The Changing Face of Dance: Dads With Daughters
In the new millennium we have ushered in a few socially relevant and significant changes. In Canada, same sex couples have the right to legally marry; Sex, in general, can now be a legal choice; Women are speaking loudly and clearly once again about gender-wage discrepancies in the labour force; And dads are taking their daughters to dance class. With these social changes in what constitutes marriage and gender status it is natural to see a shift both in family dynamics and d
Turn Down For What?!
S2SD attended a convention in January and a competition in March where the volume of the music at both events were causing a common disturbance: dancers covering their ears and dance siblings being removed by concerned parents. This prompted us to ask the question: when is loud music moving from pumping you up to increasing risk of hearing impairment due to damage? We asked our specialist this important question. Stephanie Loder isn't just an audiologist but is a former dance
Creativity On Pointe
The creativity both resulting from and necessary for the art of dance extends far beyond the dance studio and stage. Paige Mackenzie-Meisner
Providing Post-Secondary Students With Work Experience
It was this Global News video that got my attention: http://globalnews.ca/news/2408328/because-its-2015-how-is-pm-trudeau-going-to-deal-with-canadians-economic-concerns/ Without directly supporting any one party’s agenda and without aligning with a Liberal agenda, I can get behind our Prime Minister’s statements in this video. What is most striking to me, a sociologist who studied labour for an honours degree, is that the issues PM Trudeau is discussing in this clip are exact
Acceptance Can Be the Greatest Challenge of All: The Process of Healing From An Anxiety & Eating
Dancers have always been portrayed as impossibly thin, bones protruding in the likeness of a swan that glides across the stage effortlessly. We are delicate, sensitive, impossibly strong (contrarily), and beautiful. I was aware of these expectations since I first began dancing at the age of 6 but at the time, I didn't give them much thought. I met these expectations when I was a child but, because all of my meals were monitored and controlled by my parents, I did not have the
Supporting My Dancer Through An Anxiety & Eating Disorder
As a dancer I had witnessed it. There’s a point when the statement “you look fit” doesn’t apply any longer. At that point there’s a shift to “she is too skinny”. I had dealt with it in my close group of friends in dance and again in high school. When I created my own dance programme I coined the motto “creating positive dance experiences” and tried to integrate that into our programme. I understood that FUN had to be the driving force for kids wanting to dance and worked with
Empowering Dancers In Achieving Balance Of Mind-Body-Soul
Part of our great endeavours at Soul To Sole Dance is to provide opportunities for dancers to gain education and skills in taking care of their minds, bodies, and souls. We believe that the results are strength of character, strength of body, and subsequently strength of dancer. The S2SD Kit has a few essential tools to help dancers care for their physical selves, which in turn helps them keep their minds healthy by easing anxieties about potential for injury and by making it
Incorporating Relaxation in Dance Class
Anyone who has been to a yoga class is familiar with shavasana/savasana – the deep relaxation and meditation led by the instructor at the end of class. Otherwise known as corpse pose, this is a time to bring together the principles and practice of yoga and usually leaves participants feeling a euphoric sense of ease. Why not incorporate this sense of unifying principles and practices of the day as well as a deep sense of relaxation for participants in dance class? Personally,
Benefits of Barre Classes For Dancers
Barre integrates elements of Dance, Yoga, Pilates, and functional training while using a ballet barre as a prop. Barre classes target large core muscle groups that can be neglected in conventional strength training. The quick paced classes are choreographed to today's top 40 hits to keep participants motivated and moving! After just a few Barre classes participants can notice enhanced knee alignment, improved balance, and greater quad and hamstring strength. One may also noti
Proper Posture In Dance
Not only can good posture help you appear confident and taller in everyday activities but proper posture is crucial for a dancer to perform at his/her best. A dancer can achieve proper posture for his/her body with various means of practice. Proper posture is of significant importance for dancers for a few reasons. When working in proper posture movements are most efficient, limbs can reach maximum length, and joints can achieve full range of motion. When the body structure i
