Our little collection of dance-memories

Over the years, we got more and more involved with dancing .. in a good way :)

We started attending contests, shows and so on... part of the stuff was carefully documented by one of my colleagues, so below there's a little collection of some memorable moments from our "dancing career" ;;) it could have been a career had we started 10-15 years earlier :D as kids ;;) but well, as they say, better late than never :D

Back in 2011, we attended a dance show called "Dancing around the world".. I remember we were dressed up as cowboys (we = the group of adults taking dance classes as hobby).
There is no youtube recording of that show... or I couldn't find one. However, in 2013 we did another show. Our group danced in "Shrek"-themed costumes :)
There is some "online evidence" of that ;;)
Rumba group showdance
Waltz group showdance

We also attended some Flashmobs; in the one linked here, we're more in the background (the real stars were the professional dancers), but the whole thing was nice and a nice experience, even for an adult :-) After this, there came "dancing in the street activities" and all sorts of nice experiences. Unlike the competitions (that are... how should I say... competitive :P of course), the shows require team-work, synchronization and a very good collaboration. That's why I prefer shows over competitions... even though only competitions help you "grow as a dancer"... and that's like mandatory for a dancer... to evolve!

More recently, we found a new Dance group for adults and proof that we've blended in, are the moments below :)
Jive rueda showdance
Bachata group showdance

We've also attended several competitions (for adult social dancers) as I mentioned... but we have a lot of space for improvement :)
Competitions for adults (that did not start sport-dance since childhood) are less complex that the real "sport dance" competitions, but are pretty tough for an adult who did not grow up playing sports. For us, it's a great achievement so far... and learning :) ... but that will be the subject of another day's blog entry ;;)

Ballroom dancing, a "look back" in time...

Whenever I get the chance to watch a ballroom dance-competition, I admire the dancers, their great talent, appearance, the graceful yet very energy-full movements.
But, on the same level, what catches my eye, is the dancers' glamorous appearance, with the long and complex designed dresses; men wearing the elegant tail suits; outfits combined with the dancers' perfect looks: hair, makeup, great shape!

The ball gowns, with their very rich history during the 18th and 19th centuries have been re-edited in today's ballroom dancing dresses, used in shows and competitions. I'm sure the dress designers have a very interesting job, of combining the materials into shapes, the corset-like tops, with the rich multi-layered skirts, adding of course the modern touch to create true "pieces of art"...

It is then, in the middle of the Waltz, that my imagination flies away... far away... in a land of Fairy tail; where a ball takes place... and the pairs are floating on the dance-floor so peaceful, graceful.

Slow waltz originates from Germany and was refined by the English school. Wienner waltz was originally an austrian folk dance. Only in the 1900s it became known and danced by the upper class, gaining it's well-deserved position next to the slow waltz [more info here].

It's a pity people don't dance any more, in a real meaning of the dance... Less and less people are interested in learning the "classical dances". Some, just try to make an impression and rehearse or learn for their Big wedding day something that tries to resemble a waltz but looks more like a fake moment they managed to "pull off" ... I admire that intention also, but I'm so sorry that we've all 'missed' the times when people used to dance... as a culture, as a social act, a high-class social act...

Let's now enjoy some fragments of the past eras...