5, 6, 7, 8, Dance!
Returning back to the studio
by Amy Greaves on 04/19/21
Well
what a year it’s been! I was very naive and honestly thought we would be in lock down for a few weeks. Who would have thought that a year later we are still
living under restrictions. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Things seem to be starting to re-open and we have a little more freedom. But
what does that mean to us as dancers?
Well
we can return back to the dance studio, as long as we continue to follow all
the COVID guidelines. So that’s really exciting news! And definitely a
positive!
However,
returning back to the studio can also be nerve wracking and you may even feel a
bit anxious. That’s absolutely ok to. A lot has happened in the last year and the
pandemic will have affected everyone in different ways.
Read
below my guide for returning back to the studio.
1# Be kind!
Be
kind to yourself and be kind to others! We are all adapting. Most of us have spent
the majority of the last year in our own homes. So being around people or in a
different environment might feel weird. It will take a while to adjust which is
absolutely fine. Take your time and go easy on yourself.
2# You may
have forgotten stuff!
There
will probably be things that you have forgotten since you have been away. For
example you might have forgotten the names of certain dance steps. Or your body
might not remember how to do certain movements. That’s ok and perfectly normal.
The knowledge will come back but it might take a few sessions.
3# Don’t have
really high expectations!
If
you haven’t done much dance over the last year, do not come back to class and
jump straight into splits or expect to nail a triple pirouette. The chances are
you won’t be able to! And yes that is ok! Your body might not be as flexible or
as bendy as it was pre pandemic. You will get there. So don’t expect to be able
to do everything you use to be able to, we will all have to work at it.
It’s ok not to be as flexible,
It’s ok not to be as strong,
It’s ok to have forgotten tricks,
It’s ok to not have done an exam,
It’s ok to have changed interests,
It’s ok to have done loads of online classes,
It’s ok to have done none!
What’s not ok is to expect yourself to be the same
as you were before the pandemic. Focus on regrowth, not what’s regressed!
Great Traits In Dancers!
by Amy Greaves on 03/29/21
When you hear someone describe a great dancer they normally talk about their physical traits and technical ability. However dancers have a lot of great traits that aren’t necessarily physical. I’m not just talking about professional dancers but amateur dancer’s to have a certain set of traits and qualities. I have seen the below qualities in many dancers in my studio.
1#
A dancer is hard working and determined. As a dancer you have to be. If you want to improve and reach your next goal it is through hard work that you get there. You have to be determined to succeed. I see it even in the younger dancers there really determined to learn the next part of the routine or to learn a new step. There’s no one more determined than a dancer that wants to nail a triple pirouette and its through hard work that you get there.
2#
A dancer is disciplined. This is learnt in class, especially if the dancer studies ballet. The ballet technique is very accurate and precise and it takes a lot of discipline and focus to learn the steps. Dancers also learn discipline as they are expected to be punctual to class, work as a team, focus and be ambassadors for their dance school.
3#
Dancers are motivated. Most dancers are driven and thirsty to progress and learn more. The thrill of mastering a new trick motivates them to keep going to keep rehearsing.
Even if your not training to become a professional dancer the traits and qualities you learn in dance class will help you throughout your adult life and in the world of work.
What do you think your best trait is as a dancer?
How to improve foot and ankle strength?
by Amy Greaves on 03/22/21
No matter what style of
dance, fitness or gymnastics that you do, your feet and ankles will be subject
to pressure and strain. It is not unlikely for a dancer at some point in his/her
life to suffer from an ankle or foot injury. To help strengthen your ankles and
feet below are my top three exercises.
Remember, if you have any
specific concerns about your foot and ankle strength please see your doctor.
1# Rises
Sounds very basic! But
rising is a great exercise, especially for those doing pointe work. Why not try
this:
-
Start facing the
barre in parallel.
-
Rise slowly onto
demi pointe.
-
When you reach
demi pointe hold the position for a count of 5.
-
Then lower again
slowly through demi to flat.
-
Repeat this
exercise 10 times. Then repeat the rises with your feet turned out in first
position. When you feel you have mastered this exercise do it without holding
onto the barre.
2# Controlled lunges
A little harder than
rising, but here we go!
-
Place one foot in
front of another, some distance apart in a parallel position.
-
Place your hands
on your hips.
-
Keeping your back
straight and your core engaged, slowly bend both knees into a deep lunge.
-
Hold the deep
lung for a count of 5.
-
Slowly return to
straight legs.
-
Repeat the
exercise 10 times on each leg.
3# Fondu and Rise in low passe
A great exercise for
balance as well as your ankles and feet!
-
Start facing the barre
with your feet in parallel.
-
One foot pointed
in a low passe position.
-
Keep your back
straight and look ahead.
-
Fondu the
supporting leg slowly and then hold the bend for 5 counts.
-
Return to your
start position.
-
Then rise onto
your supporting leg, keeping the other leg in passe position.
-
Repeat the
exercise 5 times on each leg.
Top Tips: Do the exercises slowly to increase control.
Rise onto your first three toes, don’t put your weight onto your little toes.
Keep your heel on the floor when you fondu. Try to maintain stability as you
lower into the deep lunge.
The above exercises can be performed as part of a warm
up or as part of an ankle conditioning session. Always make sure you are in a
safe space to exercise. Please consult your teacher or doctor if you have any
concerns.
So tell me, what’s your favourite conditioning
exercises?
A letter to my younger self: What I wish someone had told me about dance when I was younger?
by Amy Greaves on 03/15/21
I started dance properly at the
age of seven. It’s wasn’t long after I started that I realised I really enjoyed
it and it could possibly be more than a hobby. I think I was only nine or ten
when I realised I wanted to be a dance teacher when I was older. Or at least
work in the dance industry. Looking back there are a few things I wish I had known
about dance when I was little. It might have helped me progress quicker or
further. Carry on reading to see what these things are.
1#
Stretching
Stretching is an important part
of a dancer’s life. Stretching helps you to become more flexible. The more
flexible you are the bigger range of movement you will have. As a dancer that’s
the main aim of the game.
I knew I needed to stretch but
what I didn’t know as a young dancer was how important it was to do it outside
of class. Just stretching at the end of your dance class for a few minutes is a
great way to cool down but it isn’t going to make you the most flexible person
in the world. In order to reach your full range of movement you need to create
your own stretch routine that you do regularly at home several (ideally daily)
times a week.
2#
Work hard for yourself
Everyone loves to hear positive
praise and a good teacher will always try and give this to a student when
possible. A positive comment from a teacher can really make a difference and
help to motivate you to work harder. However, remember to do it for yourself.
Work hard for you! You are your biggest competition and you go to dance class
to improve your technique and dance
ability. So try not to focus too much on other students or how many times you
get praised.
3#
Failure
Ok let’s be honest you’re not
going to succeed at everything in the dance world. You might not get the solo
part, you might not get the call back or you might get a lower exam grade than
expected. Well, guess what? That’s ok! Don’t beat yourself up about it! But at
the same time don’t let it stop you from trying again! I wish I hadn’t been as
hard on myself as a young dancer. As long as you tried your best that’s all you
can do.
So
tell me, what do you wish you had known before you started dancing?
International Women’s Day 2021: The women who have influenced me as a dancer?
by Amy Greaves on 03/08/21
As I am writing this on
International Women’s Day it seems only right to talk about the women who have
influenced and shaped my dancing journey. So let’s jump straight in!
1#
My Mum! Hands down my Mum
was the most important person in my dance journey. Not only did she organise
which classes I went to, wait for me during rehearsals, do my hair for every
exam or show and buy my dance costumes. She was an all-round awesome dance Mum.
The main reason she was so influential in my dance journey and later on in my
dance career is because she 100% believed in me. She was my biggest
cheerleader! When I was little and worried about getting my steps wrong, or
missing my quick change she would remind me that I could do it. To later in
life when I first set up my dance school and only one student turned up to
class, she constantly pushed me and reminded me that anything is possible. I
will never forget her words, ‘little by little.’ She would always say this to
me. What she meant is by preserving, trying and making little changes everyday
something big will eventually come. My Mum was right! It was hard setting up a
brand new dance school at such a young age. I kept going and in the end all the
hard work paid off!
2#
My childhood dance
teacher, Simone. I attended my local dance school from the age of seven up
until I was around nineteen. The dance school I attended wasn’t just where I
learnt to dance. It was a place where I made friends, socialised and grew in
confidence. I attended dance classes on most evenings and over the weekends to.
I remember doing my homework in between classes or on the bus to dance class. I
was there all the time and I loved it! It’s where my passion for dance
developed and where I learnt a strong foundation of dance knowledge.
3#
Dennie Wilson. When I
attended university I had several lectures and classes with Dennie Wilson. I absolutely
loved her dance classes. She was vibrant, lively and explosive. Yes she could
be very strict, don’t you dare turn up to class late. This only made me respect
her even more. She was so passionate about the genres of dance she taught and
this made me want to learn more. I loved listening to her lectures!
So tell me. Which women have influenced your dancing
journey?
Why I dance?
by Amy Greaves on 03/02/21
It’s easy really, I dance because I love it! My dance
journey started when I was young. My family tell me that as soon as I could
walk, I loved moving to music. I would call dancing ‘la la.’ It was when I was
little that I asked my parents if I could attend dance class. Or ‘la la class’
as I called it. I attended my local dance school at four years old but shortly
after starting had to stop. I had bad asthma and eczema, which meant I had to
miss lots of classes. It wasn’t until I was seven that I re started again when
my asthma and eczema was under control.
I initially only
attended a freestyle class (or disco as it was called back then). Even though my
Mum asked me several times and tried to persuade me to do ballet I wasn’t
interested. I thought ballet was boring. I didn’t like the slow classical music
and had no interest in it. It wasn’t until a few years after starting freestyle
that I began ballet. I had attended a holiday dance club ran by my dance
teacher’s sister and you had to participate in all dance styles. I remember
doing the ballet class and we learnt a small dance piece from the ballet Coppélia.
As I was dancing I thought, 'you know what this ballet stuff is actually quite
cool.' The rest is history and from that day on I was obsessed with ballet.
Its ballet I went onto get some of my highest grades in and later in life
dedicate my whole dissertation to at university. I started doing more and more
dance classes. Each week I would come home and ask to do another. I would see the
older dancers in class, ask my dance teacher what style it was, then go home
and say “Mum can I do rock n roll class please?” Then before long I was
studying all the theatre dance styles. But it’s a very simple answer to say I
dance because I love it. It’s my passion. Which is true. However, below are the
other reasons why I dance?
1#
Dance has helped me so much mentally. When you dance you
can’t really think of anything else apart from the steps your performing. It’s
a great way to escape, truly live in the moment and it’s a brilliant to help you relax. Dance has also been a constant thing in my life. My parents were
excellent at been very consistent with taking me to class. No matter how busy
they were or if someone was ill or sick (and believe me in my family there has
been a lot of serious illness) I have always attended dance class. Dance has formed a structure in my life and
given me a focus. If times are bad or good dance is there waiting for me. Even
when pregnant I carried on dancing right up until two weeks before giving birth
and even through a global pandemic I have kept dancing, teaching loads and
loads of zoom classes.
2#
Dance gives me confidence. People naturally think that
because you like performing and dancing on stage that your very confident and a
natural extrovert. Well I’m not! I’m actually very shy and more of an introvert.
I enjoy my own company and only have a small circle of friends, but dance has
really given me confidence. Its helped me develop skills that I can transfer
into other areas of my life and it almost gives you this special power that
makes you feel like you can achieve anything. I remember my cousin came to
watch me dance once and he said after “Wow I didn’t think you would be able to
dance on stage like that. You were so confident, like a different person.” He
was use to the quiet me and he had saw dancer me. Whenever I get nervous, I try
to draw on dancer Amy to give me the confidence to do whatever I need to do.
3#
Dance has made me physically strong. As I mentioned earlier
I have suffered with asthma most of my life and was encouraged to exercise to
improve my cardio strength and lungs. Dance has definitely helped me to stay
strong and healthy. I also have a slight curve of the spine and after seeing a
spine specialist to decide if I required surgery or not. He noted taking
regular ballet class as one of the main reasons why I had good posture and the
reason why my spinal curve was not worse than what it was. Luckily I didn’t
require an operation.
I have so many things to thank dance for and it has played a
huge part in shaping my life. If you have a passion or interest I would advise
trying to pursue it. You never know where it will take you!
Now tell me, why do you dance?
