There are plenty of keys to happiness, and dancing just so happens to be one of them! The art of ballroom dancing has been alive since the 16th century peaking in the 19th and 20th century after the incorporation of the two step, tango, and waltz. Thanks to tv shows such as Dancing With The Stars, this elegant art form is back and in the spotlight of the dance world.

Ballroom dancing is a wonderful way for people to get in shape while also releasing their creative juices. This goes past benefiting your body to also benefiting your state of mind and social connections. Dancing is a great social activity, and it has been proving that socializing regularly can have many health benefits.

Uplifting & Fun

Not many activities are as joyful as these artistic dance moves. Low energy, gloominess, and negativity are not allowed on this fun filled dance floor. Concentrating on moving your body to the beat of the music instantaneously puts you in a positive head space. While newcomers may spend extra time concentrating on getting their moves right, the instruction is always given in a lively and upbeat manner. After you get the moves down, it will be pure fun.

Muscle Toning

You will most definitely develop more strength and muscle definition. Ballroom dancing contributes to muscle toning by forcing the dancers to resist their partner’s body strength. The fast turns and spinning all contribute to muscle building. Men, in particular, have instances of lifting their lady partners which requires a great deal of strength! If you plan on joining in on these highly intensive dance moves, be prepared for sexy and toned legs.

Bones & Joints

Since dancing is a weight resisting activity, it can help protect bone density and prevent osteoporosis. It can also help speed up knee recovery after surgery since it’s a lower impact exercise than jogging or biking. If you have weak knees or are gradually introducing your body to exercise, ballroom dancing is a great low-impact activity that can promote a fit lifestyle while also decreasing your chances of exercise related injury.

Flexibility

Flexibility is a major benefit of ballroom dancing. Most ballroom classes start by stretching and warming up. This is important because stretching can protect against dance related injuries and allow your body to dance at ease. Ballroom dancing itself contains plenty of stretching and bending. Therefore the more you dance, the more flexible you will become.

Brain Food

In a 2016 study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, it was concluded that ballroom dancing, as well as other forms of social dancing, can help prevent the onset of dementia in elderly patients. A lifestyle highly infused with partnered dancing can produce even stronger mental health benefits. The partnered benefits can also decrease loneliness for the elderly.

Burns Fat

Dancing is a low-impact aerobic activity that can boost your metabolism. In just thirty minutes of dancing you can burn anywhere between 200 to 400 calories. That’s roughly the same amount burned by running or cycling. Burning an extra 300 calories a day can help you lose between 0.5 to 1 pound a week. While that may not sound too drastic, 1 pound a week adds up pretty quick!

Creative Outlet

Ballroom dancing is an amazing creative outlet! Not only does it allow you to move your hips at ease to the beat of the music, it also allows you to release your emotions and thoughts through those artistic moves. The art of dancing is something that comes naturally to people. This makes it an easy activity for anyone to be in.

Conditioning

Engaging in just about any cardiovascular or aerobic activity can help improve your heart health, lower obesity, and type 2 diabetes risk, and also promote lung capacity. These full body conditioning benefits can be elevated by engaging in dance for at least half an hour, four days a week. While that may sound like a big commitment to make, it is one that your body will thank you for it in the long run.

Endurance

Dancing is an effective way to improve general endurance. As the dance sessions get longer and longer, your muscles will be working harder and for a longer period of time. In turn, you will find yourself being able to go on with little to no fatigue. Every time you brush up on your moves you are also training your body to go on for longer periods of time with less succumbing.

Social Connectivity

Joining a ballroom dance class will expose you to a sea of new people who may potentially share common interests with you. Instead of spending your evenings glued to your television screen, you can engage in uplifting conversations and strengthen your social connections by trying this partnered activity. It’s been proven that being more social can help improve self-esteem, lower stress levels, increase sense of purpose, and promote a positive outlook on life.

We would like to congratulate our studio students and professionals on their success at Atlanta Open Dancesport Championships 2017 this past weekend!

What a night to remember!

Thank you to all our students, friends, and supporters who came out to celebrate our 6 year studio anniversary.

We look forward to many more years to continue teaching and inspiring people through dance in our community.

"A dance teacher helps their students find the song in their heart the beat in their feet and a passion for life."

"The Legends" show was literally a showstopper!

Congratulations to the entire cast! You all did a phenomenal job and we are so proud of everything you have accomplished Saturday night.

Each performer pushed themselves to the next level and grew in different ways.

It will truly be a night to remember.

If the title of this article got your attention, you have probably thought of taking your child to a ballroom dance studio. But, if you feel that you are lacking information or “effectiveness” of this sport activity, let us make it easier for you.

Here are a few on point statements on why your child should definitely get involved in ballroom dancing:

Music & Movement

Do you remember the first time you heard music? Of course you do! You have heard the beat, the melody, a singing voice perhaps. It might have sounded strange at first, but it was so irresistible. Then, there was no explanation to your further actions. You started moving your body, wiggled your hands and legs, and we bet you were smiling too. The best part of this, all of it was natural.

From birth, everyone has the natural feel for music. We can dance to, pretty much, anything. However, if our dance is lacking structure, it will look repetitive, a bit primitive, and probably chaotic. The core of ballroom dancing is based entirely on structure, which almost instantly gets applied to music. With practice and some help from instructors, your child will not only develop a stronger inner feel for music, but will be able to apply their moves to it. Not to mention, that it will be done with a partner.

Body Development

You can spot a ballroom dancer from far. A bit of loftiness, flow of movement, and the most commonly noticeable factor, the posture. It is fascinating to watch a ballroom dancer go through a crowded place. Since floor craft is trained from an early age, you probably will not see them collide with anyone. Besides, ballroom dancing has a much higher contrast in movement. From slow and continuous to sharp and static. Try running for a minute and a half, make a sudden stop to catch a quick breath, then run faster for another minute and a half. Oh, and while you’re at it, keep your hands to the sides and don’t drop them down, and do it all to the music with a partner. Got the picture?

Art & Culture

Dancing is bodily expression to music. In case of ballroom dancing, expression to music happens with a partner. The culture behind every ballroom dance has been developed over the years, which means, your child will be exposed to some history. Of course, the cultural and historical details for each dance will vary depending on the amount of knowledge of the instructor, but generally, the idea of each dance will be clear. The beginning of the learning process will be strict and bold, but further into the future, more emphasis will be put into the character of each dance and the expression it could be danced with.

Mutual Love & Respect

We live in a society where violence is not permissive. And, indeed, this is how it should be. But, unfortunately, it seems that mass media promotes more violence, while trying to prevent it. In the age of technology and easy-to-reach information, with the graphical content that accompanies it, we are aware of bad news much sooner, and our children are no exception. At early age common sense and rationality are at early stages of development, thus everything your child sees is taken “As Is”.

So, how can ballroom dancing help to promote peace?

In 1994, Pierre Dulaine, a ballroom dancer founded Dancing Classrooms, a non-for-profit with a mission to use the vocabulary of ballroom dance to cultivate the positive feelings that are inherent in every child. Kids are required to partner up, learn different dances together and eventually showcase at a local dance competition. Later, Pierre took the project to his home country, Israel where children of long-term enemies Jews and Arabs had to learn how to dance together. The results where quite fascinating.

Dreams & Goals

Thinking back, almost every kid in the dance industry wants to become a champion. Some have stuck to their dreams and reached their goals. Some had smaller goals and did their best to achieve them. It is fascinating to observe the physical and emotional involvement of all the kids, parents, and coaches.

So, you still question if your kids should Ballroom Dance?

Article provided by www.DanceCompReview.com

Congratulations to Dmitriy & Gabriela on their win this weekend!!! They became the Eastern United States 10 Dance Champions.

Great job to our beautiful student DeAnn for dancing very well today in her single dances and championships at Yuletide Ball.

Receiving 1st and 2nd in her single dances and 2nd and 3rd in her championships. We love being part of your dance journey and proud of what you have accomplished so far.

Now for the next challenge!

We would like to congratulate all of our students and instructors who competed at the Heritage Classic Dancesport Championships in Asheville, NC this weekend.

We are proud of every single person especially because it was something new for each one of them. Everything from a new category, new competition, to the very first competition it was an exciting couple of days.

We would also like to thank all of those who came out to support.

Last but not least we would like to thank the organizers Colin & Joy Hillary for such a marvelous event as always.

Hard Work & Dedication

To be truly and completely dedicated to something takes determination. Pig headed, horse blinders type dedication. Success in life or dancing takes just that. Those willing to put in the effort will reap the reward.

Pushing Past Your Limits

No teacher ever wants to see their student fail. However, a good teacher will push you past your comfort zone to a place you never knew existed in you. Growth is not easy and doesn’t come cheap. You will pay with your sweat and your tears and probably a few blisters. At the other end you will find you were capable of much more than you ever thought possible. That teacher who pushed and pushed did so because they saw something in you that was better than what you were passing off as your best.

Humility

In life, you win some and you lose some. What separates the winners from the losers is how you deal with those situations. No one wants to be around the winner who’s a jerk about it later, and no one wants to be around the loser who cries about it for days afterwards. You take your lumps and life lessons and your wins and successes and you move on. No matter the outcome, you are amazing for showing up and putting in the work to get there.

The Importance Of Teamwork

You can’t do it all yourself! You have a partner who is 50% of everything the judges see. Everyone needs to be giving their all 100% of the time or else the partnership suffers. Even in practice you have to know your partner is there for you and vice versa.

Passion Creates Beauty

Yes, dancing creates beautiful lines and movement on the dance floor. But having passion creates beauty in all aspects of your life. When you are passionate you think longingly all day long, you smile more, you are excited more, you laugh more. Passion creates confidence which affects everything from the way you hold yourself to the way you treat other people. Passion creates a light in you that shines for the world to see, and that is a beautiful thing.

Congratulations to our own Dmitriy Solomakha & Gabriela Sevillano for becoming 2016 World Professional 10 Dance Semi Finalists!

Dance Center USA Performing at the International House Gala!

Swing

Whether the music is Big Band, Rock, or R&B Swing will keep you secure on the dance floor in any social dance environment.

Rumba

Weddings are filled with romance, so plan on some slow music. While others are gently swaying side to side doing their best Junior prom impersonation, you'll be dancing the Rumba, the elevated, grown up way to slow dance.

Merengue

Need to fake your way through some uptempo music? How about an Electric Slide alternative? Whether it is EDM, Disco, or a conga line, Merengue is how a dancer keeps points when the music gets fast.

Foxtrot

It is the money dance and the DJ is in an eclectic kind of mood. His lineup is "L-O-V-E", by Nat King Cole, "They Can't Take That Away From Me" by Ella Fitzgerald, and "I Get A Kick Out Of You" by Frank Sinatra. With this dance you travel around the dance floor, look cooler than one of the Ocean's 11, and can hold a pleasant conversation the entire time.

Salsa

If you haven't heard, Salsa is a pretty popular dance. This may not be the featured type of music for the DJ, the newlyweds, and her Dad picking up the tab. When it is played, however, you need to be there. It shows that you've got Latin moves.

Learning to dance the right way is all about preparation. You can't control when your friends are getting married, but you can control if you RSVP to be there. Can't control the music they are playing, but you can control the variety of dances you know so you can dance to everything. This list shows that you can be sophisticated, fun, hip, and can keep the party going.

Congratulations to our instructors Dmitriy and Gabriela for becoming United States National Professional 10 Dance Finalists and placing 5th.

They danced really well all week long and would like to thank all of their coaches, supporters, and students for always being there.

Now preparations for the World Championships in October!

Happy 5 Year Anniversary Dance Center USA!

We would like to thank all our loyal students, friends, and supporters for the opportunity to teach, inspire, and grow our passion in this community. It is only the beginning and we are very excited what the future will bring.

What an amazing celebration was on Saturday! Those who could not physically be there we know you were there in spirit.

We look forward to the growth of our studio and will keep on giving our best. We are privileged that Dance Center USA has become one of the best dance schools in our area.

Thank you all again and let's keep on dancing!

Congratulations to Dan Mace for becoming 2016 Dancing With The Stars Fort Mill Champion.

Awesome dancing tonight for the entire cast!

Kara Ward, Dana Boutwell, Michele Branning, and Chuck Boozer, you guys were fantastic!

Unforgettable evening!

Thank you to Lisa McCarley and many others for organizing this event again and supporting the community.