Women Pioneers in Ballet
It’s officially March! Women’s History Month is upon us which calls for highlighting some amazing women in the dance community. The ballet world has come a long way through the years, but none of those achievements would be possible without the accomplishments of these amazing women. From Françoise Prévost to Misty Copeland, women have paved the way for the ballet industry for centuries. Here are a few women that influenced the ballet world to make it what it is today:
By Nicole Barrett, DWC Blog Editor
It’s officially March! Women’s History Month is upon us which calls for highlighting some amazing women in the dance community. The ballet world has come a long way through the years, but none of those achievements would be possible without the accomplishments of these amazing women. From Françoise Prévost to Misty Copeland, women have paved the way for the ballet industry for centuries. Here are a few women that influenced the ballet world to make it what it is today:
Françoise Prevost (1680-1741)
Francoise Prevost was a French ballerina that helped establish dramatic dance in the classical ballet era. She was known for her expressive, light, and dramatic way of dancing onstage, allowing her to grow in the dance world. Francoise debuted at the Academie d’Opera in 1699 replacing Marie-Therese de Subligny which gave her her start in the dance world. She performed with Jean Balon in Les Horaces in 1708 which caused the audience to weep. Francoise taught some of her famous solos to her dancers and she helped train two of her most successful students Marie Camargo and Marie Salle. In 1730 she retired from dancing as premiere danseuse to be replaced by her students.
Marie Taglioni (1804-1888)
Marie Taglioni was a Swedish ballerina of the romantic ballet era who was a central figure in the history of European dance. Marie grew to fame while she was dancing at the Paris Opera, but also when she was dancing at the Saint Petersburg's Mariinsky Ballet. She is credited through her dance years to be the first ballerina to be truly en pointe. While introducing the phenomena of dancing en pointe, she also introduced new fashion trends and hairstyles throughout her years in the dance world that became very popular in Europe. In 1847 she retired from performing and was known as a guiding spirit for the Paris Opera.
Anna Pavlova (1881-1931)
Anna Pavlova was a Russian prima ballerina in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Through her early stages of ballet she trained with the Imperial Ballet School where she performed many principal roles with the company and graduated at 18. Anna then made her debut at the Mariinsky Ballet and with her first performance grew great praise from critics. Later in her career, she became a part of the Imperial Russian Ballet and was most recognized for her role The Dying Swan. With her own company she became the first ballerina to tour around the world. In 1931 on her way to a performance, she was diagnosed with pneumonia and later died from pleurisy. In traditional ballet fashion they honored her with a single spotlight on the stage where she would’ve danced next.
Maria Tallchief in a 1955 promotion for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo
Maria Tallchief (1925-2013)
Maria Tallchief was an American ballerina who was considered the first major prima ballerina in America. She is well-known for her roles as Sugar Plum Fairy in George Balanchine’s Nutcracker and the lead role in The Firebird. Her role in the Nutcracker transformed the ballet itself from obscure to one of America’s most famous, and her role in The Firebird made Maria become one of the world’s most famous ballet dancers. She was the first star of The New York City Ballet and became the first American to perform in Moscow’s Bolshoi Theater. In 1966, she retired from dance and began promoting ballet in Chicago where she debuted the Chicago City Ballet.
Misty Copeland (1982 - )
Misty Copeland is an American ballet dancer for the American Ballet Theater. She made history in 2015 by becoming the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer in the company's 75-year history, and for paving the way for minority dancers all around the country. Misty is considered to be a ballet prodigy after not starting ballet until she was 13 years old. She has written books, starred in documentaries, won spotlight awards for her dancing and charity works and was on Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2015. Misty still dances today and strives for more inclusivity in the dance community.
Learning about the women pioneers in the ballet world should not just be for Women’s History Month, it should be celebrated all year round. Without the breakthroughs that these women have been through, the ballet world would be very different than it is today. By learning the history of some of our favorite ballerinas, we can honor and acknowledge the accomplishments that these women have made for this beloved dance genre.
About the Author
Sources:
http://marietaglioni.orchesis-portal.org/index.php/texts/detailed-biography
https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/maria-tallchief
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_of_the_Sugar_Plum_Fairy
https://www.nycballet.com/discover/our-history/george-balanchine/
https://www.nycballet.com/discover/ballet-repertory/george-balanchines-the-nutcracker/
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All content found on the Dancewear Center Website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and all other relevant social media platforms including: text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Offerings for continuing education credits are clearly identified and the appropriate target audience is identified. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Dancewear Center does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on dancewearcenter.net. Reliance on any information provided by dancewearcenter.net, Dancewear Center employees, contracted writers, or medical professionals presenting content for publication to Dancewear Center is solely at your own risk.
Links to educational content not created by Dancewear Center are taken at your own risk. Dancewear Center is not responsible for the claims of external websites and education companies.
O-Jak Bridge Art and Dance Festival 2023, A Non-Traditional Swan Lake
In Korean Folklore, the “O-Jak Bridge” refers to a bridge made by crows and magpies that spans across the Milky Way allowing two distant lovers to reunite one night each year.
In 2022, Korean Artist MiYoung Seul Margolis, founded the O-Jak Bridge Art and Dance Festival, showcasing Korean creative culture through a one-night-only performance that nearly sold out the 300-seat capacity of the Broadway Performance Hall in Seattle, WA. This inaugural performance featured the MMDC (MiYoung Margolis Dance Collective), Adage Ballet Academy, Eurasia Academy and Ensemble and KOSMIX. Altogether more than 60 dancers took the stage to share their performance art with the audience. Each group brought its own unique style and cultural influence which created an incredible juxtaposition of traditional and modern styles blending across the diverse cultures of the dance companies.
By MiYoung Margolis, DWC Ambassador
Name pronunciation: Me-Young Mar-gole-is | Pronouns: she/her
In Korean Folklore, the “O-Jak Bridge” refers to a bridge made by crows and magpies that spans across the Milky Way allowing two distant lovers to reunite one night each year.
In 2022, Korean Artist MiYoung Seul Margolis, founded the O-Jak Bridge Art and Dance Festival, showcasing Korean creative culture through a one-night-only performance that nearly sold out the 300-seat capacity of the Broadway Performance Hall in Seattle, WA. This inaugural performance featured the MMDC (MiYoung Margolis Dance Collective), Adage Ballet Academy, Eurasia Academy and Ensemble and KOSMIX. Altogether more than 60 dancers took the stage to share their performance art with the audience. Each group brought its own unique style and cultural influence which created an incredible juxtaposition of traditional and modern styles blending across the diverse cultures of the dance companies.
In 2023, The O-Jak Bridge Art and Dance Festival will be held in close partnership between MiYoung Margolis Dance Collective and Adage Ballet Academy and feature guest performances by dancers of the Pacific Northwest Ballet. The theme for this year’s festival is “Non-Traditional Swan Lake”. (Location: Erickson Theater, Date: December 9th, Time: 3:30pm and 7:30pm)
The choreography for the “Non-Traditional Swan Lake” is being directed by MiYoung Margolis, the founder of the O-Jak Bridge Art and Dance Festival, and Guillaume Basso, a former PNB ballet dancer and chief of Adage Ballet Academy.
This year’s cast will be 45 dancers strong. The choreography will once again be anchored in Korean Cultural Dance and blended with traditional ballet, street and tap dance to tell the classic story of Swan Lake but through a non-traditional lens.
Swan Lake is a tragic love story that follows the relationships between Odette, the White Swan and Prince Siegfried. The story beings in a lake filled with the tears of Odette’s mother, tears of sorrow, but also tears of hope that one day her daughter’s curse would be lifted, and she would find her true love.
After the famous repertoire of Swan Lake and traditional ballet of the four swans, the first act ends with a duet of the famous Odette and Prince Siegfried falling in love, and the second act begins with the Great Ball to find Prince Siegfried’s bride. During the Ball, the traditional Swan Lake ballet includes performances by Hungarian, Spanish, and Russian ballet, the O-Jak interpretation replaces these with alternative styles, including a Korean solo sword dance and a Gender Twisted Princess, creating a unique and fresh story to attract the audience.
Another exciting departure is highlighted at the end of the ball, upon Odile <the Black Swan> entrance pretending to be Odette. This Scene is presented as a modern dance piece, choreographed by MiYoung Margolis and set to the orchestral accompaniment of BTS’s Black Swan.
Poster Art by: S.L. Yang
Though Swan Lake traditionally ends in tragedy, the O-Jak Bridge interpretation diverges, and the two lovers are embraced by a happy ending, where once per year, they cross the Milky Way to reunite thanks to a bridge of cows and magpies. The Korean traditional dance company <Morado> will finish the festival with Jin-Do Drum dance to boost the festival’s energy, and Kathryn Tower’s Tap Dance work, selected through the <Non-Traditional Four Swans Dance> choreography competition, attracts attention.
Disclaimer
All content found on the Dancewear Center Website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and all other relevant social media platforms including: text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Offerings for continuing education credits are clearly identified and the appropriate target audience is identified. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Dancewear Center does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on dancewearcenter.net. Reliance on any information provided by dancewearcenter.net, Dancewear Center employees, contracted writers, or medical professionals presenting content for publication to Dancewear Center is solely at your own risk.
Links to educational content not created by Dancewear Center are taken at your own risk. Dancewear Center is not responsible for the claims of external websites and education companies.
Repurposing Your Dance Costumes into Halloween Costumes
As anyone who’s danced for an extended period knows, costumes can accumulate quickly. After various performances and recitals, the number seems to stack up exponentially. Before you know it, your closet is filled to the brim with tutus, bodices, leotards, jumpsuits, and hairpieces galore. Rather than allowing these sequined creations to collect dust in your bedroom or garage, why not sift through them to create this year’s Halloween costume? Read on to find out some of my top suggestions for turning dance costumes into Halloween costumes.
By Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Editor
Wanda Maximoff and Vision from WandaVision, photo from www.thedirect.com
As anyone who’s danced for an extended period knows, costumes can accumulate quickly. After various performances and recitals, the number seems to stack up exponentially. Before you know it, your closet is filled to the brim with tutus, bodices, leotards, jumpsuits, and hairpieces galore. Rather than allowing these sequined creations to collect dust in your bedroom or garage, why not sift through them to create this year’s Halloween costume? Read on to find out some of my top suggestions for turning dance costumes into Halloween costumes.
Superhero
A colorful or sequined leotard paired with colorful tights or leggings and a cheap cape will transform you from zero to hero this Halloween season. You can even make your own superhero emblem out of paper to tape onto the cape or create your own headpiece out of cardboard to further the details. For me, the inspiration behind this idea was undoubtedly Wanda Maximoff’s Halloween costume in WandaVision. By wearing a red leotard, pink tights or leggings, a red cape, red gloves, and a cardboard Scarlet Witch crown, you can morph into an Avenger just like that!
80s-inspired jazzercise outfits, from www.popsugar.com
80s Jazzercise
Similar to the superhero costume, the base of an 80s jazzercise costume is a colorful leotard and a colorful pair of tights. However, instead of accessorizing your ensemble with a cape, add some bright legwarmers around your ankles and sweatbands around your head and wrists. Throw on some chunky sneakers and show everyone your best jazzercise moves this Halloween. Extra points if you carry around a boom box!
Zombie ballerina
If you have the full ballerina get-up (leotard, tutu, tights, etc.) on hand, you can easily turn it into a costume with some eccentric makeup. Why not dress up as a ballerina turned into a zombie? By adding liquid latex to your face to look like peeling skin and some red, brown, and green eyeshadow to look like rotting flesh, you can become the scariest undead ballerina ever. Check out this zombie makeup tutorial to give you some assistance!
Angel
A simple white leotard can be transformed into an angel costume with just a few additions! Add a white tulle skirt or tutu to make it look like you’re sitting atop the clouds. Making your own wings and halo out of cardboard and feathers or pipe cleaners will complete this heavenly look.
Still of Natalie Portman in Black Swan, photo from Fountain Resource Group
Odile from “Black Swan”
If there’s any movie that encapsulates dance and horror the best, it has to be the 2010 thriller Black Swan. In the film, Nina Sayers, played by Natalie Portman, has her reality distorted as she prepares for the polarizing roles of Odette and Odile. Overcome by the demands of her choreographer and the role itself, Nina transforms into Odile, the “Black Swan,” growing black feathers out of her face and beady red eyes. If you have a black leotard or bodice, black tutu, and pink tights, all you need is some heavy black makeup, red contacts, and black feathers to complete this costume. It’ll be sure to give people a fright!
Catwoman
For this costume, black latex is your best friend. Pair some black latex pants or a black latex jumpsuit with a black (preferably latex) top or black leotard. Add some cat ears and some black whiskers to complete the look, or create your own Catwoman mask out of felt to complete the look!
Flapper Girl
Costumes for jazz dances often feature fringe details, making them a great base for a 1920s-inspired flapper costume! Pair a fringe dress or biketard with a homemade flapper headband and some character shoes to transport you back to the roaring 20s!
Instead of spending excess money and time searching for a Halloween costume this year, look no further than your own closet! With a little tweaking, accessorizing, and charm, you can turn your everyday dancewear and dance costumes into some remarkable Halloween creations. Happy haunting and happy creating!
About the Author
Disclaimer
All content found on the Dancewear Center Website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and all other relevant social media platforms including: text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Offerings for continuing education credits are clearly identified and the appropriate target audience is identified. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Dancewear Center does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on dancewearcenter.net. Reliance on any information provided by dancewearcenter.net, Dancewear Center employees, contracted writers, or medical professionals presenting content for publication to Dancewear Center is solely at your own risk.
Links to educational content not created by Dancewear Center are taken at your own risk. Dancewear Center is not responsible for the claims of external websites and education companies.
Preparing for Your First Year in College Dance
For the first time in 18 years, I am moving away to a new city and dancing with people that I have never met before. I’m hundreds of miles away from my family and friends that have made me into who I am today and my beloved dance community that I have had around me for the last 8 years. While this is going to be a drastic change in my life, I know that I am not alone. I know that there are thousands of other dancers across the country and even the world that are experiencing the same uneasy feeling as me.
Name pronunciation: Nick-ole Bear-et | Pronouns: she/her
By Nicole Barrett, DWC Blog Editor
For the first time in 18 years, I am moving away to a new city and dancing with people that I have never met before. I’m hundreds of miles away from my family and friends that have made me into who I am today and my beloved dance community that I have had around me for the last 8 years. While this is going to be a drastic change in my life, I know that I am not alone. I know that there are thousands of other dancers across the country and even the world that are experiencing the same uneasy feeling as me.
Life is full of changes that we are prepared for and some that we’re not. When it comes to moving away for college, that is one that we can control. As all of us college freshman are trying to adjust to this new change, it is important that we understand and acknowledge why we decided to pursue dance in the first place. Following your passion is the most important step in making a memorable year in college dance. To prepare myself for this change, I have spoken with multiple graduates from dance programs across the country and some other college freshman that are preparing for their first year in college dance, so here are some ways you can prepare.
Don’t compare yourself!
Knowing what you bring to the class is a big step to make sure that you are gaining what you need from that class. All those dancers are worrying about themselves, not you. Comparing yourself to other dancers doesn’t allow you to dance to the full ability that you know you have. They are here to dance for themselves, they aren’t watching to see if you messed up. Just because another dancer can do a cool trick doesn’t mean that you don’t bring amazing things to the table. Each dancer is unique in their own way and it is important in college dance and in the professional realm to know that.
Remember that it’s okay to make mistakes!
When switching to new teachers in college dance, it can be difficult to adjust to the new techniques they use and the pacingof the class itself. Be sure to give yourself some grace to get adjusted to the new teacher and new environment. Just know that everybody in the room is coming from different backgrounds that are going through the same things as you. As dancers we are conditioned to want to be perfect all the time, but we do need to realize it is human to make mistakes.
Be sure to have all the essentials in your bag
You never know what you may need in the class, so making sure you have everything is important. I know that forgetting a water bottle or a recovery tool can make or break a class for me, so making sure that my bag is stocked with everything I need is very imporrnat. This can help relieve a bit of the stress and allow piece of mind during a stressful transition.
Take some classes to get back into moving
Summer can be a long time to go without dance, so making sure that your stamina is up and your mind is ready for a new season of dance is very important. Summers for me are typically when I take a break from dance so I have been trying to find local drop in classes and classes at my old studio that I can take to get back into it before I leave for college. To help ease your mind try to see if you can take classes at your old studio to keep up that common routine before the big transition.
Have fun!
Don’t stress! Everyone that is in the class loves to dance. They know that this is a passion for them that they want to pursue so remember that you are around people that love dance just as much as you do. While change can be scary and bring stress, I know that dance is my outlet to make me feel better no matter what I am feeling. Doing what I love is worth it and doing what you love should be a top priority.
For me, this change is going to be a tough one. I have gotten accustomed to having my same group of people around me when dancing for many years and this transition feels scary. But, it is important to know that this change is going to be an incredibly exciting one. You are going to be one step closer to doing the thing you love for the rest of your life. Making connections that can last a lifetime and enhancing your craft for years to follow. Just know that you got this and to enjoy your first year! Doing the thing you love the most will make it all worth it.
Disclaimer
All content found on the Dancewear Center Website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and all other relevant social media platforms including: text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Offerings for continuing education credits are clearly identified and the appropriate target audience is identified. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Dancewear Center does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on dancewearcenter.net. Reliance on any information provided by dancewearcenter.net, Dancewear Center employees, contracted writers, or medical professionals presenting content for publication to Dancewear Center is solely at your own risk.
Links to educational content not created by Dancewear Center are taken at your own risk. Dancewear Center is not responsible for the claims of external websites and education companies.
DWC Ambassador Kendall Hadley On The Mental Challenges Of Injury
Overcoming the physical and mental challenges of my injury was one of the hardest things I have gone through as a dancer.
In both 7th grade and my sophomore year of high school, I dislocated my knee during dance class. The first time I came out of a jump and landed poorly and sat out for four months. The second time my pointe shoe slid out from under me and I sat out for six months.
By Kendall Hadley, DWC Ambassador
Pronunciation: Can-doll Had-lee | Pronouns: she/her
Overcoming the physical and mental challenges of my injury was one of the hardest things I have gone through as a dancer.
In both 7th grade and my sophomore year of high school, I dislocated my knee during dance class. The first time I came out of a jump and landed poorly and sat out for four months. The second time my pointe shoe slid out from under me and I sat out for six months.
As a dancer I’ve become accustomed to relying on my body to perform as it needs to as long as I take care of it. My injuries were both sudden, unpredictable, and devastating. I could no longer count on my body the way I used to. I had to rely on crutches to walk, and others to be kind enough to help me with simple tasks such as opening the door. During this time I had to repair the physical and mental relationship of my body during the time of my injury, and long after my recovery.
While tedious, my physical recovery is essential to my healing, and it still benefits me today. Having back-to-back doctors and physical therapy appointments was time consuming, but I also learned more about my body in that time than I ever had before. Finding a physical therapist that was supportive as well as knowledgeable of my recovery process was extremely helpful in my recovery. It’s important that your physical therapist knows you are returning to dance, not just to recreational activity. Dance is a physically demanding sport that requires strength and endurance. I had to advocate for myself and explain the physical demands that were required for my sport were not simple. My physical therapist and I both worked to develop a routine that would help me return to my regular dance activity.
After months of hard work, rest, and truly listening to my body I was able to slowly return to taking class. After my second injury I encountered many more mental obstacles than physical. I no longer trusted my body. I was always psyching myself out from trying new movements, compared myself to others, and encountered anxiety within the classroom.
Anytime I was introduced to new movements I encountered anxiety. Fearing re-injury, I found I was holding myself back in dance and wasn’t pushing myself. This stunted my growth as a dancer. I had to learn to overcome these physical and mental obstacles overtime.
The things that really aided me on me journey to mental recovery:
-Go to your dance classes and take notes
I know it can be hard to watch your friends get to dance and not be able to join them, but this will help you learn by watching and remembering your terminology. It also shows that you genuinely want to be there and your instructors will see that.
-Know the difference between pain and discomfort
This requires an elevated awareness of your body that not many people possess. There is a difference between doing something your body isn’t used to and dancing through pain. Learn what is your body entering new territory and what is your body’s way of saying it needs a break.
-Take care of your body
Beyond the doctors appointments and dance classes, there is so much you can do to take care of your body. The little things like cold showers or warm baths make all the difference. Take time to ice your feet, warmup, roll out, stretch, meditate, and do everything your body needs to before hitting the dance floor.
-Be patient with yourself
Being a dancer you require a lot from your body. Understanding that your body needs the time to work up to what it once was is difficult. I have found that in some ways my injury has made me stronger as a dancer and I go into dance with an appreciation for my body and what it is allowing me to do. It may take some time before your body is dancing at the level it used to, but you may be a better dancer because of it.
Disclaimer
All content found on the Dancewear Center Website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and all other relevant social media platforms including: text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Offerings for continuing education credits are clearly identified and the appropriate target audience is identified. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Dancewear Center does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on dancewearcenter.net. Reliance on any information provided by dancewearcenter.net, Dancewear Center employees, contracted writers, or medical professionals presenting content for publication to Dancewear Center is solely at your own risk.
Links to educational content not created by Dancewear Center are taken at your own risk. Dancewear Center is not responsible for the claims of external websites and education companies.
Seattle Dance and Performing Arts Medicine
Seattle Dance and Performing Arts Medicine, also known as SeaPam, is a fantastic resource for dancers who are in need of medical treatment from an injury! This community is filled with committed professionals in the industry that strive to promote healthy performance, education, training and help maintain a beneficial lifestyle for dancers in the Seattle area. They hope that they can enable all performing artists to pursue long, healthy performing careers!
By Nicole Barrett, DWC Blog Editor
Seattle Dance and Performing Arts Medicine, also known as SeaPam, is a fantastic resource for dancers who are in need of medical treatment from an injury! This community is filled with committed professionals in the industry that strive to promote healthy performance, education, training and help maintain a beneficial lifestyle for dancers in the Seattle area. They hope that they can enable all performing artists to pursue long, healthy performing careers!
One of the things that sets SeaPam apart is their free clinic for performing artists. This clinic welcomes all dancers and performing artists of all abilities and genres. The free clinic is designed to assist with diagnosing the injuries of performing artists that are uninsured, but everyone is welcome! SeaPam takes a team-based approach at taking care of the local artist community to address all health-related needs.
These appointments run about 30-60 minutes depending on the severity of the injury. The beginning will be with a physician that will speak with you for about 15-20 minutes about your physical problem and perform a physical examination. Then for the last 20-40 minutes you will see a physical therapist that will help you develop an effective home exercise program to help address your specific issue.
If you would like to find out when the next clinic will be, you can bookmark their homepage on their website and check the calendar regularly. You can also sign up for email updates when new clinic appointments are available or check their facebook page here for more updates!
image courtesy of seapam.com
Disclaimer
All content found on the Dancewear Center Website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and all other relevant social media platforms including: text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Offerings for continuing education credits are clearly identified and the appropriate target audience is identified. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Dancewear Center does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on dancewearcenter.net. Reliance on any information provided by dancewearcenter.net, Dancewear Center employees, contracted writers, or medical professionals presenting content for publication to Dancewear Center is solely at your own risk.
Links to educational content not created by Dancewear Center are taken at your own risk. Dancewear Center is not responsible for the claims of external websites and education companies.
The New Kid, Again (Pt. II)
I found a moment of relief as an artist in the 2nd iteration of Dani Tirrell’s “Black Bois”. We sold out The Moore Theatre on Valentine’s Day 2020; One Night Only. In a cast of only black people, I could just represent myself. It was truly a legendary community celebration. Even in this moment of happiness, I was still very physically and emotionally burnt out. I performed in the Seattle International Dance Festival Mini-Fest with Khambatta Dance Company, and the next performance on my calendar with The Tint Festival, which I had choreographed for.
Part 2
By Robbi Moore, DWC Ambassador
Pronunciation: Rob-bee More| Pronouns: they/them
I found a moment of relief as an artist in the 2nd iteration of Dani Tirrell’s “Black Bois”. We sold out The Moore Theatre on Valentine’s Day 2020; One Night Only. In a cast of only black people, I could just represent myself. It was truly a legendary community celebration. Even in this moment of happiness, I was still very physically and emotionally burnt out. I performed in the Seattle International Dance Festival Mini-Fest with Khambatta Dance Company, and the next performance on my calendar with The Tint Festival, which I had choreographed for.
And then the whole world shut down.
There is so much grief that I, all of you reading this, and countless other people have not even begun to sort through from the last three years alone. I know so many artists in Seattle who moved here right before the pandemic who feel like they are “The New Kid” the same way I did, because they spent their first years here indoors, unable to interact with or meet people. Some people did not get to have an in-person graduation.
I had the privilege of being able to dance all throughout the pandemic, just not in the same capacity as I was doing before. There were a lot of beautiful discoveries that came out of the pandemic, many of them personal. Not only did I have the space and time to really be honest with myself, but I finally had the space to work out things I had been avoiding. I went to therapy which helped me organize and clarify a lot of situations that had happened in my personal life. I started to be more honest with my community about who I was, what I stood for, and what I did not. The fact that I am a Dancewear Center Ambassador, writing all of this to you is a testament to the self-work and re-evaluating that I have been doing over the past three years.
Being truer to myself has drastically changed my personal relationships and career. Throughout the pandemic, and especially in the past 6 months alone, I have ended a lot of personal and professional relationships. I have also started many new ones. I started putting my values first and asserted them, which is bound to shake things up when people who met me in 2018-2019 were meeting a very different version of me. It had been painful, but also necessary. Like removing a splinter or getting an adjustment at the chiropractor. I consider myself a TRUE freelancer now, meaning, I am not dancing with any company at all. I am currently only presenting solo work and teaching. It is not as much as I want to be doing, but it is mentally and emotionally necessary for now. I still worry about falling on my face without the safety net of being from here, but I recently had the epiphany that one of the main reasons I did not feel like I was truly supported here was because I was not really opening up about what my needs were. I was just leaving what people thought of me up to chance. I was not lying about who I was or what I wanted, but I found that I needed to do more to connect the dots of my life for people so that this community understands who I am and what I have been through in my own words, so that expectations are crystal clear.
I am “The New Kid” once again, only this time, instead of aimlessly floating in the ocean letting the waves of opportunity take me places that may not always be in my best interest, I am surfing the waves I want to be on and making proactive decisions.
Disclaimer
All content found on the Dancewear Center Website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and all other relevant social media platforms including: text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Offerings for continuing education credits are clearly identified and the appropriate target audience is identified. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Dancewear Center does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on dancewearcenter.net. Reliance on any information provided by dancewearcenter.net, Dancewear Center employees, contracted writers, or medical professionals presenting content for publication to Dancewear Center is solely at your own risk.
Links to educational content not created by Dancewear Center are taken at your own risk. Dancewear Center is not responsible for the claims of external websites and education companies.
Get To Know DPT Era Terry
All dancers have struggled with the issue of trying to find a physical therapist or doctor that understands how a dancer’s body moves. There are various doctors out there who just don’t understand how dancers move which can be frustrating in the recovery process. Luckily we got the chance to speak with Dr. Era Terry to learn more about the dance medicine field in Seattle. Read on to learn more about Era’s dancing journey and what got her into doing physical therapy on dancers!
By Samantha Weissbach DWC Owner & Nicole Barrett, DWC Blog Editor
Pronunciation: Air-ah Tear-ee | Pronouns: she/her
All dancers have struggled with the issue of trying to find a physical therapist or doctor that understands how a dancer’s body moves. There are various doctors out there who just don’t understand how dancers move which can be frustrating in the recovery process. Luckily we got the chance to speak with Dr. Era Terry to learn more about the dance medicine field in Seattle. Read on to learn more about Era’s dancing journey and what got her into doing physical therapy on dancers!
Era grew up dancing and primarily did ballet while exploring competition dance in high school. While getting her undergrad degree after high school, she danced with Chattanooga Ballet in Tennessee where she was a contracted ballet dancer and taught various ballet classes. Once she graduated from undergraduate school, she suffered an ankle injury that took her out of the professional dance world, which allowed her to transition to physical therapy school. She obtained her degree from Columbia University in 2017 and moved to Seattle to pursue her physical therapy career upon graduation. Era still dances around the Seattle area and her mission was to work with dancers specifically to give back to that community.
Era shares that what sparked her decision to start working at her current practice was to work one-on-one with patients for longer periods of time to build that connection with her patients. She started working right after graduating from physical therapy school at a larger clinic where she was meeting with patients every 30 minutes and she realized that this wasn’t the scene for her. She then met the owner of her current practice Kinetic Physical Therapy through a mutual friend and has been a great fit for Era.
Era shares that Seattle is a great place for dance medicine and shares that there are some great resources to help dancers who have injuries.Seattle Dance and Performing Arts Medicine is a great resource for information on clinics and doctors in the area. Era also works in West Seattle at Kinetic Physical Therapy so be sure to come by and see her for all your dancer needs!
Disclaimer
All content found on the Dancewear Center Website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and all other relevant social media platforms including: text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Offerings for continuing education credits are clearly identified and the appropriate target audience is identified. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Dancewear Center does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on dancewearcenter.net. Reliance on any information provided by dancewearcenter.net, Dancewear Center employees, contracted writers, or medical professionals presenting content for publication to Dancewear Center is solely at your own risk.
Links to educational content not created by Dancewear Center are taken at your own risk. Dancewear Center is not responsible for the claims of external websites and education companies.
How Do You Cope?
During the month of May, mental health is brought to the entire country’s attention. Mental Health Awareness Month was put into effect in 1949 to reduce the stigma of mental health issues and to provide support for those going through those issues. We here at Dancewear Center believe that mental health is something that is very important to talk about and it is important to know that you are not alone in what you are feeling. Many people can feel stuck when they are experiencing bad mental health days and it is important to find ways to alleviate that. We got to speak with some of our staff and ambassadors about what they do to cope with their mental and physical health through hard times. Read on to learn more about how they take care of themselves during rough times.
DWC Staff and friends speak to their personal methods for coping with anxiety and stress
By Nicole Barrett, DWC Blog Editor
Trigger Warning: eating disorders, mental health issues
During the month of May, mental health is brought to the entire country’s attention. Mental Health Awareness Month was put into effect in 1949 to reduce the stigma of mental health issues and to provide support for those going through those issues. We here at Dancewear Center believe that mental health is something that is very important to talk about and it is important to know that you are not alone in what you are feeling. Many people can feel stuck when they are experiencing bad mental health days and it is important to find ways to alleviate that. We got to speak with some of our staff and ambassadors about what they do to cope with their mental and physical health through hard times. Read on to learn more about how they take care of themselves during rough times.
Emma
When I'm going through a season of life where I'm dancing a lot, I find I have to prioritize my health above all else in order to perform at the highest level possible. For me personally, I find that my physical and mental health affect one another, and if one starts to suffer, the other soon follows suit. It's taken me a long time to find routines that I feel good about and that work for me, and a lot of it is trial and error. What works for one dancer won't necessarily work for another.
I have in the past struggled with several injuries. The thing that I have found to be one of the most helpful things in my routine is cross-training and weightlifting. I also try to implement yoga (I love hot yoga too!) and pilates regularly into my schedule as well. When I have performances coming up, I try to schedule physical therapy, chiropractor, acupuncture, and massage sessions around those.
To take care of myself after dance and working out, my favorite things are using my muscle gun, gua sha, and also ice baths for my feet and ankles after a lot of pointe work. I also try to roll out or stretch when I can- but some nights I'm just too tired too and that's okay! I'm also a big fan of different topicals and creams if I am struggling with pain. You can get my favorite Tiger Balm at DWC. ;)
Some daily habits that keep me on track include eating regularly throughout my days, even when I'm super busy and making sure I'm getting my vitamins, supplements, and water in. A big factor in my mental health is also sleep! I notice I start to feel worse when I'm not getting enough sleep, so I try to have good sleep hygiene and a night routine. This is definitely always a struggle for me, but the rest we get can have a huge impact, especially since as athletes we have to give our muscles enough time to rest and repair themselves. Now, you might be confused at this next one, but I notice a significant difference in my state of mind when I make my bed each morning and keep my space clean. A clean space is a happy space, and I can tell my mental health is declining if my space starts to get cluttered and dirty.
I also think as dancers we are notoriously awful at knowing when to say "no" or "I need a break". If you need a rest day- take it! If you need a mental health day, carve time out of your regular schedule to spend time with friends, family, or just yourself, or to do whatever you may need. You will ultimately be a better performer when you feel rested and whole as a person who has a life outside of the studio.
And as always, never be scared to reach out for help. I am a huge advocate for seeing therapists, dietitians, psychiatrists, and other health professionals. I think a common misconception is that something must be "wrong" when we seek out mental health services, but really, it can be useful when you are just needing someone to talk to, or need help building routines or gaining new coping skills.
Ethan
Routine! I have built an evening recovery routine for myself that I do every single day. It is comprised of stretching, foam rolling, and using a lacrosse ball. I have noticed that if I do this only one evening (or even occasionally) there is only a minimal amount of gain in terms of how loose and relaxed I can move the next day. But having done this every day I regularly feel closer to my best. Routine is also calming to me, it helps me unwind and focusing on a singular task is almost like meditation.
Nicole
Take breaks! Whether the specific issue you are dealing with is mental or physical, everybody needs a break. Knowing when you need to take a break or take a step back is key to making sure you are prioritizing yourself. I have been through some major injuries and mental health situations in my dance journey that have forced me to take a step back from the thing that I love. Although I hated this break at the time, I look back on it now and I am so grateful that it happened to me. This break not only let me heal my body, but I also regained my love and passion for dance that was being overshadowed by my injury and self doubt.
Just be sure to remember as you are dealing with these issues that you are not alone and it is okay to not be okay. Never be scared to reach out to somebody if you think you need help. Throughout my break in dance, I was consistently talking with a professional to help me navigate through my emotions. Remember that you got this and whatever you are going through does not define the dancer you are.
Kendall
As a dancer, my mental health is just as important as my physical health. I find I struggle with bring my anxieties into the studio. I like to journal my thoughts down before going into class, that way I can focus on enjoying the movement and making corrections. I also try to avoid imposter syndrome and comparison by looking at old videos and pictures so I can see how far I’ve come. I also look for my safe people and friends within the studio who I can go to with my struggles. It’s important to remember you aren’t alone in your struggles, a lot of dancers deal with the same issues.
Robbi
Some basic things that I do to take care of myself are going on walks, when I can, and listening to music that I really enjoy. I can get drained from a lot of social interaction, and as a freelance dance artist, it is important to rest my body and mind when I can. It is okay to not be everywhere all of the time. Doing things for myself that help me feel like I am not missing out on anything is very important in a culture that is designed to make people think they are not doing enough, when our minds are trying to keep track of more things than ever before. Use your dancer brain to realize that it is all a performance, and that there are always things behind the scenes of everyone's lives that are not being advertised.
I love to touch grass, smell flowers, and see other people in real life and not just online. It is a reminder that the body I dance in is not separate from the body that I experience the rest of my life in. Saving up energy so that I can show up for the things that really matter to me has been so helpful this year. It gives me more to say as a person and as an artist when the time comes. It is okay to let people miss you. It is in the missing that you remember not to take each other for granted. This can apply to your relationship with dance as well.
Lastly, remember that the party does not start until YOU walk in.
We hope that some of these tips can help you during hard times. Know that you are never alone and there is always someone to talk to when things get low. If you ever need any further help, please call the crisis hotline at 988.
About the Author
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Disclaimer
All content found on the Dancewear Center Website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and all other relevant social media platforms including: text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Offerings for continuing education credits are clearly identified and the appropriate target audience is identified. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Dancewear Center does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on dancewearcenter.net. Reliance on any information provided by dancewearcenter.net, Dancewear Center employees, contracted writers, or medical professionals presenting content for publication to Dancewear Center is solely at your own risk.
Links to educational content not created by Dancewear Center are taken at your own risk. Dancewear Center is not responsible for the claims of external websites and education companies.
Get To Know Ambassador Robbi Moore
DWC Ambassador Robbi Moore has always loved the dance community. Their extensive resume of works spans traveling all around the world with various companies and sharing stories to people in any way they can. We got the chance to speak with one of our DWC Ambassadors about what dance means to them and what inspired them to become an Ambassador! Read on to learn more about Robbi’s dancing journey and what they are looking forward to most about becoming an Ambassador!
By Nicole Barrett, DWC Blog Editor
Pronunciation: Rob-bee More| Pronouns: they/them
DWC Ambassador Robbi Moore has always loved the dance community. Their extensive resume of works spans traveling all around the world with various companies and sharing stories to people in any way they can. We got the chance to speak with one of our DWC Ambassadors about what dance means to them and what inspired them to become an Ambassador! Read on to learn more about Robbi’s dancing journey and what they are looking forward to most about becoming an Ambassador!
Robbi started dancing when they were five years old and was inspired to start dance by their older brother who was an actor. Robbi just wanted to be onstage, so their mom signed them up for ballet classes at New England Ballet because they were looking for dancers for their Nutcracker. When Robbi was seven, they moved onto Dee Dee’s Dance Center where they remained until they graduated high school. After graduation, Robbi participated in some summer intensives where they say they made lots of connections that they would later dance with in New York City. Before auditioning for the Alvin Ailey Fordham BFA Program, Robbi attended New Haven Ballet to further expand their ballet training.
After graduating the BFA program in 2015, Robbie danced in New York City with the STEPS Repertory Ensemble and during their senior year of college, they were involved with the Amanda Selwyn Dance Theater. They also danced with a bollywood company called AATMA Performing Arts and traveled with some of their shows. Robbi auditioned for Spectrum Dance Theater back in New York City and then moved to Seattle in 2016. Since then, Robbi has created an extensive resume with artists in Seattle from Khambatta Dance Company to Tacoma Urban Performing Arts.
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One thing that Robbi is looking forward to most about being an Ambassador is the Instagram takeovers. Robbi also is looking forward to the blog posts that they will be writing. They share that they really admire the people that are really good at writing about dance and hope that they can dive into that to become a responsible reporter.
We are so happy to have Robbi as one of our DWC Ambassadors! Be sure to check out the full interview on our YouTube channel to hear more about Robbi’s dancing journey!
Disclaimer
All content found on the Dancewear Center Website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and all other relevant social media platforms including: text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Offerings for continuing education credits are clearly identified and the appropriate target audience is identified. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Dancewear Center does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on dancewearcenter.net. Reliance on any information provided by dancewearcenter.net, Dancewear Center employees, contracted writers, or medical professionals presenting content for publication to Dancewear Center is solely at your own risk.
Links to educational content not created by Dancewear Center are taken at your own risk. Dancewear Center is not responsible for the claims of external websites and education companies.
Interested in writing for the DWC Blog? Click below to fill out the DWC Contributor application!