Kids tap classes students performing at Out of the Box Festival!

Red Hot Rhythm are very excited to annouce that 5 of the junior tap class students, along with Red Hot Rhythm director, Bill Simpson, will be making several appearances at QPAC’s annual ‘Out of the Box’ Festival, for children 8 years and under.

Performance Schedule:

Tuesday the 8th of June, 2010: 11:00am & 12:30pm, Underage Stage

Sunday the 13th of June, 2010: 12:00pm & 2:00pm, Underage Stage

Monday the 14th of June, 2010: 10:00am, Underage Stage

Come along and support Bill and the junior students as they tap up a storm!

For all the information, check out the Out of the Box website: www.outofthebox.com.au

RED HOT RHYTHM hold adult tap dance classes, and kids tap dance classes in Ashgrove, Brisbane. For all the information, visit the classes page of the website:

Dance Classes

RED HOT RHYTHM also offer a range of amazing corporate entertainment options. For all the information, visit the corporate page of the website:

Corporate Entertainers

Despite all of the obvious benefits to tap jamming, it’s often extremely difficult to round up enough people to begin a jam session, with most people and even some professional dancers saying that they “don’t do” jamming.

Why?

Fear.

Of course, it’s totally understandable. Getting up and improvising solo can certainly be an extremely nerve wracking experience, as most who have given it a try will admit. As with any skill, practice makes perfect. Nobody was born with the ability to jam, just as nobody was born with the ability to ride a bike.

The most memorable moment of the whole jam experience at the Playhouse was the 6 & 7 year old kids, who with 10 months of tap experience to their credit, threw themselves into a completely professional adult tap jam session without a hint of fear, determined to give it a go, and have an awesome time in the process. We all had to take our hats off to those kids.

The moral of this little story is that while many people think:
They don’t jam because they can’t jam,

The truth is actually the other way round:
They can’t jam because they don’t jam.


Our advice: Just go for it, and don’t judge yourself harsh the first time. Take any opportunity you can to practice, by yourself or in a circle. You’ll gradually get better, and discover a joy to be found in tap dance that you never knew was there!

…..Check out part 1 here…….



RED HOT RHYTHM hold adult tap dance classes, and kids tap dance classes in Ashgrove, Brisbane. For all the information, visit the classes page of the website:

Dance Classes Brisbane – RED HOT RHYTHM

RED HOT RHYTHM also perform tap and Irish dance, as well as a range of other styles at events all over the world. For all the information, visit the corporate page of the website:

Corporate Entertainers – RED HOT RHYTHM

In November 2009, both the Red Hot Rhythm performance troupe and the students from Red Hot Rhythm’s kids and adult classes performed in an end of year concert at the Playhouse at the Queensland Performing Arts Complex. While the performance went over tremendously with the audience and was enjoyed by all, it was the events that took place backstage in the rehearsal room which turned out to be the most interesting and note-worthy of the occasion.

As one would expect when you get a group of professional tap dancers, Irish dancers and other ‘rhythm junkies’ in a room (with a wooden floor) together, improvised jam sessions will often spontaneously erupt. In these jam sessions, the dancers form a circle, and take 8, 16 or 32 counts each to improvise a small combination of moves one at a time. The process repeats around the circle for sometimes hours on end.

This is exactly what happened in between shows, in the rehearsal room of the Playhouse.

There are ridiculous amounts of benefits to tap jamming, including helping with confidence, technique, general performance & improvisational skills, as well as offering the chance to learn new steps & tricks from other dancers. Apart from this, a jam session can be one of the most enjoy things you can do in a pair of tap shoes.

AND YET!

Despite all of this, it’s often extremely difficult to round up enough people to begin a jam session, with most people and even some professional dancers saying that they “don’t do” jamming.

Why?

Fear.



…..Continued in PART 2!…….



RED HOT RHYTHM hold adult tap dance classes, and kids tap dance classes in Ashgrove, Brisbane. For all the information, visit the classes page of the website:

Dance Classes Brisbane – RED HOT RHYTHM

RED HOT RHYTHM also perform tap and Irish dance, as well as a range of other styles at events all over the world. For all the information, visit the corporate page of the website:

Corporate Entertainers – RED HOT RHYTHM

Basic standing still steps:

1. Straight Tap (aka Nerve Beat): Toe tap only.

2. Ball, Heel (2 beats, RR): Dig the toe tap, and without lifting the toe tap off the ground, drop the heel tap straight down.

3. Shuffle (2 Beats, RR): Forward brush, then backward brush (Toe only, and making sure the main movement is up and down, as opposed to forward and back)

4. Shuffle Ball Heel (4 Beats, RRRR): Forward brush, backward brush, ball dig, heel drop (Repeat on other side and practice getting faster)

5. 4 Beat Heel Pick-up (aka Paddle Roll): (4 Beats, RRRR) Heel Dig, Slap up (toe), ball dig, heel drop (Repeat on other side and practice getting faster)

6. Cramp Rolls (4 Beats, RLRL, With a small jump): Ball, Ball, Heel Drop, Heel Drop (Alternate: RLLR or LRRL)

Basic moving steps:

1. Tap-Step (aka Fa-lap. 2 Beats, RR): Forward brush, ball step (Repeat each side, moving forward)

2. Tap-Spring: Same as a tap-step, but with a small spring after the forward brush.

3. Tap-Step Heel (3 Beats, RRR): As above, with a heel drop at the end (3 beats)

4. Tap-Step, Ball-Change (4 Beats, RRLR): Forward brush, ball step, ball step (back foot), Stamp (front foot). Repeat each side.

5. Tap-Spring Shuffle Heel (5 Beats, RRLLR): Tap-spring [R], Shuffle [L], Heel [R]. Repeat other side.

6. Pick-up Heel (Moving backwards. 3 Beats, RRR): [Lift toe] Slap up (toe), ball dig, heel drop.

6. 3 Beat step, moving backwards (RLR): Ball dig behind [R], [Lift L Toe] Slap up, Heel drop [R]. Repeat on other side (LRL)

Remember: keep it small to get it fast!

RED HOT RHYTHM hold adult tap dance classes, and kids tap dance classes in Ashgrove, Brisbane. For all the information, visit the classes page of the website:

www.redhotrhythm.com.au/classes.html – Dance Classes

Check out the post  Making the most of a dance class HERE!

4. Work on picking up the steps fast.

Dance, especially tap dance, doesn’t really happen with your feet, it happens with your brain. Train your brain in ways to help you learn a combination/routine quickly. Breaking down the steps into small bite-size chunks is a great example. Remember, a combination is exactly that – a combination of very basic steps!

5. Practice!

Proper practice makes perfect – no doubt about it. We all lead busy lives, but try to think about the steps and routines at least a few times throughout the week (ideally, every day). Keep a notebook with the names of the steps in them, or bring a video camera to class and kindly ask the teacher to demonstrate the step for you as a visual reference.

6. Get out of your comfort zone

While one should always be realistic with their expectations from a dance class, keep seeking out new challenges to ensure you are constantly growing and improving as a dancer. For example, if you find yourself completing a step efficiently and have a bit of time to yourself either in class, or when practicing, have a try on the other side, or try it faster! Strive to better yourself everyday.

7. Keep coming back!

You’ve invested your time and money into coming to class, so you’re obviously keen to learn. Commit to it, and make the most of it! If possible, try to come to class from the start of term – this is usually when new material will be shown. Motivate yourself to come every week so you don’t fall behind. Think of ways to ensure you keep coming back – bring a friend along! Really committing to learning the dance style will ensure great results, and that you have a long, happy and rewarding relationship with dance.

RED HOT RHYTHM hold adult tap dance classes, and kids tap dance classes in Ashgrove, Brisbane. For all the information, visit the classes page of the website:

www.redhotrhythm.com.au/classes.html – Tap Classes

Check out PART 1 HERE!

1. Holiday Classes

Just to let everyone know, we WILL be holding only Tuesday night classes over the Easter break. Classes on Tuesday the 7th of April are not included in term payments, and casual class costs will apply.

For Friday classes, after this week we will have 2 weeks break (2nd & 9th of April), and will recommence on the 16th of April.

2. New Classes & Timetable Changes

After such a great first term, we’ve decided to make a few tiny changes to the adult class timetable with the hope of continually making our lessons better for everyone involved. Thanks to all who have provided us with feedback regarding classes, and if you haven’t yet, please feel free – we’re always open to suggestion.

(Kids lessons on Fridays will remain the same)

Firstly, now that the current Adult Beginner class has most of the basics under their belt, we’ll be adding a new Adult Absolute Beginner tap class to the timetable. This class is ideal for anyone who has never tapped before, and once students feel ready, they can move up to the Adult Beginner class.

Secondly, we’ve pushed our Tuesday night classes back by 15 minutes to give everyone that extra time to get to class from work.

Also, we’ll be adding an OVER 40s BEGINNER class to the timetable on Friday evenings. As the name suggests, only those over 40 will be able to take part in this lesson, and will be a class in which mature adults can learn in a comfortable environment with others their own age.

Term 2 Timetable (Tuesday 13th of April – Friday the 25th of June):

Tuedays

6:15 – 7:00pm: Adult Beginner
7:00 – 8:00pm: Adult Intermediate
8:00 – 9:00pm: Open Advanced

Fridays

4:00 – 4:30pm: Kids Beginner
4:30 – 5:00pm: Kids Junior
5:00 – 5:45pm: Kids Senior
6:15 – 6:45pm: Adult Absolute Beginner
6:45 – 7:30pm: Over 40s Beginner

Term payments MUST be received by the 23rd of April (end of 2nd week of term).

Click here for all the information on our tap classes

3. RHR IPHONE APP NOW AVAILABLE!

David Sheather, RHR troupe member and teacher of the Adult Intermediate class, has put his technological skills to great use, and created the first RHR app for iphone and ipod touch. This clever little tool has a bunch of information on it, as well as videos and the tap jam engine, irhythm, designed to test your tap jamming skills! The app is updated regularly with the latest news, special offers, and other information, and is a must for any RHR follower, supporter or student.

Download the app for free today at:

http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/red-hot-rhythm/id357616726?mt=8

4. NEW RHR BLOG

Lastly, RHR have been working on setting up a new Blog. Every week, we’ll be adding a new post, filled with relevant and useful information on a range of topics, which you can sign up to, and have your own say!

Check out the blog here: http://www.redhotrhythm.com.au/blog – and be sure to check out the first post: Tips for making the most of a dance class (Part 1).

That’s all for today! Stay tuned, and happy tapping!

RED HOT RHYTHM

Mobile: +61 (0) 416757329
General enquiries: info@redhotrhythm.com.au
Class Enquiries: classes@redhotrhythm.com.au
Booking Enquiries: bsimpson@redhotrhythm.com.au
Website: www.redhotrhythm.com.au
Blog: www.redhotrhythm.com.au/blog
YouTube: www.youtube.com/redhotrhythm

Stay tuned for all the latest news, loads of useful information, as well as updates on upcoming performances, classes, workshops.

For all the information on what we do, as well as information on our tap dance classes for kids and adults, check out our website: www.redhotrhythm.com.au

Happy tapping!