Wanna Be Elvis

Wanna Be Elvis
Choreographed by : Robbie McGowan Hickie
Song by : Jason Allen (Elvis Tonight)

I had a great time learning this particular song. The steps were a little too fast for me but I really liked the song. As usual, my turns were in the wrong direction but my classmates were very helpful. They put me in the middle of the group so whichever way I turned, I can still see them. My daughter also had trouble learning this dance but the instructor coached her well.

When we finally learned the steps, he decided that he had to add some hand movements (which the video do not have - I couldn't find any videos from our instructor for this dance). The hand movements complements the dance very well but whenever my hands moved, my feet stopped ! hahaha...

Jai Ho

In my previous post, I mentioned that hand movements were difficult to learn. Actually, this is only true for beginners like me. You will see the beauty of the hand movements with the choreographed steps in this video that I found on youtube. The steps are by Maggie Gallagher and the hand movements are created by my dancing instructor, Brian Ang. This video is taken during his advance students' class. (Imagine my surprise when I saw the familiar faces).

This song is called Jai Ho by Pussycat Dolls and I think is the soundtrack for Slumdog Millionaire. This song has some Indian elements to it and Brian has incorporated the hand movements to a T. Perfecto !!! Totally love this dance.

I hope to be able to dance like this in the near future but am not very optimistic. However, I am trying my best and enjoying every sweat filled minute of it ....

Love Attack

Love Attack
Choreographed by : Brian Heselden
Song by : Shakin' Stevens

This is a song that I found easy to learn. My daughter loves this song and is an expert on the steps. The tempo is average and not much steps to remember. However, the turns were hell on my soles and I managed to accumulate a large blister on each of my foot as a trophy for learning this song in less than an hour.

I noticed that most of the beginner dances are based on a limited set of variations. If you managed to learn the basics phrases that describes the moves, you are already half way there. As we went along, I managed to grasp hold of the tips and tricks on how to remember the steps and things became smoother sailing. Still lacking in sense of directions, I had to concentrate hard on each turn to make sure I am on the same side as my classmates. More than once, they burst out in giggles when they turn to see me facing the opposite direction. Oh well.... I guess if you wanna teach an old dog some new tricks, you gotta give her time !

Long Shot

Long Shot
Choreographed by : Maria Hennings Hunt
Song by : Bailie & The Boys

Firstly, I would like to apologise for the quality of the above video. However, it was the best or rather, the only one I could find on youtube.

I have not listened to Country & Westerns songs for quite awhile and I really liked this song. It has a catchy tune that will stick to your mind. I was unconsciously humming this song for a few days. The rhythm is slow and there were less steps to remember than My New Life. However, that did not mean I had less problem dancing to the music. I practiced and practiced till my feet were sore but I was proud when I finally mastered it. The sole of my feet (yes, both sides, same place) blistered so bad that I had trouble walking. Of course Long Shot was not the only factor that made it blister. That week, we learned two songs and the second song, Love Attack has turns that grinds on the soles. Ouch !

P/S : After finally mastering this dance (Long Shot) my dancing instructor added hand movements which made me lose count and all my sense of rhythm. I was a bundle of awkward hands and legs and am sad to say that I am still looking for the flow of the dance. Will update IF and WHEN I managed to get the moves right. I am sorry but there are no videos available for this at the moment.

My First Dance - My New Life

My New Life - a fitting name for the first song I ever learned in line dancing. The song is titled High Class Lady and it was choreographed by John Offermans.

It is a beginner level dance but a dance that I took the longest to learn as the moves were very unfamiliar to me. Every twist and turn (which I managed to do in the opposite direction from the others) took me hours and hours of practice before I managed to remember the steps. Following the step WITH music was a whole new challenge. My daughter however, took to this song like a fish to water. Till date, this is one of her favorite dance.

If you google for this song in youtube, there will be loads of video available. I chose this particular version as this is the first time I came across a Korean group of dancers. Where ever you are, dance has no language barrier.

Enjoy !

My New Hobby

Recently I took up Line Dancing. I know, I know, it has been around for ages but being slow like me, it too me ages to hook on. Ok ? Satisfied ? :P

Actually, the class was specifically for kids (my daughter) and we mummies just tag along for fun. We enjoyed it every much but due to extreme lack of exercise, I'm more dead than alive after each one and half hour classes. Luckily the classes are on Saturday mornings so I've got the whole afternoon the recharge.

I've always loved dancing and my daughter seem to take after me in that aspect. And being young and thus more energetic, she don't seem to have any problem following the class. Old lady like me, well it took some time and plenty of laughs before I finally hooked on !

I will post some thoughts about what I learn every week and maybe link to some videos showing dance moves, provided that I don't 'step on anybody's tail' with my links. I will also post some song or steps that I really liked but was too advanced for me to learn.

Since we started late April, I will have some catching up with steps that I've learned. After which I hope I will be able to entice myself to post at least once a week after every dance lesson.

In the mean time, hold your horses, I will be right back !