First Dance Perfect for a Winter Wedding

Check out this video of a first dance we recently spotted on YouTube.  We think it's a fun idea for a winter or Christmas wedding.

Date Night: Circo Aereo- Espresso

When: November 8, 2009 at 4:00 pm

Where: Concert Hall

Gerge Mason University Center for the Arts

4400 University Drive, Fairfax, Va 22030

“A sparkling tribute to the circus.” (Le Figaro) This enchanting “theater without words” from Finland is widely recognized throughout Europe as a pioneer of the New Circus, and makes its American debut this season. Smart, imaginative, and inventive, Circo Aereo mixes time-honored circus arts, such as juggling and aerial work, with innovative cabaret theater, masterful movement, and charming humor. The company’s latest and most famous work, Espresso, has mesmerized audiences and critics alike with its combination of traditional and contemporary circus arts with sidewalk performance. Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat called the work “a treasure chest filled with beautiful sights, meticulous efforts and inventive surprises.”

Pre-Performance Discussion at 3:15pm ; Guest Speaker (Nov 8, 2009)

http://www.gmu.edu/cfa/calendar/170/

$44, $36, $22. Student Tickets Available

If this imaginative show inspires you to dance, contact us for lessons!

(703)626 - 7016

Dance Style: The Fox Trot

Although often associated with the style of Fred Astaire or Ginger Rogers, the Foxtrot was actually introduced into the mainstream by Harry Fox in 1913. Foxtrot is a "Ballroom" or Smooth dance, traveling around the line of dance (the perimeter of the room in a counterclockwise direction). Foxtrot is a lot like walking or strolling . Musically it is very easy to hear the Foxtrot rhythm. Foxtrot is an extremely useful dance socially and can be danced to a variety of jazzy musical styles. American Style Foxtrot has a fun "theatrical" quality because the couples can open up to allow for spinning the women. Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly both used the long, smooth m ovements of Foxtrot to cover a lot of ground gracefully in their routines. The basic beginner rhythm of Foxtrot is Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick. Higher level is often danced Slow-Quick-Quick.

Foxtrots:

"A Wink and a Smile" by Harry Connick, Jr.
"L.O.V.E." by Nat King Cole
"Fly me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra
"You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You" by Dean Martin
"Something's Gotta Give" by Sammy Davis Jr.
"World On A String" by Peggy Lee.

The Honors Dance

You can assist your parent in selecting a song by providing him/her with our list of Honors Dance song suggestions. However, remember that your parent might already have a song in mind. Since it is their big moment at the wedding, you should let your parent have a say. He/She will move better to familiar music and be much less nervous about dancing in front of the crowd. Even one hour of preparation will make a huge impact on the way The Honors Dance looks and feels. These are special moments for Mom and Dad and they may be even more enjoyable with a little preparation.

If your parent lives out of town, a creative solution is to schedule a lesson for the week he/she is in town for the wedding. The hour spent together preparing for this dance will last a lifetime in your memory as a special moment shared between the two of you.The Honors Dance is traditionally reserved for the Mother/Son and Father/Daughter although other combinations and other relatives are also incorporated in some weddings and for certain circumstances where parents are deceased or not in attendance. Anyone who is honored by a spotlight dance will always feel more comfortable if they feel prepared.

Still haven't picked a special song for the Honors Dances? Here are some ideas!

Dance Style: The Hustle

Most Disco dances have strong roots in Swing. The Hustle is believed to have originated in New York in 1970. It went through many incarnations in the seventies, with line dances for groups of people, solo movements that came and went, and partnership dances. These partnership dances included The Basic Hustle, Latin, Spanish, Tango Hustle and the most popular version -- Street Hustle, a three-count or Swing Hustle that originated in California by skaters in Venice and Malibu. John Travolta and "Saturday Night Fever" gave the dance its place in American pop culture. Hustle is danced to contemporary pop, Hip Hop, or "House" dance music over the last 20 years. Most people dance New York style or Swing Hustle. It is a fast and reactive dance with an emphasis on armstyling and numerous hand holding positions. The lady spins almost continuously, while her partner leads her back and forth in a "slotted" linear formation. The hustle is what kept kept partner dancing alive during the lean '70s and early '80s.

Hustles:
"Material Girl" by Madonna
"Last Dance" by Donna Summer
Be With You” Enrique Iglesias
"Ready For The Good Times” by Shakira
"White Wedding" by Billy Idol

Forever Tango

Date: Oct. 28, 2009 - Nov. 1, 2009

Time: 2pm, 7pm & 8pm

Location: Bethesda Theater

7719 Wisconsin Ave.

Bethesda, MD 20814

(301)657 - 7827

Created and directed by Louis Bravo, Forever Tango

features an all Argentine cast who trace, through music, dance, song and dramatic vignettes, the Tango's colorful history. The show contains 7 dance couples, who tango in their own unique styles, and an on-stage orchestra. Sensuous and sophisticated, the tango inhabits a world where everything can be said with the flick of a leg, the tug of a hand, the tap of a foot and the arch of an eyebrow. The show was nominated for 4 New York Drama Desk Awards in 1998 and continued on an international tour including engagements in Mexico, Korea, Japan and Germany.

Tickets are now available through the box office and Ticketmaster. To receive 10% off your ticket use promotion code BRAVO.

Date Night: The National Society of Arts and Letters Washington Chapter's Viennese Waltz Ball

Where: Cosmo Club

2121 Massachusetts Avenue NW,. 202-797-6442

Attire: White Tie and decorations optional

Saturday November 21, 2009

5pm Champagne,

5:30pm Dinner, Ball

Brio Orchestra

Viennese dessert buffet

Grande Marche

Fledermaus Quadrille

Lithograph prize drawing

$175 (dinner/dessert/dancing); $115 (dessert/dancing).

Catriona Tudor Erler.

http://www.facebook.com/l/e53ed;www.nsal-dc.org/vienneseball.htm

Dance Style: The Cha Cha

The Cha-cha is the newest of the "Latin" dances. It is a true American dance, developed in the dance studios in the early 50s as a mid-tempo variant between Rumba (slow) and Mambo (fast). It is believed to have started as a step in Mambo - a triple step to replace the slow one to accommodate slower musical rhythms. This developed into an entirely new dance. Slower modern music has often inspired the evolution of popular dances such as Single Swing into Triple Swing and Quickstep into Slow Foxtrot. Cha-cha music is slower than Mambo/ Salsa but not much. It it quite a common upbeat musical tempo. The dance is alive and well in ballrooms and studios today. It is flashy, sassy and full of itself. The Cha-cha styling is very similar to Rumba and Mambo. Like most Latin dances, your weight is forward and most of the movement occurs below the ribcage. The steps are small, taken with the ball of the foot first to better execute the hip action commonly known as "cuban motion". Cha-cha music is composed in 4/4 time. The rhythm is danced 2-3-4 & 1 ( "rock step cha cha cha".) Cha-cha is a flirty dance great for couples or just to catch someone's eye!

Cha-chas:

"Smooth" by Santana
"Oye como Va" by Santana
"My Maria" by Brooks and Dunn
"Super Freak" by Rick James
"Cuban Pete" by Tito Puente

6th Anniversary Gala and International Masquerade Ball at the National Museum of Women in the Arts

Contact us for a crash course dance lesson to refresh your moves and learn to be more versatile!!

The International Club of DC cordially requests the pleasure of your company at our 6th Anniversary Gala and International Masquerade Ball at the Grand Ballroom of the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Enjoy a grand celebration of international music, cuisine, wine, dancing, and desserts as you celebrate the 6th anniversary of ICDC and your support of our diverse events. Our gala last year sold out with over 350 ICDC members in attendance. Discounted tickets available for a limited time.

~Sumptuous Dinner Buffet
~Dance to a classical orchestra
~Dance to a Live Latin Band ~Enchanting Argentine Tango Dance Performance ~International Dance Music ~Extravagant Dessert Buffet
~Silent Auction
~Exquisite Marble dance floor ~Enjoy the company of diplomatic guests & friends
~Wine with Open Bar and champagne during VIP reception

Saturday October 24, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Grand Ballroom, National Museum of Women in the Arts
1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington DC 20005-3920

Black Tie Requested - suits are also fine! Cocktail Attire Optional. (Period formal attire from the 1800s, 1900s and the renaissance era welcome!)

YOU DO NOT NEED A DATE TO ATTEND
You are welcome to attend the ball without a date. We expect as many singles as couples. Come on your own or with friends for an unforgettable evening!

We have planned a magical evening and a memorable international celebration of music, wine, food, and dancing at the Grand Ballroom of the National Museum of Women in the Arts. We have assembled an unforgettable evening of elegance and sophistication including dancing to two live bands, a lavish dinner buffet, open bar, extravagant dessert buffet, enchanting dance performances, and so much more!

Read testimonials by previous attendees:
http://www.internationalclubdc.com/Testimonials.aspx

See photos from previous galas:
http://www.internationalclubdc.com/Photos/2007-06-16-MidSummerNightBall.aspx
http://www.internationalclubdc.com/Photos/2007-02-24-VienneseBall.aspx
http://www.internationalclubdc.com/Photos/2006-02-25-VienneseBallAtNMWA.aspx http://www.internationalclubdc.com/Photos/2005-10-29-AnniversaryGalaAndMasqueradeBall.aspx

Discounted tickets available for a limited time.

Please reserve your tickets online: http://www.internationalclubdc.com

For the first half of the evening enjoy dancing to the music of a classical orchestra performing Viennese waltzes and ballroom dance music for an unforgettable night of dancing. For the second half of the evening the Brazilian band Origem will perform salsa, merengue, Brazilian samba and other Latin sounds as we turn the music up a notch for a truly international dance experience. To add even more diversity, we will play a variety of international dance music during band breaks.

One of the most exquisite venues in DC, the museum's grand Renaissance Revival building and the elegant grand ballroom and Mezzanine provide the perfect setting to bring to life the timeless elegance of a formal ball. As you enter the museum, you will be greeted by a luxurious marble reception area, and a ballroom adorned by three beautiful crystal chandeliers and art from the museum's permanent collection. White marble staircases sweep upward to the spacious Mezzanine where you will feast on an international buffet of dinner and desserts. Watch the twirling silhouettes on the marble dance floor below move to the sounds of the world's most beloved music. Stroll down the sweeping marble stair cases of the museum and dance on an exquisite marble floor while meeting other diverse internationally-minded professionals in town.

Upcoming Balls - dance and romance while supporting a charity!

The Northwest Center's 23rd Annual Indian Summer Ball (Fundraiser)
October 17, 2009
The Organization of American States Building 
17th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington DC
9:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Black Tie; Gourmet Buffet/Open Bar
The Jokers Wild Band (Swing, Latin, Ballroom)
Silent Auction
$90 or $165/couple 
Contact: Kristen Sullivan (301) 335-1206
northwestcenter@verison.net
See website for more info
http://www.northwestcenter.net/?page_id=32

CELEBRATING LIFE and INSPIRING HOPE since 1981, The Northwest Center seeks to promote the dignity of women and a respect for all human life by offering the loving support and comprehensive aid
necessary to enable all women to continue their pregnancies, deliver healthy babies, and adequately care for themselves and their children. Proceeds provide vital support for The Northwest Center. 
We have helped over 40,000 women and children in the Washington, DC area and are a 501(c)(3) tax exempt charity supported solely by the generous support of individuals, churches, foundations, and
volunteers!

Attend a local Ballroom Dance Competition!

DC Dancesport Inferno - DCDI
Intercollegiate and Adult Open Amateur Dancesport Festival
Host: Ballroom At Maryland 
Type: Other - Festival 
Network: Global 
Start Time: Friday, November 6, 2009 at 6:00pm 
End Time: Sunday, November 8, 2009 at 9:00pm 
Location: Grand Ballroom, Stamp Student Union 
City/Town: College Park, MD 
Phone: 3013853148 
Email: DCDIPR@BallroomAtMaryland.com 
www.ballroomatmaryland.com/dcdi/
Tentative Schedule:

Friday, November 6, 2009
* Social Dance
* Competitor check-in

Saturday, November 7, 2009, Matinee Session
* American Rhythm Syllabus Events
* Team Matches
* International Standard Syllabus Events

Saturday, November 7, 2009, Evening Session
* Pre-Championship Events
* Championship Events

Sunday, November 8, 2009, Matinee Session
* American Smooth Syllabus Events
* International Latin Syllabus Events

For purchase tickets, please visit:
www.ballroomatmaryland.com/dcdi/tickets.php
Discounted tickets for students with valid ID!!

For more information, please visit us at www.ballroomatmaryland.com/dcdi or email us at
DCDIPR@BallroomAtMaryland.com

Take Your Fiance to the Opera While You Dine!

Escape from wedding planning stress with this unique and elegant date night idea! 

Opera Night Sunday October 04.

Trattoria Sorrento  
4930 Cordell Avenue
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
301-718-0344
5pm to 9:30pm

OPERA NIGHT
October 04, 2009  

The first Sunday of the month is October 04, Opera Night, starring soprano Diane Abel, tenor Antonio Giuliano, and accompanist Kate Lewis.

They will be performing new and exciting songs and the Chefs of Trattoria Sorrento will prepare a seasonal menu that will leave everyone asking for seconds!!

Please be sure to make reservations as seating will be limited.