In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: If you are nervous going to your first class with absolutely no knowledge of ballroom dancing, you may want to practice a bit with the help of websites or videos online. Start by learning the box step, the foundation step of many ballroom dances. When doing the box step you are moving your feet in a square. Start with your feet together with your weight on your right foot. Move your left leg straight forward in a small step and shift your weight onto that foot. Next step your right foot up but to the side of your left foot, so that there is a gap of about a foot between your feet. Finish this first sequence by shifting your weight onto your right foot and bringing your feet together by moving your left foot over to meet your right. Now you will do this sequence again, only backwards. Shift your weight to your left foot and move your right foot straight back in a small step. Shift your weight and move your left foot back but to the side. Finish the box step by moving your right foot over to meet your left. If you are having trouble, remember that it is always the outside leg that moves around the square you are making. There are many articles on the internet that can give you the basic sequence of steps and body movements of other ballroom steps including: How to do the Rumba, How to do the Cha-Cha, How to Samba, How to Dance the Tango, and How to Dance the Waltz. These videos and online content cannot necessarily replace the benefits of going to a class. A dance teacher will be able to give you individualized instruction that is key to improving your dance skills. While you may have some basic knowledge of ballroom dance steps, classes will help you with all the other important aspects that make up a dance, including posture, communication, and dance etiquette. Some classes require that you come with a partner but many are designed for people without a specific partner. Be sure to check the prices, as they will vary. You will want to be sure the school and your teacher are worth what you're paying. Many dance studios will offer potential students a free or low-cost initial lesson that will allow you to more easily find a good match between the studio and your goals. Group classes will generally be less expensive than private lessons, while the best specialized and personalized coaching for competitive ballroom dance can be a hundred times more expensive. Ask your teacher for a list of songs in the rhythm you're working on. Buy them and listen to them in the background. You might also find some musical collections selected specifically for a particular dance. Pick out the dance rhythm and count it aloud as the music plays. Many beginning dancers benefit from first clapping the beat with the music. Yet also as you listen, visualize the dancers moving to the music. Feel the style of the dance, in addition to its rhythm. Most studios have practice sessions outside of lessons but you can also just practice on your own. Don't be afraid to ask more experienced dancers for help. Perhaps you have a friend that would like to learn how to ballroom dance as well. Maybe you can convince your partner to join you in the adventure of learning to dance. It is a fact of life that people come in all shapes and sizes. Adjust your position and your dancing style to accommodate your partner, especially if height differences or body size might otherwise cause uncomfortable body contact. Remember that ballroom dancing is about grace, polish and courtesy. Dance at the level of your partner. Don't try to do all your advanced new moves with someone who's just starting out. Ballroom dancing should be enjoyable for everyone involved. There is no point in trying to make yourself look good by making your partner look bad. When a couple works together, dance is a thing of beauty. The secret to dancing together, as opposed to dancing near one another, is communication. This communication isn't conveyed through some special code, but is rather accomplished through the subtle body movements that can easily be detected when both dancers are standing upright, with good posture. You're in this to learn how to dance, so go dancing. Even after your first lesson feel free to go out dancing in public. If you have learned two moves at that lesson just use those. That's enough to go dancing and have a great time on the dance floor. Ask everyone to dance! Beginners and experienced dancers will both help you to improve your dancing. Beginners make you check what you know. Experienced dancers will correct you. As a rule, ballroom dancers don't say no when you ask them to dance. If someone asks you to dance, say yes! Remember that not only is it rude to say no, you also shouldn't miss out on a chance to polish your skills, no matter who asks. Remember that ballroom etiquette precludes dancing more than two dances in a row with the same person. If you only want to dance with your boyfriend or girlfriend, you can stay home and dance in your living room.
Summary: Learn the box step. Practice a few more steps at home. Attend a ballroom dance class. Listen to ballroom music. Go to a practice session at your studio. Find a partner to practice with outside of class. Go out and dance!

Problem: Article: The Maori language, spoken by indigenous people of New Zealand, has vowels with long and short sounds (such as ay and ah for the letter A). Each phrase, such as "ka ma - te," is pronounced separately. There is a very short stop between each syllable, with a few exceptions. The resulting sounds in a Haka will be staccato and fierce. Vowel combinations, such as "ao" or "ua," are pronounced by gliding them together (such as "ay-o" and "oo-ah"). There isn't a brief stop or breath between these vowel sets, also known as diphthongs. Instead, they are a smooth combination sound. The letter T is pronounced like an English T when it is followed by the vowels A, E or O. It carries a slight "s" sound when the T is followed by an I or U. The Haka has both of these instances: For example, in "Tenei te tangata," the T will sound like an English T. For example, in the line, "Nana nei I tiki mai," the T letters followed by I will have a slight "s" sound accompanying the T. The last line of the Haka starts with "whiti te ra." Pronounce the "whi" as a "fi." The last syllable of the song is "Hi!" This is pronounced as "he" with a quick breath, rather than a drawn out "high." Push the breath out of your lungs by tightening your stomach muscles. Listening to proper pronunciation can help you practice your language skills. There are a number of audio pronunciation guides available online. Search for "Maori pronunciation" in a search engine.
Summary:
Pronounce each syllable separately. Blend two vowels together. Pronounce the letter T correctly. Pronounce "wh" as a "f" sound. Finish off the song properly. Listen to an audio Maori pronunciation guide.