As children, partaking in extracurricular activities outside of school isn’t just an option, it’s downright encouraged. Our parents sign us up for anything they can to keep our bodies active and our minds engaged: soccer teams, chess clubs, dance classes, you name it. When we transition into high school, we’re encouraged to volunteer, join sports teams, and get involved in our community to bolster our college applications. We channel our time, energy, blood, sweat, and tears into these activities. In many cases, they transform from being mere hobbies to intense passions that help us persevere through our awkward adolescent years.
Read MoreArtistry in Motion (AIMco.) is an up-and-coming local dance company, founded in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic by Julius Juju Flores. AIMco. features mostly commercial dance, focusing on athletics and a showcase feel. As Julius likes to say: “it's a dance company but we're so much more than that.” On July 25th, AIMco. is having its live show “Artistry in Motion Collective: FROM THE TOP!” which will be a celebration of many dances and art forms, including wacking, voguing, and drag. Tickets are available here.
Read MoreSince Samantha Weissbach took ownership of Dancewear Center in 2018, our vision as a staff has been geared towards empowering local dancers through “continuous support and product education.” Whether it’s through knowledgeable pointe shoe fittings or spotlighting artists on the DWC Blog, the DWC team utilizes integrity, laughter, and grit to serve our local dance community. Being a member of the DWC staff involves much more than conducting simple retail tasks. Our staff of dancers and dance educators gains invaluable product knowledge, fundamental life skills, and joins a warm community, all while advancing the local dance realm that we know and love.
Read MoreAmid the COVID-19 pandemic, dancers, choreographers, and dance viewers were all separated from one another, isolated to the confines of their homes, and stripped of the opportunity to perform and do what they love. Thus, in 2021, Karyn Tobin and Ian Howe decided to launch Apropos Motus
Read MoreFor as long as April Giangeruso can remember, she’s been drawn to fashion. Whether it’s everyday, streetwear, or fun, printed dancewear, she’s never associated with one particular aesthetic over another, but describes her wardrobe as a “mix and match of all kinds of clothes.”
Read MoreI was diagnosed with anxiety in 4th grade but, honestly, I know I experienced it before then. All my life I have tried to control situations and be very prepared so last-minute situations wouldn’t rattle me. It was hard for me to be spontaneous, and I worried about not living up to other people's expectations.
Read MoreEarlier this month, I had the amazing opportunity to sit down and chat with Lisa Fairman, founder of Girl Power Sport. They are a local gymnastics, dance, and activewear brand based in Vancouver, Washington with most of their materials sourced from Portland, Oregon. When asked about how her brand started, it was clear Lisa has been surrounded by the arts and sports community for a very long time.
Read MoreMelissa Koh Krienke is a dancer, teacher, and artist here in the Pacific Northwest. She started dancing ballet at the age of 3 and her passion grew from there. Melissa trained through high school with Ballet Chelsea and got her BFA in dance from Cornish College of the Arts. She has performed with
Read MoreI have two terms for you: Refilling the creative well and excavating creativity. Two concepts in the ever-frustrating realm of inspiration, motivation, and creativity…
Read MoreFor professional ballet dancer Juliet Prine, creating stylish and comfortable loungewear was a way to use up her increased spare time. But what started as a simple way to take up free time transformed into Sunday Outfitters, a popular online business that sells cute and cozy clothes while supporting important social causes. How exactly did this transition happen?
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