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!

A Lifelong Affair with Dance, Health and Fitness: Valeo Dance Fitness Studio

Asiya Khasnutdinova's love affair with dance and fitness began back in Russia as a little girl. When Asiya's parents saw how highly energetic their child was, they figured it would be a good idea to find an activity she could channel her energy through. In near-Arctic Russia, that was figure skating. Very soon, Asiya was showcasing her talents to audiences looking to see some of the best figure skaters in the world. Out of concern for their daughter and to redirect her to a less injury-prone activity, Asiya's mother suggested dance. As they say, the rest is history. 

It's A History Worth Telling

Remember, Asiya is a highly-energetic person. She finally met her match on the dance floor through Latin dance. She then competed professionally across Russia, Europe, and the US for 15 years. In what looked like a rather interesting turn of events, Asiya came to the United States to study finance and earn her MBA. As a result, it led her to work in some of the top financial institutions in the United States. She figured like many may think, "dance is not a real job, and I should probably get one," and her passion sat on the back seat for seven years. 

But the dance floor kept calling, and one day, it could not be ignored any longer. 

What's Next?

Thanks to her strong business background, and her experience in the financial industry, Asiya knew what she was doing. Asiya has a strong command of the way businesses work and the hurdles an up-and-coming small business could face. Like usual, her mom was by her side, and despite her doubts, Asiya started Valeo Dance Fitness Studio. It began with a group class featuring a neighbor and her biggest cheerleader. That small start evolved into a YouTube channel with over 200,000 subscribers. Then came dance fitness classes featured in national publications: SELF magazine named Valeo Dance Fitness Studio, one of the Top 10 BEST cardio workouts in the US. 

VALEO's signature cardio workout combines a variety of tools to create the best workout. Those include "weighted hula hoops, resistance bands, free weights, fitness drumming, and balance balls that will ultimately tone the entire body." Asiya developed the VALEO method along with Svetlana Khasnutdinova, MD, Ph.D. Svetlana brings 30-years of medical expertise and understanding of body types, muscular structure, and physiology to the table. In other words, they created a fitness experience that embodies the meaning of VALEO perfectly. VALEO, a word of Latin origin, means "to be healthy, strong, and feel good." 

You can read more about Asiya's story here.

VALEO's focus is to help you feel good through dancing and movement every day of the year. Contact us to learn more about our signature packages. Your first class is on us! 

Susan Ellison's Story About Valeo Fitness YouTube Channel

Dance is one of the best ways to get fit and stay fit. The Valeo Dance Fitness Studio has been selected by SELF magazine as a TOP 10 BEST cardio dance workouts in the USA. We have incorporated medical research into our classes, and as a result, we have helped countless women achieve the fitness and lifestyle they desire. Our studio is located in Atlanta, but that hasn't stopped us from helping women all over the world. Valeo Dance Fitness Studio has a very active YouTube channel with over 230,000 subscribers. No matter where you are, you can get the benefit of the classes at the studio and begin to change your life! 

Susan Ellison

Subscribers like Susan Ellison are living proof of how the benefits of using our YouTube channel can make a big difference. In Susan's own words: 

"Just a quick note to thank you for your creative, fun workout dance fitness classes on YouTube. I subscribe and have been following your classes for a year now. I love them!! You have helped me get me back!! 30 lbs down!"

Our YouTube videos use new and upbeat music and are only a few minutes. The videos are of real dance classes and show the whole class dancing so that you will fit right in. With hundreds of videos showing different songs, you can pick and choose what you enjoy the most. Our YouTube channel will even give you playlists with all the videos you need to focus on different types of workouts such as upper body, lower body, and more. We are so proud of the work Susan has done, and it's stories like hers that drive us to keep our YouTube channel fresh with videos to help you get fit and stay fit in a fun and healthy way. Contact us for more information about our studio, our live classes, or our highly popular YouTube channel.