The role of warm-up progresses as our understanding of dance changes. This is true whether our role is that of a student or a teacher. For many young dancers, warm-up is something to be endured before set free to really “dance” in the subsequent segments of class. For my students, it is what they are […]
technique
15 Things The Pirouette Pixie Can’t Do For You
I’ve had days, sometimes weeks, when it seems my personal pirouette pixie has gone on vacation. May Day! May Day! Every single turn crashes and burns. Maybe you’ve experienced this too. Or maybe you feel your own little sprite hasn’t shown up for a single day’s work, ever. Either way, here are some tips to get you through that don’t involve magic fairy dust.
Help With Second Position Of The Arms
What to do and think for an improved second position de bras (of the arms), and the importance of proper alignment for creating the pictures we make with our bodies in dance.
How Much Dance Should My Child Be Taking? – The Equation
If your child is asking, investigate the reasons she wants to take a new or additional dance class. Costume style, choreography, musical accompaniment, or maintaining friendships may be no less valid or less important to her than the desire to enhance her skills. Dance should be fun, too! Do not devalue or brush away these motivations, they are part of the equation.
What You Can Do To Improve Tendu (and why it is crucial)
Tendu may take second after plié in your dance class warmups but don’t underestimate its importance to pretty much every bit of dance technique. Here are some tips on how to use your working and standing leg and your foot during battement tendu.
A Prescription for Students Who’ve Skipped the Basics
If you are working with a group and finding that the students have missed some important information along the way, it is not too late to get back to basics and back on track. You can do so without making the students feel like they’ve been demoted to Dance 101.
