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
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 Toe Curling In Ballet? Toe-curling in ballet normally happens when dancers try to point their feet, and to get it to look pointed, they curl their toes under, thinking that this will enhance the look of their feet. Although curling the toes often seems like a little thing since it is “just the … Read more
In Jazz Dancing Isolations play a huge role in the look of the dance. Isolations in dance can be done on various body parts, and the trick is to isolate those body parts without it affecting the rest of your body. Hip-hop dancers and contemporary dancers will also find that learning to do isolations can … Read more
As a dance teacher, you are either going to love teaching preschoolers dance or you are going to dread it. If you are not enjoying your preschoolers, could it be that you don’t understand their personalities? Here are some things about teaching preschoolers that you really need to know about, and if you understand what … Read more
I think that Sylvie Guillem is one of the most beautiful ballerinas that I have ever seen, with those long legs that go on forever and exquisite turnout. She retired in 2015, but let us take a look at her inspiring life. “From a small town to ballet stardom: Sylvie Guillem’s inspiring journey” Sylvie Guillem, … Read more
Are you ready to dazzle and amaze your audience with an incredible dance show? Whether you’re a seasoned performer or just starting out, or a teacher wanting to showcase her pupils, putting on a show that wows your audience takes careful planning, hard work, and a lot of creativity. In this blog post, we’ll share … Read more
A Month In The Country ballet is a one-act ballet choreographed by Sir Frederick Ashton and adapted from Ivan Turgenyev’s play. The music is by Frédéric Chopin and arranged by John Lanchbery. The decor and costumes were originally done by Julia Trevelyan Oman. A Month In The Country Ballet was first performed by the Royal … Read more
If you want to wish your fellow dancers good luck before they go on stage, it doesn’t sound quite right to say ‘break a leg’ like you would to an actor. Also, as the old wives’ tale goes, it is actually considered bad luck to say to another dancer “good luck” before they go onto … Read more
A lot of dance teachers get burnt out and frustrated at certain times of the year. Here is a guide on how to survive teacher stress burnout. The trick of course is to stay focused and positive, but it, as you know, is easier said than done. This post may contain affiliate links, which means … Read more