9 Tips for Improving Pirouettes

5. “Connect” your arms to your back – you should feel and imagine width across the back and shoulder blades and the arms should maintain their position (don’t “wind-up” for a turn)
6. Take off from a properly placed and expansive plié for power in the turn.
7. Strengthen your ankles supporting the relevé – if you are wobbly, sickled, or pronated, this will ruin your turn.
8. Mentally, make a choice to come down from the turn, don’t “let” gravity make the choice for you.

Guest Post: Preparing For An Intensive Summer Program

My son had some trouble with dehydration the first week. We live in California, and I didn’t really think that would be a problem since we were coming from a dry, hot climate. However, it was so hot and humid in New York that he sweated more than usual and didn’t drink enough. The kids need to have electrolyte packets and other sports drinks along with water to keep them hydrated.

Developpé Dilemma: Deb Vogel Addresses a Reader Question

When I received Amy’s question about pain in developpé below, my instinct was to help yet, I was not confident that I was fully equipped to assess what might be happening with Amy. So, I did what I would have for any student who had a problem I could not work out – I took her question to someone more knowledgeable than I – Deb Vogel, a neuromuscular educator and movement analyst who has been working with dancers for years.

Tap away those summertime blues…

Tap festivals are everywhere and are probably coming to a city near you! These fabulous wood-shedding events allow tap dancers of all ages, levels, and backgrounds to meet together and share in a non-judgmental and nurturing environment. Hoofers are honored at nearly every fest, giving young dancers exposure to the greats – the masters perform and teach in an intimate setting at most events.

How and Why to Strengthen the Inner Thigh

Focused work can encourage awareness and therefore improvement of technique and strength. I am including some exercises that may help you develop such an awareness of the various muscles in your inner thigh.

Where Can Teachers Continue Their Education?

Highlighting a few of the many continuing education programs and events for dance teachers, as well as links to many more, and alternative ideas for refreshing and inspiring your teaching over the summer.

Why and How to Encourage Students to See Concert Dance

Why creating opportunities for students to see live concert dance should be a priority for teachers, studio owners, and parents, and some ideas about how to make concert dance more accessible.

Strategies for Remembering Choreography

One of the common struggles students face in class is recalling the sequence of choreography. Here are just a few techniques you might try the next time your teacher gives a combination.

Duncan Cooper Offers Advice at “My Son Can Dance”

My Son Can Dance author, Nina Amir, interviews Duncan Cooper.

National Dance Week — Live Dance Challenge

I feel it is important to leave our homes and participate as members of the dance audience whenever possible! There is much to be learned from those making dance art and from the experience of absorbing and witnessing a wide range of movement vocabularies, aesthetics, and perspectives.

Appraising the Value of Praise

is there such a thing as too much praise? How can one instill confidence without creating a dependence on external approval?

How to do a Proper “Crunch”

Learn to work and strengthen you abdominal muscles effectively and in a way that will support you most in your dancing.

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