DanceSteps Newsletter
                              February 2012
                                                                                                                                                                                                       
   WELCOME TO DANCESTEPS.   Tuesday, February 21, is Fat Tuesday and we have our 5th Annual Mardi Gras Party & Dance scheduled for Sat, February 25.  We hope you can join us for a great time at the Saddle Club - Mohanna & Red Shoes will be the band for the evening & we will have our music playing during their breaks.  The fun will start at 5:30 when DanceSteps will furnish appetizers & there will be a cash bar.  We will be "all decorated" for Mardi Gras & encourage to come with your best mask!  There will a prize for the best mask!!!  DanceSteps furnishes the appetizers, beads & the decor....you come for a great time with your mask on!!!  Dinner will be served at 6:30, which will be a 3 meat buffet with all of the trimmings that the Saddle Club is famous for & it's only $21 per person...that includes tax & tip! Reservations are required & we must receive payment by February 21st.  Dance to the great music of Mohanna & Red Shoes from 7:00 - 11:00.   Tim always know how to rock the place, so be prepared for a FUN, FUN time!!!!  Party City (the old Factory Card Outlet) is closed.  Check out some of these websites for masks & other fun things for Mardi Gras!!!  Just click on the name to go to each website.  I will have the sign up sheet for Mardi Gras in dance class....get your name on the list and get your money to me by class on Tues, Feb 21st!!!

If you refer someone to DanceSteps & they buy an 8 month annual membership or a 5 month spring membership on their first night...you get a FREE 30 minute Private Lesson.  RECRUIT, RECRUIT!!!  Private lessons are well worth the money....ask some of our students who have taken them!!  If you are interested in private dance lessons, contact Esther for available dates/times.  Private lessons are available for wedding parties, bride & groom, father of the bride, parents of the wedding couple...a variety of bridal packages available.  We also do private lessons for individuals & group private lessons if you don't want to change partners - contact Esther for more info and available dates/times 308-380-6073 or dance5678@dancestepsonline.com

We are developing a new page on our DanceSteps website devoted to Wedding couples, Bridal parties, etc.  If you are getting married or know someone who is, let them know that we have special packages for private dance lessons for their special dance.  If you refer a bridal couple, you will get a FREE 30 minute Private Lesson!!!  We will let you know when the page is finished. on our site  Meanwhile, we have flyers that you can hand out...just let us know that you need one.

  Our Tuesday night dance classes are at Full Circle Venue, 1010 Diers Avenue.  We have new classes starting on Tuesday, Jan 31 & run through Feb 28 (there will not be classes on Feb 14- Valentine's Day)  Beginning Salsa at 6:30, Beginning Eastcoast Swing at 7:15, Beg/Intermediate Nightclub 2Step at 8:00 and Intermediate Salsa at 8:45.  New classes start each month and run for 4 weeks.  Pre-registration is recommended.  Click on the Learn to Dance button, print off the form & mail to DanceSteps, 607 Linden Avenue, Grand Island, NE 68801, call 308-380-6073 or email dance5678@dancestepsonline.com
We will have our DanceSteps Practice Dance on the Thursday, February 9th. 

About our February Classes
Salsa - Salsa is the Spanish word for "sauce" denoting a spicy or hot flavor. As a dance it can be danced to a variety of different rhythms. Today's Salsa is the result of many years of rhythmical evolution due to economical social & political change. Salsa is the national music & dance of Puerto Rico. Many of the Salsa dance patterns are closely related to those of the Mambo & generically Salsa music encompasses many Afro-Latin rhythms.  You will use many of the moves that you've learned in Rumba & ChaCha when you dance Salsa.The rhythm of Salsa dancing is 1,2 3 (hold 4) 5,6,7 (hold 8).  So you are taking 3 steps to 4 beats of music.  While you won't hear a lot of Salsa music in the tri-cities area, there are many fun songs that Salsa can be danced to such as "Brown Eyed Girl", "Rhythm is Gonna Get You", "La Bamba", etc  Salsa is like a swing dance in that it is danced in the center of the floor to allow those who may do a progressive dance to move around the perimeter

Eastcoast Swing - Perhaps the most uniquely American of all dances, the Swing brings forth a buoyant carefree movement. It's one of the dances that becomes contagious.  Eastcoast Swing rhythm is 1&2, 3&4 rock step...the footwork normally is very close & the rock step is a 5th foot position...SMALL.  We always keep a slight bend in the arm so we "stay close" as we are dancing.  You will learn lots of fun turns & variations.  Eastcoast Swing can be danced to many kinds of music - Rock, Country, Blues & is a fun dance to learn!

Nightclub 2Step - A great dance that can be danced to many of the slower, ballad type songs, whether it be country or pop music.  Nightlcub 2Step can travel around the floor as well as being danced more in the center of the floor.  The rhythm of Nightclub 2 is slow, quick, quick - slow, quick, quick.  Because the rhythm is the same as Rumba, we can do similar moves but they have a totally different look in Nightclub 2.  Nightclub will travel more and moves to each side as it is danced and has a very fluid look to it.  When we do our quick, quick steps we always cross in front and move to the side.  Then when we take our next slow, it reverses back the other direction.  One of our favorite dances, we hope you will join us the next time we have Beginning Nightclub 2.

Special Events - SAVE THE DATE

Fri, Feb 3 - Emmet Bower Band at Full Circle Venue
Fri, Feb 3 - Singles Dance at PlaMor - Lincoln
Fri & Sat, Feb 3 & 4 - Sheila Greenland at Shooters, N Platte
Sun, Feb 5 - Dance at Hastings Eagles Club
Thurs, Feburary 9 - DanceSteps Practice Dance at Full Circle Venue
Fri, Feb 10 - Rich Mattison at Full Circle Venue
Fri & Sat, Feb 10 & 11 - Bases Loaded at Tiki Lounge
Sat, Feb 11 - Revival at the Saddle Club
Sun, Feb 12 - Lonny Lynn at Liederkranz
Sun, Feb 12 - Dance at Hastings Eagles Club
Tues, Feb 14 - Valentine's Dinner at Moonlight Ridge Winery with Meg's Catering -  reservations required - see Esther
Tues, Feb 14 - Revival at the Saddle Club
Sat, Feb 18 - HooDoo Band at Full Circle Venue - great variety band playing jazz & blues
Sat, Feb 18 - $50K Dance at Kearney Eagles with Bases Loaded
Sat, Feb 18 - The Innocence at Cunninghams Journal in Kearney
Sat, Feb 18 - USA Dance at the DelRay Ballroom in Lincoln
Sun, Feb 19 - Dance at Hastings Eagles Club
Sat, Feb 25 - DanceSteps Mardi Gras Party & Dance at the Saddle Club w/Mohanna & Red Shoes
                        Reservations & payment required by Feb 21st
Sun, Feb 26 - Dance at Hastings Eagles Club

Dance Classes for 2012- 4 - 40 minute classes on Tuesdays
Tuesday night classes will be held at the Full Circle Venue
At 6:30 - Couples Only Beg Class ~ 4 weeks of one dance style - Everyone will change partners in this class
At 7:15 - No Partner Needed Beginning Class ~ 4 weeks of one dance style - Everyone will change partners in this class
At 8:00 - Beg/Intermed Class ~ 4 weeks of one dance style - Everyone will change partners in this class
At 8:45 - Intermediate Class ~ 2 or  4 wks of one dance style - Changing partners will be optional in this class
Wednesday night classes will be held at Third City Taekwondo
8:00 - Couples Only Argentine Tango - check with Don or Esther about joining this group

*****NOTE*****
YOU MUST GET PERMISSION FROM DON OR ESTHER TO ATTEND THE BEG/INTERMEDIATE & INTERMEDIATE CLASSES
One 4 week Tues class session /month will be $30.00 pp or $55.00/couple
Two 4 week Tues class sessions /month will be $50.00 pp or $90.00/couple
Three 4 week Tues class sessions /month will be $65.00 pp or $115.00/couple
Four 4 week Tues class sessions /month will be $80.00 pp or $140.00/couple
Five month Spring Membership (Jan - May) for Tuesday classes only will be $200.00 per person
Three month Fall Membership (Sept - Nov) for Tuesday classes only will be $165.00 per person
Eight month Annual Membership (Jan - May & Sept -Nov) for Tuesday classes only will be $250.00 per person

A DanceSteps Gift Certificate is a great idea for any special occasion.  Gift Certificates can be given for Group or Private lessons and it's a wonderful way to introduce a friend or family member to one of the most fun exercises you can do.  It's a great way to meet friends and great motivator for "getting off of the couch".  Dancing is fun whether you're learning it for a special occasion, you're an "empty nester" or for social reasons.  There's always a opportunity to meet new friends when you dance.  If you have an upcoming wedding, we can do private group sessions with the entire wedding party, the bridal party, the bridal couple or whatever works best for you.  We work with numerous bridal couples throughout the year and it's always great to hear from them after the wedding on how well their dance went and how happy they are that took lessons before the wedding.
Private lessons are available on Tues prior to group classes starting, on Wed evenings from 6:00 - 10:00 & other days by appointment or availability.  For info & cost of private lessons, see Esther & we'll get you started.  We work with LOTS of bridal couples/parties, Father of the Bride/Bride dances, Bridal Couples First Dance, Anniversary parties/couples, couples embarking on cruises, etc.  Both Don & Esther and Ron & Nancy are available to work with you.  We always recommend you have enough time between private lessons to practice what you have learned....remember - try to PRACTICE 5 MINUTES A DAY!  Whether you've danced for years or are just starting dance lessons we hope you enjoy it & dance every opportunity you can.  Remember - DANCE LIKE NO ONE IS WATCHING and "When you get the chance to sit it out or dance.....WE HOPE YOU DANCE." 

While we no longer sell dance shoes, we highly recommend that you wear some type of smooth, leather sole dance shoes to dance classes. 
If you are interested in purchasing dance shoes, we can refer some sites for you to try:
1. www.showtimedanceshoes.com    2. www.carmensdanceshoes.com    3. www.featherdanceshoes.com 
4. www.werner-kern.com    5. www.toe2toe.com    6. www.dancesavvy.com
Keep in mind, that while you can buy some dance shoes cheap that the "cheapest" shoes are not necessarily going to hold up and they may not be the most comfortable shoes for dancing when you consider the length of time you may spend on your feet dancing. 
Shoes that we don't recommend are tennis shoes or sneakers, open back shoes, shoes with thick soles (they don't allow your feet to "connect" with the floor), spike or very high heels for ladies, etc,  If you don't want to invest in dance shoes & cannot find leather sole shoes when you are shopping - try to find shoes with a "thinner" sole on them so you have more contact with the floor.  Dancers who wear leather sole dress shoes will also find that they don't need DANCE WAX while they are dancing!!

Some popular styles of dance shoes are shown below.  If you want info on where to find these shoes, let me know and I will send you the info in an email.....


 Try to attend Beginning classes each week for the dances we feature each month.  This is especially true if you are just starting lessons...it is very difficult to catch up if you miss classes when you are just starting to take lessons. The first week of each month we work basically on the frame, timing, footwork, etc of the dances.  If this is your fist time to attend lessons with DanceSteps, you need to attend the first week to take the other Beginning lessons for the month.  You will have 4 weeks of the basic step and rhythm & you’ll learn at least one turn or new move each week.  At the end of the month, you should be able to dance some basic moves in each dance.  Watch our calendar & read the emails that come out weekly to find out about places you can go dancing and other fun events.  Practice by attending the Singles Dances on Fridays – 1^st Friday - Hastings Eagles,  3^rd Friday - Platt-Duetsche, 5th Friday - St Paul Legion.  Come to group classes - meet other dancers & find out what's going for the weekend.  If this is your first time dancing, you might feel self conscious dancing in front of your peers.  Don’t get discouraged, keep coming to class & repeat the Beginning classes several times.

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dance5678@dancestepsonline.com