I just absolutely adore this performance by Randi and Evan. They are doing a contemporary choreography by Mia Michaels to the song Koop Island Blues by Koop.
It’s been a while since Capezio released a limited edition
FootUndeez, but they have done it again! This time in two different colorways. You have your choice of pink or purple zigzags! Or I should say Rose or Prune zig zags, to be correct. Very cute, and they coordinate with some fashion knitwear by Harmonie. I know, I know. Knitwear in the summer? Well, it is the Pacific Northwest after all, so our summers can still be rather cold. We have very limited quantities of the Harmonie knitwear, so hurry on in if you want to check it out.
However these FootUndeez are available for purchase in our store or on our Dance-Wear.net website.
P = street shoe sizes 4-5; S = street shoe sizes 6-7; M = street shoe sizes 8-9; L = street shoe sizes 10-11; XL = street shoe sizes 12-13
http://www.ted.com “Eat, Pray, Love” Author Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses — and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person “being” a genius, all of us “have” a genius. It’s a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk.
“We ought to dance with rapture that we might be alive…
and part of the living, incarnate cosmos.”
~D.H. Lawrence~
The other day a mother and daughter came in for tights for the daugher’s recital that evening. I found out that it was her first one and that she was excited about it. What a treat!
Recital time can be an exciting or nerve-wracking time. No matter how used to performing we might become, most of us usually continue to have some sort of excited or nervous response before we go onstage. But why? If it’s nervousness, what are we worried about? Making a mistake, not being liked or perhaps looking silly? What I find is that before I perform, my ego tends to get overactive. It’s just trying to protect me, but it does so by editing. While there is a time and place for the ego’s work, the stage is not one of them. I find that when my ego takes over, I usually wind up not delivering my best performance because I play it safe. In other words, I edit instead of let true inspiration in.
It is when I haven’t listened to worries of ego but instead have tapped into the excited energy I felt before the performance that I have danced my best on stage and felt completely connected to the audience. Those have been some of the most incredible times in my life, and I hope that many of you, whether you are new to performing or a seasoned veteran, are able to achieve that awesome, hard-to-describe, “in the zone” experience this recital season.
Last night I stayed up late so that I could watch my DVR’d episodes of So You Think You Can Dance. This is going to be an amazing season! All of the dancers were so good, but ultimately I agreed with the judges’ choices for who should be going home.
The reason I wasn’t watching last night’s episode in real time is because I was attending a SIFF screening of Afghan Star, a documentary about the Afghan version of “American Idol”. The trailer says, “After 30 years of war and Taliban rule, Afghan pop Idol is taking the nation by storm… but this is more than just a TV show. In Afghanistan you risk your life to sing.” For many years, music and dance were outlawed in Afghanistan, but even though the laws have been lifted, there is still conflict about whether these things should be done. At one point, one of the female contestants (there were actually 2!) dances a little bit on stage while singing her song, and afterwards she has to fear for her life.
Watching this documentary, I was struck by how very lucky we are in the West to be able to freely express ourselves through music and dance. We take these freedoms for granted sometimes, I think. However, I could see how the people in the film came alive by participating in the ”Afghan Star” event, either as a spectator or a participant. The TV show’s producer said that during the period that music and dance were outlawed, Afghanistan was like an empty house with the lights off. Hopefully the fragile tolerance that has developed for musical expression will be extended to dance as well.
271L Pro Arch Ballet Shoes by Bloch
The Pro Arch is a split sole canvas ballet flat that allows the dancer to experience the freedom of wearing nothing on their feet and still feel protected. The fine mesh inserts in the arch, hug the foot creating a beautiful line and allow the foot
to breathe.
We are currently only stocking these in pink, but they do also come in flesh color
Written by Mellilah
Don’t forget to check out the dance flooring before taking dance classes or choosing a studio. Dancing on hard surfaces, like concrete, or dancing on flooring that is too soft, can lead to injury and can even end a dancer’s career!
Dancing on hard floors can produce serious return shock waves, causing premature wear on cartilage and damage to muscles and joints. Basically, there’s no decompression of the surface when your feet hit the floor, so all the force just pounds up into your legs, instead of having some of the force dissipating into a floor that moves a little. In contrast, dancing on a floor that is too soft can cause the muscles and tendons to work harder. A dance floor needs the right amount of energy absorption and flexibility, which will differ slightly according to the type of dance/activity.
Guidelines and Suggestions for Safe Dancing:
~Look for sprung (or semi-sprung) sub-floors, also known as floating floors
~Find out what’s under the surface? Just because you see wood, doesn’t mean it’s safe.
~Avoid dancing on concrete!!
~Avoid squishy surfaces
~Avoid uneven surfaces
~Look for floors that are clean, unpolished, and not waxed
~Ask the teacher or a staff member about the floor
~Carpeted area? Pull up a corner of the carpet and visibly see what is underneath
~Test the floor. Knock on the floor with your knuckles to see how much give it has. Jump on the floor and see if it seems to absorb some of the shock
~Consider the type of dance/exercise you will be doing. The more jumping, bouncing and/or propelling into the air, the better the floor must be. Higher Impact = Better Flooring
~How often will you be dancing on the floor? Increased Frequency = Better Flooring
~If you will be dancing barefoot, you’ll need to avoid abrasive or slippery surfaces
~If you must dance on a hard surface, wear dance sneakers, use good technique, limit duration, and stick with low impact movements
Some Effects of Dancing on Poor Dance Flooring:
Shin splints
Stress fractures
Inflamed ligaments and joints
Joint damage to ankles, knees, and hips
Damage to the spinal vertebrae
Premature wear of cartilage
Damage to muscles
Achilles tendonitis
Articles for Further Reading:
Flooring it: one key to dancing well–and long–is right beneath your feet.
The Facts About Sprung Floors for Dance
Flooring Ergonomics
Flooring for Dance, Theatre and Performing Arts (Read: What You Need to Know)
National Floor Standard
Wikipedia: Sprung Floor
Harlequin Floors: Considerations for Choosing a Dance Floor
Dancer’s Health A Medical Resource – Reflexology for Dancer’s Feet
How to Keep Feet From Hurting When Dancing
ANS E1 .26-2006 (Scroll down to find floor standard)
For more info about the author, visit www.mellilah.com
