danskinshorts.net http://danskinshorts.net Find Danskin Apparel On Sale... Mon, 20 Feb 2012 03:22:02 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Bringing Our Life’s Personal Experiences to the Table of Life – Health and Fitness through Dancing http://danskinshorts.net/bringing-our-life%e2%80%99s-personal-experiences-to-the-table-of-life-%e2%80%93-health-and-fitness-through-dancing/ http://danskinshorts.net/bringing-our-life%e2%80%99s-personal-experiences-to-the-table-of-life-%e2%80%93-health-and-fitness-through-dancing/#comments Mon, 20 Feb 2012 03:22:02 +0000 John http://danskinshorts.net/bringing-our-life%e2%80%99s-personal-experiences-to-the-table-of-life-%e2%80%93-health-and-fitness-through-dancing/ Read more »

]]> Friday, February 17, 2012

 

Puppies, don’t you just love them! In comes a big box teeming with three little puppies.  They are so cute.  We love them.  We reach in and pick them up.  They kind of scratch us and give us little puppy bites.  They smell funny and may even pee on us, but we love them.  We give them big kisses and don’t mind that they just ripped our stockings, or put a pull in our ties.

After we bring one home, they keep us up all night. They chew our new shoes and pee on our new sofas.  Still, we just love them and can’t wait for them to grow up. We train them, feed them, wash them, and put up with all their little growing pains.  Yes, we love puppies.

What would life be like if we treated each other as well as we treat puppies? What would happen to the little pups if we came home and immediately yelled at them? I think it might make them sick and hurt them.  No, we come home and we drop everything we have and just give up the love and kisses to the little wagging tails.  They love us unconditionally and we return that affection to them.

What would happen if we greeted each other as nicely as we greeted a little puppy? I think the world, and life in general, would be very different using the dog principle! OK, let’s try these doggie rules:

  1. First, a warm and sincere greeting.  Remember, their little tails are wagging.
  2. Second, touch them. Either physically or with the warmth of a great smile or a special greeting.
  3. Be tolerant.  Even though they may have soiled the floor, keep on training them.
  4. Remember the good days and how much you love them when they are at their best!

Yes, let’s try these rules with one another.  Stay focused on the good in others and be forgiving.  Let the past go and life in a fresh, new day.

To our theme today, bring our life experiences from dancing, sports, faith, health, family and friends to every area of life. We probably know what to do in most situations if we just take a minute, inhale, and think of the best decision to make.

 

Next week: “Cherish Life’s Golden Moments”!

 

Very Sincerely,

David Earl Woodbury

]]> http://danskinshorts.net/bringing-our-life%e2%80%99s-personal-experiences-to-the-table-of-life-%e2%80%93-health-and-fitness-through-dancing/feed/ 0 The First Film To Tell The Joffrey Ballet Story — Autographed DVD [Giveaway] http://danskinshorts.net/the-first-film-to-tell-the-joffrey-ballet-story-%e2%80%94-autographed-dvd-giveaway/ http://danskinshorts.net/the-first-film-to-tell-the-joffrey-ballet-story-%e2%80%94-autographed-dvd-giveaway/#comments Mon, 20 Feb 2012 03:21:25 +0000 John http://danskinshorts.net/the-first-film-to-tell-the-joffrey-ballet-story-%e2%80%94-autographed-dvd-giveaway/ Read more »

]]> Today we have a surprise addition to the week of LOVE Our Readers Giveaways.

This giveaway is sponsored by Lakeview Films and Hybrid Cinema.

IMAGE Joffrey Movie DVD IMAGE

The first film to tell the story of this groundbreaking company. www.joffreymovie.com

Joffrey: Mavericks Of American Dance is a documentary film produced by Lakeview Films and released by Hybrid Cinema, that chronicles the over 50 year history of the Joffrey Ballet, known as the first truly American dance company.

During the Joffrey Ballet’s 2008 Spring Gala in Chicago, executive producer Jay Alix and producer Una Jackman sat with their friends, famed Hollywood screenwriter/director Harold Ramis and his wife Erica Mann Ramis in a theater box next to the Joffrey’s Artistic Director Gerald Arpino.

Noting that Arpino did not look well due to his advanced age, Alix suggested to the others that someone ought to sit Arpino down and videotape interviews with him about the founding of the Joffrey before it was too late. Alix and Harold Ramis had been looking for a film project on which to collaborate. “Joffrey: Mavericks Of American Dance” became that project.

Narrated by Tony® and Emmy® Award winner Mandy Patinkin and directed by Bob Hercules (Bill T. Jones-A Good Man), the film documents how The Joffrey Ballet revolutionized American ballet by daringly combining modern dance with traditional ballet technique, combining art with social statement and setting ballets to pop and rock music scores.

View the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ3UffLr6bI

The Giveaway

Lakeview Films and Hybrid Cinema would like to give away ONE signed copy and TWO unsigned copies of Joffrey: Mavericks Of American Dance on DVD to Dance Advantage readers.

IMAGE Image of autographed copy of Joffrey: Mavericks Of American Dance on DVD IMAGEThis beautifully designed, six panel DVD package features rarely seen photos and the film contains excerpts from many seminal Joffrey works including Astarte, Trinity and Billboards, as well as breakthrough collaborations with choreographers Twyla Tharp (Deuce Coupe), Kurt Jooss (The Green Table) and Leonide Massine (Parade).

ONE grand prize winner will receive a signed copy of the DVD. It was signed at the world premiere screening which took place January 27 at the Walter Reade Theater in Lincoln Center, New York City where “Joffrey: Mavericks Of American Dance” was the opening night film of the Dance on Camera Festival. Signatures are from the film’s director Bob Hercules, current Joffrey artistic director Ashley C. Wheater, and former Joffrey principal dancers Trinette Singleton and Christian Holder.

There only 100 copies signed by these artists for sale (retail $34.95) at www.joffreymovie.com.

TWO additional winners will receive one copy of the unsigned DVD (sold for $24.95).

The Joffrey Movie giveaway is open worldwide to those 18 and up and closes at Midnight EST on Thursday, February 23.

How To Enter

(…)

Continue reading “The First Film To Tell The Joffrey Ballet Story — Autographed DVD [Giveaway]“

30 comments

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2012. |
Permalink | Category: Beyond the Bubble, Blog, Dance Media, Dancethropology, Film/Video, Giveaways, History of Dance, Product/Website Reviews | Who’s talking about this article?

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]]> http://danskinshorts.net/the-first-film-to-tell-the-joffrey-ballet-story-%e2%80%94-autographed-dvd-giveaway/feed/ 0 When the end is in sight.. http://danskinshorts.net/when-the-end-is-in-sight/ http://danskinshorts.net/when-the-end-is-in-sight/#comments Mon, 20 Feb 2012 03:21:19 +0000 John http://danskinshorts.net/when-the-end-is-in-sight/ Read more »

]]> Hi around,

have you ever got the feeling that your dancing time may be over soon, cause your knees, feet or what ever wont play along any more?

And what would you do if it actually comes true?

-Stay within the community but sitting at the bar?
-Find a new job within the community as DJing, lecturing, making music?
-contributing as a virtual dancer in dance forums, blogs and other internet stuff?
-Break up completely as not to be reminded any more? ]]> http://danskinshorts.net/when-the-end-is-in-sight/feed/ 0 The Solutions Are Within Us All Along – Health and Fitness through Dancing http://danskinshorts.net/the-solutions-are-within-us-all-along-%e2%80%93-health-and-fitness-through-dancing/ http://danskinshorts.net/the-solutions-are-within-us-all-along-%e2%80%93-health-and-fitness-through-dancing/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:02:27 +0000 John http://danskinshorts.net/the-solutions-are-within-us-all-along-%e2%80%93-health-and-fitness-through-dancing/ Read more »

]]> Friday, February 10, 2012

 

“Why is this happening to meeeeee?????” “What’s going on in my life?” “Did that just happen again?” “What am I going to do now?” “I’ll just give up”.

Wow, ever felt or said any of these statements? I sure have and it’s not very fun. At these times we feel lost, angry, hurt, and generally just want to get out of our situation and run away. Well, we know we just can’t run away from our problems. If we don’t learn our current life lessons and complete each learning experience, we just have to start over again later on until we discover the answer.

Some people always give up when it gets too hard. They often quit just before it gets better.  Then they wonder “Why do I have all the bad luck?” “This just keeps happening over and over.” They don’t realize that the answer is not something learned at the end, but a lesson learned during the rough times.

When I fell in December 2010 and broke my shoulder, the first thing I said after asking for help standing was, “What am I going to learn from this?” Now, two and a half years later I have learned that a cold heart, bitterness, and resentment was slowly creeping into me.  I was not very forgiving or tolerant, and had become angry. I can’t put into print what I was feeling about myself at that time, but I was becoming someone I didn’t like.

Broken shoulder pain is virtually like white lightening.  It blinds the senses and stops you from breathing, seeing, or focusing.  That was the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life. The after surgery pain was excruciating, but the real treat was the six months of physical therapy.  If I was not crying like a baby during therapy, it was a waste of my time. The harder each treatment, the better I got and the faster I healed. That pain broke me and changed my life.

Now, I’m fully and completely healed.  I dance five to six days a week. I have resumed all my former activities.  Now to our title for today’s blog…the answer was always inside of me.  I had prayed for a warm and loving heart, and I was allowed to experience a tough life lesson.  Now, I have so much more empathy when listening to other people’s problems.  I don’t blow people off any more. I have learned to listen and understand when others are speaking.

When it gets tough, go ask someone who has lived a long time how they made it.  I bet the answers you hear were inside you all along!

 

Next week: Bringing our life’s personal experiences to the table of life.

 

Sincerely,

David Earl Woodbury

]]> http://danskinshorts.net/the-solutions-are-within-us-all-along-%e2%80%93-health-and-fitness-through-dancing/feed/ 0 A Ballet DVD For Petite Feet [Giveaway] http://danskinshorts.net/a-ballet-dvd-for-petite-feet-giveaway/ http://danskinshorts.net/a-ballet-dvd-for-petite-feet-giveaway/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:01:48 +0000 John http://danskinshorts.net/a-ballet-dvd-for-petite-feet-giveaway/ Read more »

]]> Welcome to Day One of the LOVE Our Readers Giveaway!

Our first giveaway is sponsored by Petite Feet.

IMAGE Petite Feet - Ballet Adventures with Liz IMAGE

www.petitefeetdance.com

Petite Feet is a 26-minute DVD that uses engaging and imaginative exercises, games and stories to introduce children to basic ballet positions and vocabulary, as well as general dance and musical concepts.

Liz, a Theatre Studies graduate of Yale and Yaledancers alum, is an early childhood educator who taught ballet, yoga and theater for over nine years in New York City and is now offering classes in LA. She is a strong believer in arts education and in promoting physical well-being and opportunities for artistic expression to people of all backgrounds.

“For years parents have been asking me to put my dance classes on a DVD because their children want to practice every day,” Liz says. So she decided to draw from her experience as a trained actor, as well as a dancer and teacher, to create Petite Feet.

Focusing on the creative potential of dance and its storytelling possibilities, Petite Feet encourages children between the ages of 2-5 to learn fundamental and age-appropriate ballet steps, to build confidence and coordination, and, of course, to have fun.

“Not only does my 3-year-old enjoy this video, it is quite possibly her favorite thing EVER.” – Ariana Smart Truman, mother to George

“It’s a totally relaxed approach to ballet with heavy emphasis on storytelling and imagination — making it a great introduction for little ones.” – Nicole Caccavo Kear, Creator of A Mom Amok

The Giveaway

IMAGE Front cover of the Petite Feet dance DVD IMAGE

Liz would like to give away a Petite Feet DVD to THREE Dance Advantage readers.

The DVD (which Dance Advantage reviewed here) incorporates activities, grounded in Laban Movement Analysis, that playfully connect movement education to everyday learning. It offers a gender neutral ballet experience that, like Liz’s classes, is enjoyed by girls and boys alike.

Featuring original music by Doran Danoff and a colorful set, along with the Story of the Dancing Dolls (written by Liz) and some help from Waldo the Walrus, Petite Feet offers an active alternative to the DVDs in any child’s collection as well as to the programs on children’s television.

This DVD retails for $20. Watch the trailer below:

The Petite Feet giveaway is open worldwide (non-expedited) to those 18 and up and closes at Midnight EST on Thursday, February 16.

How To Enter

(…)

Continue reading “A Ballet DVD For Petite Feet [Giveaway]“

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© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2012. |
Permalink | Category: Blog, Dance Media, Dancethropology, Film/Video, For Parents of Young Children, Giveaways, Product/Website Reviews | Who’s talking about this article?

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]]> http://danskinshorts.net/a-ballet-dvd-for-petite-feet-giveaway/feed/ 0 effeminate or not http://danskinshorts.net/effeminate-or-not/ http://danskinshorts.net/effeminate-or-not/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:01:41 +0000 John http://danskinshorts.net/effeminate-or-not/ Read more »

]]> At least a couple of times on the UK’s Strictly Come Dancing, I remember male celebrities expressing a wish to learn latin dances in a way which didn’t make them look effeminate. I suspect that the wish not to look effeminate (along side the wish not to look incompetent) is one factor which keeps quite a few men out of dance classes.

To me, all of the male dancers on Strictly make latin dances look effeminate. They also look classy and skillful. It’s not a bad look and I enjoy the performances.

My question is how can I avoid it? I want my dancing to be expressive, but distinctively masculine. What are the features of posture and movement which distinguish between the two looks?

Please bear in mind:
1. This is not in any way an attack on effeminate dancing or an attempt to class men who dance like the professionals on Strictly as effeminate. They have a fine way of dancing and people who feel like expressing themselves in that way certainly should. If effeminate can be taken in any way as being a derogatory term then please just replace it with a respectful one. I’m just trying to refer to a style of movement.

2. Telling me to just express how I feel, whatever it looks like won’t help. Nobody has told me that my dancing is effeminate, but at the same time, I am starting to learn to dance later than most. So at the moment, no moves really feel like a natural expression of me. Whatever movements I explore will eventually develop into a way of expressing myself, so I want to be comfortable that I am rehearsing movements which fit with my self image – which (in case I’m giving the wrong impression) is also not some macho testosterone junkie.

I’ve deliberately avoided naming any of the dances that I’ve tried so far, since I’m interested in posture and movement ideas generally.

Thanks.

]]> http://danskinshorts.net/effeminate-or-not/feed/ 0 Career To Consider: Dance/Movement Therapy http://danskinshorts.net/career-to-consider-dancemovement-therapy/ http://danskinshorts.net/career-to-consider-dancemovement-therapy/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:15:25 +0000 John http://danskinshorts.net/career-to-consider-dancemovement-therapy/ Read more »

]]>

Some of us are called to be performers, some to be teachers, but if you think the options for a career in dance end there, you are mistaken!

Over time, Dance Advantage plans to cover these alternative callings in depth, with guest posts and interviews by those with first-hand experience. For today, the Career To Consider is Dance/Movement Therapy, which we are presenting with the help of Susan Rizzo Vincent.

IMAGE The Andréa Rizzo Foundation logo IMAGESusan established the Andréa Rizzo Foundation in memory of her daughter, who, after surviving childhood cancer, was tragically killed at the age of 24 by a drunk driver. Andréa’s dream was to become a dance therapist and give children with cancer and disabilities the gift of dance. Susan founded Drea’s Dream, a nonprofit organization that raises funds to provide dance therapy to children with cancer and special education needs.

Susan has been kind enough to prepare some frequently asked questions and will introduce you to two dance/movement therapists working in the field.

IMAGE Susan Rizzo Vincent IMAGEAs President of The Andréa Rizzo Foundation, we fund Dréa’s Dream pediatric dance/movement therapy program for children with cancer and special needs in schools and hospitals nationwide.  I have personally had the honor to observe the transformation and healing that takes place within these children – psychologically, emotionally and physically.

What is dance/movement therapy?

Based on the assumption that the body and mind are interrelated, the American Dance Therapy Association defines dance/movement therapy as “the psychotherapeutic use of movement to further the emotional, cognitive, physical, and social integration of the individual.”

They further explain that dance/movement therapy(…)

Continue reading “Career To Consider: Dance/Movement Therapy“

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© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2012. |
Permalink | Category: Blog, Career, Interviews | Who’s talking about this article?

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]]> http://danskinshorts.net/career-to-consider-dancemovement-therapy/feed/ 0 FREE: Mardi Gras Ball with live music in Chicago http://danskinshorts.net/free-mardi-gras-ball-with-live-music-in-chicago/ http://danskinshorts.net/free-mardi-gras-ball-with-live-music-in-chicago/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:15:18 +0000 John http://danskinshorts.net/free-mardi-gras-ball-with-live-music-in-chicago/ Read more »

]]> Northwestern University’s ballroom team is hosting a FREE Mardi Gras Ball on February 19th, and we would love to see some new faces from the Chicago area dance community!
What: Semi-formal Mardi Gras Ball with FREE food, beginning swing/salsa lesson, and music provided by the Aurelia Trio and Friends
Where: Norris Student Center, Louis Room (Evanston, Illinois)
When: Sunday, February 19th from 7-10pm ]]> http://danskinshorts.net/free-mardi-gras-ball-with-live-music-in-chicago/feed/ 0 Sunday Snapshot: Magic Moments http://danskinshorts.net/sunday-snapshot-magic-moments/ http://danskinshorts.net/sunday-snapshot-magic-moments/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:04:08 +0000 John http://danskinshorts.net/sunday-snapshot-magic-moments/ Read more »

]]> “I don’t think dancers are always aware that an observer, even an amateur like me, can tell the difference between someone going through the motions and someone who is passionate about their art,” says photographer Scott W. Lewis.

“The difference in the image is of someone standing in an awkward position and an image that conveys that passion. My photography evolved from capturing something in focus to capturing that “magic moment” of expression where you can truly see the dancer’s love and dedication in what they are doing.”

IMAGE Paquita - Salt Creek Ballet; Photography by Scott W. Lewis IMAGE

©Scott W. Lewis Photography

Scott Lewis likes to say that he fell in love with photography by accident. He bought his first camera only a couple of years ago for no other reason than capturing the drama, dance, and athletic activities of his four daughters.

“I had no intent to do anything other than collect keepsake snapshots,” he explains, adding, “I realized that I truly enjoyed it, far more than I originally thought I would.”

Scott began photographing dance at Salt Creek Ballet, a pre-professional company in Westmont, IL where his daughter attends.

“At first, shooting dance was all about the technical challenge of trying to capture athletes in motion under the most horrendous lighting imaginable,” he muses.  “I got the usual polite comments about the images, and had almost given up on more than one occasion.” Yet images used on Chicago WTTW’s Fear no Art website and on the cover of Dance Studio Life gave Scott the encouragement he needed to keep moving forward.

The image above is from a dress rehearsal of Faubourg Theater’s performance of Paquita at the Prairie Arts Center in Schaumburg, IL.

“While almost all my dance photography is with Salt Creek Ballet, I didn’t want to wait until Nutcracker season started to shoot more dance, so I kind of snuck into Faubourg’s rehearsal,” says Scott.

However, this isn’t the first photo of Scott’s to appear on Dance Advantage. After his submission of the Paquita photo, Scott’s Flickr exploded with Nutcracker photos and I happened upon a beautiful capture I knew I wanted to share.

Scott allowed me to add something of my own to his image — an honor, more so because the lovely young dancer making it snow is his daughter!

IMAGE My dance is my gift.... (click to read poem) IMAGE

About the photographer:

Scott W. Lewis is from Schaumburg, IL in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago. He doesn’t shoot professionally and has no background in dance. Instead, he’s worked in IT for the last 25 years.  See more of his photography at swlphoto.com or on Flickr.

Photographers, get featured in the Dance Advantage Sunday Snapshot. Click here.


© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2012. |
Permalink | Category: Blog, Dance Media, Dancethropology, Photography | Who’s talking about this article?


Your link here! — Find out more

]]> http://danskinshorts.net/sunday-snapshot-magic-moments/feed/ 0 Savannah Dance Festival 2012 http://danskinshorts.net/savannah-dance-festival-2012/ http://danskinshorts.net/savannah-dance-festival-2012/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:03:52 +0000 John http://danskinshorts.net/savannah-dance-festival-2012/ Video now posted.

http://bit.ly/A8FBYy

Chris

]]> http://danskinshorts.net/savannah-dance-festival-2012/feed/ 0