Category Archives: Dance

Dance and the Floor Under Your Feet

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Marley Flooring is the most preferred dance floor over the recent times!

Marley Flooring is the most preferred dance floor over the recent times!

Our dance, irrespective of its style is closely connected with the floor and it has a major role on making the dance a great success. Dancers would understand the context of this statement and can term the floor as the ‘partner beneath their feet.’ Contrary to building a home, where flooring is given the least importance, dance organization’s greatest area of concentration is the floor. In fact, as effective foot control is the basic foundation for a dancer, no doubt, immense attention is given for the dance floors. A recent survey conducted by Susan Glazer, director of the school of dance at Philadelphia’s University of the Arts, revealed that most of the dancers preferred to have Marley floors for wooden floors as the former is slip resistant and is made of reversible vinyl.

This enables dancers to slide with control and avoid themselves from getting injured. From the side of the dance organizations, marvel flooring is comparatively cheap and portable too. However, speaking about the cons of Marley floors, they owe great difficulty for the tap dancers in specific as it hinders them from effectively executing many of their tap steps. Wooden dance floors should be of supreme quality that has its direct relation with the cost. However, choosing the right type of floors is highly vital as it is very much related to the dancers’ health. The leaps and pounding of feet against the floor, slides all these when performed in an inferior floor affects the dancers’ spine though not immediately but consistently in the long run.

Hence we see that dance floors need to be of ideal quality to tap out the best from the dancers. Coming to the close, there is an interesting fact that many do not know that ballet dancers choose their shoes according to the floor!

If you’re in the New York City area, check out the dance classes and tutors on HeyKiki. We can assist in finding the perfect choreography tutoring for you.

If you’d like to learn another sport or activity other than dance, we have other instructors and classes in your area on HeyKiki too!

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Dance to Watch: Vicky Shick at Danspace

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Vicky Shick is one of the proud performers and contributors of Danspace!

Vicky Shick is one of the proud performers and contributors of Danspace!

Among the fascinating dance floors in New York, Danspace is one of the worth mentioning companies. As the choreographer, Steve Paxton quotes “Danspace is one of the most beautiful venues in the world. New York City is much richer for its existence and its example”. For Vicky Shick, her performance is going to be the fifth show ‘Everything you see’. Shick’s connection with this dance company is very beautifully woven for more than three decades. She is an esteemed member of this company and an excellent performer, choreographer and teacher too.

By this typical dance show, her devotion towards closeness and passion would be exhibited very well. This show also characterizes many lovely combinations of beautifully patterned costumes and songs that would take part in two different stages in a single phase. The greatest talent of Shick is to exhibit both reality and whimsical things at the same time. It needs no special mention to say that the same is very prevalently seen in this show too! Her fabulous team of nine dancers, including her, is ready to give the most fascinating performance ever for each program. One more notable thing about Shick’s dance is that her dance gives greater importance to evanescence with a lot of strikes involved.

There are even many more intricate details that Shick gives importance in her dance performances. On the whole, no doubt, Vicky Shick is awesome to see and those who have attended it are really lucky to have been there!

If you’re in the New York City area, check out the dance classes and tutors on HeyKiki. We can assist in finding the perfect choreography tutoring for you.

If you’d like to learn another sport or activity other than dance, we have other instructors and classes in your area on HeyKiki too!

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Ballet and Your Feet

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Central Point for Ballet!

Central Point for Ballet!

Ballet is such a dance in which feet are used extensively. Also the movements of feet in ballet dance are such that the muscles of feet need to be very strong for such a dance. A great degree of flexibility is also required for this style of dance. To fulfill all these requirements, a ballet dancer must perform some exercises as well as take care of their feet.

You should carry our foot workouts regularly. You can do so even in standing, sitting or in any position such as watching TV or ironing. You can do this by standing on the balls of your feet and rolling up and down.

You should practice by being on one leg at a time. You should balance your body only on one leg. It helps in making each foot strong and enhances its capacity to support the whole weight of the body during ballet dance.

The intrinsic muscles of the feet can be strengthened with the help of a doming exercise. It is because the intrinsic muscles of the feet are very important for pointing the feet during ballet. These muscles also help in jumps during ballet dance.

Similarly, the extrinsic muscles of the foot can be strengthened with the help of winging exercise. This exercise helps in enhancing stability as well as elasticity of the feet.

If you’re in the New York City area, check out the dance classes and tutors on HeyKiki. We can assist in finding the perfect choreography tutoring for you.

If you’d like to learn another sport or activity other than dance, we have other instructors and classes in your area on HeyKiki too.

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Dancing and Growing Pains: How to Cope

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Growing pains affect teens most when doing complicated stretches!

Growing pains affect teens most when doing complicated stretches!

Though dance could be the most interesting and exciting art to be learned, there are equally some issues to be faced here. To be more specific for the young dancers who are in their growing stage, dance could cause them severe growing pains. What are these growing pains and how are the dancers going to be affected by these? Girls and boys of the age range 10-16 get into rapid growth in terms of bones. But naturally, the ligaments, muscles and nerves take some time to adjust itself to this fast growth. As a result, the hamstrings that had been flexible so far would pose a threat for the young dancers now!

The major cause for these growing pains is due to the muscles attached to the growing plates. So, being in this age gap, if you get pains above your knee joint, for sure, it is due to these growing muscles and so take intermittent rests to get out of it. When you get such pains, say ‘no’ to strong stretching and heavy jumps. Ice could be used to give quick relief from such muscular stress and if the pain persists, it is high time for you to visit a good physiotherapist who specializes in dancers too. And for the dance teachers, who have a set of such young dancers, who are prone to such growing pains, here are some ways to make them kick those issues and involve in classes.

Make their dance classes more exciting with some guest choreographers or some dancers to visit. Give them a schedule to achieve. Make sure it is not tough and varies according to individuals’ talents. Be a member amongst them and have some fun! Finally, make your studio accessible and entertaining for all the dancing youngsters to make them forget about all these silly issues.

If you’re in the New York City area, check out the dance classes and tutors on HeyKiki. We can assist in finding the perfect choreography tutoring for you.

If you’d like to learn another sport or activity other than dance, we have other instructors and classes in your area on HeyKiki too!

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The Nrityagram Dance Ensemble

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Home for classical dancers!

Home for classical dancers!

Established by Protima Gauri, the Odissi dancer in 1990, the Nrityagram Dance Ensembleis the foremost contemporary residential school for Indian classical dancers and a planned community in the form a dance village. In this dance ensemble, the training is provided in various forms in Indian classical dances such as Kathak, Mohiniattam, Bharatnatyam, Manipuri, Odissi, Kathakali and Kuchipudi. The training is provided to students for eight hours per day, six days per week for continuous seven years in accordance with the prehistoric Guru-shishya tradition. This community is located near Hesaraghatta Lake which is at a distance of 30km from Bangalore. Presently, various performances have been given by the Nrityagram dance Ensemble in India as well as overseas.

This dance community first of all appeared in New York in 1996 with dancers such as Bijayini Satpathy, Pavithra Reddy, Surupa Sen, Jaya Mukherjee and Anitha Nair. This event was called as one of the most brilliant dance events of the year by the dance critic named Jennifer Dunning. Following this, the dance ensemble performed in Bozeman, Middle East, Hawaii, USA, Far East and Europe. Rasmi Raj, Surupa Sen, Manasi Tripathy, Bijayini Satpathy and Pavitra Reddy are the leading dancer-choreographers of the Nrityagram dance ensemble at present.

If you’re in the New York City area, check out the dance classes and tutors on HeyKiki. We can assist in finding the perfect choreography tutoring for you.

If you’d like to learn another sport or activity other than dance, we have other instructors and classes in your area on HeyKiki too.

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Dance: Preventing Injury

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Dancing technically!

Dancing technically!

Dance is a great physical activity. It has great benefits associated with physical and mental aspect of human body. It involves a wide range of physical movements. Besides the benefits, there are risks of physical injury also which are associated with dance. By taking some precautions, dancers can prevent such injuries.

The dancers must wear clothes which are appropriately fitting with the body of the dancer. It helps dancers to carry out various movements freely during dancing.

Similarly, the shoes put on by the dancers must also be suitably fitted. The shoes must also be according to the style of the dance. It is because feet are used extensively during dance and these must be protected well.

The dancers must drink adequate amount of fluids. It will keep them hydrated during dance. During intense heat conditions, proper hydration of body is a must to prevent injuries.

In case, you are suffering from any sort of pain in any part of body, you must avoid dancing to prevent further injury. You must restart dance only after getting completely relieved of pain.

You must be well aware of the dance techniques as it helps in avoiding any unnecessary injury due to ignorance.

You must warm up your body properly before starting to dance. Similarly, the body must be properly cooled down after the dance is over.

If you’re in the New York City area, check out the dance classes and teachers on HeyKiki. We can assist in finding the perfect choreography instruction for you.

If you’d like to learn another sport or activity other than dance, we have other instructors and classes in your area on HeyKiki too.

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Dance: What’s Up with Your Spine?

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Take Care! This is quite delicate.

Take Care! This is quite delicate.

The spine is the region of the body which is affected greatly by dance. Since the upper body of a dancer is involved to a great extent during dance, it is prone to pains and injuries. Also the weight of the body of a dancer is balanced chiefly upon the spine so it must be well taken care of. We suggest you some tips to do so.

You must carry our various physical exercises and stretches related to spinal region as it will help in strengthening abdominal as well as back muscles. Also the muscles of the hamstrings will be strengthened which will prevent any injury to the spine.

You can also try proprioceptive training of the muscles of the trunk. This type of training helps in apt and rapid muscles reactions to the abruptly changing postures of the spine. All this helps in stabilization of the spine during dance.

You should also limit the time of dancing as well as repetitive movements including back bending for each day. It helps in preventing injuries which are caused due to overuse of spine.

You must keep a good straight posture during sitting, standing and lifting during routine activities. Also you must exercise regularly to release any unnecessary tension from the spinal muscles.

You must also maintain aerobic fitness regularly as it helps in accelerating flow of blood and oxygen to the muscles, bones and ligaments of the spine. It helps in avoiding injury to the spine and back pain.

If you’re in the New York City area, check out the dance classes and teachers on HeyKiki. We can assist in finding the perfect choreography teaching for you.

If you’d like to learn another sport or activity other than dance, we have other instructors and classes in your area on HeyKiki too.

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Dance to Watch: The National Ballet of Canada

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The best ballet show has its home at the National Ballet of Canada!

The best ballet show has its home at the National Ballet of Canada!

Are you eager to watch some scintillating ballet dance performances? The National Ballet of Canada is the best place for you to watch! Founded by Celia Franca in the year 1951, this is the biggest ballet group currently prevalent in Canada. Having exceeded six glorious decades, this classical dance company takes immense pride in giving only the best for the audience. The company has fully committed in reaching out for the families who otherwise would not have the chance of relishing ballet dance! With a large, dedicated crew of more than 120 dancers and employees, this company assures mind-blowing dance performances and some of the forthcoming dance programs and the dates are listed as follows.

The Carmen is to be staged from June 5 to 16 that give a one-act interpretation of the Carmen story in a balletic intensity. Working with a passionate doomed love story, this ballet performance is hoped to meet the expectation of all the ballet lovers. Next is the Mad Hot Ballet Gala that is to be staged on June 12th. With the talented ballet artists of National Ballet of Canada performing their exciting dance, this gala performance has the pride of being a fundraising program too. Yet another dance show that needs a special mention is The Man in Black & Theme and Variations that is to come to the stage from June 19th to 23rd. No doubt the wonderful choreographic excellence of James Kudelka is sure to steal the show and make you get excited!

These are not the last three performances from this ballet dance company. Still more are yet to come to enthuse your moods! If you’re in the New York City area, check out the dance classes and tutors on HeyKiki. We can assist in finding the perfect choreography tutoring for you.

If you’d like to learn another sport or activity other than dance, we have other instructors and classes in your area on HeyKiki too!

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Structuring a Modern Dance Lesson

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It is the way you structure your dance class that makes it fascinating!

It is the way you structure your dance class that makes it fascinating!

The greatest task for any dance teacher would be to perfectly structure a modern dance class. Modern dance, contemporary dance as it could be better called, does not need any specific structure to be followed, but still, being a bit innovative and creative could make your classes livelier. As dance is an art, it should be taught with some fun so that the students enjoy the lessons. Contemporary dance is so extensive that it is up to the dance teacher to devise the right set of plan for her students.

To be broad and inclusive in views, a modern dance lessons should have an aesthetical project, physical education and context. An aesthetical project should develop some movements that cover the entire dance floor. Simple dance walks and movements that would enable the dancers to become floor-friendly easily should be used in this initial step. For this, a warming up process could also be included with a few stretch exercises and dynamics. Now that, you have brought the mind set of the students into the dance floor, next is bringing physical oneness in the form of physical education. Regulate your dance level as per the skills of your students and never try to enforce it within them as in sports. Give emphasis and regular training while going for harder moves so that they would be mentally and physiologically ready.

The final is the context that makes the students aware of their purpose in being in that class. By doing so, you are making them psychologically ready too. So, right from the warming up classes, your structure should flow as strengthening, giving correct intervals of break, some fast moves, stretching and finally cooling down. These all should form the essential elements in structuring a modern dance school in any order, the first and last left undisturbed.

If you’re in the New York City area, check out the dance classes and tutors on HeyKiki. We can assist in finding the perfect choreography tutoring for you.

If you’d like to learn another sport or activity other than dance, we have other instructors and classes in your area on HeyKiki too!

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Dancing with the Stars: Latest News

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This great dance show is really beautiful!

This great dance show is really beautiful!

Dancing with the stars is a lively and interactive dance competition where couple that consists of one celebrity and one dancer, perform dance shows to be analyzed by judges and audiences. Based on the score they obtain, the least scorer would be eliminated. Having got the short intro about this dance show, let us have a peep into the latest hot news about season 16 of this show! With just six more couple’s dance, last Monday, each team showed fabulous performances, bringing out their best.

One team made a fantastic group show in the form of samba, but speaking about the individual performance, his dance was a mess. Still he earned a standing applause from the audience and the same was quoted by one of the judges Len who remarked “It wasn’t that good technically, but … if the others have climbed hills you’ve climbed mountains and I think you’ve done a great job. Well done!” Yet another show perfect was Zendaya who was appreciated by Bruno as ‘gob-smackingly gorgeous’. Her foxtrot dance was the perfect one of all the performances and she scored the highest of 29 points for her fantastic show-off.

The most thrilling moment of this recent show was when the results were announced as who was going to remove off their dancing boots. Though many doubted the first team to be off, the unfavorable results fell on Ortiz and Arnold, being the low scorers. It was indeed pleasing but heart-breaking too to see their gentlemanly behavior as soon as the results were announced. The show is not at the end however! Each show forthcoming is still packed with so much of fun and thrill both for the participants and audience. So, do not miss it!

If you’re in the New York City area, check out the dance classes and tutors on HeyKiki. We can assist in finding the perfect choreography tutoring for you.

If you’d like to learn another sport or activity other than dance, we have other instructors and classes in your area on HeyKiki too!

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