When asked what her favorite thing about dance is, Amanda shares that the constant need to be present is something that she appreciates the most. “As a child, dance was really that escape for me, where I knew that I could go to the studio and just forget about everything else,” she shares. The empowerment that she says she felt in her body while being in the studio was something that felt really good to her. She’s also noticed that as she has gotten older that it is very hard to stay present with everything in life going on, but once she walks into the studio, every worry washes away.
Read MoreWhen asked about what her favorite thing about dance is, Mallory shares that the ability to walk into the studio and leave everything at the door is something important to her. Growing up, she knew that she could always go to the studio and get lost in her movement and not have to think about anything else. “I could just be in a place that made me happy,” she shares.
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 MoreWhat do you think of when you heard the word “feminism”? Perhaps you envision women protesting in the streets and outside government buildings. Maybe you picture historic milestones, like women…
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Dancewear Center looks for staff that follows our mission that “every body is a dancing body.” New DWC staff member Denali Weyer fits that description perfectly! Her passion for the ballet world spans inside and outside of the studio and we are so excited to have her on the team. Read on to learn more about Denali’s dancing journey and what sparked her decision to be a part of the team!
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 MoreIt’s safe to say that most of us didn’t anticipate the first half of 2020 to go the way it has. Our lives have changed drastically in the past few months, some more than others. Not only has the COVID-19 pandemic modified nearly all aspects of our daily routines, but a national movement supporting black lives and opposing police brutality has ignited. The heartbreaking murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis has stirred global attention towards police brutality and racial inequity in America. There have been protests in solidarity with George Floyd in all 50 states and at least 40 additional countries on nearly every continent. Anger towards this grueling act of police brutality has transformed into a larger revolution against systemic racism that’s gone on for too long in the United States.
Read MoreCyrus shares that the experience of two cultures coming together is important to him, as his father is Indian and his mother is white, making him a product of cross-cultural connection himself. Throughout their personal lives and careers, Cyrus’ parents have experienced and fought against racial discrimination. From witnessing his parents’ own experiences, as well as navigating the societal challenges of having a biracial identity, Cyrus has been inspired to elevate and celebrate diversity through dance as a means to heal the damages that injustices like racism have caused. “[It] inspires me when I see different cultures coming together,” Cyrus expresses, sharing that his primary desire is to bring unity through understanding in his work at Khambatta Dance Company and beyond.
Read MoreIt wasn’t until age 10 that Jamia Ramsey learned that tights are supposed to match the skin tone of the dancer that wears them. After auditioning, Jamia had earned a scholarship to dance at the Dance Theatre of Harlem in New York City. “It was there that I first learned that flesh-toned tights were supposed to match your skin tone,” she shares. Jamia learned about the process of dying tights and using makeup to “pancake” ballet and pointe shoes. Previously, she had only danced in pink and tan-colored tights, which are readily available at any dancewear retailer but don’t match her skin tone. “It was all about uniformity,” Jamia explains. It’s safe to say that this experience planted the seed for Jamia to create her visionary dancewear company Blendz Apparel: a brand that offers high-quality, flesh-toned dance apparel that all dancers can wear.
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