The Use of Dance As Therapy

The Use of Dance as Therapy

A very common question in the dance world is as follows: What really is dance? Is it a sport? An art? Both? Something in between? Technically all of the above are true. But there’s a new answer that has recently been added to the mix. Therapy. 

Now it is one thing to call dance a therapy because it “makes you feel happy at the end of a long day”, but a multitude of scientific articles have been surfacing recently that back up this statement with hard  evidence.

For example, there is an entire organization dedicated to the professional training of dance therapists: The American Dance Therapy Association. The purpose of the ADTA is to establish, maintain, and support the highest standards of professional identity and competence among dance/movement therapists by promoting education, training, practice, and research. The Association provides avenues of communication among dance/movement therapists and those working in related fields, and increases public awareness of dance/movement therapy.

Goodtherapy has also brought much light to dance and movement therapy, or DMT. According to an article of theirs, DMT can help bring individuals emotional, cognitive, physical, and social integration. They assert that stress reduction, disease prevention, and mood management are only three of the many benefits of dancing. 

So what are you waiting for? Come visit us at DANCE ALL YOU CAN to give some love to your mind, body, and soul. Call us at (714) 968-8810 to schedule an appointment, or simply come see us in person at 10725 Ellis Ave- Suite H Fountain Valley, CA 92708. If you have any questions, feel free to shoot us an e-mail at info@DanceAllYouCan.com or visit our website:

http://www.danceallyoucan.com

The History of Salsa Dancing

Born in New York City around the 1970s, Salsa pulls much influence from the Latin American countries of Puerto Rico and Cuba. It is a social dance inspired by Cuban Son, Cha Cha Cha, and Mambo, among other Latin style dances. The word salsa means “mixture”, which is very fitting considering the blend of influence from different parts of Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Latino communities of New York in the 1940s. Over time, salsa dancing has also varied or “mixed” its choice of steps and music styles as well. It is unknown exactly how the dance got its name, for multiple stories circulate the industry pertaining to the origin. Some say “salsa” was a word that musicians used to shout out while performing. Others insist record labels named salsa after the sauce because because it was a hot and spicy dance. But it could simply be named for its mix of elements similar to the sauce’s mix of ingredients as mentioned before. Much of the movement in salsa is initiated in the hips while he upper body stays still. Because the dance pulls influence from so many places, there are several different types of salsa dancing. The Colombian/Cali style is very quick and shard, whereas the Cuban/Casino style is more syncopated and improvised. Dance positions can vary from style to style as well. For example, the LA style is danced specifically in a slot, while the NY style moves in a figure eight pattern. All these variations and influences truly make salsa one of the most interesting ballroom dances. 

If you would like to learn more about salsa or other styles of ballroom dance, visit our website at http://www.danceallyoucan.com for more information, or give us a call at (714) 968-8810! We are located at 10725 Ellis Avenue- Suite H, Fountain Valley, CA 92708. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail us at info@danceallyoucan.com and we will be happy to help you!

Kids Connected 17th Annual Gatsby Gala

YOU ARE INVITED!!!! The Dance All You Can crew will be attending a charity event for cancer relief on October 22, and we would like to extend the invitation to our dancers. Attached is the flyer with all the information, but if you have any other questions please ask. Come out for a night of Roaring Twenties-themed entertainment and refreshments. Not only will it mean the world to us, your funds will go to a great cause♥♥♥



Dance All You Can is a ballroom dance studio aimed at all ages and levels and situated in Fountain Valley. Contact us at (714) 968-8810 or visit our website at http://www.danceallyoucan.com for information on packages or events. The Gatsby Gala is held in Santa Ana, so we welcome anyone local to Orange County to attend and donate. 

5 Facts You May Not Have Known About The Great Fred Astaire

1. As children, Fred and sister Adele were exploited financially by their mother Johanna to move out of Omaha, Nebraska. As a result, Fred refused to take dance lessons. 
2. Fred often wore a top hat during his vaudeville performances with his sister to make him seem taller, for Adele quickly gained three inches on him. Adele was also considered the more talented sibling of their double act. 
3. After Funny Face was completed, Fred and Adele traveled to Hollywood for a screen test at Paramount Pictures. Unfortunately Paramount did not find the Astaires suitable for film, and the screen test has since been lost.
4. There is a long standing rumor that Fred’s screen test for RKO Radio Pictures was also not well received. It is said that the report on the test said “Can’t sing. Can’t act. Balding. Can dance a little.”, which Fred later clarified as saying “Can’t act. Slightly bald. Also dances”. Of course the record and test are now both lost.
5. When offered the idea of becoming a standing partner to Ginger Rogers, Fred was reluctant, for breaking apart from his sister left some emotional scars on him. He told his agent “I've just managed to live down one partnership and I don't want to be bothered with any more”.

If you are interested in adding private dance lessons or group dance classes to reap the many mood boosting and health benefits of ballroom dancing, take advantage of our free introductory private dance lesson. You can see our beautiful Fountain Valley dance studio that serves our neighboring communities like Newport Beach, Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach. Meet our friendly instructors for yourself and take advantage of our free introductory dance lesson to see how dance can be fun and contribute to your overall health and wellness. Contact us today!

Dance All You Can Student Profile: Heidi Ryder

Everyone take your seats, it is time for our next act. Known usually for her exquisite animal-taming skills, miss Heidi Ryder will switch gears and perform a tango number for you all this evening. Also, do not forget to inform your family and friends about the TEAM MATCH on September 17th! We need spectators to judge the teams!

How to Choose a Dance Studio

Not all dance studios are made the same, but that doesn’t necessarily mean one is greater than the other. Every studio in the world deserves commendation because they all have one thing in common: they want to share the beauty of dance with the world. That being said, not all dance students are made the same either. Dance means something different to everyone, so each student needs to find the right studio that can offer the most to them. If you are looking for a studio, it is important to remember that the closest or cheapest studio is not necessarily the best for you. Below are some factors of a good studio. Rearrange them in order of importance to you before going shopping for a new dance studio. The more a studio matches up to your order of expectations, the better learning environment it will be for you. Happy shopping and more importantly, happy dancing!  

• Location/ Proximity to Home or Work
• Accessibility
• Parking availability
• Size/ type of dance floor
• Friendliness and professionalism of staff/ management
• Customer Service
• Teaching demonstration abilities of instructors
• Cleanliness/ tidiness of studio
• Dance classes/ party availability / excitement of the schedule
• Ability to choose involvement: private lesson/ group lesson/ party
• Management’s ability to work with financial budgets
• Ability to teach different styles
• Transparency of studio policies
• Customized one-on-one approach

Dance All You Can Student Profile: Robert Burns

Happy Friday dancers! We would like to kick off the weekend with another act in our student vaudeville show: Mr. Robert Burns! He worked hours on his costume, so please take a minute to notice the details. Hope to see you all at Huntington Central Park this Sunday!

Dance All You Can Student Profile: Jennifer Weller

And now ladies and gentlemen, we would like to introduce the lovely, the exquisite, Jennifer Weller! She is one of our first students to participate in our new social media project: Student Profiles! Every week we will be posting a video of a student dancing and speaking about their experience at Dance All You Can. If you would like to participate, just ask! The most "liked" profiles earn an opportunity to win a free bonus lesson!!!!

Movie Review: Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School

Directed by Randall Miller and released in 2005, Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing and Charm School is a beautiful film about how dancing really is the best medicine. In the film, Robert Carlyle stars as Frank Keane, a recent widower who is struggling to find a purpose in his newly single life. Through an unusual situation Frank finds himself in a ballroom studio, where he meets another shy student named Meredith who is portrayed by Marisa Tomei. Frank is drawn to Meredith, yet is not liked by her dominating partner Randall. Frank soon surpasses Randall in talent and forms a friendship with Meredith despite threats from her partner. After learning about each other’s sad pasts, Frank and Meredith continue to help each other heal and move on through their dance lessons together. 

This movie was based on a short film of he same name created in 1990. The beautiful message and all star cast really pull at the audience’s heartstrings, as well as portray death and the grieving process in a natural and relatable way. Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing and Charm School is a perfect example of the healing powers of dance. Everyone dances for a different reason, yet many do so as a form of release, escape, or comfort. Here at Dance All You Can, one of our goals is to help you find your reason for dancing. In addition to the hundreds of reasons people love to dance,  this movie will help you discover that dance is a wonderful remedy to all sorts of injury and loss. The next time you see someone you love in pain, suggest to them the healing powers of dance, it may be just what they need to carry on. Described as a musical romance film, Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing and Charm School runs 103 minutes.  

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409034/

http://www.danceallyoucan.com

What is Dance?

If you asked one hundred people what the definition of dance was, you would get one hundred different answers. That is what makes dance so beautiful: it is essentially limitless; it can mean or be so many things all at once. To some, it is an art. To others, it is a sport. Some people dance to be the best, while others dance just to be themselves. What does dance mean to you? The next time you listen to some music and start moving your feet to the beat, think about why you’re doing so. Does it make you feel happy? Powerful? Free? The great thing is dance can make you feel any of those things.