The art of dance has been around since before the art of the written language. It’s a form of art that oftentimes signifies values, stories or invokes feelings that resonate with a particular culture or group of people. And, while many of us automatically think of ballet, jazz, tap and contemporary dance - with such a rich history, there are also some really fun and wacky dance facts that make you think twice!
At We’re Dancin’, we not only celebrate our dancers accomplishments on the stage, but also in their overall life performance. For us, its important that they understand all elements of dance and carry their dance experiences into their real life - and vice versa.
We’ve pulled together some of our favorite nuggets about dance - and some of them may surprise you!
The Dancing Plague of 1518:
It only seems to wax poetic that we lead off this amazing list of Weird Dance Facts with the Dancing Plague of 1518, mania that lasted a month and killed dozens of people in Strasbourg, France through exhaustion or heart attack.
Tupac the Rapping Danseur:
While many of us know Tupac Shakur as a rapping phenom from the 80s and 90s, did you also know that he performed ballet with the 127th Street Ensemble, a Harlem based theater company?
Hard as Glue?
We may use the expression “hard as a rock”, but all ballerina’s pointe shoes are actually hardened using GLUE! Yes, that’s right - glue is repeatedly placed on the point of the shoe to keep it hard.
Modern Dance is actually 100 years old
Modern dance was born in the 1900s because female dancers were rebelling against the formality and strict rules of Ballet. The pioneers of Modern Dance in the United States were Isadora Duncan, Loie Fuller, Ruth St. Denis and Martha Graham.
Capoeira: The Martial Art of Dance
African slaves who were brought to Brazil 300-400 years ago were prohibited from practicing martial arts. Therefore, they developed the mix of dancing and fighting that is known today as capoeira.
Religious Dance:
While some religions prohibit dance, and others restrict dance between the sexes, the Hindu religion celebrates dance so much so that a new genre of dance has been created by way of Bollywood Dance. Each move within the dance has a symbolism so that the dance itself can tell a story that clear to the audience.
Gagnan Style to the DEATH!
Have you ever heard someone say they danced themselves to death? Yeah, well, it happened at a Christmas party. An English man overexerted himself dancing to Psy's megahit Gangnam Style!
Light it up!
In 2008, the world’s first “sustainable” dance floor opened at Club Watt in Rotterdam, Sweden. The floor’s tiles each sit on springs hooked up to generators. The harder people dance, the more the springs are compressed and this converts into energy, which runs the LED lights in the floor.
Dance is ABSOLUTELY a Sport:
Professional dance is today regarded as one of the most demanding physical abilities and sports. According to studies, 80% of all professional dances have at least one major injury during their career and staggering 93% of all dance teachers were forced into that position after career ending injury.
We’re Dancin’ is a premiere dance studio serving the Charlotte/Matthews/Mint Hill areas. We provide a nurturing, warm and family based atmosphere for children to dance.
We believe that every student deserves one on one attention and quality dance instruction offered by a supportive, positive and well-trained dance instructor. We understand families want to bring their children to an atmosphere that feels safe, has the student’s best interest at heart, and will train their child to be the best dancer they can be.
We offer superior instruction and a range of classes for all ages and levels of dancers. We provide well-educated and caring teachers who will deliver quality instruction. What sets us apart is our commitment to excellence in instruction while focusing on building character and grace in our students. Though “dance instruction” is what we do, our true product goes well beyond the techniques and terminology we teach the students. We’re Dancin’ is committed to helping shape the future of our students, building their confidence and teaching them understanding and respect for others
We're Dancin
5136 Old Charlotte Highway; Monroe, NC
704-849-0072
