The holidays can be chaotic, especially for dance teachers. Whether you’re putting on a production of The Nutcracker or are working towards another end-of-year production or holiday show, all these new undertakings can add stress and busyness to your already jam-packed schedule. Now, it’s even more essential that you prioritize your health and well-being so […]
Professional auditions can often be the trickiest part of being a dancer. Deciding which companies to audition for, how to get there and what to prepare for each one easily becomes a maze of decisions that leaves your mind and body tired before you even arrive at the studio. Plus, paying the travel expenses for […]
I met Maya Kulkarni through the Indian classical dance scene in New York City. It’s quite a small group, so it was inevitable that we, two women who are quite active in the choreographic scene, would eventually meet. In 2016, I asked her if she wanted to rework some solo choreography for me and she […]
Teddy Forance is always ahead of the game. After ushering in a new standard of virtual education three years ahead of the rest of the industry, he’s now creating a conservatory meant to train the next generation of professional dancers through innovation and connection. Forance was raised in his family’s 88-year-old studio in Easthampton, Massachusetts, […]
Sona Kharatian’s career has been shaped by one of the most important people in her life: her father. Born into a dancer family in Yerevan, Armenia, both of her parents were dancers with the National Ballet of Armenia, which meant she spent her early childhood either in the studio or in the wings. “Dance was […]
In an “ideal” world, we, as parents, manage to plan meals, then prep and set perfectly portioned plates for all family members at dinnertime each weeknight. But whose reality is that? Instead, we’re constantly tackling the after-work shuffle and post-school hustle that typically entails car pools, (more) driving to the dance studio or other practices, […]
Dear Dance Colleagues, Not many people know this about me, but some of my happiest memories and most life-changing experiences can be traced back to the years spent at my childhood dance studio in Dubai. And it was reading Dance Teacher that inspired me to return to my home studio as a dance instructor 10 […]
On a cool September evening in Alameda, California, I and over a hundred Bay Area residents gathered in the parking lot of the Alameda Free Library. The innocuous space, seemingly universal in its purpose and design, was once part of a thriving tonarigumi—an historic Japantown neighborhood. As part of a community art walk to honor […]
As a dance teacher, your role in your students’ training and their lives is invaluable. And if any of your dancers are on a path towards a professional career in dance, you have an even bigger responsibility on your hands. Of course, navigating this relationship isn’t always easy, and so it can be hard to […]
I wasn’t one of those dancers with natural, aesthetically pleasing lines as a teenager. After falling in love with ballet at the ripe age of 15, I spent the next several years working intensely to sculpt a body that somehow carried me into several major ballet companies. I still hold a certain amount of pride […]