Dance Spirit receives tons of letters from readers, and we love it! You tell us about your struggles with and accomplishments in dance and about the dancers on our magazine’s pages who inspire you. And often, those letters inspire us. Recently, we got an email from 14-year-old Kayla, whose story of her battle with a […]
Energy gels: You’ve probably heard of them. The instant, long-lasting energy they provide sounds like a dream come true. But are these supplements really good for dancers? DS investigates. —Sarah Badger The Good + Prone to stomach problems? Some gels, like GU, contain small amounts of chamomile and ginger, which can help soothe your digestive […]
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Dancers fit a lot into their days: school, work, dance class, homework—and maybe even a social life! But trying to fit everything in can make it tough to get enough sleep. In fact, according to the National Sleep Foundation, only 15 percent of teens get the recommended eight-and-a-half to nine-and-a-quarter hours of sleep on school nights. […]
Students Storm 20th NHSDF Miami may be a big destination for college students on spring break, but for one weekend this month, high school dancers will take over the city. More than 1,500 students from roughly 100 high schools across the country will participate in this year’s National High School Dance Festival (NHSDF). The event, […]
When I was 16, my best friend quit dance. She wanted to be a cheerleader and participate in student government—activities that our rigorous dance schedules didn’t allow time for. It was the right decision for her, but I was devastated. I couldn’t understand what could be more rewarding than dance or how anyone could survive without […]
Contemporary choreographer Jessica Lang has a flair for the dramatic. Whether she surrounds her dancers with large, realistic set pieces or places them in a more abstract stage world, her choreography is passionate and the performers’ emotions are almost tangible. Lang, a Julliard graduate who performed with Twyla Tharp’s company, explains, “It’s not that I […]
Über-Awesome Utah This past December, 10 young ballerinas’ dreams came true when they were cast as Clara in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Three of the chosen ones hail from Utah—two from the same dance studio! Alexia Meyer, who danced in the Nashville production, and Megan Skalla, who danced in the Chicago and St. Louis […]