Dance practice assembly

Abstract

A dance practice assembly is designed to simulate a dance partner for practicing dance routines. The dance practice assembly is configured for use by a dancer relative to a surface. The dance practice assembly includes an object, a tether member and a connector assembly. The object is configured to be selectively positioned adjacent to the surface during use of the dance practice assembly. The tether member is configured to be engaged by the dancer during use of the dance practice assembly. The connector assembly rotatably couples the tether member to the object. The connector assembly includes a first connector member that is coupled to the object, and a second connector member that is rotatably connected to the first connector member. Additionally, the tether member is connected to the second connector member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dance practice assembly for use by a dancer relative to a surface, the dance practice assembly comprising:
 an object that is configured to be selectively positioned adjacent to the surface during use of the dance practice assembly;   a tether member that is configured to be engaged by the dancer during use of the dance practice assembly; and   a connector assembly that rotatably couples the tether member to the object.   
     
     
         2 . The dance practice assembly of  claim 1  wherein the connector assembly includes a first connector member that is coupled to the object, and a second connector member that is rotatably connected to the first connector member; and wherein the tether member is connected to the second connector member. 
     
     
         3 . The dance practice assembly of  claim 2  wherein the object includes a connector attacher, and wherein the first connector member includes a first member engager that engages the connector attacher so that the first connector member is coupled to the object. 
     
     
         4 . The dance practice assembly of  claim 2  wherein the second connector member includes a second member engager that is configured to engage at least a portion of the tether member so that the tether member is connected to the second connector member. 
     
     
         5 . The dance practice assembly of  claim 1  wherein the object includes an object body and at least one weighted insert that is retained substantially within the object body. 
     
     
         6 . The dance practice assembly of  claim 5  wherein the object body includes at least one body pocket; and wherein the at least one weighted insert is selectively positioned within the at least one body pocket. 
     
     
         7 . The dance practice assembly of  claim 1  wherein the connector assembly rotatably couples the tether member to the object near a central end of the tether member, the central end dividing the tether member into a first tether side and a second tether side; and wherein a first length of the first tether side and a second length of the second tether side change during use of the dance practice assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The dance practice assembly of  claim 1  wherein the connector assembly rotatably couples the tether member to the object near a central end of the tether member, the central end dividing the tether member into a first tether side and a second tether side; and wherein a first length of the first tether side and a second length of the second tether side stay substantially the same during use of the dance practice assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The dance practice assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a handle assembly that is connected to the tether member; wherein the handle assembly is configured to be engaged by the dancer during use of the dance practice assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The dance practice assembly of  claim 9  wherein the tether member includes a first tether side and a second tether side; and wherein the handle assembly includes a first handle that is connected to the first tether side, and a second handle that is connected to the second tether side. 
     
     
         11 . The dance practice assembly of  claim 9  wherein the handle assembly includes only one handle that is connected to the tether member. 
     
     
         12 . The dance practice assembly of  claim 1  wherein the object is configured to remain substantially stationary relative to the surface during use of the dance practice assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The dance practice assembly of  claim 12  further comprising a friction pad, wherein the friction pad is configured to be positioned between the surface and the object during use of the dance practice assembly. 
     
     
         14 . A method for forming a dance practice assembly for use by a dancer relative to a surface, the method comprising:
 selectively positioning an object adjacent to the surface; and   rotatably coupling a tether member to the object with a connector assembly, the tether member being configured to be engaged by the dancer during use of the dance practice assembly.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein rotatably coupling includes coupling a first member connector of the connector assembly to the object; rotatably connecting a second connector member of the connector assembly to the first connector member; and connecting the tether member to the second connector member. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein selectively positioning includes the object having a connector attacher; wherein coupling the first connector member includes engaging the connector attacher with a first member engager of the first connector member so that the first connector is coupled to the object; and wherein connecting the tether member includes engaging at least a portion of the tether member with a second member engager of the second connector member so that the tether member is connected to the second connector member. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein selectively positioning includes the object having an object body and at least one weighted inserted that is retained substantially within the object body. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising connecting a handle assembly to the tether member; wherein the handle assembly is configured to be engaged by the dancer during use of the dance practice assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein rotatably coupling the tether member includes the tether member having a first tether side and a second tether side; and wherein connecting the handle assembly includes the handle assembly having a first handle that is connected to the first tether side, and a second handle that is connected to the second tether side. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein selectively positioning includes the object remaining substantially stationary relative to the surface during use of the dance practice assembly. 
     
     
         21 . A dance practice assembly for use by a dancer relative to a surface, the dance practice assembly comprising:
 an object that is configured to be selectively positioned adjacent to the surface during use of the dance practice assembly, the object including an object body having at least one body pocket, at least one weighted insert that is selectively positioned within the at least one body pocket, and a connector attacher;   a tether member that is configured to be engaged by the dancer during use of the dance practice assembly, the tether member including a first tether side and a second tether side;   a handle assembly that is connected to the tether member, the handle assembly including a first handle that is connected to the first tether side, and a second handle that is connected to the second tether side; and   a connector assembly that rotatably couples the tether member to the object, the connector assembly including (i) a first connector member that is coupled to the object, the first connector member including a first member engager that engages the connector attacher so that the first connector member is coupled to the object and (ii) a second connector member that is rotatably connected to the first connector member, the second connector member including a second member engager that is configured to engage at least a portion of the tether member so that the tether member is connected to the second connector member.