Tag Archives: dance

Dance Groups

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Dance groups to hire for a party can be booked for any event large or small; Red Masque entertainment finder can bring you a variety of professional dance groups guaranteed to entertain your guests.

Red Masque can help add that spark to the day and make your event the talk of the town.  You can hire dance groups for many different events, whether it is for a product launch, street party or a birthday party, the choice is yours…

Any function, event or party can include dance groups of any kind from belly dancers, street dancers, contemporary dancers, ballroom or Irish. Any dance groups will make an excellent choice as an entertainment option.

If you don’t see what you are looking for, our entertainment agency can offer that personal touch by recommending favourite acts. So contact us and we’ll help find it for you. We offer the best dance groups to hire in the UK so are assured that we have only the top acts in our entertainment directory. If you do happen to find a dance group you particularly like then you can fill out an enquiry form and we will do the rest. Booking a dance group has never been easier thanks to Red Masque entertainer finder.

 

Dance Comedy Acts

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You may want to entertain your guests in an unusual way, by booking dance comedy.  How about the classic ‘Swan Lake’ performed by comedy actors, or a ‘River Dance’ comedy sketch to remember. Here at Red Masque entertainment directory we have the ultimate in dance comedy acts which will guarantee a side splitting experience every time.

These acts could be for a private party, corporate event, wedding or a surprise birthday present. Your guests will love this amazingly funny entertainment that will amuse your party no end.

We have the ultimate party package at Red Masque and if you would like to hire a dance comedy act and need a little help then give contact us and our friendly team will help you through the booking process. It’s very easy to book, you will be able to find a list of acts that interest you, then fill out their booking enquiry form. Finding a dance comedy act in the UK is very straight forward and you can contact or book your chosen act directly, making it easier to get exactly what you want at a price that’s right for you. You’ll find only the very best in entertainment here at Red Masque.

Belly Dancers

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Your guests would be so entertained having a Belly dancer at your party. Our Belly dancers are the ultimate in entertainment, making it very hard for any guest to ignore.

Whether you’ve just opened up a new restaurant, or you just want a little light hearted fun for your guests at a corporate event, then hire a Belly dancer, it may be just the thing that will get people talking for months to come, who would not remember a Belly dancer?

If your guests also want to get involved we can also offer ‘lessons’ too – great fun!!!

You can be sure of the best Belly dancers at all times and if you would like to know more then our entertainment agency can supply you with the ultimate in party entertainers. To hire a Belly dancer couldn’t be easier… Either find the act or acts you’re interested in on our website and fill in their booking enquiry form or simply give them a call. We’re here to help with any enquiries you might have so please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Booking a Belly Dancer couldn’t be easier with Red Masque entertainment directory.

May Day Traditions

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Nothing beckons summer forth more effectively than dancing around a pole adorned with long, coloured ribbons. The British May Day tradition of dancing around a maypole is around 600 years old and the activity often brings communities together. But what does dancing around a maypole on 1 May involve, and what does it represent?

Dancing around a maypole involves a group of dancers taking a coloured ribbon attached to it and weaving around each other, often to music. Traditionally the dancers position themselves in pairs of boys and girls before beginning their routine. The dance creates a multi-coloured pattern which creeps steadily down the pole. The dancers then reverse their steps to undo the ribbons. This is said to represent the lengthening of the days as summer approaches, but the significance of the pole itself is not really known.

At Offenham in Worcestershire, a very complex dance routine around the pole is performed on May Day every year. The first recorded instance of a maypole dance came during the 14th century in Llanidloes, central Wales, and the tradition is thought to have come from Wales and Scotland before spreading around the country. Due to the ever-changing religious doctrines of the kings and queens of England over the centuries, the maypole was seen as an anti-Christian symbol for a time, right up to the end of the 19th century. The tallest maypoles in the country are at Nun Monkton, North Yorkshire (88 ft), Barwick-in-Elmet, West Yorkshire (86 ft) and Welford-on-Avon, Warwickshire (65 ft).

There is also the hilarious tradition of maypole scrambling, which involves people trying to climb to the top of the pole. This also mainly happens in Germany and Austria. Though not always held on 1 May, maypole celebrations also happen in the States, Malta, Scandinavia, Canada and Italy, with Italians using the pole to celebrate International Workers Day too.

To Tap Dance

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Traditional American Tap Dancers

Everyone loves a good tapper; somehow, tap dancing is enjoyable because it is lighthearted alongside the music to which it is performed. From community productions to the big screen, tap dance has captured the hearts of millions of Americans, and this is most evident in the fan base supporting the careers of several influential tappers.

Most are men, with a few exceptions. America’s tapping stars in the golden era of Hollywood enjoyed lengthy careers and continue to be noted today for the fun entertainment they provided. Below are just a few of those who truly reigned as “tap’s tops!”

Fred Astaire
Perhaps there is no other name as synonymous with tap dancing as Fred Astaire. With his countless American films, including those with sidekick Ginger Rogers, Fred revolutionized the tap world’s presence in movies. Many people recall his partnership with Ginger Rogers not only for the beautiful ballroom dances, but also for the tap dances, such as Let Yourself Go. His killer combination of a handsome face and a suave style, paired with his peppy dance numbers made him one of Hollywood’s most cherished musical stars.

Bill “Bojangles” Robinson
Before he hung out with Shirley Temple both onscreen and off, Bill Robinson could be found in numerous theater productions. He is known for re-igniting the tap craze during the 20th century, and bringing the genre from popular to the elite art level. He often challenged competitors in tap competitions, almost always coming out as the victor. He was also the choreographer of the now infamous stair dance found in the movie The Little Colonel. He inspired and coached Shirley Temple, one of Hollywood’s littlest tap dancers, and she revealed in her autobiography how Bill was like an uncle to her, mentoring her both in dance and in life.

Sandman Sims
Another famous tapper from the golden era of Hollywood, he became notorious for his “sand dancing,” which involved tap dancing in a sandbox. He used to travel across the nation, challenging competitive tap dancers, and he rarely (if ever) lost a dance-off. He is regarded as one of the most creative and innovative tappers of his generation, and will always be known as a top tapper who never conformed to otherwise traditional rules of the dance.

The Tap Dance

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Tap originated in the United States through the fusion of several ethnic percussive dances, primarily African tribal dances and Scottish, Irish, and English clog dances, hornpipes, and jigs. Until the last few decades of the 20th century, it was believed that African slaves and Irish indentured servants had observed each other’s dances on Southern plantations and that tap dancing was born from this contact.

In the mid- to late 1800s, competitions were a common form of dance entertainment. Later called “cutting contests,” these intense challenges between dancers were an excellent breeding ground for new talent. Dancers matured by learning each other’s techniques and rhythmic innovations. The primary showcase for tap of this era was the minstrel show, which was at its peak from approximately 1850 to 1870.

During the following decades, styles of tap dancing evolved and merged. Among the ingredients that went into the mix were buck dancing (a dance similar to but older than the clog dance), soft-shoe dancing (a relaxed, graceful dance done in soft-soled shoes and made popular in vaudeville), and buck-and-wing dancing (a fast and flashy dance usually done in wooden-soled shoes and combining Irish clogging styles, high kicks, and complex African rhythms and steps such as the shuffle and slide; it is the forerunner of rhythm tap).

Tap dance as it is known today did not emerge until roughly the 1920s, when “taps,” nailed or screwed onto shoe soles at the toes and heels, became popular. During this time entire chorus lines in shows such as Shuffle Along (1921) first appeared on stage with “tap shoes,” and the dance they did became known as tap dancing.

Dance Origins

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History of dance entertainment is filled with interesting events that shaped its foundations, inventors that created new styles, periods of time when dance and music were put in the forefront of innovations, which all enabled it to become the popular social pastime of today.

History of dance closely follows the development of human race. Since the earliest times of our existence, far before the creation of first modern civilizations, dance served as an irreplaceable way of expressing human thought and emotion. As our civilization traveled through millennia, dance was modified to the point of being popular means of expression, health, communication and competition.

Elizabethan Dance
During the period of time in 16th century that is today remembered as an Elizabethan Era, dance and music received unprecedented attention, advancement and refinement that allowed it to become one of the most popular ways for socialization and exercise, and a foundation for the creation of all modern dances.

Dance in Religion and Mythology
Connection between dance and religion and myths can be observed from the dawn of our civilization to the modern times. Here you can find out how dance influenced the religion ceremonies, became storytelling device in describing tales of gods and myths, or in some cases become very integral part of some religions.

History of Ballroom Dancing
History of ballroom dancing started with the rise of European renaissance in 16th century. Ever since then, tradition of ballroom dancing expanded across entire world, pushing along its path creation of many popular dances that are in use today.

History of Waltz
Ever since it first appeared on the ballrooms of Venice, Waltz managed to revolutionize the way we dance. Here you can read detailed accounts of the way waltz was created, moved from folk roots to royal ballrooms, and helped to kickstart new era of social dances and music styles.

History of Salsa
Salsa is the Latin American dance that managed to revolutionize the way we dance and move one the dance floor. Here you can find out everything you need to know about history of salsa, its origins, popularity in Cuba, and spreading to United States and the rest of the world.

History of Ballet
Ballet is a formal dance technique combined with costumes, scenery, and music. Ballet integrated dance, music, stage design and poetry to make a dramatic storyline. It developed under the aristocratic influence as a formalized form of dance. At first its roll was a virtually component of the opera. In a time, it was formalized and codified, and there were founded popular ballet stages all over the world.

Cuban dance

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After the arrival of Spain, various European dance forms began to take over in Cuba with the French contredanse being particularly popular. This gave rise to the Cuban contradanza, which spawned many of the ballroom dances found today including danzón, mambo and cha-cha-cha. Let’s look at them in more detail!

Cha-cha-cha

Cha-cha-cha or cha-cha (either is fine) came to be very popular in the 1950s when it was danced to the music of the same name by popular Cuban composer and violinist Enrique Jorrín. Another dance that originated from danzón, the name is onomatopoeic, derived from the sound of the scraper (a guiro) and the shuffling of dancing feet. It is notable for having a rhythm that many social dancers don’t get quite right; the count is meant to be ‘two, three, cha-cha-cha’ but many erroneously believe the dance to begin with ‘one, two, cha-cha-cha’. So now you know!

Bolero

The Cuban bolero or Trova does not owe its origin to the Spanish music and song of the same name, instead coming to prominence in Santiago de Cuba in the last quarter of the 19th century. The style began when a group of musicians earned their living by moving about the city and singing and playing the guitar to passers-by. Pepe Sánchez is widely heralded as the creator of the Cuban bolero but because he was so naturally skilled at the compositions, he never wrote any down and most are lost. Thankfully a few of Sánchez’s works remain as his compatriots would occasionally note them down after hearing him perform. The style is extremely popular throughout Latin America and has been since its inception.

Danzón

Watch that ó! Danzón is the official musical genre and dance of Cuba, which is also enjoyed across Mexico and Puerto Rico. Evolving from the contradanza, it is a fusion of African rhythmic dance styles and European influences. Developed in 1879, it is an important root for Cuban culture today and is highly distinctive; each dance begins with an introduction of four bars followed by a ‘paseo’ of another four bars. This repeats and is then followed by sixteen bars of melody. During the introduction and paseo, dancers walk to the floor, talk, choose a partner—And then begin dancing on the fourth bar of the paseo. After the initial melody is performed, the dance repeats – four bars, paseo, four bars, paseo, melody – and so on and so forth! It is most often performed to the tune of Charanga bands, which include a cello, flute, double bass and more.

Mambo

Mambo is a dance form that originated in Cuba and has since been developed by Cuban musicians across North America and Mexico. The word ‘mambo’ actually comes from Kikongo, a language spoken by Central African slaves who were taken to Cuba many centuries ago, and means “Conversation with the Gods.” Modern mambo began with a song called ‘Mambo’ from 1938 and was heavily inspired by danzón and African folk music.

Salsa

Salsa dancing originated from the cha-cha-cha and mambo dances of the early 20th century and actually began in New York in the 1970s. American dancers incorporated their own favoured dances like swing and hustle into the mix as well as guaguanco and pachanga, dances that are synonymous with Afro-Cuba and the Afro-Caribbean. Ideally, the upper body is to remain level whilst the legs move in time to the music. It’s a very rhythmic dance, often associated with passion due to the intensity of the dancers’ concentration.

Ballet

Cuba has ballet schools throughout the country with one of their most famous celebrities, Carlos Acosta, famous all over the world. To give some idea to the scale of Cuba’s love with ballet, the National Ballet School in Havana is home to roughly 3,000 students, making it comfortably the largest ballet school in the world. Such is the pride that Cubans take in their ballet that throughout Castro’s reign, the dance receive state support for both dance education and performance.

SAMBA!!

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From music to dancers, we have some great ideas for your corporate event or private party!

Brazilian Samba Dancers

Perhaps the first thing that people think about when they picture a Brazilian party, the Brazilian dance troupe actually specialise in a whole lot more than just samba, also able to dance Baile Funk and Brazilian Axé to get the party started! Their high energy routine can be presented as a stage performance or in a wandering Brazilian carnival style. Oh and to put you at ease, hiring Brazilian carnival dancers for your event doesn’t mean you have to dress like them, though we think you’ll agree that they look fabulous!

Bacara Drums

You could just have your colourfully costumed dancers jiving, but to really ramp up the Brazilian energy in the room, we recommend bringing in a few Bacara drummers or a Latin band to enhance the flavour of your party. With a multitude of instruments to choose from, the percussion will wow the crowd.

To end your evening, why not indulge in a little Capoeira dancing? An Afro-Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, music and dance is technical and graceful in equal measure. Incredible performed to live drums, the act can also perform to any music style desired. Though if you’re going for a carnival party evening, we recommend you steer away from the slow Classical numbers!

Dance yourself dizzy!!

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Dancers are very entertaining, and if you had an event that demanded some dancers then why not consider hiring the best dancers from Red Masque entertainment directory.

A Dance Group could be hired to dance in sync where the choreography would be done to perfection, it could be any style of dance that your taste desires from Street Dance to River Dance, Male to Female Dancers. We think we have just about all Dance groups covered advertised within our Red Masque entertainment directory.

If you having a private party that would require some eye candy of the female variety? If so, why don’t you hire some Podium dancers, a risqué burlesque dancer or some showgirls that would be quite a classy type of Le Lido but here in the UK.

These girls are professional, classy and have trained for hours to put on the perfect show for you. You will be dazzled by the splendid costumes which will be worn by the Showgirls and Podium Dancers even though they’re maybe little of them!!! The burlesque will titillate and tease but done in the best possible taste!!

Salsa and Tango dancers are very now, most people want to learn the art of these sexy, sensual dances. You could hire some dancers to teach. Or if you are quite familiar of these dances you could simply hire to put on a quite splendid show that would be breath-taking and remarkable, leaving you wishing you were indeed as talented as these dancers.

Snake and Belly dancers of course seem to go hand in hand, these amazing creatures – love them or hate them have something mesmerising about them that you cannot fail to be intrigued to watch or even (if you dare) handle them.

Belly dancers have been around for centuries and it’s also a great way to keep fit. If you ever wanted to master the art of Belly Dancing, then why not hire a Belly Dancer to teach you. You will have great fun, and if your tummy is not your most favourite part of your body – well rest assured a rounded belly is considered sexy in some parts of the world!!

Or, if you wanted some themed dance acts for your special event, then why not look on our gallery of special dance acts that will enlighten your guests and create that nostalgia needed for your themed evening.

They will be dressed in the most appropriate costumes and do all the dance moves from that era it will be truly like stepping back in time and feeling the past again.

Have a look on our directory to see which dance act you could hire for your next corporate party!