One of the most crucial things we do (generally as humans and also specifically as dancers) is take stock of how we’re feeling physically and then take action. In its most rudimentary form, everyone does it–I’m hungry (I need food), I’m tired (I need sleep), what I just ate isn’t agreeing with me (I need … More Listening to Your Body

I recently got back from being on tour with Intersect Dance Collective, the group I danced with when I lived in Mississippi. When they invited me back for the tour this summer, I gladly took the opportunity, and it was really a wonderful trip. Intersect is a modern-based collective and incorporates a significant amount of … More Listening to Others–Contact Improv

A frustrating paradox of ballet is that it requires everything you have to work as one unit, but often actively works against that in practice. Oh, people pay lip service to listening to your body, listening to what you need, but in practice, there’s all kinds of pressure to look, act, be a certain way. Fit … More The Art of Listening

Well, at last we come to the end of our series on studio finding! Today’s theme is finding a studio when you’re an adult dancer. Again, all of the general advice from the previous posts still applies, and I’ll just elaborate a little more on concerns specifically for adults. At some point in the future, … More How to Find a Studio, Pt. 4

Today I’m going to be covering some basic FAQs on pointe shoes! Getting your first pair of pointe shoes is a huge milestone, but one that’s often a bit confusing. How soon can I go on pointe? If you’re on track with your class schedule and overall strength, probably sometime between 11 and 13, but … More Pointe Shoe FAQs

Today we’re tackling situation B, how to find a studio for a student who’s looking to dance recreationally. This won’t be nearly as detailed of a post, as all of the preceding advice still applies. You’re mostly looking for the same things, but potentially with a slightly different focus, and the focus is going to … More How to Find a Studio, Pt. 3

On to part 2 of the series! Today I’ll be tackling situation A from the previous post, finding a studio for a child who’s serious about dance. First things first, this is going to be from the perspective of being serious about ballet, as that’s where my own experience is. If you’re looking to go … More How to Find a Studio, Pt. 2

One of the things that I’ve found when talking to people who aren’t familiar with dance is that finding a studio is really difficult. It can be difficult enough when you know what to look for, but when you don’t, it’s a minefield. So how do you find a studio that will suit your needs? … More How to Find a Studio, Pt. 1

Welcome to The How-To Dancer! Here you will find plenty of resources to help both dancer and parent alike. Since I’ve started teaching, I’ve noticed a lot of people have similar questions. How do I choose a good studio when I’m unfamiliar with dance? How can I make sure the studio has a healthy, safe … More Welcome!