Inspiration for Incredible Improv

Improvisation is an integral part of being a dancer. It undoubtedly one of the hardest tasks as a dancer, but it is also extremely rewarding. We have some great tips to help you improve your improv and find inspiration to dance.

                                             

• Find Your Style. Whenever you get a chance to improv, it is your time to try out different styles of dance. Find movements that you feel comfortable and confident in. Also try varying the tempo of your movements to make your dancing less monotone and more interesting.
• Challenge Your Body. See how you feel about different movements try isolating parts of your body that you normally do not focus on. Try concentrating on finger movement, pelvis placement, and rib cage isolation instead of your flexible legs. 
• Limit Tricks. Improv is much more meaningful when you are not focusing on how many pirouettes you can whip out or how high you can kick your leg. It is about finding what unique moves and details look and feel good to your body. You can work your flexibility and technique constantly in class so use improv opportunities to find yourself.
• Work Different Levels. If you don't know how to start your improv, start on the floor spend time playing with movements to get you standing and even jumping. Spend time in all levels especially lunges to create interesting movement.
• Listen to the Music. Use the music as your guide. Even if you aren't familiar with the song, let it provide you with inspiration for movement. You won't necessarily match up exactly to counts, but that is not as important as finding your comfort zone where your body takes over and your mind is set free.
• Embrace the Awkward. There is no such thing as a wrong movement when doing improv. If something feels or looks awkward stay in the moment and make it feel right. Working through these spots is what makes a great improvist.
• DANCE LIKE NO ONE IS WATCHING. This is the most important thing to remember when doing improv. It doesn't matter what others think of your movements, good or bad. Improv is for you and no one else. Embrace these opportunities and have fun with it!

Stocking Stuffers for Your Dancers

It's that time of year again. The air is chilled, the holiday decorations are going up, and your dancer is probably very excited for the upcoming holidays. So what is your dancer looking for in his or her stocking? We have some great ideas for the essentials your dancer may be wanting for the holidays.

• Customized water bottle! Take an eco-friendly stand this holiday season. You can cut back on the endless cases of plastic water bottles with a super cute water bottle that your dancer is sure to love. Plus they fit perfectly in a stocking! (Click here for the ones pictured)

• Really cool fake eyelashes! And by really cool we mean full of glitter and rhinestones and maybe even unconventional colors like purple or blue.

 

New half soles! Half soles tend to have short lives. Why not get your dancer a practice pair that is a bright color or has a unique pattern! (Click here for the ones pictured)

• New black spandex shorts! Your dancer probably has a ton of black booty shorts, but one more pair never hurts. Plus it might be time to get rid of the faded ones or the ones that are a little too small.

• Two words: Yoga legwarmers! These sock/ legwarmer/ stirrup tight combination are perfect for dancers on mornings when the studio is cold. They allow simultaneous grip and warmth while being super cute. (Click here for the ones pictured )

• Small, portable speaker! Dancers love to have a speaker with them at competition. They can just plug their music in (or link it via Bluetooth) and practice their dances wherever they can find a spot. Any dancer would love to find this in their stocking.

7 Minutes = Clean Dance Bag

Is your dance bag disgusting? We have an exclusive list of the things you do and do not need to keep in your dance bag. It's time to clean out that bag and keep it that way for good. So take the next 7 minutes to go through your bag and use this as a checklist.

                                      What you'll need: 

• 2-3 dryer sheets
• Air freshener
• Paper clip
• 3 sandwich or snack size ziploc bags  
• Permanent marker
• Snacks
• Filtering water bottle (optional)

                                                 What to Do:

1) Unzip all the pockets of your bag, turn it upside down and shake vigorously. This should shuttle all of the contents straight to the floor.

2) IMMEDIATELY throw away whatever was inside of your bag that made you gag after dumping it. (Trust me, you don't want to be smelling that 3 week old half of a sandwich for the rest of the night.)

3) Take all unpaired dirty (maybe even crispy) socks to the laundry room and start a load.

4) Place dryer sheets on the bottom of your bag. Generously spray bag with air freshener (scent of your choosing). These should help control your nasty foot stench.

5) Place all necessary shoes in your bag as pairs. Tie laces from each shoe in a bow so you can pull them out as a pair. If you have jazz or tap shoes without laces, put one shoe inside of the other so they stay together. If you have half soles, use a paper clip to keep them together. When you need to wear them, simply attach the paper clip to the strap of your bag so you can re-clip them after class.

6) Label plastic bags with permanent marker as follows: Bobby pins, Hair ties, Safety pins. Sort the mess of these items on your floor into their appropriate bags, zip the top of the bags, and place in the front pocket of your dance bag. If you don't want to buy bobby pins and hair ties every two weeks STOP THROWING THEM INTO THE BOTTOM OF YOUR BAG and just place them into their ziplocs.

7) If you do not have a makeup bag, get one (or use another ziploc). Put all your makeup in this and keep it in the same pocket as your bobby pins, hair ties, and safety pins. Put a brush and/or comb and small bottle of hairspray in this pocket as well. Also for everyone's sake, put an extra deodorant in there.

8) Add snacks to one pocket of your dance bag so you don't have a plethora of granola bars floating around your shoes. Don't forget to pack a water bottle. I suggest one with a filter so you don't run out, you can keep refilling it!

9) Anything else that is still on your floor cannot go in your dance bag. Either throw it away, or find a better place for it. Chances are, it's just cluttering the thing up.

Voila! Your dance bag is clean, and you now have a system to keep it that way!

The Secret to Higher Jumps

Ever wonder how fantastic dancers manage to float during grand jetes? Well the secret has to do with an exercise method called plyometrics. Plyometrics help athletes learn how to generate a lot of force in a small amount of time. (Sounds like a leap, right?) With these plyometric tips, your jumps are sure to be leaps and bounds above your competitor's.

                      

• Box jump training. It only makes sense that to jump higher, you have to practice jumping. Hit the gym and start working on box jumps. To properly execute a box jump, you must pick a box that you are sure you can get both feet onto. A box that is too high poses the possibility of missing your feet and subsequently knocking your teeth out. Make sure both your feet land on the box at the same time and that your body is in the same position as when you took off. You should work yourself up to higher boxes with less time between jumps.

• Lunges. A plyometric lunge adds diversity to your workout and will help condition your body to leap higher. Try scissor lunges. Start in a 90 degree lunge, jump up and switch the leg you have in front so you can land in the opposite 90 degree lunge. Your explosiveness from this position will translate well into your leaps. These lunges will also improve the muscles needed for switch leaps.

• Prancing! When doing prances or petite jetes across the floor, try to focus on height and not just getting to the other side of the room. These simple jumps are what prepares your body for the real deal, the grand jete. Doing baby jetes will get your muscles ready for the full split you want to do in the air.

• Strides. This is an easy exercise. You want to cover an area of ground (perhaps across the floor) in as little steps as possible. This allows your legs to become accustomed to splitting in the air, but recovering quickly. This will help you develop a beautiful line mid-air.

• 
• Step up! Find a ledge or box knee height (or higher if you really want a workout). Place one foot on it as if you are going to step onto it. Then push off the raised leg so that you jump and fully extend that leg. Catch yourself on the ledge using the same leg you placed on it, and slow your ground leg to the ground by resisting your body weight. Be careful when landing these because they pose risk of knee injury if not done properly.

10 Signs That You Are A Dancer

1. You know "one more time," actually means at least three more times.

2. Whenever you sit with your feet under a table, you are tapping away.

3. A grand plie or extended ponche is the only way you pick things up off the floor.

4. You do full split leaps over anything that gets in your path.

5. The kitchen is your favorite room because the floor is perfect for turning (not to mention that your counter is a built in barre).

6. You're aware that hallways are the best place to practice your across the floor exercises, especially shenae turns.

7. Whenever you spend the night with your dance friends it ends in a contest to see who has the best arches, splits, turnout, etc.

8. You know everyone's solo songs by heart! (And don't hesitate to belt them out while you're watching them practice.)

9. You know there are little eyes on you every time the tiny ballerinas are around because you're one of the "big girls."

10. Your dance bag is stuffed to the max and could be considered a deadly weapon if you turn around too quickly.

Perfect the Pesky Pirouette

Pirouettes are one of the most iconic dance moves. Every dancer can use these tips to perfect and nail your pirouettes every time!

• Increase core strength. Tight tummy muscles are essential for keeping your balance and landing your pirouette with finesse. Getting and maintaining a cut core will make turning infinitely easier. The rest of the body stems from your core, so its strength is necessary for exceptional pirouetting.
• Balance, Balance, Balance. The key to whipping out multiple turns is in your ability to balance. Practice standing on releve while going about your daily business. Cooking dinner? Perfect time to see how long you can hold your posse. The more you practice your balancing the more muscle memory you'll  build. Good muscle memory makes turning a breeze.
• SPOT! Perhaps the most important piece of turning is knowing where you are. Spotting (looking at the same spot for as long as possible) will lessen dizziness and help you stay in sync with your fellow dancers. Also remember to keep your eyes up. If you're looking at the ground, that's where you'll end up.
• Use your plie! A proper preparation is necessary for a clean turn. Utilize a wide base of support when preparing. You should push off your back leg to achieve a high releve and the momentum needed to complete however many turns you want to do.
• Don't psych yourself out. When you are going for a turn make sure you commit. Let the only option in your mind be perfect pirouettes. Don't worry about gravity pulling you to the floor. Focus only on the perfect, and that's what you'll get!

Fall Reads Dancers Need

Looking for a good book to compliment your hot apple cider this fall! Check out some of these perfect reads for dancers! There is likely something for every interest in this group of books.

Dance Anatomy
by Jacqui Green Haas

• This book is perfect for dancers that want to improve their flexibility and muscle tone. There are over 200 colored photographs that accompany 82 exercises to help dancers. Injury prevention and proper breathing techniques are among the many topics Haas details in this book.

Winter Season: A Dancer's Journal by Toni Bentley

•  Follow Toni Bentley through her difficult journey of growing up in the New York City Ballet. This autobiography is described as, "perhaps the closest that most of us will ever come to knowing what it feels like to be a dancer, on stage and off." This story is fitting as we head into the cold winter months.

                                        Bunheads by Sophie Flack                                                  

•  This fictional story follows nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward as she faces the difficult decision of committing her entire life to dance or striking out on her own in the real world. A decision that many teenage dancers can relate to as dance classes begin conflicting with social activities. This is a beautiful and realistic story about what dancers sacrifice to make it in the dance world.

Dancing for Degas by Kathryn Wagner

•  Inspired by the Impressionist artist, Edgar Degas, this work of historical fiction follows a dancer named Alexandrie in the City of Lights. She goes to the city to join the Paris Opera Ballet in hopes of making enough money to support her farming family. In the meantime she finds herself falling for talented Degas. Will she risk everything to be the star of the company?

We B*Girlz by Nika Kramer

•  Take a step away from the world of ballet with this collection of photographs and anecdotes about the girls who were apart of the B-boy movement. This book tells the true story of "Rokafella from the Bronx," who currently is a professional dancer, as one of the founding B-Girlz. Stunning photography makes this book extremely interesting.