The Benefits Of The Pigeon Pose For Dancers

Pigeon Pose Eka Pada Rajakapotasana

Let’s look at the benefits of the pigeon pose for dancers and how you can use it to improve your dancing skills. The King Pigeon pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana) is one of Yoga’s super poses! This pose can truly be called a full-body pose because it targets so many muscles, and opens many different joints … Read more

What Are Axel Jumps And How Do You Do Them?

If you have been a dancer for any length of time, especially a modern dancer then you have probably heard of axel jumps or axel turning jumps. What exactly are they and how do you execute them neatly? Here is a visual of axel jumps in the form of a video. This is a preparation … Read more

The Importance Of Calf And Ankle Flexibility Exercises

calf and ankle flexibility

Let’s take a look at calf and ankle flexibility exercises, as these can be very important for dancers. Having strong calves and ankles will help to prevent injury and also make your dancing look stronger and your allegro will improve in leaps and bounds. If you want to better understand the reason why your ankle … Read more

Why Dynamic Warm Up Exercises Are Great For Dancers

dynamic warm up exercises

Dynamic Warm Up Exercises are a great way for dancers to start their class. Today, dynamic warm up exercises are a standard routine for athletes ranging from amateurs to professionals. What Are Dynamic Warm Up Exercises? Dynamic warm up exercises uses stretches that are “dynamic,” meaning you are moving as you stretch. For decades, static … Read more

Ballet Foot Stretcher Dancers Will Love

foot stretcher dancers

Let’s look at the Superior Arch Ballet Foot Stretcher, as I have been reading a lot of positive reviews about this product. As a dance teacher, I am quite weary when it comes to foot stretchers because if you are not careful you can overstretch the ligaments in the ankles and feet. However, the Superior … Read more

Let’s Look At The Straddle Jump

the straddle jump

The straddle jump or side split jumps are common leaps used in gymnastics, Acro, cheerleading, and also in contemporary and jazz dancing. Straddle jumps are most appealing when you can jump high while keeping your toes pointed and your back and legs straight. They also look impressive if the dancer is flexible and can open … Read more

Why We Use Cupped Hands For Modern Dancing

cupped hands in modern dancing

Let’s look at cupped hands for modern dancing, and why we use them in this genre of dancing. “The cupped hand is a reflection of the torso,” says Blakeley White-McGuire, principal dancer with Martha Graham Dance Company. “When I’m working with the movement as a deepening of the center, that reflects in the hand.” There … Read more

How To Do A Grand Jete or Split Leap

how to do a grand jete

In this article, we are going to look at how to do a Grand Jeté and how to improve your leaps. A Grand Jeté is an awesome-looking ballet trick or movement in which the dancer leaps into the air and does a split.  If done properly, it looks as though the dancer is hovering in … Read more

How To Improve Your Layouts In Your Modern Dancing

how to improve your layouts in modern dance

Let’s look at layouts in modern dancing and how you can improve your layouts. There are generally three important layout lines in modern dancing. To achieve any of these lines, it helps if the dancer is supple, strong, and understands how to hold their torso firmly. So it is a good idea first to strengthen … Read more