Floating Floors

“Dancing is the world's favorite metaphor.”

- Kristy Nilsson

I attend the new studio of Extensions Dance Academy in Cedar Rapids. At the studio we have two dance studios that contain Harlequin floors, and one room with wooden floors that are used for tap. This is my first year on the new floors, and although it took some adjustment I have learned to love them all they are doing to help my body.

Here is an excerpt from my studios website http://www.extensionsdanceacademy.com/about/our-facility/

Dance is a very physical activity that can put a lot of stress on the bones and joints. Most dance footwear provides very little, if any, cushioning or support, so the shock of dance movement can place a lot of pressure on the knees and back of a dancer. The best way to prevent against potential injury is by choosing a studio with a professional “floating floor”. A floating floor is a dance floor that rests on a system of high-density foam, to absorb the shock of landing. A high-density foam base is superior to a “sprung” floor, which usually consists of a wood structure built on a regular floor. The top layer of the dance floor is also important. A vinyl and rubber composite “harlequin” floor is accepted as the best surface layer for recreational to professional dance. Facilities such as the Joffrey Ballet of New York and Chicago, American Ballet Theater of New York, and Riverdance are just a few of the many professional dance organizations that use harlequin floors as their dance surface. A harlequin floor will protect your child from slips and falls as well as overuse injuries and muscle fatigue.

This floor has proven benefits to me as I have previous knee pain and injuries from dancing on concrete and gym floors for dance team. I feel less pain than I usually would and for that I am grateful. I believe that the outcomes from this floor are so beneficial and should be spread to all dance studios, to give relief to dancer’s body, they will not be young forever.

~Julia Brewer

School Dances for a Dancer

“I try to dress classy and dance cheesy.”

-Psy

School dances are a lot different than any other type of dance style recognized by a competitive or professional dancer. My experience of school dances is held at the high school level, with narrow knowledge as I have only attended four of my high school dances, with most of my understanding coming from the fall Homecoming dance held each year at my school. Let me tell you high school dances are not just your average fist bumping middle school parties, they are an all-out rave.

These high school dances resemble a mass huddle of people surrounding the DJ, moving together to the beat of the music in a hot, sweaty and condensed area. When you flash back to the moment, it can make you feel uncomfortable, because in that moment you were sweating with exhaust, hair falling out and next to all your peers that you are going to see at school in two days acting like absolutely nothing odd happened, because, well everyone was doing it. Administration is walking through the crowds of teenagers making sure everyone is being “appropriate” and respecting each other’s bodies.

The music is loud and the room is dark, with the exception of the DJ’s light show that matches the music. Vibes can be killed to the high school students when the songs they would rather listen to are interrupted by the chicken dance, Macarena, YMCA, cha cha slide, and sometimes the frustration of too many slow songs. Why is that high school students only feel comfortable dancing to crazy, loud, popular songs?

School dances look like a mass gathering of people all on each other like they are attacking a football during the most important game of the season. The upperclassmen gather nearer to the DJ, while the underclassman head for the back unsure for what they are about to be exposed to. By the end you can typically find all grades bumping and grinding with each other. Recounting what it looks like is a prickly subject, so I’m going to move on.

The scent you receive by the end of the night is absolutely horrid. As I mentioned everyone is sweating profusely, releasing extreme amounts of body odor in one area that is not enjoyable for anyone. It doesn’t help that the area is usually in a gym, therefore when a massive student body is contained in it, it gets very humid and hot, extremely quickly. Guys are most typically wearing pants and long shirts, which results in them becoming quite stinky, and girls tend to get hot all the time anyway, so it’s just a sweaty mess of body odor across the whole gym, being transferred to everyone in the clutter of people. Please put on your deodorant people!

School dances can be what you least anticipate as a freshman, but become fairly expectant as you become more accustomed to them. Although the sight, smell, feel, and sound may be uncomfortable, they are fun and I hope that all high school students take the opportunity to attend at least one of their high school dances, whether they are known as a blast or bust.

~Julia Brewer

Turning Like A Top

“Dancing faces you towards Heaven, whichever direction you turn.”

-Terri Guillemets

Turns can be a struggle if you are attempting to do them on an unfamiliar surface. Typically a studio contains all the same flooring, therefore you become accustomed to that surface for turns, and when attempting to turn on anything other than it, your turning capabilities seem to differentiate. In order for a dancer to have their turns under control, they must learn to adjust to any surface and still contain consistent turns.

Turning can differ by surface, for example, you may be used to turning on wood, so when you try to turn on Marley it is more difficult, and uses more of a push, because Marley is a stickier surface than wood. Gym floors all differ tremendously, and can also be struggle some. If the gym recently had wresting mats down, the floor is more neutral, not super sticky, but also not too slick. If the gym floor was recently used by volleyball or basketball it tends to be stickier, and in need of a greater push to get rotations around. Finally if the gym floor was just swept and cleaned it will be very slippery and turns may not have much control. A dancer has to know their floor to enable them to turn like a top.

There are always tricks to get better turns, no matter the surface, a dancer can train their body to turn anywhere. It takes practice and several attempts, but it's learning what positioning your body needs to be in for the best results. A trick that I have learned is applied to the dance shoe, and that is either water or deodorant. If the floor is too sticky for your liking, it's easier to make your turns more slippery by applying deodorant under your turning shoe and then rubbing the shoes together, transferring some deodorant to the opposite shoe while leaving the majority on the turning foot. The other application can be used on the use of floors that are overly slippery. The option for a slick floor is to use water to tighten up the turn, or I know gross, but licking your hand and putting it on the shoe. It's a little bit gross, but if need be in a hurry it is very efficient. The last option that can be applied to a dance shoe to make it stickier is spraying perfume on the bottom. It pulls the shoe’s bottom together tighter, and makes the turn seem fresher as if the shoe is brand new.

Some stages are just too slippery and not ready to be performed on by dancers who are going to be doing a mass amount of turns. In order to take away the chances of a slip some directors may take cola bottles and pour them across the floor. It’s reliable on making the floor less slippery, but don’t take my word on the mess, stink, cost it may result in.

Keep turning like a top and practice on various dance floor surfaces to build up your muscles and releve in order to perform on any floor. It takes a lot of work, but you can use some of these sneaky tips and tricks to help you along the way.

~Julia Brewer

 

 

 

 

Steps To Use A Snap Bun Maker

“On the highest peak of the heavens, angels glanced at the sky and saw a glimpse of a gateway to a world of artists whose guardians were dancers.”

-Shah Asad Rizvi

 

Step 1- Buy the snap bun maker

You obviously have to purchase the snap bun maker to create the snap bun hairstyle. They are available at dance retailers online, Claire’s, studios and some drug stores. The brand I use is from the company Hairagami.

Step 2- Slick hair back into a ponytail

Use either hairspray or hair gel to click back a tightly secured ponytail on your head. Using hairspray or hair gel helps in reducing fly aways, giving a professional look to the bun when it is finished.

Step 3- Use the snap bun maker to create the bun

First split it in half so that one side covers the back of the ponytail and the other side covers the front of the ponytail. Be sure the middle part between the snaps is not twisted, if it is twisted than the bun will not snap in a direction after the hair is gathered. Next, take both ends and slide it down your ponytail. It is easiest to go the farthest down, but not too far to the point that layers are falling out. Finally you need to roll the bun maker in a circular motion, coming toward the top of your ponytail. Note that if you roll it upwards the bun will clasp in the back, and if you roll it downward it will clasp in the front. Either method works to create the bun, however I prefer rolling it upward so that if it isn’t created perfectly, it is more messy in the back than in the front, and easier to fix.

Step 4- Pull the bun tight

Once you make the bun the back of the bun maker will still be exposed. To complete the whole bun you have to take from the front corner bun and pull it a motion that moves it to the back of then bun. This makes the bun look fuller and not sparse in the back.

Step 5- Secure bun to the head

To secure the bun to the head you need to use bobby pins. Open the bobby pins and split them between the fly away hair and hair on head, push them inward so that the open part is inside of the bun. Also use hairspray to keep fly aways around the hair line and bun contained. Some dancers also use one last ponytail around the bun to make sure it does not wiggle on tricks or turns.

Hopefully these steps help to make the perfect dancer bun.

~Julia Brewer

Category Selection

“The only way to make sense of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.”

-Alan Watts

Selecting the correct category to place your dance under is vital to the message you want your routine to display. It’s not as simple as one may think. You cannot just throw a lyrical into a jazz category, hip-hop into musical theatre, or mistake a ballet for contemporary. There is a difference between clogging and tap, large group and line, and teen and senior. Dances need to make sense in the category they are placed in to keep judging standard and equal across all divisions, styles and ages.

The choreography was most likely given to fit a select amount of dancers. The style was made to reflect what the dancers perform best under the category. For example, a jazz routine can be either sassy, fierce, funk, creepy, classical, slow, fast, etc. However you have to be careful that if it is under the jazz category, it is straight jazz. Yes you may get away with a street jazz, but in all honesty a street jazz is hip-hop. Same goes for a Broadway jazz, where the style could have fit better under the musical theatre division. It is also important to note the difference between jazz and lyrical, which is especially confused in dance team, when they are not filtered into the correct categories. At the high school level there are two separated categories of lyrical and jazz, and a lot of teams incorrectly place their lyrical into the jazz category, and get away with it. Another thought about distinguishing styles is the question of contemporary. Contemporary is pretty much a cross of lyrical and jazz elements, but combined to form a new interesting piece. Contemporary may lean toward a more jazz side, or lyrical side, so a choreographer should be precise on whether the style is lyrical, jazz or contemporary when registering it under a style.

Please place your dance in the correct division, style and age category. It makes judging fairer in an already opinionated sport. It can be easy to misjudge the style of dance, so if it’s questionable you should look for multiple opinions, from multiple backgrounds. You want the message of your dance to be displayed properly to the audience, and one step to making that happen is by placing the dance under the correct category.

~Julia Brewer

Appreciating Talent

"While I dance I can not judge, I can not hate, I can not separate myself from life.  I can only be joyful and whole. This is why I dance."

- Hans Bos

Dance is very popular, performed and watched by many. There are so many spectators of dance, not only do you have judges, family, and friends, but you may have scouts, unknown peers, rival studios, and crazy dance parents. This all leads to many eyes falling upon the dance on stage and forming their own opinions. With that it is obvious that training and talent of dancer's differ tremendously on a great range of areas. It is easy to spot out a dancer or group that has a high level of talent, blowing you away by every breath they take, move they make and sound you hear. It is what the spectator chooses to do with that opinion that defines them in the dance world and the view others may share or disapprove of in comparison t their own.

There are too many cases to be had and experiences to be told about parents, dancers, teachers and outsiders alike not appreciating a dancer’s talent and what they bring into the dance industry. Some take the dancer out on the means of jealousy, which in my opinion is just absolutely ridiculous. Some of the best dancers in the world are frowned upon by others for simply being the best dancer they can. What is wrong with being the best? I believe instead of trying to tear down the dancers that are better than yourself, you should be in appreciation of the talent they have. Dancers should be inspired by what they are doing, and strive to be like them or the best version they can be.

 

This jealousy is penetrated all sorts of ways, like through social media, gossip and hate messages. Famous dancers have so much hate on them through gossip and social media. It's visible everywhere, through Facebook, Instagram, twitter and vine. This is wrong to do. It is degrading talent and embarrassing. There are several cases as well where jealousy sparks the fact that some individuals can't even stand to dance with someone that might be seen as better than themselves. This is a prime studio hopper, although not always the case, many studio hoppers feel as though they aren't getting the attention they deserve, because someone else is better than them, and they don't understand why they are not as good. It's a sad, but a true occurrence in the dance world.

Talent should not go unnoticed, instead be appreciated. Someone else's should not be at the expense as an escape for an individual or group to terrorize the talent. There is an under appreciation for the talent of dance, because some cannot handle the fact that they are not the best. It is a sad idea that is ignored by many, it's wrong and needs to be settled to an end. If you see an individual or group with an immense amount of talent use that to compliment them on what you see instead of tearing them apart because you are not who they are, even though that is where you want to be.

 

~Julia Brewer

The Judge of it All

“Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor.”

-H. Jackson Brown jr

Dance is different in comparison to other sports in several different fields, one being the way in which placements, scores and rankings are given to individuals, groups and teams. Dance is sport judged completely on opinion. This can lead judge bias, preference and appeal. Everything on dance is based on an opinion, so every score sheet you receive can be different, even if several judges watched the exact same routine at the exact same time. In that lays the fact that one judge does not see everything another judge may notice. Judges also come from many different stylistic backgrounds, leading some to have more knowledge in specific genres than others.

Having a dance routine based completely on a judge’s opinion has both benefits and downfalls. For starters you encounter interpretations, ideas and suggestions from a wide variety of people. You get more than one point of view, and it can refresh the dancers and choreographers what is most noticeable to an eye that has never seen the routine. The judges can help by giving beneficial insight into the routine, and it is unlikely that every judge has the exact same thing to say. On the other hand judges can sometimes be tired from a long competition day and weary to give you much comment other than on the score sheet. This can be frustrating, especially when given a lower score, yet you don’t know why, where or how that score was deserved. Another downfall to dance judgements is the variety. One judge may give you a nearly perfect score, while another gives you subpar and three more give you somewhere crazily in between. Judges can also show bias to certain teams, although this is to commonly used to blame a poor scored performance, it does sometimes happen. In most occasions however, judges are selected with a lot of time, effort and professionalism, so hopefully this point never actually comes to be true.

Dance uses a score system based on opinion, which is different than most other sporting victories. Just like dance being judged differently, the judges are all different o. You encounter new ideas and insight from them and they hold knowledgeable backgrounds in the many forms of dance genres. It’s beneficial to gather information based on judgement in order to progress a dance routine to its fullest potential.

~Julia Brewer

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Bettering Yourself

“I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself.”

-Miklail Baryshnikov

In a previous blog post I gave insight on how a dancer is their own worst critic. With this being the case, the main focus of a dancer is to learn, grow and create new and better pieces, as time and age conquer. It becomes less important to beat out the opponents in a competition, because the satisfaction of bettering your own dancing ability and being better than the last performance you gave is much more rewarding. In my opinion the improvement of a dancer is most significant when they feel they have reached a greater potential, with more confidence and understanding than the time before. Improvement should be about bettering yourself, not comparing yourself to other dancers.

To better yourself as a dancer consider the focus of your own development as the most important effort. You don’t have to prove yourself to anyone, but yourself. With that, take the time to polish you weaknesses and develop them into strengths. This will better yourself as a dancer, as you are using your time to focus on yourself over anyone else.

The feeling you receive when you have accomplished something you once never thought possible is something that comes along with the encouragement of bettering yourself as a dancer. You feel you have reached the next milestone to be your greatest potential. You should start feeling better and better about yourself, before and after taking the stage. It’s shouldn’t even be the feeling of winning over your peers that makes you feel this way, but the joy of knowing you are better than you ever have been before. It’s such a rewarding pleasure to think about how far you are headed in the right direction, with respects to a dancing career. It improves confidence, and understanding of dance that only furthers a dancer for the better.

Every dancer is unique, and has their own style that makes them stand out. Dancers should be bettering those unique features, instead of attempting to compare their own stylistic qualities to another dancers, whose may be completely different. The improvement will come to a dancer, when they find how to improve their own style.

Dancing is about self-improvement. Bettering yourself to new heights, that make you feel more confident and improved. Always remember to take your own dancing and grow, learn and create from that. It’s about bettering yourself, not comparing yourself to be better than everyone around you. It will come faster if you use the motivation of bettering yourself, than trying to be better than every other single dancer. If you are growing, learning and improving yourself to your new best, that’s what counts. Bettering yourself is so vital and should be strived by every dancer, every day.

~Julia Brewer

Taking Corrections

“Dancing is just discovery, discovery, discovery.”

-Martha Graham

When taking corrections it is important to always keep your cool. From experience and in human nature, we don't like when others pick out all of our negative flaws. At times it can be frustrating to learn you have made a habit to a correction you are now trying to overcome. Taking corrections is a stressful task, but one that has to be accomplished for team and self-improvement. Approaching correction taking is either going to tear you down to your breaking point, or leave you feeling more confident in knowing the correct sequence and execution of the dance.

As a beginning note in correction taking, try having an open mind and keeping your cool under the stressful networking of it all. It can be long, tedious and repetitive, but in the end it's about fixing what is wrong in the routine and perfecting it to its best, so that there are high impressions of it when it reaches an audience. You may feel like breaking down, but if you keep your cool and stay open minded, I can only hope that it will leave you feeling more confident in the dance and with yourself as a dancer. This can be achieved by being courteous to the correctors, motivating yourself and taking breaks to calm yourself down, if feeling completely overwhelmed.   

Having someone or a group of someone's looking over your every move, telling you all the things you are doing wrong is like a stab to your confidence in every bit. I challenge you to take it in slowly and focus on the progress you want in order to succeed. It becomes a frustration to learn what you have been doing all along is completely wrong, and needs a total renovation. It's difficult to break a habit, but with the help of a positive outlook, confidence in yourself and an understanding corrector you should find yourself correcting moves accordingly.

Yes, getting an outstanding amount of critiques is hard on a dancer, it can leave you feeling hopeless, stressed and not good enough. I want to stress that that’s not how the critiques should be making you feel. If someone is willing to take the time to give you a critique, they are giving you their attention, and they want you to be successful. To be honest it is much easier to give a correction if you know it will be applied, so by someone giving you a correction they are telling you that they believe in you, and truly just want to see you take it, and make it better than it was before. They are giving you the correction for your own self-improvement, which may later lead to the improvement of a team, if it's a group dance.

The point to remember is when your peers are giving you corrections, keep a steady ground of focus, they don't want you worked up, they just want you to be doing the moves correctly and fixing them now and instead of finding out later when it's harder to break the habit. They are taking the time to help you become a dancer, so you should show respect and be courteous, even if you disagree or are feeling overwhelmed. It's natural to feel frustrated when others point out your errors, but if you take corrections as a positive over a negative the whole process will feel so much better, and run smoother as well.

~Julia Brewer

H2O

“If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance.”

-Anonymous

Staying hydrated is important in all competitive sports, dance is no different. You need to help cool down the body when it is becoming heated or dry. To stay hydrated you should be drinking lots of water, especially during an intense rehearsal. Drinking water helps relax and fuel muscles, reducing spasms or tensions within them. If the dance studio doesn’t have a drinking fountain, be prepared to have a water bottle, and if refills are needed don’t feel like the bathroom sink isn’t an option for a replenishment. It’s important to drink water when you are dancing, you are sweating and burning off calories. Treat yourself, by giving your body fluids for hydration. It will reduce tiredness and stress on muscles.

~Julia Brewer

 

Pom Foundation

“To dance is to challenge the body which is also the self. To generate an action which has a force of its own and allow the movement to penetrate the inner sensibilities, or to calculate the action and try to tune out--this is difficult, perhaps impossible.”

 -Katherine Litz

Pom is a type of dance that is performed at the high school dance team level, as well as by college dance teams. It is a completely foreign studio genre that is not practiced much or at all, unless the studio is specific to it. Poms combines elements of jazz technique, such as turn, leaps, extensions and jumps, and combines it with hip-hop levels and dynamics. Setting it aside from other dance styles the distinguishing factor of poms is in fact the use of poms during the dance. Poms takes the different jazz, hip-hop, upbeat styles and incorporates them with motion of poms in the hand. It’s a very fast pace, team collaborative, and if properly executed, clean style of dance.

Poms uses hip-hop, jazz and fast tempo music variety in performance. The hip-hop elements dig deeper into level changes such as; going from a high v to a low v, giving a bending of the legs verse a releve, knees to a standing position, or having a jump sequence that ultimately travels to a landing split. These hip-hop assortments give the pom routine a breakdown section, which adds diversity into the overall performance. Jazz features bring the pom, technique options like turns, leaps, extensions and jumps. You need the foundation of jazz for small things too, like pointing the feet, turning out from the hip and engaging the core. Pom has its own style as well, new components are clarified and specified to make the dance look like one, in a collaborative team effort.

Pom in itself has to have a fast tempo base, and watch out for pom technique. Moves are done very quickly and need lots of cleaning to get them precise. Arms are important for hyperextending purposes, as are the placements of wrists, one cracked wrist could be detrimental as it bends the poms the wrong way in the hand. Pom also requires a team collaboration, members have to work together to look like one common union. Dancing as one is important for the overall “look” of a pom routine because everyone is wearing a solid uniform and is meant to look exactly alike, like a uniform. Teams clean pom routines to get this effect, not only to look the same, but to display key small group spotlights. One last note about pom characteristics is the need of crazy, outrageous, dramatic faces. Faces are meant to keep the energy flowing between dancer and audience, also to show excitement and school spirit. They get crazy because the dance is exhausting, but they need to be kept up for performance standards. Faces are crucial for a competitive pom routine.

The most distinctive part of poms is the use of poms in the hands during the whole entire dance. It’s an element that brings color and dimension into the routine. The movement of them is the base grading of how a pom routine is scored. The execution has to be done clean, without sloppy wrists or arms. Breaking is usually a do, to make the movements go by faster. Cleaning the poms to the body is also an important note for making the routine look clean. Finally it is key to remember that you should never under any circumstances let a pom fall from your grasp. Dropping a pom during competition is a deduction to the team and easily avoided by holding them in a correct position.

Pom is a difficult style to master and is typically only performed by high school and college dance teams. It pushes the body to its limits, with the speed and precision it requires. It is forceful and difficult, and not easy to just pick up and compete. It requires a foundation in other dance styles, time to clean and clarify, and a commitment to a new thinking level for a style that is not common to a dancer before any dance team experience.

~Julia

 

Dance Prodigies

”You must have chaos within you to give rise to a dancing star.”

- Friedrich Nietzsche

Dancing starts at a young age. Some dancer’s already have natural talents and others don’t and have to grow into the new customs. Musicality, technique, energy, emotion, flexibility, dedication, determination and memorization are just a few components that you may see in a young, aspiring dancer. The characteristics show the great potential of the dancer, setting them aside from their peers in a positive, look at me sort of way. Such talent does not come around all the time, so when a studio sees this type of talent being demonstrated by a young dancer they help shape them into a new technical, stylistic dancer that will help bring a brilliant visionary to the stage.

These young dancers may be looked at as dance prodigies, standing out in the eight talents of dance; musicality, technique, energy, emotion, flexibility, dedication, determination and memorization. Discovering the arising elite dance force in the studio is most likely going to be visible in the early ages of dance. Teachers can see the talent the young one’s expose in class that identify with high understanding of the eight dance components. For example they can find the eight counts, down beats and tempo changes in music. They take time to correct their technical movements like a sickled foot, or inverted knee. Energy and emotion fir the style of concern, they hold their poise in their face and body language. The young dancer’s hips and back have natural stretch. The prodigy dancer above all with show a love and commitment to the artful sport, and longs to be doing it whenever and wherever they are, wanting to reach a fuller potential and master all moves given to them. Finally the component of memorization speaks for itself, either you can remember what the choreography calls for next or it comes at a slower rate, for the type of dancer we’re talking about it is going to be the quicker picker upper.

Young dancer’s that compose all seven components of dance are a small and strong power in the dance industry. Displaying talent that some experienced dancers, choreographers, judges and everyday people admire and want for themselves. These young prodigy dancers have so much ahead of them and it is an exciting experience to dance among them and share their love and passion for the field. It’s rare to come across such a dancer that excels in musicality, technique, energy, emotion, flexibility, dedication, determination and memorization alike. This type of special, young dance prodigy is rare, but influential to watch, the natural talents they behold are breath taking and a personal favorite of mine to see.

~Julia Brewer

Performance for the Performance

"Dance is a little insanity that does us all a lot of good."

 -Edward Demby

Weight lifting is one of many ways a dance team keeps up with yearlong season training. Weightlifting challenges the body’s strength in several positions and tasks. It builds muscle and power to the body which is useful to every sport, including dance.

My high school dance team is required to take a weightlifting course, called Performance P.E. as a class period for at least half of the school year. We also have to do weight lifting over the whole summer, this lasts twice a week and is in the morning right before practice. The final part of our weight lifting commitment is during our “off season” we are required as a team to go in after school twice a week to get stronger and max out on all of our skills.

Although there is some complaining that goes into weight lifting, the results are showing and our dancing bodies are becoming better accustomed to it. Other sports are beginning to accept the fact that dance team also has a reason to do weight lifting, as pom requires a great amount of arm strength, also dance itself requires its need because it helps to make it easier to get our dancing legs off the ground on leaps, jumps and kicks.

Unlike other sports we are not trying to “get big” or set school weight lifting records. Dance team uses weight lifting as a way to train our bodies for what we have to do in practice. It’s conditioning our bodies to engage and use the strength of our muscles that we have gained from weightlifting, and use them while dancing. It’s about setting personal bests for a dancer’s body, not maxing out the school record, that’s not what dance team is training for, nor what their goals need to be.

I think dance team has every right to use the same training as other sports, it challenges the body to become stronger and more toned. Weightlifting builds muscles that dancer’s need to grow stronger in order for them to execute skills with ease. Although dancers are not usually looking to max out school records or “get big” the results are still obvious, as jumps become higher and arms get stronger.

                ~Julia Brewer

Issues with Ears

“Leave a little sparkle wherever you go.”

-Anonymous

There is a lot of preparation that goes on before a dancer takes the stage. A small part of a dancer’s appearance is her ears. To assist the face in popping, dancers wear earrings. It adds an extra sparkle onto the stage, which only helps the audience draw the dancer in closer to their attention.

For dance team competitions you are not allowed to wear actual earrings, for safety reasons. That means no bellybutton, nose, ears or any other piercings are allowed. It doesn’t matter how new or permanent they are, they are not tolerated and can result in disqualification if worn. For that reason some teams do not wear any earrings. Which makes sense, because what else would they do? Well there is a solution to do this that my dance team uses. For competitions and performances we always want to make our faces shine even brighter so we glue on diamond like earrings that are most likely supposed to be used for scrapbooking from a craft store. Other dance team’s also use these diamonds on their face, following their smile line along their eyes. This helps their face pop with lots of sparkle on the face.

On the other hand competitions for studios do allow you to wear earrings. Therefore all studios should take the opportunity of putting earrings on their dancer’s as it really makes a difference on the stage. My own issue with earrings is that I do not have one of my ears pierced from a problem with the sensitivity of my ears, so I have to wear clip-ons. Clip-ons are just as effective as normal earrings, as long as they match the size of all the other earring’s the studio uses. Clip-ons can be used for those who don’t have their ears pierced, but still need to match the rest of the team.

Earrings are an important aspect to the appearance of a dancer on stage. They really help to pop the features a dancer shows in their face on stage. All dancer’s should wear earrings, and find a way that works for whatever competition they are attending.

                                                                                          ~Julia

High School Dance Team

"The nice thing about teamwork is you always have others on your side." 

-Margaret Carty

Dancing is not only carried through studios, but it is also brought to high school athletics. Being on a high school dance team helps in opening doors to college dance teams, giving you prep if that is what you want to be involved in at college.  It’s also a great way for a dancer to expand their horizons as it comes with learning new styles and making new friends. Dancing in high school gives you the opportunity to show school spirit and be involved in many different sports, while still letting you participate in the one you love the most. It’s a sport that takes a lot of time, energy and commitment, but in the end leaves you with countless happy memories that you will never want to let go.

If a dancer is looking to dance on a college dance team they should definitely tryout and be on their high school dance team. High school dance team gives a background of the new styles they will need to be a part of a college team. Jazz is different than ever before, hip-hop is more team based and pom is a whole new style most studio don’t teach. Some high school dance teams also perform hoopla, kick and military which are styles that most dancers are not accustomed to.

Being a part of a high school dance team is a great way to learn those new styles of dance and make new friends along the way. Because dance team is an all year sport, you become very close with all of your team mates and form several close friendships amongst them. Dance team in high school brings together the best dancers from every studio that go to your school. It is awesome to be able to come from all different dance backgrounds, but still work together in the high school setting, using all of the talents you have learned from dancing at a studio and incorporating them into your new team. You may never have the chance to dance with people from other studios, so it’s a great way of getting to know and have the opportunity to dance with them on a high school dance team.

Dance team brings a lot of school spirit into the high school. They wear the school colors, perform to the school fight song, represent the school at events and competitions and support them at school sporting events. Typically dance teams do half time performance and dance on the side lines at football games. They also perform at basketball games. Point being that one of many jobs of a dance team is promoting school spirit, which is super fun, you get into sporting events free and get to participate in parades. Dance team’s also get offered special opportunities to promote school spirit all around the school and community.

It’s true, dance team takes up a lot of time, energy and commitment. It can get very stressful and emotional, but in the end it is all totally worth it. It’s a lot of pressure on the body and mind, but the satisfaction of being a part of the team as a whole is an experience that only few get a shot at in high school. Stressed and emotional memories will be trumped by the better, fun, exciting and happy ones. High school dance teams have the ability to form some of the closest relationships compared to other sports, having team mates that truly care for you and share the same passion as you, dancing.

~Julia

 

Supportive Parents

“Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.”

-Carl Sandburg

Dancers rely heavily on their parents support and it is important for them to know that they are in the audience on their side. Dancers also rely on their parents for financial reasons, because dance is such a costly sport. Having supportive parents is important because they are the people who love you the most, and who want you to succeed.

Facing the facts, it is apparent that dance is an expensive sport with the costs of shoes, costumes, choreography and competition stacking up in the checkbook year after year. Not to mention doctor’s visits for injuries as a result of dance. There is no doubt that a dancer relies completely on their parents for the expenses that dancing brings. Due to dance being so expensive it is only just that dancers are appreciative for their parents working hard to pay all of the dance bills and give them thanks for allowing the dancer to do what they love.

The support of your parents is vitally important at the time of your performance, knowing your parents are there for you can make the level of stage confidence so much stronger. The fact that the people who love you the most are there for you can make all the difference, whether that is if you feel awful after the performance, nervous before or need relaxation on stage, they are there for you and think you are the very best one out there.

Parents watch their children dancing and only grow with love for them, in their mind you are the best one on the stage and the light of their life. No matter the cost of dance parents should be happy that they are bringing their children a passion so great it is teaching them discipline, desire and confidence. To get the most out of their money they should do their best to attend all performances of their dancer as it can only help give comfort to them when they are on and off the stage.

I have grown up extremely lucky to have two such supporting parents who help me to keep my passion of dancing alive. They support my dancing financially and affectionately and I am so grateful for that. Just knowing that you’re two biggest fans are in the audience gives a sense of relief. It’s such a great feeling to have them on your side no matter the outcome.

Thanks mom and dad!

~Julia

Learning from Professionals

“Movement never lies. It is a barometer telling the state of the soul's weather to all who can read it.”

-Martha Graham

One of the most benefitting and eye opening experiences as a dancer is to take class from a professional choreographer, dancer or instructor. Attending master classes are an extremely beneficial way for dancers who are hoping to grow in a specific genre. It furthers their perspective in the style, by hearing, feeling and observing in what the professional has to say. The dancer can learn things they have never considered and can find deeper passion from the inspiration of the professional.

Professional choreographers can bring a lot of excitement to a dancer’s life. Knowing that the choreographer has made productions for famous, world renowned stars gives dancers a sense of enthusiasm to learn choreography from them. By learning from top choreographers dancers can get a feel for how they work with others, and how dancers should treat, speak and behave around them. It also furthers dancing by learning how the choreographer wants the moves to be executed to fit the style of dance given, this helps to connect moves to the body, to the music, to the group, to the audience.

 

Taking master classes from a professional dancer is a compelling experience. To see how the dancer’s body moves and extracts feeling from the music in presenting a piece gives light to dancers who want to be just as moving and powerful. Dancers can find a deeper passion from the inspiration of a professional dancer giving them motivation to reach a fuller potential.

Professional dance instructors are a great way to further yourself as a dancer. Dancers have the opportunity to learn so much from professional instructors, such as technique, movement, motion, placement, musicality and preparation. Instructors are behind the scenes from the dancer and choreography because they provide in the foundations of dance. For example a ballet instructor cleans and clarifies the technique of the ballet style, a hip-hop instructor specifies the movement of hip-hop skills, a contemporary instructor indicates the musicality of the body to music, and so on and so forth for every genre of dance. The instructor builds on what you have to use as a dancer to perform a piece of choreography, it is the expansion of a dancer’s foundation.

Learning from professional choreographers, dancers and instructors is an eye opening experience for a dancer, giving insight into the professional world and what is expected by the top of the industry. Learning from professionals offers a greater understanding of dance by gaining new knowledge on typical concepts. To learn from professionals is different than anything else a dancer could do, because studio dancers usually take lessons from the same teachers week after week. Therefore by doing master classes you are expanding your dance horizons and working with new people who have ideas and inspiration that you have never been available to you. It is beneficial to learn from those you haven’t because it demands greater focus and attention to detail.

~ Julia Brewer

Nerves

“I have a nervous lips tick, so naturally I try to cover it up with lipstick.”

― Jarod Kintz

There is a feeling of tingly fingers, heavy shoulders and tenseness running through a dancer from the moment they pull up to the performance hall until their name is called to take the stage. It’s a mixed rush of emotions, stress and nerves. A thousand things racing through their mind like counts, time, lunch, floor, hair, judges, all bringing up the nerves of taking the stage. It is a part of involvement with any sport, and it’s natural to be nervous for everyone to watch, judge and support you, but it is when you have begun that it all starts to come together.

Although a dancer may be nervous to dance for family, friends, judges and the unknown, being on stage can give them a sort of comfort, knowing that is where they feel confident. Nerves seem to fade away for that short two to three minutes and all is good and comfortable. Although present the nerves learn to vanish and not take over the spotlight of the stage.

It is hard to overcome nervousness and is a very natural thing for the body to do, especially in a stressed worrisome state. A dancer may be worried about the floor being too sticky or slippery, their stomachs too empty or full, their timing too fast or slow, or their costumes being too tight or too lose. There is so much a dancer is thinking through before taking the stage for a performance and ultimately their nerves will either get to them or they will push back and show confidence in their dancing.

It is vital for a dancer to give themselves time away from over rehearsing, over thinking and over exaggerating and just take some deep breaths to calm down the nerves, stress and worry. If a dancer does not walk onto the stage cool, calm, and confident, the judges will see that and score you accordingly. The best thing you can do as a dancer is to not let the nerves break through and instead focus on the dance at hand.

As a parting piece of advice it is important to know that nerves are a natural feeling after you have been preparing so much time and effort to perfect a dance, however you should not let those nerves over take your dancing and affect you in a negative way. Being nervous should not limit you from doing what you love, stay calm and be confident in yourself and success will surely come.

 

~Julia Brewer

 

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

“I've been spoiled rotten with the costumes I've worn.”

-Natalie Dormer

Halloween season is here, that means trying to find an innovative costume idea quickly. That is not a problem for a dancer of several years that is enrolled in several numbers, such as myself. Every year a dancer needs a new costume per dance they are involved in, which turns into a closet of costumes by the time you are about to graduate high school.

Dancers are at an advantage when a costume is needed in a hurry, with so many options to choose from, they have the ability to recycle costumes used in previous years and wear as be, add a few touches or make into a DIY. Dancers that reuse costumes are most likely to have the most original and sparkly Halloween attire compared to their friends.

Taking old dance costumes and transforming them into Halloween costumes is a great way to get your money’s worth out of how much you originally spent on the costume, as dance costumes can range to be pretty expensive. It’s a great way to get a bang for your buck and look good on the night of October 31^st.

~Julia Brewer

Your Own Worst Critic

"I think the hardest thing to overcome is judging yourself and being your own worst critic so to speak.”

-Nile Rodgers

Getting pointed out for an error in dance class can be embarrassing, surprising and bettering. It shows that you are doing something wrong among the other dancers and is at a noticeable point. When being critiqued it may be eye opening into something you never knew was happening and become recognized as habit. Critiques can also give insight on how to perform the skills correctly which leads into furthering your dance horizons.

I find that most dancers can agree with the fact that they are their worst critic. Teachers, choreographers, judges, coaches, peers and parents can all give corrections, but it is how the dancer takes the correction that shows all. The frustration when a piece of choreography, technique or skill is not met can be the verge of a breaking point for a dancer. The dancer gets so hard on themselves, as many do when not hitting the goal of perfection. A dancer can take to the extremes and become their worst critic until getting the execution exactly right. No matter how many times you hear good job, you think you’re lying I could have done so many things bigger and better, because dancers hold themselves up so high, wanting to correct all mistakes made and problems that could be resolved.

Knowing that you have a dancing habit can become stressful and emotional, especially when the critiques keep piling up repetitively. Dancing in the mirror and watching video of yourself plainly shows all the critiques you’ve received and can slowly become the founding structure of negative vibes. As dancers work on their flaws, they see them occurring more noticeably, and as habit the critique will constantly reappear, but with focus the habit can begin to disappear.

Getting critiques points out the negatives of a dancer, but with the work ethic of being your worst critic the critiques resolve and become a positive part of the dancer. Critiques are a helpful part in dance as they point out the imperfections that need to be addressed and fixed and then correcting them. Critiques help better dancers to see what they are doing wrong, and although they can beat dancers up mentally they only help in the long run. Being your worst critic is at a balance. You constantly do not feel good enough, until you have reached the point of overcoming the critique, it is an accomplished feeling like no other for a dancer.

 ~Julia Brewer

 

NO BOYS ALLOWED?

“I got started dancing because I knew it was one way to meet girls.”

-Gene Kelly

 

Dance is perceived as being feminine, and there are some people who view dance as an all-girls sport. This is far from the truth. Although the sport is heavily populated by women it is not strictly females, nor is it odd that men do dance. Men are judges for being dancers, but dance is an enormous physical challenge on a male dancer’s body and mind requiring a high level of strength, positioning, concentration, technique, balance, passion, and muscle. Just looking at men like Derek Hough, Benjamin Millepied, Anthony Morigerato, Matt Steffania, Hok and Myles Erlick dance should be enough for any person to step back and consider everything that is required to be a male dancer.

Having men in dance is an important and crucial structure to the dance industry. Men are used in lifts, portraying stories and used at a very high level in professional companies and institutions. It is a fact that men are able to be more muscular than women, their genetic features enable them to be bigger and broader. Due to this genetic difference between men and women, men are an important key into doing difficult lifts. It requires an immense amount of strength, control, focus and balance for a man to be able to lift a woman into the air, with a look of ease, under the pressure of an audience for an extended amount of time. They must condition their body and mind under intense workout to execute lifting skills correctly. The element of telling a story for an audience is another significant role of a male dancer. There is only so many shows you can perform with an all-women’s cast, and there is only so much you can do to portray the high percent of female dancers in the business as male characters. Therefore you need men to fill those roles and bring the story to life for all viewers in attendance.

There are many stereotypes with men, although the most common is that male dancers are gay. Some say that because they spend all their time with girls, that they draw away from crushing on them and instead become one of them, thinking, speaking and acting like them, drawing closer to the affection of a man. That is ludacris. Yes, there are gay male dancers, but nothing of the fact that all men who dance are gay. Why does being a man in dance make you gayer than a football player? Football players are around men all the time, therefore you could say because they share so much time together they must have deeper, sensual relationships. Again, people assume and can make judgments about any sport, which is extremely unnecessary. I’m not saying football player are gay, but it is a point that we should not assume because a man dances, or plays football that he automatically must be gay. It is a stereotype of the world that needs to be put to rest and instead of insulting the male dancers we come to know, appreciate them for all the dedication they put into the field.

Saying that only women can be dancers is false and a stereotype by many. Just because there is a higher ratio of women to men does not mean that men are not and cannot be amazing dancers. In fact male dancers have a very high amount of strength, their mental capacity is extremely strong as are there physical strengths. Male dancers are essential to dance and are overlooked by the general public, which is a change that I hope is broken, as all male dancers should get the appreciation and respect they deserve for the efforts they have put in to be amazing dancers.

~Julia

 

Auditions

“I do not know what the spirit of a philosopher could more wish to be than a good dancer. For the dance is his ideal.”

-Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

The process of auditioning is an extremely important part of the dance world. It shows who is ready to take on a new challenge and be part of a new branch in the dance industry. Although it can be extremely nerve racking, it has to be done, and it has to be made professional.

Going into an audition, you should feel prepared and set to go. An audition is not created for the dancers to have one last practice on what they aren’t confident on, it is used to show off all the talent they do have and the effort they have put forth in rehearsal to make the piece come together.

To prepare for an audition, you should attend all rehearsals that choreographers and directors have set. Show up early, wearing the correct attire, and not draw to much attention to yourself, as you want to stay humble while still showcasing your talent. Also be quiet, courteous and attentive. During rehearsals you should always think about how you want to be seen by others around you. It can be displaying to those hiring you whether you are loud, cocky, rude or lazy if you do not represent yourself well while practicing. In all honesty the audition begins as soon as you step in, they are judging how you work with others, yourself and instructors, so treat every second as if it is the audition.

Outside of set rehearsal times it would be very beneficial to practice on your own time. Start a small, hardworking group with some of the other dancers, so you can ask questions and get the feel of dancing with someone else. Also practice in private on your own spare time. It would be very helpful to rehearse in front of a mirror and progressively turn away and get use to no mirror once you have the choreography down. To audition you have to be abundantly confident in your performance, so practice full out, rehearse constantly, experiment with moves and if appropriate make it your own, otherwise clean it precisely in order to positively stand out amongst the rest of the group.

In your audition you want to be consistent, patient and polite. In many instances they may have you repeat the dance several times. For example you may have to try out individually, then with a partner, small group and whole group. It’s important to be consistent so you are easily recognizable and not unpredictable. Patience is also key in an audition, the judges may want to see more or less than you expect, or take longer or shorter than what you know. Handle it maturely and do not get down or frustrated with yourself, especially in front of them. Finally show you are polite and easy to work with, if you can take correction responsibly it creates a better image for yourself. Be prepared for whatever they want you to do, stay calm and follow directions.

Yes, auditions are nerve racking, but just enjoy yourself and make sure you are comfortable. Take time to be prepared and show directors, choreographers and judges yourself in the best possible light. You want to represent yourself as mature, polite, relaxed, hardworking, kind, attentive and talented.

It’s life that you may not make the cut for everything you audition for. It is okay because it happens to everybody and you never know, just because you do not book a job with one, does not mean that you did not impress anyone else. By auditioning for anything you open up your horizons for so much more to come. You gain more confidence and knowledge every time you attend an audition. Auditions can only help you grow as a dancer and lead you into more and more contacts through the dance world. If you really want to go somewhere in the dance industry you should keep going to several auditions and showcase your talent, attitude and name. It will only help expand the brand you are trying your best to promote.

~Julia Brewer

 

Caution Wet Floor

“Somebody just gave me a shower radio. Thanks a lot. Do you really want music in the shower? I guess there's no better place to dance than a slick surface next to a glass door.”

― Jerry Seinfeld

Dancers go through a lot in a day. They dance with long hours and tiring nights whether that is from rehearsal, performances or practicing. It is only natural to continue out that dancing from the place of dance to their own home. If there is a place to dance at home a dancer seizes that opportunity, it could be the hallway, the closet, the garage, the basement, the stairway or even, yes the shower!

A nice, hot, or cold, refreshing shower after a long day’s work of dancing is oh so very nice. It is a calming relaxation to rest the muscles, take some deep breaths, wash out all the hairspray and to wipe the makeup away.

The problem when you mix shower and dancer, is the fact that dancers like to dance anywhere. Moving and grooving in the shower is no different, especially when you have music to accommodate you.

Now dancers, just be careful as shower floors are most commonly found wet during showers and you wouldn’t want a shower slip to result in an injury. Yes, of course keep dancing your heart away, just be cautious so that you don’t get hurt after all the work you put in that day. Enjoy the refreshing shower and stay prepared for all the upcoming performances. Lesson to be learned, it is understandable that dancers take their art to the extremes of washing themselves, just want them to use caution when floors are wet, so they are not carried away, from the soap beneath their feet.

~Julia Brewer

Growing Up Dancer

“People have asked me why I chose to be a dancer. I did not choose. I was chosen to be a dancer, and with that, you live all your life. ”

― Martha Graham, Blood Memory

Growing up dancer is strangely different than any other childhood. You act, hear and learn things differently than others. People ask why you behave, listen and perceive differently than them, and it can be a challenging obstacle to understand.

I have not known a life without dance. I grew up finding the counts to every song my family listened to in the car, pointing my feet to fall asleep, dancing around the grocery store, tap dancing under my desk and having a fast, long term memory.

Having to grow up dancer can be a challenge. Dancing becomes habit, and life learns that it needs dance to survive, serious dancers quickly begin to eat, breathe, sleep and live as a dance. This is because growing up dancer, you have no idea what a world without dance at your center is.

There is a certain fascination about growing up dancer. Some ask, how do they do, what they do? With the response being, what do you mean? Dancers come into a habitual state where all they do, and want to do is be out dancing. The effect being as I said earlier, finding counts in any type of music, pointing feet whenever given the chance, dancing around endlessly wherever you may be and making it the number one priority.

Growing up dancer is strangely different than any other childhood, and a childhood that no serious dancer could ever give up. It is a love and passion that others sometimes don’t understand. To a dancer a life without dance is a life of misery. I know personally I could never go a day without dancing. It makes me so incredibly happy and positive on how I want to live my life through dance. Although growing up dancer is different than other childhoods, it is one that gives a new perspective on behaving, hearing and learning that a serious dancer wouldn’t know how to live without.
 

 

~Julia Brewer

Musical Theatre

“Man must speak, then sing, then dance. The speaking is the brain, the thinking man. The singing is the emotion. The dancing is the Dionysian ecstasy which carries away all.”

-Isadora Duncan

Musical theatre is an entertainment form of dance. The dances are usually taken out from plays, musicals, or showy, popular numbers. It contains several characteristics of Broadway dancing, acting, character work and singing. It is a great way to perform a show with drama, especially because it is popular among all age groups. 

The dancing in musical theatre ranges from the intermediate level all the way to advance. Young and beginning dancers usually perform musical theatre as simple steps with more standing actions and facials. Older, more experienced dancers have the ability to add in creativity with several intricate skills that show off talent and technique.

The style is elaborate and requires a lot of acting to be performed by the dancers. The style can be out of a lot of people’s comfort zones, and is typically best performed with over the top drama, in order for the story to be shown and understood by the audience.

Character work is the foundation of the musical theatre genre. It is based on the change, exaggeration and portrayal of character through the use of costuming, posture, personality, facials and scenery. Younger dancers learn the ropes of musical theatre by performing more common children songs, making it easier for them to understand. Older, experienced dancers are able to portray a wider range of characters with a large amount of drama and facials. The strongest of musical theatre dancers can transform completely into their role, as if that is who they truly are. A full fledge performer in the industry shows their capabilities by indulging themselves into their characters shoes.

Many acts of musical theater incorporate singing, but it also dependent on age. Several younger performers sing on stage, simply because their dancing is not far enough to lead them out in a strong musical theater piece. However, lip syncing is extremely common in dance, especially by the older dancers. Leading to the fact that not all dancers are great, aspiring singers. Singing during a whole show can also become exhausting if that’s not the normal training. Furthermore, singing on stage can also become a distraction to the audience.

Musical theatre is a great way to extend your styles as a dancer. It gives you experience in telling a broad story not only through dance, but by acting. It is very dramatic and showy, and a fantastic way for all ages to reach out of their comfort zone in front of an audience.

~Julia Brewer

Dancers, Don't Get Down on Yourselves

“Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody has those days.”

-Hannah Montana

Everybody does make mistakes, but it is what we learn from those mistakes that will help us in the future to prosper as dancers. Making a mistake as a dancer can at times feel like the world can’t go on and you will never be able to redeem yourself, the pressure can get to you and make you feel incapable. In this position I challenge you to shake it off and not get upset over the little things, or even the large scale things for that matter. It is important to have confidence and not to become discouraged with yourself, because everyone makes mistakes.

Messing up on stage in front of a large audience can be humiliating, whether it’s performing a solo, small group or huge production. In the moment you think all eyes are on you and the mistake you made is all the audience can see and think about. Truthfully, it is not as noticeable as you think. Yes, timing may be scattered or you may have a complete blank, but that’s okay. It happens even to the best of us.

A point to remember when you become flustered over an error is that your audience is very forgiving. They understand there is an immense amount of pressure on you when you take the stage and it is not the end of the world if you make mistake. The audience has come to watch you dance, and they want to see you do well.

After making a mistake on stage instead of getting angry and worked up over it, try to calm down, take some deep breaths, and get yourself into an open mind set for your next curtain call. If the routine you made a mistake in performs again in the future, try and prepare yourself for it in order to master the sequence and feel accomplished in your performance.

It is hard, but everybody makes mistakes and gets down on themselves. Rise above the negativity and keep a positive stance. Have a clear mind and remember the less deal you make over it, the less people will remember the mistake. It works like magic.

Enjoy your time on stage and know that the audience wants you to succeed and feel great about your performance. The clapping at the end, yeah that’s for you, so smile and be happy even if that mistake is working over your confidence. You can redeem yourself later, and you will be absolutely fabulous.

 

~Julia Brewer

Satisfaction of Inspiration

“To be inspired is great, but to inspire is an honor.”

 ― Stacey T. Hunt

Growing up in a dance studio you learn to admire and gain inspiration all around from the older, more talented and higher experienced dancers. As I have grown as a dancer, I am both honored and humbled to be looked at for inspiration by those younger than myself, while still being motivated by those who inspire me.

My whole life I have looked up to older dancers, instructors and professionals. I wanted to work hard so I could be just as great as them one day. They made me want to practice, want to stretch and want to do my best. However in the last few years I have noticed a shift in interest. Parents and young girls from my studio watching through the window, asking me questions about improvement and complimenting me constantly on my dancing and positive attitude. This was the beginning of how I not only became inspired by others, but others began to take inspiration from me. 

It’s important to remember that behavior, attitude, work ethic, talent and kindness all are representative of the inspiration you give to others. As we get older we see the younger generations looking up to us for guidance, attention and inspiration. To be inspiring role models dancers must show leadership and positivity as a dancer and a person.

At dance I do my best to show leadership, have a positive attitude, strong work ethic and an overwhelming amount of kindness. I want to be a positive inspiration to the younger ones and lead by example both in and out of dance classes. I genuinely enjoy hearing about children’s interests, likings, activities and life. I am very interactive with them and encourage them put in 100% effort.

I have gained a lot of knowledge from those who have inspired me most and I am proud to say they were great people to look up to. They have created me into the dancer and person I am today and shape my way of thinking about the world. On the contrast, being able to inspire others is a blessing. It makes me overfilled with joy to hear that I have guided a dancer into a better person and make them smile because they have found their passion and never want to let it go. Seeing the smiles of all the young girls brings me so much happiness, and because of them I know too that I would never want to be anywhere else. I am truly honored to be able to inspire the young dancers that I once was too.

~Julia Brewer