Getting Back in the Swing

Re-Starting Your Dance Life

Sapphire Ballroom News - October 2021

Hey dancing folks - are you ready to swing on to the dance floor? We always try to respond to your requests when scheduling our classes and this season you have requested swings - all the swings! So let’s head to the playground. With West Coast Swing, Carolina Shag, and Hustle dominating the schedule over the next two months, you might think Swing is all we do, but I promise we have lots of Latin and Ballroom for you too. Nothing like a fast latin dance to warm up a rainy fall evening, right?

I know the summer weather keeps going, but it will end soon and that makes this the perfect time to jump start your dancing. If you get going now, you’ll have lots of moves to use at next summer’s concerts and festivals, and you’ll brighten your winter days in the meantime. So check out the schedule and get into the Swing of things!

Before going any further, I have to admit that a large portion of this month’s newsletter was inspired by this trailer for a musical that I only recently discovered exists and now want to see very very much: https://youtu.be/rwU_HLUKv98. It will make sense if you watch it!

In this issue...

- Highlights and Headlines

- Getting Back in the Swing of Things - 4 ways to dust off those dance shoes

- Back in Time Playlist

- Upcoming Dance Classes and Events 

Highlights and Headlines

Halloween Happy Hour and Downtown Trick or Treating

No alcohol at this Happy hour - just good music and fun dancing. Join fellow Sapphires for an hour or two of dancing, Oct 29, 5-7pm. If you’re relatively new to dancing, or want to brush up those skills, feel free to stay for the Friday Beginner Workshop starting at 7pm featuring Bachata! Downtown Christiansburg is hosting Trick-or-Treating that evening, so watch out for the kiddos, and feel free to wear a costume, if you want! (Registration required by noon that day - just email us and say you're coming.)

If you're interested in the Trick Or Treating downtown, here's details.

Rumba and Polka are the October Date Night Dance Classes in Blacksburg

More details below or on our webpage, but go ahead and mark your calendars now!

Rumba is casual or romantic, but always slow, always fun. Take it easy and have an awesome date night with your sweetheart.

Polka is the king of fall, the hero of Oktoberfest! It’s also crazy useful for dancing to old time music and all kinds of heritage events. It’s fast; it’s energetic, and it’s anything but boring.

Two “Next Level” classes just added

Level 2 West Coast Swing - Starting Oct 11, 7pm

Level 3 Carolina Shag - Starting Nov 7, 4:30pm

These classes are for people already familiar with basics of either West Coast of Carolina Shag and are now ready to learn or perfect high level moves and concepts. Details are on our website at SapphireDance.com/GroupLessons.php

Get Sapphire Dance Lessons at Your Event

Want some fun dancing lessons at your event? We do that! Give us a call or send an email to find out more: info@sapphiredance.com, 540-382-8782.

Planning a spectacular winter wedding? Now is the time to schedule your dance lessons!

We can take that dreaded first dance and make it a thing of pride and joy. All it takes is time and lessons. The more time and the more lessons, the more comfortable you will be when all those people are watching. But even 1 lesson can help take the stress out of what should really be a fun part of your wedding. Contact us today (info@sapphiredance.com, 540-382-8782) to schedule your lessons! As some of our recent students said, "they will be 60 minutes of fun in the midst fo wedding madness."
Details at SapphireDance.com/BridalLessons.php
 

Back to Top.

Getting Back in the Swing of Things

4 ways to dust off those dance shoes and some advice for making it fun

Whether you're a long-time dancer, or you've never stepped on the floor, starting out dancing can be hard. For people who used to dance, the challenges are kind of similar to starting from scratch, but with some expectations (reasonable or not) to add to the mix. Here's some strategies for getting back on the floor as well as a few things to remember when stepping out for the first time in a while.

Take a beginner class or workshop, even if it's below your level.

If you're worried about dancing again, aim low to start with. I know this sounds kind of insulting, but I really don't mean it that way! Every coach I have ever worked with has emphasized the basics. Everyone I know who has retaken a beginner level class (and I know a lot of people who do it frequently) has learned something new including people in their dancing prime. Going back over beginner material is good for you! So, try an easy class, build your confidence, learn a new way to think about something you already know, and get the practice you need without rushing.

Bring a new dancer with you.

So, your sister-in-law’s cousin’s friends want to learn how to swing, but they feel shy about actually trying it. You haven’t been on the floor in ages. Make it a group activity! You can walk them through the process of signing up and be that friendly encouraging face in the class while also dusting off your skills - and probably learn something new in the process. They get a new skill, you get practice, and everyone gets to hang out with cool people - it’s a universal win.

Maybe it's time for a brand new dance style.

A great way to get back into the groove is to try a new dance, especially if you're bringing a partner or friends who are at a different skill level than you are. A new dance can remind you of the universal skills you used to have (posture, balance, timing) while entertaining your brain with new information.

Private Lessons are here for you.

Private lessons let you speed through material that’s familiar while slowing down for the challenging pieces. Because each lesson is customized to your needs, you can change the pace as you go, which makes it the perfect method for a fast review. Say you’re going to a wedding next month - private lesson to review Hustle and Rumba. Your cousin is dragging you to Mexico over the Holidays - private lesson to learn some Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, etc. Family reunion in Arizona - private lesson to brush up on your Two-Step.

I hope one of these ideas sounds good to you and that we will get to see you cutting a rug sometime soon. When that happens, here’s a few things to keep in mind:

Forgive yourself for forgetting. It's a new take on the idea of "forgive and forget," and definitely easier said than done. In all probability, if it's been "too long" since your last dance lesson, you've forgotten stuff. It's all part of the process - you will learn it back so much quicker!

There's no judgement happening here. You had a reason to let dance lessons slide. No one will make you feel bad about it.

I bet you will remember more than you will give yourself credit for.

It is work, as in for-real exercise. Pace yourself and remember it’s supposed to be fun. Three hours of swing might be a little much for your first night back.

Want to hear how other people got back in the swing?
Here’s what Valerie had to say when I asked:

"Don and I first started dance lessons at Sapphire Ballroom back in 2009 in preparation for our wedding. We’ve taken lessons on and off for several years and enjoyed it tremendously. When the pandemic hit, all social activities went by the wayside. After we were both fully vaccinated, we wanted to get back into the social swing of things and work off a few pandemic pounds. Also, we’ve been invited to 3 weddings and a wedding reception this summer & fall for family who postponed their 2020 celebrations. I asked Don if he’d like to get moving again and take private dance lessons to get ready for the parties. He said “Yes!” Private lessons have been so much fun for us and have been perfect for polishing off our old dance moves. We hope to sparkle on the dance floor this wedding season, and be a little more streamlined while doing so."

Back to Top.
 

Back in Time Playlist

One of the great things about these playlists, is you start with a theme inspired by a trailer that YouTube happened to suggest last week (who knows why), and you end up with a wacky list of songs full of pieces I haven’t heard in years, a few I hadn’t heard until now, and a couple of old friends. I love it!

Just like our class schedule, this month’s playlist is heavy on the Swings: Single Time, Triple Time, West Coast, and Hustles dominate. It’s a musical coincidence with a rocking good result. I hope you enjoy your classic rock with a little country mixed in!

To see the Back in Time Playlist, visit us on YouTube at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGEmFFdzKkkaUwM4MWZbPqITR_CP5w_fx

See all of our YouTube Playlists at https://www.youtube.com/user/SapphireBallroom/playlists
These playlists are always changing. If you have a suggestion, I’d love to hear it! Send me a link at info@sapphiredance.com.

	Back In Time by Huey Lewis and the News https://youtu.be/ur57IunS9To Dance Style: Triple Time Swing or West Coast Swing
	Back In Time by Marshmello x Carnage https://youtu.be/6_IcG_xV9_U Dance Style: Hustle or Merengue
	Back in Time by Pitbull https://youtu.be/zaSZE194D4I Dance Style: Merengue
	Back In Town by Matt Dusk https://youtu.be/5lqPU19fG10 Dance Style: Single Time Swing or Quickstep or this fantastic (challenging!) Line Dance https://youtu.be/YCKKE-7AVPM
	The Boys Are Back In Town by Thin Lizzy https://youtu.be/nN120kCiVyQ Dance Style: Triple Time Swing
	Back It Up by Caro Emerald https://youtu.be/jo1cyl0QbWo Dance Style: Slow Fox Trot or (Double Time) Fast Quickstep and this really cool looking line dance: https://youtu.be/L6N10aLZqPo
	Back by Alan Jackson https://youtu.be/SLQVobYPLAc Dance Style: Country Two-Step
	SexyBack by Justin Timberlake https://youtu.be/gfWQ1r6IQrY Dance Styles: Cha Cha or West Coast Swing
	Get Back by The Beatles https://youtu.be/YEESfv-11ng Dance Style: Hustle

If you read our newsletter frequently, you know by now that we publish a playlist of dance music every month, usually with some kind of quirky theme (like songs about rivers). But do you know we also have a large library of music just for you to practice to?

Visit our YouTube Channel “Songs for Practice” and you’ll find 20+ playlist organized by dance style. There’s one for Waltz, one for Bachata, a big one for West Coast Swing, one for almost every style we teach. And they are always growing and improving. We'd love your input - if you have a suggestion, let us know by email at infor@sapphiredance.com or Facebook message!

Back to Top. 

Upcoming Dance Classes: online and in-person

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!

All group classes now require registration by noon on the day of the class. To register, call 540-382-8782, email info@sapphiredance.com, or pay for your class and register at the same time at SapphireBallroom.square.site.

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 this newsletter, Sapphire Ballroom News, visit us at SapphireDance.com/ContactUs.php.