The Floors you Dance On - Why They are Important

As a dancer, if you develop a bad technique, you will get hurt.

The same goes for flooring - if you dance on a bad floor, you will get hurt.

One of the reasons I picked the building I did to open The Studio was the wood floor.  I knew the natural spring was a better option than dancing on a cement sub-floor (which gives no absorption).  When dancing, movements repeated over and over put strain on particular muscles, ligaments and bones and lead to chronic pain and injuries such as Stress Fractures.  Have you ever left class with a pain that is different that the "good pain"?

A couple of things to consider when you are looking for the perfect studio to make your home as a student or member:

1. Surface.  Simply laying a laminate over concrete is not good enough for even recreational dancers. Wooden flooring offers natural spring, and allows disperse the force over the area.

2.  Condition of surface.  When dance floors are cleaned with a dirty mop and a bucket of water, or layered up with diluted Coke, run.  The sticky build up will do harm.

Ultimately, consider the floor you are dancing on if you find you have joint and shin pain and pressure.  It's is just as important as learning good technique.

Good technique, good floor - injury-free!

Bad floor, good technique - injury.

Good floor, bad technique - injury.

Bad technique, bad floor - run!

Creating a Positive Dance Environment

Maine Dance and Fitness will host it's first annual spring show June 2015.  The theme is Love Revolution.  It's not meant to be overly emotional and sickeningly sweet - it basically comes down to changing the world with kindness.  There isn't some hidden political message, but quite simply an opportunity for performers to demonstrate the results of their dedication this year.

I wanted to do something the first year that conveys the mission of the studio - to provide quality dance education in a positive and uplifting environment.  

How can we do that as dance professionals?

Model Positive Behavior

Your child will be a product of their learning environment.  If they are spending time in a studio or learning from an individual that is known for being an adult bully, they will learn these behaviors.  There is always a better option.  I can tell you as someone that has performance experience beyond my undergraduate studies, that you will not book gigs if you have a bad attitude.  There is always someone more talented, always someone that will work harder - having a good attitude will make people want to work with you.  As a kid, learning this early on will open more doors, whether it's opens to a stage or not.

Creating optimism begins with the adult.  It's not just a matter of professionalism on the teacher's part - it's lifelong interpersonal communication skills.  

Focus on Effort

Part of the incredible thing about dance is the process.  I definitely celebrate a kid hitting a perfect leap or busting out a new trick, but also find it's really important to appreciate the process.  If a student is taking a little longer to get something, the fact they are trying is a big deal.  I don't want kids to feel bad if they aren't getting something.  You will literally fall in dance.  Get back up (laugh at yourself if you want) and keep dancing.

Resolving Conflict

Realistically, it won't always be rainbows and butterflies in dance class.  Kid's will have their feelings hurt by a fellow classmate.  Kids will cut in line for tumbling time.  It's my job to explain to the kid that cut the line why it hurt the other kid's feelings.  How will kids learn what to do or what not to do if you aren't teaching them?

Allowing Kids to be Creative

One of the biggest reasons I love freeze dance or the free time at the end of a early childhood dance class, is how freeing it is for the kids. They are able to express themselves in their own way.  It's no surprise this is what they look forward to the moment they sit down to stretch at the beginning of class.  I try not to play a ton of music they know during class because I want to introduce other music, but during this time I'll play music they know and love.

Thank you for being a part of the Maine Dance journey.  We are a young studio - I can't wait to see how we grow!

Top 10 Best Valentine's Day Gift Ideas?

Here's to hoping that you show your significant other that you love him or her every day, and that you aren't just waiting to express this on Valentine's Day....

Anyway, February 14 is traditionally a day that romantic love is celebrated.  We'll give each other flowers, chocolates and go out to dinner.

Here's another idea.  Something you can do as a couple.  Something fun, enjoyable and healthy, even!

The Top Ten Best Valentine's Day Experience Gifts:

1. Spend the day at the library, and find an incredibly romantic passage from literature or poetry that best describes how you feel about your partner.
2. Relive your first date.  If you are no where near the place you met, recreate the scenario in your new town.  Tell your partner what you remember him/her wearing!
3. Learn a new hobby.  Take a music class, learn to dance the Tango at Maine Dance & Fitness.  Look at your local Adult Education catalog and pick out a cooking class you can try together.
4. Go outside.  Cross-country ski or go on a wintery walk together down the Androscoggin River Bicycle and Pedestrian Path with coffee or hot chocolate in hand.
5. See an offbeat flick at Frontier Cafe or Eveningstar Cinema and grab dinner at any of the 30 amazing local restaurants.  We are so lucky, so spoiled to have the best dining experience in our backyard.
6. Skate at Bowdoin College.  They have free skate nights.  Check them out Bowdoin College
7. Window shop at Cabot Mill Antiques in Fort Andross.
8. Go sample beer at Ebenezers Pub
9. Got guts?  Like to sing?  Karaoke at Sea Dog Brewing is your best bet.
10. And lastly, if you are anti-Valentine's Day, stay in, get cozy and watch a horror flick.

Great Pregnancy Exercises: Dancing

Dancing through Pregnancy: Tips on Safety

You can dance as you normally would, with a few precautions in the first trimester.  The first, is listen to your body, and only do so much as you can comfortably carry on a conversation.  If you can't, slow down.  Moderate your normal dance fitness routine to a more low-impact version, where one foot is always on the floor.  Replace jumps with steps.

Going into the second and third trimester, your growing belly will impact your balance and coordination.  Be mindful of this and avoid any dancing that is jerky.  While ballroom will be difficult to dance with a partner, it is a fantastic option.  Our Dancing Through Pregnancy class will have many different types of ballroom dance you can enjoy solo.  As much as I love hip hop, the sudden movements, hip rotation and jumping are not a great option for this stage.  Slow R&B could be an alternative, where you can still enjoy the music you love without compromising the unnecessary stress on joints and ligaments.

Salsa Choke

Get ready to see this style of salsa a ton more in 2015 at Maine on Main.  :)  You might have seen this during the summer, this particular "bump" style of Salsa solo.  It's a little more urban, having crossed into the world of hip hop and into music like Jason Derulo's "Wiggle Wiggle" via the flute.

For a full schedule of classes, check us out at Class Link.  You'll find salsa choke during Betsy's Zumba classes.

For other fun studio flavor, Barbara has a sweet, sweet warm-up to "Uptown Funk" you must check out!

When you burn fat, where does it go?

I've definitely thought about this before, and glad to see there is an answer thanks to a study by UNSW Australia.

“The correct answer is that most of the mass is breathed out as carbon dioxide. It goes into thin air,” says the study’s lead author, Ruben Meerman.   Ruben Meerman is a physicist and Australian TV science presenter.

But we have to work for it - 

One of the most frequently asked questions the authors have encountered is whether simply breathing more can cause weight loss. The answer is no. Breathing more than required by a person’s metabolic rate leads to hyperventilation, which can result in dizziness, palpitations and loss of consciousness.

So keep dancing, running, doing yoga, staying active. 

Learn more about our classes, and how you can stay active, burn fat and have fun:  http://www.dancedelivered.com/class-registration.html

Events and News

It's been almost 2 months of the studio getting up and running!

We're coming along, the painting is finally finished, and soon enough we'll have the changing stall and mirrors installed.  I'm so thrilled with those that have been part of the beginnings of Maine Dance.  The kids have gotten into the swing of things, and we're growing our classes by the week.  We'll soon be able to start planning for recital.  Adult students - all of you from the Zumba fanatics, Screaming Mimis, and Video Vixens have been working it out.  From setting personal goals to simply showing up, you are making healthy choices!  Keep up the good work into 2015, and look forward to some New Year challenges to come.

You can always count on Maine Dance & Fitness for the best events!  December 31, look out for the first annual Pajama Jam.   Kids can enjoy a night of their own with games, dancing, pizza, a movie, crafts and more. Stay up for the countdown at midnight and toast in the new year with s’mores and cocoa.  Each hour will have a different theme, and we'll have an announcement soon on a confirmed special appearance.  We'll also get to take advantage of the Topsham 250 Anniversary fireworks!!

Coming up in February, not sure what to do when the kids have February vacation?  Look no further!
Feb 16-20.

2 Sessions to choose from: AM Session 9am – 12pm
PM Session 12:30 – 3:30pm

Cost: $150.00 plus $25 registration fee for non-registered students.

And last but not least, a special thanks to the Southern Maine Chamber of Commerce, ambassadors, members and community leaders.  Rich Roedner and John Shattuck with the Town of Topsham - thank you so much for supporting this new venture!

Happy Holidays, and a very happy and healthy 2015 to all of you!

-Betsy