Let’s Get Moving! GIVEAWAY

‘Tis the season for giving, and giving big. So this time I’m bundling some great giveaway items together. Each one has a unique strategy for inspiring children to investigate different movement forms, including ballet, creative dance, and yoga. These products encourage creative ways for kids and adults to explore movement together and are sure to spark a child’s interest in the physical practice, art, and delight of moving.

DVD Review: My First Ballet Collection

My First Ballet Collection is a great choice for those wishing to nurture enthusiasm for ballet among children of all ages. Younger children will enjoy being introduced to colorful characters and beautiful dancing. Older children will benefit from the opportunity to sample a mélange of ballet specimens.

Families Move “Up, Down, & All Around”

Versatility is the real strength of Up, Down, & All Around. Parents (or educators) with little experience can pop in the DVD and get every member of the family or classroom up and moving in no time, yet there are opportunities for new discoveries and learning with repeat viewings.

Biographies You Can Sink Your Teeth Into

I love books and I love a good story. And sometimes the stories that are true can capture my imagination as much as any tale of fiction, particularly when the story belongs to a dancer. I haven’t read all of the biographies and autobiographies below (so this isn’t a review post) but they all come highly recommended by dancers like you!

Your Lobby Library — 9 Dance Biographies for Students

The lobby of your studio is a great place for waiting dancers and families to learn a bit more about dance, its history, and its artists. Picture books are a great way to introduce your dancers and perhaps inspire them to learn more and dig deeper into the lives and legacies of important figures in dance.

12 Steps to a More Eco-Friendly Dance Studio

We live in a fast-paced world but students are very conscious of environmental issues. You might be surprised at their efforts in this area. However, if you want to go that extra mile, consider offering some incentive with a discount to those who participate in an organized carpool.

9 Dance Books I Can’t Live Without

Just a list of 9 dance references that I use all the time.

Holiday Gift List for Dancers and Dance Teachers

We are well into November already and the holidays are quickly approaching. Unless you are a last-minute shopper, you may already be thinking about what to get for the dancer or dance teacher in your life. I’ve found some fun products online that would be a treat for any dancer-type this holiday season. These are [...]

Let’s Hear it for the Boys!

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 [...]

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Turnout – How to Nurture Your Turnout

This is a continuing series. Certainly, it would be impossible to write about everything you ever wanted to know about turnout in one, two, or maybe even twenty posts. But, welcome to Part II!.
Part I explored the history of turnout in dance and the anatomical definition of outward rotation at the hip joint.  Here, [...]

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Turnout – What Is Turnout?

This will be a continuing series. Certainly, it would be impossible to write about everything you ever wanted to know about turnout in one, two, or maybe even twenty posts. But, welcome to Part I!
Contents:

Introduction
What is Turnout?
Recognizing Proper/Improper Turnout
Nature vs. Nurture

Want to learn some techniques for improving your turnout? Read Part II

If you study [...]

Vertically Challenged: Improving Your Jumps

Jumping is a large part of a dancer’s training and students are constantly searching for the secret recipe that will improve their skills in this area. However, for the most part the secret to jumping is not so secret, it is the same hard work that goes into most everything in dance: proper [...]

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