Tips to get ready for your Quinceanera

The Quinceanera is a traditional Mexican dance. It can be compared to a debutante ball, as it is a coming of age dance. Young women practice for months, even years for their first Quinceanera. The actual celebration is more like a debutante’s ball where the girls who are of age are presented in society by parents. Though it seems quaint in this day and age, it is an age old and much loved tradition. 

Like a debutante’s ball, the girl’s first dance in the Quinceanera is with her father. Then she will dance with the person who is escorting her. She can give the following dances to whomsoever she may wish. The Quinceanera dance is usually choreographed these days and the girl who is being presented will definitely go to a choreography class for months before the Quinceanera. It is a big event for the entire family and everyone who is of importance will be invited. 

History of the Quinceanera

The Quinceanera is as popular today among the Mexicans as centuries ago. Its origins seem to stretch as far back as the Aztecs. Legend has it that girls were considered ready for marriage around the age of 15 in the ancient Aztec community and the Quinceanera was the way that girls were introduced to the community as ready to be married. The ancient Quinceanera dances may have been performed by girls to entice young men and get a suitable male to marry and be looked after for life.

Different kinds of Quinceanera

There are different levels of Quinceaneras. There are communal ones where many girls are introduced at the same time to society and the cost of the event can be shared among the parents. Wealthier families have Quinceaneras for their daughters where she is the main attraction. These Quinceaneras can be quite extravagant. Sometimes the girl being introduced dances a Quinceanera, but there may be many choreographed dances by hired dancers as well. It is entertainment for the entire evening and the dances can be difficult but absolutely stunning to watch.

The Quinceanera event

There are many parts to a Quinceanera event. The music and dance are one part of it. Many people get well known Quinceanera bands to play popular Quinceanera songs for the dances. There are many mixed tapes of popular Quinceanera bands. Then there is the food, drinks, going home gifts, gifts for the young girl. It is as splendid as a sweet sixteen party. The Quinceanera dress is an event in itself. All young girls want to have the most breathtaking, unique Quinceanera dress that can be bought and months are spent designing the perfect Quinceanera dress.

Choreography for the Quinceanera event

People take the choreography for the Quinceanera event very seriously. The type of dancing and the group that performs reflects the status of the family, so no effort is spared. 

What to look for in a Quinceanera class?

Remember, when you sign up for a Quinceanera class, it is tough and you need teachers who will be able to coax the best out of you. Joining a bunch of dancers is fine, but if you are performing for an audience, you may need a one-on-one class. The same dancers who choreographed your dance will choreograph your dance with your father, your escort or anybody else you wish to dance with. They will be more than willing to send their troupe to dance at your event. You could probably get the whole deal as a package. 

So make sure that the Quinceanera class that you sign up for is referred and you know that they are good enough to make your Quinceanera a resounding success.

So you want to dance?

Dancing as an art form and as a form of exercise has become quite popular. With many T.V. shows and movies being made about dance competitions, people now want to get in on the act and learn some moves themselves. The craze cuts across all ages. Children want to join dance classes, learn dancing and participate in different dance competitions. Adults view dancing as a form of exercise or a new skill to learn. You even have senior citizens who have always wanted to learn new forms of dancing and didn’t have the time, joining classes, now that they do have time. 

Benefits of dancing

For children

Do you know that three in five children under the age of ten are predicted to be overweight by 2050? Dancing is a great way to keep fit. There are many types of dances and children find dancing fun. Every style of dance is disciplined and has techniques involving precision and control that will have to be learnt. Dancing will build your child’s flexibility, coordination and posture. It gives them an all round enjoyable experience. It is a great way to expend all their energy. Most dance classes have group dance lessons too and they learn all about teamwork and how to stay focused.

Being good at something new gives their confidence a great boost. Not all kids in school know how to dance and having a special talent is always helpful wherever they go.

For adults

Dancing is a great stress buster. Moving to music at the end of a long day is a great way to relax. Joining a dance class also opens new opportunities for you. Most dance classes will know about competitions being held for different types of dancing and if you are a sporty person and have a competitive steak, this is a great way to explore those possibilities.

In a dance class, you get to meet a whole lot of new people who share the same love for dance as you. When dancing with other people, you are motivated to step up your game. Dancing tones your body, makes your posture better, makes you more graceful and is a great way to keep in shape. Instead of going to the gym and working out by yourself alone, you get to work out with others and end up having the time of your life.

For seniors

It is never too late to learn a new skill. Dancing is one of the most popular hobbies that senior citizens learn. It is amazing to see sprightly, old men and women doing the most nimble work with their feet and doing an even better job of it than youngsters. Dance classes have become a fun way for the elderly to remain fit. It is a place where they can make new friends and pass their time in a fun environment.

Dance the blues away

The benefits of dancing are many. It is a fun way to stay fit and healthy. It tones your body in a different way than working out at a gym does. It is an aerobic form of activity that strengthens important core muscles and shapes the body more than muscling it up.

It is a great way to meet people and many a fruitful friendship has been born in a dance class. It is a group exercise and doing anything in the company of others is much more fun than doing it alone.

It adds grace to your movements, aids your posture and makes you more nimble. It is an all round fun activity!

Merengue - The latest craze in dancing

Merengue is a popular dance form that originated in the Dominican Republic. It was introduced and started gaining popularity in our country around the mid 19th century. The dance form is influenced by ‘decema’ and ‘plena’, well known Spanish dance techniques. Another theory is that the Merengue is influenced by the ‘Meringue’ which has its origins in Haiti. The music is in Creole and it is a slower dance.

Originally Merengue was known as the "Merengue Tipico" and the music was played on the accordion, box bass, sax, a double ended drum and a guyano. It was an explicit dance with a lot of sensuality and the lyrics often carried overt sexual and political statements. It was a way for people of the lower class to express themselves and it was shunned by the upper classes. The Merengue has come far since those rebellious days.

There are many stories about the origins of this dance, some of them quite strange like the one about the man with a limp having started it. He danced in awkward leaps and bounds but with such joy and abundance that the sheer energy and rhythm caught people’s attention. Some believe that was how Merengue started. Maybe it did, maybe it didn’t. But Merengue is here to stay.

Merengue and the Dominican Republic

 

It is the official dance of the Dominican Republic. They have an annual Merengue Festival in July. There are parades and people dress in colorful, fabulous clothes as they walk down the street, dancing the Merengue in tune with live bands.

Form of the Merengue

 

This dance form is fast paced with a lot of energy and very quick movements. The movements are concentrated on the lower part of the body and the upper body hardly moves at all. So it is a combination of speed and calm as the lower part of the body gyrates furiously to the music and the upper body stays motionless. Rafael Turjillo, a former President of the country made the art form popular during his run for presidency by using it for his political rally. It lost its appeal after he died, but came into its own when the first internationally well-known musician from the Dominican Republic, Johnny Ventura, started promoting the dance form.

Merengue catches on in New York

 

New York, the great melting pot of cultures where all kinds of art forms are first introduced to, and then spread out was where the Merengue first caught the attention of the American public. It was with the influx of people from the Dominican Republic that it gained popularity.

This dance form is quite the craze now. If you are born into a family of Dominican origin, the dance is almost a rite of passage. But if you aren’t, don’t worry. You can still learn the Merengue as the dance has become popular not only for its movement and music but is now taken up as a great and fun way to stay fit. There are dance classes and choreography schools all over the Bay Area and after a stressful day, the sheer energy of the Merengue is sure to help you wind down.

There are artists who play music primarily for this dance form and you can pick up the albums, and dance to the beat in your own home at any time of the day, once you’ve mastered the dance.

Dance has a universal language and learning a new dance is always fun and interesting. Meeting people who share the same passion is an added attraction. Though the Merengue is a fast paced, gyrating dance, learning it in a disciplined, choreographed way will help you master this dance.

The beauty of dance

What would life be without music and dance? The pleasure that these arts bring us is indescribable. All your problems seem to vanish while you step in tune to the music. Whether it is an evening at a club, jiving with friends or a more streamlined kind of dancing like ballroom or salsa, dancing is an excellent stress-buster. It is no wonder that more people are taking up dancing as an alternative form of exercise and as a way to stay fit. You are doing something that is enjoyable, learning something new, making new friends and toning your body all in one go. 

History of dance  

Webster’s Dictionary defines dance as ‘moving rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps.’ Dancing has its roots in ancient rituals and pageantry and has been practiced, passed down and has evolved through centuries. It is still evolving as new dance moves and new steps are choreographed almost every day.

Even choreographed dancing has been around for a long time. Many cultures have intricate dance steps for various rituals which are passed down from generation to generation. Since dance is a form of movement, there is not much evidence left behind of exactly when humans actually started the art of dancing. The earliest recorded evidence of dance is found in rock paintings from between 3000 to 4000 B.C.

Different kinds of dances  

Every culture has evolved its own form of dancing, each one unique in their own way and beautiful when done well. Salsa originated in Spain, ballet is said to have its roots in France, ballroom dancing which was called court dancing was all the rage across Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries. Over the 21st century, tap dancing, jiving, contemporary dancing, hip-hop etc, were introduced taking dancing to another level.

There may be many variations and combinations to dancing, but the one thing they all have in common, is the pleasure they give to the dancers and their audience.

Benefits of dancing  

1. Learning something new is always exciting. It is a well-known fact that one of the ‘must-do’s on most people’s lists is to learn a new kind of dance.
2. Dancing is a form of exercise and is a very good way to workout. Any kind of dancing, even if it is in your own room with the music turned up loud will definitely help you lose weight and tone up. But going to a class is much more fun.
3. Learning to dance with other people pushes you to do better. You learn faster as you try to keep to the rhythm of others. The sequence of the steps is disciplined, and by following them you are learning to control and discipline your body. You will be amazed at how much better your posture and gait become once you start dancing. It makes every movement you make graceful. You will always be able to recognize a dancer by the way they move.
4. You will meet other people who share the same interests as you, and you can be sure that you will be looking forward to your dance classes every day.

 Don’t dream about it, do it!  

How often have you watched ‘Dancing with the stars’, or ‘So you think you can dance’, and envied the grace and seamless flow of movement? Granted, that many of the dancers on these shows have been practicing from a young age. But it is never too late to learn dancing. A surprisingly large number of senior citizens sign up for dance lessons. Don’t just dream about dancing, go ahead and do it!