Get To Know DWC Ambassador Jeanne Robson
🌟 Meet Jeanne Robson, our newest DWC Ambassador! 🌸 Jeanne's dance journey began at the age of 5, leading her to train at the Atlanta Ballet School and School of American Ballet. She danced professionally with Pacific NorthWest Ballet in Seattle before transitioning to a career in education, earning a BA in Education and specializing in early childhood classrooms.
pronunciation: Jeen-nee Rob-son | pronouns: she/her
By Samantha Weissbach, DWC Owner & General Manager
🌟 Meet Jeanne Robson, our newest DWC Ambassador! 🌸 Jeanne's dance journey began at the age of 5, leading her to train at the Atlanta Ballet School and School of American Ballet. She danced professionally with Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle before transitioning to a career in education, earning a BA in Education and specializing in early childhood classrooms. 💃 Now, Jeanne shares her wealth of knowledge and passion for ballet as a teacher at Fidalgo DanceWorks in Anacortes. Join us as we dive into Jeanne's inspiring journey of dance, education, and mentorship! 💖
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All content found on the Dancewear Center Website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and all other relevant social media platforms including: text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Offerings for continuing education credits are clearly identified and the appropriate target audience is identified. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Dancewear Center does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on dancewearcenter.net. Reliance on any information provided by dancewearcenter.net, Dancewear Center employees, contracted writers, or medical professionals presenting content for publication to Dancewear Center is solely at your own risk.
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Lea Aparis of Body Language Studio on AAPI Heritage Month
Meet Lea Aparis, co-director of Body Language Studio in Renton, WA, as we celebrate AAPI month! 🌸 Lea is a former professional dancer for the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics, and she shares her journey of building a successful small business. 💃 With an extensive background in various dance styles, from ballet to hip-hop, Lea is a dynamic force in the dance community. Join us as we dive into her inspiring story of passion, dedication, and love for dance!
pronunciation: Lee-uh Uh-paris | pronouns: she/her
By Samantha Weissbach, DWC Owner & General Manager
Meet Lea Aparis, co-director of Body Language Studio in Renton, WA, as we celebrate AAPI month! 🌸 Lea is a former professional dancer for the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics, and she shares her journey of building a successful small business. 💃 With an extensive background in various dance styles, from ballet to hip-hop, Lea is a dynamic force in the dance community. Join us as we dive into her inspiring story of passion, dedication, and love for dance! 💖
Disclaimer
All content found on the Dancewear Center Website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and all other relevant social media platforms including: text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Offerings for continuing education credits are clearly identified and the appropriate target audience is identified. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Dancewear Center does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on dancewearcenter.net. Reliance on any information provided by dancewearcenter.net, Dancewear Center employees, contracted writers, or medical professionals presenting content for publication to Dancewear Center is solely at your own risk.
Links to educational content not created by Dancewear Center are taken at your own risk. Dancewear Center is not responsible for the claims of external websites and education companies.
Get To Know DWC Ambassador Abby Jayne DeAngelo
Join us for an inspiring interview with our esteemed DWC Ambassador, Abby Jayne DeAngelo! 💫 Abby Jayne's journey in the world of ballet began under the guidance of the renowned Marcia Dale Weary at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB) in her hometown of Carlisle, PA. With a passion for sharing her love of ballet with the next generation of dancers, Abby Jayne founded Adage Ballet Academy in Seattle, WA in March 2021.
pronunciation: Ab-bee Jay-n Dee-An-jello | pronouns: she/her
By Samantha Weissbach, DWC Owner & General Manager
Join us for an inspiring interview with our esteemed DWC Ambassador, Abby Jayne DeAngelo! 💫 Abby Jayne's journey in the world of ballet began under the guidance of the renowned Marcia Dale Weary at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB) in her hometown of Carlisle, PA. With a passion for sharing her love of ballet with the next generation of dancers, Abby Jayne founded Adage Ballet Academy in Seattle, WA in March 2021. Her extensive teaching experience includes instructing Levels 1-7 at CPYB, leading virtual classes with Ballet Together, and guest teaching at Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh. Abby Jayne's professional ballet career has taken her from Carlisle to the stage of Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB), where she began as a Professional Division Student and was later promoted to Apprentice and Corps de Ballet member. Her favorite roles with PNB include Marzipan and Columbine in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, Step Sister in Kent Stowell’s Cinderella, and Eva Stone's F O I L. As a choreographer, Abby Jayne has premiered original works for CPYB’s First Steps Program and PNB’s virtual Next Step, showcasing her artistic versatility. Join us as Abby Jayne shares her personal mission of balanced, joy-filled ballet technique and training both on and off the stage. Don't miss this opportunity to be inspired by her passion and dedication to the art of dance! #DWC #DanceAmbassador #AbbyJayneDeAngelo #BalletJourney #BalletEducation
Disclaimer
All content found on the Dancewear Center Website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and all other relevant social media platforms including: text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Offerings for continuing education credits are clearly identified and the appropriate target audience is identified. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Dancewear Center does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on dancewearcenter.net. Reliance on any information provided by dancewearcenter.net, Dancewear Center employees, contracted writers, or medical professionals presenting content for publication to Dancewear Center is solely at your own risk.
Links to educational content not created by Dancewear Center are taken at your own risk. Dancewear Center is not responsible for the claims of external websites and education companies.
Get To Know DWC Ambassador Bethany Lynch
Join us for an exclusive interview with our newest DWC Ambassador, Bethany Lynch! 🌟 Bethany is a talented dancer currently performing with The Garden Dance Company, Movement 26, and other local groups and productions. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, having graduated from Western Washington University in Spring '23 with a BFA in Dance, BA in Business Marketing, and a Minor in Arts Enterprise & Cultural Innovation (AECI). 🎓 Don't miss this opportunity to get to know Bethany and hear about her journey as a dancer and advocate for the arts. Tune in now and be inspired!
pronunciation: Beth-an-knee Lin-ch | pronouns: she/her
By Samantha Weissbach, DWC Owner & General Manager
Join us for an exclusive interview with our newest DWC Ambassador, Bethany Lynch! 🌟 Bethany is a talented dancer currently performing with The Garden Dance Company, Movement 26, and other local groups and productions. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, having graduated from Western Washington University in Spring '23 with a BFA in Dance, BA in Business Marketing, and a Minor in Arts Enterprise & Cultural Innovation (AECI). 🎓 Don't miss this opportunity to get to know Bethany and hear about her journey as a dancer and advocate for the arts. Tune in now and be inspired!
Disclaimer
All content found on the Dancewear Center Website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and all other relevant social media platforms including: text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Offerings for continuing education credits are clearly identified and the appropriate target audience is identified. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Dancewear Center does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on dancewearcenter.net. Reliance on any information provided by dancewearcenter.net, Dancewear Center employees, contracted writers, or medical professionals presenting content for publication to Dancewear Center is solely at your own risk.
Links to educational content not created by Dancewear Center are taken at your own risk. Dancewear Center is not responsible for the claims of external websites and education companies.
Balancing Dance and School
Dance is a full time commitment and sport that takes hours of dedication. As a teenager however, school is also a commitment. This balance is not something everyone can master, here are a few ideas that have helped me to find that perfect middleground.
By Faith Potter, DWC Ambassador | pronunciation: Fay-th Pot-ter | pronouns: she/her
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Dance is a full time commitment and sport that takes hours of dedication. As a teenager however, school is also a commitment. This balance is not something everyone can master, here are a few ideas that have helped me to find that perfect middleground.
Tip 1: Get a planner.
It is extremely important in today’s hectic world to have a place to schedule your life. For me that looks like setting specific times around my pre-scheduled school and dance classes to make time for my homework. I am also sure to set time before I go to bed to stretch and roll out any sore muscles after dance. Even though this will look different for everyong, keeping a planner takes stress off your life and allows you to feel like things are being taken care of.
Tip 2: Focus on your surroundings.
Something I have found that helps me balance school and dance is focusing on where I am. If I am at school I'm not thinking about dance and vise versa. I usemy time to put my best foot forward on whatever I’m doing whether that is a math test or a plie combination. This helps focus your mind and not worry about the future but stay in the present.
Tip 3: Balance your time.
As a dancer, you may have a tendency to add too much to your plate. Aside from school and dance, you may try to juggle a job or want to hang out with friends and family. Beware of this trap! Putting too much on your plate can lead to burnout. Each week I try writing down my schedule to visualize it and if you can't fiteverything in then consider cutting something out.
Tip 4: School first
Know when to put school first. Depending on the person, dance may be a higher priority in someone's life but academics are still important. Acknowledging that school gets hard or demanding and that it might need to come before dance . For example, if you have a test in the morning and know you need to study, try communicating with your dance teacher and let them know that you may need to miss dance one day so that you don't have to stay up all night studying. If allowed, use this time wisely and really put school first.
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Tip 5: Fuel yourself
Fueling your mind and body is the main key to balance, so remember to eat! With long days and busy schedules it will do you no good if you aren't fueled and ready for your day. Three healthy meals and a snack here and there will definitely set you up for success throughout your day. Exercising your mind and body all day can be very tiring so another way to fuel your body can be taking a nap or just taking a moment between classes for alone time can be very helpful in rejuvenating your body and mind. And remember to stay hydrated!
These are just the things I’ve found have helped me through the years. Every dancer is different and will need different things. Check in with yourself and try out different methods to stay happy and healthy!
Disclaimer
All content found on the Dancewear Center Website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and all other relevant social media platforms including: text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Offerings for continuing education credits are clearly identified and the appropriate target audience is identified. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Dancewear Center does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on dancewearcenter.net. Reliance on any information provided by dancewearcenter.net, Dancewear Center employees, contracted writers, or medical professionals presenting content for publication to Dancewear Center is solely at your own risk.
Links to educational content not created by Dancewear Center are taken at your own risk. Dancewear Center is not responsible for the claims of external websites and education companies.
"Clouds Drifting" with DWC Ambassador MiYoung Margolis
DWC Ambassador shares her effortless effervescence in “Clouds Drifting.”
DWC Ambassador shares her effortless effervescence in “Clouds Drifting.”
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Disclaimer
All content found on the Dancewear Center Website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and all other relevant social media platforms including: text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Offerings for continuing education credits are clearly identified and the appropriate target audience is identified. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Dancewear Center does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on dancewearcenter.net. Reliance on any information provided by dancewearcenter.net, Dancewear Center employees, contracted writers, or medical professionals presenting content for publication to Dancewear Center is solely at your own risk.
Links to educational content not created by Dancewear Center are taken at your own risk. Dancewear Center is not responsible for the claims of external websites and education companies.
Get To Know DWC Ambassador Faith Potter
Get to know DWC’s newest ambassador, Faith Potter!
pronunciation: Fay-th Pot-ter | pronouns: she/her
By Samantha Weissbach, DWC Owner & General Manager
Faith Potter is one of our newest ambassadors, joining us from the Academy of Dance, she has been dancing since she was three years old. Faith has had the pleasure of experiencing a wide range of styles including ballet, lyrical, high school dance teams and recently tap! Faith was inspired by friends that have been DWC Ambassadors in the past. Having heard about the program and seen their excitement she was excited to apply and join. Faith is passionate about breaking the stereotype of the ideal dancer body. As a taller dancer she has felt this issue personally and wants to help disrupt that mold. Faith is excited to be performing as the Stepmother in her studio’s production of Cinderella this Spring!
Disclaimer
All content found on the Dancewear Center Website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and all other relevant social media platforms including: text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Offerings for continuing education credits are clearly identified and the appropriate target audience is identified. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Dancewear Center does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on dancewearcenter.net. Reliance on any information provided by dancewearcenter.net, Dancewear Center employees, contracted writers, or medical professionals presenting content for publication to Dancewear Center is solely at your own risk.
Links to educational content not created by Dancewear Center are taken at your own risk. Dancewear Center is not responsible for the claims of external websites and education companies.
Get To Know DWC Ambassador Brittany Parker
Get to know DWC’s newest ambassador, Brittany Parker!
pronunciation: Britt-knee Park-er | pronouns: she/her
By Samantha Weissbach, DWC Owner & General Manager
Brittany Parker (she/her) is a Seattle based Choreographer, Performer, and Instructor of movement and one of DWC’s newest ambassadors! She is currently a contemporary and lyrical dance instructor at Westlake Dance Center, as well as serving as the Artistic Director of Coalescence Dance Company. Brittany has performed and had her work featured across the West Coast, most recently at MixMatch Dance Festival in Santa Monica California. With the upcoming dance film title "Other Side" in post-production, Brittany is in the process of creating new works for season five of Coalescence launching in 2024.
Disclaimer
All content found on the Dancewear Center Website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and all other relevant social media platforms including: text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Offerings for continuing education credits are clearly identified and the appropriate target audience is identified. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Dancewear Center does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on dancewearcenter.net. Reliance on any information provided by dancewearcenter.net, Dancewear Center employees, contracted writers, or medical professionals presenting content for publication to Dancewear Center is solely at your own risk.
Links to educational content not created by Dancewear Center are taken at your own risk. Dancewear Center is not responsible for the claims of external websites and education companies.
"Calling" with Ambassador Vania Bynum
Check out ambassador Vania Bynum in DWC latest dance film!
Check out ambassador Vania Bynum in DWC latest dance film!
Disclaimer
All content found on the Dancewear Center Website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and all other relevant social media platforms including: text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Offerings for continuing education credits are clearly identified and the appropriate target audience is identified. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Dancewear Center does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on dancewearcenter.net. Reliance on any information provided by dancewearcenter.net, Dancewear Center employees, contracted writers, or medical professionals presenting content for publication to Dancewear Center is solely at your own risk.
Links to educational content not created by Dancewear Center are taken at your own risk. Dancewear Center is not responsible for the claims of external websites and education companies.
Teaching Class vs. Taking Class: What I’ve Learned
As someone who has been dancing now for over 20 years, I never considered the challenges and differences that would happen standing at the front of the room rather than at the barre. I started out with just substituting classes here and there, but at the beginning of the 2023 school year, I joined the amazing staff at Body Language Studios (BLS), and was on a rotation of substitute teachers at Evergreen City Ballet (ECB). There is still a sense of feeling like the new kid on the first day of school; I had only taken one class previously at BLS, so it was an atmosphere I was very unfamiliar with. Now with some time teaching under my belt, and a more familiarity with different technique levels, here are a few things I have learned:
By Andrea Hines, DWC Ambassador
pronunciation: And-rea High-ns | pronouns: she/they
As someone who has been dancing now for over 20 years, I never considered the challenges and differences that would happen standing at the front of the room rather than at the barre. I started out with just substituting classes here and there, but at the beginning of the 2023 school year, I joined the amazing staff at Body Language Studios (BLS), and was on a rotation of substitute teachers at Evergreen City Ballet (ECB). There is still a sense of feeling like the new kid on the first day of school; I had only taken one class previously at BLS, so it was an atmosphere I was very unfamiliar with. Now with some time teaching under my belt, and a more familiarity with different technique levels, here are a few things I have learned:
The corrections you give in class are the ones your younger self got
I remember one of the BIGGEST and most frequent corrections I got as a student was the use of my head and my alonge. Now as a teacher, it’s one of the things I harp on the most with my students. When I am taking class, I give my self a body scan checklist. Before the combination starts, I’m thinking “Where are my back muscles?” “Am I engaging my core and glutes already?” “What muscles do I need to engage for this first tendu?” The amount of significant body awareness I now have I feel has made me a better dancer as an adult than I ever did as a student, and I love that I now get to pass along how to be aware of your body to my students.
Stamina
I know this seems like a weird one, but hear me out! When I am showing a combination, I show it as full out as I would if I was taking class. Reason being I want my students to see more than just what my arms and legs are doing. I want them to see the accent of where in the music I want things. I show them know what muscles I am being aware of during certain parts, all the while, I am projecting my voice to everyone in the studio can hear me. I find my stamina while taking class has improved, just from using my voice while teaching and dancing simultaneously. And oh boy, don’t even get me started on pointe work! (Sorry to my dancers who hear me wheeze through pointe class)
Body Awareness
Until now, I have never been more aware of the little things. Are my fingers too stiff? Am I actively turning out my tendu a la seconde? Like I mentioned in #1, that body scan checklist I mentioned is now almost like a mantra. When I was younger, I felt as though I was just able to do the combination- but now, not only my mind but also my body are exhausted just from the shear amount of mental energy this takes! When I’m teaching, since I am also verbally telling these things to my students it is almost impossibly to NOT think about your body!
Time Management
Funny enough- as a mom, and someone who also works in Corporate America, I didn’t think time management was something I ever had to consider as a ballet teacher! Making sure that I’m not overfixating on corrections, taking up 5-7 minutes of class on that one thing, and to ensure the flow of the class is stable so we are not skipping any pivotal combinations! Even when I go to take open class, I am always so impressed with teachers who are able to give corrections, but not skip frappes or adagio at barre, and also end class on time!
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Learning how to be a dancer is one thing, but learning how to teach effectively is a whole other world! I am so grateful for the teachers I had growing up, but also teachers and colleagues I can take note from and apply to my own classes! At the end of the day, we all want to see our students succeed, and nothing feels better than seeing tangible success from your classes. Being a little over a year back into dancing again, I feel as though this past year has shown more result in my technique than ever! These are just a few of the things that I have learned, and I can’t wait to see what else I learn! Happy teaching, but most importantly, happy dancing!
Disclaimer
All content found on the Dancewear Center Website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and all other relevant social media platforms including: text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Offerings for continuing education credits are clearly identified and the appropriate target audience is identified. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Dancewear Center does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on dancewearcenter.net. Reliance on any information provided by dancewearcenter.net, Dancewear Center employees, contracted writers, or medical professionals presenting content for publication to Dancewear Center is solely at your own risk.
Links to educational content not created by Dancewear Center are taken at your own risk. Dancewear Center is not responsible for the claims of external websites and education companies.
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