
Find all the details, including costs, discounts, and pertinent dates are available at http://www.sapphiredance.com/juniorballroom.html
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Dates to Remember:
This Valentine’s Day is your chance to do something really special for your special someone. Whether you want to treat your spouse, your best friend, your family, or even (maybe especially) yourself, we are offering a great deal on Gift Packages. Sapphire Gift Packages feature lesson combinations that will get your giftee on the dance floor, having great time, and enjoying a hobby that is good for your brain, body, and soul. 
Just like parents who love all their children equally, we love all our monthly Dance Parties. But it’s fun to brag on why each one is special in its own way!
Winter Blues has historically brought out the most people, and new people at that! Why? People love the pre-dance lesson at 7:30: West Coast Swing. This awesome and somewhat challenging dance has a “moth to the flame” effect on many dancers and we can totally see why. Its music ranges from classic blues to top 40 hits, it embraces musicality and self expression, and it looks really, really cool. Lane can’t wait to teach a lesson, starting with basics, and showing something snazzy at the end for more experienced dancers.
Another reason this dance could be so popular is it that it’s the perfect time to pull out that favorite, broken-in pair of blue jeans and not feel underdressed at all! Whether it’s your jeans or something else, join us in wearing blue! 
We feel very fortunate to be hosting our lovely Tango teachers so soon after their visits last fall. Seeing the growth that repeated exposure to their teaching brings is just thrilling.
New this year - at 8:30pm we will host a Milonga! Karen and Tate will give us some “how to’s” on the unique etiquette and structure of this social dance to get us started, then we turn the lights down and enjoy dancing together!
All weekend, Friday through Sunday morning, both Karen and Tate will be available for private lessons. They can also be available for semi-privates, if you wish to coordinate your own group. Just let us know what you are looking for!
Initial details available at 
