What kind of pillow talk should you and your partner be engaging in?
WRITTEN BY: Sara DiRienzo
July 27, 2011
Some couples are for the lights-off kind of sex, where they would be lucky to know what color of underwear each other is wearing.  And some couples are the public-display sex kind, meaning we’re the ones lucky enough to know the color of their underwear!
While each couple has separate levels of comfort with their intimacy, the fact is healthy sex is healthy sex. And obtaining that comfort requires communication. To ensure that your sex life is healthy, engage in the following five sexversations and keep your love train on track.
Was that good for you?
Sex measures a relationship’s temperature like a thermometer does the weather’s; good sex signals a good relationship. If your passionate embraces start to become more like a clock-watching session, the chemistry and emotions between you and your partner are changing.  A simple question, with an honest response, could open doors for conversations about why your sex is or is not sizzling.
What’s your favorite position?
Bad pick up line? Yes. Good for relationships? Also yes. Simply stated, if you don’t know your partner’s favorite position you earn an “F” in the bedroom.  Even if you may think you know, chances are, if he or she has not explicitly told you, “I like doggy style,” you probably don’t know.
What’s your fantasy?
Indulging your desires to your partner can open the door for many exciting sexual experiences.  What if you had been harboring a secret desire to have sex in the library, which is the very fantasy your partner unveils? However, this question comes with a warning label: you can get in trouble here. Spilling to your girlfriend about your long-time fantasy of a threesome with a couple of girls he met on spring break last year might yield the results you want.  While I am not advocating lying, acclamation to your dirty mind would be appreciated—so start easy.
Do you like my body?
A dangerous question but a necessary one. If his six-pack abs slowly melted away around the six-month mark, speaking up about how much you miss them will not be the worst thing in the world. Taking care of yourself has more benefits than merely stopping wandering eyes.
What do you want?
Some people have never been asked this question. They go along with whatever type of sex is given to them without protest…all the while dreaming about being held up to the wall or moving away from missionary.  Simply asking your partner what they want mid-act gives both of you the opportunity for a perfectly satisfying, happy ending. In both senses of the phrase.

@collegenews

Whether you have just begun your college journey, are about to begin your senior year or are in search of your first full-time job (or your second, but who’s counting anyway?), you’ve probably thought about tweaking your resume and drafting a cover letter to land you that awesome internship or job. Both your resume and cover letter are undoubtedly very important, but they are not the only things that can set you apart.
In today’s day and age, you not only need to focus on your initial outreach to an employer, but also your Internet image—also known as your personal brand.
If you haven’t thought about your personal brand, don’t fret! Here are five tips to help you get started as you create your brand:
1. Buy your name as a website domain
Domain names can be equated to real estate on the Internet – once you buy them, they’re yours!  Think about the endless opportunities when purchasing your name: You can post your resume, create a blog and distribute important information, all of which you can share with potential employers, family and friends. If your name isn’t available, see if you can get some variation of it. For example: JohnSmith.com may not be available, but perhaps JSmith1987.com is. Be creative and be conscious of your domain name as well as the content you share.
2. Create an About.me profile
About.me is a site created to help you share all of your Internet assets in one place. It’s a simple page that allows you to share your name, picture, a short bio and links with prospective employers. Like buying your domain name, it gives you a space to share what’s important to you, but in a succinct way. Once you create your profile, there is no heavy duty maintenance; just remember to update your About.me to reflect your most current information.
3.  Start a blog
Many employers are interested in your writing background. Are you a good writer? A simple way to demonstrate your writing abilities and impress your potential boss is by sharing writing samples. Think about creating a blog where you share your work. It shouldn’t be a chore, so make it interesting to you! To show that you’re well read and up to date in your field, you can also post other people’s interesting articles on your blog—just make sure to give them credit! The best part about your blog is that it can live on your domain name or a variety of other free blog hosting websites, like wordpress.org, tumblr.com or blog.com. If you’re not ready to start a blog, think about guest posting on other blogs; like I said, everyone’s looking for good writers!
4.  Do some spring cleaning on your Facebook page
You’ve heard those wretched stories from your friends, or friends of friends: “So-and-so didn’t get the job because the company that wanted to hire them found some incriminating photos on Facebook.” The truth is, most of us have Facebook and it’s a great way to stay in touch with your friends, family and the rest of the world. Facebook also provides a platform for us to connect and share with great people, businesses and brands. So go through your profile and make it professional. Sift through your photos and make sure they’re appropriate. Lastly, check out your privacy settings. Remember: You don’t have to share everything with everyone!
5.  Explore other social media options: Google+, Twitter and Linkedin
Take a look at other options to help your potential employer find you when googling you. Create a Google+ profile and test it out: You’ll have the chance to create separate groups of people with whom you share different information. Try out Twitter: It’s perfect to share quick, live news updates about your interests. And lastly, create a LinkedIn account: You’ll be able to create a professional profile that will surely be seen as an asset to any future employer.
You get it: Employers are online and they can find out a lot of information about you—but this doesn’t mean you have to remove yourself from the Internet, move to the North Pole and live in digital darkness for the rest of your life. Embrace the social technology that is sweeping the world today and use it to your advantage. Good luck and happy self-branding!Sarah Fudin currently works in community relations for the University of Southern California’s Master of Arts in Teaching program, which provides aspiring teachers with the opportunity to earn a Master’s degree and teaching certificate online. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys running, reading and Pinkberry frozen yogurt. Follow her on Twitter @sarahfudin.

* College Dating

Couple in LoveCollege is a time for learning, maturing and discovering who you truly are. It’s also a great time to date and learn about the opposite sex. Juggling 15 hours, a part-time job and a girlfriend or boyfriend can be hard, but it’s still manageable and fun to have someone to share the ‘best four years of your life’ with. So get out there, be brave, but most of all have fun! Here are the ABC’s of college dating:

* Ask them out

When it comes to college dating, you’ve got to be brave and that sometimes means being the first one to ask out your crush. College is a time to take risks and build confidence, which makes it the perfect setting for dating.
* Boundaries

Having boundaries is important to college relationships, when almost anything flies. Depending on your personal boundaries, you may draw the line at having sex before marriage, dishonesty or doing anything against your will. When boundaries are upheld, you’ll have a more satisfying and healthy relationship.
* Contraception

If you’re going to do the deed, you’d better use protection for your health and to prevent pregnancy. Different forms of contraception are available to students through university health clinics and local health care providers.
* Dates

Dating is a relative term used in college, because not many relationships start with a first date. Money is tight in college, and unless you want to eat off of a McDonald’s dollar menu, first dates are usually over beer and a movie.
* Engagement

If you’ve been dating someone for a while and you’re approaching graduation, expect people to ask when you are getting engaged. Getting engaged straight out of college isn’t as popular as it used to be, but people will still insist that they hear wedding bells in your near future.
* Flings

College dating involves plenty of flings, or short-term relationships. Let’s face it – some flings are strictly sexual and no strings attached, whereas others are cut short because the couple isn’t compatible or they don’t get along.
* Go to class

You have to go to class for obvious reasons, but why not go to find a potential boyfriend or girlfriend while you’re there. Dating someone (not your professor) from class is not as difficult or unheard of as it seems. Because you happen to be in the same class, you already have something in common. You can use homework or an upcoming test as an icebreaker, and see where it goes from there.
* Heartache

Heartache is inevitable for some college relationships that are torn by distance, lying, trust issues and a slew of other problems. Even though college is a laid-back, enjoyable time in most students’ lives, relationships are still tough and heartbreaking when they don’t work out.
* Influential

Your college years are some of your most impressionable times, when the people around you can influence your actions and way of thinking in both good and bad ways. The person closest to you, specifically a boyfriend or girlfriend, can influence you to do things you never thought you would, but it’s important to be true to yourself and not get mixed up in something that puts you at risk.
* Judgmental

Some people are quick to pass judgment before starting a relationship and during one. You may have heard some not-so-positive things about someone who you would consider dating, but instead of giving them a chance, you may judge them based on these rumors. Even in relationships, boyfriends and girlfriends can be judgmental towards their mate’s past relationships, lifestyle choices or beliefs.
* Kissing

College couples can be seen kissing all over campus. Whether it’s because they are away from their parents’ watchful eyes or they’re head over heels in love with each other, college couples don’t hold back from kissing in public.
* Love

College relationships experience a different kind of love than others. Call it lust or a honeymoon period, but college relationships are intensified by close bonds, similar interests and the amount of time spent with each other.
* Making memories

College isn’t called the ‘best four years of your life’ for nothing, and what better way to spend those years than with someone you love. Whether it lasts forever or ends after college, you will have long-lasting memories with the people you date in college.
* Not a care in the world

Dating in college is a lot of fun. For most students, college is a pretty carefree time that is enjoyable to spend with another person. This laid-back environment is perfect for dating because you are generally less stressed and have fewer factors working against you.
* Open communication

Having open communication is vital to any relationship, even ones in college. For some students, this is the first real relationship they’ve ever had and they don’t know what to say half the time. As your relationship progresses, it’s important to open up and share your feelings with your significant other, so you can work through problems and be honest with one another.
* Parties

College parties can be a good way to meet potential mates. Unlike most college bars, you can carry on a conversation with someone at a house party and may feel more comfortable in a group setting with friends around.
* Quarrels

College relationships and heated arguments often go hand-in-hand. From close-quartered living, jealousy to excessive drinking in college, quarrels are bound to happen when couples have unresolved issues that they don’t talk out.

* Responsibilities

Your responsibilities change in college and they increase when you are in a relationship. You can’t just ignore your significant other’s calls all night or stand them up when you had plans, if you are trying to stay with this person. Making time for another person, while trying to prepare for your final exams, can be a difficult endeavor that not every person is capable of.
* Sleepovers

College couples spend a great deal of time together, especially spending the night at each other’s places. The freedom of not being under Mom and Dad’s roof, allows couples to have sleepovers and more adult-like relationships. With this one-on-one time together, couples often grow closer and become more serious.
* Trust

Just like any serious relationship, there needs to be trust in a college relationship to make it work. Couples who either live in the same dorm or have a long-distance relationships both have to trust their mates. Honesty is the best policy if you want your boyfriend or girlfriend to trust you completely.
* Understanding

A major component of college relationships is understanding one another. To truly understand each other comes with time and acceptance of different views, beliefs, goals and interests that you may not agree with. You also have to be understanding of their needs in the relationship, such as time alone, time with friends and respecting their priorities.
* Variety

There is a wide variety of people to date in college, and the rules or stigmas of dating in high school don’t translate in college. You can date someone older or younger than you, someone with different political or religious beliefs and no one will care. The options are endless when it comes to dating in college.
* Work

When it comes time for graduation, couples have to make some serious decisions about their work and relationship. College couples sometimes have to choose between their career and theirrelationship when the two factors no longer mix.
* X-boyfriend or girlfriend

Ex-boyfriends and girlfriends can be hard to avoid in college. If you happen to have mutual friends, have classes in the same building or go to the same coffeehouse, chances are you’ll run into him or her at some point. Even if the relationship ended smoothly, being civil is the best way to get past the awkward run-ins with exes, and keep your current girlfriend or boyfriend happy.
* Young

As old as you may think you are in college, you’re still just a kid. For many serious couples, getting engaged is the next big step, but they are not financially or mentally ready to get married. It’s important to take things slow in college, not get too serious too quickly and just enjoy one another’s company.
* Zeros

In college, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll date some zeros here and there. You may not immediately “ditch the zero and get with the hero,” but you’ll learn something new with each failed relationship, and it will help you figure out what you really need in a significant other.

If you’re here, then I’m going to assume that you’re determined to learn How to pick up woman.

’ll tell you right away, the fastest way to learn is to hang out with guys that are already successful at attracting women on a consistent basis.

Assuming you don’t have any of these friends around you, let’s move on to the second fastest method to learn, practice.

There are a few concepts that you should master in order to successfully engage and “pick up” a woman. First, I don’t really like that the term pickup, because it automatically puts the guy in a situation where he’s chasing the woman. Now this might often be true, but ideally, you don’t want to come off as a guy who’s hunting for women.

The right attitude to adopt when you’re going to meet women is to think of it as a mutual selection process. You’re going to go talk to her to simply find out if you would like to know more of her. Likewise, she’s going to assess if she wants to know more of you or not. Kind of like when you go shopping for a car, you need to investigate, ask questions before committing to a certain choice.

That way, when you do make a choice (ask her number, kiss her, etc), it will seem natural and logical. The problem with most guys is that they see an attractive woman, decide RIGHT in an instant that they want to sleep with her, and then go to talk to her caring about nothing else but getting her into bed.

From the woman’s perspective… a random guy approaches you and you KNOW he’ll say anything to please you and will likely DO anything you ask him as well. Immediately, for no reason, she has complete power of a man who’s throwing himself at her.

Don’t throw yourself at her.

Instead, ask her interesting questions that she won’t hear every day, tease her whenever she answers wrong ( according to your standards ) and try to see if she fits your mold of the ideal woman. She might not even know it, but she’ll be doing the same to you!

So let’s break this down into simple steps.
1) Figure out what you want in a woman (preparation)
2)Approach a woman, say something interesting / captivating / entertaining.
3) Referring to Step 1, speak about topics that will allow you to know more about her while telling herself about you.

For example, if in Step 1, you realized that you wanted an adventurous girl in your life, then in Step 3, you could mention a story where you did something adventurous yourself… from that, see how she reacts. That’s normal conversation! When you supplement light conversation with smiles, teasing and light touching (kino), it becomes flirting.

To recap, the absolute best way to learn about how to pick up women is to hang out with guys that are good at it already. If you don’t have this luxury, then the next best thing will be to practice. The best book I can recommend on picking up women would be one written by David D. He’s one of the guru’s on the subject and his book is currently the #1 book on the seduction charts.

Written By Chris Calo

1. NO MAKE-UP
APPARENTLY women spend more than millions in a lifetime on beauty products, but don’t need to. Men feel that when a woman doesn’t wear make-up, her natural beauty is on display. Also, some men find it a huge turn-off to kiss a woman and find that they are smeared with lipstick. Makeup can sometimes act as a barrier rather than a come-on.

2. ROUNDED STOMACHS
WE’VE all craved abs like Kate Moss but men actually find a potbelly attractive. Men like women to feel soft and curvy, so a little potbelly can be a turn-on and give a woman that natural look. If she’s not ‘perfect’, then he doesn’t feel he has to be either.

3. SMUDGED MAKE-UP
THIS is something that happens when we forget to take our makeup off after a night out. Surprisingly, men find this sexy because you look like you’ve just made love. It reminds them of how great the afterglow of sex feels.

4. STRETCH MARKS
THOSE silvery lines are the bane of most women’s lives but some men actually like them! What really does it for a man is a woman who is natural. Stretch marks remind a man of the child they created together and her commitment to him. It is also an intimate detail of a woman’s body that only he is privy to.

5. PHONING HIM WHEN YOU’RE DRUNK
AFTER a night out with the girls, a phone call to confess how much you miss him seems like a good idea at the time. Psychologists says letting people know how you feel is both reassuring and attractive. We all like compliments.

6. SMALL BOOBS
It’s not all about glamour models for some men. Small breasts are usually pert and this is an indication of youth and physical health. Men are more wired to seek signs of youth and vitality, indicators that she could bear children.

7. MISMATCHING UNDERWEAR
MOST women save the lacy stuff for special occasions and opt for comfort. Relationship psychotherapists say men love catching you in mismatching underwear because it looks like you weren’t planning on having sex, but they’ve managed to persuade you.

8. WRINKLES
WRINKLES bother women more than they do men, as they feel it often spells a loss of youth. But for men wrinkles can spell experience, which can trigger thoughts of them having great sex together – a huge turn-on for him.

9. WALKING HOME FROM A CLUB IN BARE FEET
HEELS look fabulous, but you won’t feel it after dancing. Bare feet have a hint of nudity. Walking barefoot suggests naturalness and a rebel against convention, and can clue a man in to fantasies of wildness.

10. WEARING TRACKSUIT BOTTOMS AND A BAGGY T-SHIRT TO BED
WHEN we pass a certain point in our relationship, going to bed in saucy nightwear is replaced with a need for comfort. Very casual clothes suggest that a woman is relaxed and confident about herself, and a man can find this very sexy.

The secret of exciting sex lies in the mind. It is the mind that makes and keeps it exciting. Seductive externals play a secondary part. Every woman cannot be a Angelina Jolie. But any woman can try to be exciting. Women who have a sparkling selfconcept, with varied interests, and are not passive are peppy. They are exciting in life as well as in love. Sex can be exciting and a lot of fun. Women looking to spark their sex lives must realise that there are few people who are at peak performance all the time, in every situation. Expecting sexual relations to be super every time is expecting a full moon every night. This does not happen. However, variety is possible and marital sex can be saved from becoming boring. The most important thing is to look upon it as a game. Sporting sex needs stimuli for the senses, variations, timing, and locations, and changes in conversation and articulation. Animals have a lesson to teach. Though devoid of language, they do not make love in silence. They express their excitement in many ways. They articulate their joy in cries, grunts and exciting, joyful sounds. These expressions give vent to their happiness. Take your cue from them. Talk sex with your partner. It increases intimacy and enriches your love life. Change the menu! Happy couples do not eat the same food in the same room. They change. It may be a TV dinner in one room, a hurried snack for breakfast, or a quiet dinner in the dining room. This is another cue! Apply the variation ploy. The wife who desires her husband passionately knows that she will pay the price for the notion that sexual happiness in marriage just comes naturally. The marital love and sex come spontaneously and impulsively without any effort. Routine takes its toll. One couple I know are both working. The husband is so engrossed to prove himself occupationally every day that he is reluctant to prove himself as marital lover at night. He waits for his wife to turn him on, but she waits for his initiative. The working wife too is so busy proving herself as an efficient worker that she has little energy left for being seductive. The result is a stalemate. A stimulating sex life is important to such a couple. They need, at least periodically, to let their sexual activities have priority on their time, energy, and planning. They must find a slot for sex. There are good ways to follow. Some wives do this by having a special day! Others locate a “lover’s lane.” Some try the bacK seat of the car for old time’s sake! One couple has named a room in the house linked with sexual relations. They know “secrets” are a source of thrills and excitement in sex life. They mention the code name, look at each other, the spark ignites, and off they go to their love nest. For some couples, this may include even closets, as well as the front and back yards. This takes effort, but it breaks monotony as it raises expectations

buzzle.com

]]> http://www.ecollegemodel.com/life-style/sexcitement-how-to-keep-your-sex-life-exciting/feed/ 0 http://www.ecollegemodel.com/life-style/technology-based-life-style/ http://www.ecollegemodel.com/life-style/technology-based-life-style/#comments Wed, 18 Aug 2010 06:21:41 +0000 admin http://www.ecollegemodel.com/?p=2683

What is a society comprised of? A society involves number of people in a social space or network held together by the sense of understanding and obligation towards the betterment of the community and promotes a sense of togetherness within the members.

What is technology? We can find various definitions to derive the actual meaning of technology, but the one which applies mostly to our context are “it’s the process of applying established knowledge to meet identified market and social needs”.

Technology sources are the tools which have been developed over time to aid us in our lifestyles and increase our comfort levels and efficiency. Technology sources can be said to have been in our lives since time immemorial. Be it electricity, telephones, medicinal discoveries, transportation etc., everything has added to our comfort and performance.

Since the onset of different discoveries and inventions, different technology sources have come to the forefront and have known to affect the lifestyle of humans. The progress in technology is responsible for the advancements in the fields of manufacturing, transportation, medicine etc. For example, with the usage of electricity, life became easier and improved the efficiency of people all around the world. Starting from the above example of electricity to the latest trend of Internet which is invading all aspects of our lives, technology in all forms is percolating into our community whether we like it or not. Over and above all this, technology plays a very important role in international trade and commerce and bringing in the globalization of trade.

In other words, the most important contribution of technology to society is making the lives of common people much easier and helping them achieve what was previously not possible.

Also, the usage of technology has added a new dimension to the work related community. Now with the use of Internet, pagers, mobile phones, the working member of the family can be attend to the office work while at the same time providing due attention to his/her family.

On the other hand this huge development in technology has affected our lifestyles in a negative sense also. The tremendous development in technology has affected the lifestyle of people in society. It will be wrong to say that the progress in technology is for the betterment of the society since it has had bad implications also on people. It is also affecting work, family, and the economy, introducing new forms of tension and distraction, and posing new threats to the cohesion of our physical communities. However, the good and bad effects of technology depend completely on the amount of exposure people get to the technology source and the use they derive from the same.

Firstly, the new technology changes cultural values by spreading ideas, values, behavior patterns within a society .The new technology sources, such as Internet, and multimedia have serious effects on children and adults. Most of the people in the age range of 10 to 45 suffer from laziness, obesity etc which can be considered as to be brought on by the new technology.

Secondly, technology negative effects include the rise of commercialization and consumerism resulting in more urbanization. We should now pause to think if such blatant commercialization of our space is not leading to the destruction of our freedom and space on our planet.

However, it is upon the people to decide whether the technology source being used by them affects them in a positive or negative sense. So, the technologies available to people greatly influence how their lives are as well as people have influence on technology’s development and how it is used. The difference in a person attitude towards technology is dependent on that person’s exposure to it rather that the notion she/he has of it.

Who invented pointe shoes?
Though “toe dancing” was popular in London as early as the 1820s, it is believed that the first ballet dancer to dance en pointe with modified shoes was Marie Taglioni in the ballet La Sylphide in 1832. The first pointe shoes were little more than soft slippers, heavily darned at the toes. Today, pointe shoes are made of multiple layers of burlap, paper and glue. The hardened glue gives pointe shoes their stiffness.

Why don’t Irish dancers move their arms?
In modern Irish step dancing, arms and hands are held rigid against the sides of the body. Restricting the arms makes it easier for the dancers to execute the fast and intricate footwork. Some historians suggest that the absence of arm movement may also be the result of influence from parish priests, who thought that keeping the arms stiff was less “provocative”.

How long can dancers continue performing?
While some dancers continue to perform into their 50s or longer – such as Peggy Baker, Trisha Brown and Alicia Markova – most dancers stop performing by their mid-30s because of the physical demands on their bodies. Many dancers continue to work in the field as choreographers, dance teachers, coaches or artistic directors. Others move into administrative positions, becoming managing directors and presenters for example. Some former dancers go back to school to train in a second career. Many have gone on to become successful in fields such as medicine, commercial art, computer engineering and education.

Is capoeira a dance form or a martial art?
Both. Capoeira is a martial art that blends dance, music, singing and acrobatics. While some people argue that it originated in Africa, others claim that capoeira developed three to four hundred years ago in Brazil. Slaves were not allowed to practice any form of combat or defense, so they eliminated direct contact between opponents and made their movements look more like dancing. As a result, modern capoeiristas jump, flip, turn and lunge to try to catch their partners off guard.

Why do classical Indian dancers wear bells around their ankles?
In bharata natyam, kathak and odissi – different regional forms of classical Indian dance – dancers wear heavy anklets of multiple bells called gungru or ghungroo . Ghungroo highlight and emphasize the rhythms of the dancer’s feet. Dancers can wear up to 200 bells – 100 on each ankle.

When and where did break dancing start?
Break dancing originated in the Bronx area of New York City in the early 1970s. It began in African-American street gangs. Dancers – known as b-boys (short for beat) – competed with each other, inventing new moves and trying to out-perform one another. Break dancing made a comeback in the late 1990s, becoming popular all over the world.

Why do modern dancers dance in bare feet?
Modern dance values a weighted use of the body in relation to the earth – as opposed to ballet, which is more concerned with resisting gravity. Dancing in bare feet enables the dancer to connect directly with the floor. After dancing in bare feet for a long time, generally the soles of a dancer’s feet adjust and toughen. Some modern dancers put tape on their toes and the balls of their feet to make it easier to turn and slide.

Can someone dance if he or she has a disability?
Yes. Men and women with a disability around the world actively participate in both amateur and professional dance. Professional modern dance companies, such as Axis Dance Company in California and CandoCo in the United Kingdom, choreograph for mixed-ability ensembles of disabled and non-disabled dancers. More and more dance studios are also offering dance classes for people of all abilities.

How many tap dancers does it take…
….to break a world record? On May 24th, 1998, the greatest ever number of tap dancers gathered for a single routine at the Stuttgart City Square in Germany. Choreographed by Ray Lynch, the 6,952 dancers tapped away for 2 minutes and 15 seconds. The event was organized to commemorate the birthday of American tap-dance legend Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. In second place, as many as 6,000 tap dancers gather in New York City each year for Tap-o-Mania. They hoof their way down Broadway as part of Macy’s annual Thanksgiving Day parade.
Dancing ’til you drop
During the Depression, dance marathons were popular as a means to forget about daily troubles and to compete for cash prizes. Marathoners danced for hours and days at a time, usually resting only 15 minutes for every hour of dancing. Americans Mike Ritof and Edith Boudreaux hold the world record. From August 29th, 1930, to April 1st, 1931, they danced for 5,154 hours and 48 minutes – that’s 214 days. They won $2,000 at the Merry Garden Ballroom Dance Marathon in Chicago, Illinois. Due to potential health risks, Depression-era dance marathons were eventually banned.

Why do people say “break a leg” before a dancer goes on stage?
The dance world is full of superstitions. By saying “break a leg” before a show, people are saying the exact opposite of what they hope will happen on stage. Some dancers have very precise routines for doing their hair or make-up. Others wear certain clothes before a show or keep lucky charms in their dressing rooms or backstage. Before the curtain goes up, some dancers link pinky fingers or step onto the stage with the wrong foot so that when their cue comes, they start the show on the right foot.

What happens at a Pow Wow?
A Pow Wow is a gathering of aboriginal nations for a celebration of singing, drumming and dancing. Various dances are performed at a Pow Wow and each has its own significance, specific dress and regalia. The most popular dances for women are the Jingle Dress, Fancy Shawl, Traditional and Hoop Dances. The most popular dances for men are the Traditional, Grass and Ribbon or Fancy Dances. The dancing arena is circular and is called an arbor. Pow Wows can also be opportunities for dance competitions. At a competition, Pow Wow dancers are divided into categories based on age, gender and dance style.

Is the Green Room really green?
Sometimes, but not always. The Green Room is a quiet, comfortable room backstage where performers can rest and relax before, after and between shows. It’s also the place where the performers receive their families and friends. No one knows exactly why it’s called a Green Room, but it has been part of the theatre tradition for centuries. Some people believe it is a reference to the days when theatre was performed outside in the open air “on the green”. Another alternative to saying “Good luck” before a show is to say “See you on the green”, which is a reference to getting through the show and to the Green Room without incident.

Why aren’t there more men and boys in dance?
Many people say that this is because western culture traditionally views dance, and especially ballet, as primarily “feminine” pursuits. Some parents discourage their sons from taking dance classes even when they show potential and aptitude. Yet some of the world’s great dancers have been and are men. Male dancers, such as Mikhail Baryshnikov, are admired for their strength, grace, agility and musicality, as well as their masculinity. No one would say that being the only boy in a dance class is easy, but following one’s passion, regardless of what other people say or think, is important in developing a rich and satisfying life.

Can performing really be addictive?
Yes and no. In the medical sense, dancing and performing are definitely not addictive, but many dancers report getting a “rush” from being on stage. While dancing, the body releases endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that are responsible for positive moods. Endorphins also act like natural painkillers, so even after hours of gruelling rehearsal, dancers don’t necessarily feel their aching muscles and joints when they’re on stage. Once they start dancing, many people find it hard to quit because the enjoyment factor is so compelling. It’s hard to find something else to take its place since few other activities make them feel so connected and alive.
Permission was granted from National Arts Centre to reprint this article from their website, www.artsalive.ca. Up to date and comprehensive information about dance. This article has been provided for educational purposes only.