When I came back to taking dance classes after a 37-year lapse (which I do not recommend), I returned to ballet. It’s the foundation. Right? Gradually I added in contemporary, Pilates, Gyrokinesis and a sprinkling of yoga. It looked like the equivalent of the food pyramid for dance, which is reflected in the curriculums of […]

With the pandemic raging on, dance studios have had to get creative to stay open. Some are hosting virtual classes, others are setting up outdoor workshops, many are offering a hybrid of online and in-person classes. But their efforts to save their businesses hinge on their local dance communities. Without support from their students, many […]

You’re standing onstage at the opening of the Jennifer Lopez–Shakira Super Bowl halftime show, holding your opening pose, waiting for the music to start. You can see a smudge of dirt on your white sneakers. It’s dark, but you know that intense colored lights are about to hit your face. Nervous sweat begins to form […]

Just because “social distancing” means your classes got canceled, your dance training doesn’t need to stop. There are several online dance classes that can keep your technique sharp from home. STEEZY STEEZY focuses on various urban dance styles like house, dancehall, krump, breaking, whacking and heels. The interface allows you to view the instructor from […]

A classmate lands the role you wanted. Another dancer is always earning compliments from the teacher you can never seem to please. The dance world is full of opportunities to feel envious—and according to psychologist Nadine Kaslow, that is completely normal. “To say you shouldn’t ever feel jealous is unrealistic,” says Kaslow, who works with […]

Many contemporary choreographers today expect women to be game to do some lifting. However, the partnering training that most female dancers grow up with—if they have partnering classes at all—usually only teaches them to be supported by a man. It’s no surprise that being a good lifter requires physical strength, but it may also require […]

Raise your hand if you’ve ever been stereotyped as stupid because you’re a dancer. Raise your other hand if that misconception boils your blood. Well, you’re in luck: One researcher is determined to set the record straight. Moving our bodies involves thinking, communicating and understanding the world around us. Photo by Maria Badasian/Unsplash Dr. Matthew […]