4dancers – Page 117

Dance Advance

December 5, 2009 by 4dancers

If you think the picture here is interesting, just wait until you see the website.

Dance Advance is something I stumbled across while surfing, and I can’t believe I didn’t see it sooner. The “documents” section is what I would like to highlight here in particular, as there is some truly top-notch writing about dance in these articles–from all over the world. You’ll see pieces about Japanese ballet history, Cambodian dance history and well-crafted thought pieces on dance in general. This is a site for thinkers… [Read more…]

Bursitis And Tendinitis

December 3, 2009 by 4dancers

If you have ever had bursitis or tendinitis you know how much pain either of these can cause. Early on in my career I had Achillies tendinitis so bad that I could hardly dance. If you or a dancer you know suffers from either of these conditions, it is important to get medical help so that you can come up with a good treatment plan. For some background information on what the conditions are and some details on prevention, check out the National Institutes of Health.

Tips For Buying Ballroom Dance Shoes

December 1, 2009 by 4dancers

If you are new to ballroom dance, it can be helpful to know how to go about buying your shoes. Here are a few resources that you can check out for tips on getting a good fit:

Showtime Dance Shoes – tips on both fit and caring for the shoes.

About.com – tips for choosing the right style, construction and more.

MIT Ballroom Dance Team – top notch tips on just about everything to do with ballroom dance shoes.

No matter what the dance style, having shoes that fit properly is key to having a good class or performance. Hope these resources help!

The Arangetram

November 23, 2009 by 4dancers

NTPray — Copyright 2005, Catherine L. Tully

If you have never heard of an Arangetram, get ready to be amazed…

(I am going to break it down here into only the very basics, but there are many layers that I won’t cover, so know that there is a good deal more to this than meets the eye.)

Basically an Arangetram is a sort of “graduation” performance that is undertaken by a student of Bharata Natyam. This classical Indian dance form is a combination of complex movements that are expressive, along with a spiritual component. Dancers prepare for this for a long time, and the final performance is typically a large-scale event. Some families even have musicians flown in from India to play for the dancer. Many times an auditorium or stage is rented out for the performance, and friends and family attend to watch the graduation dance.

I have attended several Arangetram performances, and they are actually quite an emotional experience. The dancers (and their family) put their entire soul into this one day, and it is a very long series of demanding movements that they must undertake. Most Arangetram will last between two and three hours, and it is almost continuous dancing. The teacher is called the “Guru” and they are also present for the performance. If you ever have the chance to experience an Arangetram, I would highly recommend it. You will get to see something truly unique.

In The Spirit Of Thanksgiving

November 21, 2009 by 4dancers

bd093 — Copyright 2005, Catherine L. Tully

With Thanksgiving upon us, I thought I might do a post on the body. As dancers we need to remember that the body is something to be thankful for. It is our instrument of expression.

As I have grown older, my body has been less able to meet the demands I place on it and it is also more prone to injury. One day I may not be able to do any of the things I could in my prime. I’m already experiencing the unplesant fact that I can’t do a grand jete or execute a flawless fifth position without feeling it in my knees. The body ages, and with it, our ability to perform at peak levels disappears… [Read more…]

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