Best Running Paths in South Brooklyn

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Sarah James

Great Place to Run

Anyone residing in South Brooklyn who is passionate about running and wishes to continue their passion has so many routes in the area on which he or she can run. There are numerous places in South Brooklyn which are apt for outdoor running. Have a glimpse of them.

Prospect Park Exterior- Located at the 17 Eastern Parkway, the boundary around the Prospect Park is a great place to run. The surface is flat so anyone can even run here at night.

Fort Green- This is another great place to run around which you can have as many running rounds as possible. You can start from the G Clinton or Washington Stop on Lafayette and Washington from the Fort Greene Park and take some rounds on the sidewalk and then run back to Willoughby and then back to the starting position.

NYC Downtown East River Loop- There is a great flat running route along the East River of NYC. One can have a great running experience running over this route. You can start by the 25th St. Bridge that passes over the FDR and run as many loops as possible over this route.

Central Park Reservoir Loop- The flat path around the South end of the Jackie O Reservoir is a good path to run. The flat surface around the reservoir allows easy running.

Are you a runner? Have you always wanted to get into running but not sure how? Check out the running buddies and instructors on HeyKiki and find the perfect workout for you, in your neighborhood. Log in and connect to find runners whose speed goals, training schedules, and passion for pounding the pavement match yours. You can even create your own profile.

If running isn’t your thing, but you’re interested in building community, the opportunities are endless. Whether it’s knitting or hockey, French horn or German language, you can find the perfect practice buddy today.

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Yoga in Springtime: Prettiest Spots

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Sarah James

To do yoga, definitely the place is a vital thing that has to be the best. Even the time is more important and that is why most of the yoga sessions are done in early mornings to lend an ear to the voice of God via his beautiful creations. The beauty of the earth could be said to be at the epitome during springtime! In that case, what would be the appropriate spots to choose so that one could learn yoga more dedicatedly?

Actually doing yoga during the change of season would boost up the energy within you even more. There are many yoga schools like Swara Yoga Schools that give a warm welcome for Springtime Yoga Celebration with their unique yoga programs. The workshops conducted here are for attuning our body and revitalizing it to the energies of the new spring. Soon after the New Year has begun, already six and more yoga studios have been launched in New York City. The Sports Center at Chelsea needs a mention as its added facilities that take the yogis closer to nature and it would be inviting for them.

Yoga in Springtime could be even more fun!

Katonah Yoga is yet another center that is ready to welcome you for the Springtime Yoga. Nevin Michaan is here to bring Power Vinyasa to you. Swanand Yoga too needs to be cited as at this new yoga studio that is begun for Indian family settled in America. Apart from breath taking heavy yoga, classes on concentrating, meditation and prahnic breathing are all thought. These are just a few out of the many studios that are waiting to give you excellent Springtime yoga!

If you’re in the New York City area, check out the yoga classes and instructors on HeyKiki and find the perfect yoga practice for you. If you’re looking for someone in the NYC area to practice with, we have yoga practice buddies on HeyKiki just waiting to connect with you!
If you’d like to learn a sport or activity other than yoga, we have other sports and activities instructors and classes in your area on HeyKiki too.

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Balancing Your Dance Schedule with Family Time

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Beth Manning

Family is part and parcel of our lives; while following your dancing career it might get difficult for you to maintain a good balance between your passion and the family life.

Being a dedicated dancer you must have a very busy schedule. You have to deal with learning new forms, practicing, rehearsing tirelessly, preparing for the events and mingling! Through this hectic routines you might not able to attend your family in a proper manner and you could miss spending precious time with them.

This way you might feel little distant from them. If you are experiencing such a situation then read on to find out our tips that will help you to manage harmony with your dancing and your lovely family:

Keeping dance and family together!

Encourage Your Family to Dance: Practice and dance with your family! Teach them what you do so that they can get involved your profession and even spend quality time with you along with work.

Keep Your Holidays Free: Try not to work or rehearse on holidays. Keep them totally free for your family life so that you can sit with them, talk to them and spend close time to discuss important family matters on these holidays.

Organize: Keep your tough and tiring part of rehearsals in the early part of the day and the light ones in the later part so that when in the evening you go home you are refreshed and can spend some time with your near and dear ones.

Daily Meal: Make it a point to have at least one daily meal, like breakfast or dinner, with your family, as this will help you to discuss your daily routine and any problems.

Surprise Them: In case you are not able to give time to your family lately, try and plan a good surprise, like a meaningful gift or a surprise outing. This will help you to bring you closer to them and also will remind them that you care.

We hope by following these easy tips you will be able to manage a prosperous career and happy family.

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.

Great Gifts for Your Tutor

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Sarah James

“If you can read this then thank your teacher.” Teachers are the only good souls who are happy to see their students succeed. Kids spend more of their time in school than at home and that’s why teachers are often called the first parent. It is important to show your thanks to these selfless tutors who throughout their career devote their time in imparting knowledge as well as character to their students. There are many ways of expressing thanks to your tutors. If you are looking for a gift – for the holidays or just as a thank-you – here is a list of the best gifts you can pick for your tutor.

• Books – This is one of the best gifts for a tutor. Since you are probably well aware of your tutor’s favorite subject, you can very well pick a book your tutor will like. Do not forget to write your name and thank you note on it.
• Stationery – Teachers always need a pen and other stationery stuff.
• You can donate in your tutor’s name. Your tutor will be definitely moved by your act.
• Teachers are not generally that interested in material gifts, so nothing can touch the heart of a tutor more than thank you notes and a little poetry written for them. They often treasure these gifts throughout their life.
• You can also collect notes and photos for your tutor from other students and create a collage.
• Throwing a surprise party is also a great idea.
Teachers are not always interested in gifts. The most important gift is to be a great student and give a word of THANKS.

Thank you is a small word but it means a lot to tutors.

If you’re interested in either becoming a tutor or finding one, we can help! If you’re in the New York City area, check out the classes and tutors on HeyKiki and find the perfect tutoring for you. If you’re looking for someone in the NYC area to learn with, we have study buddies on HeyKiki just waiting to connect with you!

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

Playing with the Symphony Orchestra?

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Sarah James

A symphony orchestra often includes a piano. The very first symphony orchestra was introduced in the year 1857, impeccably composed by a very well known French musician Charles Valentin Alkan. It was composed so perfectly that every note from it could easily relate to the orchestral sounds and the invention was welcomed and appreciated by the listeners. Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji followed in those footsteps. In the year 1922 he introduced the Third Piano Sonata which was highly appreciated as a piano symphony. Neil Viggo Bentzon, John White and Haskel are some of the other popular composers who have worked on symphony music with piano.

A piano to support a symphony.

Here are some videos for the symphony pianist, which can help the pianist to set some of the arrangements for their orchestra performance:

Vaughan Williams – Symphony No. 5 part 3 – piano cover
watch?v=yUxRAhZ3dQg

The video plays a quiet symphony.

Rachmaninov – Symphonic Dances, Op.45 (Rachmaninov’s 2 piano arrangement), movement 3

watch?v=k0FqaldNwMQ

This is one for a tremendous performance in 2 piano arrangements.

Sergey Rachmaninov: Symphony No.2
watch?v=cVmdqQnISdc

This is another must watch symphony piano video for all players.

Hybrid – Finished Symphony piano arrangement
watch?v=ux8QYxCw8qE

This is a hybrid technically played symphony where various technicalities are used.

If you’d like to get more into piano, we can help! If you’re in the New York City area, check out the piano classes and instructors on HeyKiki and find the perfect piano training for you. If you’re looking for someone in the NYC area to train with, we have piano buddies on HeyKiki just waiting to connect with you!

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

Women in Dance Leadership

Posted on November 22, 2012 by Sarah James

Women have been in the dance field forever. Women perform, direct, and choreograph dance steps so beautifully and elegantly that one becomes dumbstruck. There have been great women leaders in the industry, and here are three of them.

Martha Graham- Born on the 11th of May, 1894 in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Martha got her initial dance training at Denishawn dance school and company. She started to learn dance at the age of 22 and came out to be a fast learner. In 1929, she started her own dance company. The distinctness of her dance style lies in expression of emotions and spiritual subjects through dance. There was vigor and freshness in her dance. Her choreography was full of liveliness. She kept on dancing all through 1960’s and took retirement in 1969. She taught dance even after retirement and continued till her death in 1991.

Martha Graham

Margot Fonteyn- Born on the 18th of May, 1919 in Reigate Surrey, Margot was famous classical ballerinas of her time. She spent her complete ballet career with Royal Ballet. Fervor, wonderful technique, compassion for music and elegance were some of the unique features of her dance. Sleeping Beauty was her memorable dance performance. Starting to learn dance at the age of four, she continued to dance till her retirement in 1979. She gave wonderful performances in Swan Lake and Giselle. She danced with Robert Helpmann, Michael Somes and Rudolf Nureyev. She died in 1991 in Panama.

Margot Fonteyn- Most memorable ballerina!

Katherine Dunham- Born on the 22nd of June, 1909 in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Katherine is known as the matriarch of African American dance. She started to dance while in high school by teaching dance to young black children. Her foremost performance was Blue Moon Cafe. She studied birth of various famous dances such as Lindy Hop, Cake-walk and the black button at the University of Chicago. She set up a dance studio named Ballet Negre in association with Ruth Page and Mark Turbyfill. The key features of her dance style were free chest and spine, uttered pelvis and separation of the limbs. Her dance form was a mixture of contemporary and ballet dance. She set up her dance company named The Katherine Dunham Dance Company. She got the Kennedy Center Honors Award in 1983 in the First World Festival of Negro Arts. She died in 2006.

Dunham- Wonderful dancer!

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.

Yoga and Digestive Health

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Sarah James

If you want to stay fit as fiddle, the utmost thing that matters is good digestive health. Due to a sedentary lifestyle, people resort to junk foods which can cause digestive problems. So what can be done to have an efficient metabolism? Well yoga helps keep your body in shape by letting go of the toxins in your body. It also helps in giving a glow to your skin as it slows the aging process. Now let’s check out the yoga poses which can improve the digestive system.

Kapālabhāti Pranayama
The main thing done in this pose is exhalation. The other name used for this pose is Cleansing Breath. You need to sit in the Vajrasana position and place both your hands on your thighs. Then you need to exhale the air and then go for a deep inhalation. You need to close your mouth and keep on exhaling through your nose; it looks similar to sneezing. When doing this you will notice your stomach getting compressed in. Repeat this twenty times. You can start this by doing for one minute and then you can increase up to five minutes.

Dhanurasana
Lie down with your tummy facing the floor. Bend your knees and then take your hands behind your back and try holding your legs. Inhale and try bringing your legs closer to you. Finally loosen up by releasing your thighs.

Dhanurasana

Bhujang Asana
Recline on the floor with your tummy to the floor. Keeping your hip bone pressed to the floor and palms touching the floor, giving pressure to your palm region, try lifting yourself. Be in this position and take deep breaths five to ten times.

Bhujang Asana

Need a Rhythm Boost?

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Sarah James

Rhythm is the most important part of playing any form of music on a piano. It is the mixture of strong or weak beats that operate mutually to make music. In the beginning, one might find it difficult to learn rhythm. However, with appropriate timing and constant practice, it can be learned easily. Here are some tips to make it easier.

Practicing with a metronome- It is simple equipment and can be found in stores as well as online. It helps in learning the way of keeping a steady time by playing scales, chords and songs on it.

Slow start- You should start at a slow pace and then enhance it gradually so as to have a good hold over time and rhythm.

Practicing with Records- To start practicing counting beats on a piano, you should make use of records. It helps in improving rhythm as well as speed.

Engage whole body in rhythm- Your body from head to feet should be engaged in playing rhythm. Head can be bobbled, feet can be tapped, and fingers can be snapped in tempo.

Mute technique- It is a good technique to know about progress of your rhythm and beats. You can mute your preferred device at some point and then turn it back on while continuing to play the piano. It will help you to figure out if you are in rhythm with the music or not.

Complicated but easy to learn!

On the Dance Stage at Juilliard

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Sarah James

People who are really zealous about arts would unquestionably love to be in this place where emerging talent gets a fantastic education. Well at Julliard School talent and hard work is what matters. Professors and musicians ensure that you become a great artist and can pursue profession that you choose.
This December Julliard hosts three dance premieres at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater on December 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th. The dance is choreographed by three dance choreographers Nicolo Fonte, Robert Battle, and Adam Hougland.

Nicolo Fonte- He got his dance education at Joffrey Ballet School in New York and also at the San Francisco Ballet. Recently he gave an awesome performance in New York at the Fall For Dance festival. Nicole’s work is electrifying, commanding and thought provoking too. The latest honor that Fonte has achieved is that he has been named the Resident Choreographer for the renowned classical ballet company Ballet West. Nicolo Fonte choreographs the third year students for Alexander Zemlinsky’s Sinfonietta at the Julliard premiere.

Nicolo Fonte – An Amazing Choreographer

Adam Houghland- He is an alumnus of Julliard. He learned dance at the Dallas Conservatory of Ballet, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and also at Julliard where he obtained his Bachelor in Fine Arts degree (Dance). At the premiere he choreographs the second year dance students for Franz Schreker’s Prelude to a Drama: The Stigmatized.

Award Winning Choreographer

Robert Battle – He got his degree from Julliard and then he joined the well-known dance company Parsons Dance Company. The Kennedy for the Centers of Performing Arts honored him with a Masters of African American Choreography in the year 2005. At July 2011 he became the Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. He choreographs the fourth year students for Erwin Schulhoff’s Ballettmysterium.

Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

MTV Cancels ‘America’s Best Dance Crew’

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Sarah James

MTV’s main feature is to telecast music videos from all over the world. Currently they are broadcasting a number of reality shows and programs.

A colorful array of MTV logos

They mostly host live shows with handsome guys and pretty girls who anchor the show. MTV has its craze going on till now. Everyone competed to call up and talk online and request their favorite song. They have telecasted a lot of reality shows and America’s Best Dance Crew (ABDC) was one of them.

A very interesting dance show

The producer Randy Jackson, a former judge of the ‘American Idol’ reality show took initiative to produce seven consecutive seasons for ABDC. All the seven were a total hit. The selected ten crews had artist based challenges every week some of them being Madonna, Flo Rida, Jennifer Lopez, Drake, Britney Spears, Rihanna and so on. The winners were Elektrolytes for the final seventh season.

Proud winners of one million dollars

MTV finally put a stop to the America’s Best Dance Crew show after the seventh season. They announced that they are thankful for all the seven hit seasons by Randy and are ready for a booming and vibrant team work in the near future. The cancellation has stunned audiences as it was such a most wanted show in all of America. But they all wait eagerly for the next project.

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.

Learn Practice Teach – HeyKiki

Tag Archives: NYC

Best Running Paths in South Brooklyn

Yoga in Springtime: Prettiest Spots

Balancing Your Dance Schedule with Family Time

Great Gifts for Your Tutor

Playing with the Symphony Orchestra?

Women in Dance Leadership

Yoga and Digestive Health

Need a Rhythm Boost?

On the Dance Stage at Juilliard

MTV Cancels ‘America’s Best Dance Crew’