If you’re traveling and can’t make it to a dance class—or even to the hotel gym—that doesn’t mean you have to skip your workout. DS asked four fitness pros who specialize in dance for their favorite dancer-specific exercises. These moves will keep you toned all over, and none of them require any props or equipment. […]
Dancers perform at New York City Dance Alliance Nationals in NYC (PROPIX/NYCDA) The week leading up to Nationals can be nerve-racking. You’re about to perform in front of an audience of peers from across the country—not to mention that panel of industry-expert judges! So how can you make sure you’re ready to compete, without psyching […]
It’s “Dancing with the Stars” day! Season 14 premieres tonight, and—with some studly stars and our favorite ballroom ladies and gents fighting for that Mirror Ball Trophy—it’s definitely going to be a good one. To start off the season right, DS got the inside scoop from “DWTS” pro Kym Johnson about her expectations for partner […]
Kali Grinder (PROPIX) KALI GRINDER Age: 18 Studio: The Dance Zone in Henderson, NV In a sea of contemporary soloists, playful musicality and controlled isolations set this long-legged beauty apart. Most recently, Kali was named New York City Dance Alliance’s National Senior Outstanding Dancer 2011 and West Coast Dance Explosion’s National Runner Up Elite Dancer. […]
Ivan Kalinin and Kali Grinder from The Dance Zone in Henderson, NV You’ve worked all year to perfect your routines, and now it’s time to show off on the competition stage. But suddenly, the nerves kick in and you second-guess yourself. What if I forget my dance? What if I fall? What if I have […]
“The first time I saw Chantel Aguirre dance was in a video,” recalls choreographer Travis Wall. “My first thought was that she had crazy lines. My next thought was that I wanted to meet her.” A few months later, Wall did meet Chantel, who was 18 at the time and working as an assistant at […]
Sarah performing her solo, “The Black Hawk Waltz,” at NYCDA Nationals. By ProPix. At last summer’s Dance Awards finale in NYC, superstars including Travis Wall, Nick Lazzarini, Bobby Newberry and Mandy Moore all tore up the dance floor—but it was pint-size Sarah Pippin, now 14, who earned the only standing ovation of the night. Her […]
Canadian Dance Company performs a memorable routine at Showstopper’s East Coast Finals. (Photo Courtesy Canadian Dance Company) Think fouettés are the key to a judge’s heart? Think again. While judges love strong technique, tricks aren’t what they remember in the long run. Instead, creativity, performance quality and moving storylines reign supreme. Here, seven competition judges […]