Dance Advantage » review

Some Things Are Just Better Together

Nichelle (admin) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:23:09 +0000

Peanut Butter & Jelly…

Sonny & Cher…

Snap, Crackle, & Pop…

Glissade & Assemblé!

Well, some of our articles are better together, too. And we’ve made this list of 13 combinations just for you!

Costume Advice From a Professional Smarty-pants(...)

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© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2012. | Permalink | Category: Blog, Featured | Who's talking about this article?

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Tap Shoe Review: The Capezio K360 (Brazilian)

Tristan Bruns — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:33:13 +0000

About Shoe Reviews:

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

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

Capezio’s K360 (Brazilian)

I chose to review the Brazilian-made K360 on the grounds that it is the shoe that the majority of professional and pre-professional dancers will buy. Costing roughly $200 and up, these are the shoes you are more likely to find on store shelves and on the internet.

The Capezio website directs buyers to Amazon.com to purchase their “Kays”, and the only make available on the site is the Brazilian-made K360. An American-made pair is only available through select retailers, like Dancing Fair, and if you are lucky enough to find one in a retail store, be prepared to dish out up to $400 for a pair (taps not included).

VS

There is a heated debate among tap dancers concerning the Capezio K360 and where it is made. A dancer spends a good deal of time and money getting what is considered the Cadillac of tap shoes only to hear, “Oh, those are the Bazilians? I like the Americans much better.” Good luck getting them to tell you WHY they don’t like the shoe. I think and I heard are more than likely to accompany their lambasting lamentations.

I sat down with my tap shoe consultant, Matthew A. Shroepfer, to get the rundown on the actual differences between the Brazilian and American made Capezio K360.

Let’s take a look at the similarities:(...)

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© Tristan Bruns for Dance Advantage, 2011. | Permalink | Category: Blog, Dance Bag, Dance Styles, Dancethropology, Featured, Product/Website Reviews, Tap | Who's talking about this article?

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Chloe Arnold’s ‘My Life, My Diary, My Dance’

Tristan Bruns — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 13:40:00 +0000

Chloe Arnold is confident in her life’s journey, as is evident in her one woman show, “My Life, My Diary, My Dance,” that debuted in New York City on February 11^th at ‘The Club’ at La MaMa. The stage was devoid of scenery, except for three musicians and a blonde, wooden floor. (You can see for yourself in the video at the bottom of the page.) Through entries of Chloe’s ‘diary’ we come to understand the relationships and circumstances that developed her into the powerhouse performer that she is today. While the style and flow of the evening was uniquely Chloe Arnold, she makes it very clear that this show is not just about her. Through a first-hand account of her performance and from my one-on-one correspondence with Chloe, I aim to prove just that.

Through home videos and spoken word accounts, we come to understand Chloe’s dance lineage completely. At 10 years old she began working with Savion Glover. She studied under him for several years and would develop friendships that would continue to shape her dancing. One of these friends, Bakaari Wilder, introduced her to the cast of Bring In Da’Noise, Bring In Da’Funk, a production that many consider the pinnacle event in contemporary tap. Chloe credits the spontaneous jam sessions that would break out backstage of the production as her initiation into the tap community as well as her trial by fire.

It is through her experiences growing up as an adopted, African-American female coupled with the talent that she surrounded herself with that forged the dancer and entrepreneur that she is today. Her attack is ferocious, and it is her fearlessness that aids in her rapid growth as a performer. In tap dance terminology, Chloe has a deep pocket.

What do you mean, deep pocket?

By pocket, I refer to a wealth of stored movements, rhythms, and styles.

Are you familiar with your favorite dancers’ signature moves? That’s their pocket. For those of you who are just beginning to explore choreography and improvisation, you may find yourself going back to certain movements or rhythms repeatedly. That’s your pocket. This memory technique gives your choreography and improvisation a flavor that is unique to your personal experiences. Developing the pocket is essential for anybody who is seriously considering a career in tap dance and/or cares to participate in the tap community and communicate effectively.

Early Influences

The lights dim as Chloe recalls the musical influences of her youth. She is no longer the strong, confident performer. She has become more introverted. Her shoulders slump a little bit. Her voice tightens and becomes whinier. Her entire attitude is (...)

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© Tristan Bruns for Dance Advantage, 2011. | Permalink | Category: Beyond the Bubble, Blog, Dance Companies, Dance Media, Dance Styles, Dancethropology, Featured, Interviews, News and Events, Tap | Who's talking about this article?

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Film Review: Dancing Across Borders

Nichelle (admin) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 23:06:52 +0000

Could a young man of 16 who does not speak any English, who has never seen western ballet let alone trained in it, be ready to study at the School of American Ballet with only a few months of preparation? Could he be ready to perform with one of America’s top ballet companies only six years after his introduction to the ballet barre?

Ready or not, this is exactly what Sokvannara Sar accomplished, with more than a little help from a few tireless supporters. The wholly unique circumstances of his still-unfolding life illustrates the universal hope, struggle, and sacrifice of all dancers.

Singled out in Cambodia, where he was a poor boy with a hunger for his homeland’s traditional Khmer dance, Sar’s strenuous metamorphosis as he is whisked into American culture and the world of ballet is documented in the new film Dancing Across Borders. Known as Sy (pronounced like ‘see’), the documentary’s subject overcomes nearly impossible odds. Yet, unlike many dance stories, Sy himself is not the dreamer. He did not choose ballet. In a way it chose him via longtime ballet devotee and philanthropist, Anne Bass.

Bass is in fact the director of this film, though like Sy this is a role she never really intended to play. Her entwinement in Sy’s development is so great, however, that it is perhaps only fitting that she be the one to tell his story. While visiting Cambodia with the World Movements Fund in 2000, Bass discovered Sy at a dance recital at Preah Khan temple. Enthralled with Sy’s presence and raw talent for performance, Bass made a naively bold move and invited Sy to come to America, where she would be the benefactor for his study in ballet at the prestigious SAB school. Not bargained for was the uphill battle of this endeavor. That classical Cambodian dance bears little technical resemblance to classical ballet, that Sy would require intense and grueling coaching by an unshakable and steadfast believer in his abilities (found in Olga Kostritzky) before SAB would accept him as teachable, that isolated by barriers of language and culture Sy’s exuberant personality would wane for a while, and that he would remain uncertain of his future in ballet even beyond the film’s frame, were unexpected challenges.

Dancing Across Borders isn’t without some clunky moments of exposition and may dwell too long on achievements that mean little to anyone unfamiliar with ballet. However, Bass earns respect as a first-time filmmaker in taking on this open-ended narrative. Able to shape the documentary herself, she might have painted a triumphal picture of the American dream personified and, I suppose, some may still interpret it this way. Amazingly, however, Bass resists a Cinderella telling and provides, with ample footage of Sy’s progress, an unflinching glance into the rigorous training and hard-won rewards of ballet. She also does not shy away from Sy’s inner conflict as a young man trying to reconcile two worlds, two cultures, and find his place within each. She underlines this at one point in the film with Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now,” poignant as ever in the language of the Khmer people. Ultimately Bass’s ability to place Sy’s heroism and the strength of the Cambodian people at the heart of the story effectively conveys that hope is boundless.

Shakespeare’s line, “Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them,” comes to mind when considering Sy. His achievements are a reflection of those who believed in him, and like a beam of light hitting this mirror, his trajectory was altered when Anne Bass recognized his inborn greatness, a combination of qualities shared by all true dancers: a buoyant spirit and irrepressible courage. That’s why Dancing Across Borders, the depiction of Sy’s journey across the frontier of ballet is a tale for and about dancers everywhere.

New York’s Quad Theatre has extended its screening of Dancing Across Borders through April 15. Additional screenings will take place throughout April and May in cities throughout the U.S. Details can be found on the Dancing Across Borders website.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=halAV0q8-4k

Discussion Questions

Dancing Across Borders is scheduled for release on Amazon.

Click here to preorder

This documentary provides some interesting food for conversation on ballet and culture. Teachers, dancers and parents, whether you see the film or not, here are some questions and exercises for reflection…

What unique qualities must a person have to succeed as professional dancer? Are these qualities different for ballet versus other dance forms?

Performers are often said to have “it.” What is “it” and must you be born with this quality?

What are the risks and sacrifices of a career in ballet? What are the rewards?

Is it ever too late to begin a professional career in ballet?

Imagine what ballet looks like to someone who has never seen it before. Can you describe or write about what this person might see, hear, and feel?

Describe a time when you felt out of place and and homesick. What, if anything, helped you to overcome these feelings?

Intense one-on-one training, receiving instruction and speaking through interpreters, learning an entirely foreign and difficult movement discipline… Physically and emotionally, the first few months of Sy’s training must have been almost torturous. Why do you suppose he never gave up?

How important is it to have people in your life who believe in you? Is it more important than belief in yourself?

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2010. | Permalink | Category: Beyond the Bubble, Blog, Career, Dance Companies, Dance Library, Dance Media, Dancethropology, Dancing | Who's talking about this article?

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Organic Relief: Relax Pack Review & Giveaway

Nichelle (admin) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:20:17 +0000

A while back my friend Tammy over at Inside Ballet Technique encouraged me to check out a company called Relax Pack. Relax Pack is a “Woman Owned Small Business in Scottsdale, Arizona” that produces organic herbal therapy packs. The owner, Tiffany Buntin, suffers symptoms of chronic pain and fatigue and is diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The challenges she faces have inspired the creation of her own line of herbal therapy packs which are completely organic. I encourage you to read more of Tiffany’s story at the Relax Pack website.

Dancer Therapy

Many dancers utilize hot and cold therapy packs to relieve sore muscles and injury pain, not to mention dancers and teachers who suffer from chronic conditions. So, on Tammy’s recommendation, I did a bit of investigation and discovered two more great reasons to share Relax Pack with you.

Support of Small Business and Female Entrepreneurs — I like sharing products by folks who originate and believe in their own products. Tiffany developed Relax Packs to fill a need, she offers personal attention and has created a community of support for others like herself.

Organic Options — I appreciate Earth’s ability to provide what is often the best solution for its inhabitants. It just makes sense to me to reduce use of chemicals (particularly in products that come in contact with our skin) whenever possible. Each family and individual does what they can, but I believe in supporting companies’ “green” efforts whenever possible. Relax Pack, in addition to producing an organic product, makes an annual contribution to CarbonFund.org to help offset the company’s emissions.

So, encouraged by my initial investigation, I approached Tiffany about a possible review of her product on Dance Advantage. She generously offered several products for review and, in addition, has agreed to give away some Relax Packs to readers.

Three Packs, Four Formulas

Relax Pack produces three different packs, including a Neck Wrap, Body Pack, and Eye Pillow. Each of these are manufactured in four formulas: Pain Relief, Relax & Soothe, Revive & Awaken, and All Natural Unscented. I sampled all three of the packs and the three aromatic formulas.

For complete details on the ingredients of each pack and formula, please see the Relax Pack website.

My impressions

Construction – The stitching on each pack is consistent and seems quite durable. It appears to me that one would have to abuse these packs to destroy them, and each is packaged with clear and simple instructions for how to heat and cool the packs. The organic cotton feels soft, yet sturdy and is color-coded in fresh, solid colors according to the ingredient formula inside.
Revive and Awaken – I received a Neck Wrap in this formula. The design rests easily on my shoulders and I’ve quickly popped it in the microwave for heating on those early mornings when I manage to rise before my little one to get some work done. The aroma really does have an invigorating yet calming affect, and helps me focus my foggy morning brain for writing.

Pain Relief – The peppermint, spearmint, lavender, ginger, and eucalyptus in this formula is a really pleasing combination. I’ve used heat therapy “beanbags” that cool way too quickly. I tried the heated Body Pack for some soreness after dancing and was pleased to find that the flax seed inside the Relax Pack held the heat for a long time.

Relax and Soothe – I received this formula in both the Body Pack and Eye Pillow. For someone who stares at a computer screen a lot, the Eye Pillow is welcome relief. It is recommended for cold therapy and can be kept between uses inside a resealable plastic bag or container in the freezer. Again, it keeps its cool. This formula contains linden leaf and flower which, according to the handy cards packaged with the order, is said to ease painful cramps. I used the Body Pack on a day that I experienced cramping (of the female variety) and the heated pack did offer relief. The fragrant ingredients are a pleasant and comforting feature.

Cost – Organic does not always mean more expensive. I was pleased to discover that Tiffany’s Relax Packs are comparable (and sometimes less expensive) than other heat and cold therapy packs available even at WalMart and other big stores. They would make a great gift for yourself, for a teacher, or anyone else you know with aches, pains, or stress.

The bottom line: I cannot offer any negatives. I am very pleased with the packs and continue to use them regularly.

The Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed!

Tiffany is offering prizes to three winners on the blog. To enter the contest, all you need to do is comment on this post using the “Speak Your Mind” comment form below this article. Be sure to include the email address at which I can contact you, should you be a winner.

In your comment, tell us which formula you would most like to try (detailed descriptions can be found at Relax Pack) and why.

If you are a Dance Advantage email newsletter subscriber, be sure to write “I’m a subscriber!” in your comment and use the same email address with which you subscribe to the newsletter (they need to match, this is how I verify that you are a subscriber). For this contest, email subscribers (sorry no RSS feed subscribers this time) will receive an extra entry. If you are not already a subscriber, you can sign up before the close of the contest, enter with your comment, and still receive the extra entry.

Winners will be drawn from all entries using random.org. This contest is open only to those in the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam. My apologies to those in other locations.

The grand prize, offered to the 1st winner drawn will receive:
- 1 neck wrap
- 1 body pack
- 1 eye pillow (in any combination of formula)

Winner #2 will receive:
- 1 neck wrap (in any formula)

Winner #3 will receive
- 1 eye pillow (in any formula)

Entry comments will be accepted from now until midnight (EST) on Friday, March 19. At that point the contest will close, the drawing will be conducted, and the winners will be contacted via email. Winners will have 48 hours to respond or I will have to move on to the next name drawn. When all winners have been contacted and confirmed, I will update this post with the announcement. Further information can be found in the giveaway policy.

Update!

The awesome thing about reviewing products is that sometimes I find items that I like or use so much that I want to endorse them beyond the review. Occasionally I’m also able to earn a little something in return for my efforts. And so I’m pleased to let you know that now if you navigate to RelaxPack from Dance Advantage, any purchases you make will help support my efforts to keep free content flowing on this blog!

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2010. | Permalink | Category: Blog, Dancethropology, Giveaways, Health and Wellness, Product/Website Reviews | Who's talking about this article?

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Richard Maddock Music — CD Review and Giveaway!

Nichelle (admin) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:43:53 +0000

Richard Maddock is an accomplished musician as well as a seasoned dance class and exam accompanist. He is currently Head Accompanist at The Pia Bouman School of Creative Movement and Ballet, in Toronto, Canada and has written, performed, and engineered eight CD’s for dance in the last three years. I recently came across Richard online and he graciously offered five of these discs for review here, on the blog.

To top it off, he agreed to donate nine CD’s to give away to nine lucky Dance Advantage readers!

Music for Movement and Imaginations

Ballet Class & Creative Movement (for children ages 3 and up)

I’m not currently teaching preschool ballet, but this is a CD I wish had been around a few years ago when I was teaching younger children! Dance teacher and collaborator, Kelly Jones-Hart has developed a class structure that effectively blends the conceptual exploration of creative dance with basic ballet technique. And with over 40 tracks, there is plenty of material and alternatives to spread over many classes. The disc provides brief notes on each track explaining its possible uses in class. The notes are not a how-to manual. Some familiarity with creative dance methods would certainly increase the variety of ways you could use the musical material. However, plié, tendus, relevé, ballet walks, sauté – it’s all here – forming a cohesive lesson format whether you are comfortable with creative movement concepts or simply looking for a way to enliven your children’s ballet classes.

Musically, the selections are simple but engaging. Composer, Richard Maddock knows when to keep the beat “readable” so that young dancers can stay in time with the exercise. And, he is playful, adding flourishes and fun when trying to inspire little imaginations. There are a variety of “freeze” dance selections with random pauses, and a group of compositions designed for Enchaînment (combination of steps or concepts). These often switch tempo or meter and could be applied many ways to whatever you are working on with your students. Also included are seven “Dance-a-Story” arrangements. In these, the music changes and progresses in a way that suggests a plot or sets a scene. Two sample stories are included in the album notes and a general outline is offered for the others but, the music itself will encourage your own creativity.

Although this is most certainly music for young dancers, I appreciate that the musical cues and changes are subtle and that the compositions have an elementary sophistication compared to some of the “baby ballet” albums out there. Because of this, the CD could be functional for children’s classes well beyond the preschool years, extending the usefulness of this album.

For further detail or to preview some of the tracks, click the image above.

Ballet Studio Inspirations: Volume Two and Volume Three

Richard creates from a colorful palette of musical hues. His compositions for dance classes are expressive. It is easy to find inspiration in the material for the choreography of exercises because he paints attractive landscapes of sound. But, it is the lyrical quality of the songs that also make these tracks enjoyable to dance to. They encourage the student to perform the exercises rather than just complete them, which makes a teacher’s job easier in the long run.

Volume Two includes 14 compositions, beyond the 31 barre and centre selections, which are recommended for pointe work. And overall it has rather lengthy tracks, particularly for barre. As a result, this CD is probably more appropriate for advanced students than beginners. Containing an hour and 20 minutes of music, the disc offers plenty of selections to mix and match for different lesson plans. What I found unique about this album was its delicate orchestrations. Though the piano is the focus, there are textures added beneath which suggest the richer dynamics of an orchestra without overpowering the dancers during class.

Volume Three, on the other hand, is special for its purely piano sound. Recorded on a Concert Series Grand while corresponding class exercises were performed, this album more closely resembles the experience of having a live musician at your disposal, a luxury that few dance studios enjoy. Though in the notes it suggests that the music was composed to compliment a pre-professional level ballet class, I feel that this CD might be more adaptable to varying levels than the previous disc. The shorter tracks have much to do with this. The compositions, consistently featuring 64 bars of music, also seem more symmetrical overall.

On both discs, it is helpful that the selections are ordered and titled according to how they might be utilized in a class. However, the compositions could be easily rearranged (perhaps on your iPod or mp3 player) according to preference. I also appreciate that the liner notes include the time signature of the piece, how many bars (measures) are available, and note changes or breaks in pattern. Knowing these details can make choreographing exercises a much smoother process.

For further detail or to preview some of the tracks, click the images above.

As Creation Unfolds: Part Three and The Garden Within

While the first three albums are definitely designed for class use, these two albums include longer compositions more suitable for creative or improvisational dance, or composition. Again, I visualize landscapes as I listen to Richard’s work. Most tracks have a contemplative quality.

As Creation Unfolds Part Three is the shorter (i.e. fewer songs) of the two albums. However most of its tracks are well over four minutes long. A favorite on the disc is “The Newborn Fawn.” Its skipping rhythms make it the most dance-y of the compositions and, as the shortest track, it could certainly be used for a lilting ballet in your next recital. “Woodland Nymphs” is another standout. I instantly recognized this one as a great fit for a creative dance class. Beginning with gentle pauses and gradually increasing in tempo, I picture children making shapes and exploring in a scarf dance. Incorporating several changes in texture, the music seems to have “events” that could easily be turned into a story dance.

On The Garden Within, the selections “Oh What Wonders” and “Gently Guiding,” in particular, produced movement images and motifs in my mind as I listened. Their lyrical melodies and slightly more stirring tempos make them relevant for phrases or class choreography. My most pleasant surprise came at the end of this body of work, however. The final track, “Moving Forward” is underlined with percussive elements. This, coupled with its Asian-inspired gongs and chords, give the song a Cirque du Soleil vibe. What I find most compelling, however, is the tempo fluctuation in the piece. Of all the tracks on these two albums, this is my favorite.

The Garden Within and As Creation Unfolds Part Three are both filled with lovely compositions. They are a pleasure to listen or meditate to, making them ideal for relaxation, yoga, or stretching (inside or outside of class).

For further detail or to preview some of the tracks, click the images above.

All CD cover images are the photographic work of Kim Fiocca.

Here’s How To Enter:

Sorry, the giveaway is now closed!

Winners have been contacted

♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫

Richard Maddock Compositions
Inspiring CDs for Ballet Class and Choreographic Work
www.richardmaddock.com

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2009. | Permalink | Category: Blog, Dancethropology, Giveaways, Music, Product/Website Reviews | Who's talking about this article?

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Dance Advantage » review

Some Things Are Just Better Together

Well, some of our articles are better together, too. And we’ve made this list of 13 combinations just for you!

Tap Shoe Review: The Capezio K360 (Brazilian)

Capezio’s K360 (Brazilian)

VS

Chloe Arnold’s ‘My Life, My Diary, My Dance’

What do you mean, deep pocket?

Early Influences

Film Review: Dancing Across Borders

Discussion Questions

Organic Relief: Relax Pack Review & Giveaway

Dancer Therapy

Three Packs, Four Formulas

My impressions

The Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed!

Richard Maddock Music — CD Review and Giveaway!

Music for Movement and Imaginations

Ballet Studio Inspirations: Volume Two and Volume Three

As Creation Unfolds: Part Three and The Garden Within

Here’s How To Enter:

Sorry, the giveaway is now closed!

♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫