| How to Make Candy Corn Posted: 14 Oct 2019 05:00 PM PDT Candy corn is somewhat time-consuming to make as opposed to buying the premade kind, but the taste of homemade candy corn is well worth the effort for someone who loves the sweet confection! To avoid wasting any candy, half of this candy corn will end up inversely colored, while the other half will have the standard coloring pattern. [Edit]Ingredients - 1 1/4 cup (155 g) of powdered sugar, sifted
- 6 1/2 tsp (9 g) of powdered milk
- 1/4 tsp (1.5 g) of salt
- 1/2 cup (60 g) of granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup (83 ml) of light corn syrup
- 2 1/2 tbsp (37.5 ml) of water
- 2 tbsp (28 g) of unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) of vanilla extract
- Gel paste food coloring, yellow and orange
Makes 80 to 100 pieces [Edit]Making the Candy Mixture - Combine powdered sugar, salt, and powdered milk in a medium bowl. Add 1 1/4 cup (284 ml) of powdered sugar, 6 1/2 tsp (32 ml) of powdered milk, and 1/4 tsp (1.5 g) of salt to a medium mixing bowl and stir or whisk them together until they are evenly distributed. Set it to the side as you prepare the syrup.[1]
- Sift the powdered sugar through a fine-meshed strainer first. This will help it blend better with the other dry ingredients.
- Heat granulated sugar, corn syrup, and butter in a medium saucepan. Add 1/2 cup (60 g) of granulated sugar, 1/3 cup (83 ml) of light corn syrup, and 2 tbsp (28 g) of unsalted butter to a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir the ingredients constantly until the mix comes to a boil.[2]
- Soften the butter first by leaving it at room temperature for 15 minutes.
- Reduce the heat of the syrup mix to medium after it comes to a boil. Stir the ingredients together for 5 more minutes on medium heat. Don't let the mixture come to a boil again.[3]
- You may want to use a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature of the candy as it cooks. Clip the thermometer to the side of the pot and position it so that the tip does not touch the bottom of the pan, but dips into the liquid candy. The temperature at this point should be about 230 degrees Fahrenheit (110 degrees Celsius).
- Remove the candy mixture from the stovetop and stir in vanilla extract. Place the saucepan on a cold burner, or a surface that it won't burn, and pour in 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) of vanilla extract. Stir the candy thoroughly with a heat-resistant, non-stick spatula, such as a silicone spatula, until it is fully blended.[4]
- You should not see any streaks of the vanilla extract in the mixture.
- Add the dry ingredients to the candy and mix everything together. Dump the powdered sugar, powdered milk, and salt mixture into the saucepan with the liquid candy. Use the same heat-resistant, non-stick spatula to rapidly stir the two mixtures together until the dry ingredients are completely blended into the wet.[5]
- The new mixture should be smooth and should not have any visible clumps.
- Pour the candy into a pan and let it cool for 10-15 minutes. Line a standard half-sheet size baking pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Pour the candy into the pan and scrape the sides of the pot with your spatula to remove the sticky candy clinging to the side.[6]
- Allow the candy to cool until it is cool enough for you to handle without burning yourself. You do not want it to cool completely.
[Edit]Coloring the Candy - Divide the candy dough into three parts. Separate the candy into three equal parts that you will use to create the three distinct layers for your candy corn. Place each piece of dough into a different bowl.[7]
- If the candy is still warm and has not yet turned into the consistency of a dough, let it cool for a few more minutes.
- Color the candy with gel paste food coloring. Add 2-3 drops of yellow food coloring to 1 bowl and 2-3 drops of orange food coloring to another bowl. Leave 1 bowl of dough uncolored.[8]
- You will easily be able to add more food coloring afterwards, if you need to.
- Knead the dough until the color is distributed evenly throughout the entire piece. Make sure your hands are clean and knead the coloring into the candy. Keep going until the candy is all one color and there are no streaks.[9]
- You may want to wear disposable plastic gloves to prevent your hands from getting stained. Do not wear the same pair of gloves to knead each colored batch. Change your gloves in between each color. If you do not wear gloves, wash your hands after you knead the 1st color, before you knead the 2nd.
- You may need to chill the dough if it becomes too sticky after coming into contact with the warmth of your hands. If you suspect that it has become too soft, chill it in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
[Edit]Shaping the Candy Corn - Roll the dough into strands on a large piece of parchment or wax paper. Roll each batch of dough into a long, slender strand. Make each strand approximately the same length and thickness.[10]
- To create easy-to-work-with pieces, the strands should be about 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) thick and 22 inches (55 cm) long, but you can make the rope as thick or thin as you like. Thicker ropes will create larger candies, and thinner ropes will create smaller candies.
- Line the strands up next to each other so that they're touching. Put the yellow strand on the bottom, the orange in the middle, and the white on the top. Use your fingers apply pressure with a rolling pin to press the dough together.[11]
- If you use a rolling pin, lay a piece of wax paper or parchment paper over the candy strands to prevent them from sticking to the rolling pin. Roll the pin over the strands gently, just enough to press them together without flattening them.
- Use a knife to cut the combined candy strands into triangles. Create a zig-zag pattern across the dough so that half of the triangles are colored traditionally, with a white tip and a yellow base. The other half will be inverted, with a white base and a yellow tip.[12]
- You can also try a pizza cutter or another smooth-edged cutting tool, instead of a knife, to cut the triangles.[13]
- Clean off your knife as necessary while you cut the candy. Your knife will get gummed up with candy residue as you work. Clean the knife off with a clean cloth before you continue cutting out the candy corn to avoid transferring the reside to other pieces.[14]
- Make sure your knife or cutting instrument is sharp before you begin and you will end up with cleaner cuts!
- Allow the cut candy corn to finish cooling. Separate the candies so that they don't connect or touch one another. Allow them to dry on parchment paper for 1-2 hours until they aren't sticky anymore.[15]
- Do not stack the candy corn because this will cause them to stick together.
- Enjoy your finished candy corn. You will have 2 batches of candy corn; 1 with the traditional coloring, and 1 with an inverted color pattern. It's up to you whether to serve only the traditional batch to guests, or mix them together![16]
- Both batches of candy corn will be equally as delicious!
- Store your leftover candy corn in an airtight container. Create layers separated by parchment or wax paper to keep them from sticking together. The candy will last up to a year.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Medium bowl
- Medium saucepan
- 3 small bowls
- Candy thermometer
- Silicone spatula
- Half-sheet baking pan
- Plastic gloves
- Parchment paper or wax paper
- Rolling pin
- Knife or pizza cutter
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Get Back Into the Gym Posted: 14 Oct 2019 09:00 AM PDT When you're getting back into the gym after a break, the most important step is getting yourself to the gym. Once you've gotten yourself there, it can be tempting to just jump right back into long, difficult workouts, but you'll actually increase your risk of injury and burnout that way. Instead, start with short workouts and light weights, and gradually work your way up. Maintain your new gym routine by staying hydrated, eating well, getting enough sleep, and treating yourself well. [Edit]Motivating Yourself to Get to the Gym - Schedule your workouts ahead of time. It can be hard to manage fitting workouts into a busy schedule, but if you already have them blocked off in your week, it feels less optional. When you're just starting, aim for 2 or 3 workouts in a week, and remember they can be short.[1]
- Schedule in rest days between your workouts to let your body recover.
- Set realistic goals. If you haven't exercised in months, the odds of you suddenly sticking to a 5-day workout per week schedule are pretty slim. Instead, set goals that actually fit with your life. Remember, working out twice a week for 30 minutes is so much better for you than not working out.[2]
- Even a small amount of exercise is good exercise.
- Find the time of day that works for you. Maybe you always find yourself hitting snooze instead of completing those morning workouts, or feel exhausted when you get home from work or school. Experiment with different times. Consider packing your workout clothes in the morning, so you can go straight to the gym after work and avoid the pull of your couch.[3]
- Keep in mind that scheduling a morning workout the day after an evening workout might be too exhausting.
- Set out your exercise clothes in advance. Pack your gym bag before you go to work if you plan on exercising in the afternoon. If you plan to workout in the morning, lay out your clothes the night before so they are the first thing you see in the morning.[4]
- Building the habit of exercising through little routines like putting out your clothes makes you exercise without thinking about whether you should do it.
- Find a workout buddy. Working out is way more fun if you do it with a friend, and you're more likely to actually get yourself to the gym if you know a friend is waiting for you. It's easy to flake on yourself, but if you know you're letting your friend down, you might find that extra bit of energy to get you in the gym door.[5]
- Working out with someone is also a great way to bond and deepen your friendship.
- Join a group or a fitness class at the gym. See if your gym offers spin classes, weight-lifting sessions, yoga groups, or any other kind of fitness that interests you. Working out with a group can be a positive way to motivate yourself.[6]
- Having a scheduled weekly group fitness class is a great way to start out, even if you can only go to the gym once a week.
[Edit]Ramping up Your Workouts Gradually - Warm up for 5-10 minutes before you start your workout. You can warm up by climbing stairs, jogging on the treadmill, using the elliptical, or even just going for a brisk walk before you start your workout. Warming up is super important – not only will it ease you into the workout, but it can prevent you from straining your muscles and getting injured later.[7]
- Try mixing up warm-ups you do so that you don't get bored.
- One way to make warming up more fun is to listen to music or an audiobook while doing it.
- Start with 10 minutes of aerobic exercise and gradually increase. Endurance aerobic exercise, like biking, walking, running, and swimming, is super important for your heart health. Start with a manageable amount, such as 10 minutes per workout, and add on a few minutes per week.[8]
- Completing a short workout can give you a sense of accomplishment, which helps you stay motivated to workout again, and possibly for longer, the next time.
- Eventually, aim for getting a total of 150 minutes (2 1/2 hours) of moderate to vigorous activity in a week.[9]
- Start with light weights and focus on your lifting form. When weightlifting, start out with a weight that you can lift for 8-10 reps without being exhausted. If a weight is too heavy for you to lift while maintaining proper form, than it's too heavy for you to use. Try doing 3-5 sets of these repetitions.[10]
- It can be helpful to take a weight lifting class, see a personal trainer, or watch videos on proper form to learn how to lift weights without injuring yourself.
- Add heavier weights and more reps gradually as your muscles get stronger. In future workouts, you can gradually build up by increasing the weight or doing more reps per set. Increase your weight in small increments and never increase the weight to a point where you can't lift with good form. For example, if you were previously lifting for 8 reps per set, you could either move on to or 10 reps per set.[11]
- Building up your strength gradually will lead to more long term gains than exhausting yourself with heavy weights right away.[12]
- Listen to your body and modify your workout for comfort. If you're in pain, feel dizzy or nauseous, or have unpleasant shortness of breath, give yourself a break. Don't push yourself to complete a workout that is hurting you, because that won't help in the long run. Switch to lighter weights, fewer reps, or a slower pace, or call it quits for the day.[13]
- The important thing is to make working out a sustainable activity, not to push yourself really hard for a week and then burn out.
- Cool down with at least 5 minutes of stretching after your workout. Stretching helps keep your body flexible and injury-free. It will also help cut down on post-workout soreness. Do some basic leg stretches, like toe-touches, lunges, and butterflies. Remember to stretch your back and arms, too.[14]
- Try holding a stretch for about 30 seconds.
- When you're stretching, it should be mildly uncomfortable, but not painful.[15]
- Be patient and proud of yourself. Building up strength, endurance, and fitness takes time, so try not to get frustrated with yourself if you don't see immediate progress. Avoid the temptation to do way-too-difficult workouts before you're ready, because that will just set you back.[16]
- Remember to be proud of yourself for getting back to the gym– this is a big step toward taking better care of yourself.
[Edit]Feeling Good and Maintaining Your Routine - Remember to schedule in rest days. When you're first getting back to the gym, you might want to consider scheduling your workouts with a day in between, for example Monday-Wednesday-Friday. You don't have to be totally inactive during your rest days– do some walking, gentle yoga, or relaxed biking to keep your body moving.[17]
- If you haven't worked out at all in a while, you will see improvements even if you only work out once a week.
- Reward yourself for working out with an episode of TV or a cup of coffee. When you're just starting to exercise, it can help motivate yourself with a little reward after exercising. It can be as simple a reward as watching TV or reading a fun book. Try to avoid rewarding yourself with junk food – it's fine to occasionally eat junk food, but it's best to associate exercising with a healthy reward.[18]
- Once you get into the habit of working out, your body will remember the amazing post-workout rush of endorphins, and you'll start to want to workout even without a reward.[19]
- Deal with soreness with light movement, stretching, and hot baths. Soreness is really common when you're getting back into working out. The best thing that heals soreness is time, but you can speed it along with some light movement like walking or swimming. Many people also find that relaxing in a hot bath soothes the pain.[20]
- Soreness often sets in 1 or 2 days after your workout, rather than immediately after.
- Drink plenty of water to keep your energy levels up. Staying hydrated before, during, and after your workout will help you feel your best. Carry a water bottle around with you so that you remember to drink, and have a glass or two of water at every meal. If you're hydrated throughout the day, you'll feel much better when you're working out.[21]
- As a rough estimate, adult men need about and adult women need about of water per day.[22]
- If it's hot or you're exercising frequently, you'll need to drink even more water to stay hydrated.
- Aim for about 8 hours of sleep per night so that you're ready for the gym. Everyone needs a different amount of sleep, but most people need at least 8. Teenagers tend to need 8-10 hours of sleep per night, while adults will need more like 7-9 hours, and adults over 65 need about 7-8 hours.[23]
- Practice good sleep hygiene by going to bed at the same time each night, shutting off electronics at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
- The good news is that exercising will help you sleep better.
- Fuel your body with a healthy diet of vegetables, whole grains, and protein. When you get back into working out, you'll probably find that you're hungrier. Keep your body fueled and healthy by eating lots of vegetables at every meal (potatoes don't count!), eating whole grains like whole wheat and brown rice, and eating healthy protein.[24]
- Eat high-quality proteins like fish, eggs, chicken, tofu, or beans, rather than processed meats or red meat.[25]
- If you're trying to build muscle mass, eating protein is helpful. To figure out how much protein you need, check out this protein calculator: https://fnic.nal.usda.gov/fnic/dri-calculator/.
- Look at exercising as a gift rather than a punishment. Some people use workouts to punish themselves after eating unhealthy meals, but this strategy can be really detrimental in the long run, because you'll think of exercising as something unpleasant. Instead, try to reframe exercise as something positive you are doing to help your body. Think about the ways exercise can help your life, by letting you relieve stress, sleep better, and get stronger.[26]
- Remember that it's okay to eat an unhealthy meal every now and then – there's no need to beat yourself up about it.
- If you find yourself struggling a lot with body image and using exercise as a punishment for yourself, you might want to consider talking to a therapist, because our minds need to be healthy just as much as our bodies.
- Find an alternative exercise if you really don't like the gym. If you've tried motivating yourself to go to the gym, but find yourself really dreading it, that doesn't mean you have to resign yourself to a life on the couch. Instead, find activities you enjoy. You might hate the gym but love a dance class, a pickup game of basketball, going running in your neighborhood, or hiking on pretty trails.[27]
- There's no need for exercising to be a grueling ordeal that you force yourself to do. Find something fun, so you'll actually want to stick with it.
- Ditch the "no pain, no gain" mindset. Painful exercise can injure you and won't keep you motivated.[28]
- Focus on progress, rather than achievement. In real life, exercising isn't a competition.
- Don't try and make up for a missed workout by going super hard the next time.
- If you feel preoccupied with feeling guilty about not exercising, or judging your body, work on improving your body image so that you can view yourself with more kindness.
[Edit]References |
| How to Dance Posted: 14 Oct 2019 01:00 AM PDT Hate being the one in the corner of the room while everyone else is enjoying themselves on the dance floor? Have an event coming up that will require you to step out to the beat? If a little crisis of confidence or some uncertainty about how to move is keeping you from joining the fun, don't worry. If you take the time to master a few basic moves, you can learn to dance freestyle, do a romantic slow dance, or impress your fellow guests on the dance floor at the next family wedding. [Edit]Dancing Freestyle - Bob your head to the rhythm. Start by trying to understand the beat of the music. If it helps, try counting along, clicking or clapping your hands to the beat.[1] Once you've figured out the rhythm, start moving to it by bobbing your head.[2]
- Once you get your head moving, it will make it easier for you to get the rest of your body going.
- To find the beat, try listening to the drums or the bass. These instruments usually carry the rhythm of the song.
- Shift your weight from one foot to another. When you have a good sense of the beat and rhythm, you can start incorporating some simple footwork. Start by shifting all of your weight to one foot. You can lift the other foot slightly off the ground to make sure all your weight is off of it. Shift back and forth in time to the music.[3]
- At every other count (preferably 1 to 3), shift your weight completely to the other foot. You can also shift your weight at every count, but starting out slowly will help you get comfortable before you begin dancing fast.
- Keep your legs loose and bend your knees slightly. There should be just a little bit of "bounce" to your weight shifts, and a subtle bounce (in place) on the counts when you aren't shifting your weight as well.
- Move your feet to the beat. Once you're comfortable shifting your weight to the rhythm, begin moving your feet. Right before you shift your weight to a foot, move it slightly, even just from where it was before. When you move your foot, keep it fairly close to the ground.
- Stay on the balls of your feet so you can move and bounce more easily.[4]
- If you're dancing with someone else, be sure to move around in a way that accommodates your partner without stepping on them.
- Add some hip action. When you put your weight on a foot, move your hips (and your body) slightly in the direction of that foot. If you shift your weight onto your right foot, for example, move your hips to the right. You can twist your body slightly to add a little more movement.[5]
- For example, when you move to the right, put your right shoulder forward a little and your left shoulder back. Do the opposite when you move to the left.
- Incorporate some arm movements. If you're uncomfortable, the tendency is to keep your arms close or to let them hang limp. Instead, move your arms around. Keep your hands open or in very loose fists. You can put your arms in the air or bend them at the elbows and hold them at your sides, like when you're running. Whatever you do, don't get stuck on just one move; keep switching it up! You can also try one of these moves:
- Roll the dice. Make a loose fist and shake your arm and hand as though you are shaking a pair of dice for a roll. After a few shakes, "roll" the dice. Don't overuse this move to the point that it becomes comical.
- Mow the lawn. Bend forward and grasp the starter of an imaginary lawn mower with one hand, then pull your hand back as though you're pulling on the starter. Once you get it going, you can take a few steps while you mow the lawn.
- Swing an air lasso. Grab an imaginary lasso and swing it above your head as though you're about to rope a cow. Shift your weight to the foot opposite your "lasso hand" and thrust your hips in that direction.
- Pump your fist. Make a fist and then make a pumping motion overhead in a celebratory fashion.
- Find your own style. Follow your natural impulses when you're dancing freestyle. It's easy to feel like you're only good at one move, but the more you feel the rhythm, the more natural your movements will become. Listening to subtleties in music will also help to train your body to move. Most importantly, be creative! Creating your own dance moves is easy with confidence and an understanding of your body.[6]
- Experiment with different moves, positions, and speeds while you dance.
- Don't be afraid to make up your own moves. Free style is all about improvisation and individual expression.
[Edit]Slow Dancing with a Partner - Get into position with your partner. Stand face-to-face with your partner and get into a basic partner position. If you are leading, put your right hand on your partner's shoulder blade and interlock your left hand with their right hand, with your hands positioned in the shape of a pair of Cs. Your partner will put their left hand on your right shoulder.[7]
- You can keep your clasped hands held as high as eye level or as low as waist level, depending on your preference. Just keep them relaxed, with a comfortable bend at the elbow, and don't raise your partner's shoulder.
- Leave about of space between yourself and your partner.
- Make sure you and your partner agree on who is leading before you begin!
- Step to the left with your left foot. Once you're ready to start dancing, move your left foot out to the side in a smooth, gliding motion. Your partner will mirror you with their right foot. This is the first part of the basic "step-touch" slow dance move.[8]
- If your partner is leading, let them initiate the first step, but try to move with them as smoothly as possible.
- Try to time your steps with the beat of the music. You may find it helpful to count along with the music in your head.
- Bring your right foot over to meet your left. After taking the first step with your left foot, slide your right foot over so that it touches your left. Your partner should mirror this movement.[9]
- Try not to bounce or dip as you bring your feet together. Aim for a smooth, gliding movement.
- Repeat your foot movements in the opposite direction. Once you've brought your feet together, step to the right with your right foot. Then, bring your left foot over to meet your right. Continue this pattern throughout the rest of the dance.[10]
- Alternatively, you can do 2 steps to the left and then 2 steps to the right.[11]
- Use your hands to steer your partner if you want to move around. If you'd like to move around the dance floor, use your hands to gently push or pull your partner in the direction you'd like to go. After touching your feet together, push with one hand and pull with the other at the same time that you step out on the next beat.[12]
- For example, if you're stepping left but want to pivot to the right, start by bringing your right foot to meet your left. Then, push your partner's right hand with your left hand while gently pulling on their shoulder with your right hand, and step to the left at the same time.
[Edit]Dancing at a Wedding - Learn the Chicken Dance for lighthearted numbers. The Chicken Dance is a staple of many wedding receptions. It's easy to do because there are just 3 basic moves, and you change them in time with the music. This is also a very low-pressure dance—no one cares if you mess up. To do the chicken dance:[13]
- Raise your arms to shoulder level and line your thumbs up with your index fingers to create a shape that resembles a chicken's beak. Move your thumbs up and down to simulate a chicken clucking.
- Then, ball up your hands and tuck your fists under your arms as though you have wings. Flap your wings up and down in time to the music.
- With your wings still in place, continue flapping but now stick out your backside, bend your knees and wiggle your bottom down toward the floor.
- Repeat these moves over and over until the song ends.
- Master the hora for Jewish weddings. The hora is danced at many traditional Jewish wedding receptions to the song "Hava Nagila" or other traditional Jewish songs. The hora simply involves dancing in what's known as a "grapevine" pattern:[14]
- Step the left foot across to the right. Let the right foot follow. Step the left foot behind the right. Follow again with the right.
- This dance is performed in a circle with dancers either holding hands or throwing their arms over one another's shoulders.
- The tempo of this dance is typically fast. Sometimes the music starts slowly, and the band speeds up the tempo as the song goes along.
- Use basic slow dance moves for the Dollar Dance. At some weddings, the guests line up and pay a dollar (or more) to dance with the wedding couple. You can use basic slow dance moves for this dance, but it's really not about the moves; it's about having a few moments with the bride or groom to express your happiness for the couple and compliment the wedding ceremony and reception.[15]
- In some cases, men dance with the bride, and women dance with the groom. Other times, both men and women dance with the bride.
- Holding on and simply swaying in place is perfectly acceptable if it makes it easier to have a personal conversation.
[Edit]Getting All the Right Moves - Take a dance class to learn some basic moves. There are dance classes for every style of dancing from hip-hop to ballet, break dancing to salsa. Search online for the classes in your area. Whatever style of dance you're interested in, you could probably benefit from a ballroom dancing class as the steps of many other dance styles have their roots in some ballroom basics.
- When you are being taught a routine, look at what the teacher is doing. Try to copy it exactly. If it doesn't work, watch the teacher again and look for the little things they do that make it easier.
- Go ahead and ask your instructor for tips. Experienced instructors have worked with hundreds of students and have ideas that can help you overcome whatever it is you're finding to be difficult.
- Even a few hours of class time can help you learn the basics and build your confidence.
- Join a flash mob to boost your confidence. A flash mob is a spontaneous public performance—usually a dance—that appears seemingly out of nowhere and then disappears just as quickly. While these dance performances may seem spontaneous, the truth is that they're usually fairly well rehearsed in advance. You can find flash mobs online, join them for a several-week rehearsal period as the group learns a dance, and then perform with the mob in public.[16]
- Some flash mobs put videos online with instructions for learning and rehearsing the planned dance.
- Flash mobs welcome people of all skill levels; their focus is on having fun and creating a joyful scene, so the more people who participate, the better.
- You'll also learn some great dance moves and connect with other people who enjoy dancing.
- Watch dancing on TV to find inspiration. Dancing is a wildly popular activity, and you can get plenty of exposure to it just by watching TV.[17] Try tuning in to reality television dance competition shows. Focusing on the steps might be a bit challenging. Instead, pay attention to how loose the dancers are, how much confidence they display, and how much fun it looks like they're having on the dance floor.
- Popular current dance shows include Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance.
- Rent a classic dance movie to get new ideas. There are so many dance movies to choose from. See as many as you can or pick and choose those that speak to your particular interests. For example:
- Check out Dirty Dancing or Shall We Dance to watch 2 dance novices develop confidence and grace and learn to perform with pizzazz.
- Watch Footloose or Flashdance to see the power of dance as a form of defiance against uptight authority figures and personal circumstances.
- Rent anything starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers to be inspired by the grace and elegance of these famous dance partners.
- Watch Stormy Weather to see the Nicholas Brothers push the limits of tap dancing.
- Participate in a dance competition to hone your skills. Ballroom dancing competitions, officially known as DanceSport events, are held all over the world. Check online for a competition near you. Joining a dance competition can help you set specific goals for yourself and encourage you to build your skills.
- Check out websites such as the International Grand Ball, United States Dance Championships, and the Access Dance Network to name just a few.
[Edit]Dressing to Dance - Put on comfortable dance shoes. Choose a well-fitting shoe with a flexible, thin sole for the dance floor. Stay away from platform shoes, since that thick sole and heel make it difficult to feel the floor. Be sure, too, that your feet feel secure in your shoes. Backless sandals are best left at home. Do not wear sneakers or other shoes with rubbery or sticky soles for ballroom style dancing, since these can make it hard to move your feet smoothly across the floor.[18]
- Different styles of dance call for different types of shoes, so do some research about what's needed for your preferred style. For example, sneakers are great for hip hop or freestyle dancing, while heels are ideal for Latin dance styles.
- Be prepared for the heat. If you tend to perspire, choose garments made of natural fibers. Tank tops and halter tops can look great, but sweaty or clammy skin could be a turn off if a partner asks you to dance. Drop a pack of moist towelettes and a travel-size powder in your pocket so you can freshen up when needed.
- If you'll be dancing with a partner, avoid wearing slippery materials, like silk. Your partner may have a hard time holding onto you if their hands get sweaty.[19]
- Wear clothes that allow you to move. Tight satin might look and feel great when you're not moving much, but it could inhibit your moves on the dance floor. Even worse, one wrong move could leave you with an embarrassing rip. Choose clothes that are either loose enough to let you move or stretchy enough to move with your body. Select a top with sleeves that don't restrict your arm movement—you should be able to lift your arms above your head.[20]
- Try on your outfit at home to be sure you can dance with ease.
- To avoid wardrobe malfunctions, make sure your clothing fits securely and won't slip out of place if you really get moving!
- Smile and try to look like you're having fun, even if you're nervous and not sure what you're doing. Acting confident can help you feel more confident.
- It helps to learn to dance to your favorite music, especially if you memorize and sing along to the lyrics. You'll know how to anticipate changes in the song and change your dance moves accordingly, and you'll have more fun with music you enjoy.
- Watch other dancers. If you're not sure how to dance to a song, take your cues from other dancers. You don't want to copy them exactly (unless it's a standardized dance), but you can get some ideas.
- If you feel shy or you fail to do some steps, don't give up; keep on practicing.
[Edit]Warnings - Don't over-exert yourself or try any dance moves that you aren't comfortable with and haven't practiced extensively already. Good dancers make hard moves look easy—don't be fooled. You really can pull a muscle or trip and fall (especially if you're wearing heels). You can look good dancing without doing any of the fancy stuff. yup.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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