Fine Arts Academy of Dance

The waltz first became popular in the 1780s in Vienna, Austria. It was quite the scandalous dance at the time, due to the closed position and physical closeness between dance partners. Unlike other popular dances of the time, it was a couples dance and allowed the gentleman to grasp the lady's waist.

For students who want to challenge themselves, dance is a great opportunity. There are always new skills to master, new pieces to perform, and new styles to learn. A dancer will never have a chance to be bored.

Anna Pavlova was a Russian ballerina in the early part of the 20th century. The most famous female dancer and the first to partake in a world tour, she is widely known for her Dying Swan dance, which is still greatly admired today.

Dance is a perfect stress-buster. So if life tries to bring you down, just turn up the music and dance! It elevates your mood and gives you a sense of well-being.

Perhaps the true beauty of ballet is that you don’t have to have your heart set on a professional dancing career in order to get the benefits of training. Whether you want to improve flexibility or confidence, taking regular classes could help.

Alyssa Najera Congratulations Ballet Solo received Elite High Gold and Alyssa was 8th Overall High Score Winner

Ballet didn’t always include the elegant footwork we see today. In the early days of ballet, dancers wore masks and heavy costumes that were difficult to move around in.

There are many different types of the tango, each a derivative of or a building on previous styles. Tango can be danced with a space between the partners (known as open embrace), or with a closed embrace (where lead and follow is either through a chest-to-chest connection or at the upper thigh or hip area).

Do you know what a feather movement is? This is a foxtrot move that involves three progressive steps. The third step is usually taken with the woman in right outside partner position. Types of feather movements include feather step, feather finish, hover feather, curved feather, and back feather.

Unfortunately, some children have a greater excess of energy than others, which can cause them to have trouble in school and at home. When you provide your child with a healthy outlet for their energy, like dance, it can help him or her stay calm and focused even on days when he or she doesn't have a dance class.

Dance is a great way to build strength without hard impacts on the joint. Ballet in particular focuses on slow, methodical movements that help strengthen the body in a low impact way that can be easier on joints.

Tap dance is mainly of two types: Rhythm tap and Broadway tap. While Rhythm tap is more about the tapping sound, Broadway tap is more focused on dancing and often performed in musical theater.