Happy New Year! + Steppin' Out January News
We're back in session! We hope you've all enjoyed a wonderful break and that your family is ready to return to class for the second half of our yearly curriculum. Classes resume Tuesday, January 5th.
In the second half of our season, we build on the dance vocabulary and choreography practice our students have developed in the fall. Our Halloween and Nutcracker dances have prepared them to delve deeply into the dances we will be creating for the annual performance that concludes our spring semester. Please try to maintain consistent class attendance during the coming months as we begin this important work together.
MOVEMENT OF THE MONTH: PLIE & RELEVE
Much of all there is to know about dancing can be found in the simple opposition of pile and releve. These paired movements are also classic tools dancers use to warm up before they practice and are great for 30-second dance breaks at any time during the day. Start in first position with the heels together and the hips rotated so the toes turn out. Keeping your knees over your toes and your back straight, bend your legs as far as you can without lifting your heels off the floor. Slowly straighten the legs and rise up to standing. Then press up to releve, keeping the balls of the toes grounded against the floor and lifting the heels as high as you can. Repeat in second position with the feet open to hip distance. It's fun to notice both the opposition of sinking low and lifting high as well as the way we must lift up to sink down and then press down into the floor to rise up.
FREE FEBRUARY TUESDAY 5-6 p.m. SPECIAL NEEDS/CREATIVE MOVEMENT CLASS AGES 7-12 WITH TEACHER OLIVIA
Help us spread the word: We'll be offering a free Special Needs/Creative Movement class for the month of February. Dancers may come as many times as they can that month without paying a thing! This class will build the foundation for the next generation of our Young Adults with Special Needs Company. Please contact us with any questions.
YES, THERE ARE EVEN DANCE APPS!
In honor of January and starting 2016 with optimal organization, we wanted to share Dance Magazine's fun suggestions for dance-related smartphone apps:
http://dancemagazine.com/views/theres-an-app-for-that-dancer-edition/
QUICK TIP:
Make a New Year's resolution, family style! Why not commit to being more active together in 2016?