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

How Many Dance Lessons Do We Need?

The most common question we hear about wedding dance lessons is invariably:

How many dance lessons do we need to look good at our wedding?

While we GUARANTEE that in one lesson you'll have a complete wedding first dance and look much better than if you never took a lesson, the average couple takes about 4-7 lessons (that's our most popular selling package).

Here's some advice to decide how many lessons you'll need.

Determine what your dancing goals are first. This will affect when you start and how many lessons you choose. Don't worry too much about time constraints when considering quantity because we can offer double sessions. Once you have determined your goals, we can better advise you as to how many lessons we recommend for your individual needs.

Consider the following:

• Do you want to learn enough just to "survive" the wedding dance?
  

• Do you want to have an interesting variety of moves for the wedding dance?
  

• Are you participating in additional Honors Dances?
  

• Do you plan on fast dancing during the general reception?
  

• Do you want to learn to dance in general at future social events?
  

• Do you want to enjoy a dinner/dancing date night with your fiance(e) during the wedding planning process?
  

• Do you want to share dancing as a hobby even after the wedding?
  

7 Tips to Ease the Discomfort from Your Wedding Dance Shoes

Formal wedding shoes are notoriously uncomfortable. The ideal solution is to purchase formal wedding ballroom dance shoes from a ballroom dance catalog or online. In addition to being generally more comfortable and softer than street shoes, these shoes have suede on the bottom to provide traction and slickness simultaneously. Elegant nude colored and dyeable white satin are available for women and sometimes offer adjustable width options. Black patent leather are more comfortable than typical tuxedo rental shoes for men. The arches of all ballroom shoes are supported with a steel shank and the soles are pliable and bendable to minimize sore feet and maximize your balance during dancing.

Here are a few tricks to ease your discomfort:

1) For slippery leather soles, scuff the bottoms on cement.

2) Use Dr. Scholl's "moles skin" pads wherever blisters may develop (Achilles’ heel, bunion, knuckles)

3) Use “moles skin pads” to make a loose shoe fit more snugly. (example: Low on heel for loose heels)

4) If you select shoes that do not hold your ankle in place with a strap like Mules, sling backs, or pumps you can use a nude or white colored elastic band or rubber strap to slip over your shoe and arch to hold the shoe securely on your foot. You can make these straps or order them from ballroom dance shoe catalogs or online.

5) To manage sore feet, bring a second pair of shoes with a different size heel, either higher or lower. Wedding sneakers or slippers are a comfortable alternative and a new trend.

6) If there is room in your shoes for padded inserts, wear them. Avoid the liquid gels as they may leak ink and damage your shoes and dress.

7) If your feet hurt at the end of the night, rinse them alternately with cool water then warm water, while massaging them. You can also rub a mentholated or peppermint foot cream on them to increase blood circulation.

We hope these tips help.  While we can't guarantee that your feet won't hurt, we can guarantee that if you take dance lessons with us, at least you won't be stepping on each other's toes!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR WEDDING DANCE PACKAGES

Dancing and Romancing!

During the hectic months of planning your wedding, some of the most fun you can have is when you take time out to be with each other and learn a new skill.  Many of our students turn their weekly dance lessons into a dinner date.  What's better than dinner and dancing, after all?

Learning to dance for your wedding is important but also useful! It is a skill you can keep and use after the wedding! The cake is done once everyone has their piece.  However, you can use your new skills in creative ways and unusual places to enjoy the spice of life and keep the honeymoon alive! Opportunities to dance will present themselves, when they do – live in the moment! If there is room and there is music, there can be dancing!

You can use your dancing while listening to a live band, attending a casual or formal social event, at a dance studio practice party, on cruises, in bars and nightclubs, at dance competitions, outside among nature or even in your own living room! If you are really in a spontaneous mood, you can even use dancing to kill time in a crowded parking lot after a show by blasting your car stereo with your favorite music and dancing until the traffic eases. Dancing is not just a skill but a lifelong opportunity to turn a mundane or even aggravating situation into a magical moment!

Your Vision for Your Wedding Dance Debut

The first step in getting what you want from your dance lessons is knowing what you want. Imagine the mood you want to feel and project as you are dancing. Do you want your dance to look simple and elegant? Classic and traditional? Peppy and cheerful? Sensual and romantic? Elaborate and Showy? Make sure you share your vision with your instructor.

At The Wedding Dance Specialists, we've got some of the best dance instructors around.  With multiple locations throughout the metro-D.C. area, there's sure to be a location to fit your needs.  

We founded the company as an engaged couple and our vision of our first dance was an exotic and sensual expression of our love.  That's why we chose the Argentine Tango.  Click here to view a video of our first dance.