Cheryl's Team Wins DWTS "Ballroom Battle"
Three amateur dance couples squared off with competing Jive routines during "Dancing with the Stars: Ballroom Battle" finals on the "Dancing Results" show Tuesday night on ABC TV. The judges named dancers Alli Kocherga and Allen Genkin - coached by Cheryl and representing her ballroom studio - as the Ballroom Battle champions! Team Cheryl took home the first-ever Ballroom Battle trophy!
Don't Overdo It!
We all appreciate the value of hard work, but sometimes working too hard (or at least incorrectly) can lead to problems in the near future. We've all been there: A project must be finished on time, so we pull multiple all nighters, and end up getting sick the day of the presentation because our bodies are worn down and our immune systems are shot.
The same syndrome applies to dancing - as it does with any other physical activity.
Before any lesson or practice time, it's always a good idea to arrive 10-15 minutes early and stretch. Warm up those muscles and get the body moving before going full out.
Merely walking slowly through your routines to get circulation flowing is better than rushing into the studio, quickly putting on your dance shoes, and hitting it hard. This is how muscles get pulled and other types of injuries can occur, sometimes suddenly or gradually over time.
The most obvious moves that result in injuries include lifts, drops, and dips. Those flashy fast-paced tricky steps in Quickstep and Viennese Waltz can also be treacherous unless practiced correctly. Salsa, with its rapid-fire spins and intricate turning patterns, is one of several other dances that require additional caution when dancers venture beyond the basics.
When it comes to more advanced moves, you can pay a steep price for failing to warm up or to patiently build your routines until they require the least strain and your timing and balance are just right throughout the range of motion.
Your dancing will definitely not improve if you throw out your back or neck and the doctor orders you to avoid any strenuous physical activity for the next six to eight weeks. Of course, that's the opposite of progress.
Without fail, dance-related injuries occur most frequently before showcases or competitions. Be smart about your practice time and take care of your body. It's one thing to push yourself within reasonable limits, but if you feel a sharp or sudden pain, then stop. Reevaluate how you're practicing, and see a medical specialist ASAP if pain persists.
Matt Brown
Studio Manager
Cheryl Burke Dance Laguna Niguel
