Happy Halloween, everyone! Here are some fun and frightening dance videos for your Halloween pleasure. Enjoy… if you dare! Performances… (from professional to amateur) Jiri Kylian’s Petite Mort (2-part) A short excerpt from Ben Stevenson’s Dracula Blacklight and Bellydance – Black Magic Woman Zandra Thomas’s Zombie Art House Dance Company (UPenn) – What’s Your Favorite [...]
How To Create Your Own Dance “Magazine” Using RSS
October 24, 2008 By 2 Comments
I realize there are many people who don’t know about or understand how feeds work or what purpose they serve. If you are one of those people, here is a quick explanation that will guide you through the steps of adding your favorite sites to a feed aggregator.
Let’s Hear it for the Boys!
October 22, 2008 By 3 Comments
A while back I did a post entitled Encouraging Boys to Dance. It had a good response and I was even asked to submit an edited version for the PTA (National Parent Teacher Association) website. It is my firm belief that boys should be encouraged to dance by dance teachers and parents in particular. After [...]
Blog Action Day: ASTEP Toward Ending Poverty
October 15, 2008 By 2 Comments
Today is Blog Action Day, “an annual nonprofit event that aims to unite the world’s bloggers, podcasters and videocasters, to post about the same issue on the same day.” This year’s aim is to raise awareness and trigger a global discussion about poverty. I was particularly excited about this topic because it is one that [...]
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Turnout – How to Nurture Your Turnout
October 10, 2008 By 12 Comments
Too much tension in the musculature around the hip joint is often responsible for limiting the degree of turnout. Therefore, releasing that tension is key if you’d like to improve outward (and inward) rotation. Tight inward rotators inhibit outward rotation and visa versa. Dancers have varying methods which they use to accomplish release in the hips. Some use passive and lengthening stretches and others utilize props like balls to facilitate an opening within the joint.
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Turnout – Part I
October 10, 2008 By 1 Comment
Although we sometime use the word turnout as a noun or a position (i.e. “Your turnout could be better.”), it is more appropriately thought of as an action, a verb. Because outward rotation is not the body’s natural state, the work does not stop once the position or desired degree of rotation has been attained. Instead, outward rotation of the hips requires continual action within the body, even when the rotation is held in a position (like ballet 5th).
Leaps and Bounds: Dance Advantage is Growing
October 9, 2008 By 4 Comments
It is hard to believe that I began Dance Advantage just over six months ago! Last April, the idea that had been loitering in my head became a living, breathing entity. I had no idea where this blog would take me, how much time I would put into it, or if anyone would even read [...]
Reflection and Journaling for Dancers
October 4, 2008 By 4 Comments
Dance is a form of expression, allowing one to creatively or artistically “speak” through a non-verbal language. However, dancers have often found a need to express themselves through words and writing as well. In fact, writing can be a useful tool for dancers, teachers, and choreographers. And, journaling or keeping a diary is a great [...]
