#dance blogger

[wonderfulworldofdance]

(via Jennifer Kohli | The Wonderful World of Dance)

Meet our new contributor Jennifer Kohli sharing her dance journey from Switzerland to USA

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Opportunities - to be or not to be?

I’ve only recently discovered the importance of going out in search of opportunities. It wasn’t that I was declining the opportunities I was given – I have always taken any chance I’ve had firmly within my grasp and ran with it! It’s just that, when opportunities weren’t knocking on my door, I didn’t know how to go about finding them.  

As a younger student, I was always afraid of stepping on toes, or acting out of place. If I was asked to take part in a class or performance, you can bet that I was there. But I didn’t dare attend extra classes that I hadn’t been given specific permission to go to in fear that they would somehow clash with what I’d already learnt and upset my teacher. I also didn’t want to appear disloyal, or offend any of my teachers in case they got the idea that I thought their classes weren’t good enough, which certainly wasn’t the case.

I guess you could say that I’m a ‘goody-two-shoes’. Which, to be honest, is definitely not a bad thing to be in the dance world – employers love reliable dancers. 

However, now that I am preparing to enter the professional world, I am starting to see the importance of making your own opportunities. Sometimes, it really is important to evaluate what is most important and beneficial to you.

This summer, I was scrolling through the website of a dance company to read their latest news, when I stumbled upon a page about work experience. It was something I was quickly interested in, but immediately a little battle started in my head. If I applied and didn’t get it, would I embarrass myself? Would my teacher think that I’d gone behind her back by applying without asking? If I did get it, how would I negotiate getting time off college?  

Eventually, I took a deep breath in, told myself that if I didn’t apply, surely somebody else would (and in that case, why not me?), wrote a nice email, and hit the ‘send’ button.

You’ll be pleased to hear that just a few days ago I received a very positive response, and I am over the moon! And my college have been very supportive. See, it was worth it!

There are tons of extra opportunities for young students. I can only speak from experience of living in the UK, but some suggestions include taking part in English Youth Ballet productions, joining an amateur dramatics society, attending conventions such as Move It, auditioning for scholarship programmes, going to summer schools, searching the web for workshops run by dance companies and organisations such as the British Ballet Organisation, competing in dance festivals, visiting full-time colleges on their open days, and so many more. However, I completely understand that several schools have rules regarding what extracurricular activities you can and can’t participate in. There are all sorts of good reasons for teachers to not let you take part in something outside of your regular classes – maybe you’re needed for an important rehearsal for your competition team at that time?

If you find yourself unsure as to whether you should attend something extra, here are three golden questions to ask yourself:

1. Is it suitable? If you’re thinking of skipping class for an audition or something similar, it’s probably best to check that it’s right for you. If you’re a 16 year old petite brunette and they’re looking for tall blondes in their twenties, perhaps it’s better to not take the risk of upsetting your teacher by missing class. Some things are just not meant to be.

2. Am I available? If you’re looking at taking extra classes or attending a workshop, make sure to check whether it fits into your schedule. If there are no clashes, that’s a great sign to go ahead! But if it takes place at the same as something else that you’re expected to attend, you’ll need to evaluate what means the most to you. If you do decide to go to the workshop/extra class/audition/etc, you will definitely need permission, or at least politely notify your teacher truthfully why you won’t be attending class that week.

3. Will it further my training/career? Ask yourself how much of an opportunity it is, and if it is worth forgoing your regular training over.  What will you learn? Is it something that would stand out on your CV? Will you get this chance again?

If you decide to take the opportunity – good luck! And if you decide that it’s not right for you – good job on making that judgement!

I just want to reiterate that I am in no way endorsing rule-breaking, nor should you ever go out of your way to spite your teachers/choreographers/directors. It’s just that you really do have to make the most of every opportunity you come across, just as long as it’s the right opportunity for you!

Ellis x

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So you're having a bad dance day?

On Monday, I went back to ballet after around six weeks off for summer break. My legs felt like they’d turned into jelly. Sure, I’d done some pilates and the odd barre in my kitchen, but nothing quite compares to training every day. I felt like I’d taken about ten giant leaps backwards. And then I tried to get over it. Eventually I was inspired to write this post: how to recover from a bad dance day. Because, like it or not, class doesn’t always go swimmingly. Sometimes, just when you think you’re getting somewhere, out of nowhere you have a day when you just can’t find your centre of balance, no matter how hard you try. And sometimes, as it was for me on Monday, you have to take a break and then recover from that. Not every day is a good pirouette day. And that’s okay! When dance class isn’t going to plan, it can be easy to get caught up into a whirlwind of panicked thoughts. ‘Oh gosh. I can’t balance. What if I can never find my balance again? Surely by now I should be able to find my balance?! I’m never going to be a dancer! Nobody’s going to hire a dancer who can’t stay on their leg for five seconds!’ And on it goes! Stop. Breathe. Now, everyone sing it with me… LET IT GO! LET IT GOOOOO! Those fouettés never bothered me anyway! Try not to let a few mistakes spiral out of control. If you feel like you’re messing up one exercise after another, stop, take a moment, and start the next exercise afresh. The next exercise is a new opportunity to break your unlucky streak. If you get it right, go you! You beat the bad dance day! And if it doesn’t go so well, just repeat. It’s hard to defeat a person who never gives up! One bad class is not going to ruin your career. I know it can make you feel like a failure, but that’s really not the case. I have never met a dancer who doesn’t have a story about a really bad class or performance, even the ones I really look up to. Did their careers end there and then? Nope! The fact that you feel like you’re having a bad dance day means that you’re usually a lot better than this. So take the yucky feeling as a reminder of how far you’ve progressed. Now, are you feeling a little more relaxed? While we’re on the subject of relaxing, remember that there is such a thing as over-thinking. If you feel like you’re having a bad dance day, it can be tempting to take yourself into the back corner and practise over and over. Practice makes perfect, right? Hmm. Not always. If you’re feeling like you’re having a bad day, chances are you’re already a little worked up. Internalising it all and removing yourself from the class to correct yourself maybe isn’t the best move. Certainly, it’s a good learning tool and shows self-discipline, but now probably isn’t the right time. Everyone is different, and some people may find this helps, but personally I find that the more I go over the exercise when I’m feeling stressed, the more I pick holes at it and the worse I feel. Instead, try changing your focus to something other than technique, such as artistry. Try taking your eyes off the mirror; you’re probably feeling super self-critical right now, and watching your every move is not going to help. Instead, project up and out, and work on using your arms, head and face. Hey, maybe if that all looks great, the teacher won’t notice that you just can’t hold your turnout today? It’s worth a try! Above all, remember that it’s just a dance class. I know it’s important, I do, but that’s really all it is. It’s dancing. Take a deep breath in, smile (it releases feel-good endorphins!), and remember why you love to dance. Ellis x

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That's handy! Seven little things to always keep in your dance bag.

September is here, which means back to school and, of course, back to dancing. If you're anything like me, you'll already have had a bit of a dancewear spending spree in preparation for the new academic year, and will be itching to get back to class so that you can show off your flashy new leotard. But when you're packing your bag ready for the first class of the new term, be sure to chuck in these extra seven items. They're all little things that barely take up any space, and yet I can assure you that you'll be glad to have them at some point!

1. Miniature sewing kit Ribbons pulled off your shoes before class? Hole in your leotard? No problem - just fix it there and then! Most of these little kits contain several needles as well as little balls of different coloured cottons, so chances are there'll be one you can use for anything. My sewing kit also contains a tape measure (which I've used when I needed to send off measurements for a costumes), pins, safety pins, a thimble, and a small pair of scissors (which I've used countless times to turn tights into footless tights). And it all fits into the side pocket of my rucksack!

2. Clear nail varnish Whenever you get a hole in your tights, surround it with nail varnish straight away and allow it to dry. It won't fix the hole, but it'll prevent a ladder from forming. And, unlike hairspray (which can be used to the same effect), it won't wear off in the wash. I choose clear varnish as it can be used on pink ballet tights, black tights and tan tights, but you could also choose a colour which matches the colour of tights that you wear.

3. Notepad and pen This is a big one for me! A notepad and pen always comes in handy, whether it's for writing down your corrections, making note of exercises to remember (I have the entire barre from my ballet assessment in mine!), or jotting down ideas for choreography. You will use it!

4. A tennis/massage ball I swear by my foam roller for sore muscles, but sometimes it's just too bulky to carry around. Keep a tennis-sized ball on you to massage any tight spots on the go. I like to put mine under my shoulder blades and lay on top of it to release knots and get my back feeling more mobile. You can use either a smooth ball or a spiky one, depending on what works best for you.

5. Screwdriver If you're a tapper, this is a must! How many times a lesson do you hear someone say 'has anyone got a screwdriver?' or 'my tap has come loose!'? Always be prepared and take one to class - don't rely on the teacher to have one! I've also used mine to score the soles of new shoes to give them a bit more grip. The one that I have is about the size of a pen and has interchangeable attachments for different sized screws.

6. Nail file Too many times I have chipped a nail and then ruined a pair of tights because my nail got caught on them. I've learnt to always keep a mini nail file/emery board in my bag so I can sort the problem straight away. Those of you who take pointe classes might also find that it comes in useful for painful, pesky toenails.

7. Ibuprofen Nobody likes dancing on a headache. I've found that ibuprofen is the number one thing that people ask for in the studio, and yet people only seem to buy it as and when then need it. Keep a packet ready in your bag (if you're somebody who is comfortable taking painkillers - I completely understand that not everyone is keen on them) so you can say goodbye to a headache as soon as you feel it looming. Ibuprofen is particularly useful for dancers as it works as an anti-inflammatory, and so is also ideal for injuries.

Taking on a 'be prepared' mentality can only be helpful, and also make you come across as more professional - I've known plenty of teachers who love it when a student takes initiative to write down corrections at the end of class. And not to mention, you'll be the go-to person for a friend in need.

Remember, as Alexander Graham Bell once said: 'Before anything else, preparation is the key to success'.

Ellis x

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The Holiday Holdup

If your hometown is anything like mine, the dance scene completely stops when it gets to the holidays. Classes stop running, and the thought of going all those weeks without one seems like some slow form of torture. If you’re lucky, you might be attending a summer intensive or taking part in a production, but expensive fees and other commitments such as a part time job can mean that this isn’t always an option.

Being out of dance training during a break can leave you feeling like you’ve come to a standstill. It’s almost as though you can feel the muscles you’ve worked so hard to build degrading by the second. But even though it may seem like you’re out of the loop and out of practice, there’s a lot of things you can do to keep in touch with the dance world.

Here are my top tips to keep you moving and improving during your break!

1. Find a class Okay, this sounds like I’ve forgotten everything I just said about classes not running over the holidays. But if your regular class isn’t on, you could try searching for one that is. Many big cities have studios which offer regular drop-in classes, and it could be worth the traveling if it stops you going insane from lack of dancing. You might also find that although the dance classes stop, other less specialised classes such as pilates and aerobics keep running at your local gym, which are ideal for maintaining general strength and fitness. But if you don’t have access to classes such as these, do not despair, as that brings me on to point number two…

2. Do what you can There are plenty of things you can do that don’t require any traveling or a gym membership. If maintaining cardiovascular fitness is what you need, try running or cycling. If you want to improve your flexibility, come up with a stretching routine and repeat it regularly. There’s also a wealth of online resources available to you if you feel you need some guidance. Some of my favourite YouTubers are Kathryn Morgan, a former New York City Ballet soloist who uploads ballet barres and workouts that you can follow along in your bedroom, and Yoga With Adriene, who offers fun yoga sequences to try if you feel like doing some cross-training.

3. Do your research If you know what your next show or piece of choreography is going to be about, now is the ideal time to get ahead with your research so that you’re prepared for when you get back to dance. You can also use your free time to watch as much dance as you can; there is so much to be learnt from watching the professionals! If you can get yourself to the theatre, great! If not, there are plenty of DVDs available, including full-length ballet and contemporary works, and even entire West End/Broadway musicals. And let’s not forget the hours and hours of dance videos that you can access on YouTube. Soak up as much dance as you can!

4. Choreograph You know how busy you get when you’re rehearsing for a show, so make the most of the free time you have now to get creative and work on your own projects. Experimenting with choreography allows you develop your own ‘voice’ as a performer, and is a valuable skill to have in the professional world. If you’re feeling brave, you could upload your work onto YouTube, or teach it to a class of younger dancers.

5. Know that rest is important too Dancers need rest. We really do. Please make sure you give yourself time to relax and recuperate, as well as see family and friends and do other activities that you enjoy. It is so important to give yourself a break from time to time!

I hope these tips will help you have an enjoyable and productive break, but also get you ready to jump straight back into your dance schedule!

All the best, Ellis x