2012 is rapidly approaching- a new year complete with a chance for a fresh start at making your life better, more enjoyable, healthier, and more connected to the world around you. What better way to achieve these goals than with a dance or movement class at World In Motion?
Studies on New Year’s resolutions show that if you want them to be successful, it is important to plan ahead when making them. Don't wait until New Year's Eve to think about them, but rather take some time to reflect on what it is that you want to achieve and how to do that. University of Scranton psychology professor John Norcross, PhD has done studies that show that “readiness to change, or how prepared a person is to enter the action stage of behavior change, to be the single best predictor of New Year’s resolution success.” (http://www.apa.org/monitor/jan04/solutions.aspx)
To help you be prepared for next year, we are offering anOpen House Week, January 2-8 during which you can try a class out to see if it is right for you, and thus plan better for your new year – new you resolutions.
Another factor in achieving resolutions is how affordable they are money-wise—something that World In Motion has a plan for as well! Try a class during our Open House week for 50% off the regular drop-in fee, and if you sign up for a class session while you are there, get 20% off your session fee as well. Plus you will be entered into a raffle for a free class session! This offer is valid only in person at the studio so be sure to PLAN to be there – and save some money in the process!
Watch this video to find out more about our Open House Week specials:
If for some reason you don’t make it to the studio that week, be sure to keep an eye on ourFacebook page and read ourblog entry that week for special offers on free merchandise and info on how to enter a raffle for a World In Motion gift certificate.
A new year and a new chance for a new you who is more connected, stronger, fitter, and happier- are all waiting for you at World In Motion!
Ballet Barre Fitness is one of the exciting new classes coming to World In Motion in the new year, and we know you will love it!
Ballet Barre Fitness provides all over muscle toning, increased core strength and flexibility all in a low-impact workout. Exercises will be done at the barre to condition and stretch out your muscles. It is a great way to get a dancer’s body without formal ballet training. For anyone looking for improved strength and gracefulness, this class is a great choice. No previous dance experience is necessary- just a willingness to workout doing something new and exciting!
Ballet-inspired classes have been touted by celebrities for years as a fantastic way to sculpt long and lean physiques by tuning glutes, abs, obliques, and legs. The theory behid Ballet Barre Fitness is that it involves "micro-movements," in which movements are made just an inch or two at a time. Because you are holding the movement for prolonged periods, you lose momentum and must stay in the contraction longer which causes you to burn calories and build muscle more quickly than other exercise methods do.
Another important aspect of working at the ballet barre is that it is uses multiple muscles and joints to help you stay balanced, gain coordination and strength, and restore agility by building up the muscles of the torso and back- the core area so crucial in dance. So working at the ballet barre is an extremely effective way for dancers to improve their technique at their chosen genre of dance, be it bellydance, Bollywood, African or Hip Hop.
Join us at the studio next Friday, December 16 from noon to 8:30 PM for a Holiday Open House where we will have yummy eats, a raffle for some wonderful prizes, live music, and lots of special discountsfor the classes starting the week of January 9, 2012. These discounts will be available only during the Open House so be sure to stop by!
The Grinch himself (not to mention Cindy Lou Who!) would love these discounts! They include:
Sign up for one class and get 6 classes for the price of 5 – that’s one class free!
Register for 2 or more classes and get 30% off the regular price of each class!
Purchase an Unlimited Class Pass for$160*- a $20 discount off its regular price. Good for as many classes as you want to take during the first session of the new year! (*Usual restrictions apply.)
Buy a 10 class Punch Card for only $90! This card will be valid for any 10 classes between January 9 and April 1, 2012 – a longer time to put it to great use!
For more information, please contact World In Motion or call (919) 465-4440.
In the spirit of the day, we want to express how grateful we are to all of our students, instructors and supporters who have made our first year so gratifying and enjoyable. One of these fantastic students is April Lamar whom Emily interviewed about her experiences at World In Motion. Thank you, April, for doing this interview!
This week we welcome Marcia Smith as our student of the week. Marcia is another student who has been coming to WIM since we began- in fact, she was here when we didn't have mirrors on the wall and still had a rug on the floor!
We hope you enjoy the profile of another of our terrific students. And don't forget to check out our Thanksgiving Specials- info on our homepage at www.worldinmotiondance.com!
We have two new class sessions staring this week and an exciting family workshop next Sunday:
Bollywood, Tuesdays, 7:00- 8:15 PM: This 3- week series offer an exciting mix of Indian folk and classical dance technique.Come learn a fun Bollywood choreography, the meaning of the songs’ Hindi lyrics, and how to gracefully express the lyrics through energetic and precise hand and feet movements. In this class, you will learn how to command any stage like a true Bollywood star! Click here for more information about Bollywood at WIM.
Family Zumba, Wednesdays, 12:45 - 1:30 PM: Looking for something fun and healthy to do with your family? Then Family Zumbais it! Packed with specially choreographed, family-friendly routines and all the music kids and their parents love, the entire family will love this class because of the effects it has on kids - increasing their focus and self-confidence, boosting metabolism and enhancing coordination - and because it offers a chance for family bonding that is both healthy and fun! Parents and kids ages 7-12 are welcome in this class. Visit our Family Zumba page for more details!
Mother-Daughter Shawl Dance Workshop: Sunday, November 6, 12:15-2:15 PM
Come and spend a fun afternoon with your daughter (or niece, granddaughter or friend) learning a bellydance-inspired choreography!In this workshop, Heather and Ming will be teaching a playful shawl dance. Participants in this workshop will have the opportunity to perform at the ncbellydance.org fundraiser event on November 11 in Durham! Ages 5+.
At a recent show, someone remarked to one of the dancers, “Wow! You really look fantastic tonight!” (I thought so too.) The performer in question is a naturally beautiful woman, and always looks lovely. But that night, she really popped onstage, and much of the reason was that she had had her make-up done differently that she normally does it. What a phenomenal difference it made in her stage appearance!
It got me thinking about how I could improve my stage make-up as well (I am certainly no make-up expert!), and thus I did a little research and came up with some tips and tricks to share with you. If you find this post helpful at all, please send a picture of yourself wearing your new make-up to share with the rest of us in a future post as we would love to see the new and improved you!
The lovely Hannan Sultan with picture perfect make-up!
Tip #1: Imagine what your stage make-up would look like in black & white. You want to go for a dramatic effect akin to old time movie stars. Under the spotlight, parts of your face may seemingly disappear so you need to use make-up to make your features appear larger. When you are finished, step back and take a look in the mirror. Does anything appear washed out or hard to see?
Tip #3: Body and face glitter is hot and trendy, but apply it to some specific areas, not all over. Otherwise you may end up looking like a disco ball! Use a brush to apply, and only ever use specially designed glitter on your face and eyes. There are also gels and sprays available for easier application.
Tip #4: To give your lips the illusion of being more pouty and full, apply a touch of white or silver gloss in the center. Be sure to use a base of some sort (there are specific lipstick bases such as those by Urban Decay and Smashbox), and be sure to powder your lips before you apply the shiny gloss to set the color.
Tip #5: Be sure to take the shape of your eyes into consideration when doing them. Too much dark shadow can make some eyes appear smaller and more closed up. Just because it looks great on Rachel Brice doesn’t mean it will work for you!
Blush brush
Tip #6: The right tools make all the difference! You don’t have to break the bank to purchase the right make-up brushes and applicators. Stores like Target and Walgreens have a good selection of inexpensive tools , and you can also use natural bristle art brushes for make-up application. Do some research ahead of time to find what type of brush, sponges, etc. you need for different applications (a blush brush isn’t the same as a loose powder brush, for example). Print out some pictures or save image urls to your smart phone to bring to the store with you so that you know you are getting the right ones.
Tip #7: Use a make-up setting spray when you are satisfied that it is finished. Urban Decay has a fantastic product, and they are cruelty-free to boot!
Exotic and exquisite Rachel Brice
Tip #8: Have a make-up kit packed and ready to go with you to performances. It should include the following:
·Foundation
·Pressed powder (easier to transport than loose powder)
·Eyeliner: most dancers prefer liquid waterproof eyeliner in black
·Blush and/or bronzer
·Lipstick: dark and rich reds are often your best bet
·Lip gloss in white or silver
·Eyeshadow: multi-color packs are good for when space is limited in your dance bag
·Mascara: Blackest black unless you are pale blonde, then brown-black. Waterproof is best for avoiding raccoon eyes
Tribal style dancers often need some extra help achieving a signature look, so here is a You tube video with some tribal style make-up tips. She is a bit talky in it, but it does offer some good pointers for the tribal dancer:
Okay, now go practice and be sure to show us some pictures of the new, more striking stage-ready you!!
A new class session is starting next week (Monday, Oct. 10 - Sunday, Oct. 16), and we are happy to present a few new options for your dancing and fitness pleasure:
Mommy & Me Creative Movement: Mondays, 10:45 - 11:15 AM. This class is designed for 18 mo- 3yr.olds, but younger children who are already walking may attend as well. Come spend some quality time with your toddler; before you know it, they will be grown and out of the house!!
ZumbAtomic Little Starz: Tuesdays, 5:00- 5:30 PM and Fridays, 9:45- 10:15 AM. We heard your request for kids classes geared for ages 4-6, and are happy to add Zumba for younger children to our roster. Families who sign more than one child up for this class and/or in conjunction with our Hip Hop/ZumbAtomic classes for 7-11 year olds are eligible for a 10% family discount off all kids' classes!
Cabaret Level 1 is moving to a new day and time: Wednesdays at 7:00 PM, and we have added another section of Bellygroove on Thursdays at 5:45 PM. And in response to folks looking for a basic bellydance class on the weekend, Fusion CORE, held on Satudays, 1:00 PM is now focusing on the basics of fusion bellydance- a great class for beginners and folks who wish to brush up on their bellydance technique alike!
Our question to you is: what classes would YOU like to see at World In Motion? More family-oriented classes? A different genre of dance or fitness? Would you come to a hooping class? How about a guided meditation session? Would a Modern Dance class appeal to you and/or your kids? What about classes geared specifically for teens? Are there workshops you would like to see us sponsor, and if so, which ones? Your ideas are very valuable to us, and we appreciate your input greatly!
In the meantime, don't forget to sign up for one of our current classes before the preregistration deadline for them has passed. And bring a friend so that YOU can get 50% off your class fees!!
This weekend brought the first cold weather of the season, and while I love the cool Fall weather, I couldn't help but think about this past summer. Personally, I'm not the biggest fan of the summer, but this past summer was a very special one for me. I had the privilege to spend a week in Mexico learning from the fabulously talented bellydancer, Bozenka (video of Bozenka performing). Not only did I get to hang out with my dance idol for a whole week. but on top of that I was staying at the most breathtakingly beautiful place I've ever seen. When my sister and I signed up for the intensive, I thought we'd have a fun time, I had no idea how amazing and life changing the experience would be.
The intensive took place on Isla Holbox in the Mayan Riveira in early June. For almost a week, we spent four hours a day dancing and trying to take in the wealth of information Bozenka had to share with us. Some of the topics included: graceful arms, veil and double veil, zills, cane, fan veils. To be honest, there was so much covered that I am a having a hard time remember everything! One of my favorite class moments was dancing on the beach with our veils fluttering in the ocean breeze. I felt like I'd died and gone to bellydance heaven. We also had casual evening performances at the resort's restaurant for those who wanted feedback from Bozenka. It was extremely nerve-wracking to perform in front of such an amazing dancer, however I'm very glad I didn't chicken out. The culmination of the week was a show in the middle of the town. A significant portion of the island's population came to the show and it was amazing to perform for such an enthusiastic crowd (watch video). Plus, now I can say I've performed internationally!
I could go into even more detail about the trip (whale sharks! Tarzan man! political rallies!) but then this post would probably never end. Suffice to say, the experience was enriching for me as a dancer and an instructor. As the days get colder, I'm planning on holding on to a little bit of that island sunshine so that I can continue to feel inspired and pass some of that amazing dance energy along to my students. Now I just need to figure out how attend one of Bozenka's intensives in Greece...
