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Well they are all in one place now! Scan the code or click the link!

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Current State Of Mind

I got a compliment about my instruction from a firefighter. I taught the opening class at the Austin Kiz Affair this weekend and Sarah & I focused on griddy saidas and expanding our understanding on the 6 lanes. It was technical and we kept it fun.

The firefighter, I’m blanking on her name at the moment, shared that she was a fire fighter and how it was important for them to be able to train and communicate effectively on the job, obviously during dangerous scenarios.

I’m very grateful to receive this compliment. It’s the first from a firefighter, and I’ve had other educators compliment me on my teaching before. As a person who loves to learn, I feel like that extends into teaching because teaching is one of the best ways to solidify what you are learning.

The art of teaching also brings up thoughts about what it means to be a “good” or “bad” teacher, how that differs from someone’s teaching style not matching with a students learning style.

An experienced teacher can adapt their teaching style to best work with the student, and this can happen in different ways depending on whether it’s a group lesson, 1-on-1 private, etc.

I feel a notion that doesn’t get mentioned as much is that an experienced student can also expand their learning capacity to take instruction that’s doesn’t cater to their ideal learning style and find a way to make the content effective and applicable to their improvement.

A concept I’ve been chewing on recently in the concept of practice/training containers. How does one train effectively and intentionally over time with a plan of action? In what lens can we breakdown a move to explain in from different angles? How we can become aware of the fundamental core pieces of each movement in a particular pattern?

I’ll talk about this more in next week’s newsletter! Have a great week!

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Song I'm Currently Jamming To

Coffee for Two - Alejo, HawkOne

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Recent Content

• [BLOG] How To Use Musical Gears To Improve Your Musicality
• [CAROUSEL] Ultimate Dance Event Survival Kit - Part 1: Tech
• [FB REEL] Urbankizouk Flow with Alina 006 - Part 1
• [IG REEL] Private lesson flow with Syrita.
• [IG REEL] Diagramming some kiz steps.
• [FB REEL] Emphasizing intention and direction.
• [FB REEL] Covering a simple turn into a saida entry.
• [FB POST] PSA for male leads and their pockets! Comments are good as well lol
• [FB VIDEO] Demo with Ninja to “One Man Can Change The World” by DJ Chad
• [FB VIDEO] A video from a novice Brazilian J&J dance with myself and Wendy.
• [IMAGE] Connected calendars across WCWD.
• [IMAGE] The easiest hook step to lead.
• [PODCAST] 111: Interview with William Araujo
• [CAROUSEL] Carousel of the 14 communication channels of a dance class.
• [DANCE VIDEO] Me dancing urbankizouk at Elevation Zouk Festival.

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Photo of the Week

My friend Mel & I in downtown Portland back in 2021 I believe.

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Dance Meme of the Week

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Cool Video I'm Watching

A cool video on using a decision journal to help make hard decisions.

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Upcoming Travel

See my artist profile at wherecanwedance.com, any artist can create one for free!

2024

02/15-19: Urbankiz @ The Los Angeles Bachata Festival 2024 - Los Angeles, CA

02/23-24: Neokiz Weekender in Guadalajara - Guadalajara, Mexico

03/1-3: Neokiz Weekender in Roanoke - Roanoke, Virginia

03/9-10: Neokiz Weekend Immersion: Workshops + Party - Denver, CO

03/31 - 04/3: Victoria International Kizomba Festival (Hosting the J&Js)- Victoria, British Colombia

03/15-17: Neokiz Intensive - Atlanta, GA

04/19-21: Lucas & Thayna - Dallas Zouk Weekender - Dallas, TX

05/3-6: Neokiz Weekender in Edmonton - Edmonton, AB, Canada

05/17-20: Kizowna 2024 - Kelowna, BC, Canada

07/20-24: 8th Annual Neo Kizomba Festival - Austin, TX

10/24-27: Zouk Conexao Festival - Atlanta, GA

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Question Of the Week

What dance class has made an impact on your dance journey and why?

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Answer of the Week

What is the correct way to walk for followers in urbankiz?

A follower asked me this from the standpoint of followers specifically as she has seen lots of different styles of stepping from on the balls of the feet, flats, heels, etc.

This isn't necessarily a straightforward answer, lots of instructors have their preferences and perspectives based on their personal experiences.

After teaching kiz for so long, I feel it's hard to say what someone should or shouldn't do as every person is unique. I do feel there are some characteristics that help the dance flow better.

Let's break it down to the fundamentals, no high heels simply walking, putting styling to the side.

Anatomically speaking I feel it's important to use the whole foot be on the floor (especially the heels) as our skeleton is stacked top of our heels.

This is where we can naturally rest and "trust our skeleton" with as little tension as possible in our bodies.

There's a notion that followers needs to be in this perpetual "alert" mindset, mentally on edge, and in fear of making any mistake or missing any cue from the lead.

I'm not a fan of this notion as it usually creates a lot of tension in the frame and mind, and this tension creates a lot of "static" in the non-verbal communication we are striving to establish in the dance.

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Past Newsletters

You can view past newsletters here.

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‍Dope Dance Resources

• A cool project to create a global directory of dance events for dancers, artists, and organizers!
• Find out how you can thrive at your next dance event with the Ultimate Dance Event Survival Kit.
• Find out how you can organize your dance journey with the Dancer’s Training Journal 1.0.
• Level up your kiz online with Mr. Neokiz!
• Learn more about the Ultimate Musicality Course For Dancers to level up your musicality!
• Get the 16-count phrase mapping worksheet download for free!
• Join me at my urbankiz festival in Austin, July 18-22, 2024!
• The WhereCanWeDance.com Podcast - Check out my dance podcast!
• My Amazon storefront to check the gear I use for content creation and travel.

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Thanks for reading!

Thoughts and feedback on the newsletter or on anything covered within are always welcome, just hit reply. The thing I love most about writing this newsletter is follow-up interactions with readers.

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Feel free to forward this to other friends in your circle!

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Charles

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