Make Awe-Inspiring Choreography

Choreographing is a great way to push your artistic limits and have fun in the process. Sometimes it's difficult to get started or you find yourself at a loss for new ideas. Try these different strategies to charge up your brain and create beautifully interesting movement!

• Create the movement first. This type of choreographing is great if you know the intention you want the dance you are creating to exude. Don't even bother turning on music. Link movements in an interesting way then add the music later. This choreographing strategy is fun because you get to adjust the tempo and accents of movement you already love.

• Move to the words or music. Sometimes it is difficult to create movement without an idea of the music you like. Put on the song you're feeling especially inspired by and try creating by focusing only on the rhythm of words in the music. You can then switch it up and make more fluid movements that reflect the instrumental undertones of the song. This strategy is a great way to play with and improve your musicality.

• Improvisation. Sometimes it is easier to just shut off your analytical brain and let your body move itself. By freestyling you can figure out what feels good on a body. Be aware of the steps you are doing so that you can solidify and recreate them later. This is bound to make your piece unique and exciting. 

• Dance with a friend! Sometimes just having another body in the studio (or your living room) with you makes it easier. Together you can bounce ideas off one another. Choreography tends to come easy when you have another person right there giving you input.

Try these choreographing strategies and tell us your favorite way to choreograph!

Gifts Your Dancer Will Love

There are some super cool products out there for dancers! This week we bring you some gift ideas for your dancer this holiday season.

Hanging Cosmetic Dance Bag (Find it here) This bag is perfect for all your competition needs. You can conveniently store shoes, cosmetics, and costumes in one place. This reduces the risk of things being forgotten on competition day.

• Rhinestone Earrings to match their solo costume! (Find it here) Dancers love these sparkly pieces. Why not add some spice to their solo costume!
• The I-FLEX (Find it here) This incredible tool comes in adult and junior sizes. It allows you to safely stretch at home with proper hip, shoulder, and back alignment. Any dancer would be ecstatic to open this up this holiday season.

• Music Box with Ballerina (Find it here) Every dancer, young and old, should have a music box at some point in their life. It is a classic gift that can be passed down to their children.
• Footsie Roller (Find it here) Nothing feels better than rolling out your arches before and after a good dance class. The footsie roller is a great addition to any dancer's dance bag, and their feet will thank you for it.

What Your Favorite Dance Style Says About You

You are unique, and that is represented in your favorite dance style. Find your favorite style below and see what that says about you!

Ballet- You are a perfectionist. You will not settle for anything subpar, and as a result, you are an extremely hard worker. You go above and beyond, and people admire you for that. You have a captivating personality which draws people to you.

Ballroom- You are spicy. You have a loud and outgoing personality. You are committed and very detail oriented. You also know how to get along with just about anyone and are good at making deep and meaningful friendships.

Contemporary/Modern- You're the quirky one of the bunch. You aren't afraid to try things that are different and feel comfortable standing out. You're unique personality leaves a lasting impression on those who cross your path.

Hip Hop- You are extremely cool. You know how to hit it hard and keep it smooth when you have to. People aspire to be you. You are charming and know how to get what you want.

Jazz- You have sass!. You aren't afraid to stand up for what you believe and have a sarcastic edge. This can be endearing as long as you aren't overbearing. You are often the life of the party and people love being your friend.

Tap- You're an old soul who loves to get down. You have an inherent sense of rhythm and a bubbly personality. At the same time you are very nostalgic and sentimental. Don't be afraid to show off your personality both on and off the stage.

What Being A Dancer Has Taught Me About Life

I began dancing at the age of three because my parents were tired of me falling over and walking into things. I had no grace, poise, or basic motor skills, really. So I was dressed in a purple velour leotard with a rhinestone encrusted heart on the front and sent into my first ballet class with a bunch of clumsy, yet adorable toddlers. I don't think anyone could have guessed how much dance would effect  my life from that first class on. Being a dancer does not just mean "one who dances" it comes with an attitude and a special understanding of life. Here are just a few things being a dancer has taught and continues to teach me.

• Trust wholeheartedly. By dancing I have had to put my body's well-being in the hands of other dancers in order to execute a lift or trick. In the first moments of trying these new tricks, you have to put complete trust into your fellow dancers and yourself as well. It turns out in life, trusting yourself and being able to put faith in others will make your life 1000 times easier.

• Being goofy is necessary. Dance has helped me build incredible, supportive relationships with my peers. While we are inherently competitive with each other; there is also a lot of support and encouragement. With this comes a feeling of belonging and total comfort. In this environment I was able to let my goofiness go whenever I wanted. This built a lot of self-esteem, and now I feel more comfortable just being myself even around new people.

• If you act like you know what you're doing, no one will question you. This is something I live by, and I swear dancing installed this into my character. I can directly trace this back to being completely lost in choreography at a dance convention. I blanked on all the moves after a certain point in a jazz class, but kept freestyling with the attitude needed for the choreo. The teacher knew I messed up, but loved my passion, so she let me do it again by myself with the whole room watching, and I nailed it (choreo & attitude). From then on, I know I'm better off having confidence in myself because great things are likely to come.

• Commitment. You commit to your moves, and both you and your audience are moved. If you commit to something in your life (a job, a relationship, etc) great things will come. In life, I've found if you only give half your effort, nothing great can be accomplished.

• You will have to deal with difficult people. I had a little girl push me out of my spot in my first performance at three years old. Even then it was clear that I would have to deal with difficult people. Through dancing I learned how to talk to difficult people and figure out exactly what they needed from me without being rude. This skill became essential when I began working because oftentimes you will encounter a challenge in the form of a boss or a colleague. 

• Different is beautiful. Dance has taught me to feel comfortable standing out from the crowd. It is okay to not fit in perfectly, in fact, I tend to like having different opinions, styles, and ideas because dancing has given me the confidence to know that unconventional things are remarkable and should be shared.

Weird Things Dancers Do

Dancers have some pretty weird habits. Sometimes we don't even realize we do these things. Just know you might be a dancer if you've caught yourself doing these things, especially in public.

1) You crack your body parts all the time, especially your toes. Dancers know exactly which way to bend to relieve the pressure in their bodies, and we all know how good a little pressure on the tops of a pointed foot feels!

2) When you hear music, you start twitch-dancing. It's not pretty, but all dancers are guilty of this. You might be on the bus when a great song comes on when you catch yourself twitching to the rhythm.

3) You daydream about choreography. Either you find yourself thinking about choreography for class, or you start to imagine moves in your head. Then when you go to try the tricks you've made up, you may find out that bodies just don't quite move that way.

4) Whenever you sit on the floor, you end up stretching. It just seems natural to pull your legs into a butterfly stretch or even a full second position. Many dancers like to read or play on their phones while in a full on stretch without ever giving it a second thought. Dancers also never realize how they are so much more flexible than the average population. Reaching our toes is no big deal, but some people lose their minds when they see that we can set our chests completely flat against our legs.

5) You wear spandex shorts under just about every outfit. Dress? Spandex! Skirt? Spandex! Slouchy sweatpants? Spandex! You might be shocked to find out that most people don't consider spandex shorts an option with every outfit.

6) Throw their bodies around with little fear of damage. Dancers are fearless. If your instructor tells you to try a dare-devil move that might hurt a little, you go for it because you know going full out is less likely to hurt than bailing in the middle of it.

The Great Sock Debacle

So you're a dancer. When you think of your ideal footwear for the studio, do you think socks? Socks have become a staple in studios across the globe. Dancers love the total coverage and ease they provide for our feet. But how often do you get to dance onstage with socks? I'm going to guess barely ever. So why are dancers training in something they cannot perform in. Well many major dance companies such as the iconic Hubbard Street Dance Center have began to allow dancers to perform in socks. This is a major breakthrough for the dancing community, and it is paving the way for change in the dance world.

Dancers love this because we are finally able to use the stage just like the studio. It helps us glide across the stage with ease, and we are more sure of where our weight is. Artistic directors may be concerned about the aesthetic of socks. They may worry that dancers' lines will be ruined with the blunt edge of a sock, or that their dancers will slip. Precision Arts is here to offer tips for those who may consider making the switch to socks onstage.

1) Nude. Dancers should be wearing nude socks to make sure their lines are as clean as barefoot. It is essential to have dancers pick out socks that match their skin tone. One shade of nude will not necessarily work for every dancer.

2) Cotton. Socks should be as close to 100% cotton as possible. The more polyester or nylon in the sock, the more slippery they become. By choosing socks that are mostly cotton, the risk of slipping onstage is greatly reduced. I have found H&M's socks to be the best. They are 77% cotton.

3) Mid-Calf or Crew Length. By choosing a mid-calf or crew length you can ensure that these socks will remain in place. They will not fall off the heel like a short sock, and unlike knee highs, they will not inhibit floorwork that utilizes dancers' knees.

4) Right size. Make sure you are choosing socks that fit your shoe size. This may seem obvious, but a sock that's too tight will lead to slipping on the floor, and one that's too loose will slide right down the ankle creating an ugly bunch.

The 6 Habits of Confident Dancers

There is nothing more powerful than seeing a dancer command the stage with confidence. Without a doubt these dancers are more likely to get noticed. We checked in with some dancers to find out what they do to keep their confidence high on the stage.

Habit 1: Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Confident dancers know the choreography, technique, and timing down to every last detail. To boost your poise onstage, you have to put in the work offstage. Try to go over your dances AT LEAST once a day, even if it's while you are laying in bed about to fall asleep.

Habit 2: Watch yourself in the mirror. So often dancers feel uncomfortable analyzing every move in the mirror while they are in the studio, but doing just this will allow you to identify what aspects of your dancing that you need to improve. When going across the floor, don't just rush to finish. Watch yourself and work on fixing the issues you see.

Habit 3: ASK QUESTIONS. No one expects you to have all the answers. If you are unsure of the orientation of a hand, a technical placement, or even an entire chunk of choreography ask a teacher or friend to help you out. The more you know the more tenacity you'll have as a dancer.

Habit 4: Don't look down. So often we see dancers absolutely killing it onstage, but then their eyes hit the floor. NO!!! Keep those eyes up, it's a simple way to ooze confidence. Practicing this in the studio quickly turns it into habit onstage and in life.

Habit 5: Support your fellow dancers. Dance tends to be competitive in nature, and this is in no way a bad thing. But to feel confident in your own skills, don't forget to help someone else feel confident in theirs. By offering help or complimenting a fellow dancer (whether you know them or not) you open yourself to a new world that feels fantastic. 

Habit 6: Self- compliment. While it is important to support other dancers, you need to support yourself as well. Allow yourself to be proud of your strengths, and don't be afraid to show them off. You have worked hard for them, no shame in showing it!