Luigi, though paralyzed from a car accident at the age of 21, went on to become one of the most influential jazz dance teachers in the world. If you are familiar with Luigi, you probably know his motto, "feeling from the inside." It means developing an inner awareness rather than an external imitation of movements.

Want to learn more? Check out "Luigi's Jazz Warm Up" for an introduction to Luigi's lyrical jazz style and technique. The book contains an excellent warm up for beginning, intermediate or advanced students of all ages.

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I know it's hard to pick just one, but I thought it would be interesting to find out which dance styles are the most popular.

So, which style is your absolute fave? (It's ballet for me!)

Previous Poll:

• How long have you been dancing?

A little friendly competition is healthy, sometimes even motivating. But a little goes a long way.

Do you ever feel like you are competing with your friends in dance? MTV's True Life series is looking for competitive dancers. If you feel like you are constantly competing with your friends, respond to this post in our forum. MTV would love to hear from you!

National Dance Week (NDW) is an annual event in the United States aimed to increase public awareness and appreciation of various dance forms. In an effort to raise public awareness of the benefits of dance, thousands of events are planned during the ten day annual celebration, April 25th thru May 4th.

Discover what is being planned for the annual celebration throughout the United States and see if your city is represented!

Ballet is not just for the young. Ballet is more popular than ever among people of all ages. A ballet class provides a great workout as well as a break from the challenges of daily life. Remember, you are never too old to pursue a passion.

From our forum:

I've just started adult beginners ballet and I love it. The age range of my class is teenagers to women in their 50s. A couple of the women have been doing ballet since they were kids and it's good to have them in the class so we can follow them.

Do you participate in an adult ballet class? Join the discussion and share your passion.

Suggested Reading:

• Adult Ballet
• How to Find a Dance Class
• Ballet 101

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RUSS has introduced the Shining Stars Ballerina Bichon, a unique recital gift for young dancers. A unique and lasting alternative to flowers, the adorable Ballerina Bichon comes with a real star in the sky and a secret code for accessing the Shining Stars virtual universe. I recently had the chance to review this unique and fun way to reward your little ballerina after a star performance.

The Ballerina Bichon costs about $16 and comes with the opportunity to register a star with the International Star Registry on the Shining Stars website. And through RUSS’s partnership with the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation, kids can donate "glow points," the official currency of the site, to Starlight knowing they are helping to make a world of difference for seriously ill children and their families.

Ballerina Bichon Review

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Don't miss a special performance by Riverdance on "Dancing With The Stars." As part of Macy's Stars Of Dance, the famous dance troupe will perform on the hit reality show on Tuesday April 22. Check your local listings for time and channel.

How much do you know about tap dancing?

• Tap Dancing for Beginners
• Tapping or Clogging?
• Tap Dance Quiz

How much do you know about ballet? Test your basic ballet knowledge with this quick quiz...it's all about ballet!

More fun quizzes:

• Dance 101 Quiz
• Dance Personality Quiz
• Tap Dance Quiz

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If you are a dancer, chances are you know exactly how old you were when you started dancing. Whether you tip-toed into your first ballet class as a three-year-old or you started "fashionably late" in your twenties, your first memories of dancing stick with you forever.

So, how long have you been dancing?

In ballet, a spin around on one leg is called a pirouette. If you've never attempted a pirouette, keep in mind that it is an advanced turn that takes lots of practice. As you learn, make note of these important points:

• Remember to spot.
  Spotting will keep you from getting dizzy.
  
  
• Stay tight.
  Pull in your abdominal muscles strongly. (Strong abdominal muscles are a necessity for multiple pirouettes, which you will eventually be able to do.)
  
  
• Plie deeply.
  A strong plie will give you the momentum to make it all the way around.

Of all the dance movements, the pirouette is one of the most difficult to do.

Ready to try?

The Pirouette: An Illustrated Tutorial