Between the Steps

As the 2010 Gay Games quickly approach and we get ready to fly, we
must  think about what and how to pack our costumes and shoes, etc.

Here are some tips we have gleaned along the way:

1) Make a list of absolutely everything you will need and wear when
you compete.  Don’t forget things like contact lenses, solution, hair
products, bobby pins, socks, dance shoes, underwear…….

2) Bring EVERYTHING you plan to wear on the day of the competition ON
BOARD with you.  Do not check your costumes!  I and others have had
luggage lost for several days at a competition abroad.  (I have even competed without my corrective lenses!)
Sometimes if you have a hanging bag the attendants will let you hang
it in a closet of the plane.
They make a carry-on rolling garment bag which is great.

3)  Don’t forget the two ounce rule of liquids.  On my last trip, my
gigantic can of Aqua Net had to be surrendered and I had to buy more
at the final destination.

4) You might want to bring a CD or ipod of music that you can use to practice
with before the event.  (First you have to find practice space.)

5) If you have a spare, it is a good idea to bring it. I usually bring
an extra tuxedo shirt for my costume so that if something gets spilled
on it or if someone else needs it, it is handy.

6) A sewing kit and safety pins!

May you dance well, look good at every competition and may your
luggage never be lost.

See you out on the floor.

Best,
Citabria

We hope to spare you some embarrassment so you don’t get the talk that some of us have received…..

When you put so much time, energy and money into making your dancing look good, don’t detract from it by not looking good on the outside.

Not to be too superficial, but really, people don’t see your dancing when you don’t look polished.

Every piece of the look needs to be addressed. Your hair has to look good.  You don’t want to look like Alfalfa.

It distracts and detracts from your dancing if you have random hairs blowing in the wind or haloing your head.

Also, don’t assume others can’t see or won’t notice the details such as baggy socks hanging over the pretty shoes, or the outfits that look two sizes too big or hand-sewn.  The whole picture has to work.

Avoid the wardrobe malfunctions and unnecessary stress on the day of!!

• Dance in what you plan to wear before you compete or perform in it.  You don’t want to say later, “Oh, I didn’t realize the float would wrap around my head when we did that turn!”
• Also, make sure hair accessories and jewelry are well secured and won’t go flying when you do that quick tango triple tick with the head.
• Experiment with the hair products before the day of the competition.
• Try putting the fake eyelashes on before the day of the competition.  Imagine if your eyes were allergic to the glue….(It happened right before we went on stage!)  For that matter, know how to apply and what make up you are going to wear.  Practice putting it on or have someone on hand to do it for you.  I have had people teach me!

These tips can save you a lot of time and stress on the day of.

Even if you can’t afford fancy rhinestone numbers, there are options.  Often times other dancers have outfits you can rent or borrow.  I rented tails from a teacher many times before I took the plunge and bought my own custom suit.

Also a simple black top and practice skirt or nice pants and vest can look lovely for someone just starting and be relatively inexpensive.

Ask others who have more experience to help you so you have a better sense of what you need.

There are many aspects to looking the part.  Make sure you look as good or better than you dance.  You want to feel good, be comfortable and confident in your appearance as you fly around the floor.

Dance well!

• When you dance you get to be social, meet new people, make friends, be out (pun fully intended) and interact.
• You also get to touch people. This may sound funny, but think about how often you get to touch people in a safe way.
• If you have a sweetie, dancing can be a fun thing to do together.
• If you are in the market for a sweetie, you might meet that special someone and have something cool in common.
• You are in your body when you dance. Many people sit at a computer most of the day….Dancing gives you a chance to move and express yourself.
• Dancing helps you work on good posture and poise.
• It also helps you have better balance and more grace.
• Dancing keeps your mind young. Learning is always a good thing and dancing uses your body and brain in many ways. Many people say it can help ward off Alzheimer’s.
• It is also good exercise.
• Dancing can lighten your mood.
• If you want to dress up, dancing is a great excuse. Of course as you probably already know, practically anything goes in the Bay Area, so feel free to be as dressed up or down as you wan to be.

Aris Allen, a great swing dance shoe site, is having a sale. They have very comfy dance sneakers and mary janes, if you like flat comfy shoes as I do. Have a look men and womens shoes and lots of nice wide fittings and retro looks.

Aris Allen swing shoe sale

Richard Lamberty Swing workshop Part 2

2nd part of this great workshop from April 09

Richard Lamberty Swing workshop

This workshop focuses on swing in standard ballroom and how it is achieved. It is in 2 parts, 2nd part to follow.

Produced by Dancing with the Queers.

Richard was a huge inspiration to the same sex community in the Bay Area and his teaching and passion started many of us on our dancing journeys.

Part 2 of Benjamins workshop April 2009

More wonderful inspiration  from part 2 of this workshop. Richard Lambertys workshop to follow tommorrow.

Benjamin workshop April, 2009

Heres Benjamins standard ballroom workshop part 1, from April 09. Part 2 coming up.

Here is Meredith Steads wonderful country and western two step workshop from the April 09 series that Dancing with the Queers produced. Its been great having all these fabulous teachers from around the country coming into California and sharing their expertise. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Merediths workshop

Lee Fox workshop

This is a summary of the workshop routine taught by Lee Fox in April 2010 for Dancing with the Queers and the April Follies. Demonstrated with the help of Solomon Singer.