On Sunday 14th March 2021 we held another free live-stream class on YouTube, this time a Beginner Basic Samba dance class.

In this class we started with the Samba Reverse Basic. This is a step forward with the left foot, a bounce on the spot, and then a step back with the right foot (repeating the bounce).

Some time is then spent discussing the Samba pelvic action, using a mild thrusting action by ‘pulling in’ your belly button.

Next we introduce the Samba Whisk. This is a side step with a bounced cross behind.

The Stationary Samba Walk followed which involves a close with one foot, a point back with the other, and a slip back of the front foot. When you then do the subsequent close on the next foot it is closed slightly forward (where you had originally started) to keep the overall movement on the spot.

Bota Fogos are introduced next, moving forward and backward before we start looking at the Voltas. Initially we do our Voltas in straight lines, at both half and then full speed, before looking at the Solo Spot Volta that rotates around on the spot.

Finally, just when we need a little breather, there’s a basic Rhythm Bounce.

Watch the Beginner Basic Samba Lesson

You can watch the roughly 30 minute lesson below. If you want to jump ahead to certain moves we’ve included the timestamps below it:

Lesson Timestamps

[00:01:50] Reverse Basic
[00:07:31] Whisk
[00:11:52] Stationary Samba Walk
[00:17:32] Bota Fogo
[00:23:30] Voltas
[00:26:47] Solo Spot Volta
[00:30:25] Solo Samba Routine

Solo Samba Routine Demo Video

The lesson ends with a basic beginner Solo Samba dance routine to help you practice the steps learnt.

We have chosen the song Lady De Rojo by Bassio for this routine. Before demonstrating we quickly remind you of the basic steps included too!

You can find just a demo of the Solo Samba Routine below:

If you want to check out some more of our solo routines we have a playlist over on YouTube.

Samba Dance Music Playlist

So that you can practice the basic beginner moves we’ve also uploaded a playlist of a selection of Samba tracks. The songs start off slowly then ramp up in speed, and we’ve also included songs used in some of our other lessons.

We hope you enjoy the below playlist:

About Learn To Dance

Learn To Dance is a Ballroom and Latin American Dance School based in Burnham, Buckinghamshire.

Offering regular live-stream classes, as well as useful dance uploads, subcribe to be kept informed when new videos are going live. Send us your suggestions of what you’d like to see us release and we’ll do our best!

Looking for more personal tuition on your Basic Beginner Samba? We provide both in-person and streamed lessons and classes. Check out learndance.co.uk/online for more information.

You can check out our website, or follow us online, at:

Website: learndance.co.uk
Youtube: youtube.com/learndance
Facebook: facebook.com/learndance
Instagram: instagram.com/learndance
Twitter: twitter.com/learndance

The post Beginner Basic Samba Solo Dancing YouTube Lesson appeared first on Learn To Dance.

The video lesson will last for around 30 minutes and we’ll start you off with a few basic beginner Salsa dance steps. There will be a range of steps taught and hopefully you’ll be confident in them all by the end of the class.

Throughout the class we’ll also teach you a simple basic Solo Salsa dance routine.

We’ll talk you through how to do the basic Salsa steps as well as a little on improving the technique of the beginner steps.

The Basic Beginner Salsa Lesson Video

Our lesson will go live on our YouTube channel at 11.30am on Sunday 7th March.

You can join us during the live broadcast and the video will be available to re-watch after the lesson has finished.

Whilst you’re waiting check out our Solo Salsa Dance Routine that we released during lockdown 1.0. This also features some of the basic beginner Salsa steps, as well as a few trickier movements thrown in.

It was our first ever online lesson video, so was a learning curve, but we hope you enjoy it!

Don’t forget if you want to be among the first to know about new videos and lessons subscribe for free to our channel. Make sure to click the ‘notification bell’ to be notified as soon as a new video is available or going live.

We’ll also upload a video demonstration of just the Solo Basic Beginner Salsa dance routine as well as a Salsa dance playlist for you to practice to.

About Learn To Dance

Learn To Dance is a Ballroom and Latin American Dance School based in Burnham, Buckinghamshire.

Offering regular live-stream classes, as well as useful dance uploads, subcribe to be kept informed when new videos are going live. Send us your suggestions of what you’d like to see us release and we’ll do our best!

Looking for more personal tuition on your Basic Beginner Salsa? We provide both in-person and streamed lessons and classes. Check out learndance.co.uk/online for more information.

You can check out our website, or follow us online, at:

Website: learndance.co.uk
Youtube: youtube.com/learndance
Facebook: facebook.com/learndance
Instagram: instagram.com/learndance
Twitter: twitter.com/learndance

The post Basic Beginner Salsa YouTube Lesson appeared first on Learn To Dance.

I’m sure by now everyone has seen the draft plan released by the UK Government and announced on Monday 22nd February.

The roadmap out of lockdown is going to run on a minimum 5 week cycle between restrictions being lifted. This will allow the results of each lockdown easing stage to be reviewed, before deciding if the next step can be safely implemented.

There will be 4 tests evaluated by the government at each stage of the lockdown easing:

• the vaccine deployment programme continues successfully
• evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated
• infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS
• assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern

Assuming these tests can all be passed satisfactorily, in the 4 weeks following a change in step, then a week’s notice is given to confirm the next stage being implemented.

Read on to find out a summary of each stage, but especially how the lockdown easing affects the Learn To Dance school.

Step 1 (8th & 29th March)

8th March

Schools are reopening for all children and Higher Education students doing practical courses also return.

Whilst this doesn’t change anything for Learn To Dance it does mean that Creative Academy are able to hire studio space from us again. This will provide us with a bit more stability financially and so will be most welcome.

You will also be able to meet with one person, for recreation or exercise, who is not in your household or support bubble.

29th March

From 29th March we should then be able to meet up with another household, or as the ‘Rule of 6’, outdoors (including gardens).

Outdoor sports, including football at the Cherry Orchard, are permitted to resume from 29th March.

The ‘Stay at Home’ rule will cease to be in law but they still recommend staying local and working from home where possible.

At this stage holidays abroad will still not be allowed.

Therefore Step 1 unfortunately does not result in any lockdown easing for the dance school. However we will continue to provide our online streamed lessons and dance classes.

Step 2 (12th April) – Start of dance school lockdown easing

In Step 2 is when we start to see some of the lockdown easing measures for the dance school. The earliest this will take place is from 12th April and its implementation will be confirmed a week before.

Boris has confirmed that the plan for step 2 is to allow the opening of a variety of businesses:

• non-essential retail
• personal care such as hairdressers and nail salons
• libraries and community centres
• indoor gyms and leisure facilities (but only for individuals or same household)
• outdoor attractions
• campsites and holiday lets (without shared facilities)

Pubs and restaurants will be able to serve outdoors with table service. Weddings and similar can take place with up to 15 people.

Whilst we haven’t received any detailed guidance at present the signs point to us being able to offer private lessons again in Step 2. These will continue to be for individuals or same-household and will be non-contact with our instructors.

We are taking provisional private lesson bookings at this stage, but flexibility will be maintained as the situation develops.

Step 3 (17th May) – more Lockdown Easing for Dance Schools

Should things go well than by 17th May (at the earliest) the country will enter Step 3 of the lockdown easing roadmap.

At this stage there is hope that limits on socialising with friends and family can start to be relaxed. Although gatherings outdoors in excess of 30 people will still be illegal.

Indoors the limits will be rule of 6 or 2 households at this stage. We anticipate this will be in line with the previous rule of 6.

Further business openings will be permitted at this point, including:

• Indoor pubs and restaurants
• Cinemas and children’s play areas
• The rest of accommodation
• indoor adult group sports and exercise classes
• indoor performances and sporting events (subject to capacity limits)

Weddings and other social events will be able to host up to 30 people.

At this point the government will begin looking into social distancing and other Covid guidance that could be reduced in Step 4.

Therefore in Step 3 we expect to be able to reopen for group classes. It is likely that this will still be with the capacity limits in place from last year.

Step 4 (21st June) – return to life as we know it???

By Step 4, which will happen no earlier than 21st June, lockdown easing for the dance school could see all social contact limits removed.

Subject to the rules at the time this may mean that we can resume contact lessons and solo dancer rotating. However this would be reliant on all of our teachers having had both their jabs!

At the moment we hope that by the autumn things will start to feel a bit more normal. In fact hopefully our Bournemouth Dance Break will be able to go ahead as scheduled.

All the dates quoted by the government do come with the caveat that these are the earliest they could happen. Any failure of the tests at a particular stage could see a slowdown of the lockdown easing. There will always be at least 5 weeks between Steps.

As much as we are hoping that lockdown easing will allow us to open up the dance school, sooner rather than later, we will always take into consideration the health and safety of our staff and students.

Therefore we may elect to keep certain sessions virtual until such time as we deem it possible to welcome students back safely.

Whilst Coronavirus is likely to be always with us let us hope that this is the start of the end of restrictions. With lockdown now easing we hope to open the doors of the dance school to you all again.

Stay safe and well and we look forward to welcoming you all back again soon!

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VIRTUAL DANCE BREAK UPDATE 02/02/2021: Tests have been very well received and so the details below have been updated to reflect the changes. Due to the change in software we have extended the promo code deadline to 13th February. We have also added a Solo Dancer’s workshop.

VIRTUAL DANCE BREAK UPDATE 30/01/2021: We are currently testing a new video social software that will hopefully make interactions more organic than just using Zoom. More details to follow once initial testing has been completed.

We can’t meet in person so we’ve decided to host a VIRTUAL Dance Break this March instead. This will be in place of our annual Glastonbury dance break, which would have been focusing on Ballroom Jive this year.

Now we know what you’re thinking, how is that going to work?!  

Our idea for the virtual weekend is to follow as closely to a normal dance break format as we can (minor revisions/additions may occur as we develop this).

There’ll be elements where we will all be in the same virtual room but also the opportunity to ‘sit’ with people to catch up with other students.

We’ll have fun group activities and workshops and we’re even debating the possibility of a delivered menu!

Schedule for the Weekend

The plan for our virtual dance break is:  

• Friday 12th March (evening)
  • 8pm Welcome Drinks ‘Reception’
    • a virtual ‘Wessex Hotel’ ballroom that you can move around and chat to other people as you approach them
    • a selection of couches and tables that you can sit at to carry out uninterrupted conversations
    • a ‘bar’ area that you can chat to anyone else at or behind the ‘bar’
    • group Quiz Night (with prizes)
• Saturday 13th March  
  • 10am Partner Jive Workshop
  • 11am Solo Jive Workshop
  • 8pm Evening Social with a 50s dress-up theme (optional)
    • A special area of the dance floor with music playlists that you can ‘step’ onto
• Sunday 14th March
  • 9am Morning recap Jive dance workshop

There will also be the option of private Zoom dance classes over the virtual dance break weekend too.

How Much Does the Virtual Dance Break Cost?

For the final few places on our dance break we are offering the special price of £70 per screen.

You can book directly on our website or contact us for more information.

If you have any questions, comments or feedback on this idea let us know. We’re happy to revise the plan to best suit what our students would like to take part in.

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It was announced on Tuesday 23rd June that Dance Studios, along with venues such as indoor gyms, nightclubs, swimming pools, spas and bowling alleys must remain closed.

We are waiting for further guidance to be released today however we may be looking at August or September before we are permitted to reopen.

Amongst all the questions regarding how the government plans to bring us out of lockdown, the biggest on our lips is when can the dance school reopen?

On Sunday 10th May 2020 Boris Johnson announced plans and a rough layout of how the UK could begin to leave lockdown.

Today the government have uploaded a more indepth report on how the next few months are going to be handled.

We have being analysing this to ascertain when they might permit the Dance School to reopen, with the safety of our teachers and students being paramount.

Obviously we are not experts, and we have summarised large areas of the report. Please take appropriate advice or read the report directly, before acting on anything we comment on.

How Do We Know When It Is Safe To Leave Lockdown?

On 16th April the government announced their 5 tests that would have to be met successfully, for the lockdown measures to start to be eased.

1. Protect the NHS’s ability to cope
2. See a sustained drop in the daily death rate
3. Reliable data that the rate of infection is decreasing
4. Be confident that access to PPE and testing will meet future demand
5. Be confident that adjustments will not risk a second peak

There are three main factors that the government have said they are taking into consideration when reviewing lockdown:

• Health effect – not just through Covid-19 related deaths but also through the NHS not being able to deal with regular issues. The main aim being to ensure no second peak of the infection.
• Economic effect – how to get people back working, safely, as quick as possible. Also to ensure that the public finances are able to be maintained.
• Social effect – not missing too much education. The effect on people’s mental well-being from extended isolation. Getting people back to a sense of normality.

We are now entering Phase Two of the government’s response to the Coronavirus. This looks at ways of controlling the infection so that businesses, including Learn To Dance, and schools can reopen.

How Can We Control The Infection?

The government have said that Phase Two is about using smarter controls to make social contact less infectious.

Obviously to allow the Learn To Dance school to reopen we need to ensure that all of our teachers and students can visit the studio safely.

The ways that the government are currently looking to help social contact be less infectious are:

• making contact safer by redesigning spaces to reduce infection by contact
• reducing infected people’s contact by better tracing and monitoring of those infected
• stopping hotspots developing by detecting outbreaks effectively

For a ballroom dance school to reopen, where contact is inherent within the activity, we need the infection risk to be as low as possible.

We will be keeping an eye on the government’s guidelines as they are released to ensure that our return is as safe as possible.

So When Is The Dance School Likely To Reopen?

As many of you are probably already aware the government announced on Sunday 10th May a number of stages to lifting the lockdown.

• Step One (from Wed 13th May)
  • The opening of outdoor spaces, where the risk of infection is lower.
  • The allowance of travelling further to exercise, but still maintaining social distance
  • Returning to work if you absolutely cannot work from home, but staying home where possible
  • If returning to work avoid using public transport where possible
  • Unlimited external exercise now allowed, but still maintaining social distance
• Step Two (no earlier than 1st June)
  • Schools reopen for the youngest children, in phases
  • Non-essential retail to reopen in phases
  • Cultural and sporting events behind closed doors for broadcast
  • Increase in public transport available
• Step Three (no earlier than 4th July)
  • Places of worship, hospitality and leisure facilities to reopen
  • To be phased in and monitored to ensure no significant increase in infection.

The government have made it clear that businesses such as our Dance School are not permitted to reopen during Steps One or Two.

We do not yet know whether there will be the opportunity to provide non-contact private lessons during Step Two. However we may consider opening up the studio to hire for practice time if the rules allow.

What Can I Do Whilst I Wait For The Dance School To Reopen?

So at the moment the only way we can continue to provide dance lessons is via our online dance lessons.

If you haven’t checked them out we have been recording and releasing videos since the start of April. We’ve tried to provide lessons that can be learnt and practised in confined spaces.

Releasing four videos a week is proving to be a mammoth task, especially with two little ones. But we wanted to hopefully be able to provide an option for everybody, regardless of their situation.

Our online lessons include:

We know it’s no substitute for the classes, lessons and social events that you enjoy attending. But hopefully these will help you get through this difficult time.

How Are We Doing?

As many of you will know we completed on the sale of our house the week lockdown began.

Since then we’ve been imposing on Emma’s parents down near Bristol, and the home office and daily exercise options aren’t too shabby!

This has also helped us to keep our personal expenses down to a manageable level whilst we wait for the Dance School to reopen.

We have been confirmed as eligible for the Self Employment Income Support Scheme and hopefully will be receiving the payment by the end of next week.

Whether the government will extend the scheme for those of us not permitted to carry out our normal business remains to be seen but we have our fingers crossed.

Our landlord for the Cherry Orchard has allowed us to defer our rent until the Dance School is permitted to reopen. This has certainly helped with some of our budgeting short term, although we haven’t discussed the repayment plan yet!

The business grants that were initially announced back in March would have covered a large portion of our rent for this closed period. Unfortunately we were not eligible due to an exemption on the Cherry Orchard site.

We have raised a query on this with South Bucks council, and are waiting to hear back from them. There has been another scheme announced that may help to catch those of us who slipped through the gaps of this much-needed support.

In Conclusion

All things considered, we’re fit and healthy and the Dance School will survive. Whether we’ll all be dancing in facemasks for the forseeable future remains to be seen!

We hope you’re all keeping safe and well and we look forward to seeing you in Step Three and beyond.

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Published quarterly, LUX informs readers on all aspects of high end lifestyle, including the finest, food and drink, hotels and resorts, health and beauty, automotive, jewellery, art and technology from around the world.

After a nail-biting few months we were given the great news that we had won, and not just one of the categories but both of them!

Nominations are anonymous so we don’t know who to thank but thank you whoever nominated us!

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