What are the RejuveDance® Programs?
For people new to social dancing, whether young or young at heart
Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, our methods do not discriminate between who leads and who follows based on gender. The RejuveDance premise is, "If you can walk, you can dance!" With our introductory session, you will be dancing out the door. We offer a less formalized and choreographed approach to partner dancing than that offered in most dance instruction environments.
The RejuveDance® Method
We focus less on footwork, instead emphasizing proper upper body posture, the Closed Position hold, and simple variations that can be easily led and comfortably followed, even in crowded venues. Spin and dip your partner! If you are new to social dancing, once you experience this common sense approach to leading and following, you'll wonder why you didn't step out sooner. Once you establish your muscle memory with our simple tips and tricks, your subconscious will start blending the music with your body movements. A whole new vista is opened for you to enjoy the beauty and pleasure of following or leading your partner across the floor.
Trained and certified RejuveDance instructors teach you the simple moves, often in as little as an hour, which will give you the confidence and desire to get out of your chair, onto the dance floor, and into the embrace of your partner. Participants are also provided with written guides to supplement your understanding and to help you retain the personal instruction. You will quickly experience fulfillment and joy, thereby providing the incentive and drive for you to continue building your skills and supporting your pursuit of lifelong health and vitality. Perhaps you may not dance like a star, but you will certainly feel like one! We offer programs that are tailored for all ages.
Children and Young Adults
Manners in Motion® cotillion programs are designed for students in elementary through high school. These multi-week programs feature inspiration and instruction in social dance, dining etiquette, social attire, and topics of social conversation with emphasis on proper behavior, on and off the dance floor. The boundaries of touch in a social dance form are introduced. We also emphasize exercise and nutrition as major components of lifelong health and wellness.
The participants are provided the opportunity to practice their newly acquired dance and social interaction skills as we conclude the program with a formal dinner dance featuring a live dance band. It unplugs ears from iPods so the students feel the music in their core, a first time experience for many students.
Adults
The King and I
Charles Popell Age 101Programs are tailored to individuals, couples, as well as groups, both large and small. There's simply no better way to meet people and expand your social circle in a safe and entertaining (and potentially romantic!) environment. We provide dance instruction that enables participants to quickly become comfortable in social dancing. We emphasize easy-to-learn steps, proper dance posture, floor craft, and social interaction. Participants avoid the awkwardness widely experienced by new learners and experience the fun and joy of dancing. This encourages continued participation and the desire to further develop dancing skills, with the added benefits of ongoing, comprehensive health and wellness.
Featured seasonal programs
The 'Senior Prom' is celebrating our 15th year! The highly successful 'Senior Prom' is an inter-generational program that brings together specially coached high school students for a dance with residents at senior living facilities. This extravaganza is hosted by local media celebrities and features a live dance band, as well as the crowning of a senior king and queen. Redwoods Retirement Center, Mill Valley, CA
Public Programs
Public programs currently feature social dances at a variety of elegant dance venues in the San Francisco Bay Area. These public dances feature live orchestras. Dancing to live music pleases all of the senses, inspires creativity, nourishes the soul, and can promote positive changes in everyone, regardless of age. It inspires even the most reluctant dancers to make their way to the dance floor.
The events include group instruction in the RejuveDance method of quick and easy tips and tricks, as well as presentations by experts, and coaching in the health and wellness aspects achieved with a regular social dancing regimen. The lessons are then followed by the opportunity to practice what you just learned as we "strike up the band" for your dancing pleasure. Throughout these events, individual "on-the-spot" tips and tricks are offered to clarify the moves. Our goal is to make the experience both joyful and memorable and to inspire participants to make social dancing an ongoing aspect of their lifelong health and wellness.
Organizations and Companies
We offer programs specifically tailored to organizations and company clients as part of their wellness programs or at sponsored special events. Programs are customized based upon objectives, attendee demographics, etc. Packages are offered through company employee benefit programs, HMOs/health care providers, health/fitness clubs, private social clubs, and community centers. Dance instruction is supplemented with healthy lifestyle and wellness guidance.
RejuveDance - Institute On Aging (IOA)
Cynthia Glinka hosted IOA's 21st Annual Cable Car Caroling at The Green Room
War Memorial Veterans Building in San Francisco.
Ray Hirsch Retrospective: Dance Performance at RejuveDance
An interview with 86-year old Ray Hirsch, a legendary Lindy-Hopper and 1930s and 1940s featured dancer in countless MGM films. It includes an interview with Hirsch by film critic Jan Wahl and dance coach and choreographer Cynthia Glinka, plus rare film clips from Hirsch’s days on the silver screen. The film concludes with a charming performance of Hirsch dancing the soft-shoe.
A story of companionship and inspiration
I had the honor of guiding Bill (88) and Edna (90) onto the dance for their first dance. After being confined to a wheelchair for five years, Edna dreamed of dancing again. After meeting Bill, a student of Cynthia's, Edna vowed to dance again. For three months Bill and Edna worked with Cynthia and a physical therapist to prepare Edna for her long awaited dance. The couple danced at their wedding reception with Cynthia in the wings. Preparation for this special moment was captured on film by Gatlin Photography.
RejuveDance® is a federally registered trademark. The material featured is subject to copyright protection (2007)