Studios – Page 29

Introducing…Karen Hersh

January 6, 2010 by 4dancers

In 2010 4dancers readers will hear from a range of guest contributors here and there, talking about different styles of dance, or just sharing thoughts about the dance world. Today I would like to introduce Karen Hersh, a teacher and performer in the American Tribal Belly Dance style. I’ve asked Karen to share some information about how she became involved in dance so that you can get to know her a little bit…

My name is Karen, but I dance under and answer to the name of Piper. I began dancing close to 20 yrs ago in California when I decided to get in shape. I signed up for a what I thought was a ‘ballet’ workout class but in reality, it was a ballet floor bar class that was taught by a woman who studied and performed in Russia.

After a few years of that, I moved back to the Chicago area and started taking modern dance classes in Oak Park and in Chicago, and eventually had the privilege to study for a few years under the direction of the dance company Deeply Rooted. While I loved dancing with Deeply Rooted, I felt I needed to leave and focus on my personal life (as I just moved in with my now husband Brian). After about a year being away from dance, he suggested I find something to do. And so I did: belly dance.

I took my first class at Belle Plaine studios with a woman named Taj. I had no idea that I was at the beginning of my tribal fusion dance career. After Taj, I moved onto taking American Tribal Style (ATS) with Gabrielle Deschaine in Berwyn/Forest Park. And the rest, they say, is history.

Since that little beginning with Taj, I’ve taken as many classes as possible to improve on my own unique style of tribal fusion. I’ve been blessed to have been invited to teach overseas in the UK at Tribal Ford in England, (which is a weekend long group of workshops held in the Ford Castle located in Northumberland, England), and then 2 different workshops in Dublin and Glasgow. I am currently teaching my style of tribal fusion at Pineapple Dance Studio in Forest Park.

4dancers In 2010

December 27, 2009 by 4dancers

Well if a new look and new site isn’t enough, you’re in luck…there’s more to come! 4dancers will be rolling out a lot of new content in the New Year, including:

+ Featured Studio – we’re going through the states in alphabetical order this year and featuring 2 per week that we have hand-picked. We’ll take a look at what they offer, why they stand out and what they are all about. Look for these features primarily on the weekend.

+ 10 Questions With… This new feature will highlight different people in dance, asking them ten questions about themselves and their art. We will feature fellow dance bloggers, dancers, teachers and more in this section.

+ More reviews – in 2009 we opened the doors to those in the dance world who have products for sale. We’ll be reviewing these for you throughout the year.

+ 4dancers t-shirts and bags – 4dancers will be introducing an exclusive line of t-shirts and dance bags that you will not be able to buy anywhere else. Designs will include ballet, Irish dance, Indian dance and more…

We’re excited about the New Year, and we hope that you will check back regularly to see what we have in store for you in 2010!

Featured Studio: Cary Ballet Conservatory

December 10, 2009 by 4dancers

Name: Cary Ballet Conservatory

Location: 3791 NW Cary Parkway, Cary, NC, 27513

About: The Cary Ballet Conservatory is a lovely facility located in North Carolina. The building they are housed in is a large one and there are four studios–the largest of which is more than 3,000 square feet. Sprung floors and vaulted ceilings provide a wonderful, safe environment for students. I was really impressed with what I saw of the facility.

In addition to the studios, there is also a lounge area and gazebo on the premises. With ballet training as the underpinning for their philosophy on dance, the school trains students and the Cary Ballet Company gives the advanced level, pre-professional students plenty of performance opportunities.

At the helm here is Suzanne Laliberté Clark, who is the Founder and Director, Rossana Nesta Machi, who serves as Ballet Mistress, and a well-rounded staff with a variety of different backgrounds. If you are interested in classes, or want to get in touch with the studio, call 919-481-6509.

Teaching Tip: Remembering Names

December 8, 2009 by 4dancers

As a teacher, you need to know how to remember names.

For many people this can be a challenge, but the good news is that there are many different tools you can employ to do it. Here are a few, along with some resources for more help if you need it:

+ For the first two or three classes, try to use names all the time. Students are forgiving if you forget in the beginning, but later on it can be insulting if you don’t remember a name.

+ Use a class list. I used to do this all the time…I’d print out a class list, then make a few notes during the course of the class to help remember who is who. Haircolor, outstanding features and anything else you can jot down will be helpful.

+ Make a conscious effort to remember names when people introduce themselves. If you are distracted, chances are it won’t sink in. Focus on the person and mentally (or even verbally) repeat the name so you solidify it in your head… [Read more…]

Teaching Tip: Using An Assistant

November 30, 2009 by 4dancers

Having a teaching assistant can be a great way to ease your class load a bit. Those who could benefit from having a student demonstrate for class include:

+ Older teachers or those with an injury. Instead of doing the movements yourself, you can utilize the student to communicate the movements for you. This is much easier on the body. I do it when I can, but if I keep teaching for much longer, I will need to rely on it more often!

+ Teachers with a heavy class load. A teaching assistant can ease the burden and help keep you from getting fried.

+ Studio owners who have a talented student who is in need. Using a gifted student as a demonstrator means they will get more class time and practice. This can be a good situation for a studio owner that wants to help out a family that cannot afford to pay for multiple classes.

Naturally there are others who can benefit from this type of situation, but the ones above stand out as reasons that I have seen it done. There are a few things you may want to keep in mind if you decide to go this route… [Read more…]

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