1. Dance outside. Okay, where I live in Texas it can get pretty hot in the summer months but, even if it’s just a short impromptu cavort, take your shoes off and just enjoy being outside!

2. Settle in with a good dance biography. Check out this list of Biographies You Can Sink Your Teeth Into from DA’s archives.

3. Make dance part of your vacation. If you are heading on holiday, why not check ahead for studios that hold open classes in your destination city. I’ve done this when visiting New York, San Francisco, and even some smaller cities. It’s always a memorable experience and I always return home with new revelations and increased motivation for class.

4. Visit a museum or take an art class. What’s that got to do with dance? Exploring other arts disciplines and taking time out to be creative in ways besides dance is reaffirming and inspiring.

5. Find a drum circle or contact improv jam. Don’t think improvisation is your thing? Just try to resist the beat of a drum circle. It’s not unusual at all to find dancers of all kinds moving along (children love these) but don’t be afraid to take the initiative yourself. Here’s a listing for U.S. and International drum circles. Contact improv jams often welcome movers of varying levels of experience. Here’s a handy map of U.S. and global opportunities.

6. Perform or work behind-the-scenes in a musical or play. Off stage or on, you will gain valuable production experience and increase your skills in areas that are directly related to dance.

7. Watch dance online. Peek into the professional dance world with DancePulp on Hulu. Each eight to ten-minute video offers a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of dancers and choreographers. Christopher Wheeldon, Andrea Schermoly, Lourdes Lopez, and don’t miss William Wingfield talk about So You Think You Can Dance and combining the concert and commercial career.

8. Start a journal. There are lots of techniques for journaling but the hardest part is forming the habit. Write about the things from this list as you check them off! We dance bloggers like to write about journals (duh!). Here’s an early post on the subject from DA’s archives. And a recent one from Ballet For Men.

9. Take some Yoga, Pilates, Gyrokenesis, or other movement-based class. It’s great cross-training for dancers and if done regularly can keep you limber and strong even with time off from dance.

10. Have a dance movie marathon. Include movies you love with those that you wouldn’t ordinarily pick up. The Dance Advantage aStore lists some of my favorites under DA Suggests – DVD. Here are some blog mentions and reviews of dance movies, too.

11. Produce your own student dance show. This could be formal or informal depending on your situation. The essentials are simply to have students or peers sign up, collaborate, and choreograph their own dances. In the process you’ll learn a bit about what it takes to mount a production (big or small), practice dance-making skills, and have fun while you are at it. Growing up, my studio offered an opportunity to dance in a student choreographed show. It was semi-formal (in a stage space but much smaller scale than a recital), students from inside and outside of the studio were welcome, family and friends attended. It was something I always looked forward to.

12. Create a daily workout, stretch, or moving practice. Set some goals for the summer and then put together just a few exercises that you can do every day. Or if you just need to get moving, make it a daily habit to throw on some music and dance around your living room. A recent post at FitSugar even suggests adding dance to your morning routine… maybe a little plié while you brush your teeth!

Image by Wonderlane via Flickr

13. Read up! Catch up with posts right here on Dance Advantage by clicking on the navigation links under the header or check my offline picks (again, these are found at the aStore). You might also visit the blogs listed with a logo in the sidebar on the site – DA’s Blog Stars.

14. Go to a conference/convention/intensive/workshop. This one certainly takes the most planning but there is still time to get in on some of the summer activities happening at home and abroad.

15. Try water ballet! I’m not necessarily talking about synchronized swimming, although I suppose you could give that a try if like. Get in the pool and try your own underwater ballet class or even some water aerobics to get your heart rate up. Movement underwater is a great way to tone muscles and keep cool.

Do you have more ideas to add to the list?

Add them in the comments!

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2010. | Permalink | 3 comments | Category: Blog, Dance Media, Featured, For Inspiration, Summer Study/Workshops, Toolbox

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When did you start dancing, Colby?

I started dancing at the age of 13 because my sister was dancing at a studio and mentioned high school girls! [laughs].

Girls… Check! What about dance or the process of learning motivated you to continue?

I noticed right away it was what I really loved to do. I stayed with the same studio for about four-and-a-half years, studying in ballet, tap, jazz, and a little bit of breaking. The more I danced the more I enjoyed using it as an outlet for my emotions and to release all of my energy, whether it was to relieve anger, or to relieve the stress of my next test coming up, or just a pick me up if I was having an off day.

My motivation to continue was fueled by the ever increasing challenges and the fact that I was tackling those challenges successfully. My confidence continued to grow the more I danced. Also, attending a few live performances of professional companies and just seeing this whole new culture intrigued me.

Did you have support as a young man in dance?

I have always been and always will be supported by my family. I’m very blessed to have all of them. When I became a freshman in high school it became very difficult because I joined the high school cheer team too. This was in a smaller town where guys didn’t really cross that plane at all. I was given a hard time by a lot of people that were supposed to be my friends. Some of it was even worse than just minor teasing. At one of the football games I had a potato thrown at me while I was cheering. Needless to say, I found out who my true friends really were. The further I got into high school the more it became “ok” but in the beginning only my close friends and family really supported me. Actually, to be honest not many girls had a problem with it. It was mainly just the guys that did.

You had a full scholarship to study dance in college but, after a year, left to join a pre-professional company. What about the college dance experience was not what you expected?

The training wasn’t as well-rounded as I had anticipated. The program’s focus was jazz and ballet. A good thing, but I was expecting a more balanced variety. Even though they had hip-hop and tap classes, they were at a beginning level. That was a bit of a disappointment as those happen to be my favorite.

There was also more drama than I expected, things seemed disorganized at times. To their credit they had a whole new staff but we were offered only two weekends of performances for the whole year.

All in all, I wouldn’t give up that experience because good or bad, every experience helps you grow. College helped with technique. There was a more personal atmosphere than I had envisioned. There was good talent which helped me to push myself harder. There was time to focus on my dancing completely. When you are not in college and working, you never get as much time as you want.

In what ways did training with a company suit you better?

The pre-professional training broadened and is still broadening my views on hip-hop culture. Everyone in the company was putting their free time into what they loved so there was less drama (more professionalism). The training and performance opportunities kept us pushing the limits of our potential. Sharing your love for what you do with an audience, hopefully inspiring or entertaining them – that’s what it’s all about.

Putting It Together

Colby’s primary project right now is DanceStage.com, a social network for dancers. I’ve contributed some of my posts to DanceStage.com (which I rarely do). They sit among some really useful articles, as well as contests, and other features which we’ll chat more about below…

Tell me about DanceStage.com and what prompted its creation.

The idea for DanceStage started while I was in college. As I researched for dance assignments, I had the thought that things would be easier if there was a collection of info on dance all in one spot. I told a few friends, we partnered and off we went on it. They have since had to bow out due to time constraints or personal reasons, so I have managed to start taking it on myself. The goal is a social network that is a dancer’s one-stop shop, but I have to build it one step at a time. So, I’ve started with the social network and I am building from there.

Social networks have exploded in the last two years. What has been most difficult about carving out a space online?

The difficult thing about carving a space online is you have to constantly evolve as the internet is constantly evolving. Another hurdle is becoming recognized. You could have the coolest site in the world but if nobody knows it’s there it doesn’t do anyone any good. You just have to be dedicated and persevere long enough to get your name out there.

You’ve partnered with Showstopper to present the Future Stars of America contest. How are winners chosen?

At each Showstopper regional they take the highest scoring group and give them DanceStage’s Future Stars of America award. Their video then gets uploaded to the site and they are a contestant. Once the season is over and all the regional winners are up, DanceStage’s selected judges narrow it down to a top five. These top five are reposted and the members of DanceStage can vote on their favorite video once a day for a week. At the end, the video with the most votes becomes our new Future Stars of America winners. Showstopper has been great to work with and very supportive.

You have a section for classifieds, a forum, users can create customized profiles, and you’ve added new articles. What’s next, what can users look forward to?

DanceStage will soon be coming out with a whole new look. I will be tightening up the features already in place and adding new ones. It will be a great change and I am excited for it. That is my primary focus right now. Some features that are in the back of my mind for the future are a dance history section, a more customizable profile, maybe some interactive games, more contests (small and large), hopefully an online store (for DanceStage apparel and other items), and when the new site comes out I will have a Suggestion Form on every page so that I can deliver what the users want.

Okay, big question. Do you have any thoughts for other 20-somethings trying to make their way?

For anyone trying to establish themselves, I would say do what YOU feel is right for you. Don’t let other people persuade you. Sometimes they are doing it to try and protect you or help you, but only you can decide what is best for you. Whenever I have a decision to make, I call my mom, my dad, a sister or two and ask a few friends. I am very family oriented. My parents did a great job raising me and my sisters had a large impact on me as well. I take into consideration their different perspectives to make my choice. Then I decide, given all these different points, what is the best option for me. Not everything I’ve chosen has been the easiest but I regret none of the choices.

I also can’t say enough for working hard. But not only work hard, work smart. Back in high school, we trained less often than the teams we competed against so my coach used to say that, instead of just working harder, we had to work smarter to make our time more valuable to us than their time was to them.

Thanks Colby!

Do check out DanceStage.com and their YouTube channel, where you’ll find those Future Stars of America entries.

Have you taken your own long and winding road in dance?

Tell us about it in the comments!

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2010. | Permalink | One comment - ADD YOURS! | Category: Blog, College and Career, Dance Media, In the Spotlight, Toolbox

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Tiffany Braniff sums up her blog, Dancing Branflakes with one statement. But don’t mistake this sunny outlook for superficiality.

I’ve appeared on Dancing Branflakes in a new series that shares reader’s old dance photos. Jump over there now to see me in all my first-grade glory. The awesome part about the submissions is that they’ve come from those who’ve gone on to be dancers, and those who haven’t. It’s a wonderful reminder that we all begin somewhere and a great example of the elegant way Tiffany has of bringing people together online. She connects with readers with an open enthusiasm for life, for dance, for food, and yes, pretty things that is unifying, refreshingly honest, and therefore meaningful.

I really enjoy Dancing Branflakes, and I think you will too, so I caught up with Tiffany to ask her a few questions about dance and blogging.

Dance Advantage: Tell us a bit about your background in dance, Tiffany.

Photo by Chantou Lam

Tiffany Braniff: I started dancing at 10, later in life in dancing terms. Because of that I worked harder to retrain my muscles. I think that work ethic is what set the tone for the rest of my dancing career. I had to always work harder, smarter, and more than everyone else.

I studied the RAD method with Pamela Hayes in Sacramento. I went on to BYU to study dance and actually really struggled there, not with grades but with my identity. I had one ballet teacher tell me “You are a beautiful dancer, just not in ballet.” The modern teachers told me I looked “too ballet.” It was after I left BYU that my technique flourished and I began to understand who I was as a dancer. I am still learning and growing but I finally feel confident in my abilities for the first time in my life.

(For the record, BYU has an amazing modern dance program and introduced me to the Bartenieff method. I adopted this method into my training and it has changed my dancing dramatically for the better.)

Right now I am a company member of Dangerous Lorraines Dance Theater in Sacramento. I take ballet and modern dance classes as often as I can. I am also a teacher at Northern California Dance Conservatory where I teach ballet and little kids.

DA: Where did your supercute blog title come from?

The name is a play on my last name, Braniff.

DA: Why did you start blogging?

TB: I started blogging as a way to keep in touch with my family. Then I realized my family never read my blog so I changed the format to blog about a dancer’s life. I figured it would be a way to share my love for dance and the dance world in general to a broader audience. It’s important for me to promote dance any way I can.

DA: How long have you been blogging?

TB: I started blogging two years ago, but this dancing blog started nine months ago. The support from the blogging community is great. Within my own community of blogging friends we’ve opened up to each other in a way that feels so close and comfortable that everyday I look forward to their posts. If done right, a blog can be a beautiful look into one’s soul. Good bloggers appreciate that and build wonderful relationships from that intimate glimpse.

DA: Dancing Branflakes covers a whole range of topics. You are a dancer who blogs but not always a dancer blogging about dancing. Did you consciously decide to do things this way?

TB: Great question and I’m glad you like the variety! My goal was to blog everyday but to blog about dance everyday can get boring, even if you love dance. As someone who’s life revolves around dance, sometimes you just need a break. So posting things about food, fashion, and life’s beauties was just an organic occurrence. And maybe a little symbolic of a dancer’s life.

DA: As a result of your diverse focus, you also have a diverse readership. What has most surprised you about your community of readers?

TB: They love dance! I love it because I think this blog has helped them rekindle their love for dance or has given them a forum to express their excitement for dance even if they aren’t dancers themselves. It’s such a beautiful art form- who wouldn’t love it?

DA: What has blogging done for your dancing?

Dangerous Lorraines Dance Theater

TB: It has helped me stay motivated and excited about it. I find myself thinking about life lessons and funny stories within the classes I teach or performances I am in and wanting to share it with my readers. Their enthusiasm for dance is so infectious and supportive that I can’t help but always feel inspired and blessed to have chosen this profession.

DA: Name one non-dance blog that you think every dancer should read?

TB: This is the hardest question! Cup of Jo is probably the most refreshing and hugely popular blog. She’s the guru of all bloggers, knows how to captivate an audience in a single phrase, and blogs about everything that everyone loves. She’s a professional with over ten thousand followers but has a real homey feeling.

DA: What is coming up for you in the future that you are really excited about?

TB: This summer I am going to Repertory Dance Theater’s Workshop in Utah. For the first time since college I will be able to dance every day from morning until night. I feel like my body is at it’s peak and the desire to dance has never been greater. Right now I’m always looking for more so I’m on the look out for auditions, performance opportunities, and collaborations. As for my blog, more giveaways! I love them and I love giving gifts to people.

Dancers, teachers, and parents,

do you have a favorite non-dance blog that you read regularly?

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2010. | Permalink | 7 comments | Category: Blog, Dance Media, In the Spotlight

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© Tom Sparks

Dance studios are alive right now as dance recital costumes are rolling in. Students finalize and perfect their performance numbers, parents flurry in and out of offices, and teachers and studio owners hope for the best while preparing for the worst… just in case! The vibrant color of this sweet memory reminds me that the time is at hand for these special events. Dance Advantage wishes all who are preparing for their spring recitals and performances the very best.

About the Author: Tom Sparks grew up in Illinois and began taking photographs with a Kodak Hawkeye Brownie Flash camera when he was eight years old. He was in the photography class and clubs in junior high school and had fun discovering the creative process in the dark room. Before Tom moved to Japan in 1981, he bought his first SLR camera. A serious interest in photography developed while living abroad and in 1983 he moved to Utah, where he has lived ever since. Tom loves photographing people, particularly on stage, fashion, boudoir, and lifestyle. You can visit Tom’s website for more about Tom and his work.

Submit YOUR photo to the Dance Advantage Sunday Snapshot Flickr Pool and get featured on the site!

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2010. | Permalink | CLICK HERE to comment | Category: Blog, Dance Media, In the Spotlight

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Ready or not, this is exactly what Sokvannara Sar accomplished, with more than a little help from a few tireless supporters. The wholly unique circumstances of his still-unfolding life illustrates the universal hope, struggle, and sacrifice of all dancers.

Singled out in Cambodia, where he was a poor boy with a hunger for his homeland’s traditional Khmer dance, Sar’s strenuous metamorphosis as he is whisked into American culture and the world of ballet is documented in the new film Dancing Across Borders. Known as Sy (pronounced like ‘see’), the documentary’s subject overcomes nearly impossible odds. Yet, unlike many dance stories, Sy himself is not the dreamer. He did not choose ballet. In a way it chose him via longtime ballet devotee and philanthropist, Anne Bass.

Bass is in fact the director of this film, though like Sy this is a role she never really intended to play. Her entwinement in Sy’s development is so great, however, that it is perhaps only fitting that she be the one to tell his story. While visiting Cambodia with the World Movements Fund in 2000, Bass discovered Sy at a dance recital at Preah Khan temple. Enthralled with Sy’s presence and raw talent for performance, Bass made a naively bold move and invited Sy to come to America, where she would be the benefactor for his study in ballet at the prestigious SAB school. Not bargained for was the uphill battle of this endeavor. That classical Cambodian dance bears little technical resemblance to classical ballet, that Sy would require intense and grueling coaching by an unshakable and steadfast believer in his abilities (found in Olga Kostritzky) before SAB would accept him as teachable, that isolated by barriers of language and culture Sy’s exuberant personality would wane for a while, and that he would remain uncertain of his future in ballet even beyond the film’s frame, were unexpected challenges.

Dancing Across Borders isn’t without some clunky moments of exposition and may dwell too long on achievements that mean little to anyone unfamiliar with ballet. However, Bass earns respect as a first-time filmmaker in taking on this open-ended narrative. Able to shape the documentary herself, she might have painted a triumphal picture of the American dream personified and, I suppose, some may still interpret it this way. Amazingly, however, Bass resists a Cinderella telling and provides, with ample footage of Sy’s progress, an unflinching glance into the rigorous training and hard-won rewards of ballet. She also does not shy away from Sy’s inner conflict as a young man trying to reconcile two worlds, two cultures, and find his place within each. She underlines this at one point in the film with Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now,” poignant as ever in the language of the Khmer people. Ultimately Bass’s ability to place Sy’s heroism and the strength of the Cambodian people at the heart of the story effectively conveys that hope is boundless.

Shakespeare’s line, “Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them,” comes to mind when considering Sy. His achievements are a reflection of those who believed in him, and like a beam of light hitting this mirror, his trajectory was altered when Anne Bass recognized his inborn greatness, a combination of qualities shared by all true dancers: a buoyant spirit and irrepressible courage. That’s why Dancing Across Borders, the depiction of Sy’s journey across the frontier of ballet is a tale for and about dancers everywhere.

New York’s Quad Theatre has extended its screening of Dancing Across Borders through April 15. Additional screenings will take place throughout April and May in cities throughout the U.S. Details can be found on the Dancing Across Borders website.

Discussion Questions

Dancing Across Borders is scheduled for release on Amazon.

Click here to preorder

This documentary provides some interesting food for conversation on ballet and culture. Teachers, dancers and parents, whether you see the film or not, here are some questions and exercises for reflection…

1. What unique qualities must a person have to succeed as professional dancer? Are these qualities different for ballet versus other dance forms?
2. Performers are often said to have “it.” What is “it” and must you be born with this quality?
3. What are the risks and sacrifices of a career in ballet? What are the rewards?
4. Is it ever too late to begin a professional career in ballet?
5. Imagine what ballet looks like to someone who has never seen it before. Can you describe or write about what this person might see, hear, and feel?
6. Describe a time when you felt out of place and and homesick. What, if anything, helped you to overcome these feelings?
7. Intense one-on-one training, receiving instruction and speaking through interpreters, learning an entirely foreign and difficult movement discipline… Physically and emotionally, the first few months of Sy’s training must have been almost torturous. Why do you suppose he never gave up?
8. How important is it to have people in your life who believe in you? Is it more important than belief in yourself?

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2010. | Permalink | One comment - ADD YOURS! | Category: Blog, College and Career, Dance Companies, Dance Library, Dance Media, In the Spotlight, The Dance World, Toolbox

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I am attracted to the rich color of this photograph as well as the familiarity of this student-teacher moment. It also brought to mind some of my own childhood dance performances. Less formal affairs than the elaborate showcases which are the norm at dance studios across the country, these were often held in small or unique spaces. Seeing this photo reminded me that as a child, what mattered to me was not the stage, costume, or bright lights. I wanted to do my very best because in performance there was the thrill of showing my family what I had learned, the feeling of accomplishment at hearing their applause, and the approval and smile on my teacher’s face at the finish. How enchanting that this image also caught my lovely memories! That is, I suppose, just some of the magic and allure of photography.

About the Photographer: Ya-Chi Sherry Liu is a native of Taipei, Taiwan. A well-traveled individual, Sherry is now living and working in New York City. Bringing her worldly sense of place and being to her images, she looks to convey the new and unique. Having a fresh perspective on the world, she brings joy and life to her photographs and those who view them. Sherry and her husband Aaron have recently launched a new web site dedicated to their shared passion for photography. You can view more of their work at Zao Imaging.

Want to have your photo featured?

Add it to the DA Sunday Snapshot pool at Flickr

Learn more here

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2010. | Permalink | CLICK HERE to comment | Category: Blog, Dance Media, In the Spotlight

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What’s in a name?

PI – for Pilates. YO – for Yoga. LET as in Ballet. PIYOLET is a low impact fitness regimen for all ages, designed to diversify and keep the mind, body and soul refreshed and fit.

Creator Roslyn Bazzelle has been dancing since she was a young child. She continued her studies at Hampton University while getting her bachelor’s degree and then went on to study law here in Texas. She is a certified group fitness instructor with training and certifications in Yoga and Pilates. In addition to producing and directing her own fitness DVDs for the PIYOLET program she’s developed, Roz is a singer, songwriter, and a practicing attorney in the areas of real estate, corporate, and entertainment law. Believe it or not, she had a moment free to talk to Dance Advantage about dance, fitness, and source of her tireless motivation.

Dance Advantage: You are a busy lady! Why has it been important to you (or what drives you) to pursue growth and development in so many different areas?

Roslyn Bazzelle: To someone else, they appear to be completely different and so far apart, but, for me ….. they are all connected and allow me to serve my purpose on this earth. Growing up I was always involved in different activities. My mother figured if she kept me busy, she would keep me out of trouble (smiles). Piano for 11 years. Dance for 13 years. Choir in church and school, for as long as I can remember. All while maintaining good grades. Mom was a teacher so I had to represent well in school! Initially, I had a one-track mind – law – once I got out of law school in 1999 but, after practicing a few years, I found that I needed to be more and do more to live the life God planned for me. As a lawyer, I assist businesses and individuals with their legal needs. As a fitness instructor, I help individuals create a stronger and healthier body. As a singer I hope to motivate others to get through whatever situation or issue they are dealing through the joy of song, and I just fell into the production side of the fitness business through my creation and development of PIYOLET.

DA: Tell us a bit about your experience with dance growing up and what discoveries you made in your transition to college with the study of modern dance.

RB: Dance was a wonderful and amazing outlet for me to grow and learn. It was not just about the routines and choreography. It was the people, the students, the environment, the recitals, the teachers, the discipline — the experience over-all was such a huge part of my life growing up. I wouldn’t change a thing! I have to applaud my mom for selecting dance studios with directors and instructors who were kind, beautiful (inside & out) and who cared about ALL of the students. Transitioning to Modern was a little hard at first due to the structure I was used to, but, I found it invigorating and it really opened my eyes to the freedom you can have as a dancer.

DA: Why are Yoga and Pilates worthy, and perhaps essential, companions for dance technique?

RB: Yoga and Pilates, in my opinion, are absolutely essential in advancing a dancers technique and skills. The basic elements of Yoga allow you to grow mentally, spiritually, and the benefits to your body are phenomenal! Pilates is simply one of the quickest and easiest methods to strengthen your core which helps you with everything you do, whether you are sitting, walking or dancing, Pilates can take your body to the next level.

DA: Your DVD is for all ages, but what about skill level? Would even experienced dancers feel challenged by your DVD?

RB: The Original PIYOLET DVD was created for intermediate to advanced level dancers and fitness enthusiasts who were currently taking my Pilates and Yoga classes. I have received comments from personal trainers, dancers and fitness professionals who enjoy my workout and were absolutely challenged. After receiving many inquiries from those who had zero experience or training in Yoga, Pilates or Ballet, I decided to film the Intro to PIYOLET DVD a beginner level workout which is now available for purchase. The third addition to the PIYOLET DVD series is Body by PIYOLET which is the second level to the original PIYOLET DVD, and allows those who are experienced with PIYOLET to enhance their skills.

DA: How is PIYOLET different from other fitness fusion programs?

RB: PIYOLET is different because, it combines Pilates, Yoga & Ballet in a unique way which does not require a leotard, fancy footwear, a barre or any specific equipment. PIYOLET was created to allow people to experience and learn sequences and poses based on a combination of all three formats and gain the benefits, which include, core strength, improved posture & balance, flexibility, lean muscles and mind, body & spirit integration.

PIYOLET Giveaway!

THREE Dance Advantage readers will win a PIYOLET workout DVD. Winners may choose one of the following to add to their workout library: Intro to PIYOLET (beginner level), Original PIYOLET (intermediate), or Body by PIYOLET (advanced).

This giveaway is now closed! Winners announced soon!

How to enter

If you are in the U.S. and 18 or older, place a comment on this post. That’s it! The three winners will be randomly selected via random.org. Please make sure you use an email address at which I can contact you should you be a winner. The giveaway will close to new entrants at Midnight on Sunday, March 28. The winners will be drawn and will have 48 hours to respond and claim their prize. If you have questions, check our giveaway policy.

Wasn’t that easy?

You can follow Roslyn on Twitter or become a fan of PIYOLET on Facebook. Doing so will not affect your entry in the contest, however, let’s thank her for offering DA readers a chance to win!

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2010. | Permalink | 19 comments | Category: Blog, Dance Library, Dance Media, Giveaways, In the Spotlight

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You may remember the feature I did on Maria’s blog Move.Create.Educate., one of my favorites because Maria is journaling her daily experiences, inspirations, and challenges as a teacher. This time, I wanted to pick her brain a bit and find out which three CDs she just couldn’t live without in her work with young children. Here’s what she had to say:

“If you are a teacher you probably know how hard it is to find great music to use in your classes that are all on the same album. Here are my top 3 picks that have it all. They are creative, inspiring, and leave a don’t-forget-it-at-home impression on me. I am always looking for new music to spice up my classes, so I hope these will help you! I tried to feature a little something for everyone!”

Maria’s Top Three

by Pamela Conn Beall, Susan Hagen Nipp

1. Wee Sing and Pretend

This is my all time favorite. I use this in all of my preschool classes, creative dance classes, and baby ballet classes. It has everything from a dinosaur dance to a song about a washing machine. Every song takes young dancers on a new adventure, or to a new place. I love it most because it gives room for their imaginations to grow, my philosophy as a teacher of young ones.

Note from Nichelle: Incidentally, I happen to use this CD with my little ones too! The variety of topics is a really nice feature. To adult ears, I have to say they may not seem like much, but my kids got really attached to the ones I used in class most often — particularly Row, Row, Row Your Boat and Jack-in-the-Box.

by Steven Mitchell

2. pas de tot

This CD is a great addition to a PreBallet class. I use it for everything from teaching the positions to across the floor steps like chassé. There is a song for every exercise and it even repeats the song over for teaching the other side or repetition of a step. I love to use the Reverence song to end my class. It’s such a refreshing CD to have on hand whenever you are looking for the perfect song!

by Kimbo Music

3. Tap Your Troubles Away

I love this CD because it has something for every level. I use it for the little ones, right up through the teenagers. I find it to be progressive through the exercises and many of the songs have an even beat for counting purposes. I love to choreograph combinations and parents day showings to this CD. A well rounded CD for any tap teacher!

Bonus!

Maria couldn’t resist sharing a few more recommendations. Check these out too!
Baby Jamz: Nursery Rhymes, Vol. 1: Solange Knowles
Wake Up and Wiggle: Marie Barnett

Do you teach little movers?

What are your Top Three?

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2010. | Permalink | 7 comments | Category: Blog, Dance Media, For Classroom, For Teachers/Studio Owners, In the Spotlight, Music, Other Dance Forms, Tap, Toolbox

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I was so wowed by this image when I saw it appear in the Sunday Snapshot pool. The distal reach of the dancer’s arms create a striking diagonal and, of course, the musculature of a dancer’s back is always an absorbing feature. I was very taken by the angular shape of the body and play of shadow and light, and I thought you would be too.

About the Photographer: Dave Wood is a part-time photographer from Denver, Colorado. His primary focus is on black and white images of the nude human form. Dave’s work can be found online at davewoodphotography.com and on his Facebook fan page. You can also find him on Twitter. Dave recently had several photos appear in the Topless Project (The Artist’s Fight Against Breast Cancer) exhibit in Hollywood, CA and had an image appear in a recent issue of B&W Magazine. His work can currently be seen at Racine’s Restaurant in Denver, CO as well as the FLASH Gallery in Lakewood, CO.

On Working with Dancers: Dave says, “Unfortunately, (though my sister is a dancer and instructor) I have had only limited opportunities to work with dancers. I first met this dancer from Apex Contemporary Dance Theatre at a photography workshop and I approached her about the possibility of doing a studio shoot. We’ve done two wonderful shoots together, this image being a result of the most recent one. If it were up to me, every model I work with would be trained as a dancer. The strength and flexibility you get with a dancer, coupled with the stage presence and appreciation of art, make for a great combination from the perspective of an artistic nude photographer.”

I realize that not everyone feels comfortable with photography of the nude human form. Dave has taken measures at his website to ensure that one has the option of viewing only those images with which they do feel comfortable. Also note that his Facebook page features a collection of his work that is suitable for most audiences.

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© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2010. | Permalink | 4 comments | Category: Blog, Dance Media, In the Spotlight

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I chose today’s photo simply because I liked the stark black and white look of this color photo. The shadow accents the striking shape created with the dancer’s arms and leg. I also appreciated the vertical stacking of her body – she almost looks like she is hanging from her wrist and knee. The dancer is Sara Little of Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre (Indianapolis, Indiana). The photo was from the dance company’s season shoot for 2009-2010 specifically for a production called The Casket Girls, a modern-gothic-alternative-vampire ballet, that premiered in Indianapolis on Halloween in 2009. In addition to the unusual, supernatural theme, the development of the production was also unique in that fans from around the world helped craft the story line and characters.

About the Photographer: Simone Boos is currently a second year college student who started Simone Boos Photography in January of 2009 at the age of 18. A native of Indianapolis, Simone works all around the Hoosier state as well as in mid-Michigan where she attends school. Simone became interested in photography as a high school student and has, since that time, pursued it at every opportunity. She especially loves photographing children and dancers. Simone has had photos published in several local Indianapolis publications including The Indianapolis Star and Nuvo as well as on several online venues including Now Public and Big Bend Habitat for Humanity. In the future Simone hopes to continue to expand her business and possibly pursue a career in photojournalism. You can also find Simone on Facebook and Twitter.

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Happy Valentine’s Day!

I just couldn’t pass up this sweet photo for today’s feature. Perhaps many of us out there remember the magic of our first performance experience. I love that this young dancer’s recital moment is captured from the wings.

About the Photographer: Hannah has been featured on Dance Advantage before with a photo entitled Eiffel Tower. You might be surprised to learn that she is 15 years old and that this high school sophomore discovered photography only last year. She says that some of her friends were into it and she, “like any teenager had to follow the trend.” However, if you look at the work Hannah has displayed on her flickr photostream, I think you will see that there is a creativity and sophistication to her work that sets her apart. She shows real talent and promise, in my humble opinion. Though Hannah began just for fun, photography has since become very important to her. “I love it. It helps me express what I’m feeling and is an easy way to sort my thoughts out. I’d encourage anyone to become involved in photography! It’s so fun!”

I welcome and encourage other dancers and amateur photographers to pick up a camera. Submit your work to the Dance Advantage Sunday Snapshot pool. I’d love to feature you here on the blog!

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Dancer: Tara Keating; BalletX

In honor of Blizzard 2010!

Stay safe and warm, people! And enjoy your Super Bowl Sunday!

About the Photographer: Brian Mengini has been involved with the dance world for over 8 years, first as company management and now as a photographer. He is based in Philadelphia, PA and has shot the Royal Ballet of London, Pennsylvania Ballet, Ballet X and many others. His recent project Spirit of the Fallen, pays tribute to the fallen officers of the Philadelphia Police Department. The  photo exhibition, which depicts dancers from the Philly area wearing angel wings, also raises funds for the FOP Survivor’s Fund. You can find out more about Brian at his Facebook fan page.

From Brian’s website: “For over ten years now, I have been capturing Philadelphia’s creative pulse and am blessed to be able to blend two of my passions, photography and dance, into one wonderfully fulfilling journey. I credit my time spent as manager of Rennie Harris PureMovement, in the mid 1990′s, with not only my passion for movement but my eye for its emotion!”

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I was immediately drawn to the material over at Move. Create. Educate for its emphasis on creative movement for young children and began interacting with Maria, the teacher and blogger behind it all.

I discovered that Maria is an independent dance educator around New York City who holds a Master’s degree in dance education from NYU. I discovered that Maria is currently building her own business called Maria’s Movers where she offers creative ballet and creative movement to children around NYC. I discovered she is a teaching artist in public elementary schools for New York City Ballet, a creative movement and tap teacher for Mark Morris Dance Group in Brooklyn and a movement specialist for 2-3 year olds at York Avenue Preschool on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. And then, THEN, I discovered she and I both received our undergraduate degrees in dance from Slippery Rock University! Needless to say we’ve had a lot to talk about.

I thought you might like to get to know Maria a little better too so, I caught up with her to ask a few questions about her blog and her life as a teacher.

DA: What inspired you to start your blog?

Maria: I was inspired to start Move. Create. Educate. because I was looking for a place to share my ideas about dance education. I had so many ideas, frustrations, and questions that I needed to write them down. I was feeling alone in this profession, but I knew that wasn’t true. So I set out to just write, write, write — not really knowing if anyone would read it. I think of the blog as my journal. I try to write everyday, as I think of it as an extension of my job as a teacher. Now that I have been blogging for a while, I think it is so important to share and connect with dance educators everywhere. I hope the blog will build a community of teachers and become a place to talk about challenges and accomplishments of dance educators. It was just the outlet I was looking for!

DA: What is the biggest challenge you face as a teacher?

Maria: My biggest challenge right now is being able to get all of behind the scenes work done. If you are a teacher of any kind you know that just because you leave work, it doesn’t mean your work is done. Planning, playlists, e-mails, and evaluations, it all has to be done in between or after the day of teaching is over. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up. The challenge is making time and space for all of this work. I use my New York apartment as my office/planning place. If you know New York apartments, you know that space is limited! Oh and did I mention I carry my dance room on my shoulder? A challenge in itself!

DA: What do you love most about what you do?

Maria: This is such a tough question! I love it all! I love when the kids see me and their faces light up with a huge smile and offer me a huge hug. I love when the parents tell me that all they talk about at home is ballet and that they sing the point and flex song to fall asleep at night! I love parents days and performances because the kids feel so accomplished. I love to see my students of all ages engage in the creative process. I love to hear them laugh. I think what I love the most though is just knowing that everyday I get to teach dance and make a living. It was always my goal, and I finally have reached it!

DA: Name three items that in your work with little ones you just couldn’t live without.

Maria: 1) Hand drum: I bought a hand drum when I first graduated from NYU and was first hired to work with preschool age kids. I wasn’t sure what I would use it for, but I knew I could figure something out and it would come in handy. It is now a regular part of every class. The sound of the drum signals for them to stop, look, and listen. We practice jumping on the beat, and they love to play it too. If I have a new class, I begin with letting them play the drum. Works like a charm! This also works with older kids, and I have used it in all types of classes — ballet, tap, and creative movement.

2) Star spots: My life saver, but so heavy to carry around in my bag! These star spots keep everyone organized and in a happy place. We sit on them to start, but then I incorporate them into the class. They put them on their heads, we balance them on body parts, I put them in charge of their star. They keep it the whole time, so they know exactly where they need to be. I think of the stars as my special “assistant.”

3) Stickers: My students love stickers (better than stamps, the ink gets all over) after class. I started this a few years back when they come to me at 2 years old for behavior modification. As they grow, they never forget about them. They always want the “pink” stickers. I try to buy stickers that are all the same size and color, so no one gets upset! If I forget the stickers, I am in trouble!

If you teach dance, and particularly if you work with young children, you’ll want to keep and eye on Move. Create. Educate. too!

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2010. | Permalink | 2 comments | Category: Blog, Dance Media, For Classroom, For Inspiration, For Teachers/Studio Owners, In the Spotlight

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Photo by René Michaels -- Performers: Dancers Workshop Austin

I don’t know if Albert Einstein really ever said that “Dancers are the athletes of God.” Whoever said it was a pretty smart individual, though. The statement sets dancers apart from other athletes. Physically proficient and powerful, yes, but with a deeper, perhaps more spiritual connection to the self and to the enigmatic force of creation (which, depending on your view, may indeed be a higher power). Not to say that athletes involved in sport do not find a similar connection; some do. However, players gather together on the field to play, to win, to do a job well. Dance, at its best is an act of creation that expresses something of the inner qualities of its maker, its participants, and its audience.

About the Photographer: René Michaels is a professional photographer in Austin, TX. His interest in dance stems from growing up in the Los Angeles, CA. area in the ’70s & ’80s where, working as a dance club Disc Jockey, he witnessed the birth of Hip-Hop and got his “fifteen minutes of fame” appearing on the nationally syndicated TV series “Soul Train” as a featured dancer for several years. Rene’s has a special talent for dance action photography. His work has been featured in local newspapers, national magazines and websites. His clients include dance studios, professional dance companies, choreographers, high school dance teachers, individual dance talent and event promoters in Texas and throughout the U.S. You can view more of his photos at René Michaels Photo & Design

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