Horace Luong Strictly Ballroom Winter 2018 Newsletter

Let me first wish you and your family an early happy holidays! May 2018 bring you and your family love, laughter and hopefully opportunities on the dance floor!

This term has just flown by so quickly that we're at the point of finishing the last group classes this week and then ending on the highlight of the term on Saturday - the Motyka Studio Christmas dance!

2017 has been a very interesting year with the Outgames fiasco and the teaching exam success, so what does 2018 hold for HLSB? To dispell any rumors: I received a pretty good job offer last week from a university in another province. Over the past week I have been deliberating on whether to move and as difficult as it was, I'm happy to say that I will be staying in Winnipeg - hoping to make a difference in this province! In addition to the regular group and private lessons, I will be offering a number of specialized classes on Saturdays at the Ballroom on Roslyn. As if I'm not busy enough, I will be running for a board member position with the North American Same-Sex Partner Dance Association early in the year. I will likely be the only Canadian on the board and hopefully with the help of the organization, we can see more same-sex and alternative stream dancing in Canada. I expect to head to the Gay Games in Paris in August where I'll meet my counterparts from Europe and Australia and hopefully we can coordinate something much larger.

Hope to see you in the new year!

All the best,
Horace

Private Lessons @ Ballroom on Roslyn

Private lesson openings at my Osborne Village studio location are available starting Saturday January 6. Cost is $50/55 minutes. Please contact me by email to book your time!

Specialized Group Lessons @ Ballroom on Roslyn

The following specialized classes are offered for the months of January, February and March. Students in these classes must have the basics of the dances. Cost is $50/person for each course (four weeks of classes). Email me to register!

Out There Winnipeg Beginner Dance - January 6,13,20,27 (12 - 12:55 pm)
As part of Out There Winnipeg, I'm teaching a beginner ballroom/latin class for the LGBTTQ* community. The content of the class has yet to be decided. Cost is likely to be $10/class/person (an amount from the class fee will be given to OTW). For more information on the class and registering for email updates, please check out: https://www.outtherewinnipeg.ca/dancing/

Intermediate Viennese Waltz - January 6,13,20,27 (11 - 11:55 am)
Most who dance Viennese waltz just dance around the room perimeter with the natural and reverse turns. What can you do in the middle of the room? The beautiful combination of reverse fleckerl, contra check and natural fleckerl! This class is set to teach the combination and there will be plenty of practice time to work it into your routine. Students must have some basic Viennese waltz experience.

Quickstep - Runs and Hops - February 3, 10, 17, 24 (11 - 11:55 am)
In this class we will be working on some advance combinations of running and hopping quickstep figures. We need some cardio to stay warm for the dead of winter! Students must have basic quickstep experience.

Line Figure Combinations - March 3, 10, 17, 24 (11 - 11:55 am)
Tired of using the same combination of line figures ("posing")? This class will give you a series of new combinations to put into your routine. The dance that we focus on will be based on what the majority of the class wants.

Beginner Ballroom (standard) classes @ U of M

Want some basic steps for the dance floor? Look no further, this class is for the beginner dancer! We will be covering the classic ballroom dances of social foxtrot and international style waltz and quickstep. Tango will also be briefly introduced in this class. These four dances are easy to learn and provide students with a breadth of dance moves to a variety of music. Lead and follow numbers cannot be guaranteed.

Time: 6:45-8 pm
Date: Wednesdays, Jan 17-April 4 (Free trial class Jan 10) (12 weeks)
Cost: $127.80 (individual); $204 (pair) (gym member discount available)
Registration details

You will learn the basic steps of Latin Ballroom dances including international style cha-cha, rumba, jive and samba. These dances are a lot of fun and can be used in a variety of social settings. Lead and follow numbers cannot be guaranteed.

Time: 6:45-8 pm
Date: Tuesdays, Jan 16-Apr 3 (Free trial class Jan 9) (12 classes)
Cost: $127.80 (individual); $204 (pair) (gym member discount available)
Registration details

Many can identify the characteristic tango music. Did you know that there are several styles of tango? In this class we will cover the basics of Argentine tango and International style tango. Come learn the intricate swivels and fancy footwork of Argentine tango and then contrast it with the staccato and sharp actions of international style tango. Lead and follow numbers cannot be guaranteed.

Time: 8-9:15 pm
Date: Tuesdays, Jan 16 - Apr 3 (Free trial class Jan 9)
Cost: $127.80 (individual); $204 (pair) (gym member discount available)
Registration details

Intermediate Ballroom Classes @ U of M

This class is for those who have taken the beginner ballroom dance class or have previous ballroom dance experience. Instruction will focus more on technique and advanced steps to two or three dances, to be decided by the class. Lead and follow numbers cannot be guaranteed.

Time: 8-9:15 pm
Date: Wednesdays, Jan 17 - Apr 4 (Free trial class Jan 10) (12 classes)
Cost: $127.80 (individual); $204 (pair) (gym member discount available)
Registration details

Beginner Tai Chi Classes @ U of M

Although not ballroom dancing, tai chi is an excellent exercise to work on coordination, balance and leg and core strength. I will be teaching this class after taking an almost two year hiatus. The focus of the class will be on Chen style tai chi.

Time: 7-8:15 pm
Date: Mondays, Jan 15 - Apr 2 (Free trial class Jan 8)
Cost: $112.75
Registration details: http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/kinrec/sportandrec/faq.html