Up To Date News Lessons - Dances Beginning Swing 1 & 2 - (Jitterbug) WE ARE STILL OFFERING PRIVATE LESSONS FOR INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS FALL & WINTER SPECIAL PRICING: One person = $40/hour
To Be Added To Our Email List - See Bottom of Page!
Parties & News
Classes in Hidden Valley 6 week course starting March. 3rd at 6:30 - 7:30 PM - cost $60 / person
Intermediate Swing - (Jitterbug)
Classes in Hidden Valley 6 week course starting March. 3rd at 7:30 - 8:30 PM - cost $60 / person... please preregistor the this class. Held in the Hidden Valley Country Club. Call us for more info.
2 people = $55/hour, For Groups or Multi Session Discounts
Please call us 707 995-4077
ABOUT US
Bill and Linda Jensen take a fresh approach to teaching dance. While they were being instructed themselves they would carefully note what and how they would have liked to have learned. They have brought all these ideas and skills into their teaching as well as having a great sense of humor. They also teach partner dancing as a relationship between two people just as in real life. This can be used in a partner relationship, family, work or just in your everyday friendships. After taking their classes you will have learned to dance better, and to live better.
Bill and Linda have taken many lessons from world renowned professional dance instructors and feel they bring the best to their dance instruction. They both have been dancing and teaching for many years. Many of their pass students are enjoying the art of dance all over the world. Join them and find passion in dance.
Testimonial:
| The classes with Bill and Linda are great we have learned so much over the last year. I really didn't want to dance but my wife had to force me, now she can't stop me. Bill and Linda have made the classes so enjoyable that we continue to return month after month and learn new techniques. If you are looking for fantastic teachers and something fun to do, this is the place. - Frank Dollosso |
DANCE LESSONS OFFERED
We are currently offering classes in Salsa, Swing, Lindy Hop and Night Club 2 Step
For other dance style classes see bottom of this section.
Pricing for the group classes and schedules please see News Flash section above.
Pricing on Private Lessons: One person - $40/hour, 2 people - $60/hour.
Salsa, is the most popular dance in the world and our favorite. You can go to any country and dance Salsa. It is a fast, hot, sexy latin flavored dance.
Salsa is usually a partner dance form that corresponds to salsa music. In some forms, it can also appear as a performance dance. The word is the same as the Spanish word salsa meaning sauce or hot, or in this case flavor or style.
Salsa is danced on music with a recurring eight-beat pattern, i.e. two bars of four beats. Salsa patterns typically use three steps during each four beats, one beat being skipped. However, this skipped beat is often marked by a tap, a kick, a flick, etc. Typically the music involves complicated percussion rhythms and is fast with around 180 beats per minute. In Salsa a couple does not travel over the dance floor much, but rather occupies a fixed area on the dance floor.
Salsa music is a fusion of traditional African and Cuban and other Latin-American rhythms that traveled from the islands (Cuba and Puerto Rico) to New York during the migration, somewhere between the 1940s and the 1970s, depending on where one puts the boundary between "real" salsa and its predecessors. There is debate as to whether Salsa originated in Cuba or Puerto Rico. Salsa is one of the main dances in both Cuba and Puerto Rico and is known world-wide. The dance steps currently being danced to salsa music come from the Cuban son, but were influenced by many other Cuban dances such as Mambo, Cha, Guaracha, Changui, Lukumi, Palo Montel, Rumba, Yambu, Abakua, Comparsa and some times even Mozambique. It also integrates swing dances. There are no strict rules of how salsa should be danced, although one can distinguish a number of styles when viewed around the world.
Swing , (Also known as: East coast swing, 6 count swing or jitterbug).
East Coast Swing is a social partner dance primarily derived from the Eastern Swing Dance. Eastern Swing, in turn, was evolved from Foxtrot or more specifically its leaping version known as Shag. Furthermore, many aspects of East Coast Swing were, and still are, influenced by Charleston and Lindy Hop. In many dance studios and classes, East Coast Swing is taught as one of the first forms of swing dance because of its forgiving nature when a mistake is made and its relatively simple step routine.
East Coast Swing is the modern form that is a fusion of its early counterparts Eastern Swing and Lindy which were street dances. This form of swing dance utilizes both six and 8 count patterns. The name East Coast Swing was coined to initially be a divider between the street form and the new variant used in the competitive ballroom arena.While based on Eastern Swing, it does have clear distinctions. Eastern Swing was never standardized and later evolved into several forms such as: (European) Boogie Woogie, Jive, East Coast Swing, and Rock & Roll.
Depending on the region, the basic step of East Coast Swing is either "rock step, step, step" or "step, step, rock step". Despite the differing order, the rock step is always taken on a major beat of the music and, therefore, will result in the exact same dance. An evolution to the basic step, often seen on dance floors during slow songs, is a triple step rather than a single step resulting in a basic move of "rock step, triple step, triple step".
The Jitterbug is a term used to describe various types of swing dancing. The name comes from an early 20th century slang term used to describe alcoholics who suffered from the "jitters". This term was famously associated with swing era dancers by band leader Cab Calloway because, as he put it, "They look like a bunch of jitterbugs out there on the floor" due to their fast often bouncy movements.
Nightclub Two Step, was initially developed by Buddy Schwimmer in the mid-1960s. It is known as one of the most romantic dances.
It is frequently danced to mid-tempo ballads in 4/4 time. Some think it has evolved to include elements from other dances such as Rumba and New York Hustle.
The Nightclub Two Step basic step takes eight beats. Typically it's danced in American-style dance position with a more relaxed hold than typical ballroom dances. The leader rocks back on his left foot, the follower on her right, for one beat. Then both partners replace weight on the second part of the first beat. On the next beat, the leader takes a step to the left and the follower to the right. Then both partners repeat, but on opposite feet (the man rocks back on his right foot and moves to the right).
The "official" rhythm for the basic step is quick-quick slow, although some prefer to start on the slow, usually on beat two of the music. Other rhythms for Nightclub Two Step rhythms are also possible. Beginners should realize that the quick-quick slow rhythm is just one possibility. Also, you don't have to keep that rhythm going continuously. Several slow steps in succession are often effective to evoke the romantic feeling associated with nightclub dancing.
The creator of the dance, Buddy Schwimmer has suggested that various tango steps be combined with two step. This combining of various styles just makes for a richer dance experience. Remember it is a nightclub dance -- not a ballroom dance -- so there is room for a lot of improvisation and creativity. Have fun with it.
Other Classes and Dance Styles
For other dance styles or classes not shown in the calendar of events (found on the home page), please send us a request for that style and we'll notify you via email when we will be doing that certain dance. Also let us know anything else you would like us to do. We love hearing from our students and the general public.
Please contact us if you desire a Private Lesson and for pricing. Privates available for individuals, Couples or Groups.
Email us with your requests at : Dance@TheSerenityPlace.com
VIDEOS
We are busy at work producing more videos for your purchase. Our new DVD videos are only $25.00 and cover a full two month of courses. For example the Beg. Swing is for Beg. Jan & 2 as listed below and so forth. Each dance move is broken down into the following sections:
* Preview of Move * Overview * Lead & Follow * Footwook * Practice
We guarantee that you will be able to learn to dance with these DVD Videos and of course with practice. Available DVD's are listed below. To order just give us a call or write us and we will save you a copy for pick up or we can ship it anywhere in the continental USA for an additional $5.00
HOT SALSA VIDEOS - DVD
Beginning Salsa Jan & 2 - Moves in 1st Combo Moves in 2nd Combination
1. Standard Basic to Woman's Outside Turn
2. Basic to Man's Pivot Turn
3. Open Break to a Woman's Inside Turn
4. Basic Cross Body Lead (Open)
1. Open Break Switching Hands R to R to Woman's Outside Turn
2. Man's Pivot Turn to Head Duck
3. Circling Closed Basic / Circling Cross Body's
4. Walk Sequence to Woman's Outside Turn
Intermediate Salsa Jan & 2 - Moves in 1st Combo Moves in 2nd Combination
1. 2 Way C B L - Hammerlock to Woman's Inside Turn
2. Windmill
3. 2 Way CBL - L to L Inside Turn, Head Loop
4. She Goes Wrap Around, Man's L Turn, Woman's R Turn
1. Man's Wrap - Woman's Waist Spin
2. Around the World with Circling Inside Turn
3. Rope Spin R to R Outside Turn
4. Man's Pivot & Hook Turn
COOL SWING - DVD
Beginning Swing Jan & 2 - Moves in 1st Combination
1. Basic to Woman's Outside Turn
2. Man's Wrap
3. Woman's Inside Turn
4. Closed Basic to Tuck Turn
Moves in 2nd Combination
1. She Goes, He Goes L to R, Woman's & Man's Left Turns
2. Woman's Outside Turn, Man's Right Turn to Back Hand Switch
3. Sweetheart to Outside Turn
4. Closed Tuck Turn with Free Spin
Intermediate Swing 1& 2 - Moves in 1st Combination
1. Step Crosses - Tuck Out
2. She Goes, He Goes
3. Tap on the Back
4. Cuddle to Spin (Roll) Out to free spin
Moves in 2nd Combination
1. Circling Step Crossovers
2. Frankie's Strut
3. Hammerlock, to She Goes - He Goes
4. Windmill
Night Club 2 Step - DVD
NC2S Beginning to Intermediate - Moves in Combination
BEGINNING SECTION
1. Side Basic, Woman's Outside Turn
2. Flip Flops
3. Left Turning Basic
4. Left Turning Basic with Inside Roll
5. Cuddle to Fake Cuddles
6. Inside Turn Switch to Cross Chasses
INTERMEDIATE SECTION
1. Side Basic, Woman's Outside Turn
2. Open Break to Push Spin
3. Basic Spot Turn to Pick Up
4. Right Turning Basic
5. Right Turning Basic with Outside Roll
6. R to R Cut In to Back Circles
7. L to L Inside Roll to Pick Up and Man's Head Loops
FINDING US
Please Visit the "Contact Us" Page
CONTACT:
Serenity Place Dancing
2305 Serenity Place, Clearlake, CA 95422
707 995-4077 - Dance@TheSerenityPlace.com
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