What is Social Dancing and why social dance?

Where can you go when you just want to dance in Birmingham?

Honestly, the club/bar scene can be sketchy. There is always "that guy" who is way too drunk. He is busy spilling his beer on the floor, hitting on your girlfriend, and trying to grind on her friends.

Who is that guy with the digital video camera on the pole and exactly where are those videos going? Isn't odd that he runs quick with the camera when two girls start to dance together?

The floor is either concrete/beat up hardwood that has broken glass, spilled drinks, and randoms standing in the way. It is too slick with the spilled drinks, too crowded to move, and has many dangers with the broken glass.

The music is over mixed, sped up, and has the same "thump, thump, thump" behind it. The local DJ's (minus Chris Sarris, Buddy Beck, and Chris Creel- they are good at what they do) can't read the floor, pace the music, or realize that not every song has to be tampered with. There is a reason some songs hit number one on the charts---they are that damn good without local deejay's tampering with them.

The dancing is well.....it is what it is.... There is usually random rave guy, scary old guy sweeping his butt side to side, and mini skirt girl that isn't wearing anything underneath that is way too desperate for attention.

When you care about really moving to the music, all of the factors above are just one big head ache. There is no style, no life, and no feel other than people that look like simulated Karma Sutra positions.

At Rhythm N Motion dance in Hoover, we are introducing the NY/LA Social Dance parties. We are working to include all forms of dance including hip hop, bboys/bgirls, West Coast Swing, Salsa, Hustle, Lindy, ballroom and more.

In areas like NY and LA, it is not uncommon for people to gather at a dance studio with the purpose of dancing their style. A DJ will play many different styles of dance to suite the crowd and give everyone an opportunity to dance. The music is arranged in sets that rotate style to style and move in a very formatted pace.

It is not a nightclub, so you don't have the worries of drunks getting in the way of your dancing. The other dancers are courteous and there is dance floor etiquette rules that ensure everyone can dance at the same time no matter what style. Past parties have included BBoy breakdancers, west coast swing, lindy, hustle, bellydancers, hip hoppers and more!

Our recent parties featured a free couples dance lesson featuring hustle, salsa, and west coast swing. These "Street" dances are danced with a partner and are executed through lead follow. Lead Follow means that you don't have a choreographed routine, but your knowledge of the dance style allows for you to execute patterns/movements associated with the dance.

As your experience in lead follow grows, your variety of movement grows. The fun thing is that it takes very little experience to get going and have a good time!

West coast swing is a popular social dance on the forefront of pop culture. It has its roots in LA and is just starting to hit mainstream thanks to numerous television appearances. West Coast Swing dancers have won and participated on shows such as Star Search, 30seconds of Fame, So You Think You can Dance, and Dancing with the Stars.

The dance is a "street" dance that is much like "Gumbo." Danced with a partner, it has borrowed a little here and a little there from multiple styles of ballroom, swing, hip hop, jazz, and other dance styles. Music styles can range from recent top 40s, funk, blues/jazz, and anything with a solid rhythm that makes you want to move.

Movements include fancy footwork, body rolls/ripples, spins, dips, tricks, and anything fun you can imagine! Dancers interpret the music with their bodies, feet, and patterns and create in lead follow what many people think are routines! It is the official state dance of California and is a major hit with their 18-45 crowd in major cities such as NY, LA, Atlanta, and even Nashville!

NY style Hustle and Salsa are two other popular "street" dances. Although Hustle has its roots in the seventies, the evolved version features fancy spins, turns, tricks, and a blast to dance lead follow. Because its footwork involves two walking steps and a rock step, new dancers have less to remember. The timing is simple with an "and 1" "two" "three" It is danced to many of the popular top 40 songs and other songs with a strong backbeat.

Salsa/Latin music is everywhere! The social dance salsa is very loose and can be enjoyed lead follow to many styles of music. Many popular songs have latin backbeats such as Black eyed Peas, Ricky Martin, and even some club/house music. Some of these pop rhythms also have Samba style backbeats, but beginner salsa dancers can get moving to these slower samba songs. Although true salsa is danced to faster mambo rhythms, there is nothing wrong with beginner dancers starting their quick quick slow beginning steps to any music that is Latin based. As they gain experience, they can break into dances such as samba, cha cha, mambo, and others.

What if you don't have a partner to come with? So what! Most people show up without a partner! You ask people to dance and get asked to dance all night! It is just dancing, you are not asking for a date or phone number. You can dance with one partner one song, another partner the next song, and so on.

It means nothing other than you enjoy the dancing! Even when you do show up with a partner, you are likely to only dance a few songs with them. Most people enjoy dancing with many different partners during the night.

This also allows for dancers to learn new moves, gain new lead/follow experience, and meet lots of new people! You may dance with people that are different ages, different dance styles, and different experience levels.

Birmingham is once again one of the last cities to catch on to national trends. It is not just New York and LA, but these style dance parties are in San Antonio, Detroit, Nashville, Atlanta, New Orleans, Houston, Portland....you name it!

Rhythm N Motion's next NY/LA Social Dance party is Saturday January 31, 2009. The cost is $5 per person and that includes a free lesson from 7-8pm in a style of couples social dancing.

This event is a kickoff for the Vulcan Performers Anti Valentines dance show on Saturday Feb 7, 2009 at 7pm $5 students $8 regular. After the show, there will be a free lesson and free social dance for the attendees.

We hope to see you out on the dance floor soon! Make sure to check out our free "Moves of the Week" to learn some good basics and moves for west coast swing, hustle, hip hop, salsa, and more!

Also, don't forget about our weekly "group ballroom intro" classes on Thursday night at 7pm. This is another good place to get going with your social dancing!

If you prefer to work one on one, schedule your next private, semi private, or small group lesson with your favorite Vulcan Performers professional dancer at Rhythm N Motion Dance!

http://www.bhamdance.com/