Tag: Dance

An Open Letter to Dance Parents…

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Parents of dancers who aspire to become professionals should read this letter. As you as a parent begin to sense the strain the dancing world is putting on your child, interesting things start to happen.

You might wish that they would reconsider and take a different path because it might be simpler. It’s probable that you are concerned about how their body doesn’t fit the mold and wonder about their chances of “success.” You can decide to “help” them by starting to provide them with food and physical cues.

It’s true that not every dancer who aspires to dance professionally succeeds in doing so. Yet, I’m guessing that as an adult, you can look back and recognize numerous occasions where you took a chance on something and it didn’t work out as planned.

Resilience is developed by striving for something, failing to achieve it, getting back up, and then choosing a different course. You gain the ability to bounce back from life’s setbacks. The fact that your child will experience this at such a young age contributes to how difficult it is to accept the prospect that they won’t survive.

As you assist your dancer on their journey, this letter should provide you with some things to reflect on.

Your child is already getting rejected enough.

Beginning in their teens and early tweens, dancers experience rejection. The majority of people don’t get accepted into every summer intensive for which they audition, but that doesn’t mean they should stop improving as dancers. You don’t need to find excuses; you can just let your child understand the rejection.

You don’t have to explain to them that it was due to their physical characteristics or that they must change themselves, in order to start getting in. Encourage them to develop as dancers. Give them the assistance they require so they can practice harder and participate more actively in their dance courses. Encourage them to take on a second job to acquire private tutoring.

Don’t add to the naysayers by making them want to take a simpler route. You don’t need to inform them that they will be turned down because you don’t know for sure. Additionally, they are probably already concerned about this. And to be completely honest, neither you nor their teachers can say for sure who will succeed and who won’t.

Your experience as an athlete differs from that of your athletic artist’s experience.

Although many dancing parents were committed athletes, they lack any dance experience. But it isn’t the same. The possibility for a much higher level of stress surrounding food and one’s body is increased by the aesthetic strain of dance and the daily inspection of one’s physique in a mirror.

The solution is more complicated than merely fueling themselves like athletes. Dancers must first discover a simple, uncomplicated method for making food decisions. To reach their maximum potential, individuals must be appreciative of and proud of their bodies and everything they can accomplish for them.

You must realize that due to the intensely critical nature of dance, your dancer is already quite likely to be critical of their physical appearance. They have been taught to look for their mistakes since they first started dancing in order to make corrections.

Commenting on your child’s body or giving them food feedback

You must draw a firm line at this point. Don’t comment. Don’t instruct them on how to follow a diet or about counting calories (which is oversimplified, misguided, and dangerous). If your dancer has put on weight, you can be sure they are fully aware of it.

What can you do, then? Set an example of a balanced diet; be honest about your own struggles. It typically comes back to the parents being ignorant or having their own issues with food and body image when dancers tell me their parents have given them strict dietary guidelines (don’t eat after 8 p.m., only have one snack per day, and avoid any sweets).

How to support your dancer

Provide them with the skills to overcome obstacles and the freedom to ask for assistance when they do. Keep in mind that none of us can predict how their dance adventure will turn out. Let them follow their own route and get knowledge from it.

Distinctive Dancing Etc. is a place that offers children of all ages a stimulating setting that allows them to explore and grow while having fun. It is located in Greenwood Proper in Warwick. We serve areas of Warwick, Cranston, Coventry, and East Greenwich in Rhode Island. In addition to providing a wide range of learning opportunities, DDE offers a number of programs to meet the requirements of each child. Get in touch with us to know more about the programs we are offering.

The Benefits of Cotton Ballet Leotards

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Ballet dance costumes before the 1960s were playsuits and gowns with little to no flexibility or give. Leotards started to be worn by people other than gymnasts and circus performers around this time.

Of course, both the style and composition of women’s and girls’ ballet dancewear have advanced significantly since then. It can be simple to overlook the original purpose of these leotards given the gorgeous embellishments and high stretch fabrics that are now standard in dance training.

When it comes to ballet and dancewear, when the teacher can’t easily monitor the movements of the body, the dancer’s form, safety, and even success are at risk. But is it possible for dancewear to be both practical and cozy?

The answer is yes. Read on to discover the advantages of a cotton leotard and why you ought to pick this material for your ballet dancewear demands.

Comfort

For their leotards, the majority of ballet dancewear businesses employ premium materials like spandex. While the leotard’s ultra-stretchy feel is wonderful for a range of motion and a snug fit, it can be somewhat unpleasant. It can be quite challenging to concentrate when you’re pushing and pulling at your clothing, whether you’re dealing with the top chafing your neck or the bottom riding up when you move.

Contrarily, cotton is a softer substance. The smooth cloth nevertheless permits the teacher to see well despite the bodice’s possible lack of stretch. Additionally, the somewhat looser fit can lessen the likelihood of chafing by preventing riding up and gathering during activity.

Your adult ballet dancewear will feel wonderfully light thanks to the addition of cotton, which will let you move more freely and stay cool throughout a strenuous rehearsal.

Durability

Since your leotard is under constant stress, you need to pick a durable material. Your leotards might lose their stretch and color due to constant pulling, perspiration, and repeated washings, which can render them useless or even embarrassing to wear.

When it comes to resistance to wear and washing, cotton is among the most resilient textiles you can choose. You won’t notice as many fading, ripping, or other indications of wear because the fabric is natural and lightweight.

Breathable

It’s crucial for activewear to be breathable. More perspiration and stress will be applied to the apparel you wear while dancing than to any other items in your closet. You’ll need ballet dance clothing that wicks moisture away from your skin and allows air to pass through if you want to keep up.

When your pulse rate is elevated, cotton’s breathability can keep you cool by controlling airflow and removing sweat.

Easy Care

Your leotard is exposed to a good amount of perspiration and skin debris, as we’ve already explained. You’ll need to wash your ballet dancewear frequently to maintain your body clean and fresh. Naturally, this can be challenging if your leotards can only be hand-washed or need particular maintenance.

Fortunately, cotton is one of the simpler textiles to clean and maintain. You may relax knowing that your cotton dancewear will continue to appear brand-new for longer thanks to that remarkable durability we discussed previously.

Top 10 Classical Ballets Every Dancer Should Know

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Do you want to learn dancing as a blossoming youngster? Then, you must wonder which iconic classic ballet lessons you should take as a beginner. You might not have much trouble finding classical ballets. But, for beginners, it’s important to know the different types of ballet techniques.

Classical ballet lessons help to develop tremendous self-control among youngsters. It teaches them fine motor and gross skills, along with friendships that last for life-long. Also, ballet lesson helps to enhance youngster’s memory and grow self-esteem while practicing classical music.

So, let’s discuss some well-known classic ballets form for beginner dancers here –

 

  1. Swan Lake

Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake has a charming innocence to its melody. You’ll hear waltzes, which are simple to recall, and run into people you won’t soon forget. It further has an interesting set and costumes, which is fascinating for beginners.

 

  1. The Nutcracker

Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker is another well-known children’s ballet that describes the tale of Young Clara, who falls asleep at a Christmas event and awakens in a magical dream world. Waltzing through the stage are princes, soldiers, and Sugar Plum fairies that have become seasonal classics. Its tune featured motifs in different meters, which is an excellent way to introduce a youngster to the feel of songs 4/4 and 3/4 time. And the tunes will live on in their hearts forever.

 

  1. Cinderella 

Take the little dancers to look for Cinderella, whose music was created by Sergei Prokofiev, if happy endings are preferred by them. Loving, flowing melodies reflect the tale’s unmatched romanticism. A stunning young girl is changed into a radiant debutante the night of the prince’s ball in the timeless Cinderella.

 

  1. Romeo and Juliet

In 1935, Romeo and Juliet were composed by Prokoviev that served as an inspiration for several outstanding choreographers. Its music is measured as one of the best in ballet history. When Shakespeare is introduced in English class, children will hear a traditional love story that will motivate them to read the playwright.

 

  1. Sleeping Beauty 

For those who enjoy hearing fairy tales, they’ll always remember Sleeping Beauty for its marvelous ballet. In the happy conclusion, a courageous prince wakes a sleeping princess. Its waltz is well-known, although there is a lot of other catchy music as well. It has a lot of difficult balletic movements that call for flawless technique.

 

  1. Giselle 

In 1941, Giselle first gained popularity in Paris. A young, fragile peasant girl is the subject of this tragic romantic tale. The character of Giselle is highly sought-after in the world of ballet since it calls for an extraordinary level of technique.

 

  1. Firebird

Igor Stravinsky’s renowned ballet Firebird features relatively dissonant for its period music. But, the end result is a stunning stage play with haunting melodious that’s tough to forget. The prince is able to save princesses and marry the one he chooses thanks to the happy ending.

 

  1. Coppelia 

Choreographed by Delibes, the tune of Coppelia will often move an audience to tears. A young man falls in love with the beautiful life-size doll Coppelia because of her stunning appearance. Youngsters won’t want to miss out on this classic if they are enthralled by amazing tales and graceful ballerinas.

 

  1. La Sylphide 

La Sylphide’s pointe work is quite amazing. It was first performed in 1832 at the Paris Opera and its modern productions employ the updated version. La Sylphide has established a standard for ballet and is regarded as a pillar of Russian ballet history.

 

  1. Don Quixote 

The story of an elderly man who dreams of the lovely Dulcinea is told by Don Quixote. He misidentifies Kitri as Dulcinea, and Kitri takes advantage of the chance to get away from a bad match her father had set up for marriage. The tone of Don Quixote is simultaneously serious and motivational.

 

Classical Ballet For Young Dancers

 

You just can’t go wrong by introducing your child to some of the best classical ballets in music literature if they enjoy dancing and performing. As they grow into a young musician, the songs, techniques, and costumes will serve as inspiration for them to practice and create.

 

So, don’t stop getting proactive about your child’s ballet future today. Feel delighted to look for Distinctive Dance Etc to take dance classes in Warwick for beginners to grow skills according to your area of interest. To help your child grow while having fun dance lessons, dial us at 4019965222 today for your online registration!

5 Crafts and Activities to Do with Your Kids Together

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It’s important to establish a close relationship with your child, and one of the greatest ways to achieve that is to organize things you can do together. Are you having problems thinking of new things to do with kids to keep things interesting?

We wish to assist. We’ve compiled a selection of our favorite arts and crafts that you and your kids will both enjoy. Continue reading for our top family-friendly activities.

  1. Balloon Figures

This is a craft that’s typically done with snowmen, but if you’re not like the wintery theme, you can adapt it for a variety of other figures.

You’ll require the following for this:

  • Balloons
  • Your choice of color (or colors) for the yarn
  • Tape
  • Glue (both hot glue and white school glue)
  • Water
  • Construction paper
  • Markers
  • Accessory items (varies based on your figure)

Have your kid inflate a number of balloons. For the majority of figures, two or three are required, one for each size that can be round rather than oblong. With some tape, secure the balloons together.

When you have a thin but sticky mixture of glue and a tiny bit of water, you are done. The yarn can be covered in glue by you and your child by dipping it into the glue and wrapping it around the balloons (there can be gaps, though).

  1. Paper Dolls

All ages will enjoy making this straightforward craft. You only need a long sheet of art paper, scissors, and markers (the longer the sheet, the more dolls you may construct).

The paper should be folded in half. Then fold in half one more using one of the “open” edges, then repeat with the opposite side. Continue doing this until you have one thin piece of paper that resembles the beginning of a paper fan.

Create a doll with your child with the markers. The doll should represent one-half of a figure, therefore a figure wearing clothing is a good place to start. Make sure the doll’s arm extends all the way to the paper’s edge.

When the paper is unfolded, your child will see a chain of dolls holding hands. Help your child cut around the figure. Let your child use markers to customize each doll.

  1. Shadow Boxes

You and your children will treasure this craft for a very long time. Imagine it as a 3-D scrapbook. You’ll require

  • Wood
  • Superglue
  • Craft board or corkboard
  • Paint
  • Various photos, trinkets, and memory items
  • A photo frame that fits your box with the back removed but the glass still attached

Your first task will be to construct a modest wooden frame. You can purchase pieces of cheap wood at most craft stores, and it works well for this. Making each piece approximately 1 foot long and 3 inches wide is a nice place to start. Attach them using superglue to create your “box.” After that, cut a piece of corkboard and attach it to the back.

  1. Yarn Critters

Children adore making this activity because it is so simple. Although many learn it at summer camps, you can practice it at home. Only yarn, scissors, glue, and googly eyes are required.

To keep the yarn in place, have your child hold out their hand while you have them wrap it around their middle finger. Allow them to wrap the yarn around their fingers after that. The final length will depend on how wide they spread their fingers.

You can create a yarn creature by adding googly eyes!

To create the shape of a human, you can build a larger ball and glue it to the smaller one. By placing a layer of tulle in the middle, you can add a dress. You have a ballerina yarn critter!

  1. Rainbow Decorations

This simple rainbow decoration is something your child will enjoy making. All you need is a pack of cotton balls and rainbow-colored streamer paper strips.

Allow your youngster to separate the cotton balls so that they are no longer rolled up into balls. They don’t have to be flat, just “puffed out.” Work together since you need a lot of them.

Start adhering these cotton pieces together after that. While the center should not be immaculate, you should be more strategic as you move outward to give the impression of a fluffy cloud. Work your way out and keep adding cotton until your cloud is the size you want.

Your child should help you cut the streamer paper into long strips and glue them to the back of the cloud so that it resembles a hanging rainbow from the front. If you’d like to hang it in their room, you can add a loop on the back.

Distinguish Between Dance And Gymnastics: Which One Is Better For Your Child?

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Choosing the best physical activity for your child isn’t so easy, as you need to ensure your child is active and physically as well as mentally stimulated. And also, nobody wants their children to dislike any new activities. Instead, your children need to grow a passion for Dance and gymnastics.

 

Between Dance and gymnastics classes in Coventry sessions, which one is ideal for kids in terms of physical activities? Keep on reading with us to check which option your child should pursue to gain a new skillset.

 

Tumbling Is Required For Both Gymnastics And Dance 

 

Both dance and gymnastics can co-exist, so involves important tumble. It helps to develop strength and quickness in a child. Tumbling is a major component of practicing gymnastics and it can also include variations to dance lessons. All of these learned skills are significant to perform gymnastic routines and equally important as a move for dancers. 

We also provide Dance and tumbling classes in East Greenwich if you are looking for any specific tumbling dance classes.

 

Take Dance Classes At Any Age, But Not Gymnastics

 

Begin gymnastics at a very young age is extremely important to learn difficult techniques for kids. Learning higher levels in gymnasts can put older students at multiple disadvantages. Although dance isn’t similar to gymnastics, as not all of its session offers physical challenges. In case you have a teenage child, they can anytime join dance lessons and catch up quickly. 

 

Both Activities Need A Routine For Your Kids

 

Both dance and gymnastics are excellent at creating a routine for kids to follow them. This helps your child to stay more organized throughout the day. It’s equally important to choose the right gymnastics or dance institute to get your child enrolled for the best lessons.  

 

Diverse Sports Cultures For Your Kids 

 

While both dance and gymnastics are sports, although they have different sports cultures. And so, you need to wisely choose which one will suit your child the best. 

 

Gymnastics focused more on individual performance, as scores of individual gymnasts matters in a competition. If you are choosing a gymnastics session, your child can acquire great skills in self-reliance and persistence as a gymnast. However, dance is more of a group activity, unless your child is getting prepared to perform a solo. Most dance lessons require working in a group with other students and ensuring the routine is a success. 

 

The Range of Competition For Kids

 

The cost of participating in gymnastics to dance doesn’t make a noteworthy difference to your wallet. In comparison to uniforms, dance costumes are comparatively expensive as each dance routine will require different outfits and shoes. But, gymnasts don’t require as many expensive costumes as a dancer. Also, dance will cost you somewhat more to get new costumes in each routine and competition travel for kids.  

 

Now, It’s Time To Choose The Best Physical Activity For Your Kids 

 

The final decision is upon your child and you (as parents) to choose the right physical activity as per your interest. Both dance lessons for kids and gymnastics sessions are excellent physical activities to increase your child’s strength, motivation, and activeness. You just can’t go wrong with either one as numerous advantages and good reasons as equally present in each one. 

 

Are you in search of the right platform to get your child enrolled in any physical activities? Then, Distinctive Dance Etc is a renowned place to offer a stimulating environment to children of all ages and allow them to learn the best things. We have a wide range of programs to suit each child’s needs and options to explore gymnastics or dance lessons from highly-trained trainers.

 

To know more about our upcoming sessions to join, you can simply give us a call at 4019965222 today and get Dance and Gymnastics classes in Coventry.

Is Dance Important for Gymnasts?

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Similar physical advantages, such as enhanced muscular strength, spatial awareness, and flexibility, are offered by both gymnastics and dance. Although gymnastics and dance have certain similarities, their respective techniques are significantly distinct. Due to these distinctions, dancing is the ideal addition to gymnastics training.

 

Dance improves grace

In artistic gymnastics, the floor exercise and balance beam blend tumbling and dancing moves to create a lovely performance. Gymnastics involves more than just completing a set of abilities; it also incorporates dancing to link these motions together. Gymnasts who study dancing discover that one move ends and another begins. Gymnasts can make more elegant connections between the elements because of this approach.

 

Dance helps to strengthen arm and leg postures

Gymnasts are trained in certain arm and leg postures, even at the recreational level. A stance that is taught and reinforced in dance class is the passé walk, which is practiced by athletes in preschool lessons on the balance beam. Gymnasts are also taught how to start and land techniques with certain arm and body postures. Gymnasts may learn how to push their hands and lunge into and out of skills by practicing these postures, which are also taught in dancing classes.

 

Athletes benefit from learning combinations

Both gymnasts and dancers must be able to recall and repeat a set of instructions. This method aids in imparting knowledge in a secure and advanced setting. Students’ memory abilities are strengthened when they use these techniques during dance or gymnastics, and they will find it simpler to recall combinations in their current class as well as in other comparable classes.

 

The ability to communicate is taught to athletes

For young people of all ages, self-expression is crucial. Children’s communication abilities can be safely improved by being taught to express themselves via music, rhythm, and dance. Gymnastics students find their individuality by showcasing their skills with their own flair, which translates to other forms of self-expression. The judges give points to gymnasts who show emotion in their beam and floor performances.

 

Dance and gymnastics make the ideal mix for children to succeed at both while being challenged and entertained in class, whether they are preschoolers or competitive gymnasts.

How To Prevent Dance Injuries?

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For dancers, injuries are quite a typical incident, which tend to be from repetitive pressures of the feet. However, recurrent injuries are easier to prevent compared to acute injuries whether you are a student or an instructor. Because of the tiresome practice of new or old movements, which requires endurance and strength, dancers are good candidates to get more injuries. From lower leg to the foot, low back to the hip, and ankle – these are the most prevalent injuries in dancers.

The frequency of classes, rehearsals, and performances can also cause such injuries in dancers. In addition to that the type of floor, temperature of studios, the fit of shoes, the body alignment, and nutritional deficiencies are quite common incidents the dancer might be facing. These risk points are easy to reduce with the right coordination between the dance instructor and students, which you can expect to get from the dancer teachers of Distinctive Dance Etc.

Dancers further need to wear clothes and shoes in a proper fit. In case you are wearing an extremely tight/ loose fit, it might cause injuries for dancers as minor as painful blisters to stressful fractures. Proper drinking and eating practice are also essential to maintain sufficient energy and enrich muscle strength to support dance training for them. Learning the best dance technique is extremely important for dancers to prevent injuries.

Different types of dance forms taught at Distinctive Dance Etc are chosen with specific body alignment to avoid injuries and maximize movement possible as well. Additionally, dancers should be aware of their body limitations and shouldn’t practice something impossible while the pain of injuries. Before learning different techniques of dancing, the body of dancers should also be warmed up to take classes or rehearsals.

Every parent also plays a significant role in the prevention of injuries in children dancers. Take the best help from highly-trained dance teachers of Distinctive Dance Etc. on exact steps and regularity of dance lessons. We take pride to share the expertise of gymnastics and dance, while constantly offering encouragement and guidance for beginner dancers. We’ll further help you to pick the right shoe fit for different forms of dancing. To avoid injuries, you also need to stay attentive to your psychological or eating changes in the diet.

The dance teachers of Distinctive Dance Etc. are committed to offering injury-free dancing lessons for beginners. We have been providing a stimulating environment for children of all ages, where students are comforted to share their feelings of discomfort or pain with instructors without any unwillingness. Our dance teachers will also emphasize the importance of warm-up and cool-down throughout the year. DDE has the best flooring with proper coverings to ensure the safety of dancers.

In case you’ve got any more queries related to injury prevention for dancers or dance classes available at Distinctive Dance Etc, you are suggested to contact us at www.distinctivedanceetc.com or give us a call at 4019965222 for the latest dance techniques. Contact today!