Why Does My Dance Teacher Make Me Go Slowly?
August 25, 2010 by Nichelle (admin)
Filed under Blog, For Everyone Else, For Juniors, For Students
Maybe you are a dance student who just loves to move at a fast pace and find it difficult to slow down. Perhaps you are eager to try the more advanced or faster version and don’t like it when your dance instructor holds you back.
Possibly it annoys you. You wonder what’s wrong with you or what’s wrong with your teacher that you have to work through things so slowly. Maybe you even begin to think he or she is just being mean or controlling.
New Continents — From Royal Ballet School To Boston Ballet
August 16, 2010 by Nichelle (admin)
Filed under Ballet/Pointe, Blog, College and Career, Dance Companies, Dance Styles, For Career Dancers, For Everyone Else, For Inspiration, For Juniors, For Students, In the Spotlight, The Dance World, Toolbox
“I once took six months off from ballet when I was 14. My school commitments were growing and it was becoming seriously difficult to juggle everything. It reaffirmed for me, however, that ballet was my one love and out of everything what I should have been doing.”
Is It Okay To Stretch Before Class?
June 17, 2010 by Lauren Warnecke
Filed under Blog, For Career Dancers, For Everyone Else, For Juniors, For Students, Performance, Technique, Toolbox, Wellness
If you are stretching with the goal of long-term changes in your flexibility (for example, you can’t do the splits and would like to), save your stretching routine for after class or between barre and center when your muscles are “warm.” Generally speaking, both of the stretching techniques above have acute (short-lasting) effects on your range of motion before activity, but don’t really increase your overall flexibility.
“Late Beginner” Blues And How To Get Beyond Them
June 15, 2010 by Nichelle (admin)
Filed under Blog, For Career Dancers, For Everyone Else, For Juniors, For Parents, For Parents of Teens, For Students, Performance, Technique, Toolbox
Possibly the worst thing dancers can do when there is a strong desire to improve is make negative comparisons of themselves to other dancers. Sometimes comparisons help us create a realistic picture and provide awareness of where we are and where we still have to go. However, comparisons must stop there.
Introducing My Dance Homework: Toe Sit-Ups
April 27, 2010 by Nichelle (admin)
Filed under Blog, Featured, For Everyone Else, For Juniors, For Students, Technique, Toolbox
[VIDEO] A simple exercise for dance students to do while sitting around. “Toe Sit-ups” encourage awareness and articulation of (or working through) the foot for tendu and pointing. They also strengthen the plantar flexors for pointe work, stability and balance, cushioning landings, and giving power to jumps.
Surviving And Thriving As A Male Dancer
April 13, 2010 by Roger Lee
Filed under Blog, College and Career, For Career Dancers, For Everyone Else, For Juniors, For Students, Toolbox, Wellness
It is shocking to discover that people can be much more open and accepting than we give them credit for. It is important for the young male dancer to keep an open mind and allow room for people to accept and admire his dance talent. Remember, not everyone will approve, nor does everyone have to. But there are many art supporters, family and friends who will accept your dance talent as a gift and encourage you to use it to the fullest.
9 Tips for Improving Pirouettes
March 15, 2010 by Nichelle (admin)
Filed under Blog, For Juniors, For Students, Technique, Toolbox
5. “Connect” your arms to your back – you should feel and imagine width across the back and shoulder blades and the arms should maintain their position (don’t “wind-up” for a turn)
6. Take off from a properly placed and expansive plié for power in the turn.
7. Strengthen your ankles supporting the relevé – if you are wobbly, sickled, or pronated, this will ruin your turn.
8. Mentally, make a choice to come down from the turn, don’t “let” gravity make the choice for you.
En Dehors, Out the Door
January 12, 2010 by Nichelle (admin)
Filed under Blog, Featured, For Juniors, For Students, Terminology, Toolbox
En dehors and en dedans! Frequently misspelled and endlessly confused, let’s go over these dance directions! A bird’s eye view helps to illustrate the sometimes puzzling terminology.
Dance Little Sister — Working With a Younger Sibling
September 16, 2009 by Nichelle (admin)
Filed under Blog, For Juniors, For Parents, For Parents of Young Children, For Students
It is challenging to work with a younger sibling when creating or rehearsing for a performance. Here are the keys to avoiding frustration.
How NOT To Ask a Question in Dance Class
July 8, 2009 by Nichelle (admin)
Filed under Blog, Featured, For Juniors, For Students
The do’s and don’ts for getting your teacher’s attention in class. Examples of appropriate moments. How to recognize an emergency situation.
Backstage Bliss: 11 Guidelines for Students in a Dance Recital
May 19, 2009 by Nichelle (admin)
Filed under Blog, Featured, For Everyone Else, For Juniors, For Parents, For Parents of Competitors, For Parents of Teens, For Parents of Young Children, For Students, Performance, Toolbox
Recitals can be hectic and stressful for those trying to make the day/evening go off without a hitch. Adhering to these rules helps a performance run smoothly for you and the others around you.
What it Takes – Becoming a Ballerina
April 14, 2008 by Nichelle (admin)
Filed under Blog, College and Career, For Everyone Else, For Juniors, For Parents, For Parents of Competitors, For Parents of Teens, For Parents of Young Children, For Students, Toolbox
TweetShareOriginally this post featured a link to a news item that focused on a 12-year-old girl with aspirations to become a professional ballet dancer, and the sacrifices she’s made and will need to make in order to get there. The article is no longer available, however, so I have updated this post with some other [...]
