- Do You Need To Wear Ballet Shoes in a Ballet Class?
Have you ever seen a soccer player wearing basketball shoes? Or a football player wearing ice skates? Probably not! In the dance world, dancers are expected to wear the kind of shoes that correspond to the style of dance they’re taking. You do need to wear ballet shoes to ballet class most of the time. Occasionally, there are instances where other footwear is acceptable, but the best shoes to wear for ballet are ballet shoes!
Ballet shoes have unique qualities that make them appropriate for ballet class, just like jazz shoes have specific functions for that style of dance. For more about jazz shoes and why they’re necessary for learning jazz dance, check out our article Can I Wear Ballet Shoes in a Jazz Dance Class?
- How to Tie Stretch Elastic Ribbons on Ballet Pointe Shoes
It’s so exciting when your daughter gets her first pair of pointe shoes, but it can also be stressful. She’s gotten the ribbons and elastics sewn on, but what are they actually for? How should she tie them so they do what they’re supposed to do? We will describe the two most common ways to tie pointe shoe ribbons. She should choose the method that’s best for her.
- 2022 – Your Guide To this Years Summer Dance & Ballet Intensives
Want to find a summer dance intensive for your dancer? Look no further than our guide with loads of intensives to choose from!
- What To Expect From Your Child’s First Jazz Class
A beginner jazz class will last between 45 minutes to an hour and a half, and dancers should be learning some traditional jazz steps along with basic motor skills. For very young dancers, jazz may be offered alongside ballet or tap as a combo class.
- Looking for a New Dance Studio? 4 Best Questions to Ask
While no one has a crystal ball to predict the future, there are a few key questions that you can ask to determine whether or not a dance studio you’re considering is the right choice. In this guide, we’ll walk through each of these questions and what they reveal about the dance studio. Here are the best questions to ask when looking for a new studio:
- Your Child’s First Year of Ballet & Dance Classes – QUICK GUIDE
There are many rules, tips, and expectations of dance parents that start as soon as your toddler begins their dance journey. It is important for dance parents to be prepared so there is less stress and younger dancers are supported on this journey.
- What is the Vaganova Method of Ballet?
The Vaganova Method is one of the most popular and well recognized ballet methods in the world. Created by Agrippina Vaganova, it is a commonly taught form of ballet and many dance studios use it as the foundation and teaching syllabus for their ballet curriculum.
- 4 Actions to take when Your Child is not Progressing in Dance or Ballet Class
After taking steps to assess your child’s progress in dance as we have written about in our article 3 Things Parents Can do to Assess Their Child’s Progress in Dance you have realized that your dancer is not progressing. Now you are wondering what you should do, and that is where we come in with a few ideas and actions you can take to ensure your dancer is learning and moving forwards in their training.
- 3 Things Parents Can do to Assess Their Child’s Progress in Dance
If you’re unsure how to measure progress in dance, take these steps before anything else. First, talk to your child! Second, ask your child’s teacher how they’re progressing in class. Then, you can observe a class to see for yourself your child’s progress before considering changing studios.
- Teacher Approved Turn Board Exercises for Dancers To Improve Balance & Turns
Some of the hottest trends in the dance industry in the last ten years are the turn board and the spin disc. Dancers looking to improve their pirouettes utilize these products to help with balance, suspension and speed. But aside from just stepping on a turn board and spinning, what are some other ways to use a turn board or spin disc that can benefit a dancer?
- Helpful Parent Tips to Get Your Kid Back into Dance Classes
Sometimes, we just need a break from dance. Parents and dancers alike. Whatever the reason, be it circumstantial, physical, emotional, or even financial a break is almost inevitable at some point in a dancer’s journey.
- What to Expect at Your Dance Studio Competition Team Audition?
Many dance schools offer their students the chance to participate in dance competitions. But a requirement at most studios to be on the dance competition or company team is to attend a tryout or audition for team selection.
- How to Prepare for Your Dance Studio Competition Team Audition?
Today many dance studios attend dance competitions either locally, by traveling around their state, or even nationally. To become a competitive dancer, dance teachers and studio owners generally invite hardworking students to audition to become a member of their studio competition team….
- When Your Dance Studio Isn’t Working Out: 4 Tips to Rebound
Is your dance studio struggling? If so, don’t give up! We’ve put together 4 tips that can help you and your studio bounce back with confidence
- The Pros and Cons of Taking Dance or Ballet at Two or More Studios
The benefits of dancing for multiple studios includes the exposure to different dance genres, types of instruction, and teaching styles which can strengthen dance skills. However many dancers will not be able to experience learning at multiple studios because of contractual obligations.
- 10 Reasons to Leave a Dance or Ballet Studio
There are times when you may need to consider leaving a dance or ballet studio including when there are changes in management, few class options, poor organization, lack of progress, and drama. Leaving a dance studio is never an easy decision but it is important to make sure that the studio is a good fit for your dancer.
- Best Guide to the different types of Hip-Hop Dance?
The 3 original and most well-known styles of Hip Hop Dance are Breaking, Popping, and Locking. Within these types are different forms of dance such as TopRock, Footwork or DownRock, Freezes and Power Moves. You also have the Hip Hop Party Dance genre which is where a lot of the more popular commercial hip hop moves are derived from today!
- WHAT IS ACROBATIC DANCE AND IS IT SAFE? – A GUIDE FOR PARENTS
Acrobatic Dance or Acro Dance is a style of dance that combines nearly any style of dance, but usually lyrical, contemporary, or jazz with acrobatic skills and tricks. It is safe when skills are taught incrementally and with an Acrobatic Teacher certified in safe training practices.
- What age is too late to start dancing?
There are many of us who have grown up dreaming of becoming a dancer only to have those dreams thwarted by finances, distance, or our adults just not understanding the …
Read more
- 6 Helpful Ideas for Supporting Your Dance Studio’s Fundraisers
Plenty of dance and ballet studios turn to fundraising from time to time to fund costume purchases, travel expenses, or tuition payments for low-income families. As a parent of a …
Read more
- 15 Signs of a Bad Dance Teacher You Must Be Aware Of!
By Chelsea Huplowsky / Edited by
Samantha Bellerose, B.Ed, Dip.Dance (Performing Arts) I have been an adjudicator at dance competitions for a while now and I regularly get asked by …
Read more
- How to Prepare Your Dancer for a Smooth Return to Ballet & Dance Class
After taking some time off from dance or ballet class, your dancer is ready to return to the studio. Whether they’ve taken a break to recover from an injury, spend …
Read more
- Dinosaur Movement Activity & Dance Lesson for Kids – Free Video Tutorial!
Hunt like a velociraptor, stomp like a diplodocus, and fly like a pteranodon in this 15-minute dance lesson and creative movement activity themed around prehistoric dinosaurs – A class kids, …
Read more
- How to Motivate a Young Dancer to Not Quit in Just 3 Steps!
It’s thirty minutes before your kid’s dance class and you need to leave in ten to get there on time but your child isn’t even dressed yet and when you …
Read more
- What do toddlers wear to a dance or ballet class?
Your about to take your toddler to their first dance, movement or ballet class and all the photos you have seen have little girls in tutus and little boys in …
Read more
- Should You Put Your Son in Dance Class?
My 1yr old son loves to dance. He faces the music source, plants his feet into the ground, clucks his arms like a chicken whilst twirling his hands and bounces …
Read more
- How to Dance with Long Arms or Long Legs – Tips and Tricks!
Not all dancers are built exactly alike. There is no perfect dance body although being proportioned does help. But what about those dancers without body congruity? For example, those dancers …
Read more
- What is the best age to start dancing? – Real Answers for Parents!
With the proliferation of dance on tv through shows such as World of Dance, Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance many people are interested in knowing just what age is best to start dancing especially if they feel they have missed the boat or want their child to have the best chance of succeeding.
- How Many Dance or Ballet Lessons (Age & Class Guide)
Ballerinas and dancers train for many years to master their craft. But how many ballet classes or lessons should your child be taking to become a professional dancer or ballerina? Although just a guide, the following tables give you some specific numbers, hours and class types that you can use to help you work out what is best for your child!
- Which is Better? A Competition Focused or Non Competitive dance school?
There are two local dance schools in my neighbourhood. I’ve been told one participates in a lot of dance competitions where as the other doesn’t and is more of a …
Read more
- Best Free Online Dance Classes and Tutorials for School Aged Kids
Finding good quality free online dance lessons for kids that actually allow for learning to occur rather than idle observation is hard, but luckily we’ve done all the hard work …
Read more
- Best Free Online Dance Classes for Toddlers & Preschoolers
As a parent of four young kids, having a handy list with links to some of the best online toddler and preschooler dance lessons can be a lifesaver. I don’t …
Read more
- How to Effectively Sort Out Problems With Your Child’s Dance Teacher
Recently I have had a few small but contentious issues arise regarding dance costume fees, music choices and hostile dance moms. These small dilemmas were stressing me out and I …
Read more
- What is a Dance Parent Contract and is it Legally Binding?
Dance parent contracts are becoming more and more common at dance schools especially when signing your children onto dance teams. So what are they and are they legally binding? A …
Read more
- How many dance classes should my 5 year old take?
Many dance schools offer a smorgasbord of classes and lessons for young kids to attend which can leave parents confused as to just how many dance classes they should be …
Read more
Have you ever seen a soccer player wearing basketball shoes? Or a football player wearing ice skates? Probably not! In the dance world, dancers are expected to wear the kind of shoes that correspond to the style of dance they’re taking. You do need to wear ballet shoes to ballet class most of the time. Occasionally, there are instances where other footwear is acceptable, but the best shoes to wear for ballet are ballet shoes! Ballet shoes have unique qualities that make them appropriate for ballet class, just like jazz shoes have specific functions for that style of dance. For more about jazz shoes and why they’re necessary for learning jazz dance, check out our article Can I Wear Ballet Shoes in a Jazz Dance Class?
It’s so exciting when your daughter gets her first pair of pointe shoes, but it can also be stressful. She’s gotten the ribbons and elastics sewn on, but what are they actually for? How should she tie them so they do what they’re supposed to do? We will describe the two most common ways to tie pointe shoe ribbons. She should choose the method that’s best for her.
Want to find a summer dance intensive for your dancer? Look no further than our guide with loads of intensives to choose from!
A beginner jazz class will last between 45 minutes to an hour and a half, and dancers should be learning some traditional jazz steps along with basic motor skills. For very young dancers, jazz may be offered alongside ballet or tap as a combo class.
While no one has a crystal ball to predict the future, there are a few key questions that you can ask to determine whether or not a dance studio you’re considering is the right choice. In this guide, we’ll walk through each of these questions and what they reveal about the dance studio. Here are the best questions to ask when looking for a new studio:
There are many rules, tips, and expectations of dance parents that start as soon as your toddler begins their dance journey. It is important for dance parents to be prepared so there is less stress and younger dancers are supported on this journey.
The Vaganova Method is one of the most popular and well recognized ballet methods in the world. Created by Agrippina Vaganova, it is a commonly taught form of ballet and many dance studios use it as the foundation and teaching syllabus for their ballet curriculum.
After taking steps to assess your child’s progress in dance as we have written about in our article 3 Things Parents Can do to Assess Their Child’s Progress in Dance you have realized that your dancer is not progressing. Now you are wondering what you should do, and that is where we come in with a few ideas and actions you can take to ensure your dancer is learning and moving forwards in their training.
If you’re unsure how to measure progress in dance, take these steps before anything else. First, talk to your child! Second, ask your child’s teacher how they’re progressing in class. Then, you can observe a class to see for yourself your child’s progress before considering changing studios.
Some of the hottest trends in the dance industry in the last ten years are the turn board and the spin disc. Dancers looking to improve their pirouettes utilize these products to help with balance, suspension and speed. But aside from just stepping on a turn board and spinning, what are some other ways to use a turn board or spin disc that can benefit a dancer?
Sometimes, we just need a break from dance. Parents and dancers alike. Whatever the reason, be it circumstantial, physical, emotional, or even financial a break is almost inevitable at some point in a dancer’s journey.
Many dance schools offer their students the chance to participate in dance competitions. But a requirement at most studios to be on the dance competition or company team is to attend a tryout or audition for team selection.
Today many dance studios attend dance competitions either locally, by traveling around their state, or even nationally. To become a competitive dancer, dance teachers and studio owners generally invite hardworking students to audition to become a member of their studio competition team….
Is your dance studio struggling? If so, don’t give up! We’ve put together 4 tips that can help you and your studio bounce back with confidence
The benefits of dancing for multiple studios includes the exposure to different dance genres, types of instruction, and teaching styles which can strengthen dance skills. However many dancers will not be able to experience learning at multiple studios because of contractual obligations.
There are times when you may need to consider leaving a dance or ballet studio including when there are changes in management, few class options, poor organization, lack of progress, and drama. Leaving a dance studio is never an easy decision but it is important to make sure that the studio is a good fit for your dancer.
The 3 original and most well-known styles of Hip Hop Dance are Breaking, Popping, and Locking. Within these types are different forms of dance such as TopRock, Footwork or DownRock, Freezes and Power Moves. You also have the Hip Hop Party Dance genre which is where a lot of the more popular commercial hip hop moves are derived from today!
Acrobatic Dance or Acro Dance is a style of dance that combines nearly any style of dance, but usually lyrical, contemporary, or jazz with acrobatic skills and tricks. It is safe when skills are taught incrementally and with an Acrobatic Teacher certified in safe training practices.
There are many of us who have grown up dreaming of becoming a dancer only to have those dreams thwarted by finances, distance, or our adults just not understanding the … Read more
Plenty of dance and ballet studios turn to fundraising from time to time to fund costume purchases, travel expenses, or tuition payments for low-income families. As a parent of a … Read more
By Chelsea Huplowsky / Edited by Samantha Bellerose, B.Ed, Dip.Dance (Performing Arts) I have been an adjudicator at dance competitions for a while now and I regularly get asked by … Read more
After taking some time off from dance or ballet class, your dancer is ready to return to the studio. Whether they’ve taken a break to recover from an injury, spend … Read more
Hunt like a velociraptor, stomp like a diplodocus, and fly like a pteranodon in this 15-minute dance lesson and creative movement activity themed around prehistoric dinosaurs – A class kids, … Read more
It’s thirty minutes before your kid’s dance class and you need to leave in ten to get there on time but your child isn’t even dressed yet and when you … Read more
Your about to take your toddler to their first dance, movement or ballet class and all the photos you have seen have little girls in tutus and little boys in … Read more
My 1yr old son loves to dance. He faces the music source, plants his feet into the ground, clucks his arms like a chicken whilst twirling his hands and bounces … Read more
Not all dancers are built exactly alike. There is no perfect dance body although being proportioned does help. But what about those dancers without body congruity? For example, those dancers … Read more
With the proliferation of dance on tv through shows such as World of Dance, Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance many people are interested in knowing just what age is best to start dancing especially if they feel they have missed the boat or want their child to have the best chance of succeeding.
Ballerinas and dancers train for many years to master their craft. But how many ballet classes or lessons should your child be taking to become a professional dancer or ballerina? Although just a guide, the following tables give you some specific numbers, hours and class types that you can use to help you work out what is best for your child!
There are two local dance schools in my neighbourhood. I’ve been told one participates in a lot of dance competitions where as the other doesn’t and is more of a … Read more
Finding good quality free online dance lessons for kids that actually allow for learning to occur rather than idle observation is hard, but luckily we’ve done all the hard work … Read more
As a parent of four young kids, having a handy list with links to some of the best online toddler and preschooler dance lessons can be a lifesaver. I don’t … Read more
Recently I have had a few small but contentious issues arise regarding dance costume fees, music choices and hostile dance moms. These small dilemmas were stressing me out and I … Read more
Dance parent contracts are becoming more and more common at dance schools especially when signing your children onto dance teams. So what are they and are they legally binding? A … Read more
Many dance schools offer a smorgasbord of classes and lessons for young kids to attend which can leave parents confused as to just how many dance classes they should be … Read more