 |
|
Hiroaki and Michelle Tanaka Tangoing at DanceSport Dance Studio in New York City.
|
Horseback Riding, Tango, Conservation Volunteers (204)For Conservation Volunteers, there is no better way to spend their vacation than volunteering on trail crews. The volunteers take a week off from their regular jobs and join the Appalachian Mountain Club for clean-ups on various trails across the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The Appalachian Mountain Club gives people who love the outdoors a chance to give something back.
Next, we feature the timeless Latin dance, the Tango — meet a couple who were introduced at a Tango lesson at the Dance Sport Ballroom and Latin Dance Studio in Manhattan. Hiro, a Japanese baseball commentator, has grown very fond of the dance despite the fact that it's frowned upon in his native country of Japan. For Hiro’s wife, Michelle, the Tango has been a way for her to feel and act more feminine in contrast to her job on Wall Street, where she must perform in a predominantly masculine atmosphere.
For the Horvath family, horseback riding has been a way for three generations to relate and spend quality time together. Donna Horvath decided to start taking lessons at the age of 50 after watching her granddaughter, Hannah, begin riding. Michelle, Donna’s daughter and Hannah’s mother, cherishes the time that the three of them can spend driving to the Essex Equestrian Center in West Orange, N.J., and the time they spend horseback riding together.
Conservation Volunteers Facts:
- A screenwall is comprised of loose stones or rocky debris shaped into a wall to clearly define a trail for hikers.
- A cairn is a heap of stones piled up as a memorial or landmark.
- Volunteers are provided with food, lodging, tools, safety equipment and instruction.
Getting Started: Conservation Volunteers
- Before committing, try volunteering for a day to see if you like it.
- This work can be strenuous; choose a program that fits your physical abilities.
Contact Information:
The Appalachian Mountain Club
Kimberly Marion, North Country Volunteer Coordinator
Pinkham Notch, Rt. 16
Gorham, NH
603-466-2721 xt.192
kmarion@amcinfo.org
www.outdoors.org
Resources:
Adirondack Mountain Club
www.adk.org
Sierra Club
www.sierraclub.org
Pacific Crest Trail Association
www.pcta.org
Green Mountain Club
www.greenmountainclub.org
For more information: Search keyword: Conservation Volunteer.
Tango:
- Tango has been referred to as "The Dance of the Midnight Encounter."
- Michelle works on Wall Street and Hiro is a baseball commentator for Japanese radio.
- For men, a pair of leather-soled shoes is preferable, but beginners could start to learn Tango in sneakers.
- Melonga parties usually have a cover charge of roughly $10 — that includes a beginner lesson.
- Check with your local dance school to find a Melonga party in your area.
Getting Started: Tango
- To find Tango lessons in your area, check with your local dance studios.
- Lessons average $85 for four one-hour sessions. Ask about a monthly pass.
- You can take Tango lessons with a partner or alone.
Contact Information:
Dance Sport Ballroom and Latin Dance Studios
Paul Pellicoro, Owner
1845 Broadway
New York, NY
212-307-1111
info@DanceSport.com
www.dancesport.com
For more information: Search keyword: Tango.
Something New:
Tae Kwon Do
- Check online at FineLiving.com, Keyword: Tae Kwon Do.
- Ask about a monthly unlimited access rate.
- Tae Kwon Do is a high-impact full body workout.
Fit At 50
- To keep fit at 50, find a fitness regime that will hold your interest.
- Try to do some form of exercise everyday.
- Make an appointment to work out — it will help motivate you.
Horseback Riding:
- Most stables have indoor and outdoor rings so that you can ride year-round.
- For safety, it is advisable to start riding on a lead line, which is a rope attached to the horses's bridle.
Contact Information:
Essex Equestrian Center
12-22 Woodland Ave.
West Orange, NJ 07052
973-731-4182
Roberteec@aol.com
www.essexequestrian.com
Getting Started: Horseback Riding
- Lessons average $45 - $100 per hour.
- Children as young as three can learn to ride, but it's never too late to start riding.
For more information: Search keywords: Horseback Riding
)
