Starting ballet as an adult can be a terrifying and nerve-racking experience. But it should not limit you from giving ballet a chance because when you look back, it will be worth it.
Read MoreBeing able to try new things and explore new hobbies is part of what makes life exciting. Nevertheless, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Lacking viable assistance with starting a new endeavor can deter people from beginning altogether. That’s why on October 31, 2021, Dancewear Center hosted its first-ever Adult Ballet Q&A. Sierra Keith of The Dance Conservatory, former DWC Ambassador Cynthia Randriamanohisoa, local adult dancer with Northwest Dance Cooperative Kim Lucy, and current DWC Ambassador and teacher with Second Act Dance Coco Liu answered questions all about starting ballet as an adult and the things they wish they had known.
Read MoreBefore the start of a new year, it’s commonplace for people to set goals they hope to achieve following 11:59 PM on December 31. People set goals of all shapes and sizes, some small and realistic and others large and out of proportion.
Read MoreFor many, dance is a means of mental escape from the day-to-day stressors of life. Having a creative outlet that allows for self-expression, laughter, and challenge can be extremely valuable to live a balanced life. Nevertheless, there are times when dance can go from being a stress reliever to the source of stress itself. Local dancer and DWC Ambassador Niki Kothari speaks on perfectionism, the fear of being judged when going “full out” in dance, and how having social support and stress-relieving activities can help reignite the passion for dance that can sometimes feel lost.
Read MoreAfter relocating from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Bellingham, Washington, Brooke Evans noticed that her newfound home was lacking something near and dear to her: high-quality dance. Through copious research and collaboration with local parents and dancers, Brooke and her fellow community members were able to build Opus Performing Arts: a robust dance school composed of experienced faculty and tasked with the mission of “fostering a lifelong love of dance.”
Read MoreIn Veronica Peters' life, dance has always been a family affair. Since she took over the British Dancing Academy from her mother in 2014, Veronica has continued carrying out her mother’s legacy and providing students with a thorough dance education that encourages them to be the best dancers they can be and learn life lessons along the way.
Read MoreAs many dancers can confirm, there are few things worse than showing up to ballet class in a leotard that makes you feel self-conscious. Donning an uncomfortable, ill-fitting leotard can affect a person’s confidence, which can translate into their movement quality. Suddenly, dancers forgo extending through their fullest lines and focus on making themselves smaller. Throughout every dance class, there’s a laundry list of things dancers need to be focusing on. Fixating on the fit of their dancewear shouldn’t be a priority. Local dance educator Hayley Maddox is passionate about creating custom, eco-friendly leotards in a comfortable fit for dancers of all shapes and sizes. Her retro, cowboy-themed dancewear brand Lasso Leos centers on providing dancers access to affordable and sustainable leotards while creating favorable fits designed to make dancers feel confident.
Read MoreIt’s no secret that when studios are creating their classes for the school year, people with disabilities are more often than not left out of the equation. Within the mainstream industry, dance has a troubling history of exclusivity, often creating strict requirements and standards that prevent marginalized individuals from succeeding. Fortunately, to help rectify these problematic circumstances, Emmy Fansler has created the Best of My Abilities (BOMA) program as a way to introduce students with disabilities to dance…
Read MoreAs dancers, we’re encouraged to push ourselves as far as we can, often until our breaking point. Finding the harmony between challenging ourselves and staying within our boundaries can be a tough balancing act. Karl Watson of Whim W’him gives insight into this challenge, his dance journey, and what he hopes to see moving forward in the dance industry.
Read MoreAnyone who has danced for an extended number of years has heard the age-old mantra about ballet: that it is the “foundation of all dance.” Youngsters that have complained to their dance teachers about their disinterest in ballet have had this drilled into them. The idea that ballet is crucially supplemental to other dance genres is common knowledge to dancers around the world. It is information that is rarely questioned or scrutinized. But if we study the origins of ballet, we can see that it perhaps isn’t as universalized as it’s thought to be. The benefits of ballet technique cannot and should not be divorced from its problematic founding ideals that still influence dancers today.
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