A Blythe Coach

Delicious Dancey Digest for International Dance Day & National Dance Week

This is a resource roundup to relish a couple of important annual celebrations of dance movement! National Dance Week, an annual celebration of dance that takes place from April 19 to 28 this year is specially set aside to spread the delight and joys of dancing, and to create awareness about its impact and benefits.

April 29th is International Dance Day, chosen in 1982 by the Dance Committee of ITI due to the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), creator of modern ballet. “The intention of the International Dance Day Message is to celebrate dance, revel in the universality of this art form, cross all political, cultural and ethnic barriers, and bring people together with a common language.”

May you feel inspired to move by these offerings and others being shared by dancers the world over!

Tasty Dance Treats

As a dancer, choreographer, and teaching artist this art form brings joy and meaning to my life, which I endeavor to share with others through a variety of resources, a library of which are also free of charge!

My ballet, contemporary, creative movement, dance conditioning, yoga, and coaching creations include:

  • The A Blythe Coach YouTube Channel where since 2020 I’ve been sharing Ballet & Dance Videos and Playlists with warmups, exercises, techniques, tutorials, and creative experiences as well as tools and techniques for creative people
  • Here at ablythecoach.com I share Blog Articles about Ballet & Dance, technique, goal-setting, mindset, music, improv, choreography, and creativity
  • A Blythe Coach Podcast Episodes are available wherever you enjoy listening to podcasts and are linked in many of my articles as well
  • Creative Challenges which I host host and participate in to spark inspiration, motivation, accountability, and community
  • Special Workshops such as my upcoming Dance Criticism Master Class, past Transitions & Translations Choreography Workshop, Signature Coaching Program, and other high-value offerings to rock your world to come
  • Recent playful choreographic experimentation through posting Alphabet Superset TikTok micro video choreos
  • Living/Dynamic Balletlicious with Blythe Ballet Syllabus Google Hyper-Doc with Links to tutorials available by request to students and weekly email newsletter subscribers
  • My approximately-weekly Email Newsletter itself is a feast of dancey and creative living resources, featuring my latest creations and those of other awesome folks
  • Live Classes In-Studio & Online: Mindful Movement (Ballet, Barre a Terre, Dance, Yoga…) to move together at home or anywhere in the world
  • Passing along recommendations and reviews of live performances such as West Hawai’i Dance Theatre’s production of “Giselle” at Kahilu Theatre coming up on May 18th, which I am so excited to have to opportunity to be there to see! (and Emcee)
  • And I am always eager to connect you to other dancers, companies, teachers, creators & resources that are bringing a joyful, inclusive, and empowering energy to the field of dance!
Got up on my old pointe shoes recently for fun and the Alphabet Superset

Dance Workshops & Creative Challenges

Here are a few past creative challenges that I have shared, with future opportunities to be announced:

Get Down Daily was one of my most fun challenges yet, and is ongoing!

Dancey Blog Articles

Here are some of the many articles I’ve written on dance-related topics in recent years, with many planned and ideas for the future, with input from my audience:

Elements of Dance

One mini-series of articles is on the topic of the basic elements or ingredients of dance which choreographers use to express themselves:

7 Movements of Classical Dance

Another series centers on basic movements of ballet:

Dancing Techniques

Other beautiful topics:

Wonderful Dance Warmups Playlist, full of great ways to get the whole body moving

Ballet & Dance Stories

With young children and all ages of dancers it is a pleasure to explore classic fairytales as well as contemporary stories and more abstract works, including:

Cultivating States of Being in Dance & Life

Being an ontological coach as well as dance educator and teaching artist, one of my goals is to attend to the state of being of the student, client, dancer, and individual to bring out their highest potential. This includes fostering:

“Blue Green” at Kennedy Theatre

YouTube Videos & Playlists

Performance and Choreography

Past choreography and performances by myself and my dancers, such as “Blue Green,” above, performed by myself and Mareva Minerbi at the University of Hawai’i with Choreography by Carl Wolz and Music by Francis Poulenc and “Undertow,” below, performed by Jenny Hendry Mair, Camille Monson, and Corbett Stern with music by Taimane Gardner.

“Undertow” choreography by me

Pre- Post- and Dance Class Exercises

My library of Ballet & Dance video resources includes theoretical and historical lessons, movement tutorials, and practice sessions and is handily grouped into thematic playlists many of which as suitable to beginners, such as:

Targeted Training Zones Playlists

Hone in on specific body parts:

Creative Dance for All Ages

While most of my free online content is for teens and adults, I also have family-friendly and all-ages offerings, like:

Yummy Ballet Conditioning is a recording of a gentle floor-based class

Music Playlists for Movement

I curate a host of playlists around seasonal, technical, and historic themes for my live and online classes, improvisation, choreography, and so forth. Many of these I share with my audience in my weekly email newsletter, on social media, and in blog articles.

Other Sources & Creators

As much as I love sharing things with you that I have made myself, it delights me no end to also promote the work of the people who inspire me! Like that of:

Questions for Reflection

  • How will you get dancey for Dance Week & Day?
  • What kind of dance (or art) would you like to create?
  • How do you adapt movement to different dancers, places, and situations?
  • Who are your favorite dancers, companies, and creators to follow?
  • What creative challenges are you currently facing?

For those of you outside Hawai’i, stay tuned for my upcoming Ignite the Spark of Your Creativity Challenge for International Coaching Week…

Let’s keep in touch, keep dancing, and never hesitate to let me know if I can be of service!

Blythe Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyst
they/them or she/her
Creator of A Blythe Coach: dance through your difficulties
and take leaps of faith into a joyful, fulfilling life

DISCLAIMER: A Blythe Coach recommends that you consult your physician regarding the applicability of any recommendations and follow all safety instructions before beginning any exercise program. When participating in any exercise or exercise program, there is the possibility of physical injury. If you engage in this exercise or exercise program, you agree that you do so at your own risk, are voluntarily participating in these activities, assume all risk of injury to yourself.

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