Why do we dance? There are many reasons for one to start dancing, some of us have been training since we were children and some of us fell in love with it as we got older. The Today Show shared a beautiful story about a woman who always wanted to learn to dance. But it wasn’t until Elisabeth Smith’s husband passed away suddenly that she decided it was time to take action. Now, with over 200 trophies under her belt, she’s dancing into her future. This video feature of Elisabeth’s journey, proves that it’s never to late to pursue your dreams.
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How to Select High-Quality Practice Shoes
Focus on Convenience: How to Select High-Quality Practice Shoes
*Originally Posted on Dance and Shop
Believe it or not, a pair of high-quality practice shoes may impact your career as a professional dancer – and there’re several reasons for that. To name a few, dance shoes, as opposed to ordinary sneakers, were constructed specifically for a dancer’s body — to allow smooth movement and prevent injuries. The selection of practice shoes, however, isn’t always easy. Fortunately, we’ve created the list of 5 things to remember before you go shopping.
1. Find your perfect fit.
Until you make an ultimate decision regarding a particular pair of dance shoes, make sure they fit — without any noticeable pressure or discomfort. Don’t concentrate your attention on the appearance or price of a model and keep in mind that the lifecycle of dance sneakers is smaller, in comparison to everyday shoes, thus, to avoid injuries, you need to replace them on a regular basis.
2. Carefully select a type of heel.
Another mistake you can make during the selection of shoes for practice is to run for high dance heels to be taller, and, by doing this, sacrifice your convenience and complicate the learning process. The higher your heels — the more pressure is on your feet, which may result in pain after a workout.
3. Pay attention to fabrics.
While deciding over your next pair of practice shoes, give preference to high-quality materials. Whereas different fabrics have their own advantages, a special place is occupied by perforated leather that allows your feet to “breathe”.
4. Flexibility is critical.
When it comes to the purchase of good dance shoes — flexibility is one of the most important factors. In a store, make sure your new sneakers aren’t too tight and give you enough freedom to move. As a rule, good practice shoes are easy to bend and they also have a thin sole.
5. Don’t forget about insoles.
While the insole isn’t the paramount criteria during the selection of shoes for practice, it’s still worth to remember — it should be soft and comfortable. Usually, the insoles made of velour or leather are good for your feet.
According to many experienced dancers, the choice of shoes is very individual and may take days till you find your match.
Still haven’t found your perfect pair?
Check out Dance and Shop’s selection of high-quality shoes!
Dance and Shop is a contemporary dance apparel store started by professional ballroom dancers Iaroslav and Liliia Bieliei. You can be assured to find all the latest trends and collections from brands like Supadance, Chrisanne Clover, Miari, Grand Prix, Danza, Strong Frame and more. They offer a wide selection of high quality items at affordable prices.
If you are in the Los Angeles Area, you can shop at their store
Dance and Shop 121 S Garfield Ave. Alhambra, California 91801
If you are in another state or country you can also Shop ONLINE too!
A Dancer’s Movement to Stop Sexual Abuse
Broken Silence
Dancing is more than the action of combining a series of steps and moving to music. Dance is a form of expression and communication. It is a way to worship. For dancer and “Transformational” Coach, Jean Dorff, dance was a way to heal. In his internationally best selling book Broken Silence: Living with Passion and Purpose after Sexual Abuse, A Dancer’s Story, he shares how dance helped him heal and find his inner strength and passion.
4-time British Open to the World Professional Latin Champions, Jukka Haapalainen and Sirpa Suutari describe his book as “A brave and touchingly honest account on this silenced, harrowing topic. This subject must no longer remain hidden, anything to give a voice to too many of those broken ones.”
Jean is the founder and CEO of the non-profit organization A Dancer’s Movement to Stop Sexual Abuse.
The foundation’s three main focus areas are:
Support and coaching – To overcome the trauma of sexual abuse and help them to lead a thriving life instead of just surviving
Raising awareness – In society through speaking events, social media outreach, and building a community of dancers and people who care for this cause, either within or outside the nonprofit.
Education and empowerment – Women, men, especially young adults. A Dancer’s Movement to Stop Sexual Abuse has developed specific workshops and trainings to educate people about this topic.
The foundation firmly believe that through these focus areas, the silence and isolation from sexual abuse can be broken and replaced with awareness and the ability to take empowering action. This will result in a lower number of sexual abuse victims, and better lives for those struggling with past traumas.
“It’s my goal to inspire people to discover and use their unlimited potential to empower them and to create a life of purpose, passion, health and abundance, leading to their destiny, despite or perhaps because of what they have been through.”
Dance Teachers Academy recently sat down with Jean Dorff to discuss the sexual abuse he endured as a child and how his passion for dance helped him to overcome his ordeals. Jean reads a powerful excerpt from his book.
Jean Dorff
Doctors in the U.K. Will Soon Be Able to Prescribe Dance Classes
Wingenroth, L. (2018 Nov. 30). Doctors in the U.K. Will Soon Be Able to Prescribe Dance Classes. Originally posted in https://www.dancemagazine.com
It’s become a colloquialism—or, we admit, a cliche—to say that dance can heal.
But with a new initiative launched by British Health Secretary Matt Hancock, doctors in the U.K. will soon be able to prescribe dance classes—along with art, music, sports, gardening and more—for patients suffering from conditions as various as dementia, lung problems and mental health issues.
Termed “social prescribing,” these interventions aim to complement more traditional treatment methods and offer an alternative to over prescribing medications. “We’ve been fostering a culture that’s popping pills and Prozac, when what we should be doing is more prevention and perspiration,” said Hancock in a speech earlier this week, as reported by Smithsonian.
And though they may not be doctor-prescribed, programs in the U.S. show just how significant an impact movement can have as a form of treatment. For instance, when Mark Morris Dance Group’s successful Dance for Parkinson’s Disease program was profiled in the Journal of Neural Transmission in 2016, researchers found that patients who took 16 classes over eight weeks showed a 10.4 percent improvement in overall movement, a 26.7 percent improvement in walking and a 18.5 percent improvement in tremors. In 2010, researchers from the University of Missouri found that The Lebed Method, a low-impact dance class for seniors, improved balance and gait, thereby reducing the risk of injury due to falling. Plus, additional studies have shown that dance can reduce anxiety, improve cognitive functions and more.
In other words, the Brits are probably on to something. Pilot programs across the U.K. are already underway, and the initiative is intended to take full effect by 2023.
The Best Places to Eat in Las Vegas: 7 Spots Wayne Eng Loves
Las Vegas has an abundance of options when it comes to dining. It can be a bit overwhelming deciding where to go, so Wayne Eng put together a list of his favorite restaurants in his hometown.
Morimoto
MGM Grand – 3799 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Mon – Thu, Sun 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Fri – Sat 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Tea Time at the Petrossian Bar
Bellagio Hotel and Casino
3600 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109Afternoon Tea Service from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Yellow Tail
Bellagio Hotel and Casino
3600 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109Mon – Thu 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Fri – Sun 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Le Cirque
Bellagio Hotel and Casino
3600 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109Tue – Sun 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Mr Chow
Caesars Palace
3570 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Tuesday – Thursday 5PM – 10PM
Friday & Saturday 5PM – 10:30PM
China Poblano
Level 2, Boulevard Tower
Sun – Thurs: 11:30 AM – 11 PM
Fri – Sat: 11:30 AM – 11:30 PM
Kabuto
5040 W. Spring Mountain Rd. #4
Las Vegas, Nevada 89146
Monday – Saturday 6:00 PM and 8:30 PM
Nazar and Irina’s Last Dance
At the 41st Ohio Star Ball, Nazar Norov and Irina Kudryashova announced their retirement from competitive dancing. They are 3 time United States and 3 time World reigning and undefeated Open American Rhythm Champions.
Below is the retirement letter that was read at the Battelle Brand Ballroom during the Ohio Star Ball.
Dear friends,
It is never easy to say goodbye to something, that was a part of our lives for so many years, and what we love so much.
Our journey together, started 17 years ago in a little town in Siberia, Russia and little did we know, what a journey that would be.
After over 26 years of competing, tonight, we are saying goodbye to the amazing world of professional dancing. But before we do, we would like to thank so many people, that helped us in so many ways to achieve, what we ourselves have never dreamed of.
Our gratitude goes to our parents and families, who gave everything and sacrificed so much, so we could dance
Our first teachers during first 15 years of our dancing and our mentors for life – Vladimir Murashov and Lyudmila Murashov for not only giving us the love of dance, but teaching us the loyalty, importance of being part of the Team and work ethics.
James Clemens and Tammy Clemens for giving us an opportunity to work in the United States
Lori Foehr for welcoming us to the Dancelife family and giving us a chance to become studio owners
All Our students, present and past for adjusting their schedules to accommodate our crazy ones
Our fans and fellow competitors for always pushing us to be better than yesterday
Brent Thomas Mills and Ballroom Playlist for always amazing and inspiring music
Alex Rowan and Dancesport Photography and Mary Tweeddale for memories, that will be forever with us
Peter and Cassandra Valeria Schneider and Dance America for the best shoes and practice wear we could ask for
Boyko for Irina’s impeccable look
Benito Garcia of Coreganize 360 for keeping our bodies and minds ready for the challenge
Tatiana Ouellette of Anabell’s Dancewear and Bella Kogan of Dress for Dance for Nazar’s costumes
And Dawn Smart of Dore Designs, who welcomed us to the Team ten years ago and was by our side all these years
The coaches, who helped to shape us into the dancers and teachers we are today:
Sam Sodano, Loraine Barry, Tonja Garamella, Judi Hatton, Paul Holmes, Paul Killick, Ieva Pauksena, Вячеслав Трубачев, Igor Ugay and Tatiana Ugay
And of course, our Dream Team – the core group, that every dancer should find – the Team that will guide you, inspire you, bring you down to earth, when you feel too high and lift you up after painful defeats. Each one of you hold a special place in our hearts and we can not thank you more for being in our lives.
Michael Chapman for creating our show program
“Yoda” Eugene Katsevman for sharing your sense of musicality and understanding of the movement
“Babaganoush” Ilya Ifraimov for creating unforgettable characters for our winning Ohio showdances
“Gumada” Marianne Nicole-DePalma for making sure our clock is working and the eye is closed😊
“Dance Mom” Shirley Ballas for letting us be ourselves and going along with our crazy ideas, while never compromising the quality of movement
And “Daddy” Rufus Dustin for believing in us from very beginning and being there for us for the last 10 years through thick and thin.
The switch to American Rhythm 6 years ago was the best decision we have ever made and we thank everyone, who supported us in this journey.
We sincerely hope that those who will come after us will cherish and respect American Rhythm the way we do.
Ladies and gentlemen. Every journey has its beginning and the end. Our journey as professional competitors ends tonight, on this floor, under these lights. We could not think of a better way to go. Thank youYour 3 -time United States and 3 time World reigning and undefeated Open American Rhythm Champions
Nazar Norov and Irina Kudryashova
Achieving Optimal Posture Without Damaging Your Body
Why does it hurt when I dance?
Do you love dancing, but hate the fact that you have to see the chiropractor after every competition? Are you unable to get your head in the position your teacher wants it or if you do manage to, you just can’t maintain it? Do you ever wonder why this is happening to you, why is this so hard, and what can you do to fix it?
Optimal posture
As we all know, posture is extremely important in dancing, not only for aesthetics, but also for our health. If we do not have optimal posture, our body compensates in various ways which often manifests itself as pain. Optimal posture is the state that our bodies are in when all of our bones are lined up properly, allowing us to have perfect balance and also giving us the ability to release all tension and stress from our muscles and joints. Optimal posture gives us the ability to move freely and naturally.
Corrective Holistic Exercise Kinesiology
Maria Hansen, like many dancers, has suffered injuries. By the time she retired, she couldn’t get out of bed without assistance. Her neck couldn’t support her head. In healing her own body, she found correcting some muscle imbalances with a personal trainer extremely helpful. He was a graduate of the CHEK Institute in California. CHEK (Corrective Holistic Exercise Kinesiology) practitioners focus first and foremost, on postural correction and then implement a functional training program geared toward the sport that you do. She decided to study at the institute and learn more about the function of the body from a different perspective.
On this episode of Dance Teacher Academy, Maria discusses how you can create the correct dance posture and look without being in pain.
Maria Hansen is a 7 Time United States Ballroom Finalist and has been a representative for the United States in the World Ballroom Championships. She was also the United States Vice Ballroom Champion and a Former North American Showdance Champion. Maria is the co-organizer of Vegas Open Dance Challenge. In addition to coaching, Maria is a Check Practitioner.
How To Pursue Your Dance Dreams
José and Aimée of Dance Teachers Academy sat down with Carolina Orlovsky and discussed how she pursued her dream of becoming a dancer.
At age 5, Carolina asked for dance lessons after watching the movie “My Fair Lady.” Her parents saw her love for movement, so they enrolled her in dance class… and she was awful.
Nobody starts off good, nobody does. I started off awful.
Most of the girls had already taken dance classes and were older than me, so I felt very out of place. I had this abundance of… I call it boy energy. Really active jumping and running. Kind of a daredevil. I wanted to push my limits. I didn’t separate like girls or princesses and behave this way. I didn’t have that association with dance. It’s athletic, you get to move and jump and fly and roll and spin and become something outside of a normal human and I wanted to be that.
A trip to Cuba in her senior year as a dance cultural exchange changed her life. Transformed by the people of Cuba who were rich in dancing, she auditioned and was accepted to the Alvin Ailey independent study program. Instead of working towards a college education she moved to New York City to pursue her dream of become a professional dancer.
Watch the full interview below
Carolina’s Achievements
- 3-Times World Professional Rhythm Vice-Champion
- 3 Times U.S. Professional Rhythm Vice-Champion
- 9-Times U.S. Professional Rhythm Finalist
- World Mambo Champion
- 2-Times U.S. Mambo Champion
- World Professional American Rhythm Showdance Champion
Carolina’s Social Media
