Inspirational - Inside Ballet Technique

March 1, 2014February 13, 2017

Super Stars Interview Helping Kids with Special Needs

Today we share an interview with Colby Nielson, a dance teacher in Palmer, Alaska. His family has started a wonderful project using dance as a means to touch the hearts of people with special needs.

Q. How did the Super Stars Begin?

A. The Super Stars came from an idea when my mom, Michelle Deemer, and my sister, Shanelle Gangstad, went down to speak at a national special needs convention. While there they saw a singing group that was made up of people with special needs. They liked the idea so much that when they returned home they wanted to start a dance team with special needs, dance being big in our background. They rented a small 12×12 space and Shanelle began teaching a few of her friends from the special needs program at the high school, which she was heavily involved in. From those original 5 we have grown to 25.

Q. Other than building and space limitations, what are some other
challenges you have faced?

A. Some other challenges include not being able to increase price above $5
a class due to low budgets of our students, not being able to change the
time/day of the class due to our special needs students being very
strict on their schedules and not doing well with change. We have to
deal with providers being the ones who take them to class so getting to
talk to their gardians or parents is almost always through third party.
Trying to schedule performances is tough because they often have special
olympics activities on the weekends and again with the having to stick
to a same schedule all the time.

Continue reading “Super Stars Interview Helping Kids with Special Needs“

December 18, 2013December 27, 2013

10 Famous Dancers Named Ken

Dancers don’t typically court fame in the same way as other celebrities. However, without dancers, you wouldn’t have musicals, street dance or choreographed extravaganzas like Michael Jackson’s landmark masterpiece Thriller. Through interpretive movements that take a huge amount of coordination, balance and control, dancers are able to express what actors can’t. These are 10 of the most famous dancers named Ken.

Ken Ard – After working with greats like Nina Simone as a child, Ken Ard eventually went on to perform choreography for some of the most prominent jazz artists of the 21^st century. Predominantly a ballet dancer, Ken drifted towards jazz during the 90s, which culminated in the release of his first jazz album, “Ballads, Blues & Cocktails.”
Ken Berry – He is better known as a sitcom actor, most notably for his roles in F Troop and The Andy Griffith Show. However, Ken Berry was also an accomplished dancer and singer. On Broadway, he made appearances in The Billy Barnes Revue and in George M!. Berry was also a frequent guest on Abbott and Costello, as both a singer and dancer.
Ken Cosgrove – Played by Aaron Staton in the popular series Mad Men, character Ken Cosgrove tried his hand at tap dancing in one episode – replete with tweed suit and cane. Nobody quite knows what the impromptu dance added to the scene, but it went viral on the Internet, as these things often do. There were a number of parodies created of the scene, including one that uses Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” as the musical backdrop. The Internet is often a cruel puppet-master, but in this case the uncalled for publicity only served to push the show to even greater heights.
Kenneth Walker – This former dancer with the Ballet Pacifica launched the Kenneth Walker Dance Project in 2004. The non-profit project aims to bring dance to communities that never get to experience any form of the expressive arts. To date, the project has successfully introduced shows to a number of festivals across the country, and it grows in strength with each passing year. It is Kenneth Walker’s hope that the project will introduce dance to a generation who would have otherwise never have had the chance.
Ken Fury – B-Boy Kenny – as he’s known on the streets of Pueblo, Colorado – taught himself to break dance at the age of 11. He later pursued his dream with Full Circle Productions in New York, before landing dancing roles in commercials for Toshiba and Starburst. Fury remains a big name on the street dance scene, hugely famous in this relatively small circle of performers.
Kenny Everett – This madcap British comedian had a penchant for dance that was just as crazy as the rest of his routine. Everett’s dance style was, for lack of a better term, unconventional for the time. However, by today’s standards his moves would be hailed as the latest craze. Unfortunately, Kenny lost his battle with AIDS in 1995, a terrible loss to both his family and the British public.
Kenneth MacMillan – From 1970 to 1977, MacMillan served as the artistic director of the Royal Ballet in London. His work in choreography is where his true talents were, although he was an accomplished dancer in his own right, too. Some of his notable works included Valses nobles et sentimentales in 1966, and Anastasia in 1967 and again in 1971. MacMillan sadly passed away from a heart attack in 1992, at the age of 62.
Kenneth Branagh – Although he is commonly known for his Shakespearean roles, Kenneth Branagh has danced in West End musicals, on screen during the British Television series “Thompsons,” and in many other productions. It is no surprise, then, that Branagh has been tipped to take over the job as head of the National Theatre.
Kenny Ortega – Another great choreographer, Kenny Ortega worked with Madonna on “Material Girl” and in Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” live performances, winning awards for both. However, his greatest work was on the choreography for the iconic dance movie Dirty Dancing, which starred the late Patrick Swayze. Dirty Dancing is still heralded as being one of the best dance-centric movies to this day.
Kenny Loggins – Better known as the voice behind “Footloose,” Kenny Loggins inspired a generation to dance. The movie, starring Kevin Bacon, was one of many pivotal movies focused on the medium of dance in the 80s. Bacon’s seminal performance made Footloose an iconic movie, however, it was Loggins’ voice and catchy guitar riff that sold the title song.

Special thanks to Kenney Myers of kenneymyers.com for sharing this article!

June 10, 2011November 29, 2014

For the Love of Praise

Make it sincere

Talking about validation in my DBT support group for parents of kids struggling with various types of issues has coincided with recognition survey results at the bank where I work. It’s interesting how people like to be recognized, as no two people are alike. Some people want praise weekly, others don’t feel that’s necessary. Some want rewards and others just want verbal praise. But everyone wants praise and recognition to be sincere. Working at a big corporation certainly differs from working as a ballet instructor, but giving sincere praise is an important component for both.

One thing I really miss about dancing is the immediate praise you get while performing a combination. Either you’re doing it all right and don’t get any attention, you’re doing something wrong and get a correction (which is not a bad thing at all), or you’re doing it really well and get praise like, “Good girl, Tammy!” That was my favorite one from my favorite teacher, Melissa Lowe. It was always my goal while doing turns across the floor or grand allegro to have her take notice and give me a “Good girl!” shout. And when I was teaching I made it a point to take notice when someone was pushing extra hard, or putting into practice a correction I’d given them, by saying something positive to them.

Praise can be the best motivator

When I was dancing, I know for a fact that praise did way more for my technical improvement than negative feedback. Some teachers I could just tell didn’t like me for some reason or another, and nothing I could do would get a nod of approval. Once I took an entire class where the teacher hated how I put my weight over the ball of my supporting foot when working on one leg. This was major. It was how I’d been taught to stand when doing tendus with the working leg, for instance. She wanted the weight to stay exactly where it had been when standing on two feet in 1^st position. So I’d move into a tendu and fall over without hanging onto the barre for dear life. It was very odd and I never went back to her class again. I was also in severe pain for at least week afterward.

Now I’m working on bringing this validation and praise home. I realize that I pick at my own kids for the things I wish they didn’t do (“Your room is a mess! Pick up all these clothes—either put them away or put them in the dirty clothes basket!”) rather than praising them for the things they are doing right. “Thanks for emptying the dishwasher when I asked you to. It makes life a lot easier for everyone when we help each other out.”

Praise. Give it sincerely and give it often when deserved. It will improve this world. You never know what hassles people are going through in their personal lives, so showing praise for a job well done at work or in ballet class can sometimes be what is getting someone through the day.

February 16, 2010April 23, 2013

My Musical and Theatrical Family

It’s not surprising, really, that I wanted to dance. My mom said when I was in the womb that I would either be a football player or a dancer, and she was right! I still don’t understand football, so it’s a good thing I liked to dance. 🙂

My mom and dad are both pianists. Mom also played violin and clarinet. My sister is a very accomplished pianist herself, and she and my mom both teach at a Music and Arts store in North Carolina. Lori and my dad are also singers, and my dad was the drama director at my high school and directed many community theater shows as well. My sister also played the flute, my older brother the drums (still plays, too!), and my little brother played the saxophone. I played the piano (a bit) and the flute for a few years. By the time I finished my freshman year of band I was so into my dancing that I didn’t have time to consider another year of marching band, so I let that one go.

Growing up we always had music in our home. People playing piano, drums, flute, sax, and singing filled the house from downstairs in the living room, downstairs in the music room, upstairs in the bedroom, and even out on the front porch steps and upstairs balcony. I love piano music and could listen to it all day, especially when someone is sitting at a piano playing it live. My parents played a duet on one piano using two octaves and four hands, my aunt Virginia would come and she and my mom would open the doors between the music room and living room and play two piano duets. It was awesome!

My next door neighbor, Jennifer, took ballet and tap. I took some gymnastics first, but was really taken by what Jennifer had to show me when we were about 9 or 10 years old. I had a pair on black patent leather shoes that I would pretend were my tap shoes and she’d give me lessons on the front porch. I loved it, and couldn’t wait until my parents said I could start taking lessons, too. When I was ten years old and classes started in the fall, they let me begin, and I was in love.

I started out at Debbie Wilkerson’s Dance Studio in Greenfield, Indiana. Her studio is still in business to this day and she will always hold a very dear place in my heart. I began with tap and ballet, and my favorite at first was tap. Eventually we added jazz, and then Debbie recommended I start taking classes at the Jordan Academy of Dance in Indianapolis. So on Saturdays, my dad would take me to ballet where I had so many new steps to learn and had to adjust to taking class once a week with girls who took everyday together. It was awkward and I really disliked it, but somehow I knew that by going there my chances of improving and making my dreams come true were brighter.

My dad found out about a special program at Butler University while talking with some of the other parents in the waiting area one day. They had a program for high school students who attended college early, usually going half a day to high school and finishing out the day with dance classes at Butler. My dad knew this had to happen, and he made sure it did happen. He spoke to the principal at my high school and starting the second semester of my sophomore year, I began going to school early for independent study sessions, attended my other classes, ate lunch at noon, and then drove to Butler University for ballet class beginning at 2:00 until 3:20 Monday through Friday. There were a few other high school students in my position, but none were from my school, so I drove alone 35 minutes on the interstate each day. Twice a week we had pointe class from 3:30-4:30, and during Nutcracker season I stayed on for rehearsals for Snow or Waltz of the Flowers (or soldiers, my first year!) until even later.

Then, I’d go back home and get ready for play practice, because I wanted to be involved in drama club where my dad spent much of his time and where my best friends from school were every night. Sometimes I would also teach classes for Debbie’s studio, but I think those were on days when I didn’t have rehearsals at Butler or the high school, or were on Saturdays. My dad helped me put up a makeshift barre in our attic and clear out some space so I had my own little studio up there. It was hot in the summer, but it felt so wonderful to be up there doing barre, practicing my pirouettes or tap, and choreographing for the school talent show. I had a record player with lots of records and it felt so authentic.

By the time I finished high school a semester early, in January of 1986, I had 21 college credits and began my full time studies in ballet at Indiana University in Bloomington the same month. I went back to high school for graduation with my friends and classmates in June of 1986, even though I’d already been living on campus and had completed my first semester of college. It really was like a dream, and I continued dancing at the University of Arizona from 1989-1992 where I got my MFA degree in dance in Tucson. I got to do some awesome roles in Arizona, and was prepared then to begin dancing professionally.

I’m just thankful that my family is so artistic and theatrical; otherwise I’m not sure I would have been given the opportunities I was given to succeed in my area of passion.

February 8, 2010December 3, 2012

Dance Essentials

I was teaching at a dance school that was located in a former church, and I also made little stuffed teddy bears with tutus and earrings that I sold for $10. I guess the selling bug got to me, and over the summer I had the idea to use a room in the basement of the dance school to set up a trade of shoes. Many kids outgrow their tap and ballet shoes before they are really worn out, so we painted the words Dance Exchange on a long board and attached it to the railing behind the building where steps led down to the basement. We were blown away by how many people came from other dance schools, and how many people wanted to get brand new items from us.

So, being the enterprising people that we are, my husband and I found a few companies that would sell to us at wholesale prices! All we really needed was a phone number, and we already had an address to use for shipments. The studio owner said it would be okay, so we set up a real shop. One day we were in downtown Lexington, KY where we passed this small space for rent right beside a guy who sold stained glass. We started getting excited and called to learn more. It was 600 square feet and we could have it for $350 a month! This was in 1993 right before Christmas. My mother-in-law and her sister came to help us set up, and we found an old (but nice looking) case to use for our cash register and several rounders and other types of things to hold our clothing on and attach to the walls to store our tights and some shoes. There wasn’t a back room, so we had to have all our shoes and stock right out in the store, stacked clear to the ceiling. My parents decided to invest some money into the store, so we were able to begin carrying brands like Capezio, Bloch, Danskin, etc. For credibility, we asked all the professional dancers who shopped at our store to give us an 8X10 picture of themselves that they would sign. We framed each one and hung them near the mirror at the shoe trying on area.

Shortly after starting our store, I became pregnant with our first child. We moved into an apartment right next door to the store, which came in handy because we only had one car and Arthur was still in college. The following year, after Deanna was born, my parents decided to move from Indiana to Kentucky to help us out with the store and the baby. My father retired from teaching high school English, drama, and speech, and I was so grateful to have them nearby. In addition to the store, I was teaching at two or three private ballet schools. Our store took off! The other store in town wasn’t very accommodating to the needs of dancers, and we had a professional company in town, as well as many schools of dance. We got in canvas ballet slippers, pointe shoes from Freed, Grishko, Repetto, Sansha, Gaynor Minden (to name a few…we carried over 20 brands of pointe shoes!). I got more classical leotards than the other store carried (they catered more to aerobics and cheerleader-types).

In 1996, we decided to move our store to a better location with parking and more space inside. We also moved to an apartment close to that store. It had a storage room for shoes (yay!) and for a desk to do our behind the scenes work. We got more equipment from the outlet store in Mt. Sterling so we could display even more clothing and shoes and tights. We gained quite a few more customers and it was going great guns. My second child, Deborah, was born in 1997 and my mom and I worked at the store with her in her little carrier, while Deanna attended a daycare/preschool part time during the days. My dad also watched Deanna quite a bit and read to her a lot, which I believe is why she loves to read to this very day.

A year or two later, the tenants in the small shop beside ours left, and we decided to rent that space and tear down some walls to make our store even bigger. We moved our shoe section into that space, as well as all our children’s wear. We also added a little table and chairs and a basket full of toys so that when shoppers came in with their young children they were occupied while they shopped. We made laminated discount cards for all the teachers, and were generous about giving the low paid professional dancers 25% off their pointe shoes. Many of those dancers also worked at our store part-time, and we didn’t pay a lot per hour but we gave them 40% off anything they wanted in the store. It was wonderful, because it gave our store a lot of credibility, and teachers trusted our employees to fit their students into new pointe shoes properly. We also knew the dress codes at schools that used them so we’d have those items in stock, and knew what types of pointe shoes teachers liked to start beginners out in.

It was such a wonderful time, working with my parents was the highlight, as well as being able to have my children there in the store. In 2003 we sold the store and it continued to run for a few years. The last time we drove through Kentucky we passed by the store and it was empty. Now the dancers from Lexington go to Louisville to get their new pointe shoes. It was a lot of work, and I doubt we’d have done it if we’d known what was involved! But I’m so happy that we did this as a family.

December 2, 2009September 20, 2014

Once a Dancer, Always a Dancer

It’s interesting how dance can consume a person. I wrote a post about how some people just have a passion for dancing that cannot be ignored, and how this passion drives us to push ourselves through trial and error and pain and suffering (sometimes, from injuries). But at some point, our bodies age and we have to move on…if we’re lucky enough to continue working in the field we love, we become teachers or choreographers. However, for some of us, we move into a completely different arena. We become mothers and fathers, we work jobs with regular people…that is, people who don’t have flashbacks of Nutcracker performances when they hear Tchaikovsky’s score on the radio or in the mall. We find dance career alternatives.

When I first stopped dancing it was because of Achilles tendinitis. I also had a husband and a new baby that naturally changed my priorities in life. We lived in Lexington, Kentucky where I had performed a little with the ballet company, so when we went to performances I was watching all my old dance friends on stage. I cried every single time we sat in the audience to watch a performance. Deep inside I was grieving the loss of dance in my life. Sure, I was teaching. We started a dancewear store so I was in contact with dancers all the time. But I knew that I would never again put on my pointe shoes and dance on stage. It was like a part of me—a huge part—had died and would never come back. Continue reading “Once a Dancer, Always a Dancer”