Nicole TanLong, lean legs move to the exact beat of the music while toned arms follow in precise coordination as hips sway and roll at every angle. Isn’t it always a wonder how some people just have that sensuality in them when they move on the dance floor?
Well, that sensuality can be picked up by anyone, as Nadia Shah from hype has discovered!
Read on to find out
–about Pole Dancing
–about Belly Dancing
–about Salsa Dancing
–How To Do A Basic Sensual Dance Move
What do A-listers Teri Hatcher, Angelina Jolie and Kate Moss have in common?
Well, besides being smouldering hot superstars, all three have recently discovered a new pastime.
While pole dancing used to be reserved just for not-so-reserved strippers at clubs, it’s become a healthy new lifestyle sport that more Singaporeans are turning to.
Local dance studio Groove, which is located at Waterloo Street, has seen a threefold increase in pole dancing enthusiasts since it first offered its women-only classes in 2006.
That is, according to their head trainer, who only wanted to be known by her stage name Ms Fi Alsagoff.
She said, “I guess there’s a little naughty side to every Singaporean girl, and pole dancing offers our students a safe haven to show this off.”
But the sport, which involves performing aerial moves on a pole, including twirls, spins and hanging upside down, isn’t just for the fairer sex.
According to a report by The New Paper last year, more men around the world are starting get a kick out of winding and grinding around and against poles.
In fact, dance studios in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia have started offering men-only classes.
And why not?
Miss Alsagoff said that pole dancing involves carrying one’s own body weight in one-hour durations, which results in a great cardiovascular and toning workout for both men and women.
So we say, get on that pole and unleash that sultry kitten in you.
Say belly dance and the first thing that comes to mind is an image of sensual, voluptuous Arabic women shaking their booties…oops, we mean bellies.
The dance, also known as Raqs Sharqi (Dance from the East), is said to have originated from the Middle East. There, it was initially taught to young women to strengthen their tummies for future childbirth.
Today, the art of thrusting one’s hips is widely practised around the world, though more out of passion than in preparation for future pregnancy.
In Singapore, the craze hit the nation sometime in 2000, according to an article titled “Come On, Let’s Do the Belly Dance”
that was published in The Straits Times in March that year.
Miss Angelina Tay, 28, who conducts belly dance classes at performing arts school Danz People in Orchard Road, fell in love with the dance form over six years ago.
“I found great enjoyment watching belly dancers translate the orchestration of music into dance movements and routines by responding to the accents, trembles and tunes of the orchestra with their body.
“I also loved the sophisticated and intricate costumes worn by belly dancers, so I wanted to be one of them.”
Belly dancing, she added, has its dose of health benefits.
By focusing on muscle isolation, it tones the body, increases flexibility and improves body coordination. Miss Tay also believes that it’s a dance for the soul.
“Belly dancing is a great way to increase self-awareness, build self-confidence and let one’s creativity run wild.”
In short, belly dancing promises a ‘belly’ good time.
Engage in some salsa to spice up your life. No, we’re not talking about that hot sauce used in good ol’ Mexican food.
The salsa, which stems from Latin-American rhythms, is a spirited street dance that consists of shimmying with and
sliding up against your partner.
According to “Salsa Brings Sexy Back”, an article that was published in The Straits Times in August last year, salsa was first brought to Singapore in 1998 by visiting instructors from Brazil and Mexico.
And it’s been gaining popularity ever since.
Mr Güpson Pierre, creative director of Attitude Dance Studio at Palmer Road, revealed that each year, the studio sees a 20 percent increase in students taking up salsa dance classes.
It’s a hit with those who want a chance to get up close and personal with someone of the opposite gender while staying fit.
According to a BBC Sport article published four years ago, spending half an hour salsa dancing can burn up to 400
calories – the equivalent of swimming the breast stroke for 30 minutes.
It can also result in lower blood pressure, improved cholesterol levels and a reduced heart rate.
As an added bonus, Mr Pierre quipped jokingly, “When you take up salsa, you’ll be too busy dancing to have time to smoke, which of course, is another health benefit.”
So, whip out your dancing shoes and get grooving to the salsa beat.
How To Do A Basic Sensual Dance Move
by Nicole Tan
Afraid to take a dance class?
Here’s a basic sensual dance move you can try out in the privacy of your own bedroom: The Body Roll.
Step 1
Turn on some funky dance music. We suggest:
Cassie – Me & U
Lady Gaga – Just Dance (Featuring Colby O’Donis & Akon)
Akon & Kardinal Offishall – Dangerous
Ne-Yo – Closer
Chris Brown – Forever
Step 2
Stand with your legs shoulder-width apart.
Step 3
Break down a body roll, and you get 4 simple steps: head, chest, recline and sit. So do these 4 steps in counts of 4:
1 – Tilt your head back
2 – Tilt your chest back
3 – Recline your upper body
4 – Go into a sit position with your butt sticking out
Step 4
Once you’ve gotten the hang of these 4 steps, turn the music up and feel the groove as you smoothen these moves out and slowly let your body roll.
Step 5
When you feel you can pretty much do the front body roll, it’s time to advance and move on to the side body rolls, which require a slight change of body angle while still using the same moves.
Step 6
It’s time to use your new sensual dance move and impress everyone the next time there’s a dance floor when you’re out with your friends.
For a better understanding of this simple, easy step that you can use on the dance floor almost anywhere, this UrbanWire reporter highly recommends these 2 videos that really break it down for you.
(please help me link this video here – https://youtu.be/2u7GgTsDylY)
Following the first video, please help me link this video too – https://youtu.be/bvKXO6L4