Networking

Lately, I've been hearing some different comments from local dancers and friends of mine. My dancer friends and I want to become professionals someday. We want to dance on big deal companies and become choreographers. We've even talked about becoming Rockettes (which would be AMAZING)! But now the dance world has become so hard to figure out that we don't know where to start. So I did a little research and found an amazing way to help your dancing career.


NETWORKING is probably one of the biggest things you could do to help your dancing career.

An example of networking: You take a class.You really liked the class, so you go and talk to the teacher afterwords. You tell them you enjoyed there class and say thank you for the opportunity. (Teachers and choreographers love love love being appreciated. Many students don't take enough time to thank there teachers and choreographers, especially when the students are kids.) The teacher will definitely notice you. Afterwords, you friend the teacher on facebook or instagram, and take other classes from them. They start to notice you more and if you are doing really well in their classes, they remember you. Say you took a few hip hop classes from a teacher. You guys are friends, and they know how good you are. Later, a friend of the teacher needs hip hop dancers to audition for a show. The teacher tells their friends about you and invites you to the audition. And because you were recommended, the choreographer notices you at the audition and BOOM! Your chances of getting hired are far better than everyone else. That is networking. To make your career successful you need to do this A LOT!

Take classes and dance EVERYWHERE! It will give you so much more experience with different teachers and how people in different places run your classes.

Do your research. If you do research on the artistic director or choreographer running an audition, you will know exactly what they are looking for and know what to practice. It helps a ton.

OVERALL!
Just get your name out there! Try your hardest! And don't quit! If you quit, you are done. Over. You can't get your career back on track. So don't quit.

Rockette Trail Mix

Nutrition and excercise are very important, especially when your a dancer. I was looking on the Rockettes' website hen I found a bunch of articles on nutrition and health. This was probably my favorite. It's a recipe for trail mix! It's deliscous and healthy, and Rockettes approved, so I thought I would share it with you.

Roasted Nuts
Walnuts: Omega 3-Reduce cancer and diabetes risks , stress
Cashews: Antioxidants, -Promotes skin, joint and heart health
Almonds: Vitamin E, Calcium, Iron -Reduces risk of heart disease


Dried Fruit
Banana Chips: Potassium, Vitamin B6, Magnesium
-Promotes a healthy immune system, heart health and relaxed muscles
Apple: Antioxidants, Dietary Fiber
-Reduces Cholesterol
Mango:  Vitamins A, C, E
-Promotes brain and digestive health
Apricot: Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A and C, Iron
-Promotes lower blood pressure
Cherry: Antioxidant Super-fruit
-Reduces risk of heart disease and muscle soreness
Raisin: Fiber, Fat Free and Cholesterol Free 
-Reduces cancer risk and promotes heart healty
Blueberry: Antioxidant Super-fruit, Vitamins A, E, B
-Promotes eye, brain and heart health

Bonus

Dark Chocolate Chips with at least 70% cocoa: Antioxidants

-Reduces blood pressure and stroke risk and promotes brain health

High School Dance Team Clinic

Last night I went to the Dance Team Clinic at the high school to help get prepared for tryouts. If your company or dance team has a clinic before a tryout/audition GO TO IT! My dance team's clinic was so helpful!
We went over moves we needed to know to be on the team, some of which I knew and some I didn't. We also got a head start on a dance we would learn and need to perform at tryouts! That was super helpful. I practiced it when I got home and I think I am ready to perform it almost perfectly at tryouts. Then, with the last few minutes before the clinic ended, the team captains answered any questions we had about the team and the tryouts.
I felt really unprepared for the tryout, not knowing what to expect. But now, I think I'm 100% ready!

More Tips

I did a little research to find more tips on how to do great on your audition and I found this really helpful article. Enjoy!

Five Tips For Dance Auditons
by Catherine L. Tully

Many years ago when I was a full-time dancer I went to an audition I was especially excited about. A movie was casting dancers for roles–and the director was one I admired a great deal. I prepped for it, worked extra hard in class and outside of it for weeks, steadied myself mentally, and psyched myself up the best I could. When the day arrived, I felt totally ready.

After a short barre, a combination was taught and I picked it up right away. I was chosen to be in the first group, and positioned myself right in front. I performed it flawlessly. Things were going so well!

I got cut–on the first round.

I really felt crushed, and couldn’t understand why they had let me go. For weeks I beat myself up over it until a friend of mine heard my story and laughed out loud. “They wanted short dancers,” she said, “didn’t you read the notice?”

No, indeed, I had not.

What’s the point? Well, the point is, I hadn’t prepared properly–even though I thought I had. And there’s a lesson here too–sometimes you can dance perfectly–and just not be what they are looking for. It isn’t always your fault if you get cut. At times it comes down to a simple matter of genetics, or the preference of a particular director.

That said, with all my time in and around the dance world, I’ve picked up a few tips for auditions that I’d like to share with you today. Hopefully you will find something here to make your life easier the next time you try out for a gig. Here goes:

1. Preparation is at least half the battle. If I had just read the notice thoroughly, I would have known that the audition was for people 6 inches shorter than me. Also, audition notices will tell you details such as what you should bring, what you should wear, and sometimes, what you can expect. Go to the company’s website and do a little research. It will give you a “feel” for what they are like, what they seem to gravitate toward and what their philosophy is. All this information is helpful and can ease your nerves before you walk through the door.
2. Appearance matters. You are going to be judged on how you look, and your appearance will contribute to this as well as your dancing. Be neat–but try to be comfortable too. Take classes in the clothing you are going to wear for your audition for a few weeks before you go. Wear your hair the way you are going to wear it that day. The more natural things feel, the less jittery you’ll be.
3. Do not, under any circumstances, be late. Seem like common sense? Well…it is, but many people run into a glitch or two along the way. Bad traffic. Forgotten ballet slippers. Poor directions. It happens, and it isn’t a good thing. Leave plenty of time (and then some) to find the place. Come up with an audition checklist of items you will always need to bring to help insure you don’t forget anything. Set two alarms. Do whatever it takes.
4. Keep your eyes open. You can tell a lot about what is going on at an audition by watching the faces of those who are evaluating the dancers. What are they watching–or more importantly–who? Are they looking at dancers who are doing the combinations or peering around the room at the dancers milling around? Sometimes your behavior may be evaluated as well as your ability. Always be attentive.
5. Execute, don’t embellish. Focus on executing a particular combination perfectly rather than adding difficulty or embellishing the movements with your own interpretation. Showing personality is good, but changing the movements is not. If the combination calls for a double pirouette, don’t do a triple just because you can. Make it a flawless double instead. This isn’t the place to show off–it’s the place to show that you can follow direction.

How To Rock Your Audition

I have a Dance team audition soon and so I thought I would share with you some tips on rocking your audition!

1. Know The Skills: A few weeks before your audition go on the website of the company/show you are auditioning for and see if they have a list of the skills they will be looking for. If they do have a list make sure you know how to do all of the skills and practice them.

2. What To Wear: Look on a website or the audition form for a dress code. When deciding what to wear, follow the dress code. Choose something fitting and slimming, like a simple black leotard.

3. Be Memorable: Wear a cute headband, or an interesting hair style that will attract the directers' attention so they notice you.

4. Stretch: Get to the audition early enough that you have time to stretch or stretch at home. Make sure you are fully prepared to dance.

5. During: Whenever in a line or some sort of formation try to be in the middle, not on either ends. If the people in the front or back mess up, it stands out, but if your in the middle your mistakes blend and don't seem as bad.

What's Your Favorite?

What is your favorite dance shoe brand? Vote in a comment below!

Vote from-
Bloch
Freeds
Capezio
Baleti
Panini

Happy National Tap Dance Day!

Not many people know too much about tap dance, even if they take a dance class! They know the moves and stuff, but where did it come from? Most dancers don't know about the history even thought tap is the reason we have jazz, lyrical, and even hip-hop. And almost all of the didn't even know it was National Tap Dance Day!

THE BEGINNING
Tap dance was derived from African American/Juba dance, English Lancashire Clog dancing, and Irish Step dancing, and was first performed in blackface shows (performance shows where white men dressed up like stereotypical African Americans) in the 1800's. During the mid 1800's blackface shows where usually in minstrel shows, which were a mix of skits, dance, music, and variety shows.



From 1880 to 1930 tap dance was popular in Vaudeville shows in the USA and included musicians, dancers, animals, magicians, acrobats, illustrated songs, jugglers, athletes, and lecturing celebrities.

During the 1930's, tap dance mixed with the Lindy Pop. In the 1950's jazz music and tap dance mixed  to form the dance style of jazz but soon was replaced by rock and roll, and pop music, and a whole new type of jazz dance. When 'No Maps on My Taps' came out in 1979 the revival of tap dance began. The amazing reviews of Happy Feet reinforced the popularity. National Tap Dance Day in the USA, which is on May 25, was made on the birthday of famous tap dance star Bill "Bojangles" Robinson.