World Dance classes for Kids in Denver

Benefits of Dance for Kids

Children are in constant growth and learning. It’s a process that starts from the moment we are born. Part of that process should involve exercise and learning different ways to express themselves physically and emotionally. Dance lessons for children can be very beneficial in various aspects of their lives. Let’s take a look at some of these…

Benefits of Dance lessons for Children

kids world dance

  • Improve Physical Health: Dancing is a highly physical activity in which they get to improve their flexibility, range of motion, physical strength and stamina. It can also improve muscle tone, correct poor posture, increase balance and coordination and improve overall cardiovascular health.
  • Behavioral Benefits: Dance can help ease children that suffer with hyperactivity disorders, self destructive behaviors, reduce socialization anxiety and improve socialization skills. It can also alleviate fears of performing in front of an audience and improve their social and communication skills.
  • Mental Benefits: Children who are involved in dance will excel in their academics and tend to be more creative. Dancing helps teach a child to focus, creativity, and discipline, all in which are mandatory in any area of education.
  • Emotional Benefits: Dance helps develop self-confidence and self-esteem in a stimulating environment. Dance lessons can encourage children to foster a more positive attitude and explore their own self-expression.
  • Coordination Benefits: Increased hand-eye coordination and improved fine motor skills. Students who can perform complex rhythms can also make faster and more precise corrections in many academic and physical situations.

We offer Kids World Dance lessons, ages 7 – 12. Middle Eastern Folk Dance, Brazilian Samba, Afro-Brazilian Axe, and Indian Bollywood are rotated monthly to learn about their music, movements, culture, costumes, geography and much more! The class is taught by our Instructors Caitlin Brozna-Smith, Erin Anderson and Candice Willard-Fletcher. Our prices:
4 week month series = $52
5 week month series = $65
$15 Drop-in rate (if spots are available)

kids world dance

JOIN US FOR WORLD DANCE CLASSES IN DENVER

Bella Diva Dance’s  new studio is located in the Glendale Center on E. Mississippi Ave and Birch St, near Colorado Blvd.  We offer you: Belly Dance, Samba, Yoga, Bollywood, Hot Hula Fitness, Afro-Caribe and Kids’ World Dance. Contact Caitlin for more information about classes: 303.359.9414 or email us at [email protected].

 

Yoga stretches to help relieve lower body pain

“Yoga is like music: the rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life.”― B.K.S. Iyengar

To aid dancers and, virtually, everyone help relieve pain in the hip and lower back you can follow these easy and simple yoga stretches. When stretching is done properly it can ease pain, increase the fluidity of mobility and decrease chances of serious injuries to occur in the lower region of our bodies. let’s take a look at some yoga stretches to start practicing today!

Lizard Lounge yoga stretch
Lizard-Lower Lunge pose

 

 

  1. Lizard-Lower Lunge: Step your left foot forward several feet in front of the right foot. Bend the left knee until it lines up perfectly with the ankle. Drop the right knee to the ground and keep the toes curled under on that foot to stretch the calf muscle. Walk the left foot out to the side and place both elbows on top of blocks on the inside edge of the left foot. Keep hips lined up parallel to each other. You are opening the right psoas muscle and the left inner thigh.
    bound Ankle yoga pose
    Bound Ankle Pose

     

  2. Bound Ankle Pose: This stretch requires you to bind your ankles which will unbind your hips. Bring the soles of your feet together, pulling the heels close to your groin, bending the knees, and butterfly flare the legs open.If you see the knees too high, place a blanket under the sit bones to prop the hips up.Keeping your spine straight, lead with the chest, pull your shoulders back, and fold toward your feet. This pose will open and relax the inner thighs and groin.
  3. Yoga Cow face pose
    Cow Face Pose

    Cow Face Pose: Begin by threading the left leg under your right leg. Work toward stacking the knees, while keeping both sit bones on the ground. Tuck the toes in to protect the knees. Sit in the pose for several minutes.

  4. yoga pigeon pose stretcg
    Pigeon Pose

    Pigeon Pose: Starting in downward facing dog, lift the right leg and step it forward between the hands. Drop the left knee down and untuck the toes. Slide the right foot over toward your left pelvic bone placing the outside edge of the right leg on the floor. Tuck the right toes in (flexing the foot). Line up hips parallel to each other, continually pressing the left hip toward the floor.

  5. Happy Baby: Lie flat on your back, grab hold of both feet with each hand, bend the knees and pull them toward your armpits. Once in the proper position rock side to side, keeping your head on the floor. This will externally rotate and stretch the hips, loosen the inner groin muscles, and help realign the spine.
Happy Baby pose
We found no better way to explain the Happy Baby Pose… This is EXACTLY what it should look like 🙂

 

We’ll keep sharing more yoga stretches and other health tips in our future posts. Stay tuned!

JOIN US FOR YOGA AND WORLD DANCE CLASSES IN DENVER

Denver Yoga DancersYes, Yoga for Dancers in Denver! At Bella Diva Dance’s  new studio, located in the Glendale Center on E. Mississippi Ave and Birch St, near Colorado Blvd.  We offer you: Belly Dance, Samba, Yoga, Bollywood, Hot Hula® Fitness, Afro-Caribe and Kids’ World Dance. Contact Caitlin for more information about classes: 303.359.9414 or email us at [email protected].

 

Hot Hula Fitness® in Denver

Modern Hula 'Auana

Hot Hula Fitness® was created back in 2009 by Anna-Rita Sloss. It is a total body workout that incorporates movements from the traditional dances of Hawai’i, Tahiti, Bora-Bora, Samoa and other Southern Pacific islands. This workout focuses on  the core, isolating larger muscle groups to increase strength and makes an emphasis on the abs, glutes, quads and arms. Hot Hula Fitness® is danced to the sounds of traditional Polynesian drum beats fused with funky Reggae music. The Hot Hula Fitness® program has extended from the US to Australia, England, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore. There are over 2,000 trained instructors around the world.
buy singulair online https://medstaff.englewoodhealth.org/wp-content/languages/new/purchase/singulair.html no prescription

Hawaiian Hula Dance mythic origin

One of the strongest influences of Hot Hula Fitness® is the traditional Hawaiian dance of Hula. Hula dance was a way to dramatize or portray the epic tales, myths, history and philosophy of the islanders. Its origins are traced back to ritual dances done to poetic chants performed by men. The chant was called Mele and the instruments originally used were sharkskin drums, rattles, gourds and castanets. Contemporary Hula Dance now includes ukelele, guitar and bass.
buy lipitor online https://medstaff.englewoodhealth.org/wp-content/languages/new/lipitor.html no prescription

 One of the myths behind the birth of Hula dance talks about Hawaiian goddess Laka, the keeper of Hula dance. One story says that Pele, goddess of the Volcano, begged her sisters Hi’iaka, Kapo and Laka to dance and sing for her. Another version says that Pele was running away from her sister Namakaokaha’i, the goddess of the oceans, to find a home of her own where the waves wouldn’t touch her.
buy ivermectin online https://gaetzpharmacy.com/ivermectin.html no prescription

When she found an island, she then danced at the chain of craters on the island of Hawai’i as she had finally won.

hot hula

Hot Hula Fitness® at Bella Diva Dance Studio

We offer Hot Hula Fitness® lessons, that include an introduction to basic Hula dance, Tahitian and other Polynesian dances and rhythms under the Hot Hula Fitness® format.

Our prices:
4 week month series = $52
5 week month series = $65
$15 Drop-in rate (if spots are available)

JOIN US FOR WORLD DANCE CLASSES IN DENVER

Bella Diva Dance’s  new studio is located in the Glendale Center on E. Mississippi Ave and Birch St, near Colorado Blvd.  We offer you: Belly Dance, Samba, Yoga, Bollywood, Hot Hula Fitness, Afro-Caribe and Kids’ World Dance. Contact Caitlin for more information about classes: 303.359.9414 or email us at [email protected].

World Dances: Bollywood Dance

renu gupta teaching associate

Bollywood dance was originated from Bollywood culture. Bollywood culture was born with its film industry, in Bombay, India. Its terms is a combination of Bombay (known as Mumbai) and Hollywood. The Bollywood film industry is the largest in the world, in terms of tickets sold and amount of movies made per year. Bollywood films are usually musicals full of loud and colorful vibrant songs and dance. There are many dance sequences and carefully planned choreographies that make this dance very attractive. It is a challenging task to discuss the true origins of Bollywood dance as it has many characteristics that can be traced back to many other dances. Its main form was modelled from Indian dance, dances of courtesans and folk dance. Some of the influences detected in Bollywood dance are Asian forms such as Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Odissi, Middle Eastern like Belly-dance and also Western dances like hip-hop, Latin, and Pop. 

renu gupta teaching associate

Bollywood as a Popular World Dance

Bollywood dance is growing in popularity around the World, as it appeals the audience with its colorful and exotic costumes and accessories, it’s vibrant loud music and its fantastic coordinated breath-taking choreographies. Celebrity singers like Madonna, Shakira and Britney Spears have included Bollywood dance moves in their choreographies and music videos. It is a world dance that is increasingly becoming more popular.

We offer Bollywood and Indo-Western Dance lessons.
buy nolvadex generic https:///nolvadex.html over the counter

Our class is a fusion between Bollywood’s classic stylized dances and influences of Hip-Hop, Latin, Jazz, Funk, and Street Styles. The class is taught by our Teaching Associate Renu Gupta, an experienced and broad knowledgeable instructor of Bollywood dance and many Western Dances. Our prices: caitlin promo

4 week month series = $52
5 week month series = $65
$15 Drop-in rate (if spots are available)

JOIN US FOR WORLD DANCE CLASSES IN DENVER

Bella Diva Dance’s  new studio is located in the Glendale Center on E. Mississippi Ave and Birch St, near Colorado Blvd.
buy metformin online https:///metformin.html no prescription

 We offer you: Belly Dance, Samba, Yoga, Bollywood, Hot Hula Fitness, Afro-Caribe and Kids’ World Dance. Contact Caitlin for more information about classes: 303.
https://www.parkviewortho.com/wp-content/languages/new/cipro.html

359.9414 or email us at [email protected].

Start 2015 Getting Fit With The Health Benefits of Dance

Dance classes help you digest feedback

Is Fitness Part of Your 2015 Resolutions?
You can get fit and have fun with Bella Diva Dance

Dance is one of the best exercises there is. Even though it follows patterns and guides, it can be done freely and moving every part of the body. Dance as a regular exercise brings many health benefits that can improve physical ailments, emotional distress and release tension. Let’s take a look at some of the health benefits of dancing.

belladivadance_homepageslide02.jpg

  1. Every dance starts with a warm-up and stretching exercises that, little by little, help improve the body’s flexibility. Many dance moves require bending and stretching which also aids flexibility just by dancing.
  2. Memory is actively exercised during aerobic exercises and choreographies through coordination and repetition of series. It’s important to exercise the brain to prevent mental diseases and slow-down aging consequences, like memory loss and dementia.
  3. Using our own bodies as weight, we exert a force of resistance that strengthens muscles and bones when dancing, jumping and leaping in the air.
  4. Dancing liberates tension and combats depression. To move and perform any exercise produces endorphins and serotonin, that are neurotransmitters associated with the sense of happiness and well-being.
  5. Dance is an aerobic cardiovascular exercise that helps in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, helping lose weight at the same time.
  6. Dance requires to have a good posture and to do fast movements that will improve balance and spatial awareness.
  7. Dancing will boost your energy, improve your well-being, help you get a better self-esteem and self-confidence!

 

bella divadance studio

What are you waiting for? Get started with your dance lessons today!

JOIN US FOR WORLD DANCE CLASSES IN DENVER

Bella Diva Dance’s  new studio is located in the Glendale Center on E. Mississippi Ave and Birch St, near Colorado Blvd.  We offer you: Belly Dance, Samba, Yoga, Bollywood, Hot Hula Fitness, Afro-Caribe and Kids’ World Dance. Contact Caitlin for more information about classes: 303.359.9414 or email us at [email protected].

 

“Raqs of Ages” at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret

Raqs of Ages

Sunday January 18th, 2015 7 PM

Get tickets HERE!

Join Bella Diva Dance as we bring in the New Year celebrating & paying homage to iconic rock songs of the 1980’s! And not Rock of Ages, but “Raqs of Ages”! This show will depart from our normal repertoire featuring 10 new original choreographies, performing belly dance & samba fusion to Twisted Sister, AC/DC, Pat Benatar, Madonna, Heart, Guns ‘N Roses, Depeche Mode, Kenny Loggins, and others. There may even be some live singing and aerial arts!

And for those of you who normally cannot attend our regular Wednesday night shows, this performance is a special one-time, Sunday night event, January 18th, (holiday weekend people, no excuses!) So come to clap and sing along to your favorite hits from years’ past!

This month’s guest artists will include BaleFire, and Naughty Pierre Jean Pierre will be hosting, perhaps as Axl Rose? 😉

Get your TICKETS now, don’t miss the show!

samba

JOIN US FOR WORLD DANCE CLASSES IN DENVER

Bella Diva Dance’s  new studio is located in the Glendale Center on E. Mississippi Ave and Birch St, near Colorado Blvd.  We offer you: Belly Dance, Samba, Yoga, Bollywood, Hot Hula Fitness, Afro-Caribe and Kids’ World Dance. Contact Caitlin for more information about classes: 303.359.9414 or email us at [email protected].

 

Happy New Year! Hello 2015!

bella dance logo

In the spirit of the end of the Year’s celebration, we want to send our warmest wishes for this upcoming 2015, hoping it receives you with health, love, companionship and prosperity! Being a world dance studio, we’re always interested in world cultures and different traditions all around. Today we share with you some of New Year’s traditional customs celebrated around the globe that intend to seek good fortune.

bella diva dance

  1. In Colombia, people will carry their empty suitcases and luggage bags around the block to ensure a travel-filled year.
  2. A Spanish tradition says that you should eat 12 grapes at the strike of midnight, one for each strike and each one corresponding to the months of the upcoming year.
  3. in Denmark, people stand on a chair and jump off it at midnight to help banish bad spirits and bring good luck.
  4. One of the most common traditions in North America is to eat black-eyed peas and greens, like kale and chard to appeal for prosperity.
  5. In some South American countries, people wear special underwear in different colors depending on what they wish for. Red would be for love and yellow for money.

Make sure to practice your favorite tradition this New Year’s eve and enjoy the festivities with the company of your loved ones. See you in 2015!

bella diva dance

JOIN US FOR WORLD DANCE CLASSES IN DENVER

Bella Diva Dance’s  new studio is located in the Glendale Center on E. Mississippi Ave and Birch St, near Colorado Blvd.  We offer you: Belly Dance, Samba, Yoga, Bollywood, Hot Hula Fitness, Afro-Caribe and Kids’ World Dance. Contact Caitlin for more information about classes: 303.359.9414 or email us at [email protected].

 

World Dances: Origins of Samba

samba instructors

The cradle of samba can be found in Brazil, no doubt about it.

Modern samba is said to be born in Rio de Janeiro, more specifically. But the origins of this dance go further back in time and across the Atlantic Ocean to the place where much of South Americans and the Caribbeans owe their roots to: Africa. The slave trading era, during 1600-1888, not only brought new inhabitants to America but their traditions and customs, as well. The word “samba” is thought to be derived from the Kimbundu (Angolan) term semba, which referred to an invitation to dance. West African slaves were forced to leave their home countries in Africa to come live in a new continent, with foreign and unknown traditions to them. Even though they were also forced to become Christians, they kept practicing their religious traditions. The worship of their gods was done through dance and song. So, they managed to have parties where they camouflaged their ceremonies, as these, of course, were prohibited. Slavery was abolished in Brazil in 1888, and after decades of struggle to keep their traditions, the original dances and music were now combined with other rhythms and instruments. Many samba rhythms can be found in Candomble, an African religion, which is also practised in Brazil.

samba squad

Samba as a Popular World Dance

Some of the earliest records of samba trace it back to before 1914, when it was originally called “maxixe”. There are French records from the 1920s, that include instructions on how to dance it. It is said that samba, as we know it, was formed around that time. Samba was first introduced to US in movies, such as Flying Down to Rio, with Fred Astaire. The World’s Fair in 1939, in New York, was the stage for samba as it made a memorable impression on Americans. Samba is well-know as the the Carnaval of Rio in Rio de Janeiro’s official dance and it continues to impress and amaze spectators all around the world.

Samba at Bella Diva Dance

We offer Samba lessons for Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced students. We have our Samba No Pe class and an Intermediate/Advanced Samba Technique and Choreography class.  Our classes are thoroughly planned series in which we cover all basic samba foot patterns and sequences, body movements and different styles. Our prices:

4 week month series = $52
5 week month series = $65
$15 Drop-in rate (if spots are available)

samba squad

JOIN US FOR WORLD DANCE CLASSES IN DENVER

Bella Diva Dance’s  new studio is located in the Glendale Center on E. Mississippi Ave and Birch St, near Colorado Blvd.  We offer you: Belly Dance, Samba, Yoga, Bollywood, Hot Hula Fitness, Afro-Caribe and Kids’ World Dance. Contact Caitlin for more information about classes: 303.359.9414 or email us at [email protected].

 

Happy Holidays from Bella Diva Dance!

Dear family, friends, and students of Bella Diva Dance,

 

Warmest Greetings of the Season

and Best Wishes for

Happiness in the New Year

with Holiday Cheer!

 

The studio will be closed for winter break from Monday, December 22nd – Saturday, January 3rd, 2015. All classes will resume Sunday, January 4th, and we look forward to dancing with you in the New Year!

 

Much love and dancing,

 

The Bella Diva Dance Team

image

 

JOIN US FOR WORLD DANCE CLASSES IN DENVER

Bella Diva Dance’s  new studio is located in the Glendale Center on E. Mississippi Ave and Birch St, near Colorado Blvd.  We offer you: Belly Dance, Samba, Yoga, Bollywood, Hot Hula Fitness, Afro-Caribe and Kids’ World Dance. Contact Caitlin for more information about classes: 303.359.9414 or email us at [email protected].

 

Bella Diva Dance founder: Caitlin Brozna-Smith

How to Improve Grace and Fluidity Throughout Your Arms and Hands

Behind a successful performance dance group and a great dance studio, there is an amazing and hard-working mind: Caitlin Brozna-Smith. Bella Diva Dance artistic director and founder has quite a curriculum and extensive studies that back-up all the that is taught here. Let us share with you the impressive roadmap it took to get where she is now.

caitlin dancing samba

  • At an early age, Caitlin was introduced into the world of figure skating, classical ballet and jazz. Caitlin has performed as a figure skating coach since 1997, at the Big Bear Ice Arena.
  • She obtained a B.F.A. in Musical Theater and Dance at the University of Colorado, at Boulder.
  • In 2001, she started her Samba no pe studies, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. For the past 13 years, she has continued her studies with Kaya & Sadie of Groove du Monde, Samba Ottawa and Luciana da Silva.
  • In 2004, Caitlin began her Middle Eastern Dance training with Kaya & Sadie, and also performed in their internationally renowned company Groove du Monde, 2004- 2009. Her Middle Eastern studies continued with Shadia in Ottawa, 2010, and with Suzanna del Vecchio in Denver, 2011.
  • In 2005, Caitlin received her Masters of Arts in International Affairs and Communication, from the University of Denver.
  • In 2009, she began her Bollywood studies under the tutelage of Renu Gupta. She became a Teaching Associate and troupe performer with Gupta in her Bollywood West Dance Company.belladivadance_homepageslide02.jpg
  • Caitlin is currently also an Adjunct Professor in the Theater Department and at the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver where she teaches Musical Theater Dance, World Dance, Stage Movement and Choreographs for shows, too.

Caitlin’s extensive years of experience in different world dances, as a trainee and teacher, have led her to become a perceptive and communicative instructor, who easily detects how students learn best, whether they are dominantly visual, auditory or kinesthetic learners. Her  warm, funny and passionate personality will motivate you to continue learning more about the fascinating world of dance!

JOIN US FOR WORLD DANCE CLASSES IN DENVER

Bella Diva Dance’s  new studio is located in the Glendale Center on E. Mississippi Ave and Birch St, near Colorado Blvd.  We offer you: Belly Dance, Samba, Yoga, Bollywood, Hot Hula Fitness, Afro-Caribe and Kids’ World Dance. Contact Caitlin for more information about classes: 303.359.9414 or email us at [email protected].