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!

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2008. | Permalink | 3 comments | Category: Blog, Dance Media, In the Spotlight

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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.

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2008. | Permalink | CLICK HERE to comment | Category: Blog, Dance Media, In the Spotlight, Product/Website Reviews

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They wear many hats, requiring skills as an instructor, mentor, administrator, production manager, choreographer, entrepreneur, business manager, “boss” and more. I have never owned a studio but have taught at many throughout the years, and have observed this juggling act which owners perform every season. It can be a lonely job in that you are constantly between two worlds – the business and the artistic, the worker bee and the queen bee, the motivator and the disciplinarian.

Relationships with others who share these experiences can reduce the everyday stress of a being a studio owner. Not only can owners learn from one another, they can be a sounding board or a listening ear when these are most needed.

Photo by Bob Jagendorf

A Beacon for Dance Studio Owners

Throughout my journey in the online dance community, I’ve been fortunate to meet some wonderful and giving people. I have been freely offered support, encouragement, answers, and information from those who have a passion for dance and seek to share this passion with others. From my very first interaction with Suzanne Blake Gerety, I found her to be a sincere and generous person. This first impression has lasted as I’ve continued to chat with her through Twitter and emails. Therefore, I feel confident in sharing her website, DanceStudioOwner.com, with my readers. I truly feel that this website provides a unique service for those who are or are seeking to become studio owners.

While there are other places online in which dance studio owners can gather, Suzanne, her mom, Kathy, and other site contributors are offering something special with DanceStudioOwner. Its resources alone make the site valuable to any studio administrator. However, in addition to the information and networking opportunities available, this website is facilitated by actual studio owners who cherish the joys and challenges of running a studio after 35 years in the business.

Kathy Blake began her studio with a dream not unlike that of many studio owners. She has weathered ups and downs and currently operates a performing arts studio with over 1,000 students. Now, with the help of her daughter, Suzanne, she is supporting other studio owners with the goal of sharing her success with others. I have witnessed first-hand the generosity and sincerity with which this mother-daughter team make themselves available to the members of their site.

I recently spoke with Suzanne about DanceStudioOwner, its content, and what’s next for the site. Her words illustrate the spirit of collaboration that is behind the mission of this ever-expanding resource.

Your mother’s success as a dance studio owner inspired you to pass on her legacy, knowledge, and passion through DanceStudioOwner.com. If possible, sum up the keys to her success in just a few words.

Kathy and Suzanne

Dedication, Determination, and Enthusiasm.  My mom’s success has been guided by those words during the times when situations have been challenging or when it seemed impossible to grow.  She’s always been in love with the art of dance and she loves her business, it’s a beautiful combination and I believe it is what makes her a success and also just a great person to be with.  My mom is a lot of fun and she loves to help people find their greatness.

Your website is an online community and resource for studio owners. Why do you think it is important for studio owners to interact with other studio owners, and how does technology facilitate this interaction?

I am a firm believer that studio owners can collaborate together to help encourage each other to build their unique brand – whether they are across town or on another continent – you can be in a conversation of abundance. Studio owners often stretch themselves very thin with the thousands of details it takes to run a studio, our website functions as a collaborative space for them to reduce their time spent on certain tasks, get answers from other owners who are dealing with many of the same challenges, and to get the coaching or support they need to stay focused on keeping their passion for dance alive as they run and grow their studio.

The site explores topics from classroom management to business management and includes a forum where members can post questions and share ideas. What have you seen as the primary concerns of today’s studio owners?

Today’s studio owners are concerned with keeping up with the latest technology available to them to help keep their studio running smoothly.  They are also concerned about the economic situation we are in and what impact it may have on their school.  Lastly, with the popularity of the many dance shows on TV, many worry that the foundations of proper dance technique are being forgotten because young dancers see these shows yet they don’t see the many years of training it takes to lead up to that level of dance.  Studio owners are working to find the balance of offering the popular classes while staying dedicated to the art of dance to maintain a steady foundation of dancers at their schools – student retention.

You have an active group of members. Are these members from all over the U.S.?

Yes, the wonderful thing about being on the web is that our members already represent from over 24 states in the U.S. and also Australia and Scotland. (DA Notes: These figures continue to increase. As of Feb 2010, the site’s membership represents 44 out of the 50 United States. And over 15% of the active membership includes studio
owners from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Greece, France, Kuait, French Guiana, Mexico, Hong Kong, Antigua & Barbados, Montserrat, South Africa, People’s Republic of China, and Norway)

Our members are our number one priority and what I know from the many conversations I’ve had no matter where they are located; studio owners face many of the same challenges.  Having launched our site in the spring of 2008, we are thrilled at the positive response, and that studio owners know that our site is a resource for them no matter where they are located.  The information is available to them 24/7/365.

The site offers articles, downloads, monthly teleconferencing, and more to its members. What’s next for the site? What other features can members look forward to?

We are so excited about the content we are working on for DanceStudioOwner.com.  You’ll see more video clips and video coaching added. Plus, look for podcasts in the future! I am going to keep bringing the latest trends in social networking and technology to studio owners.  I do believe that many of these trends are going to change the way that business has been run in the past.  My number one goal is to always listen to what our members need and want – they’ve loved our custom coloring sheets and we will add more resources for teachers as well.  Plus our network of contributors continues to grow: experts who can make a difference for how studio owners start and grow their business.

For more information about DanceStudioOwner.com, the subscription page lists member benefits. Or, try their free tip of the week mailing.

My Contribution

I have contributed two articles to the DanceStudioOwner technology department about, (what else), blogging. As always, I write what I know and am increasingly certain that a studio blog is a valuable tool for dance studios. In these posts I explain a little bit about why. Suzanne has kindly made these articles available to my readers via the following links:

Why Consider a Studio Blog?

Blogs Have the Potential to Boost Your Business

Update: My Relationship With DanceStudioOwner.com

Since the original posting of this article, I have received compensation from DanceStudioOwner.com as both a ghost writer of articles for the site and as a result of an affiliate relationship. If you are referred to Dance Studio Owner via a Dance Advantage link and decide to make a purchase there, I am compensated for this referral. I’m a huge fan of Suzanne, Kathy, and their website and would rave about them anyway. That they’ve been generous enough to offer something for my efforts is icing on the cake.

If you own a dance studio, are thinking about owning one, or if you are a teacher that operates your own dance program, I hope you’ll check out what the site has to offer. Learn more about subscribing here.

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2008. | Permalink | 2 comments | Category: Blog, Dance Media, For Classroom, For Studio Owners, For Teachers/Studio Owners, In the Spotlight

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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?

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2008. | Permalink | 3 comments | Category: Blog, Dance Media, In the Spotlight, The Internet, Toolbox

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Did you know that you can receive automatic updates to your favorite blogs or news sites and even read them all in one place without having your inbox clogged with additional e-mails?

It’s true! It’s like having your own personal magazine including only the topics and sections you’ve handpicked.  As long as the site has a feed (and many do these days), you’re good to go!

Getting Started

I realize there are many people who don’t know about or understand how feeds work or what purpose they serve. If you are one of those people, here is a quick explanation that will guide you through the steps of adding your favorite sites to a feed aggregator.  Keep in mind, this is just one method using one of Google’s many gadgets, but it’s one of the easiest.  Here we go!

1. Go to the Google homepage and select More>Reader from the navigation list.
2. Create a free Google account and follow steps (or login if you already have one) and that’s pretty much it!
   ** this is not a gmail account but you can set up gmail with this google account
3. Now you just need to add subscriptions. There are a few ways to do this:

• If you know the web address or feed address just click Add Subscription and enter it in the box.  For example, enter http://danceadvantage.net/feed OR http://feeds.feedburner.com/danceadvantage and WHA-LA!, Dance Advantage’s latest updates are at your fingertips.  Click on a post title to read an article. Click on the arrow next to the title and it will even take you to the website so that you have access to all of the site’s articles and special features!
• You can find other sites that match your interests with the Discover link (next to Add Subscriptions).  Click on Browse and type in a keyword and it will lead you to new sites.
• If you are on a website you like, look for buttons or links that say “feed” or “subscribe” or “RSS”  or a symbol that looks like this:

• In some browsers, the above icon appears in the address bar at the top of your browser.  Clicking on these will typically lead you to a page where you can choose to add the feed to Google Reader. Once you’ve done this, the latest updates from the site will automatically appear in google reader.

You have lots of options for feed aggregators, but I use Google Reader because it is…

1. Free
2. Online, so I can access it from any computer, and
3. Because I already use other Google services.

I use a reader in general because it really is like creating my own personal magazine!  I am a dancer but also a mom and I have interests in a variety of subjects.  With a reader, I can view the latest in these topics all in one place.  I can check out news headlines, recipes, and articles from my favorite websites without having to visit them each individually.  For sites with content I don’t want to miss, it is way more efficient than ordinary bookmarking.

Need some more help?

I doubt you’ll need it. Honestly, Google Reader makes it pretty darn easy with tips to get you started. But you might also try reading Subscribing to Blogs 101 at one of my favorite “mommy blogs” SimpleMom.

Get Going!

Visiting the websites of your favorite dance companies and organizations, and subscribing to their blogs is a good way to start your “magazine.” Try the DA Blog Stars in the sidebar to the right or visit our Links page for more great dance resources.

Give it a try and don’t forget to add Dance Advantage to your subscriptions!!

Reading via E-mail

Feeds can also be read via e-mail. Many blogs offer this through Feedburner or other services. Just as an aggregator is “fed” new content each time a post is published, these services send out a new e-mail with each update. Subscribe to DA via  e-mail with Feedburner.

Dance Advantage also offers blog updates via the Subscriber Plus membership. Subscribing is free, offers more control over how often you receive blog updates (providing a weekly digest), and extends exclusive content and offers based upon your interest and involvement in dance education. You can read more about that here or simply subscribe.

Once again, thank you so much for reading! I love to read your comments on posts and hope that more of you will take advantage of this option. It is important to me to build an interactive site where people can not only read my thoughts, but respond and offer their own thoughts and ideas as well.  It will make us all more knowledgeable about this passion we share – dance!

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2008. | Permalink | 2 comments | Category: Blog, Dance Media, In the Spotlight

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It is hard to believe that I began Dance Advantage just over six months ago!  Last April, the idea that had been loitering in my head became a living, breathing entity.  I had no idea where this blog would take me, how much time I would put into it, or if anyone would even read the darn thing!  My aim was to write about all of the things I never seem to have time to cover when teaching my classes, to pull together useful links and sites, to offer my knowledge of dance and share my passion.  My hope was that other teachers and dance students would take these things, apply them to their work and study, and share them with others.

As you can see from the chart above, Dance Advantage is growing!  More people are commenting and responding, and the number of hits this blog receives has been steadily rising.  I expect that it will continue to do so in October and beyond.  The numbers are nothing compared to many sites but I wanted to share this small success with those of you who regularly read the blog.

Using This Site to Your Advantage

Since I’m taking time out to talk about the blog itself, I’d like to point out some important features you may not be aware of. There are pages offered on this site that don’t show up in feeds (if that happens to be how you read the blog) that I think are helpful to current subscribers and visitors alike.  In particular, the About page offers some ideas about how I hope this site will be used and also some of the other places where Dance Advantage is present online.  For instance, I have a page and profile on Facebook – I’d be honored if you became a fan there. Another useful page provides a tour of the Dance Advantage website.  Most importantly, on this page I’ve explained how to use category or tag links to help you find archived or past posts you may have missed.

Your Own Magazine

If you enjoy or make use of the posts here, regardless if you are a frequent reader or just visiting, I also want to encourage you to subscribe to the blog.  I’ve found that many people searching the internet for information don’t know much about blogs or RSS feeds.  I know I didn’t prior to setting up this website!

You can quickly subscribe to e-mail updates with just a few clicks.  I usually subscribe to all of the blogs I read with Google Reader, however.  Amber, of The Dance Primer, recently wrote on her personal blog about creating a “personalized magazine” using a feed aggregator (or reader).  If you know nothing about feeds, a little information may be enlightening but not necessary to understanding Amber’s analogy.  She likens the experience of trying to keep track of all the magazine articles and clippings one might find useful, to trying to keep track of the online info you want to read and find again.  A feed reader allows you to create one big magazine, filled with updates from all of the websites you read (or want to read) regularly.  Instead of one magazine for each interest, here you can combine your love of dance with your passion for knitting, plus keep tabs on current events, reality tv, and what’s new in parenting, and do it all in one place.  A reader has been invaluable for me because I rarely ever take the time to visit my bookmarked websites – it becomes overwhelming.  A reader allows the websites to come to you.  Of course, a reader can only read feeds, and while still really useful for blogs and other places where you see this little symbol, I’m finding I need more to manage all those “clippings.”  So, I’ve been looking at a few options: Journler, MacJournal, and Google Notebook.  The latter is free but a bit more limited.  You should check it out though if you, too have trouble keeping track of it all, or are a blogger like me.  I’ll let you know what I end up using.

At Your Service

Thanks again to all of you that read regularly.  Because this site’s mission is to serve you, I would be remiss if I didn’t ask your opinions.  So I want to know…

What topics would you like to see covered on this site?

What would you like to see more of?

Which posts have been the most useful to you so far?

Have you or would you share the site with other dancers, your students, your teachers?

How do you feel about the design/layout/features offered on the site?

Do you subscribe? Why or Why Not?

I truly want to hear from you! Add your comments or contact me.  Thanks again for reading! I promise it’s on with the dance for the next post!

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2008. | Permalink | 4 comments | Category: Asides, Blog

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Photo by Dave Spellman

Dance is a form of expression, allowing one to creatively or artistically “speak” through a non-verbal language. However, dancers have often found a need to express themselves through words and writing as well.  In fact, writing can be a useful tool for dancers, teachers, and choreographers.  And, journaling or keeping a diary is a great way to preserve and organize one’s thoughts, reflections, goals, and more.

Who and What

A dance teacher and friend of mine, recently wrote on her blog, Uptown Dance NJ, about ways in which a dance diary can be used for students, teachers, and professionals.  She spoke of her own methods and uses for this valuable tool and how and why she encourages her own students to keep a dance diary.

There are many types of journals from organizational (lists, schedules, data/idea collection), to pragmatic (what you did, what you’ll do, achievements, failures), to idealistic (goals, dreams, ambitions), to emotional (how you felt, reflections, critiques).  And, there are many, many, many techniques for writing and keeping a journal.  Some people collect and use or sketch images, others write free-form, limit themselves to one sentence, or answer questions or write lists.  Some use a binder, others a bound book, and others use technology and computers.  In this regard, each must determine the methods that will best meet his/her needs. However, in order to encourage you to make use of a dance journal, I’d like to highlight how particular aspects of a diary could be useful to dancers and/or teachers.

Goal-oriented Writing

A Twitter pal of mine, Amber, describes how she “keeps her butt in gear” through writing down her goals and dreams.  She also uses something called a vision board which is meant to activate the law of attraction, which has a lot to do with visualizing and attracting the things we want in life by bringing attention to them. This principle can also be used in journaling, as described by Elizabeth Scott M.D. in an article about stress management.

Visualization is nothing new in dance.  We use this tool all the time when we apply imagery to perfect our technique or execution, or even practice mental rehearsal before a performance.  Writing about our goals can also be an exercise in visualization because it requires that we imagine these goals as achievable and imagine ourselves achieving them.  When we give voice to these visions on the written page, we not only allow time to focus our energy and thoughts on them, we preserve them.  It is a commitment and a promise to ourselves, more powerful than a fleeting thought, because we can look over our imaginings over again and again.

Learning and Reflection

Keeping a record of your learning process has many benefits for a dancer.  The following, from an educational website, very clearly and succinctly describes what to write in a learning journal and why it may be helpful.

WHAT TO WRITE

* “Activities”/situations/experiences that went well or were difficult

* Unexpected problems or issues e.g. solving a particular maths problem (that you had revised carefully) or explaining an idea in a group project meeting. [completing a pirouette without falling out of it; a disruptive student; difficulty remembering choreography]

* Habits that you have noticed in yourself or others (which have some relevance)

* How you feel about the way you are doing things e.g. items of understanding, clarity of thought, strength of actions, awareness.

* How effective you are e.g. using feedback from others, achieving goals (assignment deadlines, finding information in library, keeping a learning diary! etc.)

* Anything else that feels of importance to you – even though you may not understand the significance of it.

WHY DO IT?

* It helps you to learn from your successes, as well as your mistakes

* It makes it more likely that you will use what you have learned next time i.e. rather than ‘making the same mistakes’, “falling back on old habits’ etc.

* It gives you an opportunity to plan concisely what you want to do, what you want to change, etc.

· It may help you feel more in “control of your life”, more positive, deepen your understanding, etc.

A person learns from successes and mistakes when he/she takes the time to reflect on them.  With a journal, dancers have the opportunity to recognize patterns in the corrections they receive, the worries or stresses that may inhibit them, and the types of images or thought processes that help them the most.  With this information dancers can then use what they’ve learned to solve problems, avoid injury, and improve.  In addition, a journal can aid in boosting confidence.  Even a dancer that, in the moment, or over the course of months or years, feels that they are not doing well, can look back at her recorded accomplishments and feel good about the progress made.  Looking at our successes as a whole, enables us to see the value in even the smallest of improvements.  Writing is also a way to work through emotions that otherwise we may keep bottled up.  The stress of trying to out-perform ourselves or others, please our teachers (or students), advance to the next class level, land a special role or job, and a whole host of other worries can be overwhelming for a dancer.  Putting these concerns in writing gives us a space to air them without ramification, often making them seem like they are not such a big deal after all.

Get Started!

Consistent journaling is achieved by making it a habit.  You make something a habit by first choosing to do it consistently.  It may take some real effort on your part to begin and continue your journal.  I encourage you to try to make time to write at a particular time each day, avoid distractions and situate yourself where you will be most free from interruption.  Start small.  Sometimes our intentions are too big and we end up quitting because we’ve bitten off more than we can chew.  Take brief moments to write a few lines about the day or the class.  You may find that over time you are able to write more and that you have discovered new ways to utilize your journal.  Also, set yourself up for success.  If you tend to enjoy typing an email more than writing a letter, you may find blogging your journal to be more productive than adding thoughts to a bound or looseleaf notebook.  Like finding the perfect pair of pointe shoes, you may even have to sample different methods until you find the right fit.

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2008. | Permalink | 4 comments | Category: Blog, Toolbox

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There are some great interactive elements available on a lens that are not currently available to me on the blog and I am enjoying exploring how these can be used. For example, I have recently compiled the information from my College Guide series in a lens. In my lens, A Dancer’s Guide to College, users are able to vote my tips up and down in a list as well as add their own, explore a series of other helpful links related to the topic, and get my personal recommendations for books that I found very useful throughout my college years and beyond.

Two of my new lenses are topics not explored on Dance Advantage. Why Blog About Dance? is a personal account of why I began blogging and also offers my suggestions for how the technology can be used for dance studios and students. This was my very first lens, but at Squidoo you can edit a lens as often as you’d like, updating the content as you see fit or as you have time. Like any good piece of choreography, my lenses will continue to be a work-in-progress!

In another new lens called The Sport of Dance, I’m utilizing another great feature which allows readers to have a say and take a side on an issue. I hope to facilitate open debate on concert dance in a competitive setting by allowing readers to speak their mind about the pros and cons of this relatively recent development in dance. Using this feedback, it is my goal to write about the findings here on Dance Advantage, so please visit my lens and weigh in.

As I continue to build lenses I will offer links to them here on My Pages. I hope you will support Dance Advantage by visiting and commenting at my lenses on Squidoo so that more dancers, teachers, and parents can access this resource and join the community I am working to develop through this site.

Do you Squidoo?

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2008. | Permalink | One comment - ADD YOURS! | Category: Blog, Dance Media, In the Spotlight

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Which of the following do you study at your studio?
Are you attending a university in the fall?
Will you be attending a summer intensive, workshop, or festival?
Was the post, “What is Modern Dance?” helpful?

Click here for the link to all of the polls listed on Dancer Universe.

Also for all of you college students, check out this great post on Scholarships for Dancers!

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2008. | Permalink | CLICK HERE to comment | Category: Blog, Dance Media, In the Spotlight

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Locomotor Movements

W F X C S J T G N B R G M R P
H R Z L E U I R F O U P S C A
J F I R U Q M W H E N G X O E
L D G N G E W P K U A P M O L
E G C D N U T S U D A V Q N T
J A H D W I C U L G P T H S G
S L X O Q P X E O V I Q G V H
W L F C P G G S A Q X S P H U
M O F Z J C R B C I P M P Y X
F P O X V P M P I K S K B R F
P G D N U D S O R W L T Y B G
F M R O L L Z Z U A X H G Q P
O R U W M G S W W V S A Y U O
R M O J E K B V N Z V L I B H
C I G H T X H B U V R X U K F

GALLOP
HOP
JUMP
LEAP
ROLL
RUN
SKIP
SLIDE
WALK

Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2008. | Permalink | CLICK HERE to comment | Category: Blog, For Classroom, For Fun, For Teachers/Studio Owners

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Backstage.com recently featured this article about music for ballet class.  It highlights the importance of music selection, the role of music and the accompanist (if there is one) within the class, and encourages students and teachers to “understand and be sensitive” to this role.  It’s a good read.

FREE Music on iTunes®

And, speaking of music, I discovered some FREE, yes I said free, music for ballet class on iTunes.  It’s an entire class-worth of percussion music (a rare find for ballet class) by Duke University’s John Hanks.  *Here is the link.

This is no longer available, unfortunately. However, there are some other things up at this location.

Apple’s iTunes U is pretty cool with content from several major universities that is rich with video, podcasts, etc.  In fact there is dance video from Duke, UMBC, Central Washington and others – check it out! There isn’t a ton of lesson music on iTunes®, however, it’s been one of my primary resources when researching music for choreography.

Are you using an iPod (or mp3 device) for your classes yet?

I can’t rave enough about the use of an iPod for class music.  Creating playlists allows you to pick and choose different tracks without fumbling with CDs, which can take precious time away from class.  If you’re not yet using some sort of mp3 player for class, I encourage you to consider the possibility.

*iTunes must be installed on your computer for this link to work.  Click the Dance Program Music tab to download the tracks.

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2008. | Permalink | One comment - ADD YOURS! | Category: Asides, Blog, For Classroom, For Teachers/Studio Owners, Music, The Dance World, Toolbox

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In the post (if you haven’t read it already), Doug Fox at Great Dance suggests some marketing strategies for teachers that are relatively easy to implement. He asks, however, for some pros and cons about his ideas. As a teacher I see the logistics of regularly videotaping classes as a con. Generally, videotaping is tedious and distracting for the instructor and the students, particularly without an assistant or partner to help out. Participating in a class that is regularly videotaped would be annoying at best and may actually cost the teacher students. After all, students are there to improve themselves and should not have to be concerned with how they appear on camera at the same time. Plus, it is important to consider the safety of any students who are minors if images are truly going out to a wider audience. Something to remember is that most dance instructors are not solely independent or freelancing, they have regular dance students who are their priority. Creating a video of a class for distribution should probably be (as most videos of this type are) a developed product, so as not to intrude on the work being done in class. From there, it can be marketed online as suggested in this article.

I believe that time constraints have a lot to do with why many teachers don’t utilize online technology. Teaching dance as a means of supporting oneself requires many in-class hours, not to mention preparation outside of class. Also, many dance teachers and artists that I know are quite behind in their knowledge of the internet, perhaps because of their tireless work ethic in the studio, or because many dancers are not interested in spending much time in a static state in front of the computer, or because the techie stuff is a little too right-brained, or all of the above.

It is worth mentioning that students are generally from the same locale in which the teacher resides. Therefore, physically getting out into the community and teaching or performing is not only what will generate the most traffic for their business, but more importantly, enrich the lives of people within that community. Teachers can benefit from an online presence because, like it or not, that’s where their students and customers are hanging out! There are meaningful ways of enhancing the dance experience of both students and teachers through information and inspiration via the internet. That’s what I hope to bring to those that access this site.

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2008. | Permalink | One comment - ADD YOURS! | Category: Blog, For Studio Owners, For Teachers/Studio Owners

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