Dancing through life

Charlotte, 21, training in what I love. Currently studying dance on the BA Hons course at London Studio Centre, THE BEST PLACE EVER. This blog is about my daily life as a young performer training in London, the people I am blessed to meet and the memories and experiences I create and become a part of.

[lifeinpirouettes]

A year on from my back injury and now I couldn't feel stronger. I took this photo this morning on holiday only to realise that disciplining yourself with a conditioning programme to decrease injury everynight definitely has some extra positives. These last 4 months at college have been incredible. It is rare I feel my own improvements but now I am starting to and I feel like I can start to achieve more of my goals technically. At this moment in time I have never felt physically stronger and will continue to improve to do this. My advice for today is: remember your back is part of your core always, once you refine and develop this connection you create a muscular balance that will strengthen both your abdominals and your multifvidus rather that one being stronger than the other, plus it helps you get ready for bikini season without you even realising! DO PILATES PEOPLE!

[toop-secrets]

[lifeinpirouettes]

toop-secrets:

[lifeinpirouettes]

[lifeinpirouettes]

[lifeinpirouettes]

Some pictures from a recent shoot I did for Katz Dancewear

[lifeinpirouettes]

For so long I have begged this question. When I’m not training and simply gymming everyday and eating healthy I maintain my athleticism easy, so why when I’m dancing 5 days a week intensely and eating the same do I gain weight easily when you would think I would gain more tone? I am a mesomorph, I can gain weight and lose weight very easily. This is the same for muscle mass, I can gain muscle and lose it, however it is harder to lose it, so when I gain the wrong muscles sometimes in dance technique that’s when my injuries occur due to the mesomorphs battle with maintaining flexibility. I have now figured out a solution to maintain my physique, EAT MORE. I now eat 6 meals a day, small meals, eating little but often. My body has time to digest it all and I eat carbs in the middle of the day to fuel me back up after morning training and get me through the afternoon. I enjoy a high protein breakfast, and during the day snack on almonds, dark chocolate, raspberries, nak’d bars and rice cakes, constantly making sure my body is being feuled. My lunch consists of a sweet potato, steamed Greens, omega seeds and chicken breast. Dinner will be more meat with more greens and my favourite snacks are bananas, peanut butter, granola and fage yoghurt. I tend to have an omlet or smoked salmon with some avocado on rye bread for mini meals between the main 3 eating times. Give your body the food it needs, as an athlete you are more prone to injury if you don’t eat for your body type. I have to eat a balanced diet, and have a medium carb tolerance, I have seen a big difference in my rate of muscle tone since working with my physical preferences, can’t wait to see the end results in the summer term. Remember to treat yourself!

[extramadness]

More inspiring quotes here

[mypotatoromance4]

dancers can’t skip leg day

[bernadettelogue]

Worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles, it takes away today’s peace.

TheDailyPositive.com (via thedailypozitive)

[lifeinpirouettes]

[itsmusicfashionlife]

Yup. I’ll choke on greatness, Thanks. #words #quotes #ambition #drive #determination #succeed #itsmusicfashionlife #wisdom #2015

[morbid-galaxy]

What’s anything done without passion

M.D. Garcia (via morbid-galaxy)

[pas-de-duhhh]

Greig Matthews There’s just something about him.

[makennakathleen]

I don’t think people understand how brutally honest I am when I say “I love to dance.” I’ve never been in love before, but I’m positive that the feeling dance gives me is what it feels like. People can say it’s not a sport, but I’m as much as an athlete as any soccer, basketball, baseball or football player. When you’re playing basketball, you don’t have to look good. You could be in absolute pain and show it. You could get someone to come in for you. But when I’m in a show, I have to be smiling even if my toenail is falling off and my ankle is swelling. I have to finish out by myself because there’s no one else who could do the job. I have the upmost respect for them, but I think what I do is harder. Not necessarily physically. But mentally. As a dancer, I have to dig into my feelings and emotions to create the magic people see. I have to fight the voice in my head saying that “I can’t.” When I’ve been at the studio for 5 hours and I’m sore and tired and hungry and all I want to do is cry, there’s five little words I told my parents when I was three that keep me holding on: “I was born to dance.”

[straightenthoseknees]

Dancing is not a job. It’s people who are chosen. And you must realise that you are chosen.

Sylvie Guillem, Royal Ballet (via straightenthoseknees)

[thepurplegazelle]

[attitude-to-a-miss]

[lifeinpirouettes]

Never ever take for granted the fact you are able to dance, when so many people out there can't. The ability to dance is an incredible gift