It’s no secret that many small businesses suffered throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and dance studios were no exception. Amid growing dance studio closures, those eager to move were left without a space to practice and without instructors to learn from. In the face of these challenges, local dance instructor and artistic director Mija Bishop founded Flight Feathers, a dance studio aimed at helping each individual dancer sore. Stay tuned to Flight Feathers’ Instagram for details about its June production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Read MoreMay is Mental Health Awareness Month! In this series, we are giving the staff here at DWC a platform to talk about their personal mental health journeys. We believe in supporting the wellbeing of the whole dancer; both body and mind. We want you to know that you are not alone. We believe in the importance of talking about mental health openly, especially within the dance world. So let’s talk about it!
In this article, Cherie, Social Media Director here at DWC is sharing her experience with depression.
Read MoreBunion: word likely originated from the early 18th century from ‘bunny’ or ‘boni’ to describe a swelling or from the Greek word for turnip
There is still a lot of research that needs to be done to understand this complex condition. We know that dancers are prone to bunions. But we also know this condition has a strong genetic component.
Read MoreI grew up as a ballet dancer, majored in modern dance in college, danced professionally with 5 different dance companies in Utah and NYC… and I never saw a PT unless I was injured. Why is…
Read MoreNW Dance Project’s Artistic Director Sarah Slipper believes that there is a need for women representation in leadership positions in the dance industry. When asked about the true power of a title, she says that, in her opinion, it is less about “power” and more about the opportunity to guide, provide wisdom, and lead individuals. “It is important to see shared equality in leadership roles,” Sarah says. “Representation is very, very important, especially in key roles.” In an industry dominated by women participants, ensuring that leadership reflects that is of the utmost importance.
Read MoreSometimes the audition process can be daunting. We’ve all felt the butterflies in our stomach, or the pre-audition jitters. Believe us when we say we’ve been there! DWC staff, ambassadors and friends offer their prep routines and advice on getting ready.
Read MoreI started the process of finding my next step last year as a high school junior. It can be a daunting thought to start looking at your future like that, I know it was for me! As someone who has been dancing since the age of three, once it came time to think about a career, I always came up blank. When we say “dance is my life” we mean it. While I have interests outside of dance, there was never anything that I spent enough time doing to really develop a love matching my love for dance. Eventually I got to the point where I thought; I have spent my entire life training and dancing and improving, I love it more than anything else in my life, so why not keep doing it? After coming to that conclusion, I was able to get on a focused path with where I would like my future to go.
Read MoreAs a young company dancer at Olympic Ballet Theater in the 1980’s, one of my favorite pieces I performed was “Fall” as a part of the Ballet Seasons. Now in my 50’s, I’m in a very different season of my life as a dancer. I’ve always loved fall–the season that teaches us that change can be beautiful.
Read MoreIt is easy to spend dance breaks curled up on the couch or binging Netflix shows; these activities are definitely needed when you have a little more free time but it is also important to keep your training going. Flexibility, strength and endurance decline quickly when you have time off from a rigorous dance routine, so here are a few tips for “staying in shape” during dance breaks or off-seasons!
Read MoreKirsten’s favorite thing about dance, she shares, is the connections people make through this art form are something that she finds to be the best thing about the dance world. “Through my teaching, I’ve seen people from different economical lives come and dance together and I think that that is just amazing,” she shares. She also shares that the connection through an emotional basis and a common love of dance is something that is very important to keep going. The relationships that she has made through people that she has taught are something that is very important to her and sets an example for the connection that dance can make through people.
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