'Tis the Sneeze-on!

This is a public service message directly from one of my adult students who happens to a doctor of infectious diseases (no, she hasn't contracted anything like the plague from any of her patients - I asked!).

WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER YOU TOUCH THE BARRE!

She also suggested people get their annual flu shot but that is a personal choice so I leave that as an option but let's get real about that barre.  It's gross.  And if you're in a studio where someone is sick (always!), you will inevitably come into contact with their sick germs.  So do yourself and your body a favor and stay healthy by washing your hands between barre and center, and after class.

Happy healthy dancing~

(photo found on zenartsla.com)

Back on track and hurtling toward Nutcracker!

It's that time of year again - Nutcracker season.  You'll hear the whispers of the dancers in the hallways, "What did you get?"/"I'm in Snow and Flowers"/"Aw, man, a mouse again?" And the sounds of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite" on every CD player in every studio everywhere.

Le Studio, where I teach, is no different. We are full-on into Nutcracker rehearsals.  My Senior Company began a few weeks ago (and we are almost finished with Snowflakes!) and my Adult group will begin next week (contact me if you are interested!).  It's all on track for December 16th, our only show date.

Such a lot of work for just one show!  But it's worth it. Rehearsals for a show push dancers in many ways.  For one, they often have to perform steps they have never done before so they increase their vocabulary. For another, they are typically working with a group of dancers who have different skills so they see what other people can do.  And yet another, they want to look their best so they work harder in classes.

Choreography also tests dancers. Some of the most talented dancers in class will frequently choke when it comes to dancing on stage.  Choreography for a class is vastly different than for stage work. There is a lot of acting involved on stage.  There are patterns to be made.  There are entrances and exits.  And yes, the pieces are far longer and more complex.  You must memorize steps and music and somehow avoid running into other people.  And look good while doing it.  It's not for everyone and sometimes you won't even know it's for you (or not) until you try it.

Some of the simplest things are hard on stage.  Walking.  Running.  Posing.  Smiling. Often you can't hear the music or you get sidelined by other dancers who are in the wrong place or there is suddenly a tree where you used to stand in the studio.  The first time you perform can be wildly different from what you expected it to be.  And that's fine!  It's all a learning experience and the next time you do it, you will have that much under your belt. 

But of all the things a show does for a dancer, perhaps the most important one is the bond that it creates between the members of a group. You are all going through the same thing, all learning the same stuff, all have the same goal in mind: entertain your friends and family and show off what you have studied.  You graduate from students to dancers.  When I put together groups for shows, I try to include dancers who will encourage each other and support each other.  Who needs drama?  The show is dramatic enough. If there is extra stuff going on, that will prevent people from learning the choreography and bog people down in personal things that are ultimately detrimental to the performance.

NB: My classes are also back on track!  Stretch/Strengthen is back on Fridays, 5:30-6:30.  Happy dancing!

What does Zombie Ballet look like?

Ah, you have long wondered what Zombie Ballet is, haven't you?  A secret passion for George Romero movies, the Walking Dead novel and series, hanging around cemeteries after midnight...it all leads to this:

Video, you say?  You want to watch these creepy characters dance around the stage?  Well, okay...

Want even more of the Zombie Ballerinas?  Check out Cortney Armitage's gorgeous photos on her blog, The Spinning Dancer. Thanks, Cortney and Jen!

UPDATE: I just finished a zombie ballet short film for Halloween titled "The Dead Shoes" based on the full ballet I'm working on.

Upcoming Zombie Ballet!

Local dance friends, I am so happy to announce the next showing of my Zombie Ballet will be this coming Friday evening in Pasadena as part of the city-wide Art Night.  Last year we performed the first third of the dance for Art Night (above).

This year I have added the next 2/3 of the piece for a total of 4.5 minutes.  It is so much fun for me and for the dancers - and I have to say, it's a real crowd-pleaser.  How can you go wrong, seriously? Fun movement, exciting music (a section of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet score), and fantastic costumes.  The dancers all made their own costumes and did their own makeup last year and I was immensely impressed with their talents. I expect even more coolness this year,

So if you're in the area, please come by and say hello!  It's free!

What: Zombie Ballet at Art Night Pasadena
When: Friday, October 12th, 6:40ish
Where: ARC, 1158 East Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA  91106
Cost: Free!

And there will be lots of other amazing performances that night, not just Zombies.  So come for the Undead and stay for the cutting edge dance!

Happy dancing~

Spotting and Subbing - a double post of good information!

A few days ago, while in a class I was taking for myself, a friend of mine and I began talking about spotting during turns.  We were watching a few dancers in the class and observing who spots well, how they spot, and what the results were for their turns.

As you might expect, the professional ballerinas had intensely sharp spots and their turns were clean, regardless of how many they performed. Then we looked at the "old" pros, the retired dancers.  They too had sharp head spots.

But the amateur dancers - no matter how wonderful they were otherwise - did not have that spot. Indeed, we take a class that is primarily for advanced dancers so the students have a lot of skills.  Some of them can do 3 and 4 pirouettes, but they manage to do them without that sharp spot.

What is this spot we're talking about?
--The focus does not waver or get distracted.
--The chin is lifted slightly.
--The eyes are wide open, not downcast.
--The shoulders move independently of the head.
--The neck is relaxed, not rigid.
--The head stays in one place and the body moves below it.

One of the reasons pros have this sharp spot is from performing on stage. And it is of paramount importance safety-wise! On stage, the lights can blur your gaze as you turn so if it's not fixed beyond the audience, you can get dizzy and fall or knock someone else over. Pros practice turning in studios and on stage with an audience in mind so they are always dancing "beyond themselves." This stage work is an advantage they have over non-pros.

But you can have this spot! First, it goes without saying that you need to practice - a lot! Second, follow the guidelines I noted above. And third, utilize alternate turn techniques that will get your head moving quickly.  I like to have students do very fast chainee turns across the floor, starting with their arms outstretched and then pulling them in tightly to spin faster and faster.  This forces a fast spot.  My friend, who teaches young children mostly, asks her students to bourree in a circle around themselves and spot the mirror.  You can do this at home when you are in the bathroom brushing your teeth!

The most crucial component of a fast head spot is relaxation. If you approach a turn in an anxious manner, your chin will pull back into your chest and you will turn very stiffly.  Relax, mentally and physically.

And my second bit of info for my local dancers: on Thursday, Oct 4th and Friday, Oct 5th, I will have a sub for my classes at Le Studio in Pasadena.  Due to family visiting, I am actually taking two days off to spend with them (shocking, I know!).  So on Thursday, I'm talking about my Pointe 2 class at 5:30 and Int Ballet at 6:30; on Friday, it's my Teen Ballet at 4:30, Stretch at 5:30 and Beg/Int Ballet at 6:30.  Otherwise, I am teaching ALL of my other classes this week, including Wednesday morning and evening, and will be back in the studio in Pasadena bright and early for Basic Ballet at 9AM on Saturday morning.