Broadway Musicals for Children

Looking to engage your children in a new activity that strays from the norm? Try taking them to a live Broadway or Off-Broadway production. Taking kids to a live show is a nice break from going to the movies, as they’ll get to see stage magic being made right in front of their eyes. Many major cities host live musicals for the whole family to enjoy. Check one of these out near you!

Matilda-The Musical

Matilda the Musical is coming to the United States. Matilda is a story about dreaming big. The hit musical is based on the much loved book of Roald Dahl by the same name, which tells an amazing tale of the extra ordinary child with bad parents and a terrible headmistress. The production is given the musical treatment by different tales of Tim Minchin and a royal Shakespeare company, which is a winning combination that has earned four major awards in 2013.

The Sound of Music

The Sound of Music is another musical coming to the US. Sparkling, fresh and lively, this Broadway musical for children is a classic full of fun and amazing songs. Often thought to be a traditional Austrian folk music, this musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein is truly diverse and engaging. The opening night of this Broadway Musical is 29^th March 2016.

Tuck Everlasting the Musical

Tuck Everlasting is a new musical adaptation of the famous, award winning novel about a young girl who starts to discover the Tuck family and all their mysterious secrets. Tuck Everlasting features a book of Tony Award nominee Claudia Shear and Tony award winner Casey Nicholaw. The ticket prices of the show are $57 to $145 and the on sale dates are March 31, 2016 to January 1, 2017. Discounted tickets may be available in select areas.

Live musicals are fun for the whole family! Whether your child loves to sing, dance, or just take it all in, these musicals make for a special family outing. Show your children the magic of the stage at a theater near you!

Why Should You Enroll Your Child in a Summer Dance Camp?

As summer vacation approaches, parents inevitably face the same dilemma: how to keep kids active and stimulated while they’re away from school. Most parents seek to find activities that can help their children turn their endless energy into something constructive. Many parents find success in this endeavor by enrolling their children in summer dance camps. Read more to see what kind of benefits your child could experience by dancing the summer away.

Improved Physical Health

An obvious benefit of children attending dance camp is that they’ll experience improved physical health. Dancing has proven to be a highly regarded physical activity that maximizes one’s body movements.  A person’s physical strength, flexibility, stamina, and motion range can all be greatly improved by dance. Moreover, there are other benefits to dance such as coordination, balance, improving muscle tone, and maintaining good cardiovascular health. Dance can be a great way to keep kids off the couch and in good physical health, especially with all the free time that comes along with summer vacation.

Mental Stimulation

It’s important during long breaks from school that children stay mentally alert and continue to set and work toward goals. Dance provides many opportunities to shape and improve the mental state of children. Practicing dance can also be incredibly beneficial to children’s self-esteem. Kids often learn to become more and more comfortable in their own skin as they learn to express themselves through dance. Dance is often considered mentally stimulating as it is an activity that requires skill sharpening, focus, repetition, and discipline. Many who dance regularly find dance to be a therapeutic and sometimes even meditative activity.

Improved Socialization

Dancing through the summer can keep children connected socially as they work with teammates to accomplish their personal and group goals. Dance camps offer a way for children to communicate and learn how to effectively work together as they learn more intricate choreography and more sophisticated technique. Furthermore, many children make life-long friendships through dance. Summer camps are a great way to expose kids to new social circumstances.

Choosing the Right Camp

How does one find the right summer dance camp for their child? There are many different options to meet an individual’s needs. Some factors that you may want to consider are the instructors on staff, class size, variety of classes offered, and time of day that the camp takes place. You may also want to research the intensity of each camp and make sure that it aligns with your child’s current goals and abilities. If you are trying a new studio for the first time, it’s often a good idea to take a studio tour and meet the instructors and/or studio owner to get a feel for how they operate.

A History of Tango - All You Need To Know

So, you know tango and you are great at it. Performing the back breaking steps to and fro gracefully with the rhythms is a talent appreciated by all. This intense art of dancing, creates an awe, which can mesmerize the onlookers and inflame the performers. Let’s take a look at the cultural background of this triumph of art.

Origin

The dance is said to have originated from Spain but that is not the case. The rhythms have been inspired by ancient African communities and the music landed from Europe. The word Tango is said to be first used in Argentina back in the 1880s.

1920s was a revolutionary age for the musicians because it opened up the world of tango for them. Julio De Caro, violinist, formed an orchestra which created a new description in the world of music and entertainment.

Legends about Tango

·             It takes two to tango but this wasn’t always the case, as in the early 19^th century, performing solo was the only choice for women.

·             Considering Tango immoral, the upper class banished it from the courts. The dance was just for the lower and middle classes to be performed at the local clubs. It wasn’t until in the early 1900s that the Teatro Opera started to include tango as one of the ball room dances.

·             The legend has it that the residents of South American pampas were the ones to originate the dance. Walking with curved knees and firm hats, the gauchos entered the local clubs and danced to the rhythm. The girls danced with their heads high choosing the partners of their choice.

Variation in Styles

The styles in tango vary according to origin. Argentinian, French, Gaucho and European descendants of tango merge up together to form the modern Americanized version of the dance. Some of the styles of tango are:

Salon Style

This style includes both the partners in an upright body posture. The term is basically ‘’tango de salon’’ which means that it includes different local styles mixed together. This type of tango is perfect to be performed at ballrooms or milonga halls. The partners dance in a close embrace which is often conceived by the onlooker as a “walking hug’’.

Milonguro-Style

The term coined by Argentine word ‘milonguero’ is a term used specifically for a dancer that is graceful and skillful. The woman lifts her right hand past the shoulder of her partner as that way her left hand is placed far behind the partner’s neck.

Other styles of Tango include:

·         Tango Argentino

·         Tango camacupense (Angola)

·         Tango Canyengue

·         Show Tango (also known as fantasia)

·         Tango Oriental Uruguayan tango

·         Tango salon

·         Tango milonguero (Tango apilado)

·         Tango Nuevo (New Tango)

·         Ballroom tango

Salsa VS Tango

Many people mix salsa with tango. At certain clubs there is a salsa night and a tango night. The salsa night is filled with exotic dancers and Cuban rhythms. Tango nights are a mixture of intimacy, with both the partners swaying proficiently together. People who do salsa are often perceived as fun extroverted and coy while those who do tango are viewed as deep and intimate.

In order to dance perfectly for tango, a strong connection with the partner and music is maintained. If you are a dancing enthusiast, Tango is a good genre for you to take on.