Adapting To Change Through The Power of Dance

This year has been nothing but normal, but in the midst of chaos, we've grown so much. Our goal at Valeo has always been to keep people moving, and staying happy and healthy. The pandemic has changed a few ways we typically do that, but we have adapted. Here's how!

Virtual Workouts

We have always found a way to reach our Valeo family, even when we couldn't meet face to face. Virtual workouts have always been something we wanted to try, and we finally had the chance to go for it. Self-quarantine was the push we needed to jump-start our virtual workout classes, and we're so glad we did! Since then, Valeo Dance Fitness has grown with over 379K subscribers on YouTube, with over 80 million views worldwide! In addition, we've connected with people across the globe through our choreography. This truly shows how powerful and connecting dance can be!

Our online workouts vary, just like our in-person classes do. Our workouts focus on healthy weight loss, stress relief, and strength. You have the chance to burn up to 1,000 calories in one hour as you tone your entire body, define your waistline, and strengthen your core. We combine intense dance fitness cardio with interval training to meet the needs of each of our participants. We add variety to our dances through the use of weighted hula hoops, free weights, fitness drumming, and balance balls. Every muscle works while you sweat!

Exercise is known for its wonderful benefits for both your body and mind. As stated before, clients are burning up to 1,000 calories per session and releasing stress in a healthy way. Our choreography ranges in style and music genre, so there is something for everyone! 

To learn more about our styles of dance and our virtual workouts, check out ValeoClub on YouTube! We have hundreds of videos to meet your needs and mood for the perfect dance workout. You can always find more information on the benefits of dance and what we do on our website. Don't let this pandemic keep you from working out, and join us online today!

The Foundation of Ballroom Dancing

The key to dancing well with a partner and enjoying it is the right balance of leading and following.  Although choreographed routines are used in competition and performance, ballroom dancing is, at its core, social dancing, which means that it relies on communication between the dancers.  One leads, determining the direction they go and how far they move, and the other follows, keeping up with the changes without overstepping.  It can be challenging, but with practice, you can make it look just as effortless as the professionals! 

Leading 

In ballroom dancing, the man generally leads.  He almost always steps forward first, usually on his right foot.  The man leads his partner through a variety of small movements and weight changes.  For example, a slight backward pull of his shoulder indicates that she should step toward him, while a press against her raised hand tells her to step back.  It's crucial to maintain a proper dance frame because, without it, those communications can get lost. 

The lead has a lot of responsibility in the dance.  It's his job to take his follower through every step, which means he has to make decisions on the fly if there's no choreography.  This can be daunting, especially for beginners, but leading is just as important as knowing the steps.   

Following 

It's generally the woman's role to follow in a dance.  That sounds easy, but it requires just as much skill as leading.  She's just as responsible for maintaining the dance frame, and she must pay attention to all those small changes in her partner's hold.  If she gets too close or too far away from him, their connection will be lost, and they'll lose the ability to dance together smoothly.  

For many women, following is the hardest part of ballroom dancing.  The follower shouldn't move at all until she gets a signal from her lead, regardless if he's off the beat or out of time.  Every move she makes should be dictated by the lead, which can be difficult.  Following requires trusting your partner to communicate well and make you look good.  

Valeo Dance Fitness Studio offers private ballroom dance lessons with Asiya Khasnutdinova, voted Best Ballroom Dance Instructor in Atlanta.  From salsa to swing, tango to foxtrot, we have the style for you!  To start learning the art of lead and follow, contact us today!