Showing posts with label dance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dance. Show all posts

5/11/15

AWESOME GIVEAWAY: 2 Tickets to Sway: A Dance Trilogy

I'll admit to not watching Dancing With the Stars religiously since I was in high school, but every now and again I'll catch an episode and am always blown away by the professionals' routines. This June, you will be able to experience ballroom dancing live, on-stage at Dance With Me presents “SWAY:  A Dance Trilogy.”

SWAY: A Dance Trilogy

TV dance personalities including Maksim and Val Chmerkovskiy, Tony Dovolani, Peta Murgatroyd, Emma Slater, Artem Chigvintsev, Henry Byalikov, Jenna Johnson, and Serge Onik will perform with guest stars Olympic gold medalist Meryl Davis and world-class snowboarder Amy Purdy for 3 performances only at the Hammerstein Ballroom (311 W 34th St) on June 5 and 6, 2015.

Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Meryl Davis
Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Meryl Davis

SWAY is divided into three parts, each anchored by one of the stars of the show. You will be whisked through the timeless elegance of ballroom’s golden era, to modern dance fusion of today’s urban youth, climaxing with the heart pounding rhythms of the Latin night club scene. The show also features innovative choreography from two of ballrooms’ emerging standout artists: Joao Tiago Fernandes and David Thomas Moore.

VIP ticket holders will meet the entire cast and mingle with the celebrity performers at the exclusive post-show meet & greet, and Saturday night’s official afterparty.

All tickets can be purchased here.

Good news! I'm giving away a pair of tickets to the Friday June 5th performance at 7:30 pm. To enter, please use the rafflecopter giveaway form below. Be sure to follow all instructions, as those who do not leave the required comment on this blog will be disqualified.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

12/5/14

Dance Party = Fitness (Plus, a Giveaway!)

The idea of "working-out" used to bore me. I'd wander aimlessly around a giant gym surrounded by machines, gadgets and all sorts of weights but have no concept of what to do with them. Thankfully, the concept of boutique fitness has exploded throughout NYC within the past year, and there are so many unique options from me to choose from to stay fit.

I was recently invited to try the latest studio on the block, ((305)) Fitness, a self-proclaimed underground cardio fitness experience. Well it was literally underground (yay basements!) and definitely an experience (a really, really fun experience).

All images courtesy of ((305)) Fitness

Their website says: "We turn your workout into a party." What kind of party, though, I wasn't initially sure. In fact, when I first arrived at 9:45 on a Sunday morning with my guinea pig friend, we were a bit confused if we were in the right place as the only signage was a neon pink "GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS" ominously hinting at what might be in store for us downstairs.

The front desk

But the gal at the front desk had our names on a list and we were directed past several really neat art pieces to the super clean and colorful locker room to store our belongings before we boogied on downstairs. The 305 Goddess showed the way...

The 305 Goddess and stairs going down to the studio

The studio is basically a club. It's decked out with all sorts of colored lights, giant images of lips and mouths, positive mantras along the front mirror, and...wait for it...a DJ booth. Our instructor, JJ Montell, started the class with so much positive energy and he did something that I really appreciated and haven't seen at other studios. It was simple. He said, introduce yourself to someone you don't know. The fun in this was that we were all about to be dancing together for an hour, so it's way more fun if you at least know another person's name.

JJ Montell

We started with a Zumba-like warm-up, but the choreography quickly escalated to more advanced dance moves, sports drills, and various squats and lunges. His direction flowed perfectly with the music and the lights curated by our DJ that I was able to let loose and really feel like I was at a party. At three points in class we stopped for what he called our sprints, which were basically high-intensity drills of high-knees followed by push-ups or crunches. It was also arms day, so we did a few minutes of small-movement arm drills (ie, arm circles, holding arms out in a T, shoulder presses). 

I was sweating buckets and almost every muscle burned by the end of class, but my endorphins must have skyrocketed. The music was a perfect mix of new and old, the latter taking me back to my days in middle-school hip-hop dance classes (what what!?!).

My friend, an avid soccer player who tends to stay away from dance-based workouts, said she had a lot of fun trying something new. In her words, even though she couldn't follow along all of the dance moves perfectly, some of the more traditional conditioning sequences were natural for her to follow and that's where she pushed herself the most.


I would highly recommend this workout to everyone. Classes are $32 each, but they have an intro offer of 3 classes for $36. The locker room is well stocked with all the products you need to get ready (and self-locking lockers) and has 2 showers. Towels are available at the front desk.

Good news! We're giving away a free class for one lucky reader and a friend. To enter, use the rafflecopter form below and enter before midnight on 12/10. Best of luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

5/14/14

Who Says Meatpacking is Just for Clubbing? Free Fitness Classes All Summer!

Anyone up for some free exercise classes? Join the Meatpacking District Improvement Association, Exhale, Chelsea Piers, Asics, and Lululemon for Classes on the Cobbles starting Thursday May 22.  


Classes range from yoga to Krav Maga and stretching to Zumba, and all take place "on the cobbles" of Gansevoort Plaza. Mats will be provided and classes are all 40 minutes long. To reserve your spot, click here. Happy sweating!

4/11/14

Dance Your Artist Heart Out

It's time to party, Brooklyn style. The Brooklyn Museum is hosting the Brooklyn Artists Ball Dance Party next Wednesday April 16 from 10-1, and you are not going to want to miss it.


The event will feature a performance by LE1F and later DJ Brenmar will be spinning some tunes. There will also be a silent auction powered by Artsy and dessert prepared by Amirah Kassem of Flour Shop. Tickets are $100 ($90 for museum members) and today is the last day to buy them!

10/19/12

Dance Your Awesome Off

Want to dance like this?

Dance Your Way to Health

Well, I can't make you any promises, but there's a free dance event going on tomorrow from 2-6 pm at The Ritz Park Plaza (235 W 48th St.) that may help you discover your left from your right feet. The New Yorker Social Dance Club hosts "Dance Your Way to Health" and will offer group classes, performances, local healthy vendors, live music, dance fashion, and face painting! Admission is free and it looks like a great way to spend an afternoon!

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