Several months ago, I thought my life was going to hit a dark place. I was fortunate enough to realize that it wasn’t a time to go to a dark place, but rather a place of light and happiness. However, I sought friendship from people that I hadn’t talked to in a long time, and surrounded myself in a group of people that I knew would help in that journey. In this time, I conversed with a friend that I hadn’t had a significant chat with in ages. In the process of catching up, he suggested to me that I read a book to help me with my dancing and teaching. It was only recently that attained this book and started reading.
I’m only halfway through and it has changed my perspective on everything as a teacher.
I don’t know about any other teacher out there, but I know that there are days when using the week be fore’s lesson plan is easier than making up a new one. Whether it’s the fact that you’re tired from that second or third job, or you had an opportunity to have lunch with a friend instead of create the lesson plan that you’ve put off doing all week, or your creativity for the week has seemed to run dry, there are situations that prevent us all from getting done what needs to be done. These “situations”, however, are just excuses.
The book that I am reading talks about personal resistance. It’s not being able to get over that hump. It’s about saying “I can totally do this later” or “I can definitely use last week’s lesson plan instead of creating one that will further enrich my students.” These are situations that we create within ourselves. These are situations that are easily moved past. These are situations that require a self-discipline.
One thing that I have always loved about dance is that it is a necessity to acquire self-discipline. You can’t be a student and expect to grow and develop without taking the initiative, and feeling the drive and motivation to better yourself. As a dancer, you need to stretch before you come into class. You need to know that if your ankle is feeling tight you need to go home and rest it instead of going out with your friends. If you’re a competitive dancer, you sacrifice a lot of your social life to be able to go to classes and competitions on the weekends. If you’re a ballerina in a performing arts school, or a ballet school, you sacrifice having any sort of life outside of ballet. Many dancers learn at a young age that they have to become independent and self-driven to achieve their dreams of becoming something great.
From a teaching perspective, there is a required amount of discipline as well. Not only are you in charge of a group of children, but you are in charge of their development. That is a heavy weight to carry. On top of students’ development, a teacher is in charge of their own development as well. Whether it’s taking the time to go take a class, or reading up on choreographers, or taking more courses in school that help you better understand a dance class, it’s about broadening your own horizons so you can pass the knowledge on to your own students.
Being a dancer and being a dance teacher is a wonderful journey. You are constantly learning- there is no point where you will know it all. The industry itself is in constant state of evolution. Legs are kicking higher, revolutions in turns are becoming more, the dances are becoming faster, and there is an overall desire to create stronger and more flexible dancers. As the industry demands more, we as teachers must demand more. That includes not only from our students, but from ourselves. This is our self-discipline.
Take the time each day to enrich your dance life. Take the time to finish that biography on Twyla Tharp. Got no one to go with to see that ballet you were interested in? Go by yourself! Take that class from that teacher that you’re terrified of being judged by. Overcome that demon inside that is telling you to slack, or the one that is telling you that you can’t do as much as you’d want to. Not only will it better you and your students, but the sense of accomplishment you will feel afterwards will be worth it all.
I’ve overcome my first personal resistance of the day now. How about you?
Showing posts with label teachers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teachers. Show all posts
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
The Importance of Sound
The other evening I was sitting at a restaurant watching the Tvs that were on. They were displaying some sort of music awards (sadly, I do not know which one it was). Since there was music playing, they did not put the sound on the televisions. At one point, a friend of mine and I happened to look up to see a gentleman break dancing with only one leg dressed in an old school military uniform with C-Lo Green in the back. We both looked at each other with the inquisitive expression of “what is going on?” Had the music been playing, or the sound in general had been on, we may have had a better idea as to what the point was of this particular act in the show. It hit me then- music is SO important!
Dance is typically a visual art. However, there are so many aural aspects to it that one may not typically think about. The best example is lyrical dance. Lyrical dance in itself is about the lyrics in the music. Without the music, you may not be able to fully understand exactly what the dance is trying to convey. A dancer could be clasping her hands together to show that she is holding flowers while the song portrays a wedding, and without the words, you would just think she was clasping her hands. It would not be understood that she was a “bride” so to speak.
As a choreographer, I find that it’s best to choreograph with music. I took many classes where, and know many choreographers who can create a dance just based off of movement. I personally love to listen to a piece of music over and over again and find the nuances of it. When I can get my hands on the composed music itself, I like that even better. I am fortunate to have taken music classes for a long time (flute player in band for years!) so I can read music on paper and understand it and follow along while the song plays. This of course is more so with classical type pieces. It helps me to find parts of a song that I wouldn’t necessarily have picked up on had I not had the physical written composition in front of me.
Even with pieces that do not have music, I feel like hearing the breath of the dancer, or even the soft swooshing movements of a foot along the dance floor, or hands clapping, or the sound of a turn, are essential to any dance. Without those, I would feel like any particular piece would be flat and emotionless, even if the performer put all the emotion they could into it. Sound creates the full experience. It’s similar to being able to have lighting for specific pieces. It just makes all the difference!
Had I heard the music on that night in the restaurant, I may not be wondering right now what it actually was that I was seeing. Not to mention that I missed a performance by C-Lo Green whom I love! Next time, maybe I should just ask the server to turn up the sound!
Dance is typically a visual art. However, there are so many aural aspects to it that one may not typically think about. The best example is lyrical dance. Lyrical dance in itself is about the lyrics in the music. Without the music, you may not be able to fully understand exactly what the dance is trying to convey. A dancer could be clasping her hands together to show that she is holding flowers while the song portrays a wedding, and without the words, you would just think she was clasping her hands. It would not be understood that she was a “bride” so to speak.
As a choreographer, I find that it’s best to choreograph with music. I took many classes where, and know many choreographers who can create a dance just based off of movement. I personally love to listen to a piece of music over and over again and find the nuances of it. When I can get my hands on the composed music itself, I like that even better. I am fortunate to have taken music classes for a long time (flute player in band for years!) so I can read music on paper and understand it and follow along while the song plays. This of course is more so with classical type pieces. It helps me to find parts of a song that I wouldn’t necessarily have picked up on had I not had the physical written composition in front of me.
Even with pieces that do not have music, I feel like hearing the breath of the dancer, or even the soft swooshing movements of a foot along the dance floor, or hands clapping, or the sound of a turn, are essential to any dance. Without those, I would feel like any particular piece would be flat and emotionless, even if the performer put all the emotion they could into it. Sound creates the full experience. It’s similar to being able to have lighting for specific pieces. It just makes all the difference!
Had I heard the music on that night in the restaurant, I may not be wondering right now what it actually was that I was seeing. Not to mention that I missed a performance by C-Lo Green whom I love! Next time, maybe I should just ask the server to turn up the sound!
Monday, April 23, 2012
Get Into the Groove...
April school vacation has come and gone. As I woke up this morning, I realized that it’s back to reality for me. Then it struck me, do I really feel so much like I’m in a bubble on these weeks without dance? As a dance teacher, I also work as a waitress to make up for the days I am not teaching, so I still have work. Essentially it only gives me 2 full days off, and my Saturday mornings off. Does being away from dance really knock me off my game that much?
I find that it’s often hard to get back into the groove when I have time off. Dance gives me structure to work with, so I tend to plan out my weeks around lesson-planning and working around my teaching schedule. When I don’t have that, I either have to be on top of my game with self-discipline, or I lose a week easily. That happened this April school vacation. I made lots of fun plans, and wound up not realizing until, well, NOW that I didn’t keep on top of things as well as I should have.
Mentally I need to make sure that I am prepared. It’s often worse for my students to get back into the groove. They went from having these busy hectic lives with school, dance, social lives, after school activities, etc, to having a week off. I know for a fact that many of them wind up sleeping in, take lazy days on the couch, hang out with friends when they do feel like doing something, and don’t really stay active. On the opposite end, some of the students go on vacations where their schedules are packed in with sightseeing and eating out. So either way, the kids come back tired, unadjusted, and not on their games.
It’s particularly difficult with April school vacation. This year, and with many years past, the competitive students at the studio I work at will be jumping into a week of preparation for a regional competition. It’s also about to become crunch-time for the recreational students- recitals are only a few weeks away! Now is the time to start “The Elimination Game”, practicing in smaller groups, and doing their dances away from the mirror. The emphasis is on cleaning, and smiling big for all their friends and families! While it makes it easier on my lesson plans, it makes it harder for the kids to focus when they return.
So how does one bounce back after a week of fun? For me, it’s all about the mentality. Organizing my thoughts into one single place, and making sure that I am prepared for anything is key. Also reinstating my typical morning routine helps. Cup of coffee, a little online work, watch some tv, prep for classes, and eventually get ready! I will head in early to make sure that my music is set, and I will most likely stretch a bit so that my body doesn’t completely rebel as I demonstrate moves!
Personally, I will be spending this morning getting my head back to teaching mode. My students are all at school, and I can imagine most of them yawning through their first few classes, as I’m sure many of them will be yawning later tonight in my classes as well! It also does not help that it is raining out! However, I am truly looking forward to seeing all my wonderful students, and hearing about all the incredible adventures they had over vacation!
How was your vacation? Do you often find yourself struggling to get back into a disciplined mode after time off?
I find that it’s often hard to get back into the groove when I have time off. Dance gives me structure to work with, so I tend to plan out my weeks around lesson-planning and working around my teaching schedule. When I don’t have that, I either have to be on top of my game with self-discipline, or I lose a week easily. That happened this April school vacation. I made lots of fun plans, and wound up not realizing until, well, NOW that I didn’t keep on top of things as well as I should have.
Mentally I need to make sure that I am prepared. It’s often worse for my students to get back into the groove. They went from having these busy hectic lives with school, dance, social lives, after school activities, etc, to having a week off. I know for a fact that many of them wind up sleeping in, take lazy days on the couch, hang out with friends when they do feel like doing something, and don’t really stay active. On the opposite end, some of the students go on vacations where their schedules are packed in with sightseeing and eating out. So either way, the kids come back tired, unadjusted, and not on their games.
It’s particularly difficult with April school vacation. This year, and with many years past, the competitive students at the studio I work at will be jumping into a week of preparation for a regional competition. It’s also about to become crunch-time for the recreational students- recitals are only a few weeks away! Now is the time to start “The Elimination Game”, practicing in smaller groups, and doing their dances away from the mirror. The emphasis is on cleaning, and smiling big for all their friends and families! While it makes it easier on my lesson plans, it makes it harder for the kids to focus when they return.
So how does one bounce back after a week of fun? For me, it’s all about the mentality. Organizing my thoughts into one single place, and making sure that I am prepared for anything is key. Also reinstating my typical morning routine helps. Cup of coffee, a little online work, watch some tv, prep for classes, and eventually get ready! I will head in early to make sure that my music is set, and I will most likely stretch a bit so that my body doesn’t completely rebel as I demonstrate moves!
Personally, I will be spending this morning getting my head back to teaching mode. My students are all at school, and I can imagine most of them yawning through their first few classes, as I’m sure many of them will be yawning later tonight in my classes as well! It also does not help that it is raining out! However, I am truly looking forward to seeing all my wonderful students, and hearing about all the incredible adventures they had over vacation!
How was your vacation? Do you often find yourself struggling to get back into a disciplined mode after time off?
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Staying Healthy
I know I always say I’ll keep up with this blog, and then life gets busy again. Ah well, the point is that I’m here now, and I have a topic on hand to discuss!
Recently it seems that everyone around me is getting sick. At the dance studio, we had cases of strep throat and mono going around. My sister recently came down with flu-like symptoms, and I even had a small case of laryngitis about a month ago. The problem is that with all these sicknesses going around a dance studio, how do you avoid getting sick? And if you do get sick, how do you know when to dance, and when to sit out or stay home?
When I was seventeen, I attended a competition where I wasn’t feeling great in the morning. I could barely choke down my apple that I had for breakfast, and all I wanted to do was sleep. I had the chills, and my body was screaming for me to slow down. I knew I had teammates that I did not want to let down, though. I was also raised in a family where my mother would ask me if I was throwing up or profusely bleeding, and if I said no, off I went to whatever activity I was supposed to be doing, whether it was school, or dance, or what have you.
I accomplished about 12 different dances over the course of that day. We had a group number early in the morning, and then my duo was the very last number to go on. I knew by the time I went on for my duo that I was just about done. I should not have been walking onto that stage, but I sucked it up, found it deep within me, and danced my heart out. My mother still jokes to this day that I looked like I was turning a shade of green, and my hands were dangling at certain points when they should have been still. I didn’t think I would make it after I got offstage. I had dancers running around me to line up for awards. I was running to the bathroom by then. I also wound up staying home for 3 or 4 days from school- the most I had missed since elementary school.
I’m glad that I did it. As dancers, we need to have those moments where we sacrifice for our art. Yes, I was only a high schooler, but the discipline and rigidity of the art is instilled so early on for many of us. It’s taught me that I can’t call out of work for a minor cold, or a bad headache, and that has earned me a lot of respect with many of my bosses.
The most important part of getting sick, though, is knowing when it is okay to push yourself, and when it is not. At the studio I currently work for, we impress upon the dancers to know themselves and their bodies well enough to understand what they need. If they are so sick that they could pass it on to others, or wouldn’t be able to stay awake and observe- then stay home. If you just don’t overall feel well, and it would be better if you didn’t dance, then come to dance, but still observe and take in corrections. If you have a headache, well, take some aspirin, drink some water, and show up to work!
Avoiding getting sick is the tough part. Sometimes you can’t help it. Between barres in studios that don’t always get cleaned in between classes, and with older students rolling around doing floor work, there are multiple surfaces that can be affected. One wrong move and suddenly a student can be infected with any type of sickness.
I always tend to follow the basic rules- wash your hands when you can, avoid touching your mouth or eyes when you know you’ve been around sick children, eat right, sleep enough hours, and stay in tune to what your body is telling you. If it’s telling you that you need more sleep, find a way to get it. I know particularly with middle school and high school age students, this can be difficult. Between their hours of school, their hours of dancing, their hours of other activities, as well as trying to find family time and social lives, it can often be easier to get a few hours of sleep before going all out. Eating right, as well, can be difficult at those ages. Unless their parents or guardians are very aware of their eating habits, they often don’t get the nutrients that they need. Vitamin D is so important to the immune system, and with the apparent obesity problem in the United States, not everyone is getting the vital nourishment in which they need.
As a teacher, I am always trying to figure out what my students need on a personal level, whether that involves corrections in class, or telling them that if they feel like they’re going to pass out they really should sit down and drink some water. I care about every one of my students, not just as an instructor but also as someone who is looking out for their best interest. It doesn’t benefit anyone if a student is crying because their stomach hurts, or if they are passing out on the floor while observing class. Not only does it interrupt the class, but it also has a lingering effect on the other students. I’ve noticed that even in a class of students where not everyone is best friends, if one student gets sick, they all ask if the student is okay, or they’ll check up on them the next week. While it can be negative aspect for the class in terms of focus, it’s really special to be able to watch that camaraderie amongst them. It’s one of the many reasons I love teaching.
So I hope everyone stays safe and healthy through the rest of the dance season. I know for many of us we are seeing the finish lines ahead with upcoming recitals and such! I wish everyone good luck, even though I truly hope to be back on here in the next few days with more rambling musings!
Recently it seems that everyone around me is getting sick. At the dance studio, we had cases of strep throat and mono going around. My sister recently came down with flu-like symptoms, and I even had a small case of laryngitis about a month ago. The problem is that with all these sicknesses going around a dance studio, how do you avoid getting sick? And if you do get sick, how do you know when to dance, and when to sit out or stay home?
When I was seventeen, I attended a competition where I wasn’t feeling great in the morning. I could barely choke down my apple that I had for breakfast, and all I wanted to do was sleep. I had the chills, and my body was screaming for me to slow down. I knew I had teammates that I did not want to let down, though. I was also raised in a family where my mother would ask me if I was throwing up or profusely bleeding, and if I said no, off I went to whatever activity I was supposed to be doing, whether it was school, or dance, or what have you.
I accomplished about 12 different dances over the course of that day. We had a group number early in the morning, and then my duo was the very last number to go on. I knew by the time I went on for my duo that I was just about done. I should not have been walking onto that stage, but I sucked it up, found it deep within me, and danced my heart out. My mother still jokes to this day that I looked like I was turning a shade of green, and my hands were dangling at certain points when they should have been still. I didn’t think I would make it after I got offstage. I had dancers running around me to line up for awards. I was running to the bathroom by then. I also wound up staying home for 3 or 4 days from school- the most I had missed since elementary school.
I’m glad that I did it. As dancers, we need to have those moments where we sacrifice for our art. Yes, I was only a high schooler, but the discipline and rigidity of the art is instilled so early on for many of us. It’s taught me that I can’t call out of work for a minor cold, or a bad headache, and that has earned me a lot of respect with many of my bosses.
The most important part of getting sick, though, is knowing when it is okay to push yourself, and when it is not. At the studio I currently work for, we impress upon the dancers to know themselves and their bodies well enough to understand what they need. If they are so sick that they could pass it on to others, or wouldn’t be able to stay awake and observe- then stay home. If you just don’t overall feel well, and it would be better if you didn’t dance, then come to dance, but still observe and take in corrections. If you have a headache, well, take some aspirin, drink some water, and show up to work!
Avoiding getting sick is the tough part. Sometimes you can’t help it. Between barres in studios that don’t always get cleaned in between classes, and with older students rolling around doing floor work, there are multiple surfaces that can be affected. One wrong move and suddenly a student can be infected with any type of sickness.
I always tend to follow the basic rules- wash your hands when you can, avoid touching your mouth or eyes when you know you’ve been around sick children, eat right, sleep enough hours, and stay in tune to what your body is telling you. If it’s telling you that you need more sleep, find a way to get it. I know particularly with middle school and high school age students, this can be difficult. Between their hours of school, their hours of dancing, their hours of other activities, as well as trying to find family time and social lives, it can often be easier to get a few hours of sleep before going all out. Eating right, as well, can be difficult at those ages. Unless their parents or guardians are very aware of their eating habits, they often don’t get the nutrients that they need. Vitamin D is so important to the immune system, and with the apparent obesity problem in the United States, not everyone is getting the vital nourishment in which they need.
As a teacher, I am always trying to figure out what my students need on a personal level, whether that involves corrections in class, or telling them that if they feel like they’re going to pass out they really should sit down and drink some water. I care about every one of my students, not just as an instructor but also as someone who is looking out for their best interest. It doesn’t benefit anyone if a student is crying because their stomach hurts, or if they are passing out on the floor while observing class. Not only does it interrupt the class, but it also has a lingering effect on the other students. I’ve noticed that even in a class of students where not everyone is best friends, if one student gets sick, they all ask if the student is okay, or they’ll check up on them the next week. While it can be negative aspect for the class in terms of focus, it’s really special to be able to watch that camaraderie amongst them. It’s one of the many reasons I love teaching.
So I hope everyone stays safe and healthy through the rest of the dance season. I know for many of us we are seeing the finish lines ahead with upcoming recitals and such! I wish everyone good luck, even though I truly hope to be back on here in the next few days with more rambling musings!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Music to Make You Warm
Snow fell this week in New England, and it got me thinking- again- about warming up in dance! This time, however, it got me thinking about the music I use to warm up my students.
Typically, the warm up music dictates what kind of class a student will be involved in. If it's jazz, I'll typically put on some Dance or Electronic music. At least, that's what I've been using lately. If it's lyrical, I'll put on some slow, pretty sounding music, albeit usually sad. While I usually let the barre be the warm up for a ballet class, if I do a stretch in the center, I'll put on a piece of music that I found on a Finis Jhung and Scott Killian cd entitled "Atmospheric Stretching". Lately, however, I've been into something a little different.
For my younger classes, I've stuck with keeping genre of dance with the genre of music. For my older students, I've been straying the beaten path. I've been going down a more modern/contemporary route. I've been using the soundtrack to "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" movie (US version). The music is done by the same pair that did the soundtrack for "The Social Network"- Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. When my students who are on the younger side hear it, they usually say something like "this is weird." Well, it is. But I love it! It's slightly ominous, while being atmospheric. Having read the book by Stieg Larsson, but not having seen the movie yet, it seems to capture the essence of the story. However, I'm not quite going for that violent, thriller/crime theme in the dance class. Instead, it provides a feeling of strength for the dancers to relate with.
For a while before I was using that soundtrack, I was working with Balmorhea's self-titled album from 2007. My students liked the aspect of typewriters and sandpaper-sounding tones. It allowed for me to warm up the students at a slow-ish pace, but also allowing me to gauge how the students were feeling and either speed it up or slow it down, or even work a little longer on specific areas of the body. Without specific or consistent time signatures, or even beats, it provided more of an atmospheric soundtrack, than a downbeat driven class.
What kind of music do you like to warm up to in class? Do you like faster music or slower? What kinds of warm ups get your blood flowing faster?
Typically, the warm up music dictates what kind of class a student will be involved in. If it's jazz, I'll typically put on some Dance or Electronic music. At least, that's what I've been using lately. If it's lyrical, I'll put on some slow, pretty sounding music, albeit usually sad. While I usually let the barre be the warm up for a ballet class, if I do a stretch in the center, I'll put on a piece of music that I found on a Finis Jhung and Scott Killian cd entitled "Atmospheric Stretching". Lately, however, I've been into something a little different.
For my younger classes, I've stuck with keeping genre of dance with the genre of music. For my older students, I've been straying the beaten path. I've been going down a more modern/contemporary route. I've been using the soundtrack to "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" movie (US version). The music is done by the same pair that did the soundtrack for "The Social Network"- Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. When my students who are on the younger side hear it, they usually say something like "this is weird." Well, it is. But I love it! It's slightly ominous, while being atmospheric. Having read the book by Stieg Larsson, but not having seen the movie yet, it seems to capture the essence of the story. However, I'm not quite going for that violent, thriller/crime theme in the dance class. Instead, it provides a feeling of strength for the dancers to relate with.
For a while before I was using that soundtrack, I was working with Balmorhea's self-titled album from 2007. My students liked the aspect of typewriters and sandpaper-sounding tones. It allowed for me to warm up the students at a slow-ish pace, but also allowing me to gauge how the students were feeling and either speed it up or slow it down, or even work a little longer on specific areas of the body. Without specific or consistent time signatures, or even beats, it provided more of an atmospheric soundtrack, than a downbeat driven class.
What kind of music do you like to warm up to in class? Do you like faster music or slower? What kinds of warm ups get your blood flowing faster?
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Warming Up in the Cold
It's officially mid-January in New England. That can only mean one thing- COLD! For a while, some of us in the area thought the chill would never really come, with temperatures in the 50's in December! That's almost unheard of, particularly in the area I live in. But the cold came in, and with it have come the familiar sounds of "I'm cold" from my students.
As a teacher, there is always the dilemma of deciding if you will allow your students to wear warm ups. Often, students are not well-equipped with warm-ups that will allow maximum view of their bodies. I see students with over-sized sweatshirts that go well below hip level. Students try to wear sweatpants that are bulky and will fall down if you roll up the pant leg. It prevents me from seeing their muscles, and can hide their bodies.
On the other hand, it can be tough for students to understand that they need to get their bodies warmed up immediately. Depending on the level of knowledge/technique that they are at, they often don't think to warm up before class. For my more advanced levels, I always give the speech that instead of chatting out in the lobby, they should be stretching, or doing exercises to get their muscles limber. When muscles are cold, they are often tighter, which raises the possibility of injury from improper warm up. Depending on the time frame in which I have the students, I can't always give them the extensive warm up that they may need, particularly if temperatures are at or below the freezing mark.
A way to rectify the situation is to allow them to wear warm ups. However, often times, they warm their bodies up with the warm ups on, but then when it comes time take them off, their bodies have to readjust and warm up all over again. In my eyes, this makes the warm ups essentially obsolete.
Now, as an example, I am no better. I am notorious for having cold hands that make my students recoil every time I touch their bare shoulders to correct them. Therefore, I am usually wrapping myself in sweatshirts, long sleeved t-shirts, sweatpants, and socks. Pretty much anything I'm not "supposed" to wear, I wear. And there's always that student that has to point it out- "Why can't I wear my sweatshirt? You're wearing yours!" My typical response is that I earned my right over the years to wear whatever I like and I've been in their position. I tell them I wasn't allowed to wear warm-ups, which for the most part is true. I also like to tell them that they are the ones that are working, and I am not. They are the ones whose muscles and body parts need to be seen- not necessarily mine.
Over the years, I've developed the rule that if it's particularly cold out, I will allow warm ups through rond de jambes. Mostly, I will allow them ONLY through plies. If it's in a lyrical or jazz or contemporary technique class, I will allow them through the beginning stretch. This way, they get to wear their warm ups to kick start the initial blood flow without the adverse effects of wearing them too long before the body gets used to it and has to readjust.
What's your favorite warm up clothing? As a dancer do you like to wear bulky warm ups? As a teacher do you like to allow them?
As a teacher, there is always the dilemma of deciding if you will allow your students to wear warm ups. Often, students are not well-equipped with warm-ups that will allow maximum view of their bodies. I see students with over-sized sweatshirts that go well below hip level. Students try to wear sweatpants that are bulky and will fall down if you roll up the pant leg. It prevents me from seeing their muscles, and can hide their bodies.
On the other hand, it can be tough for students to understand that they need to get their bodies warmed up immediately. Depending on the level of knowledge/technique that they are at, they often don't think to warm up before class. For my more advanced levels, I always give the speech that instead of chatting out in the lobby, they should be stretching, or doing exercises to get their muscles limber. When muscles are cold, they are often tighter, which raises the possibility of injury from improper warm up. Depending on the time frame in which I have the students, I can't always give them the extensive warm up that they may need, particularly if temperatures are at or below the freezing mark.
A way to rectify the situation is to allow them to wear warm ups. However, often times, they warm their bodies up with the warm ups on, but then when it comes time take them off, their bodies have to readjust and warm up all over again. In my eyes, this makes the warm ups essentially obsolete.
Now, as an example, I am no better. I am notorious for having cold hands that make my students recoil every time I touch their bare shoulders to correct them. Therefore, I am usually wrapping myself in sweatshirts, long sleeved t-shirts, sweatpants, and socks. Pretty much anything I'm not "supposed" to wear, I wear. And there's always that student that has to point it out- "Why can't I wear my sweatshirt? You're wearing yours!" My typical response is that I earned my right over the years to wear whatever I like and I've been in their position. I tell them I wasn't allowed to wear warm-ups, which for the most part is true. I also like to tell them that they are the ones that are working, and I am not. They are the ones whose muscles and body parts need to be seen- not necessarily mine.
Over the years, I've developed the rule that if it's particularly cold out, I will allow warm ups through rond de jambes. Mostly, I will allow them ONLY through plies. If it's in a lyrical or jazz or contemporary technique class, I will allow them through the beginning stretch. This way, they get to wear their warm ups to kick start the initial blood flow without the adverse effects of wearing them too long before the body gets used to it and has to readjust.
What's your favorite warm up clothing? As a dancer do you like to wear bulky warm ups? As a teacher do you like to allow them?
Friday, December 30, 2011
A Reflection of 2011
Ah, yet again, I have been terrible about keeping up with this blog. The inspiration is always there- it’s a matter of remembering to put the inspiration into words and finding the time to do it! I’m sure most of you out there can relate!
I have decided to take the time to reflect on my personal year in dance.
The first part of 2011 was muddled with some personal problems that I was working through, however, I realize that the dance studio was my place of respite. From fine-tuning my competitive choreography, to creating for my recreational dancers, I found comfort in throwing myself into the world of dance. In some classes, it proved to be the drive that I needed. In others, I found myself struggling to be inspired.
2011 was the first year that I had a group lyric dance in competition. While it did not win any major awards, I was very proud of the choreography, and extremely pleased with much of the feedback that I got from judges. It was the same with a ballet piece. It was the first time our director was entering a group with a ballet dance that wasn’t the top level in the studio. They held their own, and proved to be able to handle a ballet piece with positivity, hard work, and a little grace.
Recreationally, 2011 was a mix. While the kids were great, and the dances wound up being good, I had some difficulty choreographing. With one class in particular, it seemed I had different people out every week, and since I wasn’t good with keeping the same notebook in my bag, I had no idea where anyone was spatially in the dance. It was, on a grand majority, my fault. On the other hand, I had a class where the choreography was done in almost record time, and we almost over rehearsed it for the recital. It paid off, though- it was one of my favorite and most fun pieces I ever created.
2011 was also the first year I acted as a judge in the dance world. I gained a whole new respect for dance competition judges. I had judged for a one day competition that started very early, but ended at a pretty decent hour. I was exhausted and wiped out by the end. Even with breaks for lunch and coffee, and having the opportunity to get up and walk around, I was amazed at how draining it was! However, I would never pass up the opportunity to do it again. I thoroughly enjoyed doing it, and loved being able to see different dancers out there.
The summer proved to be a long one this year. I typically take the summer off. The craziness from January to May usually gives me the feeling that I have the right to take this time off from dancing. I had the opportunity to go see some of my dancers at a Nationals competition in Boston where they did very well. After that, though, it was a long way to August. I wound up taking up jogging just to get myself back into a physical place. It paid off, though. I felt in top physical shape!
When August finally came around and I started teaching for the summer program, I felt ready to be inspired and boy was I! If you check out some of my previous entries, you’ll read about some of my experiences I had with taking class. It sparked the flame in me. My desire to return to my best year yet had been stoked.
The fall season began with a few minor hiccups, but I am proud to say that I believe this is going to be the best year yet! I am finding my stride as a choreographer. I am better aware of my students as dancers, and I am more aware of my choreography on stage. I know what inspires me, and hope that I can pass the inspiration on to my students. I adore working where I do, and can only hope that 2011 will be the year that my dance/teaching/choreography skills expand and move to new heights.
Looking back on 2011, in all aspects of my life, I believe it was a growing year. While I believe that some years are filled with more growth than others, I felt as though I walked into 2011 humbly, knowing that I had a long way to go, and that I needed to grow in certain ways in my life. I am walking confidently this year into 2012 with a better sense of where I am, and with an ever-increasing hunger to learn from my peers and superiors.
I am most looking forward to creating more dances in 2012. What are you looking forward to the most?
I have decided to take the time to reflect on my personal year in dance.
The first part of 2011 was muddled with some personal problems that I was working through, however, I realize that the dance studio was my place of respite. From fine-tuning my competitive choreography, to creating for my recreational dancers, I found comfort in throwing myself into the world of dance. In some classes, it proved to be the drive that I needed. In others, I found myself struggling to be inspired.
2011 was the first year that I had a group lyric dance in competition. While it did not win any major awards, I was very proud of the choreography, and extremely pleased with much of the feedback that I got from judges. It was the same with a ballet piece. It was the first time our director was entering a group with a ballet dance that wasn’t the top level in the studio. They held their own, and proved to be able to handle a ballet piece with positivity, hard work, and a little grace.
Recreationally, 2011 was a mix. While the kids were great, and the dances wound up being good, I had some difficulty choreographing. With one class in particular, it seemed I had different people out every week, and since I wasn’t good with keeping the same notebook in my bag, I had no idea where anyone was spatially in the dance. It was, on a grand majority, my fault. On the other hand, I had a class where the choreography was done in almost record time, and we almost over rehearsed it for the recital. It paid off, though- it was one of my favorite and most fun pieces I ever created.
2011 was also the first year I acted as a judge in the dance world. I gained a whole new respect for dance competition judges. I had judged for a one day competition that started very early, but ended at a pretty decent hour. I was exhausted and wiped out by the end. Even with breaks for lunch and coffee, and having the opportunity to get up and walk around, I was amazed at how draining it was! However, I would never pass up the opportunity to do it again. I thoroughly enjoyed doing it, and loved being able to see different dancers out there.
The summer proved to be a long one this year. I typically take the summer off. The craziness from January to May usually gives me the feeling that I have the right to take this time off from dancing. I had the opportunity to go see some of my dancers at a Nationals competition in Boston where they did very well. After that, though, it was a long way to August. I wound up taking up jogging just to get myself back into a physical place. It paid off, though. I felt in top physical shape!
When August finally came around and I started teaching for the summer program, I felt ready to be inspired and boy was I! If you check out some of my previous entries, you’ll read about some of my experiences I had with taking class. It sparked the flame in me. My desire to return to my best year yet had been stoked.
The fall season began with a few minor hiccups, but I am proud to say that I believe this is going to be the best year yet! I am finding my stride as a choreographer. I am better aware of my students as dancers, and I am more aware of my choreography on stage. I know what inspires me, and hope that I can pass the inspiration on to my students. I adore working where I do, and can only hope that 2011 will be the year that my dance/teaching/choreography skills expand and move to new heights.
Looking back on 2011, in all aspects of my life, I believe it was a growing year. While I believe that some years are filled with more growth than others, I felt as though I walked into 2011 humbly, knowing that I had a long way to go, and that I needed to grow in certain ways in my life. I am walking confidently this year into 2012 with a better sense of where I am, and with an ever-increasing hunger to learn from my peers and superiors.
I am most looking forward to creating more dances in 2012. What are you looking forward to the most?
Monday, November 21, 2011
Thankfulness
I apologize for not updating recently (or within the past 2 months). My summer schedule to my fall schedule always hits me like a ton of bricks, and I tend to let things like this blog go the wayside. However, with the holidays coming up, I have more inspiration to write and the growing desire to write about my passions.
So for today, I am inspired by Thanksgiving! It is only 3 days away, and I am so excited! Since November 1st, I have been posting on my personal Facebook page statuses about what I am thankful for this year. It's been a way for me to remember that yes, there is a holiday between Halloween and Christmas, and a way to keep myself grounded. Thanksgiving isn't just about the gluttony of the season. It's about the people who made the long journey from England to a land unfamiliar to them. It's about their sacrifices and their survival; their determination to make a new life, even though they lost over half of their original crew. It is about being thankful for all that they had after they had lost so much.
In this spirit, I would like to talk about what I am thankful for in the dance world. And there is SO much to be thankful for!
I am thankful for ballet. As the base for all dance, I am thankful that I can pass on its importance to so many students. Even if they don't love it, they learn to appreciate it.
I am thankful for shows like So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With the Stars. When I was younger, they didn't have shows like that. If you wanted to see dance, you had to go to the ballet, or find out when the modern dance companies were coming into town, or be a dancer yourself. I didn't have websites like Youtube to search for dancers for hours. I was considered different because I danced. I am so thankful that those shows brought dance to the mainstream's eye. Even for people who don't dance themselves, it brings it into their homes. Even my grandmother watches So You Think You Can Dance!
I am thankful for my students. Not only are they all beautiful dancers, but they are beautiful people as well, and will grow up as beautiful people. Their love for dance is almost unsurpassed compared to other places that I have seen.
I am thankful for the extensive knowledge I have of dance. It allows me to take care of myself and to take care of my students. I can answer most questions about random body aches and pains. I am no doctor, but I have helped to fix multiple questions of "why is my knee hurting when I do this?" or "I have a pain in my foot, what's wrong?" It helps me to prevent common injuries in dancers that don't work correctly, and it helps me to help my students.
I am thankful for all the teachers I have had in my life. From my first teacher Miss Debbie to the master class teachers that I take from today, and every single teacher in between, I have learned something from all of them, and have taken the good and put it into my own teachings.
I am thankful for still being able to have dance in my life at the age of 27. Not only does it keep my passion burning for it, but I attribute much of my youthfulness to it. I don't look 27 (thanks mom and dad!), and parts of me aren't as serious as some of my peers at 27. Dance helps me to bring in to focus what is important to me, and it is often not similar to what my peers consider important.
I am thankful for the opportunities dance gives everyone, both young and old. Whether it's an 8 year old going to the ballet for the first time, or a 55 year old taking a beginner modern dance class, it gives people a joy and a love that is unlike any other. When I was in high school, I got to perform for an AIDS benefit (one of my future goals is to create a show as an AIDS benefit) and even though at the time I just saw it as another performance, I realize now how important it was, and is, and will be, to be able to share my gifts for a good cause.
I could go on all day, but that is all I have time for today. I hope many of you out there will contemplate what you are thankful for this week! I know most of our minds will be on turkey and stuffing and family gatherings, but take a moment, however brief, and just remember how amazing it is to have the life that you have!
And if you are dancer, remember how lucky and happy you are to have dance in your life!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
So for today, I am inspired by Thanksgiving! It is only 3 days away, and I am so excited! Since November 1st, I have been posting on my personal Facebook page statuses about what I am thankful for this year. It's been a way for me to remember that yes, there is a holiday between Halloween and Christmas, and a way to keep myself grounded. Thanksgiving isn't just about the gluttony of the season. It's about the people who made the long journey from England to a land unfamiliar to them. It's about their sacrifices and their survival; their determination to make a new life, even though they lost over half of their original crew. It is about being thankful for all that they had after they had lost so much.
In this spirit, I would like to talk about what I am thankful for in the dance world. And there is SO much to be thankful for!
I am thankful for ballet. As the base for all dance, I am thankful that I can pass on its importance to so many students. Even if they don't love it, they learn to appreciate it.
I am thankful for shows like So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With the Stars. When I was younger, they didn't have shows like that. If you wanted to see dance, you had to go to the ballet, or find out when the modern dance companies were coming into town, or be a dancer yourself. I didn't have websites like Youtube to search for dancers for hours. I was considered different because I danced. I am so thankful that those shows brought dance to the mainstream's eye. Even for people who don't dance themselves, it brings it into their homes. Even my grandmother watches So You Think You Can Dance!
I am thankful for my students. Not only are they all beautiful dancers, but they are beautiful people as well, and will grow up as beautiful people. Their love for dance is almost unsurpassed compared to other places that I have seen.
I am thankful for the extensive knowledge I have of dance. It allows me to take care of myself and to take care of my students. I can answer most questions about random body aches and pains. I am no doctor, but I have helped to fix multiple questions of "why is my knee hurting when I do this?" or "I have a pain in my foot, what's wrong?" It helps me to prevent common injuries in dancers that don't work correctly, and it helps me to help my students.
I am thankful for all the teachers I have had in my life. From my first teacher Miss Debbie to the master class teachers that I take from today, and every single teacher in between, I have learned something from all of them, and have taken the good and put it into my own teachings.
I am thankful for still being able to have dance in my life at the age of 27. Not only does it keep my passion burning for it, but I attribute much of my youthfulness to it. I don't look 27 (thanks mom and dad!), and parts of me aren't as serious as some of my peers at 27. Dance helps me to bring in to focus what is important to me, and it is often not similar to what my peers consider important.
I am thankful for the opportunities dance gives everyone, both young and old. Whether it's an 8 year old going to the ballet for the first time, or a 55 year old taking a beginner modern dance class, it gives people a joy and a love that is unlike any other. When I was in high school, I got to perform for an AIDS benefit (one of my future goals is to create a show as an AIDS benefit) and even though at the time I just saw it as another performance, I realize now how important it was, and is, and will be, to be able to share my gifts for a good cause.
I could go on all day, but that is all I have time for today. I hope many of you out there will contemplate what you are thankful for this week! I know most of our minds will be on turkey and stuffing and family gatherings, but take a moment, however brief, and just remember how amazing it is to have the life that you have!
And if you are dancer, remember how lucky and happy you are to have dance in your life!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
The Search For Music
Sometimes searching for music for choreography can give me a headache.
Last year, I had a class of a large amounts of kids at varying levels of technique that were being introduced to the idea of an “open” piece. I literally searched for weeks for a song. It started over the summer, and I don’t think I decided until the last possible second. I spent many a night in my bed with my laptop staying up until 3AM doing searches on various internet websites related to music. I did finally find the perfect song, and it was worth it with the top scores that they pulled throughout the year. However, sometimes I wonder if there could have been an easier way.
This year, I had an opposite experience that was extremely uplifting. It started out in panic mode. I had created an idea in my head over the summer regarding the “theme” of the piece I wanted to do. I knew I wanted a certain style of music, and unfortunately, I got a piece of music into my head that I knew had been used a couple of years ago. I had searched absent-mindedly a couple times in the weeks leading up to the start of dance, but abandoned the project quickly every time because of the song in my head.
This past weekend, I realized that I needed to pick out a song quickly. The time when choreography begins had come up fast, and I had lost track of time. I went into the music searching phase in a cluttered-mind-state. Not a promising start. Somehow, I started looking at the same things I had been looking at before, and wound up on a different path. Within 20 minutes, I was at my computer listening to a song for a third time, with tears coming down my face. I knew that I needed this song. It fit the composition styling I was looking for, and it moved me. It’s very rare that I pick a piece of music that doesn’t inspire me- even for younger children ballet, which often can be the most difficult kind of choreography for me. It was incredibly uplifting to find a piece of music that had touched me in a way I was looking for.
I know that every teacher has different styles of looking for music. Just the other day I was sharing a room with a dance teacher who had an idea of what she wanted to do for a hip hop dance, and she was on a music site looking up songs related to candy in hopes to find a remix. Sometimes our methods provoke a long search that lasts weeks. Other times, our methods provide us with a quick and easy process. It can be extremely frustrating, but in the end, I always feel it is worth it when I find a song that fits the group I am choreographing for.
Now that I have found a song for the group, I am thoroughly looking forward to beginning the choreography process. Although overall it is a group that I’m familiar with, there are a few new additions this year that will make the group a little different, and I’m excited for what that means for them!
I hope that all the other competition teachers out there are enjoying their music searching process!
Last year, I had a class of a large amounts of kids at varying levels of technique that were being introduced to the idea of an “open” piece. I literally searched for weeks for a song. It started over the summer, and I don’t think I decided until the last possible second. I spent many a night in my bed with my laptop staying up until 3AM doing searches on various internet websites related to music. I did finally find the perfect song, and it was worth it with the top scores that they pulled throughout the year. However, sometimes I wonder if there could have been an easier way.
This year, I had an opposite experience that was extremely uplifting. It started out in panic mode. I had created an idea in my head over the summer regarding the “theme” of the piece I wanted to do. I knew I wanted a certain style of music, and unfortunately, I got a piece of music into my head that I knew had been used a couple of years ago. I had searched absent-mindedly a couple times in the weeks leading up to the start of dance, but abandoned the project quickly every time because of the song in my head.
This past weekend, I realized that I needed to pick out a song quickly. The time when choreography begins had come up fast, and I had lost track of time. I went into the music searching phase in a cluttered-mind-state. Not a promising start. Somehow, I started looking at the same things I had been looking at before, and wound up on a different path. Within 20 minutes, I was at my computer listening to a song for a third time, with tears coming down my face. I knew that I needed this song. It fit the composition styling I was looking for, and it moved me. It’s very rare that I pick a piece of music that doesn’t inspire me- even for younger children ballet, which often can be the most difficult kind of choreography for me. It was incredibly uplifting to find a piece of music that had touched me in a way I was looking for.
I know that every teacher has different styles of looking for music. Just the other day I was sharing a room with a dance teacher who had an idea of what she wanted to do for a hip hop dance, and she was on a music site looking up songs related to candy in hopes to find a remix. Sometimes our methods provoke a long search that lasts weeks. Other times, our methods provide us with a quick and easy process. It can be extremely frustrating, but in the end, I always feel it is worth it when I find a song that fits the group I am choreographing for.
Now that I have found a song for the group, I am thoroughly looking forward to beginning the choreography process. Although overall it is a group that I’m familiar with, there are a few new additions this year that will make the group a little different, and I’m excited for what that means for them!
I hope that all the other competition teachers out there are enjoying their music searching process!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
First Day Thoughts
I have to say, I love the first day of classes. Even though I’ve been teaching at the same studio for a few years now, and overall I’ve taught the same type of classes, there’s still a bit of excitement in the air.
I get excited to see my old students. To be able to welcome back familiar faces is almost a comfort. On a day full of so many possibilities, being able to see students that I know personally and as dancers is uplifting. In the same respect, I am excited to meet new ones. I get to introduce myself as a teacher, and I get to learn about these new dancers- to see who the quiet ones are and who the chatty ones are; the ones that naturally pick up movement, and the ones that need me to go over combinations a few more times. It is a joy to be able to pick up the dance styles and quirks and personalities of each individual.
Seeing how the old and the new react to each other is always a pleasure as well. I love watching a group of friends that have known each other and myself for a year or two take in the newer students and make them feel comfortable. It not only makes it an easier class, but it warms my heart to see how there is still some kindness in the world amongst the younger generations.
I also like to get to know the teachers that are teaching on the same day as me. Networking with fellow teachers, and even just getting to know them as peers is always exciting for me. Just like any teacher, I enjoy speaking with like-minded people about topics that we are passionate about. Passing ideas back and forth, and discussing classes opens up my own mind.
Personally, my season has started out wonderfully, and I am very excited for this upcoming year with my students! I can’t wait to grow and learn with them!
I get excited to see my old students. To be able to welcome back familiar faces is almost a comfort. On a day full of so many possibilities, being able to see students that I know personally and as dancers is uplifting. In the same respect, I am excited to meet new ones. I get to introduce myself as a teacher, and I get to learn about these new dancers- to see who the quiet ones are and who the chatty ones are; the ones that naturally pick up movement, and the ones that need me to go over combinations a few more times. It is a joy to be able to pick up the dance styles and quirks and personalities of each individual.
Seeing how the old and the new react to each other is always a pleasure as well. I love watching a group of friends that have known each other and myself for a year or two take in the newer students and make them feel comfortable. It not only makes it an easier class, but it warms my heart to see how there is still some kindness in the world amongst the younger generations.
I also like to get to know the teachers that are teaching on the same day as me. Networking with fellow teachers, and even just getting to know them as peers is always exciting for me. Just like any teacher, I enjoy speaking with like-minded people about topics that we are passionate about. Passing ideas back and forth, and discussing classes opens up my own mind.
Personally, my season has started out wonderfully, and I am very excited for this upcoming year with my students! I can’t wait to grow and learn with them!
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