Editorial – Page 57

Nutcracker? Love It Or Leave It?

November 23, 2010 by 4dancers

The Nutcracker and the holiday season seem to go hand-in-hand, but dancers often have a different perspective on this classic ballet. Many of the ones that I know have either danced it or seen it so many times that, well, let’s just say the magic is gone.

Sometimes referred to as simply “nuts”, this story ballet has a special place in my heart as it was the first time I performed in a large-scale production of this kind. Cast as an angel, I would sit through performance after performance on the stage and watch every dance in the second act over and over again. I have to say–I never tired of it. My favorites were always the Arabian dancers, and, of course, the Sugar Plum.

Even now I use music from this ballet in my class from time to time. It brings back good memories and the students find it inspirational.

So…what kind of dancer are you? Does The Nutcracker make you want to pull your hair out and run around screaming? Or would you see it again and again….? Where do you fit in along that spectrum, and why?

Guest Post: Creative Ways To Keep Kids Focused

November 22, 2010 by 4dancers

Today we have a guest post from Stacey Pepper Schwartz on creative ways to keep kids focused in the dance classroom. Stacey should know–she not only has worked with kids, but she is also the person behind, “Up Down and All Around” a movement program for young ones…read on…

3 Creative Ways to Keep Kids Attention

How do you keep your students’ attention in class? Not an easy task but an essential one! This is especially difficult around holidays, birthdays, vacations; any extra distraction can send even the most attentive group astray.

1. Be flexible. Pay attention to the energy and focus of the class. If the children are focused on the snow falling outside, no matter how fabulous your lesson is that you prepared, you will not be able to compete with mother nature. You can either choose to fight the children’s curiosity and amazement or harness it and incorporate it into the lesson or change the lesson all together. Sometimes the best lessons are created in the moment.

2. Music is key. Music can affect the mood or energy of the class. Change your music often. One week have your warm-up music be sounds of a rainforest and the next week a marching band. If the class has low energy put on an upbeat song to get them going and if they are bouncing off the walls have a soothing calm song ready to influence the energy in the class. As a special treat, each week have a child pick out a piece of music he or she would like to use to end class. (If the students feel a sense of ownership they will be more likely to stay invested in what you are doing.)

3. Challenge them and praise them! A simple way to keep your class’s attention is to challenge them! If they are focused on learning something new or doing a movement in a way they have never done before (like leaping backwards) they are more likely to stay focused. Boredom is the quickest way children can become disengaged. Also, children love to succeed and show off what they know so make sure to review something they have learned from a previous week and let them show you how good they have become! Then challenge them with a new idea.

: Stacey Pepper Schwartz

Bio: Stacey is the Founder and Director of Leaping Legs Creative Movement Programs. The focus of Leaping Legs Creative Movement Programs is to help people regardless of age, experience or ability, become educated about their movement potential, develop kinesthetic awareness, and become more physically fit and healthy together as a family, and community.Leaping Legs promotes its goal through the original Up Down & All Around DVD. Utilizing the elements of movement, the video entertains as it motivates kids and their families to exercise together using movement games, silly exercises and challenges. The DVD received Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Children’s Products 2009 Award and 10 Best Active Products 2009 Award. The DVD has also been featured in many magazines. In its August 2009 issue, Dance Teacher called the DVD “an essential tool for teaching the fundamentals of movement.”

Stacey received her BFA in dance performance at Montclair State University and her MA in dance education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She has taught as an artist in residency and guest artist in public and private schools for over twelve years.

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Post Curtain Chat with Karolina Blonski

November 18, 2010 by Matthew Powell

I recently received a text message from my friend, Karolina Blonski: “Which performance do you want to come to? We have shows at 11:00, 2:00, 5:00, and 8:00.” There is only one show in New York City that can pull off that many performances in one day. ‘Tis the season for the high-kicking wonderment of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Though the show (with alternating casts) presents its dancers with a hefty performance schedule, anyone who has ever worked with Karolina knows that this sincere, yet driven dancer is up to the task. In this month’s Post Curtain Chat, Karolina talks of life in “the biz,” and gives aspiring theatre dancers the perfect recipe for finding balance in a career where great rewards go hand-in-hand with occasional disappointments.

With so many shows over a concentrated period of time, in what ways does your life change outside the theatre during the “Radio City” months?

The Radio City schedule is extremely demanding. In order to prevent injuries, stay healthy and be able to perform to my potential, my life changes dramatically outside the theatre. I go to the gym most performance days but I only do half of my normal work out, basically just to warm up for the shows. I run about two miles and stretch, do some balancing and stabiliziation exercise to get centered and “on my leg” There’s not very much going out for me after the shows. There’s a lot of sleep, stretching, and hydration that happens during the holiday season!

What do you crave most after a long performance day?

After the show I crave my couch, HGTV and my favorite sweat pants!

Your husband is also a dancer, and is currently working with The Chase Brock Experience. How did you two meet, and what is it like to have a husband who is so closely involved with your line of work?

It’s amazing! We are so lucky! We both understand the demands associated with our profession. This makes us able to support each other so that we can be the best that we can be. You would think there would be competition or jealousy, but for us that doesn’t exist. His success is my success and vice versa. Drew and I actually met while perfoming in Twyla Tharp’s Movin’ Out.

Auditioning can be just as much of a full-time job as performing. How do you like to celebrate once you’ve landed a new gig?

I always say that auditioning is the work and performing is the vacation. When I land a new gig, I celebrate by not auditioning anymore! Just to have that peace of mind for a short while is amazing. Doing what we do, it can be difficult because shows are always changing and closing. Planning what comes next can be tricky.

And, since no one gets every job they audition for, what do you do to drown your sorrows after a bad audition?

Well, there are a lot of gigs that I haven’t gotten, but that’s part of the biz. There are ten times more jobs that you don’t get compared to the one you land. I think understanding that rejection is part of the game is so important. It’s not personal, it’s just what the show needs at that time, whether it’s someone blonder, taller, younger etc. Although, if I completely biff an audition, I know that I have more work to do. I’ll get myself into another ballet class, more voice lessons…whatever it takes. You have to take responsibility when it’s due, but you also have to let go and not keep reliving it. That is difficult to do sometimes when you know you could have booked the show.

For many, the Radio City show epitomizes New York City during the holiday season. Do you have a favorite place in New York you like to visit during this time of year?

I love New York during the holidays! It is absolutely amazing. Rockefeller Center is magical. I am so lucky that I get to be there every day during the season and see ice skaters, the beautiful tree…and the great shopping. 🙂 I am also obssessed with Christmas decorations, so I spend A LOT of time at Macy’s!

Click here for information on the Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting ceremony!

How will you spend your first week off after the Christmas Spectacular closes?

After the show closes, my husband and I will probably go home to spend some time with his family. He is from a farm town and there is no place more relaxing. Just fields covered in snow – incredibly peaceful and quiet. We will probably sit by the fireplace and watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation which, in my opinion, is the best movie ever made.

Click here for some “behind the scenes” facts about National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation!

Click here to see Karolina perform in the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular now through Dec. 30th!

Karolina Blonski is originally from Legnica, Poland. At the age of seven her family relocated to Canada, where she would begin her training as a dancer. She received further training at the American Musical and Dramatics Academy in New York City. In addition to performing with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Karolina has performed with Tokyo Disney, the national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, as “Judy” in the national tour of Twyla Tharp’s Movin’ Out, as “Graziella” in the International Tour of West Side Story, and on Broadway in West Side Story as well.

Ballet & The Body

November 17, 2010 by 4dancers

When I quit dancing full time the thing that shocked me the most was the fact that I didn’t hurt all over anymore.

Catherine L. Tully in 1987 — Catherine L. Tully, 1987

I had been taking class for literally as long as I could remember, and was always some combination of sore, bruised or bloody. Sometimes I was just plain tired. The funny thing is–it had become normal to me after all that time. I didn’t realize how badly my body hurt all over.

After just a few weeks of rest, I realized that I felt different. I could get out of bed in the morning and get moving right away. At night, I was no longer so tired that I would drop into bed and sleep heavy until daybreak. It was a very strange thing for me.

Throughout my adult life I have gone through periods where I work out heavy and some where I don’t. The amazing part is–I’m actually more comfortable in my own skin when I’m sore, or physically tired. As a former dancer, when I push myself to the limit of my body’s capability, it feels….right. There’s something about being truly spent that is good for the soul.

At least, if you’re a dancer.

4dancers: Coming Up In 2011

November 12, 2010 by 4dancers

Today I’d just like to share a bit about what 4dancers will be doing in 2011…

We’ve got some wonderful new things planned for the site, including:

Video content. That’s right–4dancers will be bringing video to the site next year. Stay tuned for more details on what we’ll be doing with it.

Product. 4dancers will be introducing their own line of dance t-shirts and bags, along with notecards, posters and more. These items will all be original to 4dancers and available through the site.

Interviews. In 2011 we will be continuing our interviews with dance professionals, including members of the Joffrey and people from Jacob’s Pillow, Dance for Life Chicago and more.

2011 is just around the corner, so look for these features to be arriving soon! And please let us know if there is something that you would like to see that we haven’t mentioned here. After all, this site is for you.

Have a lovely weekend!

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