4dancers.org

A website for dancers, dance teachers and others interested in dance

Follow Us on Social!

Visit Us On YoutubeVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On PinterestVisit Us On FacebookVisit Us On Instagram

Dance Blog Spotlight: 2PointeSocial

by

Today I’m excited to introduce Amanda McAlpine, author of ballet and social media blog, 2PointeSocial..

pointe shoes

Amanda McAlpine

1.      Can you tell readers a bit about your background in dance?  

I am originally from New Hampshire, and received the majority of my training from my mentor and artistic director, Doreen Cafarella at Northern Ballet Theatre Dance Centre (formerly Granite State Ballet School). I really credit Ms. Cafarella for pushing me to the next level and encouraging me to participate in Youth America Grand Prix and the ABT summer intensive. While I was training with the school, I also had the honor of dancing Apprentice roles with the professional company in the early 2000s. Upon graduation from high school, I continued to dance at Emerson College in Boston. I came from a ballet-focused background, so I was able to gain more experience in other styles of dance including modern and musical theater (and I even got to sing!) One of the most fun performances in college was performing the Lonely Town pas de deux in the spring musical, “On the Town.”

After gaining a couple of years of professional marketing experience, I moved out to Chicago to explore the dance scene here. There’s a ton of performances to see all the time and it’s a wonderfully supportive dance community. I also began working at The Joffrey Ballet last September shortly after I moved here, so I still take classes at the Joffrey Academy from time to time and try to keep dance in my life as much as possible…which is part of the reason I began my blog. 🙂

2.      When did you begin your blog—and why did you start it?  [Read more…]

Tips For Using Twitter

by

Regardless of whether you are new to Twitter or have been tweeting for a long time, there is plenty to know about this social media application. Twitter is a very useful platform, and I started out hating it, but now enjoy it immensely.

Part of the enjoyment is because I understand the basics. Chris Brogan (of social media fame) wrote a great introductory post about Twitter for those who have not yet investigated it in much detail. (If that is you, check it out.) It can help make sense out of all the noise.

Those of you who have been around for a while may want to branch out (bad pun–see picture) and learn some of the fancy ways to use the site. There are deeper ways to use Twitter, according to Brogan, and I like what he has to say about that as well. I consider myself an intermediate user, since I know a good deal about it, but I know that there is always more to read out there.

Social media in general is constantly evolving and changing. Keeping up with it all can be a real challenge–but it can also be worth it. If you utilize sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, try to learn something new about them once in a while to help maximize your presence there. Believe it or not–it can actually make networking online more fun!

How do you use Twitter? Are you an avid tweeter or do you shun the idea of it all? Would love to hear some voices from the dance world on that one!

Social Media: More Than A Tool

by

The title of this post says it all.

When I first started using social media to promote 4dancers, I did so grudgingly. I joined Twitter and scratched my head at how I was supposed to use it. I certainly didn’t think I’d enjoy it.

Using Facebook as a tool also lacked appeal for me. After all, the majority of my friends on there were actual friends and family.

LinkedIn seemed to make the most sense. After all, it was more of a “professional” site, designed to showcase your resume and develop connections.

So what happened? [Read more…]

Social Media: The Free Marketing Solution

by

Have a tight budget for marketing your dance studio? Looking for ways to cut back on costs? If this sounds like you it is probably time to take a good hard look at social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn if you haven’t already done so.

 

If your first instinct is to roll your eyes and think, “Who has time?” or, “I don’t understand this stuff”, try to have an open mind. Social media not only offers you the ability to meet potential customers where they are at (on the web), but just as importantly, it is free.

Rather than pouring your hard-earned money into another ad campaign in the local paper, why not take an hour a week and begin setting up your social media campaign. You can learn a little at a time, and before you know it, you’ll be up and running on the web. Ask yourself–can you afford to do without a free marketing option that really works?

Use Social Media To Your Advantage

by

There are many ways to use social media. You can connect with other dancers in the field, keep up on the latest happenings in terms of a company you like–or get the word out about your latest performances.

But don’t overlook sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn for things such as research.

If you are going to be interviewing for a job somewhere, check out the LinkedIn profile of the organization, or peek at their Facebook page for the latest info. Many employers are doing just that these days when it comes to screening potential applicants–why shouldn’t you use it to your advantage as well?

You just might pick up on a detail that will help you get the gig.

Share

Disclosure – Affiliate & Ad Info

This site sometimes features advertising, affiliate marketing, or affiliate links, such as Amazon Associate links and others. When you click on these links, we get a small sum that helps to support the website operations. Thank you! There’s more detailed information on ads and our disclosure policy under the About tab in our navigation at the top of the site. We clearly mark any and all posts that contain these features.

Copyright Notice

Please note that all of the content on 4dancers.org is copyrighted. Do not copy, utilize, or distribute without express permission. We take cases of infringement seriously. All rights reserved ©2022.