This weekend you don’t want to miss the Annual Seattle Star Ball, featuring 3 days and 2 nights of great professional, pro/am, and amateur competitions presented by Robert and Monique Hrouda and William Reneaud.
In addition, US, World and UK Open Professional 10 Dance Champions Gherman Mustuc & Iveta Lukosiute will be doing 3 shows: a sizzling Latin show on Friday night, for those people who purchased dinner a special performance for them only, and at the end of Saturday evening session a spectacular Standard Show that you will not want to miss!!
The Seattle Star Ball will be held at the SeaTac Hilton.
For more information call 206-550-6461 or visit www.seattlestarball.com

Along with Bloch’s new beautiful fashion collection of leotards, they have come out with some fun mesh tops that are great as a layering piece for class or for streetwear. The Z2909 style is a long sleeve top with a faux wrap bodice and two ties in the back that can be wrapped and tied in a variety of ways for a bunch of different looks. It’s like having three tops in one. This top is only available for a limited time.

Available in Black, Steel and Light Pink
$20

Many of you may be heading off to an intensive Summer Program, and if this is your first time, you might want to check out an article that we sent out last year about getting prepared. You can find it here:
Preparing for Summer Programs
However, some of you might also be taking a break for the summer. Sometimes it is good to take off short periods of time to recharge. As they say, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” While a break from your regular dance schedule can reinspire you, it’s important to not take a break from all physical activity, as this can cause you to lose strength and flexibility and undo some of the strides you made during the year. Shannon, a dance instructor and employee here at Centerstage, warns that flexibility is one of the first things to go and can make getting back into dance more challenging and even result in injury. Therefore, maintaining flexibility during your break is a smart and healthy thing to do.
Taking yoga or pilates classes is an excellent alternative during your time off. Or if you play sports or are involved in
other athletic activities, you could follow those up with some stretching after you are done.
Stretching is important for a few reasons. When you work a muscle, the muscle fibers shorten. Stretching after you have worked a muscle will lengthen those muscle fibers so that they are ready to work again. This gives you flexibility and range of motion, which will help to prevent injuries. Stretching also helps blood flow and releases chemicals that build up in a muscle when you work it.
That said, it is important to know that if stretching isn’t done properly or at the right time, it can also cause injury. I may be preaching to the choir, but this next point is so important that it is worth repeating. People used to stretch as a way to warm up, but now we know that it is better to gently warm the body up first and then go into stretching because stretching a cold muscle can result in tiny micro tears that form scar tissue, which gradually leads to a loss in flexibility.
So here are a few tips about stretching properly:
1) Warm up first and then stretch.
2) Stretch big muscle groups first and smaller muscle groups second.
3) Don’t bounce when you stretch. Hold your stretch in a static position for at least 10-30 seconds.
4) Don’t stretch until it hurts. Stretching should never hurt. You want to just stretch past your normal flexibility. “Baby
Steps” is a good motto because aggressive stretching can cause muscle strain or tears.
So, no matter what you are doing for the summer, don’t forget to stretch!

In honor of the upcoming Mediterranean Fantasy Festival, this YouTube clip is of local dancer (originally from Russia) Nalini:

The Mediterranean Fantasy Festival is the largest and longest running bellydance festival in the Pacific NW, and it’s free tothe public.
Brought to you by the Babylonian Ensemble and featuring two stages, “MedFest” is an opportunity to see amateur and
professional bellydance performances for two days straight. There will also be dance workshops with Fatima and Jamilah
Al Wahid and lots of vending, including Centerstage, and good food. Stop by our booth and say “hi”!

July 19 & 20, 2008
Hiawatha Community Center
2700 California Ave SW
West Seattle, WA
10:00am to 9:00pm

For more information, visit http://www.babylonianensemble.com

Most major dancewear companies come out with seasonal leotards in addition to their core basics. These styles are limited edition and only offered to retail stores, and are therefore not as easy to find online. Bloch has really outdone itself for their Fall Fashion line, so we wanted to make sure that no one was missing out on them. Here are two of their Fall Fashion 08 styles, featuring mesh details:

$33.50
Buy Now
(Select size on next page)

The first style is called Radiance (Style L2767), and it is a tactel leotard with an empire waist and a twisting mesh details on the bust. It is also a faux halter with straps that twist behind the neck and connect on the side below the underarm. A very sophisticated leotard. This style comes in black.

$33.00
Buy Now
(Select size and color on next page)

This next style is called Illuminate (Style L2747). It is also tactel with and empire waist, but this style has a simple mesh overlay for the bust. The straps taper where they connect to the front of the leotard, and they cross in the back. The mesh details extends from the bodice and threads itself through where the straps cross in the back. Gorgeous! This leotard is available in Steel (as pictured) and black.

We just got in a large shipment of Motionwear Dance Soles and bodywear with new and popular styles. Now is a great time to stock up on leotards and last minute dance supplies for summer programs and for classes in the fall. While supplies last, you can get a free Motionwear door hanger with your Motionwear purchase.

Capezio’s various pink FootUndeez have always been a hit, and now they have come out with a new limited edition style featuring pink and peach stripes with a white frilly band around the metarsal. These babies won’t be around for long!

$20.50
Buy Now
(select size on the next page)

LC = Sizes 12.5 - 1
XLC = Sizes 1.5 - 3 (this is the same as 3.5-5 in adult sizes)
S = street shoe sizes 6-7
M = street shoe sizes 8-9
L = street shoe sizes 10-11

Capezio’s footUndeez are Underwear for your feet!

footUndeez offers a barely there look that is breathable, comfortable, and provides just the right amount of traction. A smart choice for many disciplines of dance including, modern, lyrical, arco, yoga, Pilates, and bellydancing. Wear footUndeez barefoot or inside your favorite dance, gym or street shoe for added protection. Underneath it all, it’s all about the feet!

We will be closed on July 4th.

Happy Fourth of July!!