I want to announce that I will be teaching at a fitness conference (TSI Summit) in New York City on November 5th. My session is #108, and of course it is a Step session. If you would like to join me at the conference, you can check it out and register here: http://mytsisummit.com/
I'd love to see you there!!
Dana
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Oklahoma City Step Workshop is OPEN!!
Hello to all!
I've returned from a fantastic weekend workshop in Moscow, Idaho (beautiful country, lovely people!), and am still riding the high from that trip!! I could not imagine a more enjoyable weekend.
And now, I have updated my website to announce the opening of registration for the Oklahoma City workshop to be held on February 11-12, 2012, at All-American Fitness Center on NW Expressway Street. I've put the Early Bird pricing into effect until January 10, 2012. Please visit: www.stepjunkie.com to see all the details and to register for the workshop.
Here's a shot of me with the group in Idaho. If you ever get up that way, check out North Idaho Athletic Club in Moscow, Idaho. It's a wonderful gym right in the middle of town.
Videos are on my "to-do" list... stay tuned!
Dana
I've returned from a fantastic weekend workshop in Moscow, Idaho (beautiful country, lovely people!), and am still riding the high from that trip!! I could not imagine a more enjoyable weekend.
And now, I have updated my website to announce the opening of registration for the Oklahoma City workshop to be held on February 11-12, 2012, at All-American Fitness Center on NW Expressway Street. I've put the Early Bird pricing into effect until January 10, 2012. Please visit: www.stepjunkie.com to see all the details and to register for the workshop.
Here's a shot of me with the group in Idaho. If you ever get up that way, check out North Idaho Athletic Club in Moscow, Idaho. It's a wonderful gym right in the middle of town.
Videos are on my "to-do" list... stay tuned!
Dana
Friday, September 23, 2011
One Week until Moscow, Idaho Workshop!!
Here's your final post about the Moscow, Idaho workshops, coming up one week from today!!! The workshops start on Friday afternoon and run through Saturday afternoon. My master class will be on Friday evening, and only workshop participants may attend due to space considerations.
If you are interested, I still have 2 spots open on Friday and 3 spots open on Saturday. Details of the workshop and registration forms are available on my website at: www.stepjunkie.com.
If you have already registered for this workshop, I am really looking forward to seeing your area of our country and meeting you all!!!
Dana
If you are interested, I still have 2 spots open on Friday and 3 spots open on Saturday. Details of the workshop and registration forms are available on my website at: www.stepjunkie.com.
If you have already registered for this workshop, I am really looking forward to seeing your area of our country and meeting you all!!!
Dana
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Update on Moscow, Idaho Workshop
Only 3 weeks left until the Moscow, Idaho workshop on September 30-October 1!! There are only 5 spots left for each day, so if you are interested in attending, and earning a year's worth of CECs for ACE and AFAA, be sure to register soon to reserve your space. Please visit www.stepjunkie.com and navigate to the Upcoming Workshops page to see the details of the workshop.
I'll be leading a master class on Friday evening, open only to workshop participants. I look forward to meeting everyone and seeing the great state of Idaho!!
Dana
I'll be leading a master class on Friday evening, open only to workshop participants. I look forward to meeting everyone and seeing the great state of Idaho!!
Dana
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Pacific Northwest Workshops -- Idaho and Alaska
The Early Bird rates for these two workshop weekends ends THIS FRIDAY, August 26th. If you want to attend and save money, please register by Friday.
Each workshop includes a very comprehensive workshop on how to teach Step. We will talk about everything you need to know to teach a professional Step class -- from cueing to music to choreography develoment to staying organized. These workshops also both include a half-day workshop on Step breakdowns, where I will present my method of breaking down Step choreography. This method works for all variants of Step aerobics (Horizontal Step, Vertical Step, Double Step in ANY configuration, etc.).
The Alaska workshop is in danger of being cancelled unless I receive 4-5 more registrations by Friday. If you are interested in earning up to a year's worth of CECs for ACE or AFAA, please register by Friday!!
Each workshop includes a very comprehensive workshop on how to teach Step. We will talk about everything you need to know to teach a professional Step class -- from cueing to music to choreography develoment to staying organized. These workshops also both include a half-day workshop on Step breakdowns, where I will present my method of breaking down Step choreography. This method works for all variants of Step aerobics (Horizontal Step, Vertical Step, Double Step in ANY configuration, etc.).
The Alaska workshop is in danger of being cancelled unless I receive 4-5 more registrations by Friday. If you are interested in earning up to a year's worth of CECs for ACE or AFAA, please register by Friday!!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Announcing: ALASKA workshop dates!!
I am very pleased to announce dates for Step workshops in Anchorage, Alaska. I'll be at Powerhouse Gym at 802 Gamble in Anchorage on October 7-8, 2011. Please note that this is a Friday-Saturday workshop. Friday is Step Junkie's Secrets for Teaching Step, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday will be Break It Down Like a Pro from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Following the Saturday workshop, I'll be leading a master class from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. Due to space constraints, the master class is open only to workshop participants, and is included in the price of the workshop.
I'm combining my travel on this trip with my workshop in Moscow, Idaho (September 30-October 1), so Early Bird rates expire on August 26th. Register soon to get the best rates. If you are interested in improving your Step instruction skills, your choreography development skills, and/or your breakdown skills, don't hesitate to register for this workshop! Don't forget, both workshops provide a year's worth of continuing education credits for ACE and AFAA!
I'd love to meet you! It's been many years since I've been to Alaska, and I'm very much looking forward to this workshop!
Dana
I'm combining my travel on this trip with my workshop in Moscow, Idaho (September 30-October 1), so Early Bird rates expire on August 26th. Register soon to get the best rates. If you are interested in improving your Step instruction skills, your choreography development skills, and/or your breakdown skills, don't hesitate to register for this workshop! Don't forget, both workshops provide a year's worth of continuing education credits for ACE and AFAA!
I'd love to meet you! It's been many years since I've been to Alaska, and I'm very much looking forward to this workshop!
Dana
Sunday, July 31, 2011
New Workshop Dates - WESTERN IDAHO!!!
Hi everyone,
I'm thrilled to announce that I have just booked a workshop in Moscow, Idaho for September 30 - October 1. All of the details are on my website at: www.stepjunkie.com. We'll be starting on Friday with my Break It Down Like a Pro workshop PLUS a 1-hour master class! Then, Saturday will be a full day of instruction in all aspects of teaching Step -- building choreography & breakdowns, using music to the fullest advantage, cueing, etc. If you want to register for this workshop, I urge you to do so ASAP, as there is a limit to the number of participants that will be able to attend.
Additionally, I'm hoping to provide another workshop in the Pacific Northwest (or West) either the week before this or after this, where I can combine my travel expenses into one trip, so I'm looking for a host facility. If you'd be interested in hosting a workshop in the Spokane, Seattle, or other Washington State area,or other state in the central or western U.S., please let me know, and we'll see if we can get it set up.
As always, keep on Stepping on!!!
Dana
I'm thrilled to announce that I have just booked a workshop in Moscow, Idaho for September 30 - October 1. All of the details are on my website at: www.stepjunkie.com. We'll be starting on Friday with my Break It Down Like a Pro workshop PLUS a 1-hour master class! Then, Saturday will be a full day of instruction in all aspects of teaching Step -- building choreography & breakdowns, using music to the fullest advantage, cueing, etc. If you want to register for this workshop, I urge you to do so ASAP, as there is a limit to the number of participants that will be able to attend.
Additionally, I'm hoping to provide another workshop in the Pacific Northwest (or West) either the week before this or after this, where I can combine my travel expenses into one trip, so I'm looking for a host facility. If you'd be interested in hosting a workshop in the Spokane, Seattle, or other Washington State area,or other state in the central or western U.S., please let me know, and we'll see if we can get it set up.
As always, keep on Stepping on!!!
Dana
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Intermediate Step Video for you
I think it's high time I posted another video for you! So, here you go. Intermediate. It's from a while back, but I hadn't posted the choreography here yet. The breakdown is included, and I hope my train of thought was clear on it. Feel free to send me a note if you have questions!
Enjoy!
Dana
Choreography:
Up Wide, Shuffle off the end (4)
V-Turn (4)
Cross on top, straddle (4)
Tap forward, straddle, x2 (8)
Cut the corner (4)
Jump Shots, x2 (8)
Enjoy!
Dana
Choreography:
Up Wide, Shuffle off the end (4)
V-Turn (4)
Cross on top, straddle (4)
Tap forward, straddle, x2 (8)
Cut the corner (4)
Jump Shots, x2 (8)
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Tap-Free Step
I've been reading with interest the recent Facebook conversation started by Rebecca Small entitled, "Is Step Dead?" (Please visit Rebecca's Facebook Fan Page to see it and a link to her blog: "Rebecca Small International Presenter" on Facebook.)
I'd like to get an idea of how many current Step instructors are teaching using the Tap-Free Step style. "Tap-Free" means that when you exit the step with both feet, you always march right-left or left-right, and never step down and then tap the toe of the other foot and then use that same foot to step up onto the step for the next move.
I think that there is a misunderstanding by some Step instructors that Tap-Free Step is more advanced or difficult than the type of Step that uses taps. While some moves when converted to the Tap-Free style end up requiring some rotation of the body, most tap-free moves are simply smoother than their Tap-Full counterparts.
If you teach Step with taps, I'm interested to know why you haven't converted to Tap-Free. In my mind, Tap-Free Step is the modern state of Step aerobics. When Step first came out, it hadn't occurred to anyone to use something called "tap-free" moves. As Step evolved, someone eventually recognized how much smoother Step choreography could be if the tap-downs were removed. It has caught on across Step presenters/instructors, and yet I don't think it has filtered down to the local gyms.
When I first started teaching Step back in the early 1990s, I did the style with taps because we hadn't heard of "Tap-Free" Step. Eventually, I stopped teaching Step for several years, and when I had the opportunity to teach it again, I was bombarded with information about "Tap-Free" Step. So, I checked it out, and because I wanted to be on the cutting edge of Step choreography, I decided to go 100% tap-free. This means that not only does my final choreography contain zero taps, all of my breakdowns are also tap-free.
If you want to convert to Tap-Free Step, it's not as hard as you think it's going to be. In fact, your cueing will probably be simpler, since you'll never have to cue "tap down" again. Additionally, your class will probably never miss the taps... but they will realize that your choreography has become very smooth and flowing.
To convert to tap-free step, you simply have to find alternatives for only 3 moves:
Personally, I feel that beginners should never see a tap. I want them to experience 100% flowing, smooth choreography from their very first Step class. We don't walk with taps, so moving from right to left to right leg again is very natural. Sticking those taps in there just feels awkward.
I'm going to turn off the comment moderation on my blog so that comments can go directly to this blog, and let's all hope that I don't get a bunch of spam comments! If you're reading this on Facebook, I'd love to hear your comments, and especially if you are still teaching with taps, I'm interested to hear why you have elected not to convert to tap-free -- no judgment -- I just want you to enlighten me in case there is something I'm missing.
If you have successfully converted to Tap-Free Step, would you share your experience, your challenges with the conversion, and how you overcame those challenges? I'm very interested to hear what you have to say!
I have a genuine desire to do whatever I can to keep our Step classes FULL of happy, sweaty participants. If you have ideas on how we can accomplish this, please speak up and share your ideas!!!
In Step,
Dana
I'd like to get an idea of how many current Step instructors are teaching using the Tap-Free Step style. "Tap-Free" means that when you exit the step with both feet, you always march right-left or left-right, and never step down and then tap the toe of the other foot and then use that same foot to step up onto the step for the next move.
I think that there is a misunderstanding by some Step instructors that Tap-Free Step is more advanced or difficult than the type of Step that uses taps. While some moves when converted to the Tap-Free style end up requiring some rotation of the body, most tap-free moves are simply smoother than their Tap-Full counterparts.
If you teach Step with taps, I'm interested to know why you haven't converted to Tap-Free. In my mind, Tap-Free Step is the modern state of Step aerobics. When Step first came out, it hadn't occurred to anyone to use something called "tap-free" moves. As Step evolved, someone eventually recognized how much smoother Step choreography could be if the tap-downs were removed. It has caught on across Step presenters/instructors, and yet I don't think it has filtered down to the local gyms.
When I first started teaching Step back in the early 1990s, I did the style with taps because we hadn't heard of "Tap-Free" Step. Eventually, I stopped teaching Step for several years, and when I had the opportunity to teach it again, I was bombarded with information about "Tap-Free" Step. So, I checked it out, and because I wanted to be on the cutting edge of Step choreography, I decided to go 100% tap-free. This means that not only does my final choreography contain zero taps, all of my breakdowns are also tap-free.
If you want to convert to Tap-Free Step, it's not as hard as you think it's going to be. In fact, your cueing will probably be simpler, since you'll never have to cue "tap down" again. Additionally, your class will probably never miss the taps... but they will realize that your choreography has become very smooth and flowing.
To convert to tap-free step, you simply have to find alternatives for only 3 moves:
- Over the Top/Across the Top - use a glute flyover instead for Over the Top.
- Turnstep - convert it to a shuffleturn, or turn-turn-cha-cha-cha.
- "A"-Step - well, this was never one of my favorite moves, so I don't lose sleep over the lack of this move.
Personally, I feel that beginners should never see a tap. I want them to experience 100% flowing, smooth choreography from their very first Step class. We don't walk with taps, so moving from right to left to right leg again is very natural. Sticking those taps in there just feels awkward.
I'm going to turn off the comment moderation on my blog so that comments can go directly to this blog, and let's all hope that I don't get a bunch of spam comments! If you're reading this on Facebook, I'd love to hear your comments, and especially if you are still teaching with taps, I'm interested to hear why you have elected not to convert to tap-free -- no judgment -- I just want you to enlighten me in case there is something I'm missing.
If you have successfully converted to Tap-Free Step, would you share your experience, your challenges with the conversion, and how you overcame those challenges? I'm very interested to hear what you have to say!
I have a genuine desire to do whatever I can to keep our Step classes FULL of happy, sweaty participants. If you have ideas on how we can accomplish this, please speak up and share your ideas!!!
In Step,
Dana
Don't forget to "Like" my Step Junkie Productions page on Facebook. By doing so, you gain access to my videos several days before I post them on YouTube (and in some cases they never get posted to YouTube), as well as information on my upcoming Step workshops.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
New Workshop Locations Needed
I'm always looking for new locations for my Step workshops! Currently, I'm looking for host health and fitness facilities for workshops to take place this fall and winter, so we have plenty of time to plan everything and get the news out.
If you would like your facility to be a host -- remember, they don't pay me anything! The facility simply supplies me a room with a stereo, microphone, and some steps. I will also be happy to provide a master class at the end of the workshop that can be for workshop participants only, or for anyone, at the discretion of the facility.
Please visit my website at: www.stepjunkie.com to see the details of each of my currently approved workshops. A weekend of workshops provides about a year's worth of continuing education credits for both ACE and AFAA! You can contact me through my website, too!
Dana
If you would like your facility to be a host -- remember, they don't pay me anything! The facility simply supplies me a room with a stereo, microphone, and some steps. I will also be happy to provide a master class at the end of the workshop that can be for workshop participants only, or for anyone, at the discretion of the facility.
Please visit my website at: www.stepjunkie.com to see the details of each of my currently approved workshops. A weekend of workshops provides about a year's worth of continuing education credits for both ACE and AFAA! You can contact me through my website, too!
Dana
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