The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker, choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, has become a wonderful holiday classic ballet.  This ballet is composed of two acts and was adapted from the story called The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, by E.T.A. Hoffmann.  The Nutcracker was first displayed in December of 1892 in St. Petersburg Russia.  Though originally the ballet was not a great success in the 1960s the ballet became very popular and has been performed countless times since then.  In North America The Nutcracker has become especially popular around the Christmas season.

The first act of The Nutcracker begins on Christmas Eve where friends and family are gathered for a party.  During the party a girl Clara is given a nutcracker by her godfather Drosselmeyer (a talented toymaker), but to her dismay Fritz (Clara’s brother) breaks the nutcracker.  During the middle of the night Clara goes down to the parlor and when the clock strikes midnight the nutcracker grows to life size and there is a battle between a gingerbread soldier army and mice.  The nutcracker defeats the Mouse King and is then transformed to a handsome prince and he leads Clara to his kingdom. 

In the second act Clara and the prince travel to the Land of Sweats where the Sugar Plum Fairy has been ruling in the prince’s absence.  The Sugar Plum Fairy celebrates their return by the celebration of sweets from around the world.  The ballet concludes with Clara being ushered into a reindeer drawn sleigh and she leaves the kingdom.

With all of these Christmas like elements it makes sense that it has become a holiday classic.  The Nutcracker is also a wonderful family ballet that will delight and amaze everyone.  The costumes and music and choreography are all magic and enchanting.  The Nutcracker has become a tradition that many ballet companies have been preforming for years.  In fact, some reports show that ballet companies generate about forty percent of their income from performing this ballet. 

The Nutcracker has become a family holiday classic that is performed across the country by countless ballets companies.  Over the years The Nutcracker become a major part of the Christmas season across the country.  With the amazing visuals, costumes and choreography, and the fun light hearted story line full of magic and enchantment, The Nutcracker will thrill and delight the whole family, both young and old.    

Ballet: A History

Ballet is one of the most beautiful forms of dance, a passionate emotional and physical expression developed over centuries by professional dancers across the world. Its roots can be traced back to medieval Europe, but today Ballet has influenced artists in every corner of the globe. 

The royal courts of the Italian Renaissance produced the classical realm of ballet, a discipline which came to be recognized throughout the world as an institution steeped in elegance, with concentrations on delicacy and class. 

The beginnings of ballet in Europe were influenced by the Aristocracy, and early dances were designed alongside popular poetry and music. Over time, ballet became a theatrical event, and a recognized art form. Classical ballet conforms to traditional techniques, with detailed and intense training based on balance and flow. Professional dancers are trained to execute precise routines with strength in the legs and arms. 

Ballet grew to become prominent in Russia, with many dance companies opening across the country, combining local folklore with classical choreography. By the 1930s, it had become a technical and highly respected dance discipline, and the Soviet Ballet produced “Cinderella,” “Romeo and Juliet” and “Flames of Paris.” 

Ballet dancers began to tour around the world in the middle of the nineteenth century, landing in New York, where their talents were infused with further expression and theatrical drama. 

Neoclassical ballet, a contemporary form of the dance pioneered by Russian dancer George Balanchine in the U.S., is a combination of traditional concepts mixed with American themes, forged by dance choreography trends out of California in the early 1920s. This style is sophisticated and modern, drawing up romanticism as a main influence.  The first neoclassical ballet performance, “Apollo,” is still performed today. 

Both modern and traditional ballet performances were designed to be full-length storytelling events, with themes exhibited solely through the movements and costumes of the dancers, and there are several different forms of the art named after their founders.

The Vaganova method is often regarded as the most popular, born from the mind of Agrippina Vaganova, a Russian ballet teacher. 

Enrico Cecchetti, and Italian dancer, introduced The Cecchetti method, which concentrates on the body within the teachings of classical ballet, producing simplicity of movement. 

The Bournonville Method is lesser known, styled by Danish dancer August Bournonville, who created over fifty performances in a light style uniquely his own, influenced by French techniques. 

While all ballet styles are similar, there are some variations across the world. Italian techniques, for instance, tends to be faster and incorporate detailed foot movements, while Russian ballet is comprised of high extensions and flawless turns. Each style is unique to its founder, but takes pointers from the classical methods developed in the 15^th century. 

Dancers who commit to learn the Ballet discipline are trained to exude classical elegance with rigorous techniques, and the art transforms the balance and natural flow of the body. From toddlers to teenagers to adult-age experts, Ballet is one of the world’s most popular styles of expression, demanding passion and commitment within its choreography.

High School and College Dance Teams: The Next Step in your Child’s Dance Career

As your child’s education progresses, so does their dance career, and the two can be simultaneously nurtured, both complimenting each other as they learn more about art, society and most importantly, themselves.

By the time they reach high school, they will already have a wealth of experience in their art. They know their plié from their pirouette, and their passion for dancing has cemented into less of a hobby, and more of a lifestyle. High school and college offer many opportunities for seasoned pros in the dancing world, who can join a team of their peers to improve upon their bank of skills and open the door for many more competitive dancing events in the future.

As they become older, the environment gets more challenging. More dedication and commitment to practice is required, judging becomes stricter and routines more complex, but in a massively beneficial way. When your dancers reach high school, it’s likely they’ll see some in their team give up the art, distracted by outside influences that come into play as they graduate from children to teenagers, but the most committed dancers know they must not give up, because it’s just getting to the good part.

The college or high school dance troupes receive massive recognition from their peers. Cheerleading teams at large universities are granted media publicity, and the college application process bends to students who can show they have been committed to extra-curricular activities. High school teams compete in regional and national competitions together, and can be handled alongside your already established dancing commitments.

The advantage of joining a local team at your child’s school means they likely will already have lots of friends in the class, helping them settle in and get to grips with a new group much quicker than if they didn’t know anyone at all. It’s possible they might even have a relationship with the teachers, too.

The underlying principle of becoming a part of a school team is your child can benefit from added experience. Experience their competitors might not have, advancing their own skills and dedicating themselves further to a craft that could become a paying career for them one day.

Dancers who are seen to engage with the rest of their class and portray themselves as responsible, sensible young adults can also take part in the teaching of dance classes to younger groups at local schools in your area, building their own skills and getting to give back to the community of dancers around them. Working with younger dancers is a great way to cement your place as a talented individual who is looking to learn as much about their art as they can.

If you’re looking to guide your child or teenager toward the next, successful step in their dancing development, encourage them to become a part of their school’s dancing team. They will be opening the door for huge opportunities for themselves in the future, helping to shape them into the very best dancers (and adults) you know they can be.

The history of tap dancing: where it started, where has it come and what the future looks like

Tap dance is a unique form of art expression, counting on the melodic sounds of the dancer’s shoes hitting the floor as they execute each movement. The sound, made by the metal on a tap shoe’s toe and heel, can be heard differently depending on the style or brand of shoe, but the main theme throughout this entire class of dance is the rhythm of the tapping alongside the movements of the dancer.

Tap dancing is thought to have originated in the 1800s, influenced by traditional English and Irish dancing, and became popular in the United States as part of vaudeville entertainment. These shows were theatrical entertainment shows that put together a variety of separate acts and scenes in one sitting, allowing the audience to experience a multitude of dancing and singing. A popular tap routine during vaudeville shows in the 1900s was the Shim Sham, which involved a shuffle step without lifting the feet.

There are two main forms of tap, known as Broadway tap and rhythm/jazz tap. Broadway is the style you’re most likely to see during live theatre, focusing heavily on movement and dance. 42^nd Street, Billy Elliot and Singin’ in the Rain are some of the world’s most popular stage musicals that incorporate tap dancing into their shows.

Rhythm/jazz tap is different, concentrating more on music and its place in the history of Jazz culture. This style came from Jazz clubs during the 1940s.

Outside of musicals, tap is regularly performed a cappella, and the performance relies on the sound of the metal shoes hitting the floor. The Hoofer style of tap makes sole use of the feet, and little movement in the hands or arms. Show tap, on the other hand, makes full use of the arms, and is more likely to be used in stage productions.

By the 1930s, tap dancing was synced with Lindy Hop, an American dance trend out of New York City that infused jazz dance and swing.

National Tap Dance Day is celebrated annually on May 25 in the U.S. This date is the birthday of one of history’s most loved tap dancers, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, who rose to fame in the tap dance industry during the early 1900s.

Along with Bojangles, other famous tap dancers include Fred Astaire, Master Juba, John W. Bubbles and Sammy Davis Jr.

Tap remains a popular form of dance today, and is still taught at dance schools across the world. There’s even an indie-pop brand from Nebraska, known as Tilly and the Wall, who use a tap dancer in place of a drummer.

While tap dancing took a hit during the 1950’s and ‘60s as rock’n’roll music took over, it’s taken its place in the dance industry as a classic technique, and is still a part of many musicals, shows and dance competitions all over the globe. People love to dance tap as it differs from other disciplines, allowing the performer to make an impact on their audience with the rhythm and beat of their shoes.

Seven Benefits of Taking Part in Dance Competitions

Competitions are a rite of passage for every passionate dancer - a chance to showcase their techniques to an audience, express themselves through dance and exhibit their skills in an environment that rewards talent and dedication.

The benefits of taking part are limitless, and every dancer should experience competitive dancing in order to further develop their skills. From promoting group interaction, building confidence and challenging the physical body, here are seven advantages of dance competitions:

Competitions Promote Focused Control and Learning
In a typical dance competition environment, there are many rules that dancers must follow, and learning to abide by guidelines in a competitive setting is a fabulous way of teaching children and young dancers a discipline, while still pushing them to have fun and enjoy their art. This teaches and encourages respect while allowing dancers with an artistic platform.
Provides Insight into the Development of Others
Dancers who want to further their career can get a clear vision of the skills of others by taking part in competitions, allowing them to see how they measure up against the rest of their age group, and assess what skills they need to work on in order to improve and meet the standard of elder, more experienced dancers. This can be a great motivator, encouraging further training and learning.
Feeds Healthy Competiveness
Dance comps can also encourage youngsters to develop a lively competitive streak, influencing them to push themselves as they begin to desire to succeed both in the world of dance, and other aspects of their lives that these skills may be transferred to. While not everyone can win, everyone can take part.
Promotes Social Interaction
Dancers will have the opportunity to meet lots of new people as they travel to compete, enhancing their social skills and providing them a vast network of friends who have hobbies in common. Socialization is one of the most important components in a child’s development, and a happy and healthy child is a social one.
Great Physical Challenges
It is not just the competition itself that calls for the dancer to be fighting fit, but training too. The existence of a competition can keep dancers focused on practice, as they have a solid goal in mind for their training. This encourages consistent physical exercise, keeping dancers athletic and at the top of their game.
Encourages Confidence Building
There’s nothing better for building a dancer’s self-confidence than the loud applause of an appreciative audience, and performing in front of a crowd is an amazing self-esteem booster for those who are prone to being shy, and is definitely satisfying for more outgoing types. It’s also the chance for dancers to show family and friends what they’ve been working on.
Influences Community Spirit
Group numbers in competitions require dancers to work together, promoting team work and instilling a sense of community. Being a part of a group, especially one that trains and dances together in the name of competitions is a rewarding experience. After all, there’s no better way to celebrate a win than with your best friends!

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Vaganova Ballet Technique

The Vaganova technique is an expressive form of ballet that trains dancers in the use of their entire body, with the intention of creating tranquil and clean movements. Formed by Russian ballet teacher Agrippina Vaganova, the method encompasses traits of classical ballet, using French and Italian principles from the European romantic period of the nineteenth century.

Vaganova herself was not considered to be a particularly strong dancer by her peers at the beginning of her career. While she was accepted into the famous Imperial Ballet School in her hometown of St. Petersburg, Russia, it is documented that she vigorously pushed herself through ballet training to eventually become fluent in many different techniques. This allowed her a strong foundation of understanding across the many different styles of ballet, and influenced her decision to become a dance teacher. She published the book Fundamentals of Classical Dance, which outlines her signature style and is credited with training some of the most distinguished dancers in the world.

Vaganova is one of the most popular forms of ballet taught and performed in the world today, and it is learned through the original training system developed by its founder. It is celebrated for encouraging students to emphasize their core strength with absolute precision, without losing the classical and effortless beauty the art of ballet is known for.

While most people see ballet as a form of dance that capitalizes on the use of the feet, the Vaganova method differs as it incorporates subtle arm and hand movements into routines. It also demands a strong torso from its students in every step, and teaches that strength in this particular area of the body is a fundamentally important aspect of the technique.

This means watching a Vaganova performance is exceptionally enchanting for the audience, as a powerful yet silky combination of movements are sewn together seamlessly.

As this method requires the use of the whole body, it is an excellent discipline that enhances the dancers overall body strength and fitness, allowing them to intensify control over their movements and improve their skill in other types of dance and sport. It has long been understood that this type of training can provide indispensable physical fitness benefits for all manner of athletes, such as football, basketball and soccer players, as it teaches individuals how to manage their balance through muscle training, schooling the body on how to best exploit its natural strength.

As each Vaganova instruction is steeped in traditional techniques, learning this style of ballet boosts a dancer’s self-confidence in their art, as the style was created to benefit both the aesthetic view of the performance and the technical ability of the dancer.

Some of the most typical Vaganova movements taught in class are the tombé, most often used as a traveling step which gracefully leads in to the next movement, various different jumping steps which stimulate the image of the dancer floating through the air and arm positions which serve to support the feet during jumps and twists.