Garments that feel and look so great on, you will want to wear them for everyday use.

MPG® seamlessly fuses performance and technical fabrications in fashion forward and stylish applications to create a full collection of activewear apparel that is unparalleled in conception and construction.

The Mondetta brand strives to bring nations and people together. The name, Mondetta, is synonymous with harmony and diversity: ‘Monde’ is French for ‘world’ and the Latin suffix ‘etta’ means ‘small’ – thus, ‘small world’.

Founded nearly twenty-five years ago, the Mondetta brand has evolved into an established collection of casual wear, outerwear and specialized niche apparel.

Mondetta Performance Gear, MPG, continued Mondetta’s tradition of always evolving by taking its Mondetta Sport line one step forward to create a line of clothing that could both meet the demands of athletes, while still adhering to the company’s core principles of fashion forward styling. Accentuated with active details such as stretchability, moisture wicking and breathability, MPG activewear apparel strikes a perfect balance between form and function.

Ashley Bouder, Principal, New York City Ballet (Courtesy MPG)

Ash Modha, CEO and Head Designer, gleaned much of the initial inspiration for MPG from his wife, a ballet dancer with the Pacific Northwest Ballet, and her friends’ desire for activewear that performed well but didn’t sacrifice comfort. The dancers became their focus group, test market and, because of their heavy involvement in the arts, could be trusted for their aesthetic sensibilities. MPG has continued to use dancers, instead of models, in nearly every photo shoot since its inception. These MPG Messengers are dancers from across North America including New York City Ballet principal, Ashley Bouder (pictured above left), dancers of the Pacific Northwest Ballet including principal, Maria Chapman (pictured below), and contemporary dance companies, RUBBERBANDance Group, Spectrum Dance Theater, and Whim W’Him Dance company.

Maria Chapman - Principal, Pacific Northwest Ballet - (Courtesy MPG)

Consistently meticulous attention to superior quality and design of its product and a continual commitment of marketing resources has allowed Mondetta to enjoy very high recognition in its native Canada. In recent years, as yoga and active lifestyle apparel has grown in popularity, MPG has begun to make waves right across North America.

Notably, four principal members of the Mondetta Clothing Company were born in Uganda and Kenya. Therefore unable and unwilling to stand by and watch as thousands of young children succumb to the ravages of the AIDS epidemic that has devastated so much of the African continent, the Mondetta Clothing Company joined the efforts of individuals and organizations such as Bono, lead singer of rock group U2, Stephen Lewis, UN Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa, and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

With compassion and hope to raise awareness of the daily and lifelong struggles children face against the AIDS epidemic in Africa, the Mondetta Charity Foundation (MCF), a completely separate entity from the Mondetta Clothing Company, was established.

To date, MCF has adopted the New Life Home orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya and the Kamwokya Primary School in Kampala, Uganda. By supporting these two facilities directly, children left without homes or living with HIV/AIDS have access to the security, education and medical attention they need and deserve.

MPG proudly features the MPG Gives Back program. This benefit speaks of Going Forward by Giving Back, as 1% of annual gross revenue from this clothing line is pledged to the MCF.

The Mondetta Charity Foundation was created on the mandate that all operating and administrative costs would be born by the parent company thereby allowing all donations to be utilized in a strictly charitable capacity.

The Giveaway

Mondetta Performance Gear wants to give away the Savvy Tank to TWO DA readers.

Savvy is a sparkle jersey workout tank with contrast laser cut details, a built-in full-support Coolmax bra liner with removable cups, a high visibility logo, and a unique back key pocket with invisible zipper.

With four-way stretch, moisture wicking, and quick-drying fabric, Savvy is recommended for light to heavy workouts, yoga, running, tennis, or training but this subtle, attractive design would even look sharp worn casually with a great scarf, blazer, and dark denim.

The MPG giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada, ages 18 and up and closes at Midnight EST on Tuesday, February 21.

How To Enter

This giveaway is closed but find more great-looking and functional activewear, including the soon-to-be released Spring 2012 collection at www.mpgsport.com
(...)

Continue reading "Inspired By Dancers, Active Apparel by MPG®"

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2012/02/17/mpg-giveaway/feed/ 30 http://danceadvantage.net/2012/02/16/barre-giveaway/ http://danceadvantage.net/2012/02/16/barre-giveaway/#comments Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:00:49 +0000 Nichelle (admin) http://danceadvantage.net/?p=14435

www.realfoodbarre.com

Barre makes healthy snacks for dancers and anyone who wants to perform their best!

In the spring of 2010 Julia Erickson, Principal Dancer with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, was rehearsing for the lead role in Swan Lake, Odette/Odile, and needed a convenient, healthy snack to power her through tough swan rehearsals.

Julia and her partner, Aaron (formerly with PBT) had both given up on eating “energy bars” many years prior due to the fact that most of them were glorified candy bars.  So Julia pulled out her Cuisinart and some ingredients from the cupboard and set about making her own nutritious snack designed specifically for the needs of a dancer.

Julia took her concoction to work at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and ate it before class and rehearsals.  Her colleagues at PBT and the students at PBT School tried it and liked it —can you say light bulb moment? Shortly thereafter Barre began supplying dancers all across the country with healthy snacks.

Barre donates a portion of its profits to arts education and currently offers their real food bars in two delicious flavors, Black Swan Chocolate Berry and Pirouette Cinnamon Pecan. Keep a look out for their next flavor, White Swan, coming soon!

Read more of the Barre story in our review here.

The Giveaway

Barre would like to give away a box of 12 bars to THREE Dance Advantage readers.

Barre real food bars are made from all natural, whole food ingredients.  Unlike some other bars, you can pronounce all of the ingredients that make up Barre.  Barres real food bars are specifically designed for dancers as a pre-class or rehearsal snack.

A box of 12 Barres retails for $27.48. Winners will receive 6 Black Swan Chocolate Berry and 6 Pirouette Cinnamon Pecan bars.

The Barre giveaway is open to U.S. residents (including Hawaii and Alaska) to those 18 and up and closes at Midnight EST on Monday, February 20.

How To Enter

This giveaway is closed but learn how and where to purchase these healthy and tasty snacks at www.RealFoodBarre.com

(...)

Continue reading "Developed By Dancers, Barre Makes Healthy Snacks"

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2012/02/16/barre-giveaway/feed/ 41 http://danceadvantage.net/2012/02/15/dancestudioowner-giveaway/ http://danceadvantage.net/2012/02/15/dancestudioowner-giveaway/#comments Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:00:47 +0000 Nichelle (admin) http://danceadvantage.net/?p=14425

www.dancestudioowner.com

DanceStudioOwner.com is an online membership resource for owners and directors worldwide to start, grow, or take their studio business to the next level.

For nearly forty years Kathy Blake has found positive and effective ways to overcome obstacles and challenges at her performing arts studio while expanding the vibrant dance community in her local area, as well as nationally. With over 900 students, Kathy Blake Studios exemplifies the highest standards in the industry, thriving in a suburban area of southern New Hampshire.

Suzanne Blake Gerety and Kathy Blake

Kathy’s daughter, Suzanne Blake Gerety, witnessed the ups and downs of dance studio ownership her entire life. In 2006, she realized that if she were to lose her mom, suddenly the wealth of knowledge and information on how Kathy maintained consistent growth in the face of changing trends, personal losses, studio splits, and financial hardships would be lost.

So together they created DanceStudioOwner.com as a resource for new and experienced studio owners all over the world to access the latest information to help save time, become more profitable, and grow their businesses both financially and artistically.

Dance Advantage has been happy to present helpful tips and insight in a regular column by Suzanne Gerety. We are also very proud to be part of the DanceStudioOwner.com community and of our long-standing affiliate relationship. We’ve been referring many happy customers to this smart, useful, and business-enhancing resource for nearly 4 years.

The Giveaway

DanceStudioOwner.com would like to give away a One-Year Membership to TWO Dance Advantage readers.

The quickest route to long-lasting success as a dance studio owner isn’t about figuring it out yourself. This unique learning environment is a place where each member can ask for advice and feedback and get it from other studio owners experiencing tangible success in their own businesses and who are willing to share how they’re doing it.

As a member of DanceStudioOwner.com you’ll get to know Kathy and Suzanne personally. They are real, down to earth, people who deal with all of the non-glamorous side of studio ownership, just like you. Yet, they still hold on to their dreams.

DanceStudioOwner.com is here to support you because they know it’s never worth giving up on your dream.

They’ll be your cheerleaders and your greatest resource.

The retail value of a one-year membership is $187. Current DanceStudioOwner.com members may still enter to win — your account will be credited.

The DanceStudioOwner.com giveaway is open worldwide to those 18 and up and closes at Midnight EST on Sunday, February 19.

How To Enter

This giveaway is closed but learn how to become a member of this fabulous resource for studio administrators at DanceStudioOwner.com

(...)

Continue reading "Keep The Passion For Dance Alive As You Grow Your Business"

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2012/02/15/dancestudioowner-giveaway/feed/ 32 http://danceadvantage.net/2012/02/14/dance-teacher-press-giveaway/ http://danceadvantage.net/2012/02/14/dance-teacher-press-giveaway/#comments Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:00:25 +0000 Nichelle (admin) http://danceadvantage.net/?p=14410

Teaching tools for dancers -- www.DanceTeacherPress.com

Dance Teacher Press has creative books, posters, flashcards, coloring sheets, and other teaching tools for dancers.

Dance Teacher Press began with The Ballet Combination Book. 

The Ballet Combination Book is a compilation of notes from years of teaching. Says founder, Janet Jerger, “I was constantly referring to my notes and thought many other teachers might enjoy them too.”  Testing the market on ebay, teachers told Jerger it was a very helpful tool that they enjoyed for class planning.

“That was my first product,” says Jerger, “and since then I have created many new items for dancers and teachers.  It has been a wonderful adventure to create beautiful items that make teaching dance easier and more enjoyable.”

The Giveaway

Dance Teacher Press would like to give away a Ballet Bundle to THREE Dance Advantage readers.

The bundle includes:

Ballet Step by Step, an illustrated ballet dictionary for students.

The 64-page book includes definitions, translations and pronunciations for more than 60 of the most basic ballet terms. The book is written in the order a class is conducted, beginning with etiquette and positions. Ballet Step by Step is Perfect bound, 8 x 8, 64 pages, and retails for $13.95.

The Ballet Combination Book contains over 250 combinations for the ballet class.

This book is designed to help you with a multitude of choices and ideas, ideal for those times when you find yourself teaching the same exercises week after week. It is also an indispensable tool for apprentice teachers. You’ll find basic technique ideas for young dancers, as well as more difficult combinations for the intermediate dancer. After you are familiar with the easy to read combinations, refer to it on the spot – even while teaching! The Ballet Combination Book is Perfect bound. 8 X 11, 58 pages, and retails for $21.95

You can read DA’s review of these two resources here. But wait, there’s more!

Words of the Week provides a visual display of ballet vocabulary.

Use “Words of the Week” as a reminder to discuss, define, and demonstrate vocabulary. This visual aid hangs like a spiral bound calendar and displays over 50 ballet terms or phrases. There are 18 displays with 2 to 4 phrases per display.  Having the “Words of the Week” system helps insure you cover essential terms throughout the year. Words of the Week is Spiral Bound, 8.5 x 11 folded (Full display is 11 X 17), is printed on high quality gloss stock to last for years, and retails for $22.95.

The Ballet Bundle giveaway is open to U.S. residents 18 and over and closes at Midnight EST on Saturday, February 18.

How To Enter

This giveaway is closed but learn more about these and other fantastic teaching tools at www.DanceTeacherPress.com

(...)

Continue reading "Teaching Tools For Dancers: Ballet Bundle"

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2012/02/14/dance-teacher-press-giveaway/feed/ 32 http://danceadvantage.net/2012/02/13/cruelty-free-giveaway/ http://danceadvantage.net/2012/02/13/cruelty-free-giveaway/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:00:37 +0000 Nichelle (admin) http://danceadvantage.net/?p=14400

Take a kind step for animals...wear Cynthia King Vegan Ballet Slippers! www.cynthiakingdance.com

Cynthia King gives dancers a unique way to show their love for animals in their art by providing high quality, cruelty free ballet slippers.

As a vegan dancer and choreographer, King did not have any good options for ballet slippers. Even canvas slippers used animal skin on the soles.

Providing a viable and affordable alternative to leather-soled slippers became her mission, and after much research (and trial and error), Cynthia King Vegan Ballet Slippers were born, bringing her passion for dance and compassion for animals together.

Cynthia King Vegan Ballet Slippers are popular worldwide and were the selected slipper for two of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s innovative camps. These slippers have also attracted the attention of Hollywood—vegan star Emily Deschanel ordered a pair for a scene in the TV show “Bones,” and most recently, Vogue magazine requested a pair for Natalie Portman to wear in their January 2011 cover shoot!

You can read more about Cynthia King’s mission and dance school here.

The Giveaway

Cynthia King is giving away a Cruelty Free Package to ONE lucky DA reader.

The package includes:

Cynthia King Vegan Ballet Slippers (retail $24.95) The only 100% cruelty free slippers readily available! Made of canvas uppers with synthetic soles and stretch drawstring, they are the compassionate choice for dancers of all ages seeking slippers not derived from animal products. They are durable, dye-able, and now come in pink and black for adult sizes.

A Cruelty Free T-shirt (retail $30) features the attractive design at left.

“Vegucated” DVD (retail $25) “Vegucated” follows three meat- and cheese-loving New Yorkers who agree to adopt a vegan diet for six weeks. This entertaining film showcases the rapid and at times comedic evolution of three people who discover their own paths in creating a kinder, cleaner, greener world, one bite at a time.

The Cynthia King Cruelty Free Package giveaway is open to U.S. residents 18 and over and closes at Midnight EST on Friday, February 17.

How To Enter

This giveaway is closed but learn more about these unique, cruelty-free ballet slippers at www.cynthiakingdance.com/veganballetslippers.htm

(...)

Continue reading "Take A Kind Step For Animals With These Cruelty Free Slippers"

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2012/02/13/cruelty-free-giveaway/feed/ 26 http://danceadvantage.net/2012/02/12/petite-feet-giveaway/ http://danceadvantage.net/2012/02/12/petite-feet-giveaway/#comments Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:00:14 +0000 Nichelle (admin) http://danceadvantage.net/?p=14318

www.petitefeetdance.com

Petite Feet is a 26-minute DVD that uses engaging and imaginative exercises, games and stories to introduce children to basic ballet positions and vocabulary, as well as general dance and musical concepts.

Liz, a Theatre Studies graduate of Yale and Yaledancers alum, is an early childhood educator who taught ballet, yoga and theater for over nine years in New York City and is now offering classes in LA. She is a strong believer in arts education and in promoting physical well-being and opportunities for artistic expression to people of all backgrounds.

“For years parents have been asking me to put my dance classes on a DVD because their children want to practice every day,” Liz says. So she decided to draw from her experience as a trained actor, as well as a dancer and teacher, to create Petite Feet.

Focusing on the creative potential of dance and its storytelling possibilities, Petite Feet encourages children between the ages of 2-5 to learn fundamental and age-appropriate ballet steps, to build confidence and coordination, and, of course, to have fun.

“Not only does my 3-year-old enjoy this video, it is quite possibly her favorite thing EVER.” – Ariana Smart Truman, mother to George

“It’s a totally relaxed approach to ballet with heavy emphasis on storytelling and imagination — making it a great introduction for little ones.” – Nicole Caccavo Kear, Creator of A Mom Amok

The Giveaway

Liz would like to give away a Petite Feet DVD to THREE Dance Advantage readers.

The DVD (which Dance Advantage reviewed here) incorporates activities, grounded in Laban Movement Analysis, that playfully connect movement education to everyday learning. It offers a gender neutral ballet experience that, like Liz’s classes, is enjoyed by girls and boys alike.

Featuring original music by Doran Danoff and a colorful set, along with the Story of the Dancing Dolls (written by Liz) and some help from Waldo the Walrus, Petite Feet offers an active alternative to the DVDs in any child’s collection as well as to the programs on children’s television.

This DVD retails for $20. Watch the trailer below:

The Petite Feet giveaway is open worldwide (non-expedited) to those 18 and up and closes at Midnight EST on Thursday, February 16.

How To Enter

This giveaway is closed but discover more about this developmentally appropriate and imaginative DVD for young children at www.petitefeetdance.com!

(...)

Continue reading "A Ballet DVD For Petite Feet"

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2012/02/12/petite-feet-giveaway/feed/ 36 http://danceadvantage.net/2012/02/08/pioneer-steez/ http://danceadvantage.net/2012/02/08/pioneer-steez/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:30:21 +0000 Nichelle (admin) http://danceadvantage.net/?p=14340 The “boombox,” the first of which appeared in the 1970′s, reached its peak in sales and mass appeal during the early 80′s.

But, by the latter half of that decade the boombox (or ghetto blaster) was already on its way out as consumer interest began veering more and more toward personal, handheld devices. Yes, I had a Walkman, kids!

To most in this age of MP3 players and smart phones, the idea of a boombox might seem downright antiquated…

save for one particular population: dancers!

For crews and street performers, a box that can deliver is a must.

And if you’re a traveling teacher who has ever had to make do with tiny speakers, plugged into an iPod, in a large room full of talkative teenagers, you know the value of a subwoofer!

I’ve lugged around a portable CD/cassette player with detachable speakers to all kinds of rehearsal spaces and even classes and performances in unconventional locations (with unacceptable audio systems).

Enter the Pioneer STEEZ, a line of digital-age blasters, designed specifically with dancers in mind!

STEEZ Solo (top), Duo (center), and Crew (bottom)

The good folks at Pioneer, a company long associated with electronics and audio, allowed me to test drive the Duo, one of three models in this line.

Dance-specific features of all three include:

• tempo control that doesn’t affect the pitch,
• the ability to create custom cues in the music on the fly,
• an 8-beat skip,
• a non-stop mix option, complete with transition effects and beat matching,
• an audio boost to intensify the beat,
• an automatic Battle Mode, complete with voice prompts and countdown,
• and the ability to activate these controls via a remote.

Now, before my contemporary teachers start to squee, let’s be clear that the true target consumers for this product are b-boys/girls and dance crews.

Still, a portable box that does all that with your digital music files (no CDs necessary), plus includes a dock for your iPod or iPhone? Pretty cool.(...)

Continue reading "Not Your Daddy’s Boombox: Pioneer STEEZ"

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2012/02/08/pioneer-steez/feed/ 1 http://danceadvantage.net/2012/01/17/lauren-grind/ http://danceadvantage.net/2012/01/17/lauren-grind/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:40:21 +0000 Nichelle (admin) http://danceadvantage.net/?p=14038 Our columnist, Lauren Warnecke has been writing at Dance Advantage for almost 2 years on the Cecchetti Method, muscles, bones, injury, ballet terminology, and more.

So you know a lot about her… but you don’t know ALL about her!

©Kelly Rose Photography

If you visited the site and checked out our sidebar last month you may have noticed we flashed a Kickstarter campaign initiated by Lauren to support her other dance habit.

But after all she’s done for you and I, Lauren deserves a little more, so I pulled her aside and asked a few questions about this side we don’t see.

And, you know Lauren’s a giver so, she’s got something for readers to WIN later. Read on…

Dance Advantage: Frankly, most of our readers have only seen your nerdy side, Lauren. A conscientious dance teacher, meticulous academic… they may not know you have a rebellious streak, making work as an independent dance artist in Chicago. What gives?

Lauren Warnecke: I started becoming interested in choreography during undergraduate school, and created about three pieces there that I would actually be willing to vouch for.  I went to a school that is notorious for producing avant garde and innovative dancemakers, so while I’m a thoroughly trained bunhead, I also have sensitivities toward strange modern dance.

After school I became heavily involved with teaching and community theatre, choreographing seven full-length musicals, going to graduate school, and essentially “retiring” from the modern dance community. [Read more of that story in Lauren's article Life Lessons on Injury: Arriving at Plan C]

Two years ago I joined the board of directors for a small modern dance company (Synapse Arts) that was doing work I really liked.  Synapse’s Artistic Director, Rachel Damon, had gone to the same school as me, and offered me a rare opportunity to create some work for the company. This was exactly the spark I needed to come out of creative hibernation!  It opened many doors for me to reenter the community, and even moreso opened my mind to making work that I really care about.  I feel that a lot of the work I make is actually informed by the time I spent away from the dance community… it takes cues from pedestrian life and musical theatre that are an important part of my development as an artist.  

©Kelly Rose Photography

DA: I know as an artist it’s sometimes hard to talk about your work but put on the nerdy teacher hat for a moment and tell your students: What is Grind all about?

LW: Grind is a dance that is rooted in definitions of artistic success. For me, success is a three-fold conundrum that is sought through money, praise, and self-actualization. All three intertwine to create some perception of success in all of us, that ultimately can never be acheived.

In Grind, this idea manifests through the eyes of four 1950′s american housewives. For me, this is an era in which evidence of the “perfect” family and the “perfect” woman were ever-present in the media and every woman strived for this, even when things were falling apart around them. The piece is deeply satirical and manifests as an absurd comment on the state of success. I first premiered Grind last August in Chicago, and since then it’s undergone a huge evolution into a brand new piece. This new iteration premieres Feb 10-12 in Chicago at the Drucker Center.

DA: Tell us about your collaborators for Grind and a little about the artistic process.

LW: I rely heavily on games, chance devices, and a meticulous process to create a work. This 30-minute piece was largely created from one 16-count phrase manipulated in many, many, many different ways.

Grind is part of a pilot program at Links Hall called the Apprentice Producers Program. Through this program, we are offered two venues at discounted rates over the course of 9 months, as well as a paid production manager. This allows the artist to focus more intensely on her work and not have to worry about things like press releases, schedules, etc.

I’ve been working with the same dancers (Katie Matteson, Vienna Willems and Jenna Dillon) since March 2011, developing the piece. After the initial premiere in August I knew I wanted to keep working with the same dancers, the same idea and the same movement vocabulary, but essentially everything else has changed.  I enlisted sound artist, Russell Weiss to create a sound score that uses era-specific sounds such as kitchen appliances, old commercials, and 1950′s love songs. Lighting is also very important to me, and Francesca Bourgault has beautifully lit both versions of the piece. Without having had the opportunity to perform this piece and hear feedback from that first experience, I don’t think Grind could have evolved to this point, so I think it’s a fantastic luxury to have become involved with this program.

DA: Congratulations on your successful Kickstarter campaign. That’s gotta feel good. Any quick tips for others who want to give Kickstarter a try?

LW: Kickstarter was great, but also really challenging! The potential problem with Kickstarter is that if you don’t reach your goal, you don’t get anything. In some cases, I think this inspires more pledges, but it’s a dangerous game to play.

I chose our goal extremely carefully, and put tons of time and energy into the campaign, as did all of the dancers and collaborators.  I posted updates about once every two weeks and continually pushed on social media and through emails.  I saw people coming out of the woodwork and donating who I either hadn’t talked to in years, or had never donated before. This is great, but you can really only do a campaign like this every few years. When I see people continually “Kickstarting”, you can easily tap out people’s enthusiasm because it’s something you have to push really hard at in order for it to be successful.

Ultimately, raising money to make dances is hard no matter how you slice it!

DA: What’s behind the photos we’re seeing here? You’ve created calendars from the shoot?

©Kelly Rose Photography

LW: I started talking to photographer Kelly Rose very early in the process. Kelly and I have known one another since 3rd grade, and reconnected over this project. She has shot a lot of pin-ups, and I didn’t exactly know why, but I knew I wanted to work with her on Grind. Our conversation really helped me to find the connection between success, perfection, and the vintage housewives.

Consequently, I also recently bought a fixer-upper with a vintage “party basement”.  The style of my basement perfectly compliments the era that I’m working with in the piece, and dancer Katie Matteson happens to have a closet full of vintage clothes. The photos are loosely based on images that are seen in the piece, and on the interpersonal relationships of the characters we have created.  I really wanted Grind to be more than a dance…. the goal is to create a visual world around these four women and this iconic decade that is more tangible than a 30-minute dance.

The calendars were dreamed up as a marketing alternative to the same old posters and postcards you see, as well as an additional way to bring some income to the project. Plus, Kelly’s photos were so amazing I couldn’t just pick two for the press release and let the others go.

DA: Grind isn’t the only dance on the program in February. What’s the low down on Refill?

Refill is the part-two of the Apprentice Producers Program.  We will premiere the latest (and last) version of Grind, and are splitting the bill with another choreographer, Enid Smith.  The show is Feb 10-12 at the Fasseas Whitebox at The Drucker Center (1535 N. Dayton, Chicago).  You can buy tickets at fanfueled.com or at the door.

Win a Grind calendar!

To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment with your favorite “success” quote.

I’ll select 4 winners randomly from the comments.

Should you be a winner, you’ll have the good fortune to look upon Lauren and her 1950s housewives crew every month of the year when you win a Grind wall calendar featuring fabulous photography by Kelly Rose.

You must be 18 or over and a U.S. resident to win.

Contest will end Saturday, January 21st at NOON EST.

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2012/01/17/lauren-grind/feed/ 6 http://danceadvantage.net/2011/12/20/last-minute-gifts/ http://danceadvantage.net/2011/12/20/last-minute-gifts/#comments Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:59:28 +0000 Nichelle (admin) http://danceadvantage.net/?p=13730 By now your stockings have probably been hung by the chimney with care…

But you’ve still got dancers on your gift list! And Amazon is telling you that paying expedited $hipping fee$ a dose of Elf Magic is your only Ho Ho Hope for the timely arrival of those gifts.

Never fear, the digital age is here! These gifts are a procrastinator’s dream:

Choreography for Teachers

DancesToGo.com provides à la carte choreography for a variety of dance levels and genres. They’ve got a great group of guest choreographers with years of experience as teachers (and I’m not just saying that ’cause I’m one of them)!

One way to gift it: You may not know which choreography would be most useful for the gift-recipient. Since Dances To Go uses PayPal’s services, you could send money to your dancer friend or family member (they will need a PayPal account) for use at the site. While you’re at it, send them an iTunes gift so they can grab the music, too!

Help for Studio Owners

DanceStudioOwner.com gives studio owners what they need to be successful – e-books and articles, monthly teleseminars, templates, checklists, customizable forms, and plenty of support in an often isolating job. This is one of my favorite resources because they offer so much value at affordable monthly and yearly membership plans. Gift a membership and make your favorite studio owner very happy.

A Weekly Action Plan for Success

A new year. A new commitment to going the extra mile in your dance classes. We at Dance Advantage deliver the keys to make this year outstanding with an e-mail course that provides terminology, an inspirational quote, something to Dancescribe in a dance journal, and something to do EVERY WEEK in a 40-Week E-course.

Let us sustain and motivate your favorite dancer the whole year through. Yes, you can “gift” this e-course. It’s called 4 for 40 and you can find it right here.

Digital Reading

Whether your gift-recipient is Team Nook or Team Kindle, you can give specific digital publications as gifts at the Nook Store or Kindle Store (just look for the Buy/Give as a Gift links on the book’s purchase page).

Here are some of my favorites and books I’ve read this year:(...)

Continue reading "The Procrastinator’s Dance Gift Guide"

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© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2011. | Permalink | Category: Blog, Dance Bag, Dance Media, Dancethropology, Featured, Film/Video, Online, Product/Website Reviews | Who's talking about this article?

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2011/12/20/last-minute-gifts/feed/ 0 http://danceadvantage.net/2011/12/08/card-giveaway/ http://danceadvantage.net/2011/12/08/card-giveaway/#comments Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:10:11 +0000 Nichelle (admin) http://danceadvantage.net/?p=13646 Commercial greeting cards have been sent during the holidays since the mid-19th century.

In 1843, John Calcott Horsley was commissioned by Sir Henry Cole to illustrate the first Christmas card. English Parliament had passed the Postage Act in 1840, making it possible to send letters for a penny throughout the UK. In a clever business move, Cole printed two batches of the greeting, selling a total of 2,050 cards that year for a shilling each. The card read “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You” and displayed a happy family enjoying Christmas festivities. Unfortunately critics believed the card, which showed a child enjoying a sip of wine, was “fostering the moral corruption of children.”  Nevertheless, the custom of sending cards at the holidays became popular and within 10 years Christmas cards were the rage of England. Of the original Christmas cards printed, only 12 are known to still exist, two of which are in the Hallmark Historical Collection. [source: Emotions Greeting Card's Greeting Card Museum, Wikipedia]

You may already be posting your holiday greetings (or perhaps you’re going paperless).

But, if you’d like to have some super-cute, dance-themed cards to hand out to your teachers or students, or save for next year, we’ve got a great giveaway for you today!

At the request of their members, our friends at DanceStudioOwner.com have created these really sweet holiday cards, inspired by dance during the festive holiday season. Illustrated by Lisa Graves, this one-of-a-kind card collection features three bright, colorful, and sweet designs finished with holiday greetings. The interior is blank with plenty of room to write a personalized note.

Inside each boxed set are 12 notes (4 of each design), plus 12 smooth white envelopes.

Learn more on the Holiday Collection product page at DanceStudioOwner.com.

DanceStudioOwner.com would like to give away one boxed set of the Holiday Collection Note Cards (which retail at $12 each) to FIVE Dance Advantage readers.

How to Enter:

Leave a comment on this post and share your favorite Holiday tradition (dance-related or not).

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents and will close at MIDNIGHT (Eastern) on Saturday, December 10, 2011.

Winners will be drawn randomly from the comments.

Once contacted via the email used to comment, winners have only 48 hours to respond and claim their prize. PLEASE READ our giveaway policy before entering.

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2011/12/08/card-giveaway/feed/ 7 http://danceadvantage.net/2011/10/22/petite-feet/ http://danceadvantage.net/2011/10/22/petite-feet/#comments Sat, 22 Oct 2011 13:30:33 +0000 Nichelle (admin) http://danceadvantage.net/?p=13364 …especially one that can play the piano and plié.

That’s one talented Walrus.

And Liz Vacco, the creator of the Petite Feet DVD, is pretty accomplished herself. She is a Yale Theatre Studies graduate. A “dancer that acts, and an actor that dances” who, for nine years, has been a ballet and early childhood educator, teaching through New York City Ballet’s Education Program and at various dance studios and public schools throughout the city.

It was through Maria’s Movers that I first heard of Petite Feet, Liz’s 26-minute ballet video for children.

So I contacted Liz on Twitter @PetiteFeetVideo so that I could review and share the video with you.(...)

Continue reading "What’s Not To Love About A Pink Walrus?"

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2011/10/22/petite-feet/feed/ 1 http://danceadvantage.net/2011/10/04/capezio-k360/ http://danceadvantage.net/2011/10/04/capezio-k360/#comments Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:33:13 +0000 Tristan Bruns http://danceadvantage.net/?p=12742

About Shoe Reviews:

For my reviews, I personally wear, practice, and perform in the shoes.  The demands that the shoes are subjected to are rigorous and must be considered when compared to the skill level for which the shoe is intended. ~ Tristan 

Look for more tap shoe reviews in The Great Tap Shoeganza.