Christmas !!!

Christmas is right around the corner ! Everyone is holiday shopping and looking for the perfect gift. There are a plethora of perfect gifts for dancers. Leotards, legwarmers, massage gift cards, and even Icy Hot are all great gifts for a dancer. For younger dancers, ballerina teddy bears, key chains, and tutus will do the trick! Below is a website full of great gift ideas for the dancer !

http://www.allaboutdance.com/

R.A.D. exams

R.A.D. stands for Royal Academy of Dance. The R.A.D. exams are ballet exams that test your technique in ballet. They test you in stages (grade 1-8, elementary, intermediate, advanced, and advanced 2). It is a very hard exam to take. You have to memorize a whole syllabus. You wear a number and you are tested in a room with one or two girls. It is quite scary ! You either fail, pass, get a merit, or a distinction (which in is the highest). This exam is taught throughout the 70 countries. Every dancer memorizes the same syllabus and then you take the exam in certain places. Taking these exams looks great for college. It is a huge accomplishment to pass these exams, which depending on which level you are taking takes at least a year to learn. I took my intermediate exam last year, and I am working on my advanced exam this year. I passed the intermediate exam with a distinction. If I get a distinction on my advanced 1 and 2 exams, I will be eligible for the "Genne International Ballet Competition." It is basically the ballet Olympics. Last year it was held in Singapore, and this year it will be held in London. Below is a video that explains the competition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_vRamS4jhs

Dedication

Dedication is so important when it comes to Ballet. Ballet is extremely hard, time consuming, and painful ! You have to love it and have a passion for it. I definitely am dedicated to Ballet. Ballet is my life, the dance studio is literally my second home. I am always there. The feeling I get when I am on stage is incredible, if only everybody could experience it. But the time and effort it takes to be a ballerina is tremendous. You have to work like crazy to improve your technique, which means lots and lots of classes. Today I was at the theater from 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. getting ready for the five shows we are getting ready to perform. Now I have to do the rest of my school work because I am missing school. You have to have dedication to live this life. But it's definitely worth it !

Nutcracker !!!

This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I will be performing in the Nutcracker. It is a ballet for anyone who didn't know. We will be doing two shows Friday, two shows Saturday, and one show Sunday. It is my studios 10th anniversary, so this years Nutcracker will be bigger and better ! It will take place at the "Coral Springs Center for the Performing Arts." Tickets will be sold at the box office the day of the show. The link below has the times and pictures. I'm sure everyone would enjoy it, and it will get you in the holiday mood !
http://www.ida-dance.com/Company.html

Benefits from Yoga

The other day I took a yoga class. I really enjoyed it because it stretches you and relaxes you at the same time. Also, after the class you feel great ! Yoga refers to traditional mental and physical disciplines originating in India. When people think of yoga they think of meditation. Meditation is a form of yoga, but there are many forms of yoga. Meditation is one of the more relaxing types. What many people do not realize is that yoga is so beneficial mentally and physically, especially for dancers. Physically it stretches your body giving you more flexibility and increases the range of motion in joints. Also, yoga builds strength in your hamstrings, quadriceps, and abdominal muscles. Better posture is also a benefit that comes from yoga. Health benefits include better breathing, less stress/more calm, and concentration/mood. It is also said that yoga lowers the risk of heart disease ! It decreases Cholesterol and triglyceride levels as well as a boost in immune system function. Clearly, there are many reasons to take a yoga class. Even though you may be a little sore the next day, just try it and see if you like it !

Nutrition

I decided to write a blog about Nutrition because it is very important not only for a dancer but for everyone. My studio is getting ready to put on the Nutcracker. I will be performing five shows one weekend and then five shows the next ! This means I am always at the studio rehearsing and preparing for the show. On Saturdays I am usually dancing for six or seven hours with only a few breaks. This is where nutrition comes in. If I didn't eat healthy or the right foods, it would be very hard for me to dance for six hours.
The best things to eat when engaging in a high energy sport is nuts, or anything high in protein. Stay away from sugary foods. Eating sugary foods will give you quick energy, but will then quickly wear off and give you what is called a "sugar low." Natural sugars are the way to go. Fruits contains natural sugar. On a break, just eat an orange or any fruit. It will keep you energy up ! Carbohydrates are also very good to eat. Carbs provide the energy that fuels muscle contractions. Once eaten, carbohydrates breakdown into smaller sugars that get absorbed and used as energy. After dancing, or playing any sport that forces you to use muscles, drink some milk or eat fish. This helps keep the muscles you just worked. One of the most important aspects of nutrition is fluids. Drink, drink , drink !! Staying hydrated is very extremely important.When hydrated, muscles are more flexible and more easily moved. On average a dancer (or any athlete) should drink two liters of fluid a day ! I hope this blog entry can help athletes like me become healthier and more knowledgeable about nutrition.

So You Think Can Dance Update !!

Tuesday night "So You Think You Can Dance" was on t.v. It is now down to sixteen dancers. They are paired up (one boy and one girl) and they each do a different style of dance. Each of these dances are choreographed by top choreographers. These choreographers include Brian Friedman (who has worked with stars like Hilary duff and Beyonce), Alax Da Silva (2002 and 2005 World Salsa Champion), Dan Karaty (appeared on the "MTV Awards"), Mia Michaels (worked with artists such as Madonna, Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan and Prince), and Mary Murphy (founder of the Champion Ballroom Academy in San Diego, CA.) These choreographers have actually won wards for dances they have choreographed on the show. Last year a dance performed by Jeanine and Jason was a favorite among many. I have a link with the dance. I would love to hear what you think of it !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9LbkI4Pfuo&feature=related

The Importance of College

Many professional dancers start dancing in company's at a very young age. This means that the majority of them skip college. The dance world is extremely competitive, so the younger you are the better. But what happens if your in a company and you brake a foot or get seriously injured ? Your career is over !! Unless you have a college degree in something else. Many dance company's are now encouraging young dancers to get a college education. Its very important and a very smart decision. Just recently my dance partner got in a serious car accident. He dances for a ballet company for his career. Now he can no longer dance for a few months because he is injured. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a college education and can't find a job in the mean time. So now he is stuck at his parents house. As a dancer you are extremely likely to get injured at some point in time, so it is very beneficial to have a college education under your belt in case something like this ever happens. Also, like I said earlier the dance world is very competitive. You can get cut from a company just like that. If you have a degree in something else you can easily find a job. You may rather be dancing, but having a job is better then being jobless in this economy. Clearly, college is the way to go !

The Benefits of Classical Music

There are many benefits from listening to classical music. Soothing music like classical is known to reduce stress and anxiety. I listen to classical music everyday when I dance, and I must say it does calm you down and relaxes you. After a hard day at school, I go to dance and try to put everything aside. The classical music really helps sooth you and take away stress. Hospitals are actually exploring the use of classical music for patients, surgeons and visitors. Classical music is also said to reduce crime. In London, police piped classical music into underground stations in some of the most dangerous areas. After six months, crimes significantly decreased. Another surprising study showed that when classical music is being played in a store, you are more likely to spend more money. So next time you are having a stressful day listen to some classical music, it may make you fell a lot better.

The Nutcracker

The holidays are almost here ! One of the best ways to celebrate the holidays is to go see the Nutcracker. The Nutcracker is a famous ballet with music by Tchaikovsky. It is the most popular ballet in Western Countries. This ballet originated in Russia, the first performance was held on December 18, 1892. The Nutcracker consists of two acts and three scenes. My dance studio puts this performance on every year in December. This year it will be held on December 12th. We do five shows at the "Coral Springs Center for the Performing Arts." It is a fun, exciting show and I recommend everyone to come and see it ! I have a link that will give a synopsis about the story of the Nutcracker.
http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/balletsynopses/a/thenutcracker.htm

Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders are a very common problem with dancers. Dancers are so pressured to have a perfect, slim body. When they don't feel they have this, they may turn to bad habits such as eating disorders. Anorexia and Bulimia are the most common eating disorder. Anorexia is an eating disorder in which the people literally starve themselves. People with anorexia continue to think they are overweight even after they become extremely thin, and are very ill or near death. Bulimia is when people have episodes where they binge eat. During an average binge, a bulimic consumes 3,000 to 5,000 calories in one short hour. After, they feel the need to undo what they just ate. They usually induce vomit, go for a ten-mile run, or take ex-lax. This is extremely bad for your body. If you are a dancer and do this to your body, eventually you will no longer be able to dance. Losing weight should be done in a healthy way such as a diet or exercise. It is so important to take care of your body no matter if you are a dancer or not, and eating disorders are not the way to do it.

Dancing with the Stars

Dancing with the Stars is one of the few reality dance shows on television. It takes popular celebrities and pairs them with professional dancers. Every week they learn new dance routines and the judges give them a final score. Each week one couple gets eliminated. The winner of "Dancing with the stars" in 2008 was Kristi Yamaguchi, a professional ice skater. This year some of the stars participating in the show are Aaron Carter, Mya, Kelly Osbourne, and Melissa Joan Hart (a.k.a. Sabrina the teenage witch.) You can watch "Dancing with the stars" every Monday 8/7c — results show Tuesday 9/8c. If any of you watch this show I would love to hear what you think of it, and who you would like to see win !

Football players and Ballet

This blog is for all the football players out there and for guys in general. Guys seem to think that dance takes no effort what so ever and that they could easily do it with no problem. Wrong ! Dance is equally as difficult as football. And I know that no matter how many times I say it guys still won't believe me. But maybe this will help, some football coaches actually make their players take ballet classes. In fact, this topic has been a cover story for Sports Illustrated a few years ago. Ballet and football have more in common then people think. Psychologists have found that professional ballet dancers get hurt just as often and suffer just as serious injuries as athletes in contact sports. The main reason football players take ballet class is for balance and strength in the legs. Also, flexibility required for ballet may help prevent injuries involved in football. So if you are a football player, taking a ballet classes once in a while wouldn't hurt. It would benefit you and the way you play game.

Is Ballet a Sport or an Art ?

Many people ask the question is ballet a sport or an art ? Well, I say that ballet is both a sport and an art. Most people do not agree that ballet is a sport, but it clearly is ! My ballet teacher always tells us, "If you do a ballet class properly, you get just as good as a work out then if you were to go to the gym." Ballet works almost every muscle in your body ! People often think that because ballet dancers are trained not to show effort and be graceful, that they aren't putting in any effort. That is the craziest thing I have ever heard. Ballerinas work extremely hard, thats why they are in such good shape. It is harder then most sports !
Along with ballet being a sport it is also an art. Classical ballet requires technique, focus, and dedication. Practice is key, to really learn and be good at an art such as ballet, you have to practice, practice, practice. Ballet is all about muscle memory. If you train your muscles correctly everyday you take class, eventually they will remember. My teacher also says, "You are clay and you have to mold yourself the right way in order to be a dancer." This is completely true. Most people, or should i say guys, think ballet is a piece of cake. That is completely false, and I hope reading this helped you realize this.

Problems with Pointe Shoes !

Pointe shoes are what every young ballerina dreams of wearing. But once you have them you dream of taking them off ! Pointe shoes are made almost entirely by hand. They help dancers to stand on the very tips of their toes. The box at the end of the shoe surrounds dancers toes and helps them balance. This box is made out fabric, paper, and strong glue, which makes them very uncomfortable. Pointe shoes are also very expensive. They can range from 30-70 dollars a pair depending on what brand of shoe you wear. And unfortunately these shoes don't last very long if you wear them often. Professionals may go through 3 pairs of shoes in one show!
Pointe shoes also cause many problems for dancers, from blisters to abnormal toenail alignment. Blisters are very common in ballet dancers. When you are rehearsing for hours with only a small amount of padding between your toes and a hard box, you tend to get a numerous amount of blisters. There is not much you can do to prevent this. Abnormal toenail alignment may also occur. Bunions are when the first joint in your big toe becomes swollen, it is also know as "lateral displacement of the toe." This is extremely painful and very common among ballerinas.
Though there are many problems that come along with wearing pointe shoes, if you want to be a balllerina you have to deal with them. Most dancer's have a passion for dance and these problems do not even faze them.

So You Think You Can Dance !

        "So You Think You Can Dance," is an extremely popular reality TV show.   It was the #1 rated  show in summer of 2006 for adults 18-49.   "So You Think You Can Dance," gives young adults the opportunity to compete for the title of America's best dancer.  They train with award winning choreographers such as Mia Michaels, Shane Sparks, and Sonya Tayeh.  Auditions are held every year in major cities, and dancers with all types of dance backgrounds are encouraged to audition.  "So You Think You Can Dance," also has spin off versions of their show in many other countries such as Turkey, Australia, Israel, Norway, Greece, Poland, etc.  This summer 18year old  Jeanine Mason received the title of "America's Best Dancer."  She is a Miami native and specialized in contemporary style dancing.  The new season is expected to be a big hit.  You can watch "So You Think You Can Dance," every Wednesday night from 8-9 on Fox.