Taking a dance class can help your child grow in many ways. It teaches self-discipline and poise, as well as grace, which all will boost your child’s self-esteem and give them a sense of accomplishment. If your child is interested in dancing, let them take a few lessons. It could spark a lifelong passion for…
Both amateur and professional dancers of all ages must understand the importance of their feet and know how to give them the care and handling they need. Each foot has 52 bones and supports many times its own weight every time you take a step. The muscles and ligaments all work together, providing balance and…
Going barefoot has gained a great deal of popularity in recent years. You see more barefoot runners than ever before, and its proponents will tout the many benefits of barefoot running. Dancing barefoot offers many of those same benefits and, like the runners, barefoot dancers wouldn’t think of dancing any other way. Barefoot dancing can…
The art of balancing the body depends on alignment awareness—ensuring the main areas of your body are in line. This alignment is important to keeping the muscles and bones working together to achieve a certain look or tone with all parts in their proper places. Balancing is the key regardless of the activity a person…
For people who aspire to be better physically, be it as a runner, a swimmer, a bicyclist or a weight lifter, they need to choose how to train. For many, it may make sense to jump in and train with a single focus. Let’s take running for example. You want to be the best runner you can…
Dancers typically indulge in a wide array of rituals prior to performing on stage. These rituals are often described as being “crazy,” or even “mildly superstitious” and always involve some form of repetition. According to those that partake in the rituals prior to performing, the activities help the dancers focus and prepare for the stage.…
A ballet dancer’s appearance is one of the most important attributes aside from the skill, experience and talent. The costume and conditioning of the athlete is important, but equally crucial is the appearance of the hair which is coiled up into a tight bun, enhancing the clean lines of the performance that is being danced.…
The use of emotion and feedback among reality show contestants and participants is one of the questions concerning the reality show “Dance Moms” and the negative feedback that has ensued. It is possible to become over enthused about the skill and talent levels of young dancers and a number of dance moms can take the…
Song choice is an important part of dance performance. The right song can get the piece flowing and add emotional punch to the movement. Of course, the wrong song can be creatively stifling, keeping dancers from showing off their full potential. When you’re working to choose a song that will make your dancers shine, make…
Fatigue: it’s a common problem many dancers will experience during their career. This occurs when the body is no longer able to force muscle into contractions. Sometimes experiencing fatigue is good, such as working out to the point of fatigue, then letting yourself recover and repeating the cycle. But when fatigue becomes a constant, dancers will…