Giving students, teachers, and parents an edge in dance education
With its STEEZ portable audio system (or “boombox”) Pioneer is revitalizing a breed of music player that seems nearly extinct, yet still has use and meaning in the dance community. Storing your digital music in 4GB of memory this line offers dance-specific features like tempo control, music cues, and dance battle mode. Dance Advantage reviews the mid-sized Duo model.
These popular flash steps were the innovations and contributions of Toots Davis. Learn more about Davis and the history behind classic tap steps, in-the-trenches and over-the-tops.
Toe padding for pointe shoes is a controversial subject. Every dancer has an opinion. Lauren has tried nearly everything and wants to help you form your own.
When working with students on choreography it’s possible to get them thinking beyond steps to a more robust concept of creative process that encourages thoughtful choices about all areas of production. Heather demonstrated this with her previous article. This time, she goes a step further, showing you ways to connect these ideas with dance history to enrich students’ understanding.
Many contenders could claim to be “the king” of paddle and roll (also called paradiddles) but no other dancer is identified more with the tap step than tap icon, Lon Chaney. Bunny Briggs has also made his mark with the step, as have others. Learn more about paddle and roll and its origins.
Fresh from her Grade III Cecchetti teacher’s exam, Lauren Warnecke reflects on why, despite that she’s not actively teaching ballet, she continued to study the Method. Purely editorial, her musings are a peek inside the exam process and tip of the hat to the man behind the Method.
Co-Director of The Ailey School, Co-Chair of The Ailey/Fordham B.F.A. program, and former Dance Theatre of Harlem ballerina, Melanie Person answers ten questions: on leg extension, encouraging ballet students, what studios could do to better prepare students for college, and what she knew when she was twelve.
Ever wondered what goes on behind-the-scenes of The Nutcracker in one of America’s largest ballet companies? From 7000 lbs of hand-torn snow to tangled flying cooks, take a peek, as we talk with Production Director, Tom Boyd and Wardrobe Manager, Laura Lynch.
In the 1920s, wings were all the rage, and many variations existed. The Pump, the Pendulum, the Saw, the Double Back… like time steps, most dancers had a signature wing variation. But there was one variation in particular that caught the public’s attention, and it was the 5-count wing, created by Frank Condos.
Sliding has long been a popular tap step. The novelty of the slide comes from the illusion that the floor has somehow developed a slick surface, giving the impression that the dancer is off balance and could fall at any minute. Discover how it’s done, view classic footage, and learn about the men who made the step famous.
Nichelle interviews Dwight Rhoden whose company, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, which he co-founded with dancer Desmond Richardson is performing in Houston. We talk about the future of dance, the fusion of dance forms, and his work in commercial (namely So You Think You Can Dance) and concert dance, including the works Rise, set to selections by U2, and Richardson’s solo CLICK.
The first in a series of tap shoe reviews, Tristan begins with the “Cadillac” of tap shoes, Capezio’s Brazilian K360. He covers their construction, features, and compares them to the American-made Kays. Don’t miss his consumer video for the opinions of tappers of all ages.
