If social distancing has you feeling unusually restless right now (cabin fever is REAL), a good improvisation session could be the dance remedy you need. Improv, which is the simultaneous creation and performance of movement without any preparation, doesn’t require a dance studio or stage. In fact, sometimes working in an unconventional space—like your own […]
Picture this: You peek into a studio and see 10 different duets happening simultaneously. Some pairs move through a lift, while others roll swiftly across the floor. Everyone appears to be making it up as they go, yet the partnering is seamless. What the heck is happening? It’s contact improvisation! What is it? Sarah Konner, […]
When teaching convention classes, many choreographers start combinations mid-song, allowing dancers the freedom to improvise a few eight counts before the piece begins. How do you use those moments to learn and grow as a dancer, even if you’re new to the style of dance? DS spoke with convention teachers about the best way to […]
We’ve talked before about how obsessed we are with “SYTYCD” Season 2 champ Benji Schwimmer‘s beautiful choreography for ice skaters. But how does a guy from the dance world come up with movement that reads on ice? By dancing it out in a skating rink: A post shared by Benji Schwimmer (@benjischwimmer) on Apr 23, […]
You’ve practiced your choreography half a million times, organized your costumes in show order and made checklist after checklist including every detail imaginable. But just because you’re prepared doesn’t mean last-minute catastrophes can’t come up. Don’t let backstage blunders bring you down! Dance Spirit has four solutions to your worst recital nightmares. (Photo by Jean […]
In a mirror-less dance studio, your teacher asks you to move as if you’re in the shower and the hot water has suddenly disappeared. What do you do? You twitch, you vibrate. You can almost feel that freezing-cold water pelting your shoulders. As you shiver, you imagine how that movement affects each molecule in your […]
Kaitlynn Edgar’s luscious layout (photo by Erin Baiano) Everyone understands the appeal of the tilt: It’s flashy, it’s dramatic and it shows off the extension you’ve worked so hard for. But when it’s time to freestyle, many contemporary dancers start tilting all over the place. “To me, tilts have become less impressive over time, because […]