Who Are These Boys Who Choose Dance?

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As a teacher and a dancer, I like to think I’ve always brought to my work an awareness and sensitivity of the challenges boys and men face in the dance world. The moment I became a mom to a young son, however, I became more keenly aware of the many “rules” that surround both boyhood and the parenting of boys, especially when it comes to dance. This and more are explored in the recently completed video series by DanceLifeTV called Male Voices which puts a spotlight on some of the young male dancers at the Rhee Gold school.

Dance For Young Adults On The Autism Spectrum

IMAGE Spectra: Neon sculpture in Bournemouth Gardens. IMAGE

Guest, Lydia Hance has never been more fulfilled as a teacher as she has teaching students on the autism spectrum. A challenge and a mental, spiritual, & artistic reward for her, she shares a bit about what she’s discovered throughout the process. Whether you work with the autistic population, desire to, or simply work with teens, I think you’ll find her insight beneficial.

Expand Your Library or Horizons: 13 Books on Dance and Culture

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Dr. Renee Rothman, a dancer and cultural anthropologist, share 13 books that address the human meaning and experience of dancing in cultures throughout the world. Selected because they are easy for general audiences to read, these texts cover dance throughout history, Modern Dance, Jazz Dance, and Social Dance in America, Latin Dance, Middle Eastern Dance, and dance in China. Expand your dance library or your horizons with this reading list.

Past and Present Pillow at Your Fingertips

IMAGE In July 1933, Shawn and his Men Dancers started giving public "Tea Lecture Demonstrations" to promote their work. The first audience of 45 curiosity-seekers expanded weekly so that by summer's end, people were turned away: roots for what was to evolve into Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival were established. IMAGE

Three years feels too long since my last visit to Jacob’s Pillow. Dance Interactive is how I’ve been getting my Pillow fix lately. The website provides a tremendous opportunity for educating students and encouraging appreciation for dance on a global level. Drawing from the extensive Jacob Pillow Archives, it is a collection you won’t find elsewhere online.

How To Reuse Your Old Dance Tights (and Other Upcycling Ideas)

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I’ll bet you’re crafty. And some projects are just too cute to pass up! You’ll find some fabulous ways to upcycle old tights, reuse dead pointe shoes, and repurpose t-shirts, sweaters, and even CDs in this Earth Day article. Be sure to add your projects and ideas to the comments, too!

Exploration ➙ Structure ➙ Choreography: Helping Students Make Their Own Dances

Choreography - A Basic Approach using Improvisation by Sandra Cerny Minton

A reader, looking for resources to assist in helping the students create their own dances, asks for recommendations. Included is a list of books and manuals on dance composition and improvisation plus my own quick tips for working with younger age groups as they begin their exploration of choreography.

Teacher’s Top Three: Top Low-Tech Props

IMAGE Alexandra of Hullaballoo Danceshop looks jovial in butterfly wings as she waves a magic wand over her creative dance class. IMAGE

Alexandra Langstaff has been teaching creative movement and modern dance in Vermont for over 20 years. She spends the majority of her time in pre-schools, elementary schools and day care centers. She shares her Top Three Props with DA readers because they saved her when the electricity went out, the iPod quit and the cute speaker system wasn’t loud enough.

Sunday Snapshot: Paquita From The Wings

IMAGE During a production of Paquita, from the wings we glimpse a college ballerina performing. IMAGE

Today’s photo was taken during a performance of Paquita by the Alma College Dance Company in Alma, MI. The beautiful young lady performing the principal role in this photograph is a freshman from Jackson, MI named Lindsay. Photographer, Simone Boos is a native of Indianapolis, IN who currently attends Alma College in Michigan where she is pursuing dual degrees in dance and English. After discovering a love for photography in high school, she launched Simone Boos Photography in January of 2009. Simone now specializes in portraiture of all kinds, and continues to photograph dance at both the amateur and professional level.

Knees, Please: Why A Dancer Should Walk Like A Man

Pronating the feet can lead to problems in the hips, spine, and knees

Lauren of Art Intercepts follows our chat with Dr. Craig Westin with some pointers for dancers who are concerned about knee pain and/or injury prevention in this important, yet often fragile joint.

The Skinny On The Bar Method For Ballet Body Fitness

IMAGE The Bar Method partners with Twentieth Century Fox to promote the release of Black Swan to DVD and Blu-Ray IMAGE

The 411 on The Bar Method as founder, Burr Leonard chats with me about this unique full-body fitness program, its relationship to dance and with dancers, and of course, Black Swan (which they celebrated during a promotional partnership in March). Also, our own Lauren Warnecke tries a class in Chicago and lets you know exactly what she thinks.

Got Props? 4 Ways to Get Organized at Your Dance Studio

Binders for important, daily studio topics

Cluttered studio? Suzanne Gerety offers tips on how to maximize the space you have, increase efficiency, and ultimately save money at your studio. This will help you tackle that problem of digging and searching in the abyss for those sparkly star wands or parasols you know you bought a couple of years back when it comes time to plan your camps or set a piece of choreography with props.

Costume Advice from a Professional Smarty-pants

IMAGE The talented Adult Beginner's sketch of Spring Wildebeast... dancing. IMAGE

The multi-talented Adult Beginner pays us a visit again. AB is …umm… a ballet beginner who began as an adult, hence bypassing the costume chaos that most studio teachers, parents, and students associate with this time of year. However, as a professional costumey smarty-pants, I thought she’d have some super smart costume altering advice to share with us… I wasn’t disappointed and I don’t think you will be either!