News & Press

The Latest Fred Astaire News and Press

At Fred Astaire Dance Studios, it’s always exciting when our talented staff & students, and exciting events & locations are celebrated in the media! From local community stories to national news, our goal is to help share the inspiring examples of how the positive and transforming power of dance enriches lives – physically, mentally, emotionally and socially. Browse these links, and perhaps discover something new and engaging about dance. Then, step in to Fred Astaire Dance Studios and experience the joy and confidence that dance lessons can bring to your life.

Study shows dancing can help fight Alzheimer’s

By Karen Stokes | Special to The Freeman | November 2017

BROOKFIELD — Seniors living with Alzheimer’s have a great reason to dance. A new study from the University of Illinois suggests learning how to dance slows the degeneration of certain parts of the brain.

“Ballroom dancing offers both mental and physical stimulation because you are moving to the music while trying to learn and recall the steps,” says Jack Rothweiler, president and CEO of Fred Astaire Dance Studios, headquartered in Longmeadow, Massachusetts.

November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. During this month America focuses on how Alzheimer’s affects lives and how those affected can lead better lives.

Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

“Social engagement, diet and nutrition, exercise, and keeping your mind active through playing games or reading are all great lifestyle habits that everyone should adopt to help maintain or potentially improve overall health,” said Wendy Betley, interim program director for the Alzheimer’s Association, Southeastern Wisconsin chapter.

At the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Brookfield, seniors participate in…READ MORE.

imageSome of the dances taught at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Brookfield were born years after its namesake hung up his wing tips. Yet, according to its proprietor, the iconic entertainer’s signature footwork and grace can still be found in every series of movements.

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On Friday night I decided to take a tango class. I was lucky that the teacher was willing to dance with me since I didn’t bring a partner… It was that draw of romance, passion and partnering that drew me there. A few couples came to learn and I noticed how delighted and alert they looked while they perfected their dance together. I observed the couples gazing in each others eyes, and moving in perfect opposition yet in sync. After a few basic movement displays, I picked it up and found myself being swept away by my partner’s knowledge of the language. He knew where to go next, and he knew how to move me; he just required my trust and my “letting go”. There was something so seductive about it: the passionate movement, the trust it required, and the flow it brought. I was hooked… Read More…

smarterFor centuries, dance manuals and other writings have lauded the health benefits of dancing, usually as physical exercise.  More recently we’ve seen research on further health benefits of dancing, such as stress reduction and increased serotonin level, with its sense of well-being.

Most recently we’ve heard of another benefit:  Frequent dancing apparently makes us smarter.

A major study added to the growing evidence that stimulating one’s mind by dancing can ward off Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia, much as physical exercise can keep the body fit. Dancing also increases cognitive acuity at all ages.

You may have heard about the New England Journal of Medicine report on the effects of recreational activities on mental acuity in aging. Here it is in a nutshell…

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Reflections on a quintessential human experience

Why DO humans dance? Read more…

Ballroom dance is one of the elegant and elite forms of dancing. The basic requirement for a dance to fall into the category of ballroom dancing is that it needs two people as partners to dance. The dances that fall under the umbrella of ballroom dancing have undergone constant change with additions and subtractions to the list over time. Read More…

4dfa58a296cf0.imageCalling out around the world, are you ready for a brand new beat? Summer’s here and the time is right for dancing in the streets…This is an invitation across the nation, a chance for folks to meet. There’ll be laughing, singing and music swinging, dancing in the street.

Dance is an outlet for emotional expression, stress reduction and creativity that benefits youth during stressful situations by channeling their energy positively and helping them bond with peers. Dance was also found to increase life satisfaction, according to a 2008 study in the American Journal of Health Education. Read More…

Believe it or not, television’s Dancing with the Stars has resulted in more lasting romantic partnerships than matchmaking franchise The Bachelor. Is it the romance of the rumba? The titillation of the tango? Quite possibly, says Janet Carlson, author of Quick, Before the Music Stops: How Ballroom Dancing Saved My Life. “Let’s face it, moving rhythmically to beautiful music together is a turn-on that’s hard to resist,” she says. “It’s hard not to enjoy the person who’s helping you feel sexy, glamorous and elegant!” Read More…

What-Can-I-Dance-to-This-It’s a surprisingly common question in dance – many people find it easier to go skydiving, than tell the difference between foxtrot and swing music. This can also be completely paralyzing, as you try to figure the song out while time wastes away. Fortunately, there are are certain patterns to every dance style an intent listener can pick up on. Read More…