About Polka Dancing

Polka dancing came about in the mid 1800's. Polka was brought over to the United States from European immigrants. The polka name is "Czech" for half-step because of the rapid movement from one foot to the other however; Czech is a term for Polish Girl, the word Polka means Polish Woman in Polish. After coming to the U.S. polka dancing became very popular among us Americans. . 

 Polka is now very popular among the country-western dancers. The polka music is a fast tempo that normally has 190 beats per minute. The most popular polka song is "Beer Barrel Polka". Many of these polka songs are ballroom music just with an upbeat tempo. When "Beer Barrel Polka" was released by the Andrews Sisters 350,000 was sold. If you are to hear this song you better watch out because you will see people obsessed with polka dancing hopping and spinning across the room.

Polka dancing in American is danced by couples rotating around in a circle. It consists of small jumps on one leg at a fast speed using some simple steps and some hopping. Polka dancing is a happy, fun way to dance that is very easy to learn but needed a lot of energy to dance. The movements of polka can be somewhat compared to at galloping but in a fast way while spinning around. It's like the two step, but it's fast and normally danced on a large dance floor.

A Little About the Pointe Shoes

"Pointe shoes, which elongate a dancer’s legs and accentuate the beauty of classical ballet technique, come with their own set of biomechanical principles—and their own set of risk factors for lower extremity injury."
by Selina Shah, MD

 Pointe Shoes have been designed in one way and hasn't been changed. They are made of fabric, a toe box, a shank, a flexible rubber that is held on the dancers foot with elastic and ribbons. Fitting a pointe shoe should always be done with an expert. No wrinkles should be noticeable when standing in any position or standing on pointe. When standing on pointe your shoes should fit like a glove. The elastic should fit tightly around your ankle and standing on pointe the ribbons should be sewn on. A pointe dancer normally starts at the age of 12 because pointe requires strength, flexibility, proper placement, balance, to listen, and correctly learn choreography.

Even though ballet is a beautiful form of dance that has its own art on dancers toes it can cause extreme foot injuries that are painful. The first thought would be ballet injuries are normally foot and ankle and yes this is true because ankle and foot sprains are the most common in ballet. Sprains can cause a lot of stress to their body which can cause dancers to lose balance on point. Other injuries that can happen from ballet are bunions which is painful swelling to the joint of your toes, traumatized toenails are common because dancers will cut there toenails too short which leads to ingrown toe nails and causes infection, and calluses because of the tight fitting of the pointe shoes.

For many years ballerinas have been dancing on pointe and still today is still considered a beautiful art that amuses people all around the world. It takes skill and flexibility to capture this form of dance. Though this dance causes injuries there are ways to help prevent these injuries from happening to yourself.  

Why Do People Love To Dance?

Dancing is a natural movement that happens throughout everyone. When it comes to dancing people may do it for many different reasons. People may dance for their religion, to celebrate, give thanks, mourn, and exercise, to entertain, or just to have fun. No matter how old or your ability to dance anyone can do it. For many dancers dancing is a way to bring out any feelings or ideas they have that just can't be let out in to words but express their emotions in the movement of their body. Not only is dancing a way to express your body movements it's one of the best ways to keep your body fit. "Dancing is a physical activity that gets the heart pumping and the blood flowing without putting too much stress on the body. It is also the most enjoyable and social way of getting and staying fit." 

Dancing is also a social tool. It gives you the opportunity to meet new people. Where at you may ask? Well where a place is you would normally dance. Growing up many kids went to birthday parties and danced around the living room, then middle-school dances, along with prom in high school. As you get older dancing can still be right around the corner from where you are. Going to a wedding or a formal event or a night club gives you the chance to dance and meet people. For men this is a great tool to build your social skills and could help you in the near future and then women having skill on the floor will make you noticeable and stand out to everyone that are around you.

Everyone can dance no matter what and no one can dance the wrong way. Dancing is a form of you and the movement of your body. Also brings out joy and happiness. If more people gave dance and option it would probably be a happy and brighter world. When you go to dancing events you can hardly see one frown in the room.