I am sure that older dance teachers will be able to relate to these things I wish I had known as a young dancer. And now into my fifties, I can’t do all I could then, but imagine what I would have looked like if I could apply all the knowledge I have gained over … Read more
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
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
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
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
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
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
In this article, I am going to explore how to open out your hips especially focused on dancers, but anyone can benefit from doing these stretches, even if you have two left feet. Hip flexibility isn’t just for dancers, athletes, or yogis; it’s a crucial aspect of anyone’s physical health. Tight hips can lead to … Read more
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
Cambre in ballet is a French term in ballet that means arched. It also means ‘to throw out one’s chest.’ In ballet, we don’t actually throw our chests out, as you would do some serious damage. Instead, the dancer would bend gently to the back, side, or front, or even in a circular motion. If … Read more