Christmas Music for Dance Class

I love using Christmas music in my dance classes this time of year. It helps to keep the mood bright and my dancers love to sing along to their favorite songs. It makes the same ole exercises like plies and tendus feel new and fresh! Here are some of my favorite albums, artists and songs to use in my dance classes.

You can never go wrong with Lisa Harris, and here is her beautiful Christmas album! Listen to the album here.

Once you can get past the super cheesy album cover, you'll see that this album is perfect for ballet class. An oldie but a goodie! Listen to the album here.

I love Harry Connick Jr's Christmas album for allegro, petite allegro, and jazz class. Listen to the album here. Here are some of the best tunes for class:

Ave Maria
Parade of the Wooden Soliders
I Pray on Christmas
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
O Holy Night

Jim Brickman is a beautiful pianist who writes his own arrangements of classic Christmas tunes that are perfect for ballet class. Listen to the album here.

Sarah McLachlan has a beautiful, enchanting Christmas album that makes for excellent contemporary routines and stretching. Listen to the album here. Here are some of my favorites from the album:

Wintersong
Song for a Winter's Night
In a Bleak Mid Winter

Sara Bareilles delivers yet again on this gorgeous album that is also good for contemporary class and routines. Plus, Winter Songs includes other fantastic artists like Fiona Apple, KT Tunstall, Colbie Caillat, and even Katy Perry. Listen to the album here. Here are some of my favorites:

Wintersong (with Ingrid Michaelson)
Silent Night (Priscilla Ahn)

Visions of Sugar Plums Danced in Their Heads

Painting from the Nutcracker by Linda Paul

Got a few extra minutes to get into the Nutcracker and holiday spirit? Sit back and enjoy some excerpts and interviews from some of the world's greatest ballet companies and their Nutcracker performances. Many big ballet companies have their own YouTube channels. Search for them and watch clip after clip of not only performances, but interviews and rehearsals.

Miami City Ballet has quite a few back-stage interviews done by the company members themselves, so it really gives viewers a relaxed and real inside-look into the company.
Here's Patricia Delgado interviewing her sister, Jeanette, who is the Dewdrop.

And here is Patricia Delgado's Nutcracker journal, where she tapes rehearsals and interviews the dancers about their parts in the show.

And an interview with retiring ballet dancer, Deanna Seay, who dances the Sugar Plum Fairy.

New York City Ballet's Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/newyorkcityballet

Pacific Northwest Ballet's Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/pacificnwballet

Joffrey Ballet's Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheJoffreyBallet

Houston Ballet's Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/houstonballet

San Fransisco Ballet's Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/SFBallet

Annaheim Ballet's Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/AnaheimBallet

Salt Gets A Bad Rap - Dancers Need It!

Salt has really gotten a bad rap lately. Sure, too much of it in your diet can lead to high blood pressure and heart problems, but your body must have it to perform basic bodily functions. Dancers especially need salt because sodium is expelled when you sweat, so it needs to be replaced. That doesn't mean you should start eating processed and fast foods - salt can be found in Gatorade, fruits and vegetables. So, before you start thinking you need to cut salt out of your diet, read this article from Dance Magazine and think again!

Your Body: Spice of Life

Tune into the Hit Web-Reality Dance Series - Dance 212

Do you dream of making it big as a dancer in NYC but sometimes wonder if you've got what it takes? If so, then you've got to tune into this hit web-reality series, Dance 212. This series follows five college-aged dancers as they pursue their dance dreams in NYC. You can watch them take classes, go to auditions, perform and learn what it's really like to be a dancer in prestigious second company. There's a new episode every day!

http://dance212.com/

Selling Snacks At Your Studio

Ever thought of selling snacks at your studio? Well, read how other studio owners have done it and what they recommend to make it a successful business venture in this article from Dance Teacher Magazine - "Business: Food for Thought". Some dance studios price items high in sugar more than the healthy ones to encourage the dancers to eat more healthy foods. Another studio outsources the vending machine itself, hiring a outside company to operate it and fill it, taking a small commission, while others just have snacks stashed behind the desk that they sell as dancers ask for them.

Check out the article in its entirety at the link above for all the juicy details!

Conversations with Desmond and Dwight

Desmond Richardson - co-founder of Complexions Contemporary Ballet

Photographer: Dah-len/Complexions Contemporary Ballet via Bloomberg News

Ever wonder how legendary dancers and choreographers Desmond Richardson and Dwight Rhoden began Complexions Contemporary Ballet? Here's an insider's look into the makings of their company, in a three-part video interview.

Part 1: How they met and developed their technique
Part 2: How they team-teach
Part 3: What it takes to dance with them

Improving Port de Bras

Once dancers are aware of their cores and have a better understanding of how to use those muscles, teachers can begin to work on their port de bras and grace.  In this article from Dance Magazine, Improving Port de Bras, author Joseph Carman gives very practical tips that teachers and students can use in the classroom to get those Margot Fonteyn arms.

Author Joseph Carman writes that improving the port de bras starts with understanding the anatomy of the torso. Then, the dancer must use the "breath to initiate the port de bras," which is commonly missed, and coordinate the arms with the head, eyes, and torso. The body must work in complete unison.