For dancers, dance teachers, and those who love dance. – Page 193 – A website for dancers, dance teachers and others interested in dance

Dance Book Giveaway

November 14, 2010 by 4dancers

Today I’d like to introduce a blog that I recently discovered – Picture Books & Pirouettes. Author Kerry Aradhya is a children’s poet, dancer and aspiring picture book author and she has done a lovely job on this site where you will find numerous reviews of books for children. I’d never seen many of these–it was very interesting…

This week, Picture Books & Pirouettes is hosting a review and giveaway of The Barefoot Book of Dance Stories (a new collection of dance folktales from around the world). Later in the week, Kerry will also be blogging about the companion book, The Barefoot Book of Ballet Stories, and posting an interview with co-authors Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple. You are invited to join in the fun!

Check Out Dance Advantage’s “Giving Thanks Giveaway”

November 12, 2010 by 4dancers

Nichelle at Dance Advantage has a fun giveaway going in the spirit of Thanksgiving…it’s nearing the end, so be sure and check it out today or tomorrow.

And when you do, take a look around the site–she’s got some amazing resources on there!

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!

Resource: Boys Do Ballet

November 9, 2010 by 4dancers

Today I’d like to share a resource with readers–an interesting site–Boys Do Ballet.com. I found this site and was intrigued by the team of writers and the variety of posts there–definitely worth checking out. I’ve really enjoyed reading the sites around the web that are dedicated to men/boys in ballet. Here are a few more to take a peek at, or pass along to a guy you know:

Ballet for Men

Dave Tries Ballet

My Son Can Dance

I think it is so important to have good resources for the men and boys who are interested in dance. So many times they are slighted, or at worst, ignored. Pass the word along about these great sites to the guys you know…after all, they desrve a little support!

About Pointe Shoes

November 8, 2010 by 4dancers

Today I’m dedicating a post to pointe shoes.

Like all the other little girls out there, I couldn’t wait to get into a a pair.

And, as anyone who has had their feet in a pair knows–once you do–it becomes a whole other story…

My feet actually survived pretty well–I have little permanent damage from years of pointe work, unless you count the fact that my second toe used to be slightly longer than my big toe, and now they are the same length. I don’t feel it is particularly noteworthy…especially considering what could have happened to them.

After trying several brands, I wound up in Freed pointe shoes, which had an unusual, almost orange cast to the color of the satin. Very pretty. I can still remember going to buy them with my Mom. The place that sold the shoes was in an old building in downtown Chicago. If memory serves, you had to take a cage-style elevator up to the little store, and it always seemed like there was no one else on the floor when you got out. I remember it as a little spooky; but kind of exciting too.

I have always found it interesting, the different ways that ballet dancers prepare their pointe shoes. I didn’t have much of a special routine to break them in, although I always did wrap my ribbons nicely around the shoes after I took them off.

As for protecting the feet, after a while I didn’t bother with lamb’s wool or toe caps. Once in a while I would wind some paper towel around my toes if they were feeling particularly tender. My feet always felt sore to some degree, but you just learned to live with it, and oddly, it simply became normal to be in pain.

I was just telling this story the other day…after my feet toughened up, I was walking through the house without shoes or socks on and suddenly heard a clicking noise each time I took a step on my left foot. When I looked, a tack was stuck into the bottom. I felt nothing, and when I pulled it out, I didn’t bleed either. Kind of funny…

What about you? Any peculiar stories to share? Any preference in terms of pointe shoes? I’d love to hear from you…

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