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

Ballet Stretch Exercises

ballet stretch exercises

Ballet dancers aim to be strong, slim and flexible. That is why they need to do a lot of ballet stretching exercises to keep their bodies supple. Here are some ideas and ballet stretch exercises to look at doing regularly. Although certain muscle groups predominate, a ballet dancer uses all of their muscle groups. As … Read more

What Is Attitude In Dance?

what is attitude in dance

What is attitude in dance? Apart from the attitude a dancer is giving you, I am actually referring to the attitude step. Attitudes are derived from ballet, but other dance forms like jazz and contemporary also use the attitude leg a lot. What Is An Attitude? Here is an explanation of the attitude in dance, … Read more

Turns In Ballet and Why They Are Done

turns in ballet

When I think of turns in ballet, I think of the ballerina in a jewelry box turning round and round. You then realize that some of ballet’s enduring magic would be nothing without those impressive turns you see on the stage. Just like those soaring leaps, turns are what the audience loves to see, and … Read more