Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/118258
live on the move When in Doubt, Shake Your Butt By Ann Imig of my nubile co-ed classmates. Thankfully, I was not the lone creaky torso among the dozen of us. After a good stretch, Jussel taught us an Ajosha combination, one section at a time. While I missed a lot of the steps, eventually I stopped doubting and shook plenty of butt, burning away the season's chill, inside and out. The Dish on Brazilian Dance Your body on Brazilian dance: All that hip and torso rotation is guaranteed to loosen you up and tone your mid-section while the fast-paced choreography will get your heart thumping and offer a cardio boost. 16 BRAVA Magazine Your mind on Brazilian dance: Simply put, it's pretty hard to frown and shake your butt at the same time. Add in live drummers, and Brazilian dance can't help but lighten your outlook on life. April 2013 Who will love it: Anyone ready to loosen up their bodies will love this approach to moving, especially Zumba fans looking for a new challenge (it is the original inspiration for Zumba, after all). What to wear: Clothes you can move in that won't get in your way, layers you can peel-off, and clean (but not street) shoes or bare-feet. Make sure to check each studio for their attire rules and suggestions. Photo by Sarah Maughan You might not find it stenciled over a doorway or painted on a decorative plate, but Brazilian dance instructor Cody Jussel gives a great piece of advice: "When in doubt, shake your butt." She was referring specifically to learning how to Samba, but context shmontext. After an hour of the line dance made popular at the Brazilian festival of Carnival, I feel these sage Where to Go: words could take me far. Think Brazilian dance classes Macarena with a bump, a grind can be found at locales and some attitude. including Dance Fabulous and I took Jussel's class at Dance Harbor Athletic Club, or grab a Fabulous, a drop-in dance partner for Latin-style ballroom offerings through studios such studio downtown. As I waited as Social Life Dance Center, for class to begin, I watched a Tempo Ballroom & Latin trio of Broadway dance students Dance Studio and learning a soft-shoe number, more. and wondered over my class selection. Brazilian dance is described on their website as "African dancing, folk dancing, Capoeira and modern dance elements." I've seen UW students Capoeira-ing on campus, and it struck me that if I actually got my body sideways/upside-down dance-fighting, I might stay that way permanently. Let's just say I'm more Olive Oyl than Carmen Miranda. But, I felt more than ready to escape the early-spring chill "Samba is all right here," she explained and heat things up Samba-style. while pointing at her rotating pelvis Jussel began class by showing us a basic "Don't worry about your feet. When in Samba, the building block to the "Ajoshadoubt, shake your butt." style" dance she planned to teach us. First, My brow furrowed as I tried to reconcile we learned to move our feet, and then addwhat I saw of myself in the mirror with ed in the famous hip-swivel. She also led Jussel's undulating midsection (seemingly us through several rounds of hip and torso with a life all its own), not to mention those rotations to loosen our bodies up.