If you ask yourself one or more of the following questions...

Getting married soon, don't want to embarrass yourself, and want to make the First Dance at your wedding a wonderful and lasting memory?

Tired of going to social functions and missing out on the fun?

Want to introduce your child to ballroom dancing or dancesport?

Does your sweetheart want you to learn to dance to spice up the romance?

Looking for a new way to exercise, or a great pastime to meet other fun people?

Want to get your money's and time's worth in shopping for the best dance lessons?

Looking to further your dancing and possibly compete in dancesport?

Enjoy dressing up for a night out and treating yourself with Style?

Enjoy the looks of envy or admiration from others when you perfect a new move on the dance floor?

Looking for new places to have a fun nightlife, such as where to dance, wine and dine around Kansas City?

Look no further!!!  This website should serve your needs especially if you live around Kansas City, Olathe and Overland Park!!!

You never quit dancing when you get old; you really get old when you quit dancing!

* News & Announcements *

(Last update: 11/7/2008)

From our team...

This year, JieYi Xu and Edward Lam formed a dance partnership called Team J.E. to explore International Latin dances.  Since then, they have done very well in competitions and showcases.  Team J.E. is available for shows.  Please contact Edward Lam at 913-220-7460.

Congratulation to Team J.E., for winning the second placing at 2008 UMKC Open Talent Competitions in November, with their rendition of Rumba.

2008 USDC in Orlando, FL was a tough comp with lots of outstanding competitors and some of the world's best pro/am couples, but Dan Song made it to the finals of both United States National Pro/Am International Latin and Standard 5 Dance Championships, as well as World Pro/Am International 10 Dance Championship, receiving encouraging marks from the judges.

Congratulation to Dan Song for winning both the 2008 Heart of America Dancesport Pro-am American Smooth Bronze Championship and Scholarship in kansas City, MO!  Also, she won the Pro-am Latin Bronze Scholarship.

Congratulation to JieYi Xu for winning both the 2008 Heart of America Dancesport Pro-am International Standard Bronze Championship and Silver Latin championship!  She was also placed second at the Pro-am Silver Latin Scholarship.

Congratulation to Mei Holsclaw for placing first in Cha Cha, second in Samba and fourth in Rumba in her single-dance events at the 2008 Heart of America Dancesport Championship!

Congratulation to David and Mei Holsclaw for placing first at their amateur single-dance events at the 2008 Heart of America Dancesport Championship!

Congratulation to David Holsclaw and Dan Song for placing first at all their amateur single-dance events at the 2008 Heart of America Dancesport Championship!

Congratulation to Dan Song for winning the 2008 Twin Cities Open Pro-Am International Latin Bronze Championship, Scholarship, and capturing first places for all her Latin and Standard single-dance events!  Also, she was placed third and fourth for the Twin Cities Open Pro-Am International Standard Silver Championship and Scholarship, respectively.

Congratulation to JieYi Xu for capturing second place at the 2008 Twin Cities Open Pro-Am International Latin Silver Championship, Scholarship, and capturing first and second places for all her Latin single-dance events!  Also, she was placed third for the Twin Cities Open Pro-Am International Standard Bronze Championship.  She made the final and was placed fourth after surviving the semi-final at the Twin Cities Open Pro-Am International Standard Bronze Scholarship!

Congratulation to Mei Holsclaw for placing first for all her Twin Cities Open Newcomer International Latin single-dance events!

Congratulation to Conrad and Lourdes Nieva for placing first and second for all their Amateur Latin single-dance events!

Congratulation to Dan Song for placing firsts for Pro/Am International Latin Silver 3 Dance Championship at the 2008 Atlanta Open!

Congratulation to Dan Song for winning the Pro/Am International Latin Silver Scholarship at the 2008 St. Louis Star Ball!

While poor Edward had to eat lots of energy bars, bananas and drink plenty of water and Gatorade to keep up with the ladies...

More group lessons!!!  See Below!

Fridays
Prairie Life Fitness Center Ballroom Dancing Program
 

Address: 13655 S. Alden, Olathe KS 66062; phone: 913-764-5444
Time: Fridays at 7PM
Cost: Free for Members; $7/person for non-members (no partner necessary; sign up at front desk)
Instructor: Edward Lam
Will teach basic steps for beginners and technique for intermediate dancers.

Weekly Dance Parties: There will be a weekly dance party at Prairie Life on every Friday starting Feb. 15th at 8PM (8pm - 10:30 pm) following the Friday group class.  Members attend free.  Non-members who pay for the Friday group class can stay for the party, or pay $7 to attend the party.

Thursdays
Group Lesson: Latin Dances

Steps, routines, styles and techniques

Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba, Swing, Bolero and/or Mambo
Price: $6/person (no partner needed)
Place: 14235 W 158th St., Olathe, KS 66062
Date and time: Thursdays 7:15 pm CST
 

If interested, please contact Edward @ 913-220-7460.

Monthly Seminar: Essential Latin Techniques

Focused topics on various basic technical aspects of Latin dances
Price: $8/person per seminar

Length: 1.5 hours
Place: 14235 W 158th St., Olathe, KS 66062
Date: To be announced
Time: To be announced
 

If interested, please contact Edward @ 913-220-7460.

I OFFER GREAT DANCE LESSONS AND BEST VALUES!!!

You can book lessons online or contact me at 913-220-7460 or 913-548-0124.  I offer best values - the best pricing and great quality for the lessons - period!  Many many positive references!

DanceSport!  If you are interested at dance competitions, I offer coaching and assistance for all ages for your amateur and/or pro-am events.

Are you looking for a Critique of your dance competition or performance?  Send us a video of your performance either on DVD, YouTube, VHS tape, or a link to your video files, we will critique it and offer you key instructions on how to improve the important aspects in the movements, styles, techniques and floor crafts needed to further your dancing to a higher level of performance and presentation.  The cost will be $25 per dance.

A Brief Talk on Ballroom Dance Levels and Competitions

What is a ballroom dance competition?  There really isn't a simple answer, but let's break the answer into parts.  A ballroom dance or dancesport comp is an event hosted by a qualified and accredited entity that invites dancers from different dance schools and locations to attend.  Dancers compete at a variety of skill levels.  The competition itself is done in a series of events (in one dance per event, or multi-dance events).  Depending on the number of couples, there may be multiple rounds per event.  After each round, a certain percentage of dancers is called back to the next round.  Rounds progress until there are (ideally) six or sometimes seven couples remaining.  These competitors in the final are ranked in order by the judges. The judges' marks are tallied and averaged, and you get the final placings.

Ballroom dance competitions feature four categories of dance in two styles.  We have American Style, which, as the name suggests, is only danced competitively in the United States.  American Style is divided into two categories. Smooth, which usually consists of Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, and Viennese Waltz. And Rhythm, which makes up of Rumba, Cha Cha, Swing, Mambo, and Bolero. Then we have International Style, which is danced in competitions throughout the world. International Style also has two categories. Standard, similar to Smooth, which is Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep, and Viennese Waltz. Then, analogous to Rhythm, the International Style Latin, consists of Rumba, Cha Cha, Samba, Paso Doble and Jive.

Next you may wonder how competitions deal with dancers of differing experience. There is a level system in place, and each level has a defined "syllabus" to go with each level/category pair.  The syllabus is simply the list of dance patterns that are allowed in that particular level and category.  The levels are (usually) Newcomer, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. There is also the Open level.

The Newcomer category is usually reserved only for dancers who are attending their first couple competitions.  Usually the rule is that you've been dancing less than half a year (or a semester).  Newcomer level is a chance for new competitors to get into the swing of competing without the stress of having to compete at the Bronze level (often for dancers who have competed for some time).  As a Newcomer, you may dance any figure in the Bronze syllabus.

The Bronze level is often termed the beginner level.  Dancers that are dedicated to constantly improving their dancing by mastering more advanced technique and patterns usually spend a year or year and a half in Bronze. If you're not all that serious about competition, you may hang out in Bronze for quite some time. It all depends on how much time you want to commit. As you might guess, the Bronze level is limited to the Bronze syllabus.

The Silver or intermediate level is for competitors who have a fine grasp of technique, and, in general who have consistently placed well in Bronze level competitions (though it isn't required to have placings; chosing to advance in level is a competitor's choice).  Competitors in Silver are limited to the Bronze and Silver syllabi.

Gold level, or advanced, is a place for competitors to show their mastery of both technique and the entire syllabus for that particular dance/category. Here you have a wide range of options, as you may do any patterns in the Bronze, Silver, or Gold syllabi.  These Syllabi must be recognized by the organizer of the competitions in order to be performed.

Earlier I mentioned the Open level, and you might be wondering what that's all about.  The Open level is separate from the four syllabus levels.  Open means that anything goes; there is no Open syllabus. The Open level is a place for dancers who have mastered technique and want to dance more challenging choreographed routines. (Routines are often used in syllabus events as well, but these routines are just amalgamations of syllabus patterns.) The Open level is usually a treat to watch at the end of many competitions.  This is where the most expressive, dynamic dancing takes place.  Technically, the Open level is divided into three sub-levels: Novice, Pre-Championship, and Championship (Rising Star and Open Championship).  These sub-levels reflect how long a couple has been dancing Open and how comfortable they are with advanced routines. Often all these will be collapsed into a single event under the "Open" umbrella, since there are only few competitors at present to run all these sub-levels.

I have updated some video clips for your viewing pleasure as well.

THE IDEAL FOOTWEAR FOR ALL BALLROOM DANCING!!!  It is our privilege and honor to announce that we can now accept orders for our award-winning SoulDancerUSA™ DANCE SHOES!!!   These shoes have been sold all over Asia and Europe, and now in America as well.  They have also been sold at Blackpool Dance Festival in England.  We are proud to be the first to introduce these fine dance shoes to America.  They are of equal quality and workmanship, if not better, to those costing $110 to $220 a pair from other name brands.  OUR PRICES ARE MUCH MUCH LOWER!!!  Please click on 'Dance Shoes' on the left column to view and order yours.

Don't forget to check out those beautiful dance performance and competition dresses for sale through the link to this site as well!!!

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