​Sorry for missing the last update. I have been working every day for a few weeks now, and simply lacked the time.

Because we are back in lock down, I am going to focus more on concepts for you to think about as opposed to talking about upcoming classes and such. This will hopefully help your mind make the most of this down time so when you come back to dance, you have many things to try out.
 
In this update I am going to talk about manly dancing. This might seem like it is only for those interested in how to dance in such a way. But if you want to avoid manly dancing, then this is also good to use – don’t do what Donny Don’t does!
 
And to work out what manly dance is, we will defer to Gene Kelly. First off watch this video.

You will probably note that there is something about the way Gene Kelly moves. He has done other scenes that show that same quality. I recall as a child being transfixed by the dance scene he did with the animated mouse Jerry (of Tom and Jerry). But the scene above seems to showcase what I am talking about most. Not to mention the way they sync the 2 versions of him dancing together is pretty impressive – especially for the time and technology.
 
So what is it that creates this sense of more manly dancing?
 
Gene Kelly has also been described as an athletic dancer. And when he offered his opinion on his dance style, he linked it to his early days involved in athletics. He also made the following other points:

• Gracefulness is not softness – John Wayne and great ball players are graceful
• Those who dance without a manly aspect often have soft arms
• He tried to dance in a common style – to be accessible to all classes

 
So if we are to (not) have a more manly dance, then (don’t):

• Try for an athletic frame
• Keep your arms firms showing muscularity and control
• Have your whole body engage in a movement as opposed to trying to refine your movement to only one part

 
But of course, all rules can be broken so don’t view the above as an absolute – use to as a guide to explore how you dance.
 
Talk more next time

Clint

​While we had a setback with a delay in when we can open (and a few postcodes have regressed - possibly thanks to a super-spreader), there has been no change in advice on contact physical activities. That means we are still a go for starting on the week of the 13th.

You have probably been contacted by your teacher about this, but drop them a line if you want to confirm.

This also means that the group lessons were delayed, but they will be recommencing on the 14th.

Make sure you're there, for "shame on you if you can't dance too"

Next week I will give another run down on the hygiene methods we will be using to make the return as safe as possible.


Clint ​

I have been checking the schedule for winding back restrictions for lock down.

The latest currently says that contact sports (the guide I am using for partner dance) is allowed after 13th July. I am checking with the sports club to see if we can have a half month to allow us to start on the 13th.

That means any bookings we had made for prior to the 13th will be cancelled. I am sorry for stuffing you around like this. It is possible that the 13th was always the date and I missed that earlier.

On other topics:

• I have just engaged Katrina Rogers of Blue Kat Blues (https://www.facebook.com/bluekatbluesdance) to augment our blues syllabus to make it more authentic and enjoyable
• I doubled the mirror order so we will have two large mirrors when we open up to improve your learning

So despite the delay, I am still feeling upbeat about the return
Clint

I hope you feel the same sense of progression that I do once we get passed the winter solstice.

In this update I wanted to say that I am really looking forward to seeing you when we return. 

I went into the studio on Saturday to talk to Palle about starting up again and to charge up the computer. I also spoke with Palle about storing a mirror on wheels so we can increase the teaching efficacy at the studio. We can so I am now looking to order one in. So the return should correspond with an improved studio. And that's not to mention the upgrade Palle has worked on while we have been away. So I am feeling good about the return, and that's another reason why I am looking forward to seeing you - it should be even better than it was before!​

You might have also noted that there has been a recent increase in restrictions thanks to an increase in COVID cases in Victoria. This has not yet affected the planned restriction levels for gyms (which we use to guide what we do at the studio). However, I will let you know if things change and it is good to note that they might.

Assuming all goes as hoped, I will see you see you on the dance floor next month.

Clint ​

If you have liked the facebook page, then you would have seen the new events going up. You can see them here - https://www.facebook.com/pg/DestineDance/events

In summary, we have kept the absolute beginner lesson and we are running a beginner and intermediate advanced class concurrently right after the absolute beginner lesson. These are run on Tuesdays.

Thus, Wednesdays and Thursdays are only for private lessons. As we increase operations, we will hopefully have demand for more group classes on other nights. We will shuffle around privates then as needed.

You should now be in contact with your teacher about your lessons. Drop them (or me) a line if you have not yet heard from them.


Thanks in advance
Clint 

I hope you are enjoying the day off. 

Thanks to the feedback I got from everyone on survey, we are ready to start organising our return to Destine Dance


Of course one would always like more people to respond, but the response did show that we still have a group of people keen to get back into dance.

Based on the results of the survey, the following is the plan:

1. We will run a beginner and an advanced lesson on Tuesday nights - these will be done in parallel (Anita teaching one and me the other).
2. Privates will be on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at first - we will expand to other days as we re-establish ourselves.
3. You can, if you wish, book an exclusive group class. This is where it is only a pre-arranged group of people getting a lesson. It will be up to the group to organise themselves, the booking and the payment. If you want sole use of the space or the group is large enough to limit other classes, then an extra cost will be charged. Otherwise, the group will only need to cover the usual cost of a private lesson. Contact me with your desires so we can organise the rest.
4. I will be creating online events to promote the group classes, please note the following:
   1. The current limit is 20 people in total in a space and no more than 10 in one activity.
   2. I am assuming that we will not have too many people to start off with, but eventually we might need to make such groups operate on a first in first served basis.

I still need to organise some things with Elsternwick Park Sports Club and others first, but. the next steps are:

1. Your teacher will contact you soon about privates - you can also contact them now if you want to sort things out faster
2. I will set up the group class schedule soon and let you know when it is posted
3. We will start up again in July

Finally, please note the following:

1. There will be more hand sanitiser on hand
2. You can choose to dance only with your partner in group classes - this has always been so
3. We will of course be expecting you to stay home if you exhibit any signs of illness - this too has always been so

Contact us if you have any more questions about the above or lessons in general.

Looking forward to seeing you on the dance floor
Clint 

How has the week been? I hope you enjoyed the very apt introduction to winter. 

A pretty simple focus this week.

I want your input to help me bring Destine Dance back in a way that will be ideal for as many people as happy. So I want to know what you want.

Please take the time to fill out this survey - https://forms.gle/91PLao9ELBpgF3SE9

With this information, I can best plan the triumphant return of Destine Dance.

Please note some of the new ideas we are floating. I really want your input on that.


Thanks in advance
Clint 

​You have probably seen the news that lockdown is being lifted - gradually.

And while many businesses can start to operate, gyms, which I have been using as the best proxy for dance studios, must be outdoors. Therefore, it is still not quite certain when Destine Dance can return. Or indeed what form it will return in.

That's why this week I thought I would first share an interesting dance experience I had some time ago and then tell you more about the formulating plans for when Destine Dance does come back.

TANGO IN PRISON
If you watch the TV series Wentworth, then you might have seen this scene 

​I can give you some interesting background on this. I did the choreography for it and trained the actors.

First thing that I think is of interest is that it was not possible to show just how well they could really dance. One of the actors had injured their back, and a body double was needed. That meant it was hard to have a close up of them dancing many of the more advanced figures they had learned.

And that's a shame because they had all learned to dance really well. There were two reasons I noticed for this:

1. They had excellent memories from remembering lines so they could recall the routine very easily. That meant more effort on technique.
2. They were very comfortable with being watched so they could easily relax and just focus on dancing well. I still recall how they each recorded the other dancing (there were actually 3 actors I taught so there was always one to film the others) and they were very comfortable watching themselves afterward. They do it all the time when acting. They then took any faults in their stride and got better by working on those faults.

It was very interesting to see how these two attributes helped people become great dancers. And it is a great lesson for non-acting dancers. If you get used to being watched (regardless of the context) and keep working on your memory (regardless of the context), then you will learn to dance faster. 

THE NEW DESTINE DANCE
A few weeks back I asked for some ideas on what you would like to see when Destine Dance returns. A number of people got back to me with some ideas - thanks you were one who did. Based on those ideas, I am going to create a survey to bounce some ideas off you and other students. I will use the results of the survey to see which ideas are worth trying first to see what gets traction. The survey will be sent out in next week's update.

Have a great week
Clint 

​As you likely know, restrictions are easing. So you do know, I plan on opening up when gyms and sports clubs are allowed to open. That is unless dance studios get special mention.

Hopefully we will see each other soon.

Also, apologies for any delays in responses or if the updates come at odd times. I have been engaged by Planet Innovation as a manufacturing engineer to set up a manufacturing facility for the production of 2000 ventilators. You might have seen a mention of the plan in the news. The process is not as smooth as one would like so my hours can fluctuate.


Until next update, I hope all your experiences are good ones

Clint