Cover Story
 

"Someone You Should Know"

By Eileen Sheetz,
Go Dance Chicago
Writer|July 1, 2007

Adynamic maker and shaker of dance in the Chicagoland area, James “Jim” Becker is the subject of our cover story for this premiere issue of “Go Dance Chicago” magazine. So, who is this Becker, and what does he have to do with this magazine? And, give me a break, isn’t it blatantly vain for his face to appear on the cover of a dance magazine?

You tell us, after reading this article. For starters, Becker spearheaded the launching of this magazine just for Chicago. “Go Dance Chicago” as you can see, is in your hands this summer. While you are reading this story, the magazine has been distributed to 480 dance studios, dance clubs and dance promoters in and around the Chicago area. Becker’s goal is simple — to promote dance!

The vision for this magazine began a few years ago as Becker reflected back on his dance history. When he first entered the dancing world in 1982, he didn’t know that dancing clubs existed for the dances he enjoyed, i.e., Swing ‘N Country, North Side Jitterbug Club, South Side Jitterbug Club, or the Rebels. Like many new dancers, he didn’t know how, when or where to take lessons. He listened to and learned about the needs of other dancers in Chicago.

Becker says, “I like to gather people, fill a need, and market to get the word out about how to fill that need.” With “Go Dance Chicago” magazine, he wants to get the word out about all types of dance opportunities. He wants a dance magazine to inform readers, provide space for dance promoters (instructors, studios, vendors) to market their products, and bring more dancers to the dance floor. “I want readers to submit comments or articles about anything related to dance in Chicago. This magazine will be a forum for people who want to know more about any kind of dance.”
No stranger to initiating, marketing and promoting events, in 2002, Becker looked for a place to dance on alternate Friday nights when other dance clubs did not have a scheduled dance. He couldn’t find one, so he created Chicago X Dance Swing Club www.XDance.com. In doing so, he filled other dancers’ needs while taking care of his own. Based on that club’s success, he went on to co-found Chicago X Dance South www.XDanceSouth.com in 2007 with April Prince. And plans are underway for expanding X Dance.

So, was he born dancing? Not quite, but he does have dancing in his genes, as you will discover. In 8th grade, he was attracted to music and showmanship: he choreographed a three-minute break dance routine with two buddies for his grammar school’s talent show—replete with lights, music, etc. He was 14 years young and the routine was well-received by the audience. This brief introduction to entertainment fueled his energy from 1982-85, when he become involved in break dance training and competitions.

Becker started “grown-up” dancing at the age of 20. Before then, his physical fitness activities were comprised of long-distance running for track and cross country, cross country skiing, bowling, and working out at the gym. “My grandparents used to ballroom dance and I was interested. My grandfather passed away, so I started taking my grandmother ballroom dancing. We took classes together.”
He adds, “When I was 21, I said to my grandmother, ‘I’d like to meet some women.’ So I struck out on my own and began country line dancing at Whiskey River on Clybourne Street in Chicago, then Cadillac Ranch in Bartlett, Illinois and I loved it! I found that the dance world was a great environment with great people. I developed friendships and dance partnerships that have lasted a long time. The dance world was far better than the bar world.”

An accomplished dancer, Jim has earned numerous national awards. He won 2nd Place in the 1998 UCWDC (United Country Western Dance Council) Showcase Line Dance Championship – World’s Championship.” Becker says, “This was my kick start — I really got the dancing bug!” So, he started out as a country line dancer.

Yet, a few paragraphs back, you said he began a swing dance club? Huh?

Yep. He shifted gears. Becker’s dancing niche is, “West coast swing (WCS) — It is my love and my passion and I enjoy sharing it with others. I enjoy the creativity of WCS. It gives me opportunities to express myself. I feel that dancing with my dance partner, Nancy Tuzzolino is like fine art painting — Nancy is the brush, the music phrases are the paint, I am the frame – together we can and do create masterpieces.”

His first big win was taking 1st Place and then repeating it three years consecutively at the Mid United States Invitational Championship. His biggest dance accomplishment was taking 5th Place in the NASDE (National Association of Swing Dance Events) Tour in 2004. Jim has traveled throughout the United States and Canada to dance WCS, adding, “I used to travel three times a month to dance. Now I travel about once a month.”

In addition to “Go Dance Chicago” magazine, Becker began another project for Chicago dancers. He and his dance partner, Tuzzolino, recently initiated the Chicago Swing Dance Foundation — which will be bringing back home to Chicago — the National West Coast Swing Event “The Chicago Classic” March 14-16, 2008 www.TheChicagoClassic.com. This is a sanctioned WSDC (World Swing Dance Council) Event. For those of you who have watched Fox Broadcasting Company’s “So You Think You Can Dance,” last year’s winner, Benji Schwimmer, will be attending this event.

Becker currently dances several nights a week at Ballroom City, The Dance Center at North Park, and Cadillac Ranch. He teaches private and group classes in WCS in and around Chicago. He is one of Swing N’ Country’s (SNC) dance club’s regular instructors www.swingncountry.com. You can also join him at the Da Dance Camp’s (DDC) 10-year event in February 2008 www.swingncountry.com. Click on Da Dance Camp. He will be one of the instructors. Occasionally, you will see him competing – for the most part, he judges and coaches. He lives in Chicago with his wife and newborn daughter.

Becker asked to leave you with these thoughts. “Let us know what you want. We will fill that need. The magazine is sure to meet obstacles along the way and we will grow and develop from them. Our aim now, and in the future, is to get you out on the floor to 'Go Dance Chicago!'"

*****

Gift of Dance

By Skippy Blair
Go Dance Chicago
Writer|July 1, 2007

If you are reading this article - you are no doubt, one of those fortunate  people who already possess "The Gift". Dance may be as important in your life - as it is in mine!  If that's a fact - I hope you are already aware of the magnitude of "The Gift." All of us have sent and received Birthday gifts, Anniversary presents - and numerous gifts for special occasions.  Every once in a while, there should be moments of realization that startle you into realizing just how special we must be - to have been given this "Gift of Life" - this special gift called DANCE!

Think of all the times when the world was coming down around your ears and someone said "Let's go dancing." Didn't it change your day?

I remember situations where I thought I could not make it through the day: Personal pressures - Car broke down - Someone broke a window in the studio - My wallet got "misplaced" (with a cashed paycheck in it)! But - that would have to wait because I had a class to teach and people were expecting me.  The music starts - The class lines up - Someone asks an interesting question - and there we go - "Off and dancing." The problems of the day disappear -  Dancing allows us to "take a break" from the cares of the day.

We've known all along that "Dance" is a gift.  But sometimes we get so caught up in the dance itself, that we forget to treat it as a gift! Don't let yourself be the one to spoil someone's evening.  Don't forget to take a deep breath and "Share the gift." Someone out there needs a smile and quiet assurance that they are "progressing as they should."  Someone out there has had a bad day and really needs someone to tell them that they are OK.  (Not in words - simply by sharing a dance)  Each of us has the opportunity to feel the glow that comes from sharing the gift. You can feel the blessing every time you take the time to dance with someone a little less talented or someone a little less experienced.

Being involved in the dance, allows us to grow as human beings. We learn how to give back some of the treasures that life has given us.  Those who dance have been truly Blessed.  It only takes a moment to "Share the Blessing."

The years pass swiftly.  Many wonderful experiences lie behind us - and many, more wonderful experiences lie ahead.  However, today is the most valuable day in our lives. Close your eyes:  Take a deep breath - and Smile. Take a moment to become aware that "It really is later than you think."  Every time we do something for someone that brightens their day - more joy returns than one can imagine. One warm "Hello" - one sincere "Thank you for the dance" - one small, unexpected token of friendship, can really make somebody's day.

AND - if you're out there thinking that nobody cares about you - or that you can't really do anything for someone else until somebody does something for you - think about this:  I care About You.  Whoever you are, and wherever you are, I care about you. So go ahead and get yourself out there. Show that you care about the people around you.  Does all this sound like I've had a really emotional day?  You bet.  I've spent several days thinking about the wonderful people I've come to know, simply because of the dance.  Many of them are no longer with us. They have gone on to higher ground. They are up there blazing new trails, gathering musicians, "DJs" and dancers - getting ready to welcome each of us, as it becomes our turn to "graduate."

Meanwhile, I am eternally grateful for all of the wonderful people who have been part of my life. My constant prayer is that somehow, the whole world could experience the exhilaration, that sense of  "renewal" that takes place when we first discover that "Life is a dance!"  Live the experience.  "Share the Gift."

God Bless and Much Love to all dancers everywhere,
Skippy 

*

Fondly referred to as the “First Lady of Swing,” Skippy Blair’s dance resume is formidable: co-founder of the World Swing Dance Council, member of the Swing Dance Hall of Fame, founder of the Golden State Teachers Association, Director of Dance Dynamics Studio, developer of the Universal Unit System ®, author of 7 books and 14 videos. Her love affair with swing started in 1938 in Atlantic City and now – two movies, several television shows, and tens of thousands of students later – she is still teaching, dancing, judging, and inspiring. See www.swingworld.com for more about this icon of swing.

"Scoop & Squeeze"
The Way To Improve Your Posture And Dancing

By Jill Popovich
Go Dance Chicago
Writer|July 1, 2007

Almost everyone has heard it at some time in his or her dance lessons or competitions: “You need to improve your posture.” Everyone needs to have good posture for the health of his or her body and to be a good dancer. Do you know what good posture is? Do you know how essential it is to your dancing?

WHY POSTURE IS IMPORTANT:

Good posture enables your body to meet the physical demands that are placed on it with a minimum of strain and fatigue. A dancer with good posture has greater balance and moves with more efficiency. Additional outcomes are that dancing will feel better, look better, contribute to longer, more productive practice sessions and give your body the vigor to dance into the wee hours. Good posture also creates an exceptional impression on the dance floor.

You might not even be aware of having poor posture; however, you probably recognize when you feel fatigued, have headaches or backaches. These can stem from poor posture. The muscular strain and fatigue can additionally lead to injury. Poor posture also sabotages your efforts to control and maintain good balance throughout your dances.

So how does a dancer improve their posture and dance performance…”scoop and squeeze!”

CORE MUSCLES – IMPROPER CONTRACTION, TIGHTNESS AND WEAKNESS:

Locomotive movement is produced from your core. The core, which is defined as the central, most essential part of anything, consists of the abdominal, lower back and pelvic muscles. The core envelops, supports and moves your center while you are dancing. If the core muscles are not strong and do not support your body correctly, your posture and dancing will suffer.

Take a moment to think about how people are taught to strengthen their abdominal muscles. Traditionally, most exercises cause the abdominal muscles to shorten and bunch together. To see and feel this, lie down on the floor. Lift your head and shoulders off the floor and look at your stomach to see how it is bunched up and protruding outward. Now stand up making sure your stomach is in this same bunched up position. All you have to do is look in a mirror and we will all agree that this is not a desired dance posture. Your shoulders are rounded forward causing the muscles on the back of your neck, upper back and shoulders to overwork. If this posture is sustained, these muscles can become weakened and overstretched while the muscles on the front can become shortened. Also while standing in this posture with your abdominals bunched together, your chest is depressed down towards your pelvis and your ribs are compressed together. This compresses your diaphragm muscle and does not allow your lungs to fully expand or function properly. Also your spine is rounded forward and out of its optimal alignment. This is a weakened position for the spine and it is susceptible to injury. And let’s not look past the fact that it is not attractive to stand or to move this way!

There are two other factors that present frequently in the core muscles in dancers, which will contribute to poor posture. The first is having tight muscles in the front of the hips, the hip flexor muscles. Tight hip flexors will tip the pelvis forward. Imagine the pelvis is a bucket of water. If the bucket tips to far in any direction, the water will spill out. In this example, the pelvis, or bucket of water has tipped so that water is spilling out forward in front of the body. In turn, the tight hip flexors produce this tipping forward of the pelvis, creating an increase in the curve of the lower back. While the spine’s natural curves from the head to the pelvis make the spine stronger, when this curve is increased the spine is mechanically weakened.

The second factor presenting in the core muscles and contributing to poor posture in dancers, is weakness of the abdominal muscles. The abdominals support the spine and pelvis from the front and sides of the torso. One of the actions of the abdominal muscles is to keep the pelvis from tilting forward. If the abdominals are weak or not engaged, this will cause the pelvis to tilt forward. Using the bucket analogy, the water is spilling out in front of the body. This puts the spine in the same weakened position that tight hip flexors did by increasing the curve of the lower spine. Working with the back muscles, the abdominals provide movement and stabilization for the spine and pelvis, and therefore are integral to healthy, supported and controlled movement.

So, we see that the core muscles (abdominal, lower back and pelvic muscles) influence how the spine and pelvis are positioned and how they move. We know that the core muscles envelop our center and that while dancing we are instructed to move from our center. Therefore, core muscles influence how we move from our center, and how we move while dancing.

HOW TO “SCOOP AND SQUEEZE”:

This instruction teaches how to engage and use the core muscles correctly. The first step is learning to engage and lengthen your abdominals. Lie on the floor on your back with both knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Place one hand two or three fingers width below your navel on your lower abdominals. Place the other hand on your hip flexor muscles. You can find your hip flexor muscles by placing your hand on the front of your hip. Then tuck your pelvis under and start to lift it off the floor. You will feel a band of muscle pop out underneath your hand. This band runs up and down in the direction towards your head and feet. Place your second, third and fourth fingers on the hip flexor muscles to feel them best. Now place your attention to the abdominal muscles that are underneath your first hand. You want to scoop and lengthen your abdominals up towards the bottom of your ribs. This is moving up in the direction of your head. Some people think of zippering up tight jeans to get the idea of how to scoop their abdominals. Do not tilt your pelvis or flatten your back against the floor.  The abdominal muscles are contracting by scooping in and lengthening up along the front of the spine. Feel under your other hand and make sure your hip flexors stay soft and relaxed. If they have popped out, soften them while not letting your abdominals relax. Under one hand your abdominal muscles are engaged and under your other hand your hip flexor muscles are relaxed. You may have to try this a few times to start to get the hang of it. Many people need to practice this daily for one to two weeks for the muscles to coordinate properly. Next, check your ribs. You do not want them to have popped out or expanded. It can help to do this while exhaling to feel your ribs stay in the proper position. Try a few repetitions to see how you do. Many people will notice that they expand and lift their chest, even tightening their neck and shoulders while they try to scoop and lengthen their lower abdominals. Don’t be discouraged and know that a great number of people including dancers start out this way. Try a few more repetitions and see if you can decrease or eliminate any movement from the lower ribs up. When you are able to, you will feel your chest and neck muscles are relaxed.

Next, after you have scooped and lengthened your lower abdominals, squeeze your gluteal muscles (buttocks) together. Do not lift or tilt your pelvis. Check to see that you have maintained your lower abdominal muscles in a scooped and lengthened position.

GUIDELINES FOR TRAINING:

When practicing this exercise, check for three things.

1. The abdominal muscles are scooped and lengthened
2. The gluteal (buttock) muscles are squeezed
3. The hip flexor muscles are soft and relaxed.

Do not perform more than 20 to 30 repetitions at a time and no more than three sessions per day. It will take most people approximately one to two weeks to feel comfortable performing all three of these components at the same time. If you do many repetitions at a time or many in a day, you will only succeed in obtaining a sore stomach and it is possible reinforce a poor movement pattern.

Now shorten the three components in your mind to the phrase “scoop and squeeze.” Some people may like “zip and squeeze.” Your core muscles should be engaged this way in every exercise and movement that you do. This includes all of your daily activities such as grocery shopping, exercising and dancing. I recommend every time the clock is on the hour or the half hour, remember “scoop and squeeze” and do it! Think on a scale of zero to ten. A level zero has no muscle contraction at all so the abdominal muscles are soft. A level ten is a maximum exertion and contraction making the abdominal muscles rock hard. I recommend contracting the abdominal muscles at a level of about a 3 or 4 on this scale of ten. This level of contraction is easily sustained by the abdominals for long periods of time.

SEEING THE IMPROVEMENT:

After you have practiced this exercise and can perform it fairly well, stand in front of the mirror again while you are holding the “scoop and squeeze.” Now you will see yourself with good posture. You may have even noticed that your muscles, especially in your neck and shoulders are more relaxed. Standing in this position, think of lifting the top of your breastbone about one centimeter, like a helium balloon is attached to it. Also do not stick your ribs out. This will position your shoulder blades properly. When you maintain the “scoop and squeeze,” your torso is supported and in good alignment. This provides a stable base for your upper body to rest on in its proper position. You are able to move your arms and legs with grace and power and your body can move with better balance and precision.

Continue to practice the exercise until each time you check your form, you find that you are executing it properly.  Correctly performing and maintaining the “scoop and squeeze” will improve your posture and how you move on the dance floor.

Until next time, keep “scoop and squeezing!”

*****