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CDs:
Our suggestions for best dance CDs.
Just click on the
image to buy them from Amazon.com!
Salsa
Heavy
Salsa by Sonora Carruseles
(Most widely used CD in clubs today - most all songs
danceable!)
Swing / Foxtrot
Calling All Jitterbugs by Bill Elliot
West Coast Swing
The Soundtrack from The
Commitments
Most every song a danceable West Coast Swing!
Ballroom Dances
OPTION 1: Go
to www.DanceVision.com for a wide
variety of danceable ballroom cds. They can be ordered online or you can
order by phone and even have a representative help you with suggestions over the
phone.
OPTION 2:
Visit any mainstream record store (Borders, Virgin, Warehouse, etc.) who
has personnel available to assist customers. Tell them you are a
ballroom dance student. You are looking for a cd with a variety of
ballroom dances. They may know exactly how to guide you. If
not, you can tell them these cds usually have ballroom dancers on the
front, and on the back will have the NAMES OF THE DANCES next to the
names of the songs.
In other words, it would read, "Fly Me To The
Moon", Frank Sinatra (Foxtrot)
What you do
not want to do is buy a cd for every dance. That would be very
expensive, and not necessary when you're in a ballroom dance class
covering a variety of ballroom dances.
When
entering the store, try to look for an employee who might be more
conservative (not the guy with the pierced nose). You'll have
better luck that way!
Dance
Shoes:
From
our favorite local distributors:
Ballroom
& Salsa Shoes: Very Fine Dance Shoes in Duarte will
give you TWO pair of shoes for the price of ONE if you bring in a VIP
coupon from our studio. If you would like to print out your own
coupon now, just click here!
To pick up a coupon at the studio, you don't need to be a student to just
drop by and pick up a coupon! The phone number for Very Fine
Dance Shoes is (626) 575-8801 Practice
Tennis Shoes: Tosca Dance Fashions at www.toscafashions.com or
call Azita (626)305-3451. She carries our favorite dance clothing
line as well.
Online:
Ballroom
& Salsa Shoes: showtimedanceshoes.com.
See their special buys for excellent prices. Our staff
members & students have had great success ordering through Showtime
Dance Shoes. Practice
Tennis Shoes: discountdancesupply.com
See SHOES - JAZZ - and scroll to Blochs. The 3 styles
are S0539, S0538, and S0503. Our
staff members have had great success ordering through Discount Dance
Supply.
Dance
Email Lists:
Here are some links to our favorite dance-related websites and resources:
Email lists for dancing updates
If you would like to be included on some of the best email lists for recent updates on
swing, salsa, or all around dance events and classes, just email the following people to
be included on their list. Tell them we sent you!
Subscribe to the Francisco and Stacey Dance Productions newsletter
Jean Ellison ~ a West Side student and one
of our valued assistants with thorough update list of multiple types of partner dance
classes and events around Los Angeles: (frequency: once a week)
Barry
Chin ~ An excellent dancer and well versed in dance etiquette, Barry
hosts monthly dances and regularly connects with the ballroom, swing, and
salsa venues. (frequency:
periodic)
Margie Cormier ~ One of the most well
known and widely used swing resources, "MargieKate's list" has all events,
classes, and current issues being discussed in the Lindy Swing world. She is also a
dear friend. (frequency: once a week)
Albert Torres ~ The most well known salsa
promoter in Los Angeles, Albert is the backbone behind the Sportsmen's Lodge, the yearly
Salsa Congress, and many of the benefit events in the salsa world. (frequency:
periodic)
Melinda Lee ~ Forwards on emails she
receives on swing related events, updates and classes in the Los Angeles area. (frequency:
multiple emails per day)
Anthony Garcia ~ Forwards on emails he
receives on salsa related events, updates and classes in the Los Angeles and Orange County
area. (frequency: multiple emails per day)
Dance
Websites:
Dance
Vision - Teaching the
World to Dance
Worlds Largest Video Collection, Music, Books, Dance Floor, Mastery
Instructional Camps for Students and Professionals, ProDVIDA Teacher
Certification Programs and MORE!
www.DanceVision.com
Salsa Web
The best website devoted to the world of Salsa. You'll find everything you ever wanted to
know about the world of Salsa. Articles, videos, places to dance, and so much more! Her
website is www.SalsaFreak.com
Want to go dancing tonight? Click here for the City Guides section of Salsa Web for up to date
referrals to the hottest dance spots in town!
Want to see our interview with the Editor-in-Chief, Edie the
SalsaFREAK? Click here!
Rusty
& Her Rhythm Pals -- LIndy By The Sea & Rusty's Rhythm Club Weekly
Dance
Renowned Tap Dancer and
Lindy Hopper, choreographer, and tap historian Rusty Frank offers lessons
Lindy Hop, Balboa, Charleston, and Collegiate Shag. She also runs a
weekly swing dance with live bands each Wednesday. Her activities are
all held in the South Bay. We have often collaborated with Rusty. You
can purchase her popular book "Tap"
with forward by Gregory Hines here!
The
Dance Store .com
Anything and everything you would want if you're a Lindy Hop Dancer!
Video Clips, Shoes, Clothing, Music, Instructional Videos, etc. Please
let us know if you would like our suggestions. Many of our friends are
featured on this site, and we've seen or have their videos. We would
like to help guide you to the better products.
Bands:
The Esquires Big Band
There is little that can match the thrill of dancing your favorite steps to the sounds of
a live band. The Esquires have been providing the swing music of the "Big Band
Era" to Southern California area dancers for over 40 years. Though specializing in
swing, their repertoire also includes waltzes and Latin numbers. The band is available for
dance clubs, private parties, fund-raising events, corporate functions or most any other
event. To learn more about this unique group and the secret to their longevity, they can
be contacted at: mail@esquires.org or browse to: www.esquires.org
Charanga
Cubana - Our hands down favorite salsa band!
Charanga Cubana was formed in 1995 under the direction of Edgar Hernandez
from Cien Fuegos Cuba. The band not only plays dance music from Cuba but
also interprets music from all of Latin America in a Cuban flavor. The band
is very unique in that it blends French, Haitian and African roots and
unlike many salsa bands, this band uses 2 violins and a flute that gives the
band a unique sound.
Charanga Cuba can be
heard at many venues such as The Mayan, El Floridita’s Restaurant, Conga
Room, Rumba Room and the Derby. Contact: Ruben Rivas at rrivas@bosco.org.
Phone: (323) 644-0324.
HIGHLY
suggested photographer
DeRemus
Photography in Pasadena and Arcadia. http://www.deremus.com/
David DeRemus' results are incredible, and he is very low-key to add a
calming effect to that day. The hardest working photographer we've
ever seen. Tell him we sent you. His website also has an
impressive display page at www.deremus.com/online_viewing.php
videographer:
Cinematic
Studios
is a premier wedding and event video production company that
artistically captures, creatively enhances, and digitally preserves
forever those memories which come only once in a lifetime. They
are filmmakers, storytellers, poets, and artists who are committed to
providing timeless entertainment that is meaningful, moving, and
magnificent. Whatever you thought about wedding video, throw it out
the door. Cinematic Studios sets a whole new standard. Visit them
online at: http://www.cinematicstudios.com.
Francisco
and Stacey: "He is amazing - the best and the most highly
qualified videographer we've ever seen. Truly a unique piece created
with each couple in mind"
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