Today, Emmy has carved spaces for herself and others that have been long overdue in the dance industry, specifically through the creation of the Best of My Abilities (BOMA) program. The BOMA program, offered at Issaquah Dance Theater and The Dance School, introduces students with disabilities to dance and provides a space for dancers of all abilities to learn and build relationships. “I know that there are lots of people who are afraid to step into a dance studio because they feel like you have to be a certain way...My entire dance life has been [dedicated to] figuring out ways to use dance to show people how loved they are,” she shares.
Read MoreWhile there is still so much social progress that needs to be made in the dance world, it’s exciting to see studios and companies taking steps to celebrate inclusivity and diversity in ways that didn’t exist years ago. Celebrating inclusivity in the dance world involves inviting dancers with all kinds of backgrounds and identities into the industry, and making them feel welcomed as they are. This also includes celebrating dancers with autoimmune diseases. DWC Ambassador Grace Pilo is passionate about advocating for dancers with autoimmune diseases, particularly those with type 1 diabetes, like herself. Read on to learn more about Grace’s dance journey and advocation efforts!
Read MoreThere are more ways to be involved in the dance industry than just being a professional dancer. Community members like DWC Ambassador Emily Borders are proving this to be the case by partaking in community classes and studying physical therapy in hopes of making dance more accessible to a wider array of individuals. Read on to learn more about Emily’s personal dance journey, hopes for the larger dance community, and plans as a DWC ambassador!
Read MoreMy website offers education to parents and any boys or men who don’t know how to wear dance belts,” he says. Tom recalls attending a summer program at Milwaukee Ballet School when he was 14 years old and changing in the dressing room. He had put on his dance belt and was about to put on his tights when a fellow dancer informed him he had put on his dance belt incorrectly. Prior to this experience, no adult had told Tom how to properly wear a dance belt, thus he strives to provide that kind of information and support through his brand.
Read MoreHolly recently announced the opening of her own dance school, Precision Dance Academy, which has been a dream in the making for a while. Precision is a dance academy where young dancers can train in jazz, ballet, lyrical and more, with the goal of being “a home for every performer.” Precision strives to provide elite training and care for the whole performer, whether dancers are training to be professionals or for fun. The academy offers holistic performance training, providing dance classes, acting classes, and music lessons.
Read MoreEnsuring that you can dance at your best for the longest amount of time possible involves much more than what happens in the studio. Making sure dancers take care of their bodies and fuel themselves in a sustainable and accessible fashion is crucial. However, myths and toxic misconceptions about nutrition abound within the dance world. People like Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Kristin Koskinen of Eat Well, Live Well are helping make the dance world a better place by providing nutrition and educational services to the dance community.
Read MoreWhen asked about what steps can be done to help alleviate these often harmful expectations, she shares that normalizing the concept of an everyday person dancing is something that needs to be more globally understood. She expresses that it can be hard for trained dancers to look at others’ dancing and not critique them in certain ways. Therefore, Santina believes that the mindset of seeing everyone as a dancer is something that needs to be adopted by dancers all around the world.
Read MoreAll aspiring ballerinas know that dancing in pointe shoes is the hallmark of being a professional ballet dancer. Yet, misinformation about fitting pointe shoes circulates across the country, leading many dancers to endure poor fittings and, in the worst cases, injuries. Entrepreneur, international award-winning speaker, and pointe shoe fitter extraordinaire Josephine Lee has made it her goal to offer educated and personalized pointe shoe fittings that leave dancers feeling empowered with information. Through her work at ThePointeShop, and her recent partnership with Dancewear Center, Josephine strives to promote education and inclusivity in all she does.
Read MoreWhen asked about what steps can be done to help alleviate these often harmful expectations, she shares that normalizing the concept of an everyday person dancing is something that needs to be more globally understood. She expresses that it can be hard for trained dancers to look at others’ dancing and not critique them in certain ways. Therefore, Santina believes that the mindset of seeing everyone as a dancer is something that needs to be adopted by dancers all around the world.
Read MoreMany dancers experience common challenges that aren’t often brought into conversation in class settings, including feelings of physical and technical insecurity. DWC Ambassador Claire Kaskel is an advocate for fostering open communication across dancers, instructors, and studio owners to ensure dancers know they are valued for their uniqueness. Read on to learn more about Claire’s dance journey, the changes she wants to see made in the dance industry, and her plans as an ambassador.
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