Guest Post: Body Image and Dance

Dancers of all disciplines struggle with body image. It is a reality that is sometimes exploited or aggrandized in the media yet ignored or aggravated by those that have a direct impact in the lives of dancers. Elena Ciccotelli is a new blogger but long-time dancer. In addition to her experience as a personal trainer and desire to encourage cross-training in dance, she has a passion for facilitating discussion about the role that body image plays in dance. She recently wrote Getting Past the Mirror: Body Image and Dance, and received numerous emails from young dancers, expressing gratitude for her willingness to approach this issue. In her guest post for today, she includes and addresses some of these responses, and speaks about her own experiences which have helped her to reduce negative self-talk.

Body Image and Dance: Part Deux

Since posting my last blog entry “Getting Past the Mirror: Body Image and Dance,” I have received numerous emails from young dancers who expressed an overwhelming gratefulness for the content of this entry. Here is one dancer’s response:

“Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this blog!!!!!!!!!

I know many dancers who possess unimaginable strength but do not have the “ballerina body” -even though I think that they are some of the most beautiful girls that I know.  This is the one thing about ballet that angers me – all of the unfairness.  I know what it’s like to constantly think one’s body is inadequate – it is the worst feeling in the world.  Last year, I felt invisible like I blended into the wall, and I thought that losing weight would change that….

…Even though I lost all that weight, I still felt invisible, which goes to show that being emaciated will never get one anything in the long run, except a ton of health problems and a really hard time trying to get healthy again.  I wish so much that I can accept myself as I am – which is something (despite my inability to do so) that every ballerina needs to do.

Thanks for being so uplifting and inspiring…keep doing what you are doing.”

Another email that I received was also very poignant because it targeted some common fears that every dancer faces. Here is an excerpt from the email as well as the advice I suggested:

“…I think it is very important to feel good about your body and how you look. But lately, I have actually been feeling a little uncomfortable about how I look. I’m trying not to worry about it, but I still do sometimes.  I think it is because I am comparing myself to everyone else in my dance classes….I really want to feel good about how I look, but it’s hard.  And one of my friends is always saying that it is good for dancers to be small and she is glad she’s so small because it will make it easier for her to be a professional dancer someday.  I try not to believe her but she sometimes makes me feel bad about how I look.  Can you help me at all?  I want to feel comfortable when I dance and not worry about how I look.”

First, I just want to say, you are not alone! Please do not think that you are the only dancer who faces this! Body image, especially among dancers is probably the least talked about issue, but it affects us all in so many ways. For years, I have struggled with body image because I was constantly comparing myself to others and I always felt that my body was inadequate. Of course it doesn’t help when all you see publicized in the dance community is emaciated girls leaping through the air and a lack of advocates for a healthy body image. Sadly, this “body ideal” just perpetuates body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem from generation to generation. But, why do we allow this to continue? Perhaps it is because we are all naturally demanding of ourselves and just accept that this “body ideal” is just the nature of dance. Or, is it an unspoken rule that directors, instructors, casting agents, and choreographers enforce but are afraid to admit due to political incorrectness? All of these questions come to mind when you voiced your concern and that is why I thought it was appropriate to post a blog based on this issue.

In terms of dealing with body image, there are so many ways we can become derailed in our quest to be happy with our bodies. It is hard to pinpoint exactly what steps you need to take. However, I can tell you what has helped me a great deal. As I mentioned in my previous blog, seeking an alternative training method in addition to dance, like strength and cardiovascular training, has allowed me to discover another way to take control of my body. Believe it or not, I realized that I was less obsessed with “what I looked like” when I trained and I found this to be extremely liberating. Training helped me to take away the constant critique and judgment I placed upon myself whenever I took class. For me the goal of training was more about achieving overall well-being, which diverted the focus from an appearance oriented mindset to a healthier one. Plus, training simply made me feel good about myself because I was challenging the way I was used to working my body. In turn, this actually helped change the perceptions I had about myself.

A simple technique you can try is to pick at least one physical attribute that you think is special and unique. The next time you take class, think about this attribute and how it contributes to your individuality when you dance. Do not dwell on the negatives! We can all generate a laundry list of defects that we see in our bodies without much hesitation. This is counter-productive! I know it may sound redundant, but a little positive thinking can really go a long way.

One final thought, when it comes down to it, dance is really all about what you can bring to the table. Do not let body image stop you from becoming the best dancer YOU can be….no one else, just you. By developing your own personal sense of artistry, people will notice. Do not be discouraged and think positive!

Visit www.trainerdiva.com to read more on body image and cross training for dancers by Elena Ciccotelli

Two Heads Are Better Than One

In the art and practice of dance, one’s instrument and medium is the body. A painter, sculptor, or musician must know intimately the tools of his craft, and so it is with dancers as well. However, the human body is an intricate organism and science is continually learning new things about the way in which it functions. Therefore, it is important for the dance community to have members that have one foot in the dance world and the other in the world of physiological and kinesiological science and medicine. Two members fitting this description have a foot (well…) hand in yet another world – the internet. For quite some time these two women have been offering their knowledge and expertise to a wide range of the dance community via the world wide web. If you don’t already know their names, you should!

Meeting of the Minds

They are Deborah Vogel and Lisa Howell, two women from opposite sides of the world who have a similar vision and purpose- that is to educate dancers and teachers, arming them with information to improve the quality of health and understanding of the body in dance education and practice. In each other it seems they have recently found a kindred spirit and have decided to join forces on some projects that will further their mission.

I’m sure these two have several exiting things in store for us, but it seems their first collaboration will be monthly podcasts that seek to answer questions from dancers and teachers like yourselves. In the video below Lisa Howell describes a bit about the project and lets you know where you can go to submit your question:

Who Are These Partners in Crime?

Just in case you are not familiar with these two women, I thought I’d share some information about who they are and what they do.

Deborah Vogel

Deborah is Neuromuscular Educator and author of several books who studied under Irene Dowd (author of Taking Root to Fly). She was a co-founder of the now defunct Center for Dance Medicine in New York City. Deb currently resides on the faculty at Oberlin College and Oberlin College Conservatory of Music. Her website The Body Series offers articles, products, and a blog (a transmutation of her Dancing Smart Newsletter), the purpose of which is to answer readers’ questions regarding body health and training issues in dance.

Lisa Howell

Lisa is a physiotherapist specializing in educating and treating dancers and founder of Perfect Form Physiotherapy, a clinic in North Sydney, Australia that, according to Lisa’s website, “focuses on educating dancers and providing one-on-one rehabilitation and technique correction in a caring and holistic environment.” She has also generated a series of resources, including the Perfect Pointe System, designed to help dancers safely and conscientiously improve their dancing and prepare for pointe work. Lisa’s website, The Ballet Blog, offers articles, products, newsletter updates, workshop information, and answers to your questions, and her video podcasts can be seen on the site or at her YouTube channel.

All Things to All People

While, of course, here at Dance Advantage, I strive to provide a comprehensive resource of articles and information for those involved in dance education, I realize that it is impossible for one place to be all things to all people. I am one person and there are limitations to what I, personally, can provide. It is for this reason, that I feel compelled to share other great resources on the web. If I’ve saved you time by linking you to another site that provides truly useful news, guidance, products, or services, I feel I am closer to meeting all of your needs as you participate in dance.

In addition to my college coursework in teaching and kinesiology, I have often drawn upon the work of Deborah and Lisa as I sought to provide quality information and advice to my dance students. I believe in their mission and these ladies know what they’re talking about!

If you have personal experience with Deborah Vogel, Lisa Howell, or their products. Or, if you’ve participated in any of their workshops, please share your observations with us.

If you want to know more, please visit their respective web sites.

One Feed to Read them All

When I first began writing this blog I actually knew very little about blogging. I was writing a personal blog about my family for friends and relatives and soon recognized the possibilities the platform held for writing about dance. I jumped right in to the writing part but recognized I needed to find others who were doing the same. Though I immediately discovered a few dance blogs, I’ve had to make an effort in searching for the many really great sites that are out there in the blogosphere. Therefore, it is my pleasure to report that those interested in reading dance blogs no longer have to go to great lengths, uncovering gems one by one because Deborah Friedes, contributor at The Winger and author of the Dance in Israel blog, along with Tal Galili, have created a great new resource called Dance Bloggers.

What is It?

Dance Bloggers aggregates, or collects the feeds of dance blogs, making it a one-stop shop for  both discovering new dance blogs (links on Dance Bloggers connect directly to the orignial blog site) and following the updates of all participating dance blogs. For readers, this means that you can either head to their website to catch up on new content or subscribe to one feed so that you never miss another update from any of the contributing blogs.

Who are the Contributors?

Anyone blogging about dance can add their blog to the directory. The directory already includes dance blogs concerning training, artistic process, news, and more, and new blogs are being added every day!

Check it Out!

When visiting the site you can also become a friend/member of Dance Bloggers through Google Friend Connect, allowing you to interact with other users of the site and comment on their “wall,” a feature with which facebook users will be familiar. In fact, you can also join the Dance Bloggers group (or fan page) on facebook. So, whether you blog about dance or read dance blogs, please visit this great new resource!

Dancing with Conscience

One person can have a profound effect on another. And two people…well, two people can work miracles. They can change a whole town. They can change the world.

-Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider, writers of the TV show Northern Exposure

Dancers have the power to change the world. Over the past few months Dance Advantage has highlighted just a few of the many dance/arts organizations that are on a mission to do just that. Links to these posts as well as some others are listed below. In addition, I recommend checking out an article by Wendy Garofoli that features additional groups that are Making a Difference Through Dance.

Something out of Nothing

In researching the subject of refugees, I quickly discovered the Ibdaa Dance Troupe, a group of girls and boys that are residents of the Dheisheh Refugee Camp near the city of Bethlehem in the occupied Palestinian (Israel’s) West Bank, who share their experiences and message through dance. According to their website, the dancers “perform Palestinian traditional folkloric dance, or debka, as an artistic way of preserving and sharing their culture and history while simultaneously voicing the rights and struggles of the Palestinian people.”

The dance troupe is just one of the arts programs offered to children and teens at the Ibdaa Cultural Center, which is a grassroots program that seeks to empower the women, children, and youth of the Dheisheh camp. Opportunities to explore art, dance, drama, and music are rare among the 59 refugee camps in the occupied region. The programs provided at the center offer young people the chance to express themselves and develop creativity in a positive and peaceful manner. It is a stark and refreshing contrast to the violence and uncertainty that surrounds them. Ibdaa, which in Arabic means “to create something out of nothing,” reflects the hope that survives among this community of people despite the tumultuous environment in which they live.

Read more about Ibdaa Dance Troupe, Palestinian refugees, and other organizations helping refugees around the world…

Dancers Fight AIDS

We recognized World AIDS day recently. On that day Dance Advantage offered a small collection of links to AIDS related organizations and Dance Outlook’s post on the subject. Dancers are doing important work in fighting AIDS. In particular, there are two organizations I’d like to highlight here. The first is Dancers Responding to AIDS (DRA), a fundraising program that holds events and organizes donation opportunities that help individuals in need and the organizations that support them. The other is Dance4Life, and international initiative that engages young people around the world to do something about the HIV/AIDS problem.

ASTEP Toward Ending Poverty

When people make a one-on-one connection with someone in need it can alter their lives (and consequently, the lives of others) forever. This was the case for Mary Mitchell-Campbell, a successful Broadway music director whose volunteer work in India inspired her to make an impact on worldwide childhood poverty.  She founded ASTEP (Artists Striving To End Poverty), an arts-based nonprofit that works directly with disadvantaged children, seeking to empower them through the arts. ASTEP has been a work in progress since about 2001, but received non-profit status two years ago and currently leads programs in the U.S., Africa, and India, connecting “artists who wish to share their talents with children who can benefit from artistic encounters.”

An upcoming event in New York City will feature performances by Broadway’s hottest stars. All proceeds from the event will benefit ASTEP. If you live in the city or plan to visit during the holiday season, be sure to see A NYC Christmas on December 15.

Read more about ASTEP and other organizations taking action against poverty…

Think Pink

The Dancers Care Foundation raises funds for breast cancer awareness, prevention, and research and encourages young dancers to utilize their talents for the cause. By offering several ways that dance students and studios can get involved, they encourage young dancers to utilize their talents to support and improve the quality of life for cancer victims.

Coming into Being

Genesis: Sarajevo provides dance and artistic opportunities to young people throughout Bosnia-Herzogovina. Currently the project offers two-week workshops twice a year to students in Bosnia but has plans to develop a full-fledged company and seeks to expand their work to other war-torn areas of the world. Amy Danielson, the organization’s founder was featured this month (Dec 2008) in Dance Magazine (Dancing for a Cause, by Nancy Alfaro).

Changing the Community

The Center for Contemporary Dance in Winter Park, Florida is a nonprofit center for dance education and home to six contemporary dance companies. The organization also seeks to inspire their community to “act as imaginative agents of change” through their Dance For Change program. Their initiatives address race, tolerance, and social equality, provide arts education to underserved commuities, provide opportunities to artists that explore the theme of Global Peace in their work,  and invite young people to write about how they can impact the world. Those interested in their work can also find them on twitter, myspace, and facebook.

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

- Gandhi

Qlubb Update

Last week I reviewed Qlubb, a social collaboration web service, as a tool for improving communication within dance studios. I was fortunate to correspond directly with Sophia Chiang, CEO and founder of Qlubb, and express some of my thoughts on the site and its service. I was happy to learn that a calendar feature (which, I wrote, is currently and unfortunately absent) will be added in a few weeks. (NOTE: This feature is now available on Qlubb) As for my concerns about unrestricted password access for group members, Ms. Chiang responded, “So far, the majority of our QLubbs are < 30 members and so these intimate groups hopefully rarely have a misguided member.  But now that we have added much more functionality and larger groups coming on board, we will have to add in administrative layers to protect, as you have said, certain functionality from rogue members.” (NOTE: This feature has also been added 3/23/09, see here) The personal and positive interaction with both Sophia Chiang and those responding to customer service questions at help@qlubb.com, has left me confident that the Qlubb administrators take the questions and concerns of their users into consideration and seek to meet their needs while remaining committed to providing a service that is above all simple to use.

As I mentioned in my review, other dance studios are using Qlubb in order to improve communication among their students, parents, and organizers. Qlubb has recently distributed a press release, highlighting this use of their service with quotes from actual studio owners. The release has even quoted the review of yours truly! Check it out below!

Also, do any of you already use Qlubb? If so, what are your thoughts?

Did the review inspire you to take a closer look at Qlubb and/or how you handle communication within your studio?

QLUBB HELPS GROUP OF PEOPLE IMPROVE COMMUNICATION,  INCREASE COLLABORATION AND REDUCE EMAIL

Web 2.0 social collaboration solution helps dance academy improve organization, efficiency and reduces email overload among staff and parents

(Burlingame, CA). Qlubb, a social collaboration solution for real-life groups, provides a free service for any group of people to get online in just a few minutes and be able to share, collaborate and get things done quickly and easily. Qlubb is being used by thousands of groups worldwide to improve the flow of communication, organize group activities and reduce overall email overload.

Nichelle Strzepek, a performer and dance instructor who taught at private studios, community colleges and one major University, recently reviewed Qlubb on her Dance Advantage blog.  She says, “What makes Qlubb distinct is its simplicity. Whereas some websites offer mind-boggling options which could be daunting for those with a) little time to waste, or b) little experience/confidence with computers, Qlubb allows for an extremely quick set-up. This makes the site an attractive solution for “real-life” groups that meet in person and want to organize themselves in a simple, no-fuss, fashion.”  Her full review is available at http://danceadvantage.wordpress.com/2008/11/25/go-qlubbing/.

“It’s great to see Divine Dance Academy and the greater dance community using Qlubb to engage and get organized,” said Sophia Chiang, CEO of Qlubb.  “Whether your organization is a playgroup, a scout troop, family, club or dance studio, Qlubb is the easiest way to get online, organized and on the same page.”

About Qlubb

Qlubb is a Burlingame, CA-based provider of Web-based social collaboration solutions for real-life groups. Whether it is a playgroup, classroom parent group, sports team, family, club or hobby group, Qlubb helps most any group of people connect, share and get things done. Qlubb strengthens ties within the group while also helping groups increase participation, be better organized and be more efficient.

Qlubb is very easy-to-use and takes just a few seconds to start a fully-functioning site that includes a fully integrated private collaboration site, group email, shared calendar, signup sheets, automated reminders, photo sharing, public Web page and much more. Users are not required to register, requiring just their email address and a password set by the Qlubb creator. Qlubb is available for free at www.qlubb.com.

Solve Your Bulk E-mail Woes. Go Qlubbing!

As I wander through the internet, I often come across services and websites that provide organizational services. In fact, there are probably thousands of online tools that promise to make your life easier, run more efficiently, and solve any number of dilemmas. Occasionally, I find items that I think may be of use to my readers. Qlubb.com is one of these services. I’ve explored the site and would like to present its possible benefits for studio owners and parents as a means to improve communication.

Communication S.O.S.

Many dance studios rely heavily on parental involvement to car pool to rehearsals or events, volunteer throughout the year, and help keep things organized at performances or competitions. What perhaps was once handled through phone lists and paper mailings, is now typically taken care of via bulk e-mailing. E-mail, overall, has offered an ease and speed in the communication between people. For groups, however, e-mail alone is not always sufficient. Here’s an example:

A studio sends a reminder to all of the parents in an e-mail group, asking them to sign up for various duties. The parents receive the e-mail and “reply all” to the whole group, stating “I’ll take care of this,” or “I’ll do this from 2 o’clock to 4 o’clock,” etc. At the same time, a parent asks a question about what their child needs to bring to the next competition, sending her query to the entire group list. Some respond, some check but ignore the e-mail once they’ve realized it does not apply to them. Before you know it, the entire group has received thirty (or more) e-mails, and whichever poor soul has been selected to organize the details must sift through and decide who is doing what, which tasks remain, and make sure people received answers to their questions. The problem, as you can see, is that e-mail works best when communicating from person to person. It is not interactive enough to deal with multiple people “talking” all at once.

Qlubb to the Rescue!

Qlubb is not unlike a number of sites on the web in that it seeks to solve this issue, creating an interactive “home base” for groups to interact. What makes Qlubb distinct, however, is its simplicity. Whereas some websites offer mind-boggling options which could be daunting for those with a) little time to waste, or b) little experience/confidence with computers, Qlubb allows for an extremely quick set-up (as they state on the site, “It only takes 2 clicks to create a Qlubb, and 1 click to join a Qlubb,”) and intuitive methods of adding and editing events, messages, tasks, and more. This makes the site an attractive solution for “real-life” groups that meet in person and want to organize themselves in a simple, no-fuss, fashion.

Only a year old, Qlubb is still a work in progress. It was developed by an active community member who saw a need among real-life organizations and set out to provide a solution. Thus far, groups at Qlubb have been small in comparison to larger websites offering similar services and is utilized by many types of groups, including book clubs, playgroups, and families. I am told that a number of dance groups already utilize the site.

Getting Started

As stated above, creating a Qlubb is easy, and it is free. All that is required to set up a Qlubb is your e-mail address, chosen password (which will act as the password for the entire group), and a simple name for your group. This name will become part of the group’s URL, or web address, as well as the group’s e-mail address. For instance, I created a group, using the name dancetest, which resides at http://dancetest.qlubb.com, with the e-mail address dancetest@qlubb.com. Once the group was created, I was immediately able to start editing the group’s web pages. Groups are kept secure and invisible from the general public with the use of a shared password. Although, creating a “public” page for the group (here is *dancetest’s public page) is an option, only members with the password can visit or send e-mails to this group.

Features

Qlubb offers several pages within the group website on which members can access various features. Pages are easily accessed with a tab system at the top of the site. Each page and its features are described below.

HOME

• Group description (html, videos, widgets, and more can be added here, in fact most text areas on the site accept html code, allowing the addition of links and more)
• A slideshow of photos added by members
• Event listing
• “Useful things” like reminders or links
• “Blurbs” (short messages or comments for high visibility on the front page)

Probably the most important feature accessed here is the event listing. Events can be quickly added with a simple form that collects the vital information such as date (multi-days is an available option), time, event name, and location. As with most forms on the site, most of this information is not mandatory – only the event name is required. Once the event is created, other options (found below) are available by clicking on the event name.

Event Page

• Add a description of the event
• Send an invite to the entire group to notify them of the event
• Choose to include the rsvp option for the event for a quick tally of who will attend
• Set automatic reminders which can be sent to all members or only members with task assignments
• View the “task” list.

Task List – Tasks are like a “to do” list and sign up sheet for the event all in one. Like events, tasks are added via a simple form. Those organizing the event may ask for a particular number of volunteers or assign a group member to the task. Other members can easily click on the “Me!” button to volunteer for the task and have the option of removing themselves, as well. Each task may be marked completed for a quick idea of what is left to accomplish. Events can be listed without tasks.

MEMBERS

• Displays member information, much like a business card (no fussy profile pages!) – name, photo, e-mail, and other relevant info.
• Each member can decide if their picture and name are to be displayed on the “public” homepage, visible to anyone. E-mail addresses and other info are displayed only to group members.
• Members can choose how much or how little information to reveal. The only member information that is mandatory and disclosed (to group members) is the e-mail address.
• When one edits their member card, members may choose to receive e-mail messages from the group, a feature that may be turned off or on.

PHOTOS

• 

  Members can view the gallery or upload photos from a home computer to the website. These photos can be made public (i.e. visible on the “public” page) or private (visible only to group members).

• Photos may be associated with a particular event or date (photos that correspond with these will appear in a separate album on the photo page).
• Clicking on each photo, takes the group member to a page in which the photo information can be edited and comments on the photo can be added.

FILES

• Files may be added in exactly the same manner as photos, with all the same options. (This is an excellent place to put permission forms, costume order forms, and more.)
• All files are available to members for download.

MESSAGES

• Uses a familiar message board format.
• “News” can be added through the site or by sending an e-mail to the group address (yourgroup@qlubb.com).
• Replies can also be added using either method, allowing users to respond just as they would to a normal e-mail.
• Those posting a message from the website have the option to send it to the entire group. Any member of the group that has chosen to receive e-mail updates (see MEMBERS) will receive these messages in their inbox. Messages posted/replied to via e-mail are automatically sent to the entire group.

ADMIN (UPDATE!! 3/23/09)

Qlubb seeks to allow all members administrative access to everything on the site. Whereas some websites require a “moderator” to add content to the site, forcing one person to be responsible for the upkeep of a group, Qlubb allows group members to be responsible for themselves and all content on the site. Overall, this makes group participation and interaction extremely easy and is a positive feature. However, having access to everything means, EVERYTHING, including the ability to change the group’s access password. (this feature has changed!)

My Two Cents

As I stated previously, I truly think that what Qlubb.com offers is unique in its simplicity and real-world application. The task feature in particular is one that I think could streamline an organization’s processes immensely and I believe the effects would be noticed and appreciated immediately among group members.

One feature I feel is missing from the site is a calendar view of events. Although one can see a mini calendar when editing/adding an event, currently events can only be viewed in a list format. Viewing dates on a calendar is, for me, helpful in visualizing upcoming items in a way a list is not. Some of you may prefer the list view, but I believe there are probably enough people like both you and I to consider offering both options. An attractive aspect of the site is that suggestions such as these are welcomed at Qlubb and help is always an e-mail away. In fact, I found that my inquiries to Qlubb’s help e-mail address were answered very promptly, with a friendly tone, and contained applicable information.

Perhaps like many of you, the very open administrative access is the one area of the site about which I have some misgivings. Drama (in case you haven’t noticed) has been known to occur among dancers, parents, and studios. While I would hope that most people would handle themselves in a mature manner, I have witnessed episodes of surprising childishness among grown adults. In correspondence with a Qlubb representative, I brought up the potential problems of across-the-board access. I felt reassured to know that Qlubb recognizes that as the site and its groups grow that further options may need to be added to the administrative aspects of the service. In the meantime, I think groups and organizations can benefit from what the site has to offer. Tampering with the group’s password or other features is likely to remain a rare occurrence among most users of this site. For the most part, I think the benefits of starting a Qlubb outweigh the risks.

UPDATE – 3/23/09

The calendar feature was an addition made in December of last year and has improved the event aspects of this site. Also just recently Qlubb has restricted password and other controls to just the group creator (and members appointed administrators). You can read more about this feature here, on the Qlubb blog.

Join the Qlubb!

Although there is not a specific “dance qlubb” group, I placed mine under sports team. The features are the same, regardless of this label. If you want to see samples of how different groups might use the site, these are accessible from the Qlubb homepage. If you feel this may be a good solution for your particular group, I encourage you to try it out. Of course, as with any site, please make sure that the terms and privacy policies are acceptable to you. You can learn more by visiting the Qlubb website, the QlubbHouse Blog, and by checking out the FAQ.

I hope you found this review of the site helpful! If you have experience with Qlubb or similar sites, or if you would like to ask questions, please post a comment!

*this page will not be available after 12/13/2008

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The Thought That Counts

Decisions, Decisions

Parents often agonize each year about what to get for the vast number of people that work among, care for, and interact with their children on a regular basis.  School teachers, coaches, dance instructors, den mothers, classroom aides, daycare workers, on and on and on!

If you are a parent wrestling with what to get your son or daughter’s dance teacher, you will have to decide how to spend (or not spend) your money this year. Who to give to, what to give, and how much to give are personal decisions each family must make. It is my opinion, however, that less is almost always more. I’ve heard over and over that people are concerned with the amount of clutter in their lives and in their home. Yet, often out of obligation, we add to our stress and our stuff during the holidays. Givers feel exasperated and overwhelmed, but remember that those receiving may also be feeling overrun by gifts. I can’t offer any hard and fast rules about gifting at the holidays, however, I will suggest that simplicity can be a gift to yourself and others. Perhaps keeping this in mind will help to reduce your stress and guide you in your choices.

The Low-Down on Loot

Teachers, especially, get a lot of stuff at the holidays, particularly candles, mugs, and bath/body products. These are great, but one runs out of places and opportunities to use these. As a dance teacher, I appreciate edible treats (healthy snacks like granola or trail mixes are very thoughtful) but remember that it is not always safe to assume that everyone will appreciate food items. For those with allergies or special diet concerns, holiday treats often go to waste. In addition to treats, I prefer items that are small, personal (something obviously purchased with the recipient in mind), consumable (movie passes, coupons, certificates), or handmade by my students (like cards, jewelry, or artwork). Holiday ornaments and decorations were nice when I was a young teacher and didn’t have a lot of my own yet, but now that I have been teaching for a number of years I’ve amassed plenty of these.

If you are planning on spending a bit of cash for a dance teacher (perhaps one that you really think is special or has made extra effort for your child), gift cards or certificates are usually well received. I know that sometimes it feels like $5 is too little for a gift card, however, I think you’d be hard pressed to find someone who didn’t appreciate that bit of extra pocket money. Just keep in mind what type of card you are buying. If the items in the shop cost well over the amount on the card, the recipient may end up spending money that they otherwise would not have just to make use of the card.  Choose a card for an establishment which you know the teacher frequents. For example, a coffee shop, the eatery near the dance studio where he/she grabs dinner on the run between classes, a dancewear shop, bookstore, or music site like iTunes.

Alternative Gift Ideas

Rather than individual gifts, a class can consider organizing a collective gift for a teacher. This cuts down on the amount of individual items given and ultimately can result in a more useful or meaningful gift. A collective gift does not need to cost a lot of money. The class can work together on making a scrapbook, card, or craft with a holiday theme. Each member of the class could take a turn cleaning the studio mirrors or staying a few minutes after the last lesson to assist with tidying the studio. Get creative!

Another alternative gift idea that is becoming more popular is making a donation in someone’s name. This type of giving/getting is not for everyone. Some are for donation gifts and some are against the idea. You may want to consider if this gift is right for the recipient. If you have a creative way of telling someone that you’ve made a donation in their name, be sure to tell us about it in the comments for this post. Typically the gift recipient receives a card or note about the charity to inform them of the contribution made in his/her name. Another suggestion is to buy/make a small item that is a representation of the charity (for instance, a school-themed magnet for an educational charity).

Something to consider if you receive an abundance of gifts each year is to ask others to donate in lieu of a present. Teachers could hand out a card or note prior to the holiday season and encourage those who would like to give a gift to donate to an organization instead. Providing a short list of charities from which to choose will ensure that both you and the donor are happy about where the money (or item) is going. Changing the Present is one online not-for-profit site on which you can set up a registry/wish list, letting others know you’d welcome a donation made in your name.

The Thought That Counts

More important that gift-giving or receiving, the holidays are a great time to say thank you to the people who spend time with and care for you or your kids in all of their activities. These folks deserve a show of appreciation but saying “thank you” with money or stuff isn’t necessary. I’m going to write that again… Teachers, caregivers, and the people who spend time with you or your kids deserve your thanks but do not need money or stuff to feel appreciated. If they did, they would probably not have chosen a career working with children! Have your kids take the time to write or decorate a card/note and offer your sincere thanks for their time, care, and energy. For most, this gesture of appreciation will be worth more than any thing you could give! Here are some tips to help you or your child write the perfect “thank you” note.

So what are your thoughts?

• Do you give teachers gifts at all? (I know some schools have a policy discouraging this)
• What types have you given in the past?
• What are you planning to give this year?
• Do you make homemade gifts, crafts, or other creative presents? Post your ideas in the comments!

Dancers at a Gathering

The above video is an excerpt from Jerome Robbins’ Dances at a Gathering (performed by Simon Valastro). This post isn’t about this work, but you can find out more about the ballet here.

Actually, the play on words just worked to lead into some discussion on a new gathering spot for dancers – social networking sites. Dancers, teachers, and students are busy people, yet more of us are finding our way to the internet as a means to network or market ourselves, meet other dancers, explore instruction or performance opportunities, and even learn tips which supplement instruction/training.

Dance Advantage Interactive

Yep, Dance Advantage has its own network called Dance Advantage Interactive!

I know blogs by nature are interactive and I love to hear from readers in the comments here. However, I wanted to allow the readers and fans of this site to interact more efficiently with each other. At DA Interactive, users can join and create groups (dance studios, companies, etc. are welcome to start their own group which can be set as open to anyone or by invitation/request only). Users can also participate in the forums, post photos or videos, suggest and vote on blog topics, and lots more. Each user has their own profile page where he/she can promote events, receive comments and shout-outs form others, and add cool gadgets and widgets.

As readers of Dance Advantage, I hope that you will help me make DA Interactive an interesting place to visit. I plan to get the ball rolling with discussion posts based on what you are reading here, however, I have purposefully allowed for a great deal of personalization on the site so that readers can carve their own space according to personal interests and goals for participation.  Your suggestions are more than welcome! This site is really what you make it, so please stop by and consider becoming a member!

Get Plugged-In

Another new social networking site on the scene is danceplug.com. Its aims, according to the site, are as follows:

“DancePlug began with the idea of helping dancers, choreographers, and teachers to promote themselves in a professional but friendly way, and to grow with new learning tools.

From there we realized that DancePlug didn’t have to just be about career advancement; everyone should be able to enjoy what we have to share, like the latest news from the dance world, helpful tips, and connection to all the support services dance lovers need.”

I have recently joined the site and am enjoying some of its features. Like other social networks, each user has their own profile and the opportunity to interact with others. A unique feature of the site is the outlet hub. Here, members of the “faculty” offer video tutorials of various dance basics, exercises, and combinations. The basics are free, however, exercises and combinations will cost you “credits” which can be purchased at the site in packages or monthly plans. I have not yet purchased any of these, so I cannot speak to their content. However, as a networking tool, this seems like a welcome addition to the dancersphere. The site comes with its own lingo, so be sure to review these before you become a “Plugger.”

Socializing Online Can Be Overwhelming

The success of sites like MySpace and Facebook and even blogs have created a surge of social networking sites. There are several hubs available specifically for dancers and new social websites and technology are popping up every day. Ning is one dotcom that has made it easy to set up your own networking site, therefore one can easily be overwhelmed by the number of opportunities available. Bloggers and online magazines are creating sister networks to supplement and compliment their site and, as you can see, I am one of them! However, I myself am still evaluating these tools as a source of information. Doug Fox wrote an interesting post on social networking almost a year ago.  In it he states:

…there are many possibilities and many ways to waste time and energy if you’re not focused on whether or not your social networking undertaking is really going to help you achieve specific, measurable objectives.

I’m not trying to discourage anybody from using social networking tools and applications. They can be very worthwhile. It’s just a question of whether in each specific instance if it’s worth the commitment of time, energy and resources to making it happen.

This is an excellent assessment. It takes time and a willingness to explore the sites a little in order to decide if the rewards are worth the commitment. Now, if you don’t necessarily have goals or objectives, and don’t mind a fun bit of time-wasting, then flutter around like a social butterfly till your heart’s content! Otherwise, try to come up with your goals for networking and pick just a few sites that you enjoy and/or are useful, because one can easily become overwhelmed in trying to keep up with all of them.

What Keeps Me Coming Back

There are some sites of which I am a member that I rarely log into, and others that I visit frequently. What makes the difference for me are the users. If people are interacting beyond just self promotion and the site is easy to use or easily incorporated/combined with technology I already use, I return to the site. To be fair, many of the networking sites for dancers are new and still finding their voice, therefore, it is necessary at times to be the pioneer willing to lead or steer conversation.  If I know a dance site in particular is new, I sometimes try to make this effort or at least return every once in a while to see what’s new (if anything). Eventually I decide if the site is worth adding to my daily internet intake.

Here are a list of Online Dance Magazines, Networks, and Forums:

• Dancer Universe (online dance magazine with forums, blogs, and other resources)
• New Jersey Dancers (social network) *No, I’m not from NJ, but the administrator is an online buddy of mine.
• the (inter)mission (social network-sister to The Winger)
• Voice of Dance (forum)
• Critical Dance (online magazine and forum)
• Dance-Tech (network)
• Ballroom Dance Channel (network)
• Movmnt.net (network companion to movmnt magazine)
• DanceSpace (network)
• Dance Channel TV (video hub and network)
• DanceJam (network and videos – view a variety of street/urban dance videos (some history and info provided), make friends, and vote or participate in dance battles)

And don’t forget the two of the largest social networks online…

Facebook and MySpace

Where do you hang out online?

What other dance sites do you visit frequently?

Let’s Hear it for the Boys!

A while back I did a post entitled Encouraging Boys to Dance. It had a good response and I was even asked to submit an edited version for the PTA (National Parent Teacher Association) website.  It is my firm belief that boys should be encouraged to dance by dance teachers and parents in particular. After all, there are many who would discourage them – we should be making it an easier choice for young guys who may have an interest in the art form.  Sadly, many dance schools seem completely geared toward females (maybe without even realizing it), effectively turning young men away.  Dancers thrive in an environment where they feel comfortable to be themselves and safe from judgment or abuse.  Therefore, dance schools and parents must make an effort to provide this environment for boys in dance.

Check it out!

I recently came upon two blogs which are the primary purpose of this post.  They are excellent resources for male dancers and their parents.  The first is My Son Can Dance, a chronicle of one dance mom’s experiences with raising a boy who dances.  Teachers, dance moms, and male dancers should definitely take note of this site! The second is Boys and Ballet, essentially a collection of news articles from around the globe that feature boys or men in the dance world (specifically ballet but other genres are occasionally featured) – an excellent resource that can act as a source of encouragement for young men involved in dance.

While we’re on the subject…

Here are some other links:

• Teacher lesson plan that reinforces the idea that dance is a beneficial activity for men and women.
• Bad Boys of Dance – a company of male dancers who tour… field trip!!
• River’s Edge Dancewear – large selection of men’s dancewear.
• All About Dance men’s dancewear selection
• The Ailey School’s program for boys.
• The Men in Dance festival in Seattle
• A clearly written article on boys in dance in an educational setting (pdf).
• Inspiring Boys through Dance – interesting education project (UK) which provides insight applicable to other settings.
• Helping Boys Make the Leap to Ballet – from the Washington Post, a good reminder that boys in dance can enjoy both dance and sports.
• Born to Be Wild – The Leading Men of American Ballet Theatre
• Billy Elliot: an enjoyable movie (note: it is rated R for language)
• The Jacob’s Pillow gallery of Ted Shawn’s The Men Dancers (prints available for purchase)
• An excellent example of grace and masculinity -

Children’s Books (great for your studio waiting room or home library)

• Jose! Born to Dance: The Story of Jose Limon
• Alvin Ailey
• The Only Boy in Ballet Class
• Ballerino Nate
• Dancing to Freedom: The True Story of Mao’s Last Dancer
• …and more children’s books!

Participate – Wordpress now has PollDaddy!!

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

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

Part I explored the history of turnout in dance and the anatomical definition of outward rotation at the hip joint.  Here, I will discuss the three ways in which a dancer can nurture their ability to turnout and to actively maintain that turnout during movement.

Awareness

Awareness comes from both developing an understanding of how the body, or the hip joint in this case, works (which we’ve already talked about in Part I) and adjusting or bringing attention to the way you think as a result of this understanding. The number one problem for students struggling with turnout is that often they are thinking about what they see happening to the pelvis rather than what is occurring in the joint. Teachers can help their students develop x-ray vision by discussing the actions of the joint in anatomical terms.  Many students do not even have a clear picture of how their bones and muscles look so keep in mind that diagrams can be very helpful.  Of course, accuracy with terminology is great also, but what students really need to understand are the concepts behind what the bones and muscles are doing. This is far more helpful than talking about visual imperfections like “lifting hips” which occur when students are not properly using their turnout. Consider using mental imagery to aid in this kinesthetic understanding. For instance, in her article Turnout is a Verb, Linda Kjesbu suggests imagining the quadriceps “as you would a barber shop pole that continually rotates up and out, around the leg.” This image hints at the idea of upward lengthening and outward rotation of the whole leg – a different picture and feeling all together than opening the feet like a book or in the shape of a slice of pizza, which is only what we see happening on the outside.

In Conditioning for Dance, Eric Franklin uses the image of the pelvic floor opening like a fan in turnout.  With this tool one can visualize that the sitz bones come together as the femurs open away from each other. Attention is drawn to a very important portion of the body – the base of the centre – which will help students begin to harness the power of the pelvis in jumping, leaping, and other movements.

In addition to imagery, tactile information (sense of touch) can also be extremely helpful for a dancer. Encourage students to find bony landmarks on themselves and one another. Find ways to isolate certain muscles through manipulation and touch while encouraging the use of mental pictures. Again, I will highly recommend Conditioning for Dance as a wonderful reference for this type of sensory learning.  You will also find a variety exercises with bands and balls targeting specific areas of the body. For an in-depth understanding and analysis of joint and muscle actions, I constantly refer to Sally Fitt’s Dance Kinesiology. These make excellent additions to a teacher’s dance library.

Release

Too much tension in the musculature around the hip joint is often responsible for limiting the degree of turnout. Therefore, releasing that tension is key if you’d like to improve outward (and inward) rotation. Tight inward rotators inhibit outward rotation and visa versa. Dancers have varying methods which they use to accomplish release in the hips. Some use passive and lengthening stretches and others utilize props like balls to facilitate an opening within the joint.

A common stretch for the inward rotators is the prone (face-down) frog. In this stretch it important to avoid

forcing or pushing the turnout of the hips because doing so can damage the tissues and ligaments surrounding and leading from the hip. A more gentle and effective version of the frog can be done either sitting or lying supine (face-up). While sitting, place the feet together and hands just below and outside the bent knees. Push the knees outward against the force of hands which are pushing inward. Hold this for about 20-30 seconds, then release, opening the knees wide and stretching the inward rotators. While lying, point both knees to the ceiling. Open one knee toward the floor and press down with this leg, lifting the thigh, hips and lower spine off the floor. Maintain this press and lift the opposite leg off the floor so that only the rotated leg and the shoulders are supporting the body. Hold this for 20-30 seconds (breathe!) and then release and lie with both knees open wide, then repeat with the other leg. Both of these stretches utilize reciprocal inhibition, a method of increasing flexibility favored by dance medicine specialists.

Strengthen Without Tension

Many dancers have more turnout capability than they are able to use because they lack the strength in their outward rotators and supporting muscles to fully open and maintain turnout in the hips. Strengthening these muscles is a gradual process and can be done primarily during technique class, focusing particularly on rotation during plié, fondu, and passé/retiré exercises. Performing prone leg lifts and the Pilates side kick series also target the appropriate muscle groups. Make sure you have a trainer, guide, or teacher when learning these, however, so that you are not repeatedly strengthening or targeting the wrong muscles. Turnboards, discs, and other devices are also becoming popular for strengthening the outward rotators.

No matter what method of strengthening you practice, it is essential to focus on doing so without tension in the muscles. “Squeezing” the buttocks is never a good idea when trying to achieve turnout. This language is often tossed around in dance classes, perhaps because the gluteus maximus is partially responsible for achieving turnout, and it is a muscle we can see working. However, squeezing implies that the contraction is a forceful one which will only lead to over-development of the muscle and possibly injury. Dancers should always strive to create less effort in movement as opposed to more, therefore it helps to pay more attention to the opening and lengthening involved in turnout rather than constantly contracting or holding tension in the muscles, which leads to muscular imbalance.

Avoiding Injury

Almost all injuries in dance are caused by imbalance. Imbalance in muscle strength is created when one muscle group is overused or underused in relation to the opposite muscle group. For instance, the excessive use of the outward rotators in dance can cause sciatic syndrome, a condition in which the sciatic nerve, which runs through the deep rotators, becomes pinched when this muscle group is constantly working without release. For this reason alone it is important for dancers that work in turnout to make time for stretching the external rotators. We’ve all done the sitting yoga twist (pictured right), which is a great stretch for this muscle group. Reciprocal stretches, like the ones for the inward rotators above, can be effective for the outward rotators as well. Lie supine with your knees up and press the insides of your knees together, holding this for 20-30 seconds. Then, open the feet and drop one knee (in inward rotation) toward the floor. Press again and then drop the other leg.

Another serious consideration is that when dancers chase the almost impossible ideal of true 180º turnout, and outward rotation is forced beyond the range of one’s bone structure, an abnormal erosion of the hip socket occurs. This is probably the reason for the high numbers of aging dancers with arthritic hips. Avoid forcing turnout now and you will lessen the chances of needing a hip replacement later in life. Creating false turnout (as mentioned in Part I) can also lead to problems. Excessive pronation can cause shinsplints, strained arches, bunions, misaligned knees, and strained ligaments. Issues such as these have a way of working their way upward through the body, and will in turn cause strain in the hips or cause pelvic tilt, which often leads to back problems and iliopsoas shortening/pain. As you can see, rolling in to get that little bit of “extra” turnout is clearly not worth it.

At the beginning of this two-part article, I asked two questions:  How important is turnout, really? And is having extreme turnout really ideal? What I hope you take away from this article is that it is not the degree to which one is capable of turning out, but the healthful and educated approach to achieving the individual’s own potential for turnout that is important.  As for the importance of turnout itself, I believe it is only as important as we allow it to be.  Even most ballet professionals, I think, would agree that having extreme turnout is trumped by mastering the ability to properly execute and maintain the degree of whatever outward rotation that exists.  This attitude, when applied to training or teaching, can transform a student’s technique. Coupled with the knowledge of how turnout works, it allows the dancer to dance longer and stronger. It is never too early for a dancer to begin to make kinesthetic connections to the movements they are producing in dance class.  Turnout can be properly enforced with imagery and knowlege by teachers who have their pupil’s wellness in mind.

If the turnout is mastered early and properly, the student, and later the dancer, does not have to waste energy on the placement but instead can concentrate on the muscle energy needed to  jump higher to turn better, and to control the weight of the leg.

- Istvan Ament, A Systematic Approach to Classical Ballet: A Four-Year Program

Tell me about your successes or frustration with turnout.

Do you think too much emphasis is placed on the degree of turnout? If so, what are some ways that teachers or educators can correct this?

Do you think the ballet aesthetic is changing?

What are some images, stretches, or exercises relating to turnout that have worked for you?

Thanks for a successful Teach-a-thon!

Thanks so much, everyone,

for your participation and for reading! Students, I hope that you discoverd some fresh information that you can take with you into the new school year. If there is something that really hit home, something that you would have liked to have seen here, or you just want to say “hello,” please take a moment to leave a comment.

I would like to thank all of the wonderful dance bloggers who took the time to write or add their work to the listing. There are some really wonderful and generous people within this community and I am so glad to have “met” all of you.

In case you missed any of them, here are the links again.

Organize Your Life and Nurture Your Spirit: Dianne from Ballet Shoes and Pointe Shoes offers tips on dancewear, visualization, journaling, and getting back into class!

Scholarships for Dancers: Heading to college? Seniors, now is the time to start working on applications for school and financial aid. DanceHere offers great advice!

Strengths and Weaknesses: Everyone has them. Here are some tips and encouragement as you attempt to master your strengths and overcome your weaknesses!

Sarah at What a Wonderful World! writes about one of her favorite belly dance students. A heartwarming reminder that you’re never too old to learn something new!

Challenges In Professional Dance: DanceHere offers the first in a series about dance careers. If you are thinking about a career as a professional dancer, don’t miss this post!

Why The Competition?: A post about the reasons dancers compete. Carl, a lindy hopper, competes in partner dancing but his post is applicable to all forms of competitive dance.

Start The Year Off Right: Leslea, assistant director at Uptown Dance shares with students how to be prepared and productive in the coming year of classes. Written as though you were right there in her classroom, she hits all the highlights of the first month of classes.

Jobs in Dance Companies: Considering or researching a career in dance? Performing professionally is not the only option open to dancers. Check out this post from DanceHere.

What to expect from your first ballet class: If you are taking ballet for the first time, Selly from Dance Outlook offers a thorough article on how to prepare and what to expect, complete with some great video.

Negativity: Could your complaining, insecurities, and negativity affect others in your dance class? My experience with a student whose negative attitude was turned around with positive reinforcement.

Careers for Dancers in Media and Communications: Continuing their series, DanceHere highlights careers in film, photography, and more that combine an interest in or knowledge of dance.

Improve Dance With Your Eyes Closed: Sanna, a performance specialist who blogs with dancer, Janie at DanceMind, expresses the importance of sleep for dancers who want to be at their best.

Vertically Challenged: My own tips and suggestions for improving your technique, height, landing, and musicality in vertical jumping (or, sauté).

Additional posts for students can be found under the “for students” category!

Thanks again!

DanceMom.com

Parents have a very important role in dance education. They are the cheerleaders, chauffeurs, volunteers, devil’s advocates, and overall support system of dance studios and dancers everywhere. I hope there are parents out there who are finding this website useful. For all of you parents out there, I wanted to bring another website to your attention. This one is just for you and includes a wonderful message board, informative articles, t-shirts, resources and more. Enjoy!

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