4teachers – Page 32

Dance In A Box

February 11, 2011 by 4dancers

Today we have a guest post from Tricia Gomez, the lady behind “Dance in a Box”…

1. How did the idea for Dance in a Box come about, and what is it?

In 2004 I got diagnosed with Lupus and I was teaching 21 classes a week. I had to cut back and was having trouble finding teachers that could teach hip hop to kids as young as 3. I had a very specific method and terminology that I used and I kept saying “I wish I had something with the steps on it that I could just give to the teachers and say ‘Here, teach these steps and make up a routine with them'”. That’s how the idea of the hip hop choreography cards came about.

I started cataloging 10 years worth of material and, with the help of a student’s mom who was a graphic artist, we designed 100 cards. Each card has it’s own hip hop step on it, complete with pictures, a verbal description and modifications! Hip Hop In a Box was the first choreography kit that we mass produced. It had the 100 mix-and-match hip hop cards, a DVD showing how to do each step, an Instrumental music CD and the “Teaching Tips Workbook”. It became so popular that teachers were asking for more steps.

We recently released 1-2-3 Dance, a 50 card kit! At www.danceinabox.com, we also offer original music CD’s that help a teacher’s teach rhythm and explain how to count 8-counts and find the “1” beat.

The mission of Dance – In a Box is to create products that make teaching easy. Hip Hop – In a Box and 1-2-3 Dance are so easy to use that teachers who are not hip hop “experts” are able to teach it to young children with confidence! [Read more…]

Chicago Area Dance: Leopold Group Modern Dance Company

February 9, 2011 by 4dancers

This is a courtesy post–thought this sounded interesting, so I’m passing it along for those of you in the Chicago area…

The Leopold Group’s trailblazing new work, Voyager, premieres February 17-20, 2011 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Avenue and will be simultaneously broadcast worldwide on the internet through Ustream.

Voyager is an evening length dance work inspired by Carl Sagan’s famous Golden Record time capsule. In 1977, Sagan and NASA launched two Voyager spacecrafts, affixing each with a gold-coated copper phonograph record as a “message to possible extraterrestrial civilizations.” Each record contains 90 minutes of “the world’s greatest music,” an audio essay entitled “The Sounds of Earth,” and greetings in nearly 60 human languages (and one whale language). Mr. Sagan’s musical selections provide a potent score for Artistic Director and choreographer, Lizzie Leopold, to tackle these persisting questions of communication, humanity, longevity and future.

For more information, visit their website.

Review: World Dance Workout

February 8, 2011 by 4dancers

Product: World Dance Workout CD

Website: www.worlddanceworkout.net

Cost: $25 for CD, $22 for digital download

World Dance Workout is a CD designed specifically for dance. The music is percussion, and the musicians understand that a steady rhythm is needed to accompany movement. The centerpiece of this album is a nice, hypnotic beat that would be great for many different types of dance class. I can see belly dancers using it, modern dance classes or even dance classes at a health club. [Read more…]

Movement Influenced by Costumes

February 7, 2011 by 4dancers

Today we have a guest post by Stacey Pepper Schwartz…

I love to challenge my students when I teach. I like them to discover movement for themselves and not just copy what I am doing. They need to find out how they move for themselves. And with this knowledge they can go on to perfect their technique. If they have technique without vision ,creativity or passion, it is like having the canvas and paints without the paintbrushes! Explore costumes to add some added inspiration, creativity and challenge to your class. It can be quite an adventure for both the student and teacher! [Read more…]

10 Questions With…Beth Terwilleger

February 2, 2011 by 4dancers

Today we have with us Beth Terwilleger from Ballet Austin….

1. How did you become involved with dance?

When I was growing up my family used to put on music and dance around the house. I always loved dancing, and when my grandfather showed me my first ballet video I knew that this was the kind of dance I wanted to do. My mom signed me up for classes and I immediately fell in love.

2. What are you currently doing in the field?

I am currently a ballet dancer with Ballet Austin.

3. Would you share a special moment from your career with readers?

There are so many special moments. I remember the moment I realized I could move, like really dance. I had always been a bit typecast at the school I grew up in as being very much a ballerina and not a contemporary dancer. Then, during my second apprentice year at Ballet Austin I was in a rehearsal for our end of the year show doing a piece set to salsa music and I realized “this feel great!” Really letting go and moving in all kinds of new different ways was really what I wanted dance to be for me. I was told that the way I moved in this show and the fact that I did have this realization was the reason I was hired into the company. It was major turning point for me. [Read more…]

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