My Dance Homework: Arm Series

Particularly over the summer it is nice to have a few simple exercises that are easy to remember. This particular series builds arm endurance and strength, and is good for a little light toning. It’s also versatile, allowing you to make additions, increase repetitions, or add hand weights when it becomes too easy. Make it a point to do it once daily and I think by the time you get back to a full schedule in the fall, you’ll see a difference in your ability to carry and maintain those arms throughout long barre exercises.

Introducing My Dance Homework: Toe Sit-Ups

Let’s get something straight. I’m not a teacher who recommends practicing dance at home. Practice is what happens in the studio under the watchful eyes of instructors. On the other hand when it comes to sections of choreography, which generally contains movements already mastered, I’ll recommend that my students go through it at home (I suppose physically if they truly have the space, but mental rehearsal is equally beneficial). However, I almost never recommend practice of actual dance technique at home.

Okay, now that that is out of the way… As a teacher in my classes and in this online arena, I am often asked by students, “What can I practice at home to improve?”

My response:

No need to practice anything at home. Come to class. Listen and apply correction. Absorb the information given to you. Successful dancers have good teachers but are more importantly outstanding students that love what they are learning and doing.

Before that expectant face drops, though, I let my eager student know this:

I appreciate your dedication and enthusiasm. There are some simple things you can do at home. This is not “practice” and cannot replace any of that work in class we talked about. This homework is prep work that supports the things we do in class.

And with that, I tailor some “homework” assignments for my student based upon what I see as his/her individual needs.

Unfortunately, I can’t do this for you.

I cannot prescribe any “medicine” for things you might be lacking in your dance training. One, I can’t see you. Two, I trust my analysis and assessment skills more when I’ve had the chance to get to know and watch a student. Your teacher is your first/best resource for identifying problems and areas in which you need additional work.

What I CAN do.

I can offer some “vitamins.” Vitamins are good for just about anyone because they are nutritional compounds taken in small doses. And so, I’d like to introduce to you a series I’m calling My Dance Homework… dance “vitamins.”

• I will most often administer these via video (and I hate being on camera so this is a big deal).
• They will be practical for just about any student.
• They will generally be off-the-cuff teaching moments
• They will not always be ‘vitamins’ for your physical improvement… dancers must grow strong, healthy brains too you know!

My Dance Homework, Take One:

Toe Sit-Ups

This is brand new, so please do let me know what you think of the series either in the post comments or at the Dance Advantage YouTube Channel. I like to share “favorite” videos via YouTube as well so if you like what you see, subscribe and get updates when new stuff is posted!

First of All — A Chat with Prix de Lausanne Winner Emanuel Amuchastegui

Anyone that has followed the careers of ballet dancers for the last 30 years recognizes that the annual Prix de Lausanne is a big deal. Since 1972 the international ballet competition has helped launch the careers of many of ballet’s brightest stars including Ethan Stiefel, Julie Kent, Leanne Benjamin, Carlos Acosta, Alessandra Ferri, Alina Cojocaru, and Christopher Wheeldon. Since its inception the goal of PDL has been to identify, promote and support young talent. Over 60 prestigious schools from around the world are associated with the event which accepts video entries from dancers aged 15-18 who are not yet professionals. From these applicants only a few are selected to convene during the snowy month of January in Laussanne, Switzerland to be judged during a dance class and stage performances of selected variations. Though all participants have the opportunity to audition and be seen by companies and school directors, the candidates are whittled down to a small group of finalists from which individuals are selected to receive scholarship for one of PDL’s partner schools or companies.

Receiving a record 226 applications from 36 countries, 2010 was a year of firsts for those involved in the Prix. Of the 81 chosen to travel to Lausanne, 43 young men were in the majority – something that has never before occurred in the competition’s history. Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy sent three students. Liao Xiang was among the twenty finalists, Aaron Sharratt placed 5th, and for the first time the Academy had a first-prize winner in 18-year-old, Emanuel Amuchastegui.

Amachastegui was fourteen when he began his training on scholarship with teacher Sandra Racedo at Villa Carlos Paz, Córdoba, Argentina. In 2006 he went to the big city, Buenos Aires, to join the Teatro Colón school and Julio Bocca‘s school. That same year he became part of Bocca’s Company and toured all over Europe and Argentina. Then in 2008 he arrived in Texas to study at Houston Ballet’s Academy, becoming part of the pre-professional company, Houston Ballet II, in 2009. At the Prix de Lausanne, he performed a classical variation from August Bournonville’s La Sylphide and a contemporary solo, Caliban, from Cathy Marston’s The Tempest. In addition to winning PDL’s top prize, Amuchasetgui also brought home the “Audience Favorite” award. In the wake of his win, Amachastegui was kind enough to answer a few questions about his experience at the prestigious competition, his training, and his life outside of dance.

Congratulations, Emanuel. I’m sure you are still riding a current of excitement since your win at Prix de Lausanne. Can you describe what it has been like for you?

It has been an incredible experience! I learned so much from all the teachers and also from the other competitors.

You were one of three PDL finalists from Houston Ballet’s Academy. Obviously they are doing something right. If you could choose only one attribute of the school that accounts for your success (and the success of your peers), what would it be?

I will say “passion” because that’s what all the teachers put every single day into classes and rehearsals. Also the students have to give every day in order to improve and get results.

Were you nervous in the preparation for or during the competition?

Actually I wasn’t nervous at all. I was very comfortable. I think it’s because I wasn’t there to win, it was more like a window for me to show myself and to meet different teachers, experience different cultures and strengthen my technique.

It must have been incredibly rewarding to have your parents present in Switzerland. I read that you had not seen your father in over a year. How important has his support of your ballet career been?

He always supports me in everything, same as my mom. They both were there for me and respect the decisions I have made. I’m very glad because I know that there are some people that don’t have such support from family and it’s really important. It makes me happy knowing that they are there and that gives me the strength to keep pushing and follow my dreams.

It’s been said over and over what a gracious competitor you are. This, in addition to your performance, was likely a factor in your selection as Audience Favorite. What would you say to those who feel intensity in competition means having a ruthless attitude toward others?

I don’t know.. that’s a hard question. I think I am always myself, that’s the way I’m am and I think that always brings the best out. I never felt competitive with the other dancers, overall it was very nice energy at the Prix. Maybe the answer is to be yourself and learn from others and from your own errors.

You are known, among other things, for your ballon in jumping. This was evident in the classical variation you performed in competition. You seem to have a natural talent for achieving “hang-time” in a jump, but we all know even natural abilities must be refined. Has there been an image or instruction given to you along the way that made a big difference in your jumps?

Well, I never knew that I could jump that much! [laughs] My teachers were always there and they just know what to say or what to do in order for me to give 100% every rehearsal. But I think that when I dance with my heart, everything else disappears and I am able to do things I never thought I could.

Do you have a preference for either classical or contemporary?

The Bournonville style goes well with my body. I focus a lot more on my contemporary because it has always been my weakest style. Since it’s something I have to work hard at I always enjoy it and try to do my best. When I started ballet it was because the magic of dance (that moment when I’m on stage and it’s just me dancing, it’s magical). Dance makes me forget everything else and be in the moment. I try to express that to the audience and I think when I achieve that, when the audience receives all that I am feeling in that moment on stage, it is beautiful. The classical is easier for my body and I really love it too, but with the contemporary I can show myself.

During the probably very limited time you have when you are not studying at HB’s Ben Stevenson Academy or dancing with HBII, what do you enjoy doing?

I love cooking with my roommates! Watching a movie and having fun. Going out with my friends it’s something that on the weekend is always a goal. Also I spend a lot of time talking to my family and friends in Argentina.

What is next for you now that the competition has ended and you have emerged a prizewinner?

Well, I don’t know yet. But I know how hard I’ll work and how much passion I’ll put towards dance. Of course dancing abroad means missing my family, but dancing is what I love to do and they are all supportive of me and I’m the happiest person knowing that.

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Prix de Lausanne broadcast much of its competition online this year, including a behind-the-scenes video blog. You can view Emanuel Amachastegui and other participants at prixdelausanne.tv. Houston Ballet’s blog also provided an insider’s peek at the competition via guest-writer, Shelly Power who serves as associate director of Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy and was selected as one of nine judges for this year’s Prix. You can find her six-post series here and don’t miss her heartfelt final wrap-up of the competition.

Watch Amachastegui’s Classical Variation on YouTube: Part 5 – 0:12

Contemporary Variation on YouTube: Part 9 – 1:15

The timestamps for Houston Ballet Academy’s other finalists can be found here.

Dance, Dance Everywhere!

Dance is HOT!

And, you know what? I don’t see that changing in 2010.

Even astrologer, Susan Miller agrees. She appeared on The Early Show before the new year to make some predictions. This additional new year conjecture was published on The Early Show blog:

“Interest in dance on TV will increase. In the summer there will be reality TV — but as Jupiter goes into Pisces better ideas will be brought to TV because it’s an artistic time.”

I don’t know a thing about astrology but I do like the sound of that. More dance, better ideas, and artistic times ahead.

Gazing into my crystal ball…

My prediction for 2010 is that we’ll see dance artists and companies making better use of technology and the internet to distribute their work in a way that is artistically and financially beneficial.

I don’t know about you, but in my home we download music to our devices. We browse our AppleTV when we want to rent or download a movie. Missed TV shows are viewed online or purchased through iTunes®. Though I live in a large metropolitan area and attend a lot of live dance performance, I’d welcome being only a few clicks, flips, or bleeps away from dance content in my living room… that didn’t feature over-scripted “reality,” frenetic camera cuts, and nails-on-a-chalkboard-thank-goodness-for-fast-forward judges.

There are a few aspects of televised dance that I find annoying but what I truly love about the success of dance on television is its potential for building awareness of what it is to be a dancer and for expanding the dance audience. I don’t think filmed productions can replace live performance, even the flashy stuff on TV doesn’t come close. It is my hope though that, as its small-screen cousin has done, dance which makes its home in live-performance venues will begin to embrace its inner “hottie” in the coming year.

Digital Schmigital

I have to share something I read on the TenduTV blog because there has been a lot of talk in the dance world about a recent NEA report that presents a decline in dance audience numbers (the same report says online viewing is up, by the way):

The Real Dance Audience isn’t Really Declining.

We know what the surveys and studies say, and we don’t believe a word of it. Sure, it’s fair to say that attendance at dance performances is declining. However, to leap from attendance declines to an overall audience decline is a huge and counter-productive stretch. Millions of people are watching dance on television every week. 10 year old children can accurately compare dancers’ attributes. If anything, the dance audience has grown faster in the last few years than in any other period in dance’s history.

The problem is that dance companies aren’t effectively reaching those audiences, if they’re reaching them at all.

I encourage you to read the post at the TenduTV blog. The article doesn’t place all blame on dance companies, it goes on to describe the catch-22 of dance film production – costs vs. distribution – and touches on copyright legalities, all of which make it difficult for artists to get their work out there for even dance-lovers to consume, let alone the general public.

I have talked before about the work TenduTV is doing. In addition to my earlier prediction, I’d like to add that I am confident that this all-dance channel, which already makes streaming and downloadable content available online and via on-demand television, will continue to find more ways to enter your home, your computer, and your devices in 2010 and bring some fabulous dance artists with it.

Dance, Dance Everywhere!

Will the goal in this brave new on-demand world be getting the dance to the people? Perhaps! Despite fears, it may even improve those audience attendance numbers. So You Think You Can Dance doesn’t sell less live tour tickets because the dancers appear on people’s television set each week and movie-goers don’t stop going to movies because they get NetFlix at home or on their computer. Let’s have a little dance, dance everywhere!

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Smart Moves

When it comes to 1) reaching a wider audience and 2) benefiting financially from the creative work itself, dance companies large, small, known, and obscure face a few obstacles.

These are are the biggies:

1. Limited to live performance venues
2. Limited funding

So will the funding issue (#2) improve if dance companies are smart about how they expand beyond the confines of the proscenium stage (#1) and move forward in the digital age?

What would be the smart moves to make in 2010?

If companies cling too fearfully to the small audience that pays to come see them, do they risk missing the larger audience that would pay to have the dance company come to them?

Will a larger, home-viewing audience ever make it to the theatre?

What are some of the other obstacles concert dance companies face?

You know what to do, leave your comments below!

DVD Review: My First Ballet Collection

Do you have a ballet student or young child interested in all things dance on your gift list this year?

A brand new video, released in September, would be a wonderful addition to their dance library. My First Ballet Collection is exactly what its title indicates, a treasury of excerpted performances which are particularly suited for introducing children to the world of ballet. Youngsters will immediately recognize some of the better-known tales; Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Cinderella are all included in the compilation. However, ballets such as Coppelia, Giselle, Sylvia, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and La Fille mal gardée, present characters and moods that will appeal to all ages.

My First Ballet Collection offers high-quality film and sound production, however the DVD is not frilly. Played straight through, each of the 26 ballet excerpts are introduced with a caption indicating the ballet’s title, music composer, and excerpt heading. The DVD also conveniently offers the option to view by chapter for easy navigation among the selections. The excerpts are highly accessible and are well-chosen to stand alone. The video even captured the attention of my two-year-old. He was motivated to move to the energetic music and particularly enjoyed imitating the dancers as they jumped and balanced.

A collection such as this would ideally inspire further investigation of the ballets, their stories, their choreographers or dancers, and the physical movements of which they are made. Parents hoping to plop their child in front of the TV or expecting the DVD to connect all the dots, may be disappointed in its lack of interactivity. My First Ballet Collection goes as far as bringing a variety of real ballet performances into the home or studio in one tidy package, providing the opportunity for parents or teachers to assist children in their continued exploration of ballet. This may be scary for some parents who feel they don’t know much of ballet or the dance world. However, exploring together is fun and encourages enthusiasm for learning.

Bottom Line: My First Ballet Collection is a great choice for those wishing to nurture enthusiasm for ballet among children of all ages. Younger children will enjoy being introduced to colorful characters and beautiful dancing. Older children will benefit from the opportunity to sample a mélange of ballet specimens.

For more info visit www.myfirstballetcollection.com. The website features additional info about the Royal Academy of Dance training program, where to find instructors, and a listing of North American dance companies. Purchase the video here.

Teachers, My First Ballet Collection works as a classroom tool as well. Skip easily among the snippets to illustrate a step, try on a variation, or to visually aid a discussion of ballet history.

In Detail

• My First Ballet Collection is the result of a collaboration between Naxos of America, Opus Arte, and the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD).
• The DVD features excerpts from 10 different productions with performances by ballet stars such as Darcey Bussell, Carlos Acosta, Patricia Barker, Maria Kochetkova, and more.
• Showcased are four different ballet companies from both sides of the Atlantic: The Royal Ballet, The Paris Opera Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet.
• San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker, Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (performed by PNB), and The Nutcracker (The Royal Ballet), feature performances by children and student dancers.
• Diverse locales and archetypes are explored on the DVD: woodland creatures, mythological landscapes and beings, pastoral settings such as an 18th century farm (complete with dancing chickens), a toy shop with life-sized dolls, enchanted kingdoms, and 1930′s Hollywood (via Nureyev’s updated Cinderella).
• The 26 excerpts range from dramatic to romantic to comedic.

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For Teachers Needing a Pick-Me-Up — 5678 Video

I’d like to share a poem that my friend Suzanne Gerety and her mom, Kathy Blake have written and set to music and images in a two-minute video. They operate DanceStudioOwner.com, which I’ve written about before while continuing to run a successful studio themselves. The video is a validation and reminder of why dance teachers do what they do. And, why they do it with such commitment and passion. I hope you find it inspiring!

In the interest of disclosure, I want to let you know that there will be an opportunity immediately following the video to sign up for a report (7 Ways To Grow, Thrive, And Keep Your Passion For Dance Alive In This Or Any Economy) and subscription to DanceStudioOwner’s Tip of the Week newsletter – both are completely free. Of course, you are able to just surf away or return here after watching the video. And, you can unsubscribe to the newsletter at any time should you decide to sign up. I’ve read the free report and it offers solid and reaffirming advice to help you stay positive about the business you pour so much of yourself into. I also receive the weekly tip and have found these to be insightful, offering links and other interesting observations.

Secondly, I want you to know that in addition to my friendship with Suzanne, I am also an affiliate for DanceStudioOwner.com. I am an affiliate because I feel confident in personally recommending them (as opposed to recommending them because I am an affiliate). More about affiliate relationships and why I participate can be found here.

Before you run off to view the video (or maybe after), I’d love to know how you feel…

Teachers, why do you do what you do? What makes it all worthwhile?

Dancers/Parents, what qualities do your teachers display that inspire and motivate you most?

In Sleep a King — Farewell to Michael Jackson

For those who are too young to remember him at the very height of his career, I’m sorry. There’s no questioning Michael Jackson’s influence on our current pop music and dance culture. His life was somewhat of a tragedy but his talent was a gift. So, in honor of this icon, I’m taking a moment to celebrate that gift.

A few videos.

First a collection of footage that clearly demonstrates the icon’s signature movement style and its relationship to today’s popular dance.

Second, one of my favorite Jackson tunes. It is impossible not to move when you hear a Michael Jackson song. That is the legacy within his body of work and the part of his life and career that will outlive everything else.

This song’s original music video is on YouTube and worth a watch. It is not embeddable. However, you can find it here.

UPDATE!

“Jackson was constantly nodding to the people before him while breaking ground ahead of him. I think this is the reason why all dancers have a special love for him. He was a dancer to be loved and a lover of dance himself.”

DanceNOWChicago has compiled an excellent series of YouTube videos that illustrate Jackson’s ties to the past. Visit the article NOW! You won’t regret it.

“Thy self thou gavest, thy own worth then not knowing,

Or me, to whom thou gavest it, else mistaking;

So thy great gift, upon misprision growing,

Comes home again, on better judgment making.

Thus have I had thee, as a dream doth flatter,

In sleep a king, but waking no such matter.” – William Shakespeare; Sonnet 87

Farewell, Michael!

Way More Than Dance: Anaheim Ballet on YouTube

Video sharing has become a massive part of online culture. YouTube is ranked as the third most visited site on the internet behind Google and Yahoo. In addition to the thousands millions of amateur dance videos posted on YouTube, many professional dancers, dance studios, and dance companies have joined the fray, adding their own videos to YouTube.

One ballet company in particular, however, has taken YouTube dance videos to another level. While many organizations focus solely on the performance, Anaheim Ballet has been prolifically creating video podcasts which feature way more than dance. In the almost two and a half years they’ve been podcasting, nearly 100 videos have been posted. These include profiles of past and present company members, “Ask a Ballerina” sessions which answer viewer’s questions, rehearsal and class footage, unique montage videos, and every once in a while some excerpts from their repertory. They raise awareness of important issues, they display ballet as an artistic and athletic art form, and they do it all with flare and personality. It’s relevant, it’s entertaining, and it’s smart! Anaheim Ballet’s video sharing initiatives have certainly enhanced their presence online and the presence of ballet as well.

Here is just a sampling of what you’ll find at the Anaheim Ballet YouTube Channel:

A fun explosion of stop motion

Ask a Ballerina

Raising awareness about genocide in Rwanda

Alum Aria Alekzander – now with Houston Ballet (woot!) – her parents are the artistic directors of Anaheim Ballet. Read a little about Aria’s dancing family and her love of the Nutcracker at Houston Ballet’s blog.

The silly side of things… don’t miss the blooper reel for this one!

• You may see more videos and subscribe via Anaheim Ballet’s YouTube channel or view the videos at www.morethandance.com.
• Want to purchase the original music that accompanies the videos? Check out morethandancemusic.com or search iTunes® for Anaheim Ballet.
• If you’d like to learn more about Anaheim Ballet, visit the website. Or, connect with the company on MySpace for additional news, updates, and behind-the-scenes footage of podcast director, Evan Rosenberg in action.

TenduTV Delivers Concert Dance on Demand

Because of technology available to us online and in our homes, we are rapidly becoming an “on demand” culture. From a personal computer, a phone, a TV, or iPod, viewers may take in content at their own convenience.

Dance artists and companies are beginning to find ways of making use of this technology, giving audiences that previously may have been out of reach, access to their art.

It is exciting to think that someone on the opposite side of the world can tune in to watch the work of an artist known only on their home turf. And, I find it really thrilling that students unable to attend a live performance due to location or other circumstances have the opportunity to access a work they may never have seen otherwise.

So….

Today I’d like to connect you to TenduTV, a broadband television channel that is delivering live concert dance, documentaries, and dance for camera works to an ever-widening audience.  Their videos, many of which show complete (rather than excerpted) contemporary dance works  for stage and film, offer excellent opportunities for students to connect with the dance world beyond their own studio.

Live performance video of Robert Battle’s “Overture,” Julie Voshell (from “Movin’ Out”) and Duncan Cooper (see my report on his recent interview here) in Leda Meredith’s “Pair of Jacks,” and works by Jonah Bokaer (which I’ve written about here) are available via TenduTV. There are also several award-winning screendance selections and an inspirational documentary film about the difference dance has made in a London women’s correctional facility. It is not to be missed.

I also want to note that TenduTV is to be commended for working to help dance artists utilize current technology without sacrificing the integrity and copyright protection of their work. I always look forward to the new selections posted on their channel via Sling.com and encourage you to keep your eye on this project. TenduTV is continually finding new spaces and places to broadcast, including millions of home televisions throughout the U.S.

Check out TenduTV’s channel at Sling.com

Visit their site and blog for more information

And say hello on Twitter and Facebook

Rhee Gold Introduces DanceLifeTV

Dance teachers, look forward to another new online resource coming to a desktop near you this March.

Rhee Gold, a dance industry seminar leader, motivational speaker, and publisher of Dance Studio Life Magazine (formerly Goldrush), has announced the creation of DanceLifeTV. This online television network has yet to include content but plans on airing its first webisode in mid-March.

According to the trailer currently playing on the homepage, DanceLifeTV, will provide video episodes “by dance teachers, for dance teachers.” It appears these will feature both funny and inspirational installments designed to provide useful information to those in dance education. Segments are stated to cover topics such as business tools and tips, true stories of dance studio life, a humorous take on dealing with parents, Q&A segments with Rhee Gold, and more.

If you are unfamiliar with Rhee Gold and his company’s mission to offer dance school owners and educators tools for success, you can visit www.rheegold.com and learn more.

I have never attended any Rhee Gold seminars or conferences but I do enjoy reading articles at Dance Studio Life Magazine’s website. And I have appreciated reading Gold’s perspective on competitive dance and the business side of running a dance studio. If you have experience with Rhee Gold, the DanceLife Teacher Conference, or any other aspects of the company, I’d love to get your point of view.

I am looking forward to seeing the first episode on DanceLifeTV Certainly the content provided will determine if viewers keep coming back for more. I may have more to say when it airs so stay tuned and be ready to share your thoughts as well!

Image by videocrab