It’s true, these days we live in a world surrounded by technology! We carry our mobile phones with us every where, in the studio we have laptops and bluetooth speakers, we’re busy instagramming our lives and kids are obsessed with games like Fortnite.
So, how can we use technology to support our dance training? Here are Miss Dani’s top 5 tips…
We’re halfway through the school holidays which means one week until dance goes back. Its common during a break to go into ‘relax’ mode and cut back on your training. We then head back after our rest super enthusiastic and try to throw ourselves back into our normal training routines, resulting in sore, tired muscles.
Show term is fast approaching and for some students this is the highlight of their dance year, for others the thought of stepping on stage can be terrifying! We often watch dancers give mind-blowing performances in the studio but when it comes to stepping on stage this doesn’t seem to translate, normally this is due to stage fright/performance anxiety.
I’m pretty sure most dancers have experienced foot cramp at some point in their lifetime, you know - that horrible feeling when you’re pretty sure your toes are stuck in a pointed position permanently. Foot cramp is also super awesome at arriving at the best of times, like in the middle of your dance exam barre work or your lyrical solo at dance comps. So, what exactly is foot cramp and how can you combat it?
These 5 abdominal exercises will help young dancers develop the core strength they need to achieve proper alignment, sustained balances, soaring jumps, and stunning extensions.
Finding the right preschool dance class can be tough? and don't we know it. Miss Dani searched high and low almost two years ago now, for a structured programme that would help develop our youngest dancers dance technique in a fun and engaging manner. She discovered babyballet®, an award-winning preschool dance programme…
If only someone had told me when I was in high school that physics would help me teach dance! We've all seen those dancers who jump and seem to just hang in the air for a split moment in time before returning to the ground. Want to know how you can achieve this yourself? Well by understanding your muscles and how your body works a little bit better you can…
If you've been to one of Miss Dani's dance classes over the past couple of weeks you'll know this word well - fascia. Students tend to know their muscles and bones well, most have good stretching routines BUT many do not know what fascia is or understand how it can affect their flexibility - in fact many are decreasing their flexibility with some of their stretching techniques…
We get it and we're even guilty of it ourselves - who wants to practice their ballet technique when they could be learning fun tricks?
The dance industry has changed a lot in the past 10 years with gymnastics and dance beginning to merge. Leg mounts, aerials, tilts and knee drops have replaced ball changes and arabesques. The single pirouette is no more with dancers trying to push for multiple turns on stage. Fouette turns have become a la seconde turns and leg hold turns…
But why do I have to practice...We've all heard it right? As dance teachers, we hear it at the studio ALL the time...
Instead of hiding away, thinking of all the excuses why you’re too busy to practice read this week’s blog and find out why you absolutely MUST practice your dancing, if you hope to see any improvement at all…
Developing strength, control, and fluidity in the upper body is crucial to create beautiful lines and move gracefully. Here are our top tips for practicing your port de bras!
As a child I always wanted to learn to Tap! My Nana was actually a tap dancer, and once I learnt that tap dancing wasn't dancing on the taps in the bath tub (yup, I actually thought that's what my Nana did) I really wanted to give it a go. Finally, about 20 years later I am learning to tap and loving it. So, today I wanted to share with you 10 Reasons why you should learn to tap too...
Many dancers know by now that pirouettes can feel different from day to day. Sometimes, we have an amazing turning day. Other times, we feel as though we can barely get around for a single rotation. This inconsistency is a natural feeling for a training dancer. However, with the right tips and tricks, we can build a foundation for strong, consistent, technical turns.
Here are BoPPA's top tips for achieving consistently successful turns!
Have you ever seen a dancer with the flexibility, strength, and control to create perfect lines in their leg extensions? If so, you’ve probably been inspired to elevate your own extensions in class and on stage.
The first step to create gorgeous extensions is to develop the flexibility to get your legs up there. Here are three stretches you can do at home to benefit your extension:
At BoPPA, one of our core studio values is CONFIDENCE -- that means that we aim to develop a confidence in our dancers that is transferable to all areas of their lives. Here are our top tips for building confidence on and off stage!
Do these 3 things during the school holidays, and you’ll be ready for Term 3!
10 valuable skills that dancers learn in the studio.
Our top tips for dancers looking to improve their arabesque!
When dancers learn to master their breath, they see huge benefits to their dance training and performance. Here are a few ways that breathing properly will improve your dancing:
It is important to notice if a young dancer has hypermobile joints, so that they can care for them properly and avoid injury. Check out this resource from The Ballet Blog to learn more!
