jazz

Adult Ballet Student: Tanya Stanyon

March 28, 2012 by 4dancers

Today we have an adult ballet student from the UK…Tanya Stanyon…

1. How did you first get involved with ballet and what attracted you to it as an adult?

I first started ballet at the age of 3; these classes quickly led on to Jazz, Tap and National dance. It was my Mum who sent me to class like most girls.

I have not really had a break from ballet since that age. At 16 I went to ballet school and I just carried on. I think as an adult there is more focus on fitness but for me, ballet is just part of life and routine.

2. How many classes are you currently taking per week?

I am currently taking one class per week, as well as monthly company classes with Chelmsford Ballet Company, although I hope to be able to take more at some point.

3. What do you see as your biggest challenge as an adult ballet student?

For me, the hardest thing I have found is trying to get back to the level I was before I had my son a year ago. I think I am very critical of myself and strive to be as good as I can.

4. What brings you the greatest joy as an adult ballet student?

Just to dance brings me the greatest joy, it’s like a little sanctuary away from normal everyday life.

5. Do you have any advice for other adult ballet students?

My advice to other adult ballet students would be to enjoy each class and to work full out where ever possible as this is such a fantastic way to keep in shape. Just live it and love it.

BIO: Tanya started dancing at the age of 3 years old and went on to study Tap, Jazz and National Dance. She became a Cecchetti Scholar at the age of 14 which enabled her to attend classes in London. During this time Tanya also became a member of the Chelmsford Ballet Company, performing in many shows as a junior member. Tanya also performed with National Youth Ballet, playing the role of Tom the Lad in Maid of the Marsh. At 16, Tanya was accepted at West Street School, Covent Garden where she went on to study for 3 years. Since then, Tanya has performed with Chelmsford Ballet Company in many of the lead roles in productions such as La Fille Mal Gardée, Coppélia, Paquita, and Les Sylphides amongst others. Tanya hung up her ballet shoes after performing the Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty in 2009. Following the birth of her son Euan, Tanya has begun ballet classes again in 2012.

Keeping Dancers Dancing: “Help I Have An Injury – What Do I Do?”

March 8, 2012 by 4dancers

by Jan Dunn, MS

So you have a dance injury? What do you do….????

Last month we covered the various causes of dance injuries, and I’m hoping that information is helping you to stay injury-free. But hey, it can still happen, despite our best preventative efforts. So, the next piece is knowing what do if / when an injury occurs.

First off, you have to be sure you recognize that it IS an injury….i.e, knowing the difference between “good” and “bad” pain. This may sound like first-grade language (it is), but it’s the easiest way to understanding the signals your body may be giving you:

-“good” pain is the discomfort we feel when we are doing a new activity our body is not used to, like taking a jazz dance class for the very first time, when all your training has been ballet. It’s the normal response of our muscles / joints to the new movements, and is characterized by:

-a dull aching discomfort (not what we usually call ‘pain”) which is wide-spread through the body area you were using in a new way. For example, in a jazz class you use the ribs / pelvis in very specific non-balletic movements, and the next day you may feel over-all sore in those areas.

-“bad” pain is when your body is saying very clearly “STOP! I am HURT!”, and is characterized by:

-pain in a very specific place, much more localized than the discomfort described above. It may be in that one spot constantly, or only when you use the body part / joint in a specific way. It is usually a sharper type of pain than the “good”kind, but the key point is that it’s NOT wide-spread, but much more in one place.

2. Ok, so you’ve recognized that you have a “bad” pain, an injury —what do you do? The very first step is often abbreviated as PRICED (we used to say “RICE”, but you’ll see below where the “P” is now added in: [Read more…]

10 Questions With…Pam Zeidman

October 3, 2011 by 4dancers

Today on 10 Questions With… we have Pam Zeidman…

debbie allen — Pam Zeidman with Debbie Allen

1. How did you become involved with dance?

I started dancing at age 9 because I kept waking up with dance moves running through my head and needed an outlet. My mom enrolled me in jazz and tap – a perfect fit for me. I started choreographing and teaching the neighborhood kids at age 12 – putting on dance recitals in my garage with the parents sitting in lawn chairs on the drive

2. What are you currently doing in the field?

Currently I am the Midwest Program Director for American Dance Training Camps, an instructor for Trilogy Performing Arts (Lake Zurich, IL) and Christian Youth Theatre (CYT). I am also an adjudicator with Spotlight Events.

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

I’ve had many “special moments” in my dance career, but probably the most memorable was when I got to meet Debbie Allen after I choreographed “Fame – The Musical.” I’ve always admired her rise to “fame” and respected her passion for dance.

4. What is the best advice you have ever received from a teacher or mentor regarding dance?

Mme. Peff Modelski, a wonderful fount of knowledge, has imparted some simple truths to me: “Don’t tell the brain you can’t do something.” “Fear and dance don’t live in the same house.” “Use your body parts for what they are made for.”

5. What has been your greatest challenge? [Read more…]

Choreography Help From DancesToGo.com

May 26, 2011 by 4dancers

Today we have with us Frances Hellens McDonald, co-founder of DancestoGo.com, talking about the site and introducing one of their newest choreographers…

12CFrances — Frances Hellens McDonald, co-founder of DancestoGo.com

Can you tell readers what DancesToGo.com is, and who it is for?

DancesToGo.com is a unique website featuring a collaboration of award winning choreographers, talented performers and teachers. It offers specialized and exclusive choreography for all age groups in a variety of dance styles. Whether you are a studio owner, dance teacher, performer, or school teacher, DancesToGo offers excellent choreography and musical dance activities. Our notes are easy to read and our suggested music is linked directly to iTunes from DancesToGo.com. Obtaining, reading the choreography and purchasing related suggested music from iTunes becomes very easy and convenient. We also offer some videos of the routines and will be producing a larger selection. DancesToGo is proud to be a monthly choreography contributor over at DanceStudioOwner.com.

What types of dance are covered by DancesToGo.com?

DancesToGo.com features a wide variety of dance styles including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Hip-hop, and Pre-School. We even have The School House Rocks section for choreography and upbeat dance and learning activities for grade school. The dance world and dance studios are our primary focus.

What are some of your most popular items? [Read more…]

On Watching Modern Dance…

May 11, 2011 by 4dancers

by Lucy Vurusic Riner

My husband took me to see the Chicago Moving Company on our first date back in 1996. A smart, and thoughtful, move on his part because eleven years and two kids later, we are going strong.

But when we look back on that first date now, Jim often reminds me how that first experience watching modern dance was very alienating for him. Of course, I didn’t know any of this at the time so I continued to drag him from one modern dance concert to another. It wasn’t until many years later that we candidly talked about how audience members can easily be disconnected from modern dance; especially if they walk in trying too hard to understand from the get go.

Historically, the novice dance audience member has obsessively tried to understand everything that is happening on stage. Ballet generally tells a narrative story with some pantomime and lots of theatrical elements that help guide the story. The program generally has some sort of director’s notes to give a brief synopsis of what the inspiration behind the ballet is and so the audience member is able to sit back and enjoy watching some beautiful dancing. The general public also has a perception of ballet dance and what it is. Even if it might not always correct, most people can conjure some sort of image of what they believe they might see if at the ballet.

Jazz dance provides audience members with excitement and particularly in America, it is one of the oldest forms of dance entertainment. There is precision, technical feats and a lot of flash to keep the audience engaged. So how do we entice the non-dancer to experience modern dance and “learn” how to watch it?

Theoretically, it hasn’t been around nearly as long as its counterparts. Every time I begin a new quarter of dance at school I have at least one student ask me what modern dance is. I have never had anyone ask me that about ballet or jazz. So after many years of performing, choreographing and most importantly, watching modern dance, here’s what I think (and sometimes don’t think) when I’m watching it: [Read more…]

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