A lifetime dedicated to music, playing with great international stars like Nat King Cole, Sammy Davis, Judy Garland and Dean Martin, Canadian trombonist, Claude Blouin, shares his passions and most memorable experiences before taking the big step towards retirement. What will he miss the most? What does he love about Ballroom Dancing?

Carry yourself through your dancing and believe in all that you do. Believe in your strengths and be realistic about your weaknesses. Exercise your self-confidence because the level of confidence you have is not fixed. Understand the difference between confidence and arrogance. Confidence is acknowledging who you are and being proud of your mental, physical and spiritual development; arrogance is an overestimation of yourself. Build your confidence, and feel it as you dance! Believe in yourself now - it will determine how good you will be.

To help your body perform its best, stretching will not only improve your flexibility and the ease at which you can move, but it will also help prevent injuries. Consider stretching as an element that is equally important as training for strength, balance and power. Learn how to make the most of every stretch with these helpful tips.

Build a strong self-image and be proud of the wonderful dancer that you are. Maintain a healthy image of yourself because any idea that you flush into your mind will become a part of you. You are in control of your mind, body and emotions, so never let failure bring you down or distract you from reaching your goals. Eliminate any negative thoughts that are taking up too much of your mental space. Feed your mind with positive, uplifting, and inspiring thoughts about yourself on a daily basis. Be the dancer that you are proud of being! Stay true to yourself and your potential. Enjoy your dancing for all that it is worth!

They play every instrument with each muscle. They speak a hundred languages to a deaf man through vibration, translating a melody with unexplainable lyrics to those who cannot comprehend. They will move a soul in solitude, a heart afraid to love, a body too timid to be touched and a bored man to imagination. They will seek to connect what they have yet to feel through a new angle or glance. In a dancer's darkest hour they will seek the floor for strength, exchanging loneliness for company, for in these moments it feels as if the world is watching.

It is in a dancer's heart, body, mind, ears, eyes and gut that they will search to deliver what you may only see once. The desperation of reaction will draw them to eat from the floor and drink from your tears. A dancer will starve a lifetime to feel they attained the absolute moment of truth with the audience.

Contributed by DanceScaper, Faith Carbary
E-mail your inspirational thoughts to editor@dancescape.com

Set goals and dreams for yourself. No matter how big or small your goals may be, have faith that you can and will accomplish them. Free yourself from any old habits, behaviours or thoughts that are preventing you from making your goals and dreams a reality. Remember that you have the capacity to achieve absolutely anything.

So, do not feel that you must follow where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Give yourself a little push outside of your comfort zone and do not let any fears or inhibitions control you. Instead of sustaining yourself at that level, rise above and beyond it and enjoy the journey. After all...Life is what you make it!

For all of the b-boys and b-girls out there, practicing long hours a day to learn challenging scrambling combinations, freezes and power moves is not an easy task, especially if your body is feeling beat. Breakdancing Inspirations have arrived, helping you make impossible moves, possible. Learn how Breakdancers improve their skill when their body needs a break...

Many have always believed that the Tango originated in the brothels of Argentina. A new finding has triggered debates among Tango lovers after Dr. Ramon Sison from California, presents his argument that states where he believes the dance truly began. Find out more about "Go Tan" from China, who may have been the Grandfather of Tango.

Isaac Altman and his beautiful wife, Laura, continue making great contributions to Salsa and the dance industry all over the world. As President of The World Salsa Federation and National Chairman of the AAU Junior Olympic Games for DanceSport, Salsa and Swing, Isaac shares his passion for dance with DanceScape, revealing his dreams, his speculations and his most sizzling Salsa sensations.

Born Pedro Aguilar on June 14th, 1927, in Peurto Rico, "Cuban Pete" is a legendary dancer known worldwide for his talent and passion for the Mambo. He has been the choreographer and consultant for such hit movies as "The Mambo Kings" and won scores of prizes for his innovative movements which have become standards in Latin Dancing. He has been immortalized by Desi Arnaz & Lucille Ball on "The Lucy Show", as well as by Jim Carey in the hit movie, "The Mask". Meet the real "Cuban Pete" and his partner Barbara Craddock as they chat and "chick chicky boom" with DanceScape...