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‘Dancing’ Category

  1. Music is a Language – Dance is a Conversation

    January 22, 2018 by Oren Pardes

    Music is a language – and so is dance. A song is musical communication (from musicians and singers) TO those who hear it – and musical conversation WITH those who dance to it. A dance is a physically moving expression of the music, lyrics, and dancers’ eMotions. Like languages, different music, songs, and dances all have their own distinct structure, grammatical rules, appropriate and acceptable usage, and traditional meanings that may not exist in others. (more…)


  2. Basics of Social Partner Dancing

    July 25, 2016 by Oren Pardes

    The “BASICS” of social partner dancing is NOT any standard stepping pattern, but how partners connect and move – with the music and each other. Far WORSE than lacking any instruction is having been taught – badly. Ignorance is always preferred to ingrained bad habits and beliefs.

    In order to learn more, people often first have to “unlearn” what they think they already know. (more…)


  3. Music Venues and Dance Fusions

    July 25, 2016 by Oren Pardes

    WHERE a song is played or INTENDED to be HEARD – and possibly DANCED to – tends to affect its structural composition – catering to the expected acoustics as much as the audience. (more…)


  4. Following

    July 25, 2016 by Oren Pardes

    FOLLOWING a partner requires doing what the LEADER does – EVEN when it is NOT what the follower expects, desires, or is used to – and MUCH of the problem many people have dancing together is really the fault of the FOLLOWER (who often really does NOT know how to follow – (more…)


  5. Essential Components in Learning a New Dance

    April 25, 2016 by Oren Pardes

    Interested in learning a new dance or better dancing an old one? What is REALLY required? (more…)


  6. Dance as Yoga

    April 3, 2015 by Oren Pardes

    “Yoga” means “union”. There are many “kinds” of yoga – and many methods, teachings, and techniques to create, achieve, or strengthen “union” – of body and mind and of self and Self (The Divine/Universe) or partner/family/community/relationship, and/or anything “greater” than (one’s own perception/expression/experience of) self. Yoga is often about being “mindful” about ourselves and others even when most “mindless” – seeking “selfless” self-fulfillment. (more…)


  7. What Might Dancing Reveal About YOUR Life?

    January 26, 2014 by Oren Pardes

    Is Life (like) a Dance? If so, do people live the “rest” of their lives the way they dance? Do YOU? (more…)


  8. Framed?

    August 14, 2012 by Oren Pardes

    Most women want to look good – and most do. But sometimes, trying to look good, especially while dancing with a partner, does not look good at all. Female dancers who are told that they are the “picture” and the male the “frame” often don’t seem to understand they must also provide part of the the frame – and that how they look and the picture they make doesn’t look good if they don’t stay “framed” by their partners. (more…)


  9. Consider Context

    July 16, 2012 by Oren Pardes

    Context is king. The context of any communication matters more than its content. When creating, choosing, or communicating anything, consciously consider context.

    Content is created with context in mind. This is just as true when it comes to music – and how people move to it. The influence of the intended or experienced environment on almost every aspect of music and dancing is far greater than most people realize. (more…)


  10. A Quick Primer on Dancing Salsa

    June 18, 2012 by Oren Pardes

    Good dancers can dance on any timing. The best dancers dance to the music (more…)