Whether at a competition or on a recent episode of “So You Think You Can Dance,” you’re highly likely to see a tilt (or 13) pop up somewhere onstage. Or as one Dance Teacher commenter referred to it on Facebook, the “Look, Ma, you can see my uterus” pose. Regardless of the visual aesthetic, if […]
Who says you need fancy equipment to make a festival-worthy dance film? Right now, two New York City–based dance film festivals are calling for aspiring filmmakers to show their stuff—and you don’t need anything more cumbersome than a smartphone to get in on the action. Here’s everything you need to know about how to submit: […]
Other than being one of the nicest and funniest people on earth, Ellen DeGeneres also happens to have a knack for spotting talented dancers. Thanks to the comedian’s dance obsession, world-class dancers like Tiler Peck, Lex Ishimoto, and Travis Wall have performed on her hit talk show “Ellen,” with dance all-star tWitch retaining a permanent […]
Oh, socks: What are we gonna do with you? Many dancers—ourselves definitely included—have a love-hate relationship with this unassuming member of the footwear family. On the one hand, they feel oh-so-essential for pulling off endless turns in contemporary class. On the other hand, we’ve heard our fair share of horror stories from fellow dancers of […]
Dancing with your hair down is a unique skill that doesn’t come naturally to all dancers. For some, hair in the face can throw everything off. It can feel like a wild animal has landed on your head, impairs your vision and occasionally smacks your face and ends up in your mouth. But despite looking […]
Ballet instructor Michael Cusumano has a secret identity that even his mother didn’t encounter until recently. When he’s not teaching at Pace University or editing funny videos on YouTube, he’s transforming into his alter ego Madame Olga, a feisty Russian ballet star who claimed part of his brain and a lot of his closet. Cusumano, […]
The 26th season of “Dancing With the Stars” has been revealed. The brave new members are some of the world’s finest athletes—an ex-NBA star, several ice-skating champions and a top female snowboarder. No strangers to competition, this talented lineup will most likely fill their performances with impressive partnering, tricks and lifts. And, no doubt, a […]
Teaching technique to dancers is, for the most part, straightforward. Regardless of the style—”standing leg in plié,” “transfer your weight” or “find a low contracting lunge”—the cues become second nature for teachers and students. But articulating emotion and passion can be a struggle for teachers and even uncomfortable for some dancers to grasp and execute. […]
For all the “Dance Moms” fans of the world, the show’s OG leader, Abby Lee Miller, is back—at least halfway. After serving eight months for bankruptcy fraud since July 2017 at the Victorville Federal Correctional Institution, Miller was transferred to a Los Angeles halfway house on March 27. Her new home will provide a structured […]
It’s no surprise that many dance teachers have children who go on to become teachers themselves. Countless hours spent teaching—on the road or at the studio—makes the classroom a second home and developing a passion for dance practically second nature. But for some teachers, seeing their kids develop a passion for dance comes as a […]