Giving students, teachers, and parents an edge in dance education
The path from the insular world of college dance to a real career in dance and dancemaking is rarely a straight line. Lauren illustrates this beautifully with a peek into her own journey, while also providing the soon-to-be or recent graduate with some solid (and remarkably clear-cut) advice.
Mia Michaels is known as a tough character and dancing in her company RAW was definitely rough. But it taught Melanie Doskocil a valuable lesson about struggle and perseverance. Her story will leave you asking what you would have done in her shoes.
Nichelle interviews Dwight Rhoden whose company, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, which he co-founded with dancer Desmond Richardson is performing in Houston. We talk about the future of dance, the fusion of dance forms, and his work in commercial (namely So You Think You Can Dance) and concert dance, including the works Rise, set to selections by U2, and Richardson’s solo CLICK.
Muscle fatigue is good but not when dancers push themselves (or are pushed by directors) to injury. We’re ignoring a crucial part of the formula for increasing endurance and enhancing performance. What is that element and why is it important for dancers to learn when enough is enough?
Labels stink but we kind of need them. Contemporary dance is a label that could use a bit of clarification. So many are attempting to sort it all out. An educated guesser, I try to make sense of it all, question, reflect and hopefully inspire some clarity along the way.
Get a jump start on curriculum planning using televised dance shows like So You Think You Can Dance as a jumping off point to connect with and educate dance students. K-12 educator, Heather Vaughan-Southard helps you frame your dance philosophies then incorporate conversation-starters about TV dance into your instruction methods.
A fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The ICON of Hope Project is an initiative of ICON Dance Complex, a New Jersey dance studio owned and operated by siblings GEO and Beth Hubela, and their ICON of The Year, Katie Fasbach. Channel a dash of that Eddie Degas style, and do some good with this exciting, fun, nationwide drawing contest.
“I knew what I was doing with my life, unlike the boys who called me names. The teasing made me work harder to prove them wrong and to be successful. When I went to Europe at age 13, I realized that they were so wrong because I was having so much fun dancing.”
