When it comes to a long dance competition weekend, it can feel like you’re packing for a month away from home instead of a few days! As we enter competition season, it’s a good idea to have a checklist of your must-have items when you prepare for these events.
Port Orange dancers may not have to travel far to attend competition, but by having everything you need packed and ready, your comp weekend will go much smoother!
Local Port Orange Dance Studios, like The Legacy Dance Studio get wonderful training in all styles of dance. But for the dancer who wants more, dance conventions are a worthwhile investment in addition to studio training.
Dance conventions travel the country annually to share the love of dance with dancers of all ages and levels. If you’ve never considered taking your dancer to a convention, here are a few things you should know!
Dance conventions have been around for decades and were created as educational experiences primarily for instructors. Nowadays, dance conventions are for everyone who loves to dance!
A dance convention includes either one day or a full weekend of dance classes in different styles of dance. Sometimes, a convention will specialize in one specific style, like hip hop, and the classes will focus on the different aspects of the style.
Dance conventions also offer seminars on other related subjects, like audition advice, parent classes, and mental health and wellness for dancers.
Another perk of dance conventions is the opportunity to win scholarships or awards. Many dance conventions give away scholarships to future events or even college scholarships to dancers who demonstrate exceptional abilities in class.
Check the convention’s website for more information on what is included in the price of admission – many times it’s more than just classes!
Dancers who take their progress into their own hands are more likely to see improvement over time than dancers who just rely on their class time to practice. If you are a Port Orange dance student who has already created your own at-home stretch routine, that’s awesome! Maybe you consulted our recent article Creating an At-Home Stretch Routine That You Can Stick To ! You are likely well on your way toward your flexibility goals.
But if you have noticed a plateau in your stretching, or are just a little bored with what you’ve created, here are a few tips to improve your at-home stretch routine!
My name is Triany Nicolas. I am 16 years old, and this will be my 5th year dancing at the Legacy Dance Studio. After dedicating myself to gymnastics for eight years, I decided it was time for a change. In my first year at the dance studio, I was shy and did not know many of the girls. But through working hard and training every week, I acquired many values that have shaped who I am today. I have gained communication skills, confidence, and discipline through dancing at the studio. Mrs. Shannon has created a loving, body-positive, and motivating environment for young dancers and I am forever grateful for her. Not only is she my dance teacher but she is someone who I can always count on.
I joined the Legacy Stars competition team during my second year at legacy and immediately fell in love with competing. Dancing is my biggest outlet outside of school and it aids with my emotional expressions. I am able to demonstrate my stage presence and talent, which has tremendously boosted my confidence while also teaching myself that it’s acceptable if things don’t go according to plan. As a dancer, I have learned that perfection is impossible. There is always room for corrections.
We’ve all heard the suggestion from Port Orange dance teachers to stretch at home to improve flexibility, but how often does anyone really stick to that suggestion? It can be difficult to start a routine and stick to it, especially if you are trying to figure out the structure and the content alone.
To create an at-home stretch routine that you can stick to, you need to ask for advice, create a dedicated time and place to stretch, acquire the right tools, and be open to making adjustments to your routine.
Port Orange dance classes certainly include stretching, but unless you are truly at the dance studio every single day, you may need some more time devoted to stretching to achieve your flexibility goals. Read on for the best ways to achieve those goals!
Studio owners and directors in Port Orange dance studios have a lot on their plates, from the small, everyday tasks of running a studio to the big-picture challenges. One big-picture challenge that seems to be on everyone’s mind every year is, “What is the recital or showcase theme going to be?”
If you’ve been in business for a while, it can seem like there aren’t any themes left that you haven’t used! Or, themes you can think of might feel too narrow or not inclusive enough for the kind of show you want to put on.
Here are a few ideas for when you’re stuck and need some inspiration for your dance recital ideas for Port Orange dance classes!
How do you know if your dancer is ready for pointe shoes?
Dancers all over the world dream of the day when they get their first pair of pointe shoes! The image of gliding across the stage in beautiful satin shoes, complete with ribbons and a tutu, looms large for young ballerinas. But for parents of dancers in Port Orange dance classes, how do you know when it’s time for your dancer to begin pointe?
There are many assessments that can be done for dancers to determine pointe-readiness, but these are just a few that parents can begin with before approaching the teacher for more in-depth evaluations. Check these off your list before you head to the dancewear store!
This dance season, Port Orange dance trends range from the traditional to the eclectic! There are many options available at your local Port Orange dance store, as well as specialty brands online. Here are just a few hot trends to check out now!
Nothing says “I’m a dancer” like traditional black leotard and tights. In fact, the tradition is so long-standing that most Port Orange dance studios require leotard and tights for most of their dance classes.
But don’t fear being boring or uninteresting in your outfit choice. Brands like Bloch and Capezio are always coming out with new twists on old favorites, like mesh inserts in leotards to new, more comfortable waistbands on tights. One of my favorite Bloch pieces is the Lana Mirage Scoop Neck Leotard in black with pretty cutouts at the back. Capezio offers the tried and true Ultra Soft Transition Tight with a self-knit waistband in 18 different colors so you are sure to find one that you love!
Do you want to know how to stand out at dance competition? Even seasoned competition dancers can forget a shoe every now and then, but that’s only one small mistake that can happen before or during a dance competition! Here are the top 10 dance competition mistakes that can occur, and how to fix them!
One of the best things dancers in Port Orange can do before competition is rehearse facing away from the mirror. It’s surprising how beneficial it can be to do a few runs of your dance facing multiple directions.
Dancers often ask in the studio, “Which way will the stage face?” before competition, and the answer is, “Wherever it faces!” It’s a difficult concept for kids to grasp, but if you can rehearse the dance facing every possible direction, they will begin to understand that the routine won’t change regardless of which direction the stage faces.
This is a mistake that is mostly made by the dance instructor, but still relevant because category placement can affect how a dance scores! The majority of the time, this mistake happens when the lines are blurred between categories like lyrical or contemporary. Take the time to really analyze the dance routine for specific technical elements that live in one of those categories. It might even help to make a checklist of skills for each category so you can really see where a routine belongs.
If you’re a dancer, chances are you’ve had your fair share of sore muscles after a particularly difficult dance class. Sore muscles don’t mean you’ve overdone it, though, they just mean you’ve worked hard! However, soreness can interfere with your day-to-day life and there are some tried and true methods to get through it!
To treat and care for sore muscles, remember to warm up before you dance, cool down after class, and practice self-care. Use techniques like massage, foam rolling, taking Epsom salt baths, and resting!
Sore muscles may sometimes be the result of an injury or overuse. If soreness persists for longer than a couple of days, you may want to consult a medical professional. The advice you read here is no substitute for actual medical care.
The advice you read here is no substitute for actual medical care.