Books for Dancers

As I got older, I wanted to know more about dance, but just going to class just wasn't enough. I actually wanted to research dance - its history, the techniques, the landmark performers, etc. I wanted to know dance.

I started checking out books from the library and people would also gift me books as well, and I read them all from cover to cover.

So today, I bring you Miss Tess' top ten list of dance books!

1. The Pointe Book
A ballerina's essential tool. This book was introduced to me by first year en pointe by my dance teacher and she taught out of this book.
I eventually got a copy for myself and found it super helpful to have around. It contains everything on how pointe shoes are made, how to care for them, and also some handy exercises and techniques. A definite recommendation for every dancer thinking about or is dancing en pointe.





2. Conditioning for Dance
My dad gave me this book for Christmas last year and I LOVE it. The targeted exercises are exactly what dancers need to in order to build up strength and flexibility.
My favorite characteristic of this book is that it gives great visual examples. Much of dance is visualized in order to interpret thoughts into movement.
A great tool for dancers of all genres to have.




3. Dancers Among Us: A Celebration of Joy in the Everyday
Photographer Jordon Matter snaps photos of dancers doing ordinary things in ordinary places. Of course, nothing is ordinary when you add a little dance: a ballerina leaping in the aisles of a bookstore, a man dressed in a suit dances across the subway platform, a young couple on an exciting picnic.
This is a fun book to have in your library. An inspiring collection of photos to remind you that you can dance through anything.






4. Tutus, Tights, and Tiptoes: Ballet History As it Ought to be Taught
My sister brought this book home from a ballet camp one summer.
It's a cute, funny, and satirical look on the history of dance. A fun and enjoyable read.







 5. I Dreamed I Was a Ballerina
This is a sweet and beautiful story of Anna Pavolva, taken from her autobiography. It delicately tells the story of when she visits her first ballet performance and the inspiration that stems from it. Combined with Edgar Degas' spectacular artwork of dancers, it serves as a great reminder that no dream is impossible.






6. Ann Miller: Tops in Taps
Being a tap enthusiast, my dance teacher gifted me this book. It's a history of tapper Ann Miller's rise to stardom told in photographs. My favorite photograph of Ann was one where they strapped a pedometer to her ankle to see how many "steps" she danced.







7. 101 Stories of the Great Ballets
Written by the legendary George Balanchine, this is the dictionary of well-known, popular ballets.









8. Song and Dance Man
I remember that my art teacher read this to us in the fourth grade and the story has always stuck out in my mind.  It's a cute story of three grandchildren who watch their grandfather perform like he did in the vaudeville days.








9.Mao's Last Dancer
I saw the movie and loved it. Then I read the book. Equally as beautiful. Like Anna Pavlova, Li Cunxin defied the odds and overcame hurdles to become a ballet dancer and follow his dream.

10. DK Eyewitness Books: Dance
My dance teacher had a shelf of books outside the studio I loved to go through before class. This book was always one of my favorites. I liked going though it and learning about all the different kinds of dance styles. When I was a young child, all I knew was ballet and tap. This was also a book I frequently checked out of the library.





Happy reading, and happy dancing!

 

Miss Tess

tessc@balletpetite.com

How Ballet Helps Figure Skating

I am a figure skater, and ballet helps me significantly. Ballet is great for flexibility and for arm and body positions on the ice. Ballet helps figure skaters improve their spiral (arabesque) and increases their back flexibility. For a long time, my coach would tell me to take ballet and I wouldn't even know where to start.

Skating experts say that ballet helps figure skating and ballet pros say the same.

A skater needs a strong core body to connect the upper and lower body for controlled powerful movements. For example:
-He or she must be able to keep his or her shoulders over the hips throughout jumps, spins, footwork and edges.
-He or she must also be able to check his shoulders against his hips in Mohawks, 3-turns, brackets, rockers, counters, and Choctaws.

It is to the skater’s benefit to become aware of the feeling of twisting in the middle of the torso, and also the feeling of staying square. Ballet teachers spend hours teaching students correct ballet posture which is the same posture needed for skating. This correct posture is a neutral spine with the shoulders over the hips. The ballet student is taught to engage the lower abdominal muscles while maintaining a neutral spine. As the skater is working at the barre, he or she is training the body to maintain correct posture while moving isolated body parts. At the same time, the body is developing the ability to apply core strength by engaging the abdominal muscles, thus learning to connect the upper and lower body for strong, powerful movements. (The Relationship Between Ballet and Figure Skating)

(Spiral)

Figure skating is a lot like ballet on ice depending on what type of figure skating you do.

Ballet is great for conditioning or strengthening leg muscles to have more power for each push.

A lot of ballet moves are a lot like figure skating moves. For example, what may be an arabesque to a ballet dancers is actually a spiral to a skater.

Ballet also helps with core strength. Skaters must work up the muscles in their abs and legs to be able to lift their leg on its own and swing from the front of their body to the back and slowly lower it to the ice. This all must look controlled and is usually slow.

(Biellmann)

 Ballet can help in a lot of
different moves requiring
flexibility, for example:
a lay back spin, biellmann,
or a spiral.









Happy skating! 

 Written by Miss Bella, age 14

 aspiring figure skater and dancer

It's never too late to start dance!

I was out  with one of my best friends and she was telling me how she wished she could start dancing. She took lessons when she was very young, but really had a desire to take some dance lessons.

I highly encouraged her. It's never too late to start dancing again!

Actually... it's never too late to start anything!

For the most part, many of the talents that we have were developed from a seed planted in us at a very young age. Dance, piano, art, karate... the list goes on and on.

My childhood was no exception. My mother bought a piano when I was five years old and practically glued me to the seat until I was a teenager; however, a talent had blossomed nonetheless.

There are MANY professional and inspiring dancers out there that started rather "late" in life. Some overcame many odds in order to achieve their goals:

(Misty Copeland)

Misty Copeland is soloist 
with the American Ballet Theatre. 
She did not start formal ballet training 
until she was thirteen years old. 
After lots of hard work and 
determination, by the time she was 
fourteen, Misty was winning national 
ballet competitions. 
When she was sixteen, she was 
offered a contract with the ABT.

(Sabra Johnson)

Sabra Johnson is
the winner of So You Think 
You Can Dance season 3.
Prior to the competition,
Sabra had only been dancing
for four years.

 

 

 

(Rudolf Nureyev)

Rudolf Nureyev enrolled
in a ballet program at the age of
seventeen in the Soviet Union.
Although he started dancing
considerably late, he grew to
become one of the most iconic male
dancers in the history of dance.

(Mikhail Baryshnikov)

Mikhail Baryshnikov
tarted ballet at the age of twelve
when he started at the Vaganova School.
Like Nureyev, Baryshnikov is now a
dance icon and legend.













 Like anything we do in life, the outcome depends on how much heart and soul we put into it. In his book Outliers: The Story of Success, author Malcolm Gladwell examines how people are able to reach high levels of success. He introduces the "10,000 hour" rule, where the key to master your goal is spend 10,000 hours practicing it. Whether you really do need to spend exactly 10,000 hours on something is totally debatable, but the point is, reaching goals may takes time and patience, but if it's something that you love, it will seem like no time at all!

If you want to start dancing, then go ahead! There are so many dance programs designed for adults and older students who are just starting out in their dance career. It is a do-able and reachable goal, and dancers all around the world will applaud you for it!

Good luck, and happy dancing!

Miss Tess

tessc@balletpetite.com

Basic ballet workouts for adults!

You don't have to strap on your pointe shoes or train for hours a day to reap the benefits of ballet.

Ballet is an excellent workout for people of all ages. It builds muscle, tones your body and can increase your cardio level. The best part is, you can achieve all three at the same time! There's no need to do separate workouts for strengthening and toning.

Aside from the physical benefits of ballet, there are also lots of mental ones as well. Dancing in general requires coordination, good memory, and being able to think quick on your feet, all of which can be improved by taking some classes.

It's never too late to start a ballet class. Many dance and aerobics studios offer beginning ballet and barre classes for adults that are mostly for exercise. Most of the time, you don't need previous dance experience to fully enjoy the class and get the most out of it.

But, here's a few exercises to help you get started.

Barre workouts
You can easily purchase a barre online for exercise purposes, but it really is not necessary. I personally don't have space for one in my little apartment, so when I am practicing at home, I use the kitchen counter or the dining table. Anything solid and stable will work.

(first position)       (demi-plié)                     (grand plié)        

Pliés: (facing the barre)
In first position-  demi-plié, demi-plié, grand-plié
                            demi-plié, demi-plié, relevé
                            Repeat in 2nd position
Tips: Don't go all the way down to the floor in a grand plié by sitting on your heels. Only go as far as letting your thigh and calf muscles touch.
Think about keeping your tailbone tucked under your body the entire and lifting your chest. And, take your time with this exercise - don't rush.

(relevé in first position)

Relevés: (facing the barre)
Start with feet together in parallel -
4 counts rising up, 4 counts lowering
Repeat
4 quick relevés taking 1 full count to rise, and 1 count to lower
Repeat entire 1st position, then 2nd position parallel, then 2nd position turned out. Try it on one foot!

Tips: It's always tempting to look down at your feet, but it's important to maintain your posture. Also, squeeze those glutes!

(Grand battement to the front)

Grand battements: (1 hand on the barre, facing sideways)
Start in 1st position-
Keeping both legs totally straight with toes pointed, lift the leg as high as you can and lower it back to 1st position.
Repeat three more times.
Repeat with the same leg going to the side and to the back.
Turn around and do it with the other leg.
Try the exercise with a flexed foot!

Tips: This is a great workout for your core muscles. Remember not to "kick" your leg up - it's a lift and lower exercise. Be careful not to wobble your hips: keep them totally still. When lifting to the back, don't tip forward; keep your chest lifted.

Happy dancing!

Miss Tess

tessc@balletpetite.com

2014 holiday gift ideas for your dancer!

Not sure what to gift your special dancer this holiday season? Here's a list of the best gifts to give, from the tiny dancers to the older ones!

1. Dance crafts and toys ($5-$15)
For the much younger dancer, encourage their love of dance by gifting a fun dance craft or toy. A craft kit with a little glue and glitter is all they need, or maybe a ballerina puzzle. Melissa and Doug carries many different fun and simple crafts and that are perfect for little hands to do.

2. Athletic gear

Water bottles, tshirts, bags, sweatshirts... Your dancer can show off his or her dancer pride in style when they come to class, or anywhere they go!

3. Dance poster ($6-$25)
Great for all ages! Give your dancer a little added inspiration by hanging a poster of their favorite dancer or dance in their room!
Posters can be ordered online, but there are also several online prints that can be purchased and printed off at home!

4. Dance books ($10-$25+)

Beautiful picture books for the little ones or biographies and instructional books for more mature dancers, all dance books are great for adding to a personal dance library!

5. Gift certificate

Why not let your dancer pick what they want? Gift cards or gift certificates great if you have  no clue what to give!

Happy dancing, and happy holidays!

Miss Tess

tessc@balletpetite.com

Learn Ballet: How to do a pas de chat!

Literally translated, pas de chat means "step of the cat."

The sideways traveling step mimics the movement of a leaping cat.





This is how to perform the pas de chat, broken down, step-by-step:

The dancer starts by putting his or her feet in a third or fifth position.

Demi-plié, bring the back leg up to retiré position. Step out to the side into a second position

Bring the other leg up to retiré position. Place foot devant back in third or fifth position ending in plié.

Now try it by leaping from one foot to the other. Both legs should be brought into retiré together, almost at the same time.

(Italian pas de chat)

Variation - Italian pas de chat, or the grand pas de chat:
The front leg stretches out to a developpé and the back leg remains in retiré in the air.









Try this combination:
Glissade, glissade, glissade, pas de chat
Pas de bourree, sous sus
Repeat starting with the other foot.

Happy dancing!

Miss Tess

tessc@balletpetite.com

What makes us want to dance?

Why is it that we can't help but tap our toes or want to get up and dance when we hear certain songs?

One of 2014's hottest and most upbeat songs was definitely "Happy" by Pharrell. Even if we've heard the song 284,375,928 times on the radio, television, or kids belting it from the backseat of the car, you have to admit that it's a pretty catchy tune and your body just wants to jam out to it.

But there's actually a scientific reason as to why people like to dance to certain songs.

A study by neuroscientists in Denmark showed that certain gaps in the beat of music make our bodies want to fill in the extra space with dance. The rhythm does not necessarily need to complex, but the syncopation of the beats is what kicks our brains into dance mode. In fact, our brains make us want to dance because it predicts the beat of the song.

Other studies have shown that music activates the cerebellum of the brain, the same part that deals with timing and coordination. Even when we're watching someone dance, our brains are trying to predict what the next part of the dance is.

There are other theories that suggest that its simply our biology to have rhythm and want to dance - steady heartbeats, breathing, footsteps, etc.

So, turn on your favorite song, get up, and dance! It's in your nature to do so!

Happy dancing!

Miss Tess

tessc@balletpetite.com