A Blythe Coach

Tag: Ballet Technique

Dance Shoe Blues – Footwear Identity Crisis – What to wear to class?

Folks often ask why I mostly wear socks to teach and dance these days, and what they themselves should wear to beginner ballet or other styles of dance classes.

This year I’ve been studying Argentine Tango for the first time, and that requires different considerations in terms of footwear, due to the type of flooring and the technique.

I’ve recently been sharing my creative supplies and EDC/Everyday Carry essentials, so along those lines, here is an informal chat with more information about what dance shoes I regularly use and what is appropriate for a first movement class for adults or children.

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

Cool Downs to Cleanse the Palate – 5 Ways to Cool Off & Wind Down

“The waves is on fire, the day is getting hot. This is my desire to the one to hit the spot, yeah. Cool down.” – Kolohe Kai I’m not a surfer, but I dig the song “Cool Down,” and it has been running through my head as I write this article. Just in the last […]

On Balance – Practicing the Process of Dancing with Equilibrium

When everything is turbulent, how can we find equilibrium, equipoise? In my work as a movement educator in ballet, dance, and yoga, as well as life coaching, the topic of balance comes up so often! Therefore, I thought I would do an experiential exercise where I ponder on the process of balance in the body […]

Sumptuous Stretching – 11 Tips for Feel Good Flexibility in Dance & Life

Back-to-School is a good time to practice flexibility, adjusting to learning, new knowledge and schedules. Also the late-summer heat in the northern hemisphere is that much more conducive to a good stretch out. But tests to our personal resilience and ability to respond with agility to change come all year long. Maybe you already love […]

Balletlicious Building Blocks of Dance 7-Day Free Virtual Challenge

Dance theorists identify 7 basic movements of ballet or classical dance technique, and we can see these essential building blocks at play in every ballet pas, step, or movement.    I’m excited to announce that around these 7 essentials, I’ve designed a free summer dance challenge to begin or continue your ballet journey, and you […]

Pleasing & Powerful Pliés in Ballet & Dance

I had long heard that “Plié is the first thing you learn and the last thing you master,” but had to look up who said it and adultballerinaproject.com says it was Suzanne Farrell, a famous ballerina whom I admired as a young dance student.
It’s one of the most amazing things to me that in ballet, as with other highly-sophisticated techniques, you can continue to learn new things about technique and artistry your whole life. The training never ends, no matter how “advanced” or masterful you become.
So it is with Plié. On the one hand, it’s just one of many steps a ballet dancer must learn, but it is also integral to modern dance and mastery of movement in general. All athletes could benefit from a little Plié in their lives.

Dancing Body Acceptance with Dietician Fumi Somehara

Part 1 of my mini-series on Dancing Body Acceptance! I had the great pleasure, during my personal “Body-Positive October” celebration research, to talk with Dietician Fumi Sumehara, who is based in Australia. Fumi took time out of her busy day at the DDD Clinic to talk with me about diet culture in ballet and society and ways to promote nourishment and a healthy relationship with eating and body image as dancers, teachers, companies and schools, and others.

Seven Satisfying Connecting Steps in Ballet Technique

Here’s a healthy half-dozen ballet connecting steps to practice as you develop your dancing over the years, so many fun ways to get from one place to another!

Creamy Cecchetti-Inspired Port de Bras – Exploring Arm Artistry in Ballet Technique

Practicing the fluid upper body movements of ballet and creating lines with the arms, head, and body to beautiful music is one of my favorite elements of classical dancing. The way arm and upper body movements harmonize with those of the legs, the relationship to spatial geometry, and the range of expression available makes my heart sing.

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