Elite Ballroom

05/13/2024

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗕𝗼𝘁: 𝗔 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮
Welcome to the HiMi Chronicles, a blog series where humanity meets machine intelligence to revolutionize the way we learn and teach dance. I’m Ian Nandhra, a seasoned technologist and ballroom dance instructor with a passion for both the art of dance and the science of technology. Alongside me in this journey is HAL, a silicon-based intelligent system, and together we have embarked on an incredible project: HALbot and DanceBot.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗕𝗼𝘁: About six months ago, we embarked on a transformative project with a dual purpose: to enhance dance instruction through cutting-edge technology and to challenge the traditional norms of an industry that has long resisted technological involvement.

𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗱𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀, 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀, 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀. This gap presented a unique opportunity to introduce proven, STEM-based methodologies to dance training—a field where such approaches could dramatically improve safety, effectiveness, and learning outcomes. The result? DanceBot built on the HALbot platform engineered to bridge this divide. It interacts with its users with the intuitive understanding of a seasoned instructor, yet brings the added benefits of scalability, consistency, and data-driven precision. With HALbot, we are not just teaching dance; we are pioneering a shift towards a more informed and scientifically grounded practice that promises greater safety and efficacy in dance instruction.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗕𝗼𝘁? In the world of technology and AI, we often encounter systems designed to perform tasks. HALbot goes beyond this. It’s crafted not just to perform but to understand and innovate the teaching of dance through intelligent interactions. Its name, inspired by the iconic HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey, reflects its advanced capabilities and the groundbreaking technology behind it.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗕𝗼𝘁: Sitting atop HALbot is DanceBot, a specialized domain front end designed specifically for dance instruction. DanceBot uses the power of HALbot to offer tailored teaching experiences, making learning dance more accessible, enjoyable, and effective.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I’ll share insights into our innovations, the challenges we've faced, and the real-world applications of this technology. We’ll explore how HALbot and DanceBot are not just tools, but partners in the dance studio, enhancing how we teach and learn dance.

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮, 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼.

06/11/2023

𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗲!!!
We see it too often; couples struggling with choreography that really doesn’t suit their style and, or body types.
Worse still, we see couples doing dips, spins etc., in a way that puts both themselves and their partner at risk of injury.

𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸, 𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 (𝗼𝗿, 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗸, 𝗗𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚) 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴??

𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆, 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽.
We are expert Wedding Dance Instructors backed by science. For your reassurance, one of the Studio Owners, Ian Nandhra is DIVIDA Certified in the “Move Like a Champion” program.

https://www.parkavenueballroom.com/wedding-dance-rescue/

𝗪𝗲’𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝘅 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲 to give you that Safe, Stylish and Elegant routine you need so that YOU can focus on FEELING GREAT and LOOKING PRETTY!

Worse still, we see couples doing dips, spins etc., in a way that puts both themselves and their partner at risk of injury.

05/09/2023

Just some of the ways that PPark Avenue Ballroomoffers the best possible product:

At our dance studio, we are committed to providing our students with a valuable and effective product, which is why we use facts born from science and engineering as the foundation for our teaching.

Dancing is an art form that requires a good understanding of (a very few) simple rules for it to be executed safely, efficiently, and enjoyably. By using instruction proven by math and science, our students can feel confident in their ability to execute dance movements safely and efficiently.

The term “technique” has been used in the dance industry for over 70 years and is the subject of numerous books. Simply put, “technique” refers to the overall process of executing dance movements, including traveling around the floor, and changing the orientation of the body and it’s appendages. It is often used in conjunction with concepts like "engaging your core," "maintaining your frame," and "aligning your blocks", but without provable, easy to understand information such terms can be vague, confusing, and frustrating to the dancer.

The term “technique” is used to describe “what the result should be” without any specific, provable details of “why that’s the best and how that is accomplished”; it’s all high level, detail free descriptions.

But wait, aren’t there books describing this? Well, no and the reasons can wait for another time.

Back to dancing, all movement and travel in dancing must obey the laws of physics and therefore can be precisely modelled for an individual dancer or dance partnership. This isn’t an opinion, it’s a fact.

For example, I can precisely model the movements for a Feather Step (or finish), a sidestep, a forward, a back step, turns, spins. It precisely defines how to execute CBM, CBMP and... everything involved in dancing. Best of all, it delivers those results for the physiques and artistry of the individual dancers.

But what does this mean for our students? First, it means that they can rely on the information they are learning because it is based on factual and proven information. This is especially important in dance, where improper ex*****on of movements can (and frequently do) lead to injuries. By using science and engineering, we provide our students with accurate information on how to move their bodies in the best, safest and most optimal and effective way.

Wait, what? Am I saying that you need some knowledge of Physics and Math to be a better dancer?
No, not necessarily.

Am I saying that lessons based on, and with a sound understanding of the science and engineering involved will be more effective and productive than those without that background?
YES, I AM (and can prove it).

Second, it means that our students can have fun while learning the simple rules that govern how to accomplish a dance movement or travel. We know that science and engineering can be intimidating to some students, which is why we won't be using complicated scientific terms. Instead, we will use real-world examples to explain how certain terms and concepts work. For example, we might use the example of a cooking recipe to explain the concept of technique, or the example of a car service to explain the idea of precision in dance movements. By using real-world examples, we can make science and engineering concepts easy to understand and fun to follow. We want our students to enjoy their time in our dance classes, and we believe that using science and engineering to teach technique is a great way to do that.

It's 2023 and in this technological age you would expect that dance teachers are using provable facts to teach their students, right? Unfortunately, that's not always the case. Many dance classes still rely on personal opinions and vague instructions, which can often just waste the students’ time and money and at worst be plain dangerous. In fact, this “monkey-see” approach to teaching has become so ingrained that it's considered the established process. Teachers repeat what they've been told, adding it to what others have previously told them, and then regurgitating the result to their students. This results in students struggling with incomplete or incorrect information, leading to inefficient and frustrating learning experiences.

The industry is rife with examples of vague and incomplete instructions, such as "maintain your frame," "engage your core," and "connect with your partner." These types of instructions leave students feeling confused and unsure about what they should be doing. They are left to rely on personal interpretations and are often unable to execute movements safely and efficiently. The result is wasted time and money.

Yes, the interpretation of movement to music is an art and every other aspect is based on, and governed by science (specifically physics and math).

At our dance studio, we use science and engineering as the foundation for all our classes. By doing so, we give our students the security that they can prove to themselves that what they are learning is factual. This approach leads to a more valuable, consistent, and accurate product for our students. Science and engineering provide a factual basis for teaching dance techniques. This means that our students can rely on the information they are learning and feel confident in their abilities to execute dance movements. They can also be confident that WE can PROVE we know what we are doing and how it should be taught.

At our dance studio, we believe in using science and engineering to teach dance. We know that proper technique is crucial to executing dance movements safely and efficiently, and we don't leave it up to personal opinions. Instead, we use provable instruction backed by math and science to ensure our students receive accurate and consistent information.

Using science and engineering doesn't mean our classes are difficult to understand or less fun. WE have done the math and complex stuff so that YOU get an easy to learn and accomplish product. We use real-world examples to explain (scientific) concepts in an easy-to-understand and fun-to-follow way (so no, this isn’t a science or math class).

Dance is an art form, but that doesn't mean it shouldn’t be taught using a science and engineering foundation. By doing so, we provide our students with accurate information they can rely on, leading to a safer and more enjoyable dance experience. At our studio, we are committed to providing a valuable and effective product to our students, compare with those that cannot prove what they are teaching due to their reliance on personal opinions and vague instructions, resulting in wasted time and money.
We are so sure of our product that we guarantee it. Yes, you read that correctly.

If you want to learn how to dance well and safely while having fun, our dance studio is the perfect place for you!

12/04/2021