December 20th
I am a ballet teacher living and working in New Jersey. I used to teach in New York City, and my teacher training started with Don Farnworth in New York. As time allows, I contribute to Dance.net. A question just came up regarding splits and young dance students. When is it safe to start doing [...]
November 17th
In the last post we saw a good example of a popping and snapping hip and I talked about the possible reasons for a popping/snapping hip. Many of you appreciated the post and have asked me to talk about the hip pops that happen in the front of the hip. That’s been duly noted and is [...]
Read more of Stretches for the side popping and snapping hip…
November 1st
Today’s posting looks at another way to help get your extensions higher and développés even smoother and more controlled. It has to do with the wonderful iliopsoas muscle that you hear so many anatomists and body workers talking about! I know I’m someone that always looks at this muscle carefully when I am assessing someone’s [...]
September 28th
This week’s newsletter tackles the very sensitive and tricky topic of overweight dancers. A reader writes… You may have already discussed this issue in the body series but I just wondered if you had anything specific on over-weight dancers. It is so tricky discussing weight issues with students and parents that I thought if there [...]
September 15th
This week’s posting is on the tried and true clamshell strengthener for the turnout muscles. Watching a dancer do the clamshell exercise also gives you an idea of their functional strength and range of turnout. Since the hip is flexed – which allows for more range of turnout at the hip as we talked about [...]
Read more of Isolating and Strengthening the Turnout Muscles…
September 10th
Today’s video blog shows you my new favorite way of stretching the turnout muscles. No floor needed… just a chair:) Makes it easy for a dancer to get a quick stretch in while at school or sitting at the desk. Last week’s post on testing turnout got some great comments from dance teachers that you’ll want [...]
June 27th
My daughter is nine and this year has started to complain of heel pain and sometimes knee pain. So I researched and have come to the conclusion that she has fallen arches. I did a water foot test and her arches are not flat or low but when you just look at her feet they [...]
October 11th
I got your name from a dancer/friend when I asked her a question regarding a current ‘disability’ I have that affects my dance. First, I am a sixty year old male with a history of osteoarthritis and two joint replacements (one hip, one knee). I also social dance 5-6 nights a week……and I am actually [...]
July 9th
First of all I would like to thank you for the great website and your great blog! I am a 19-year-old ballerina and have been doing ballet recreationally since I was 5. A couple of years ago I decided to take it more seriously and to train more hours. I have three questions and I [...]
July 1st
Summer is right around the corner and I know that I need to continue dancing. I am going to take a few classes here and there but I won’t be able to take them everyday like I usually do at school. (performing arts) Is that OK? I mean I guess I could do a barre [...]