American Smooth! It is a ballroom style dance that consists of four elegant dances: the Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango and Viennese Waltz. It allows for open movements, underarm turns and side by side choreography. It seems to celebrate the joy of dancing! Last week I shared a video from "Strictly Come Dancing" of Chris McCausland and his partner. They danced this past week to the song "Jump" and they showed the joy of dancing with the American Smooth! ("Jump" was written by Van Halen, but the version on this show was sung by Paul Anka and the arrangement is so very different, it will astonish you.) What did the couple score for this dance? A perfect 10!
Hope you enjoy the video as much as I did! I would give it a 10!
The beginning of the Christmas ads are beginning to be shown on TV! Many of them are not very good but there is one that just came out that I really like! It is an ad from Kroger, and I will see if I can get it on here...
There, isn't that just so wonderful? It is called "Share Your Food, Share Your Heart" and the song is "Lonely People" by America!
It made me so happy to hear that song on that advert! There is an English connection, you know. The background of the band "America" is interesting to me, they were American lads living in London (their fathers in the US military) and became a band. They called themselves "America" because they didn't want folks to think they were British trying to pretend to be American! Their songs from 1974- 1979 were produced by George Martin! (I hope you know that name from the BEATLES!) America (band) - Wikipedia
There, you may click on that above and read more about them, if you like. They also did the song "Tin Man" which I have also told you about in a post before! And "Sister Golden Hair"!
Also, in my last post I showed you a photo of a red shouldered hawk that was in our back yard. I made a mistake and called it a red TAILED hawk but went back later and corrected it. Well, what do you think? We saw that there would be a Bird of Prey demonstration at Arabia Mountain this weekend and we happily signed up! Guess what bird was there? Yep, a red-tailed hawk! Why, you could have knocked me down with a feather! LOL! Did Richard get photos? You know he did! It was so great. The two bird handlers were just wonderful, and especially so with the children. They took such delight in explaining and sharing everything about the hawks. Who enjoyed this more, the men with the birds or those in attendance? Hard to say for sure!
The above are all photos of the red-tailed hawk but they also had a Harris Hawk....
This bird did not look familiar to us and that is because it is indigenous to Southwest Texas, Arizona and Mexico!
Do you like the way I tied things together in a somewhat American theme? I am AMERICAN SMOOTH!
Just so you won't forget, this is the red shouldered hawk that we had in our backyard!
Yes, you are American Smooth! :)
ReplyDeleteThe dance was great, wish I could dance like that.
I love that ad! We don't have Kroger around here so I never would have seen it.
I think hawks are so majestic.
Thanks for your comment! Hope you are having fun on your vacation in the USA!
DeleteYou certainly are American Smooth. I love watching ballroom dance. The Kroger commercial is superb. Birds of prey are beautiful creatures
ReplyDeleteSo glad you like these videos too! I had to share them.
DeleteWhat a delightful post! I loved how you captured the joy of American Smooth dance and the beautiful memories of classic songs by the band *America*. The personal touch with the story about the red-tailed hawk made it even more engaging—it's amazing how nature surprises us! And the Bird of Prey demonstration sounded like such a fun and educational experience. Thanks for sharing these wonderful moments!
ReplyDeleteI just shared a new post, and I invite you to read: (https://www.melodyjacob.com/2024/11/lessons-to-learn-from-lost-children.html)
I haven't watched the documentary yet but I will do so this week. Thanks very much for telling me about it. I mostly read non fiction books and I so often want them to be made into films!
DeleteNice hawk photos. Bob. BSS.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bob! Of course, Richard took the photos, as usual! LOL!
DeleteAnother stellar performance == I would have given them a perfect 10 too! And I've never seen a red-tailed hawk before, but now I understand where the name comes from -- just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debra! The red tailed hawk also has a very loud cry. In fact, the movies that show a bald eagle will have this sceam in the background, but it is really the red tailed hawk that you hear! (The Bald eagle might be bigger but it doesn't sound as powerful!)
DeleteHawks are so powerful aren't they?
ReplyDeleteI love the ballroom dance - do you watch Dance With The Stars?
And a sweet Kroger ad.
I used to watch Dance With The Stars but somehow lost interest in it over the years. Love that Kroger Ad!!
DeleteWhat a lovely post, with so much fun stuff in it! The dance was especially wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mimi!
DeleteGorgeous birds! Of course you had to JUMP (!) at the chance to get to the birds of prey show. I am glad such things are still being done, and people are still interested. Actually, the first ever day out for our 1st class after I started elementary school was a trip to a bird of prey show. The memory has never left me, even though it is now 50 years ago!
ReplyDeleteAs for the four dances that combine to American Smooth, I was always a Waltz lover, Viennese or not. But Tango is a dance I never really got into (although I did learn it, too), and Fox was never much played at the venues were RJ took me in our active dancing days.
Love the advert!
Ha ha, had to "jump" at the chance! I was hoping you would tell me what you thought of the dance, I knew you would know! I had never heard of American Smooth, the name itself tickled me! I love waltzes, but it is the music itself that I am thinking about, I am not much of a dancer!
DeleteSo glad you like the Kroger Ad!!
Those are great photos of the hawks. We have some that fly around here but never come close to see. I cannot tell what kind they are. The dancing is beautiful. It's been a long time since I've done any at all, but do appreciate seeing others do it. I didn't know it was called American smooth.
ReplyDeleteHey! I didn't know American Smooth either, but I do now! LOL!! We were told that the ones you see perched beside the road on telephone poles are most likely the red tailed hawks, they are pretty big!
Deletethe comment above is from mostly known as ma!
ReplyDeleteTHanks, MA, for letting me know! Take care! x
DeleteGreat post, and great hawk photos, red shoulders and red tails all. I love the little Christmas ad, with good sentiments and sweet pictures. There has been little Christmas advertising in Australia to date. I think America celebrates the reason for the season better than we do!
ReplyDeleteIt seems Christmas ads start very early these days but I don't mind as long as they are good! Glad you liked the hawks also! Do you see that dancing show in Australia too? I've only seen it on YouTube myself, the male dancer is blind, I have to keep reminding myself. I think he's very good.
DeleteAhhh...dancing! How I love going to dances back in the day. The memories of those fun-filled most enjoyable evenings remain clear. Great video.
ReplyDeleteI love the beautiful hawk.
Take good care, Kay...all the best. :)
Hey Lee! I love to read your memories of your dancing days! Take care yourself in lovely Australia! xx
DeleteHaha. Enjoyed this post. Loved the music and dancing. Glad you finally got a pic of a red tailed hawk. And, no, there are no hawks in my yard.
ReplyDeleteYou are so talented and knowledgeable about music, it makes me happy to see you liked the video! Haha, isn't life funny that way, you make a mistake and then, you are pointed in the right direction. I need help all the time. Aloha!
DeleteOh I wish I could dance like that! I was never good at slow dancing as a youngster. I work with a lady who did professional dancing and I saw her pics. So lovely! I loved that commercial and the song. I have a friend who's husband passed away this Spring and always invite her for any family gatherings. Thankfully for her she also has many good friends who do the same so she's never alone as her family is also all gone. Lots of lonely folks out there who need some love and a chance to share a meal. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Kay. I missed that 20/20 show about the murder here in Ashland. We're a pretty quiet town but bad things happen everywhere I guess. Ashland is a lovely town that has grown and our downtown now has lots of businesses and restaurants and it shines in the Fall and Christmas. We love our Mayor who really goes the extra mile to make Ashland is some place special.
ReplyDeleteI only saw the very beginning of 20/20 when I left you that comment. I was so amazed that I could recognize the town from your blog! It really does look so nice. Went back later and watched the rest of it, I had no idea it was about a serial killer. Evil really can exist anywhere. We have to recognize it and fight against it. Love and light to you and Jack in your lovely Ashland. Happy Thanksgiving! x
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