From shaking and grooving to dipping and turning, dancing will always be in style. And whether it's ballet, hip-hop, tap, swing or jazz, Simi Dance Center owners Jen Lanham, 26, and Jen Costahaude, 22, coach kids from age 3 to adults how to move like pros on the dance floor.
Our Times asked the dancing duo Five Easy Questions about keeping time, building muscle and the proper way to ask someone the dance.
What does dance teach kids besides giving them something fun to do?
Dancing is both an exercise for the brain and the body. It teaches endurance, teamwork and confidence while improving flexibility and building muscles.
Are there just some people who can't dance?
Oh yes, we get kids in here who adapt to dancing more easily than others. But just like everything, it takes dedication and hard work to get good at it.
What's hot right now in dancing?
Hip-hop is very popular right now, even more so than swing dancing. We get a lot of kids who come in here who want to dance just like Britney Spears. Hip-hop is more on style and has fewer technical moves than other dance styles like ballet, which is highly disciplined.
Whatever happened to break dancing?
It's a really cool style dance that is very hard to do. I hope it makes a comeback. We're not sure we'd teach it though because of its liability.
For the gentlemen, what is a proper way to ask a lady to dance, whether at a swing dance event or a hip-hop club?
Don't just walk up to her and start dancing. Go up to her and ask if she would like to dance? It's more proper.
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