You got a lob, and it’s adorable—but it’s probably also un-bun-able. How can you keep it out of your face for class? We asked hair pro Chuck Jensen to create three dance-friendly updos that are perfect for shorter hair. 1. Tucked French Braid • Create a French braid—crossing the strands over, not under, as you […]
Few things are as beautiful as a seamlessly executed grand rond de jambe: There’s something majestic about the high arc of the leg from front to side to back (or vice versa). But many pitfalls line the road to effortless grands ronds, especially in the tricky side-to-back and back-to-side transitions. How can you make this […]
Podiatrist Thomas Novella remembers one of his first interactions with dancer feet. Fresh out of podiatry school, he saw a patient from The Joffrey Ballet and assumed he knew the clear way to help her out. “I thought I was doing her a favor by trimming her calluses off, just like I’d been trained to […]
College is all about investing in your education, but it’s also the perfect time to meet a ton of people. The intense nature of a college dance program means you might have the chance to collaborate with anyone from visiting choreographers to MFA candidates to alumni—and those people can help lay the groundwork for your […]
If there’s one thing that separates ballroom dancers from everyone else, it’s their swinging, sassy hips. Hip action—the rotation of the hips created by the alternate bending and straightening of the knees—is a hallmark of Latin ballroom dance styles, but it’s surprisingly tricky to do correctly. Mastering it will make you look like a pro, […]
Are you a super-bendy dancer? Support your core with these four stabilizing exercises.
When we talk about tap, we often use the terms “tapper” and “hoofer” interchangeably—but the two aren’t really synonymous. “ ‘Hoofer’ is kind of a loaded term when we use it to describe today’s tappers,” says tap master teacher Derick K. Grant. It’s not unlike the term “ballerina”: You don’t call just anyone a ballerina, […]
(Clockwise from top left: KPD Photodesign/Thinkstock; Filed Image/Thinkstock; Cameron Whitman/Thinkstock; Rolf 52/Thinkstock) Whether you’re planning a move to Hollywood, new in town or visiting the area for just a week, let the pros be your guide to everything L.A. Dance Spirit asked four top dancers to round up their favorite eateries, studios and things to […]