For dancers, dance teachers, and those who love dance. – Page 229 – A website for dancers, dance teachers and others interested in dance

10 Questions With…Maria Hanley

February 26, 2010 by 4dancers

Today’s 10 Questions With… features a fellow dance blogger and educator Maria Hanley…

1. How did you get into dance and what are you doing right now?

My mom signed me up for dance class when I was 3 years old. I was a leader for the babies, an assistant, a teacher and then became a dance major. I then moved to New York City to earn my masters in dance education and here I stay. I live in NYC and look at myself as an independent dance educator. I teach for New York City Ballet’s outreach programs, I teach creative movement and tap at Mark Morris Dance Group, I am a movement specialist for a preschool and teach creative ballet at the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan. I am also building my own business called Maria’s Movers. I have a lot going on, but I love it! I thank my mom for enrolling me many years ago!

2. Why did you start your blog?

I started Move. Create. Educate to have a place to write down my ideas. I think of it as my journal. I go so many places in a day that this blog creates a “dance home” for my ideas, questions, and accomplishments. I love to write about my experiences teaching young children, opening and maintaining a business, and the importance of building a community of dance educators.

3. What do you feel are the most important things to focus on in terms of teaching little ones?

I try to focus on being a positive role model for the little ones. You would be surprised how attached 2-3-4 year olds get to their teachers. They look up to me and all they want in return is to show that I listen to their ideas and give them a smile when I see them. Making class fun and exciting every week is a main focus too. I feel that it’s a privilege to be able to teach young dancers when they are so impressionable. I think it takes a certain kind of person to work with young children. Even though I am their teacher, they teach me something new every day!

4. How do you think a community of dance professionals can help one another?

I think it is so important to be apart of a dance community. In fact, one of the goals of Move. Create. Educate is to create and support a community of dance teachers. Since starting the blog I have met some wonderful and amazing dancers and dance teachers. Building and inserting yourself into a community of dance professionals can widen your view, open up new opportunities, and allow you to grow as a dancer and dance teacher. I look forward to meeting and connecting new people everyday.

5. Who are your all-time favorite dancers?

I love Gene Kelly, of course! Isadora Duncan is also one of my favorites! My all time favorite dancer is Douglas Dunn. I studied with him at NYU and he’s amazing. He gets you to move in ways you never thought you could! If you are ever in NYC he teaches classes out of his loft apartment in Soho. A great experience in itself!

6. What is it about dance that you love so much?

I really love that being a dancer and dance teacher can be a JOB! Whenever someone asks me what I do (the dreaded question, right?) I say “I’m a dance teacher!” They seem very surprised and think it’s really amazing, but then I always think, do they really know what being a dance teacher is? I love that dancers have a way of connecting on a different level. I love that dance inspires me to be creative and in turn inspires children to love dance.

7. What is the best dance advice you have ever heard?

I have heard a lot of advice, but the best advice I have ever heard is “A loud classroom is a learning classroom.” I always remember this advice when my class gets loud and excited. If the students are loud and are giving ideas, I know that they are learning and thinking. I try to gage my classes this way, it doesn’t work in every class, but for most it’s a helpful tool!

8. What do you think it is important for parents to know about dance?

I think it’s most important for parents to know that dance can and should be fun and educational at the same time. Many of the mom’s I work with are my biggest fans. They know my class brings out the best in their child and so that is what they advocate for. I like to show the parents that learning dance is a process and the process should be exciting for them as well. I encourage my students to practice at home and to talk about what we did in class each week. The parents love to be involved and I love that they are so supportive.

9. What changes do you think need to come about in the field?

I think dance teachers need to advocate for what they know works. As I visit public schools, it’s clear to me that most people have no idea what dance teachers even do. Dance teachers work hard and we deserve more credit and recognition. I believe dance educators can contribute to so much of a child’s education. We just have to prove that what we do is just as important as math and science. We need to get to a place where everyone puts math, art, science, and dance on the same level.

10. Can you share any upcoming plans for your blog?

I want to introduce a new segment on the blog coming up soon. I would love to get some guest bloggers. Teachers in public schools, also choreographers who work with children and maybe even children themselves!

Emotion In Dance…And Writing

February 24, 2010 by 4dancers

This photo of me was taken over 20 years ago. I just came across it the other day, and it made me think of how much emotion I expressed through dance. I recently spoke with a fellow dancer who is still performing, and it underscored the fact that I do miss it–although I am comfortable with the fact that it was time for me to step back and move to another place in my life.

It’s interesting, because I find that I don’t really have an outlet for my emotions in the same way now that I no longer perform. I can channel stress at the health club by pounding on the elliptical machine or daydream for a moment when I listen to the music when I’m teaching, but it isn’t the same thing. I’m not giving of myself in the same way.

It’s an interesting adjustment, and one that I haven’t spent too much time thinking about until this very moment. Perhaps it is why I feel the urge to give back. That is one of the reasons I started this blog in the first place. To help others in the field navigate through some of the things that I have already experienced and to share any knowledge I have picked up along the way.

And to put all that emotion to some type of practical use.

I suppose that writing has somehow stepped in and taken the place of my body moving through space and time. It has become a new way for me to express myself. To share what is in my mind as well as my heart. My writing style doesn’t tend to be as confessional as this post has been, but every once in a while I want to share a bit of what goes on inside me so that you know why I am doing this. And so that you know I am sincere in my motives.

I suppose that the method of expression matters very little in terms of how you release your emotions. The important part is that you don’t keep them to yourself.

After all, there is always someone out there who could use a little bit of that connection.

Even if it is just through the words on a blog like this one.

Teaching Tip: Challenging Your Students In Class

February 22, 2010 by 4dancers

Sometimes it is good to give your students a bit of a challenge in ballet class. Change things up a bit. Students get used to certain patterns, and breaking from the routine will keep them from getting complacent.

For example:

+ Start class facing the opposite way from which you usually begin at the barre.

+ Have students face away from the mirror to do their exercises in the center.

+ Teach a combination, then have the students reverse it.

+ Do exercises in both single and double time.

+ Have students come up with their own simple combinations.

Just throwing a new thing into the mix will help keep your dance classes lively. It will also challenge your students to think outside the box and stretch a bit as dancers. Try to do things like this from time-to-time and the result will be a happier class that is more able to respond to change.

Review: Musique Pour Le Cours De Danse Classique IV (Music for Ballet Class IV)

February 22, 2010 by 4dancers

The CD: Musique Pour Le Cours De Danse Classique IV (Music for Ballet Class IV)

The Details: Piano Composition & Interpretation : Ellina Akimova (Bolchoï Dance Academy 1990-1995)

Exercises & Instructions : Franciska-Elisabeth de Mikhnevitch (Opéra of Paris 1960-1984)

Sold by: Mediaphorie

The Review: I have listened to this CD now over 30 times and am currently using it for my adult ballet class. I have found it to be very refreshing–the compositions are original and extremely well-played by Ms. Ellina Akimova. There is music here for an entire ballet class, and the barre tracks are all repeated for the convenience of the instructor.

Although the music is clear and measured, this is not a CD I would use for a beginning class. It is probably too complex for new students who do better when phrases are repeated often and the music is simple. For more advanced students, however, I found the tracks to be quite inspirational–especially those for the center work. The barre music is also a departure from the typical ballet class fare.

One of the best features of this CD is the fact that the tracks are lengthy. Some ballet class CDs have short tracks that necessitate pausing the exercise to re-start the music. This is extremely distracting to the students and teacher alike. More advanced classes have longer exercises both in the barre and the center, and this CD allows plenty of time for longer combinations.

There is also a nice mixture of music here so that you can get a lot of use out of the CD. There are tracks for pirouettes, petite variation, tours en l’air and adagio, among many others. This will allow you to mix and match exercises and create several different classes while still utilizing the same CD.

Ms. Akimova’s skill is considerable, and all of the music is completely measured and steady. I’ve always appreciated the difficulty that goes with playing ballet music for students. In order to do it well, you have to be able to play flawlessly, yet infuse some emotion into the pieces you are interpreting. This is no easy task, but it is done extraordinarly well here. The tracks for small jumps and tendus have a sprightly feel to them and the slower ones have an ebb and flow that encourage artistry.

I have not heard the other CDs in this series (I, II, III), but based on my experience with this one, I would definitely say they would be worth investigating. I’ve been very pleased with this one and recommend it without hesitation.

My students enjoy it too.

Buy this CD

Disclosure

10 Questions With…Javin Rogers

February 21, 2010 by 4dancers

One of the things I want to make sure that I do with this feature is give a voice to less traditional dance styles, as well as young performers who are putting their heart into what they do. To that end, today I would like to share with you some words from a young dancer who lives in Beloit, Wisconsin.

Here is 18-year-old Javin Rogers…

1. What type of dance do you do?

Hip hop.

2. How did you get into this style of dance?

I saw the way Usher and Micheal Jackson danced and it automatically made me want to be just like them.

3. What is it about dancing that you enjoy?

When im dancing I feel free and I love entertaining people. That makes me really enjoy dancing.

4. Can you tell me a little bit about the moves in hip hop?

There are alot of different styles in hip hop dance and the moves come about through the styles.

5. How do you learn new moves?

Practice and lots of music videos.

6. Where do you perform?

I perform for local artists, and talent shows.

7. What makes a good hip hop dancer?

Technique and the will to never give up.

8. Has the style changed at all since you started doing it?

The style changes a lot, theres a new twist on dancing every month.

9. What do you see coming up in this type of dance?

I think hip hop dance will always have some thing different to learn and it will make you step your game up.

10. What advice would you give to others who want to learn how to do hip hop?

I would tell them to practice every day, never let someone say you can’t do something, have fun but take it seriously.

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