Ballroom Makes Kids Rich

BALLROOM KIDS WIN HALF MILLION DOLLARS

On Wednesday, February 9th, 2011, two young ballroom dancers stole America’s hearts with their exceptional dancing and they won $500,000!

“Live to Dance” is a new show on CBS hosted by Paula Abdul and its goal is to find America’s BEST dancer. The show spent weeks touring the country watching every age of dancer doing every possible type of dance.

It all came down six acts: three fantastic groups, a beautiful ballerina couple, a young solo contemporary dancer and a D’Angelo & Amanda dancing ballroom.

All forms of dance were represented including: jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, ballroom and more! In the end, America voted and Ballroom Dancing WON! .

“It’s obvious that Ballroom dancing is fascinating to America”, says Maren Oslac of Heart & Sole Dance in Tinley Park. “Ballroom dance won over every other form of dance! I think we all love it (ballroom) because it’s got something for everyone: masculinity and femininity, relationship, exercise and fitness, and even drama!”

D’Angelo and Amanda (ages 10 & 11) had a tough job, but America was behind them. Judge Travis Payne even called them the “Future of Ballroom Dancing”.

Locally, ballroom dance is also alive and well, and the south suburbs of Chicago is home of one of top youth ballroom programs in the country – Heart & Sole Dance!

“We’re opening our doors,” says youth instructor and parent Lynzi Scholz. “It’s obvious how popular Ballroom dancing has become and we want everyone to have an opportunity to see what all the fuss is about!” .

Heart & Sole Dance currently offers ballroom dance classes for ages 4 to adult. Check back for the 2-3 year old classes that are being formed

To register you, or child, call the studio at 708-5-DANCES (708-532-6237).

For more information on Heart & Sole Dance, including adult, child and fitness options, visit http://www.heartsoledance.com

Dance the Pounds Away!

Whether it's the rumba, tango or waltz, participants say the time flies!

This is a great excerpt from a recent article in the Press Democrat.

" California State University at Long Beach has conducted studies on the benefits of ballroom dance and found that beginning students can get their heart rates up to near-maximum training rates with a five minute warm-up and 20 minutes of cha-cha or swing dancing. Moderate ballroom dancing can burn up to 300 calories an hour.

Ross said he did his own studies over a 30-day period and found, as a teacher, he was traveling 8½ miles across the dance floor in a day and burning 600 calories an hour.

It can be aerobic, he stressed, without the percussive effect on the skeletal system that comes with jumping or running. "

Read the entire article here: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110121/LIFESTYLE13/110129886?p=3&tc=pg

For more information on ballroom dance instruction, please visit http://www.heartsoledance.com