Keeping nutrient-rich foods like fruits and vegetables handy might seem easier than adding in protein-rich ones. But protein is so very important for a dancer’s body! And once you come up with a few great options for keeping protein-rich snacks accessible, it can easily become second nature — honest! Realize the Importance of Protein Protein […]
Dance Life
Nutrient-Rich Snacks for Dancers
Your dance studio can offer the best of everything — well-organized classes and teams, exceptionally talented instructors, varied and frequent recital and competition opportunities — and still fall short of helping your dancers reach their full potential. Why? So much of what allows any dancer to perform at his or her top level is contingent […]
Healthy Snacks for Dancers: Summer Edition
As summer approaches, and your dancers may take a break from their usual classes and teams, it’s important for them to maintain a healthy diet. So many fresh fruits and vegetables are available, yet so are summer treats and sugary drinks that can drag them down. Increase Your Water Intake Because approximately 60% of our […]
A Dancer’s Diet: 2 Ingredients to Avoid
Eighty percent of a dancer’s physical fitness is determined by _________. If you had to choose one word to fill in that blank, what would you suggest? Well, if your guess is anything but “food” or “eating,” you’d be incorrect. No matter how dedicated her studio time and skillful her rehearsals, no dancer can be […]
What Type of Dancewear Should I Buy?
Dancewear. You may see it as a perk of having a dancer in the house — or the worst part of having a daughter in dance. Many parents ask what they should buy, and the answer — much to their frustration — is that it depends. There is no “best brand,” in our opinon, but […]
Tips for Dancers: Four Steps for Healthier Sleep
As a dancer, sleep is extremely important. Not only does it help you to be attentive and able to meet the physical demands of dance, but it also helps your body to remain healthy and able to perform well in the future. In addition to going to bed and getting up at regular times, allowing […]
Happy Feet for Dancers: Blister Care 101
As a dancer, your feet take plenty of abuse, so they may not truly ever be quite “happy.” But if you stay on your toes when it comes to proper foot care, you can avoid having to put your feet up for any significant amount of time. That starts with the basic maintenance steps we […]
Happy Feet for Dancers: Maintenance Checklist
As you can see from the detailed images located below of the foot’s structure, the foot is a pretty complex part of the human body; in fact, your two feet include 52 of your body’s 208 bones. For most people, the foot’s purpose is already pretty significant, supporting the body and providing important propulsion and […]
Ballet Shoes for Beginners
Whether it’s your preschooler who’s beginning to take ballet classes, or you’re starting out yourself as a teen or adult, the number-one item on your shopping list before classes begin should be a pair of beginner ballet shoes. True ballet shoes are completely flat shoes, made from either satin or leather. Fabric for Ballet Shoes […]
Happy Feet for Dancers: Avoiding Injuries
How important is foot health to your dancing technique? It really can’t be overestimated. The arch — the middle portion — of the foot can greatly impact your dancing technique as well as your overall body alignment. Just like anyone else’s feet, dancers’ feet can be described in terms of the shapes of their arches: […]
Happy Feet for Dancers: Basic Foot Care
Basic foot care is an important part of a dancer’s preparation. Not only can taking proper care of your feet help you prevent injuries, but you can also improve your dance skill level. Wear Properly Fitted Shoes & Padding In order to ensure a proper fit, you’ll want to be certain you have a professional […]
Dance Kinesiology 102
Every dancer should have a basic understanding of how his or her body moves. The study of muscular movement is called Kinesiology. When it comes to Dance Kinesiology, the first topic to master is that of Muscular Contractions; we looked at the two basic types of contractions in Dance Kinesiology 101. The goal of Dance […]
Dance Kinesiology 101
A dancer’s body is her most important asset, and without her muscles properly working, she can never master her craft. When a dancer understands how her muscles work, she’ll be better able to confidently execute moves and combinations. Because of that, dance students all need a basic understanding of kinesiology, the study of human movement. […]
Dancers: What It Means When Your Body Snaps, Crackles & Pops, Part 2
The constant movement involved in dance is a great form of exercise but can cause various body parts, especially joints, to make lots of different sounds. In Part 1, we’ve already looked at possible causes of and solutions for neck and back cracking and hip popping. Now we’ll turn our attention to the next joint […]
Dancers: What It Means When Your Body Snaps, Crackles & Pops, Part 1
If you’ve been a dancer for any length of time, you no doubt have noticed that your body can be a bit noisy. This is especially true when you’re practicing in the studio or performing on the stage. If you’re new to dancing, you may be alarmed by this phenomenon. Dancers Can Expect Their Bodies […]