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.

The Benefit of Dance For Kids

                      

If you have kids, you may be wondering what is the best way to channel their seemingly boundless energy. While traditional team sports are a good way to get your kids physically active, they may not be right for younger children. Dance classes are a great alternative to team sports, and most studios offer lessons for children as young as two or three. Participating in dance classes can be beneficial for kids of all ages.

Improved Physical Health

Dancing is a highly physical activity, and kids who take dance lessons regularly should expect to see a significant improvement in their overall physical health. According to Pro Dance Center, regular dance practice can increase your child's flexibility, range of motion, physical strength and stamina. The repetitive movements involved in dance can improve muscle tone, correct poor posture, increase balance and coordination and improve overall cardiovascular health. Dancing is an aerobic form of exercise. For children who are overweight, it can potentially help them to lose weight and improve their eating habits.

Socialization Benefits

In addition to being a physical activity, dancing is also a highly social activity. According to "FamilyTalk Magazine," dance lessons can help children improve their social and communication skills, learn how to work as part of a team, develop a greater sense of trust and cooperation and make new friends. If your child is shy, enrolling her in dance can encourage her to reach out to other children her age and help to reduce her anxiety about new people or places. Dance can also help to alleviate fears related to performing in front of an audience.

Educational Benefits

Becoming a skilled dancer requires practice, discipline and focus, skills that can be useful in other areas of your child's life. According to "FamilyTalk Magazine," dance lessons can help to spark creativity in young children and help them to develop an appreciation for the arts. Students who regularly participate in dance lessons typically tend to perform better academically than their nonparticipating peers. "FamilyTalk Magazine" estimates that students who have a background in dance tend to achieve significantly higher SAT scores and do better in math and science competitions.

Improved Self-Esteem

As children adjust to the movements and postures required in dance, they begin to get a better sense of their bodies. As they become more comfortable in their own skin, their confidence and self-esteem also improve. Dance lessons can encourage children to foster a more positive attitude and explore their own self-expression. This can be particularly beneficial for children who are physically or mentally impaired or those who are attempting to deal with significant emotional problems.