Salsa - An all time favourite

Salsa is a dance form with origins from the Cuban Son (circa 1920s) and Afro-Cuban dance (specifically Afro-Cuban Rumba. It is generally associated with the salsa music style, although it may be danced under other types of music with an 8-count rhythm.

 These salsa styles are made up out of different step patterns, different timing of steps, particular movement on the dance floor (for example: slot, circular), dancer preference of turns and moves, attitude, dress code, and others.

In many styles of Salsa dancing, as a dancer changes weight by stepping, the upper body remains level and nearly unaffected by the weight changes. Weight shifts cause the hips to move. Arm and shoulder movements are also incorporated. The Cuban Casino style of Salsa dancing involves significant movement above the waist, with up-and-down shoulder movements and shifting of the ribcage.

The arms are used by the "lead" dancer to communicate or signal the "follower," either in "open" or "closed" position. The open position requires the two dancers to hold one or both hands, especially for moves that involve turns, putting arms behind the back, or moving around each other, to name a few examples. In the closed position, the leader puts the right hand on the follower's back, while the follower puts the left hand on the leader's shoulder.

 Enjoy this dance :)

Owen De Abrew - King of Ballroom Dancing

Owen de Abrew is one of Sri Lanka's leading ballroom dance personalities, he is known as the 'King of Ballroom dancing'. He was born on the island in 1920. 

 He started his dance career under the guidance of Carl Cooke and won his first Ballroom Dance Championship in Colombo in 1952, at the National Ballroom Open Event. He started teaching dance as a career in 1954. De Abrew has taught the waltz or foxtrot and Latin dances such as cha cha and rumba, among other dance forms to thousands in Sri Lanka.

Own de Abrew was also a guest presenter of many radio programs in the late 1950s and 1960s, over the airwaves of Radio Ceylon. He presented a popular radio programme called The Ballroom of the Air. The station ruled the airwaves in South Asia and millions tuned in to hear Radio Ceylon. Owen de Abrew brought with him a flair and creativity to English radio programmes on the Station. He continued giving his input when Radio Ceylon became the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. De Abrew worked very closely with broadcasting legends Livy Wijemanne and Vernon Corea at Radio Ceylon throughout the 1950s and 1960s.

The National Association of Dancing of the UK awarded Owen de Abrew a medal for outstanding contribution to Ballroom Dancing in Sri Lanka in 1989 and Owen de Abrew received this award from John Dilroy who was the UK's Ten Dance Champion, Fellow and Examiner of the Imperial Society.

Two of de Abrew's students represented Sri Lanka at the World Championships in the United States in 1988. Owen de Abrew has handed the ballroom dance mantle to his son Ravi de Abrew who is a dance champion in his own right in Sri Lanka.

Ravi is also an Australian qualified Latin and Ballroom Dance Teacher. Ravi is the first second generation dance teacher in Sri Lanka. 

Source: Wikipedia

Why Should We Dance???

Are you a dance lover??  Is DANCING a topic you always talk about???

Then this is the right place for u!

Today dancing has become a lifestyle that everyone enjoys. Dancing makes you happy and active and takes you to new directions.  Dancing has loads and loads of benefits than you can ever imagine.

Health benefits of dancing

Did you eve think dancing helps you to stay away from mental sicknesses as well? Here we go! It has both physical and mental benefits.

Dancing helps you to increase the body tone and also to burn calories. This low-impact aerobic activity also increases flexibility, strength, and balance. Hence Olympic athletes do dancing as a part of their workout.  A major study added to the growing evidence that stimulating one's mind by dancing can ward off Alzheimer's disease and other dementia.

Dance aids in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, which is a major concern for woman, especially during post-menopause because of the significant drop in estrogen that occurs at this stage. A decrease in our estrogen levels is what stops calcium from being absorbed into our bones. Dance also keeps joints lubricated, which helps prevent arthritis.

Dancing increases your confidence

Dancing gives you the ability to enjoy yourself at any situation. It helps to explore your real beauty and will boost you creativity and energy making you more confident.

Express yourself

Through body movements you can express yourself. It will help you to break the walls that you’ve built around yourself and show who you really are. With this practice even when you are not dancing you can you will not be afraid to express your ideas and be yourself.

Meet new people

Dancing is the easiest way to meet new people. Hence it helps you to make new friends and expand your network.

Increase your memory

Dance improves our memory by making us recall steps, routines and dance patterns making it a great mental exercise for our brains. The big benefit is that increasing mental exercise keeps your mind young, quick, alert and open.

Fun and relaxation

Have you been busy all week? Just take a break and dance! Dancing is a way to overcome stress and escape from your busy work schedules. Also being surrounded by cheerful people will also make you cheerful.

 

 Break the barriers around you and dance! Embrace all the benefits! :)

Have a nice day :)