Ballroom Dance In School

Just read a great little story about fifth-graders learning swing dancing in schools.

“…the classroom teachers tell us there is such a change in their behavior,” Suzie Henneman [ballroom instructor] said on the increased level of respect teachers said their pupils show for each other. 

“The swing is their favorite,” she said. “But it’s interesting how much they take to the tango. It’s such a serious dance. But they love the dance.”

Check it out: Catonsville fifth-graders step out of comfort zone, on to dance floor [Baltimore Sun]

SOBuzz: Music Licensing Break-Down

I will dance to a different drum…
unless that drum beat is owned by BMI.

It's that time of year again… music licensing!  If you're like my dance studio, you may have recently gotten an invoice from ASCAP and are contemplating hiring a band of musicians just so you don't have to pay the necessary evil that is music license fees every year.

(Dear ASCAP, BMI & SESAC… just kidding – I will still be paying you this year!)

I get many requests for what I actually pay for my studio's music license, so I thought why not do a post now?

Before you scroll down further, if you're a new dance studio owner, fitness instructor or dance teacher and want more information about WHY we you may need to pay music license fees, check out my previous posts on music licensing:

  • License-Free Alternatives – really don't want to pay BMI, SESAC or ASCAP?  Use only live musicians or license-free music.  Check out the pro's and cons here.
Ok.  All studied up?  Alright, let's move on to the money.

Read more »

Pinspiration: Athletic Dancers

Thank you Pinterest for finding some dancers who are graceful athletes (or is it athletes who are beautiful dancers?).

Enjoy.

Photo by: Howard Schatz

I know I’ve posted this dude before, but come on – how awesome is he?

Peddecord Photo

P.S. Discovered these on Pinterest (follow me!), I have tried to find credit for as many as possible – if you know the source, photographer or dancer, please leave a comment so I can add the credit.

NMM: Katie Herzig – Lost & Found

I love this song – I heard it on Grey’s Anatomy a few months ago and needed to have it immediately!  I finally found out that it is Katie Herzig’s “Lost and Found” from her album “The Waking Sleep” that came out in September 2011.  Grab the song on iTunes here: Lost and Found - The Waking Sleep

I’ve been using it in my jazz & contemporary warm-ups and cool downs.  The beginning starts off slowly, but make sure you listen through until about 2:10 when the chorus starts in and the song really starts to take off… it has such an uplifting feeling!  My teens really enjoyed this song and the lyrics are PG enough to use for younger students as well.

DB is Editor’s Choice!

Editor’s Choice, baby!

Who me?
Yay!  The Dance Buzz was chosen by Nichelle at Dance Advantage as “Editor’s Choice” for the Top Blogs of 2011.  Thank you, Nichelle – I was completely surprised and humbled to be chosen!  I hope to keep bringing good stuff to my readers in 2012.

Check out what Nichelle wrote:

In the end, I went with a blog that I feel has consistently shown a clear focus, delivering material that is valuable to its readers in a fun but thoughtful way. I’ve enjoyed watching this blog develop and wish for its longevity.”

Awww shucks 🙂

Be sure to check out all the dance blogs that entered the contest – there are some really great ones in there to add you to your blog roll.

Yay!  Thanks again!

January Blog Challenge: Personal Dance Firsts

Snag this bad boy badge for your own blog if you choose!
Right click + save as!

Attention all dance bloggers, here is your January Blog Challenge – we're starting off with a fun, personal one.

Your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to share a picture and story of one of your "dance firsts".  First class, first show, first shoes… whatever inspires you!

The Details

  1. Choose one picture that represents your dance first
  2. Share your story
  3. Include a link back to this post (Permalink: )
If you participate, leave a comment below with the link to your post so we can share in the fun!

UPDATED JAN. 29, 2012 – Here are all the participants so far:

And with that, here's my dance first…. 
My first dance performance!

Read more »

Happy New Year: Blog Challenge

This guy will kick your butt if you don’t
participate!

Attention all dance bloggers – I am excited to announce that starting in January, I am going to be posting monthly blogging challenges called “Dance Buzz Blog Challenge”.  I hope you all find a few that sound like fun to participate in.

WHY AM I DOING THIS?
I enjoy being part of a community of dance bloggers and I think it will be fun to get different perspectives or learn new things about the bloggers themselves.

I also enjoyed participating in Pas de Trois when that was going on, and I miss the inspiration.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
Hopefully these challenges will jump-start your writer’s block, should you encounter that anytime soon.  The next time you’re stumped at what to write about, you can check out all the challenges for inspiration.

And you get to add this sweet badge to your blog if you’d like. BONUS! (To add the badge to your page, save the image to your computer and upload it to your blog).

Blog Challenge:  So easy you could do
it while perched on a young man’s
shoulder.

SO… HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?
After I announce the challenge question or theme, write your own blog post related to that theme. Then add a comment on the original challenge post (on this blog) so everyone can share.

DO I HAVE TO POST IN THE SAME MONTH AS THE CHALLENGE?
No.  Absolutely not.  I am doing it by month because I think that is a reasonable time period for me to come up with another challenge.  If you decide to do the January challenge in July, so be it – just please still add a comment to the challenge post so we can all share!

CAN I SUGGEST A CHALLENGE?
Yes!  Email me at thedancebuzz@gmail.com or leave a comment below.

SO WHAT’S JANUARY’S CHALLENGE?
You’ll have to wait until January to find out…  but I can tell you that it is a fun one!

Merry Christmas!


I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!  The Dance Buzz and hubby traveled to Western New York for the holiday to visit Mr. Dance Buzz’s family.

I can’t believe how quickly the end of 2011 is rapidly approaching… I spent the day at the studio preparing recital costume orders, gathering up lost and found items to donate and rehearsing some of our performance team kids who came in over break.  Trying to tie up some loose ends before we begin the start of our busy season filled with competitions and recital preparations.

TOP DANCE BLOGS 2011
Thank you for everyone who commented on our 2011 entry into Top Dance Blogs – we didn’t make the finals for Top 20.. but go on over to Dance Advantage to vote for the blogs who did!  I’m excited to find some new blogs to add to my blog reader.

If you want my advice (and why wouldn’t you?), The Dance Buzz’s favorite blogs on the list are Maria’s Movers and Adult Beginner.  If you don’t know who to vote for, I recommend one of these blogs!  But don’t take my word for it, check ’em out!

SURPRISE COMING SOON… GET READY!
I have somewhat of a surprise for other bloggers to be revealed this week that I hope will inspire some dance bloggers to participate!  Sorry, can’t tell you now… you’ll have to check back later this week.

Think of it as a virtual Christmas / New Year’s present to you from me 🙂

NMM: Hey Ya – Obidiah Parker

This one’s been around for a while, but I recently re-discovered it in my playlists.

Today’s New Music Monday song is an acoustic cover of Hey Ya Hey Ya - Obadiah Parker Live by Obadiah Parker

I like to use this song in my modern and contemporary classes and also for a cool-down in jazz class. The only problem is for the first few times you play it, the kids will be concentrating on figuring out why it sounds so familiar. I know I was!

Click here for all contemporary New Music Mondays

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And there’s ONE MORE DAY LEFT to VOTE FOR US for Top Dance Blog of 2011 by commenting on the post (click this link). Thank you!