A Brief History of Swing Dance

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Swing is a very energetic and unique dance. It can be simple or complex, but you can be assured it’s always fun. There are many different styles or versions of it, each with distinct characteristics. As its name implies, it is known for its swings, lifts and spins that can sometimes be quite complicated. It’s a quick dance that requires a considerable degree of physical fitness. In this article we’ll take a quick look at its history.

The history of swing begins with the history of Lindy hop. Lindy hop originated in the late 1920s in New York and reached huge popularity in the 30s and 40s. It has its roots in the Charleston and Foxtrot and was danced to what was at a time called jazz music. Jazz music was also known as swing music and the dances danced to it became known as swing dances. Lindy hop got its name after Charles Lindbergh, the famous aviator. It is still danced today.

In general, the term swing refers to a group of dances that were developed in the 20s, 30s and 40s of the last century. With the rising popularity of jazz music many different forms of dances like Lindy hop evolved: Jitterbug, Balboa, East coast and West coast swing, Boogie-woogie, Collegiate Shag, St. Louis Shag, and Imperial Swing, just to name a few.

Although originally danced to the swing style of jazz music, you can dance to a wide variety of music styles, from country and pop to rock and roll. As music changed from the 1920s so did the dances. Rock and roll music brought, well, rock and roll. Rhythm & Blues music brought Imperial Swing, Carolina shag, and so on.

Like jazz, swing grew out of the African American communities. With the help of American soldiers during the WWII, it spread all around the world. Today, it is one of the most popular dances enjoyed worldwide.

Selling Your Candles – Operating a Successful Market Stall

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The Market Scene

One of the best places to attract customers to your business is markets. Markets are found in all suburbs and regional areas of Australia, so there should be no problem in finding one that suits you.

Remember, markets are hard work. There are no shortcuts to running a successful market stall. There are early starts and long days, but done correctly you can be very successful.

Having been both a stall holder and a Market Manager of 3 markets I have seen both the good and bad of stalls. How your display looks at the market can make the difference between going home with much less stock and money in your pocket or going home miserable.

Here are some tips on running a successful market stall. The most important thing to realize is that you have plenty of competition and they are not only other candle makers. Anyone who is vying for a customers’ money, is your competition. So what can you do?

Here are some ideas on how to get their attention.

1/ Have your signage professionally done. Hand written signs don’t look professional. If you want to save money, print them yourself on your home printer and laminate them.

2/ It’s not hard to make your stand attractive with so many candles. You have the colors, the jars, the fragrances. Everything you need to make it appealing. If you are able to make a good first impression, then customers will always remember you. Remember most customers choose the candle they want by the fragrance.

3/ Make sure you have the right attitude. No one wants to approach a person who is hiding behind their newspaper or looks absolutely miserable. Customers go to a market because they see it as a day out, to enjoy themselves.

4/ Keep your stall tidy. Keep all boxes and packaging out of site.

5/ Try not to eat or drink at your stall. I know everyone gets hungry, but have the courtesy to at least stop eating. Stall holders are generally very obliging people, so most would be happy to look after your stall for a few minutes to give you a break. Remember, that it is your stall not theirs so have the courtesy of not being be too long. If they get a customer at their own stall whose do your think will take preference?

6/ Be aware of your customers. Don’t ignore them. If you are already in discussions with one customer, then acknowledge other customers by telling them you will be with them in a minute. Ignoring them is a great way to lose customers.

The person who may buy is the person listening rather than the one you were directly talking to.

7/ If you have a uniform or T-shirt that has your logo, wear it. It shows that you are proud of your business and you are instantly identifiable and it’s a great way to promote your business.

8/ Some customers are reluctant to approach you if you seem too aggressive. It’s a good idea to try your approach on family and friends first to see what they think.

9/ If they are reluctant to talk, offer them your brochure or business card. Let them know how to contact you and how to place an order. Allow them time to browse through your information and let them know that you are available to answer any questions they have.

10/ It seems silly to have to say this, but be friendly and make them feel welcome. Wearing a name tag makes a big difference. It makes a customers feel more at ease if they know who they are dealing with. Once a customer either makes a purchase or seems interested enough ask them if they would like to be added to your data base. Make sure that there is some benefit to this, such as special offers and discounts.

11/ Make sure that you can answer any questions.

12/ Follow through if you get inquiries. If customers give you their email address, make the most of it. Keep in touch with your customers. Send them a postcard!

13/ Presentation is so important to a successful money making business. Whether you are doing a market, a candle making demonstration, a class or a corporate presentation, wedding fair, or an exhibition, you should invest in the correct presentation materials.

Markets can be a great start to any business, so take the time to do your research and make the most of your opportunities.

James Brown Versus Joe Tex

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James Brown and Joe Tex; Two powerhouses of the R&B Soul Music World, both from the deep south. James Brown, from Macon, Ga. and Joe Tex (real name Joseph Arrington Jr.) from where else of course, Texas. They were both labelmates in the 50s on KING records. Joe Tex had his first hit with “HOLD WHAT YOU’VE GOT” in 1964. One of JB’s early singles, 1960’s “BABY YOU’RE RIGHT” was originally written and released by Joe Tex earlier on the ANNA label. James’version charted at #2 R&B/#49 Pop while Joe,s version didn’t hit the charts.

A rivalry soon erupted between the two when JB reportedly took Tex’s wife singer Bea Ford, who can be heard on the JB single “YOU’VE GOT THE POWER”. Apparently James wrote Joe a letter telling him he could have Bea back. By this time Joe had found a new woman and responded with the 1963 single, “YOU KEEP HER” which didn’t chart either. Not long after the landmark album “LIVE AT THE APOLLO” was released in 1963, James Brown returned to Macon to play a homecoming concert at the City Auditorium with Joe Tex.

The “Clown Prince of Soul” (as Joe Tex was becoming known) could imitate anyone he wanted and came out on the stage with a raggedy cape with a hole in it. He fell to his knees and all of a sudden, grabbed his back. He stated singing ‘Please, Please, Please–GET ME OUT OF THIS CAPE!” Here it was James Brown’s homecoming concert and Joe Tex was making a mockery of him. Mind you, James Brown was not the least amused by his fellow performer’s antics!

Later that night he found out that Joe went to a club where a band featuring a young Otis Redding was performing. Walking in with a shotgun in hand, Brown started exchanging fire with someone across the room. They kept shooting and reloading, either not hitting the other. Several people were shot in the melee while Joe Tex ran outside the club and hid behind trees and bushes. James ran outside and his tour bus pulled out of the parking lot with him behind the wheel. Not long after, someone gave each of the injured patrons $100 each and the whole thing was quieted down.

Reportedly Joe Tex had “SOUL BROTHER #1” painted on his tour bus until James got wind of it and it was removed. Then there was the question of who really invented the acrobatic microphone tricks that both performers mastered and exhibited on stage. Not that it really mattered because they both had different styles and showmanship. There is a clip of Joe Tex performing on the 20th Annual Grammy Awards in 1978 on YouTube. I remember seeing it on TV and his performance was nothing short of AWESOME!

As much as I enjoyed the dancers also, I thought it distracted from Joe,s mic-twirling, soul act (even seeing it I still couldn’t believe someone could actually rock the mic like THAT). There are also clips on YouTube of a live concert recorded in 1968 in Sweden called, “THE JOE TEX SHOW” , featuring the artist in his prime along with his touring band. It’s available on DVD but a little hard to find. Check to find out who downloaded the clips and then ask if they have or know where the dvd can be obtained.

Hopefully Spike Lee will still do the JB biopic because I think he is one of the few directors that could truthfully portray an enigma like James Brown. Hopefully it should be a 3 hour epic like the Malcolm X story to be done right. I have never been a big fan of Usher, but given his respect and love for the Godfather of Soul and having had previous acting experience, I feel he could do an incredible job. If Usher doesn’t get this role, get an unknown who has done some theater and somewhat resembles Mr. Brown.

James Brown’s life story should be put on the screen for his final due. Elvis, the Beatles, Ray Charles, have had their life stories grace the silver screen (the former two multiple movies and TV shows) and it’s way past time to give this man his due also. I enjoy listening to the “STEVE HARVEY MORNING SHOW” and the “MICHAEL BASDEN SHOW” in the afternoon, but neither hardly play any music by these two R&B legends. Musical styles change (disco, rap, etc.) but the roots are old school music which we should never forget.

So what’s truth and what’s fiction? Your guess is as good as mine but given the volatile nature of the Hardest Working Man In Show Business, it is very likely that the infamous “club shootout” was accurate. It’s a miracle both of them survived the incident(?) and went on to bigger heights in the business. I really shudder to think what course soul music would have taken without their input. May they both rest in peace.

How to Read and Play Guitar Chords Using Chord Diagrams

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You do not have to read music to play basic guitar. This article explains how to interpret chord diagrams on sheet music and play them on the guitar.

One of the things you encounter immediately when reading sheet music is the chord symbol. This is the musical symbol that describes the harmony at a particular point in a piece of music. An example is Gmi7. This tells you that the chord is a G minor seven chord. But, what notes do you use to play a Gmi7 on the guitar?

Sheet music for popular songs very often has guitar chord diagrams above each staff showing you how to play the chords. These diagrams make it possible for you to play a chord without knowing what the chord symbol means, or what notes are in the chord. The diagrams simply show where to put your fingers on the strings on the fretboard.

Of course, you as continue to study guitar and music, you will probably want to learn music theory to understand chord structure and the notes used for all the important chords in all twelve keys. But to get started making music, this is not necessary thanks to chord diagrams. They are far simpler than interpreting complex chord symbols.

A guitar chord diagram consists of a grid of five horizontal lines and six vertical lines representing the guitar fretboard. The diagram is a miniature picture of the fretboard as if you were holding the guitar up in front of you and looking at the upper part of the neck.

The vertical lines represent the guitar strings. From left to right (low to high pitch), the lines represent the strings E, A, D, G, B, and E.

The frets are represented by the horizontal lines. The thick line at the top represents the nut of the guitar at the end of the fretboard. Hold your guitar out in front of you and look at it, and all this will make sense.

The dots on the vertical string lines show where to put your fingers, the notes you fret with your left hand when playing a chord.

The numbers below the string lines at the bottom of the diagram indicate the finger of you left hand to use to fret the note. 1=index finger; 2=middle finger; 3=ring finger; and 4=little finger. Normally, the thumb is not used to fret.

The X or O above a string line means that string is open, or unfretted. An X means you do not play the string with the right hand, and an O means you play the open string.

In cases where a chord begins on a fret other than the first fret, a number on the right side of the diagram tells what the starting fret is, such as 2fr, 5fr, etc. Chords that use the first four frets often use open strings and are simpler to play. Thus, they are more common in chord diagrams.

That is about all there is to it to get started. When you look for sheet music or music books, just make sure they have guitar chord diagrams, and you can start playing basic guitar right away.

When Should You Wear High Heel Shoes?

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If you are a shoe lover as much as I am, you probably have over a dozen stunning high shoes in your cupboard. However, when is it really appropriate for you to wear a pair of high heel shoes?

I’ve seen women wear high heels on many occasions while they sacrifice the comfort of their feet. I find that there are only certain occasions and events to which you should wear your sexy high heel shoes. There are certain places you shouldn’t wear them to. Here is my list of places which are either appropriate or inappropriate.

Appropriate occasions for wearing high heel shoes.

  1. A Dinner Date: If you are going out on a date with a gentleman, especially if it’s the first date, you can put on your sexy shoes. You will appear to him as a confident lady. This is a quality many men admire in a woman. Better yet, you’ll be seated most of the time so your feet won’t get hurt.

  2. A Wedding: Receiving an invitation to a wedding is an honour. With wedding costs skyrocketing, couples are compelled to invite selected guests only. If you are the lucky recipient of a wedding invitation, you need to look the part. Weddings are occasions usually celebrated in style where guests are required to be dressed formally. When you choose your elegant evening dress you can certainly put on a pair of sophisticated high heel evening shoes to complement your dress.

  3. Year End Functions: If you are going to a year-end function or any corporate function for that matter you need to look powerful and professional. A woman wearing a beautiful pair of high heels indicates to her colleagues that she is confident, strong and determined. Furthermore, while you are mingling and moving around, you’ll find that the shoes are actually quite comfortable and manageable.

Inappropriate occasions for wearing high heel shoes.

  1. The Shopping Mall: We all love to get attention but getting attention at a shopping mall is not good. Shoppers tend to gawk and criticise ladies who wear high shoes in malls. Furthermore, high heels are not made for walking long distances and you could easily walk 5km in a mall. I don’t know about you but I’m not going to walk 5km in my heels. Why should I put myself through that pain?

  2. Travelling: When you are travelling by plane or train, you’ll have lots of luggage that you’ll need to lug around. Yes, I know there are trolleys but there are some areas that you can’t use them and you still have to lift your bags. The extra weight of the bags could hurt your ankles. So consider your feet the next time you travel.

I hope I have given you some insight in the world of fashion shoes. High heels are a girl’s best friend but only when you wear them at the right time.

Cartridge Clash – .270 Win Vs 6.5 Greedmoor

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The .270 Win. has achieved global acceptance by sportsman thanks to its mild demeanor and lethal potential. With bullets from 100 to 150 grains, it combines flat trajectory with moderate recoil. Velocities can top 3,000 fps with a 140-grain bullet without pushing limits, and since the cartridge debuted in the 1920s, it has always remained a relatively popular hunting cartridge.

In 2007, Hornady’s Dave Emary and champion shooter Dennis Demille designed a 6.5 competition cartridge based on the .30 T/C. Unlike its parent cartridge, the 6.5 Creedmoor won fans in a hurry. While it was a competition cartridge by design – mating long, high-BC wind-bucking bullets with a short, efficient case and low recoil – the 6.5 Creedmoor quickly became a crossover hunting cartridge.

There’s a great deal of overlap between the .270 and 6.5 in the field. The Creedmoor uses bullets from 95 to 160 grains, the .270 with bullets from 100 to 150 grains, so there are more options with the 6.5.

But the .270 Win. has an advantage in terms of sheer speed and energy. With a 140-grain bullet, the 6.5 Creedmoor struggles to reach 2,725 fps, whereas the .270 Win. can easily top 2,900 fps and can even break 3,000. But the extra speed and energy requires more powder, a longer action, and the result is a heavier gun that generates more recoil.

Muzzle velocity is only one aspect of a cartridge that can perform at longer ranges, though. You must also consider a bullet’s ballistic coefficient, and the 6.5 Creedmoor has the upper hand there. The 129-grain Hornady InterBond 6.5 bullet has a BC of .485 compared to the 130-grain .270 Inter-Bond’s .460; the 140-grain 6.5 SST’s.520 BC outshines the 140-grain .270.

SST’s figure of .495. That equates to less wind drift, and the long, heavy 6.5

bullet’s high sectional density means a Greedmoor bullet meant for hunting will penetrate deep to drop big game. The Creedmoor is also a masterfully efficient cartridge design. With 140-grain bullets the 6.5 Creedmoor achieves 2,700 fps with 42.3 grains of Hybrid 100V powder or 42.8 grains of Winchester 760.

To achieve that same velocity with a .270, you’ll need 49.2 and 50.3 grains of powder, respectively. It’s less expensive, therefore, to reload the Creedmoor, at least in terms of powder consumption. And although the .270 Win. is hardly to be considered a heavy-recoiling round, it generates about 15 percent more recoil than the demure 6.5 Creedmoor, as well as more muzzle blast.

Virtually every centerfire ammunition manufacturer offers at least one load for the .270 Win.; the same can’t be said for the 6.5 Creedmoor-at least not yet. Likewise, virtually every bolt-action rifle made offers a .270 variant, although manufacturers like Savage and Browning are adding rifles chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor every year.

If the cartidge’s trajectory continues, it could be as widely available in the future as the.270, but for the moment the Winchester cartridge remains the more ubiquitous choice. In terms of use on deer-size game, both of these cartridges will work perfectly well to longer ranges.

On larger game like elk, the .270 Win. has the advantage. If you believe the adage that it takes 2,000 ft.-lbs. of energy to kill a bull, then the .270 carries that level of energy with most loads to roughly 300 yards whereas the typical 6.5 Creedmoor load falls below that number between 100 and 200 yards.

If you don’t handload, the .270 is probably a better option simply because rifles and ammo are everywhere. If you handload, you can take advantage of the wide variety of 6.5 bullets. Bottom line is that these two cartridges will serve you well, and it’s impossible to hang the term “loser” on either one.

.270 WIN.

HITS

  • Better performance at moderate ranges
  • Lengthy track record on game
  • Huge ammo, rifle selection

MISSES

  • Requires longer action, heavier rifle
  • Generates more recoil than the 6.5
  • Not as great component bullet selection

6.5 CREEDMOOR

HITS

  • Short-action rifles and low recoil
  • Excellent BC and SD figures
  • Increasingly more gun, ammo choices

MISSES

  • Not as effective on elk-size game
  • Ammo still not widely available
  • Future not carved in stone

Top Five Best Quiet Songs by the Lou Reed / The Velvet Underground

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When people think the Velvets / Lou Reed, they often think noise and craziness. Some of their best known works, or most infamous works, are scrawled masterpieces, loud and in your face: Sister Ray, Waiting For My Man, Metal Music… However, the Lou and the Velvets also pushed envelopes on the other end of the spectrum, penning some of the greatest subdued songs ever recorded. Here is my top list of soft works of genius:

5) Vanishing Act — Lou Reed

The Raven

This song is really beautiful, arguably the softest song that Lou ever did. It starts out with just single, sustained piano notes. Then, Lou starts singing a repetitive melody very softly in his gruff voice. The effect is incredibly intimate, possibly too much so. I’m not a huge fan of all the spit-y sounds, it sounds like we’re hearing Lou Reed sing from inside his mouth. Also, it really builds at the end, and I’m not really hugely into the sweeping strings at the end. But the meat of this song is incredibly beautiful, fragile, moving.

4) Candy Says — The Velvet Underground

Eponymous

This song is just a gorgeous song with a lilting melody. What needs to be appreciated is that the Velvets blazed their own sound in so many different spectrums. They also blazed their own sound with soft songs, featuring instantly recognizable aspects like the softly chiming clean guitars in high registers, repetitive rhythms and subdued drums. See other great soft velvets songs like ‘Sunday Morning’ and ‘Pale Blue Eyes’.

3) Turning Time Around — Lou Reed

Ecstasy

This song is some late period brilliance with a very intimate feel. It has a really pillow-talk vibe, which is surprisingly not a bad thing! It features some of Lou’s most interesting lyrics, at once tender and poetic, philosophical and personal. And the feeling is gorgeous, it messes with your perception of time, slowing the world down a bit, as befits the title.

2) The Gift — The Velvet Underground

White Light White Heat

This is a strange, captivating and unsettling story about an obsessive romance that ends very badly. It stands out from the Velvets other soft tracks in that the music is supplying jagged and angular ambiance to the weird story happening. Really a singular piece of the Velvet’s canon.

1) Sunday Morning — The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground and Nico

This song, the first off of the Velvet’s first album, is a gorgeous swoon through and through, replete with Baroque instrumentation, beautiful pop melody… Simply irresistible, an amazing starting point to one of the most influential albums ever made.

Why We Enjoy Shopping

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“If money can’t buy happiness, why does it sometimes feel so good to buy stuff?” asks Kristin Bianco in his personal finance column at Fox News Network. Well, there is an answer for Kristin’s question if you search for it at the right place. That place is consumer psychology. Professor Kit Yarrow, professor of psychology and marketing at Golden Gate University in San Francisco, writing in Psychology Today names the good feeling that Kristin experience when buying stuff “retail therapy”. She says a recent study has found that more than half of Americans admit to engaging in “retail therapy.”

So, when your customers feel down, they go shopping to feel better…

Finding the joy of shopping

According to the emotional view of consumer decision-making, each of us is likely to associate deep feelings or emotions, such as joy, fear, love, hope, sexuality, fantasy and even a little ‘magic’, with certain purchases. Also, scientists have found that shopping does make some people feel good. It’s been reported that when a person shops, the brain releases the chemical dopamine. Dopamine is linked to feelings of satisfaction and pleasure and is released when you face new, exciting experiences. So, what do your customers pay for when they want to have “retail therapy”?

Recent survey results indicate that engagement in retail therapy is often driven by factors such as boredom and seasonal changes. As many as 66% of adults and 75% of teens indicate that shopping is a great cure for boredom, while 45% of adults revealed that the seasonal changes are the biggest motivator to go shopping.

If your customers really want to feel happy, they will go on a ‘shopping spree’. WiseGeek describes a shopping spree as “a playful” and “devil may care” attitude in a single shopping trip where lots of money is spent. A shopping spree is the action you take to start your ‘retail therapy’. But what do your customers say about the joy of shopping?

Customer insights about the joy of shopping

Here are some commentary and comments from customer’s experiences about the joy of shopping.

“I think the clothes I buy will make me happier. The storage bins, the throw pillows, perhaps a bottle of nail polish. And while it’s true for a day, it doesn’t bring me real, lasting happiness. It gives me a bit of a happy high: “I love this new dressssss! How cute and stylish am I!?” but then the excitement wears off and I want to buy something else… ” writes Ashley in her blog “Our Little Apartment”. The comment of Ashley supports the findings of the survey done by Ebates.

Customers, sometimes, are feeling guilty after a shopping spree. Here are some of the comments on Ashley’s blog:

Ashile says: “It is so true that in the moment we think buying some new it will make us happier. But truly, it is only momentary happiness”.

Marta says “We all have wasted money and resources and time on unneeded shopping. You know how I do now? I ask myself “do I REALLY need it?” “Would I come back tomorrow again to buy it?” “Is it likely that I’ll never find such a wonderful cloth again in the world? Ever?” then, I usually realize that I’m not going to buy anything, and I feel sort of liberated.”

Customers are feeling both positive and negative emotions at the same time before, during and after shopping. But what will the customer feels when she visits your shop?

Creating the right environment for joyful shopping

Previous studies have shown that consumers are influenced by their shopping environments which in turn influence consumers’ emotional states and purchases. The negative emotions consumers experience before the shopping process are soon forgotten when consumers immerse themselves in the shopping process and start visiting stores and examining the merchandise.

It is unlikely that a random purchase at any venue will have therapeutically value for people feeling down. Their shopping experience needs to reward them. Emotional customers seeking ‘retail therapy’ should visit your shop to reward themselves. There are some obvious things a retailer needs to do to create lasting shopping experiences for their customers.

  • Keep a wide range and a variety of products;
  • Keep products that are in ‘season’;
  • Make sure that there are always some items on promotion;
  • Try to create an atmosphere in your shop that will make the customers feel happy;
  • Provide the customers with excellent, friendly service and make the transactions hassle free;
  • Allow your customers to see, touch, rub, wear, taste and smell the products;
  • Keep your shop clean and tidy at all times;
  • Make sure that your shop is well well-lit and that there are enough cashiers at the pay points;
  • Play music that put customers in a good mood and give them stylish shopping bags when they check out

Lastly, “What are customers doing when they are feeling bored? They surf the internet and do some online shopping…

Concluding

It seems difficult to draw a line between ‘the joy of shopping’ and ‘compulsive buying’. Compulsive buying is described as a ‘addictive disorder’ whilst the joy of shopping is keeping our shops open. The question that we as retailers need to ask is what to do if we recognize some of our customers as compulsive buyers? Do we have a moral duty to warn them about it? Or to suggest help?

The Machine Gun Puncher

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Every now and then you’ll come across this guy: he’s less skilled than you, doesn’t believe in defense, has no patterns or combinations–he just comes straight ahead with rapid fire machine gun style punching. I’m not talking about rapid fire high volume punchers like Pacquiao or P. Williams, these guys have style and slick head movement and footwork to compliment their onslaught. I’m talking about the ignoramus who just comes straight ahead. The trouble is that he probably has a decent amount of endurance and speed, and if you are not sure how to handle this guy you might have to wait until the third round to really get his number, if you are having an off day then even that might not happen. These guys make can make you look bad as they unleash a fury upon you, and all the more so if they brought their girlfriend along to impress.

There are three ways I’ve handled these guys, not all will work the same depending on the speed of your oppenent and your current level of fitness. These are fight strategies, general strategies that you’ll find work especially well against machine gun fighters of lesser skill.

1) Tighten up your defense and crowd him. The rapid fire puncher usually has no clue how to move backwards, let alone fight moving backwards, they expect you to follow the game plan that if he is going to come ahead you will either move back or stay where you are. This is perfect for him as he can gauge distance (the way he does on the bag) and use momentum to chase you down as you retreat. The other thing he loves is a brawl, it brings you down to his level and negates the finer points of your game. So this is what I recommend, adopt a Winky Wright style defense, hands high, elbows tight to your ribs, forearms like pillars. Make sure your hands are slightly open and the heel of palms are turned a bit inwards to prevent uppercuts from easily finding their way (see image below, I’ve left one glove off so you can see the position of the hand).

Once you’ve adopted this posture move towards your opponent, walk into his punching range, and when he starts firing take another step closer. It helps if you can twist your body left and right to time and absorb the blows but it’s not necessary, try to make him feel uncomfortably close, if he tries to adjust the distance then get closer. Most often he will step back to gain space or catch his breath, and this is when you go on the attack. It’s very rare that I recommend leading with a straight right hand, but this is one of those times, the moment he steps back you step in and unload the straight right hand and left hook, if you connect then throw a few more shots and reset. I recommend staying close but walking to the right or left, don’t give him space, create angles. Most of all stay relaxed, and keep your eyes on his upper chest or neck, don’t let his onslaught throw off your vision.

2) Go on the run. If your opponent has poor footwork and has trouble chasing down a mobile opponent then use your lateral motion and quick in and outs to go on the run. Let him know that he is going to have to take risks to catch you, he’s going to have time you perfectly, and get you up against the ropes or in the corner to have a chance. I have most often used this strategy in the first round of a fight when my opponent thinks he is going to intimidate me with a barrage of offense and grunting. Don’t let it fool you, your skill and ability to weather this storm is the mark of a true boxer, stay calm and go on the run with tight defense, and don’t forget to return the favour a minute into the round. The beauty of knowing that you can outrun your opponent is that you can most likely catch him when you decide to go on the offense.

3) Punch when he is punching. This is a bit of Jeet Kune Do theory here, and boxing already has it built in. For the rapid fire puncher I would avoid throwing if he is in the middle of his attack, the best time to throw is when he starts.

Stay light on your feet and gauge the distance and keep moving side to side, when he gets within range and is about to fire then YOU fire. There are a few rules for this though:

Keep your head off the centre line when you throw, this means slip and jab and follow up with more shots, or slip while throwing the right hand, or drop lower and throw to the body. Don’t come in straight with your head up the middle, that is where he will be firing

Do NOT stand still when you throw, either step in with your shot and intercept him, or step back and throw the left hook while stepping back. Don’t be a sitting duck.

This applies all the time but be especially conscious of your chin and the non-punching hand. If you are going to walk into a fire of punching then stay tight, this is not a time to be loose and slick.

The History of Bachata

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Bachata which literally means “party” is a dance and music style from the Dominican Republic often centered around subjects of heartbreak, romance, and loss. Equivalent to the Blues in the U.S., thematic similarities and resolution are prevalent such as loss of a love and looking for ones self at the bottom of the bottle. The main melody is predominantly played by an electric guitar, which plucks out an eight note pattern. Bachata has had much success in clubs in the last decade. 

This music form had a rough and “nefarious” history. Born in the brothels and bars of the lower class, Bachata shares a common ancestry to Merengue.  Conversely, while the Trujillo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic, was responsible for the overwhelming success of Merengue, the government was also  responsible for the censorship, denigration, and almost extinction of Bachata. Trujillo himself felt Bachata was a backwards, lower art form for  country-people unfit to embolster his nation. After the Trujillo dictatorship ended, censorship feel away and bachata started to flourish again. Yet  high society still resisted its influence; branding bachata as unfit and immoral for society. Irregardless Bachata was still popular amongst the  countryside even as Merengue became highlighted as the Official Music of the country.

Eventually Bachata permeated through the socio-political barriers and is now a popular music style from the Dominican Republic. Pioneers like Luis  Vargas and Antony Santos were part of the first generation of pop stars for bachata. One of the most popular songs in the style of Bachat is Aventura’s  single “Obsesion”, which has had worldwide success.

The dance, by the same name, which accompanies Bachata music is composed of 4 steps with a tap or pop on the 4th beat. The motion is from side to side  with both a closed and open frame (handhold). The proximity of the partners follows the idea that they are “brushing belt buckles”. This can be a much  more intimate dance, and unfortunately has sometimes received a reputation of being “just grinding”. The nature of the dance cause some gyrating motions  yet the natural movements of your hips should not be confused with or compared to “grinding”. In fact your hips should move in unison, i.e. no grinding,  which comes from opposing motion. Cuban Hip Motion, the underlying technique in this dance, is all about shifting your weight by bending and  straightening your knee such that your hip naturally pops. The movement does not come from a focused attempt at popping ones hip from side to side.

The basic step, starts with partners facing each other. The leader extends his left hand holding the followers right hand and completes the frame by  placing his right hand on the followers back, the follower then drapes her hand on his shoulder. This is the known as the frame (for most latin dances).  The couple mirrors each others footwork as such this explanation will come from the leaders point of view. 

The leader steps to his left on 1. On the 2 the leader brings his right foot to meet his left foot. On 3 the leader steps to the left with his left  foot. On the 4 the leader taps his right foot next to his left foot. Next the leader steps to his right on 5. On the 6 the leader brings his left foot  to meet his right foot. On 7 the leader steps to the right with his right foot. On the 8 the leader taps his left foot next to his right foot.

Three things to remember:

1) The follower mirrors the leader’s footwork during these steps.

2) There is no crossing of the legs during the basic, traditionally.

3) Remember to get close “Brushing Belt Buckles”; arms length apart is too far away.