The Return of Seattle Dances
Seattle Dances is one of Seattle’s top dance journalism pages that features upcoming performances and various interviews with local dancers in the area. We got the chance to speak with Kaitlin McCarthy who is the current editor and director of operations of Seattle Dances! Read on the learn more about what Seattle Dances is all about and their mission for the Seattle Dances on the dance community!
A Conversation with Kaitlin McCarthy
By Samantha Weissbach, DWC Owner & General Manager and Nicole Barrett, DWC Blog Editor
Seattle Dances is one of Seattle’s top dance journalism pages that features upcoming performances and various interviews with local dancers in the area. We got the chance to speak with Kaitlin McCarthy who is the current editor and director of operations of Seattle Dances! Read on the learn more about what Seattle Dances is all about and their mission for the Seattle Dances on the dance community!
Seattle Dances was established in 2009 as a blog for Pacific Northwest Ballet. Later on, the organization expanded its converage and focused on including a wider range of dance performances in the area. Seattle Dances was passed around throughout the years to numerous different mangements and eventually landed on two local dancers Anna Waller and Mariko Nagashima from 2011-2016. Kaitlin became a writer for the organization in 2016 and then took over the managment position in 2016 with local dancer Megan Stevenson. At this stage, the orgianization was more of a formal jouranalistic entity with a staff of writers and more frequent posts on local shows in the area.
During the pandemic, many shows were cancelled so Seattle Dances decided to keep their site and staff to low capacity to adhere to the lack of movement from the Seattle dance community. The organization just had a large relaunch in January of this year that included a new look for their webpage and tried to continue focusing on local dance performances and supplying resources.
Kaitlin shares that what Seattle Dances wants most for the community to know is that everyone is open to submit anything dance related to the site! The organization was built to spread the word about local performances in the area and allow a common space for artists to share their work. There can be many misconceptions about journalism websites that only take a specifc range of content, but Seattle Dances is non-discriminating to the types of performances that they produce content about. Please use this resource to support local artists and spread the word about your upcoming performances!
We are so happy to be able to speak with Kaitlin abot Seattle Dances! This amazing webpage and resource is open for all dancers to use here! Be sure to check out the full interview with Kaitlin down below!
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.
Seattle Dance and Performing Arts Medicine
Seattle Dance and Performing Arts Medicine, also known as SeaPam, is a fantastic resource for dancers who are in need of medical treatment from an injury! This community is filled with committed professionals in the industry that strive to promote healthy performance, education, training and help maintain a beneficial lifestyle for dancers in the Seattle area. They hope that they can enable all performing artists to pursue long, healthy performing careers!
By Nicole Barrett, DWC Blog Editor
Seattle Dance and Performing Arts Medicine, also known as SeaPam, is a fantastic resource for dancers who are in need of medical treatment from an injury! This community is filled with committed professionals in the industry that strive to promote healthy performance, education, training and help maintain a beneficial lifestyle for dancers in the Seattle area. They hope that they can enable all performing artists to pursue long, healthy performing careers!
One of the things that sets SeaPam apart is their free clinic for performing artists. This clinic welcomes all dancers and performing artists of all abilities and genres. The free clinic is designed to assist with diagnosing the injuries of performing artists that are uninsured, but everyone is welcome! SeaPam takes a team-based approach at taking care of the local artist community to address all health-related needs.
These appointments run about 30-60 minutes depending on the severity of the injury. The beginning will be with a physician that will speak with you for about 15-20 minutes about your physical problem and perform a physical examination. Then for the last 20-40 minutes you will see a physical therapist that will help you develop an effective home exercise program to help address your specific issue.
If you would like to find out when the next clinic will be, you can bookmark their homepage on their website and check the calendar regularly. You can also sign up for email updates when new clinic appointments are available or check their facebook page here for more updates!
image courtesy of seapam.com
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.
Thriving in Dance College
Becoming a good artist requires a lot of time and is a highly individual process. True art, in its various forms, comes from observing the world, coming to know yourself, and the synthesis between the two. There is no substitute for the hours of training, studying, and absorbing that need to be done in order to hone your craft and distinguish your voice as an individual.
By Hannah Emory, DWC Blog Contributor
The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can.
- Make Good Art, Neil Gaiman -
Why dance college?
Becoming a good artist requires a lot of time and is a highly individual process. True art, in its various forms, comes from observing the world, coming to know yourself, and the synthesis between the two. There is no substitute for the hours of training, studying, and absorbing that need to be done in order to hone your craft and distinguish your voice as an individual.
This can be done in an independent way, seeking opportunities as they come along and pursuing your individual goals outside of any formal education. However, dance college can be an environment that is conducive to incubating the artistic process and providing a higher concentration of resources, learning opportunities, and collaborative relationships than one might find independently.
Given, academic institutions have their own challenges in addition to their benefits; not one of them is perfect or will guarantee you the career you envision. Dance college requires a lot of hard work, and not all of it will necessarily be in-line with your individual goals. But it can all lead you places you never would have imagined otherwise.
So, if you want to attend dance college, or have already been accepted into a program, there are certain things that I and my peers propose will help you make the experience richer and more self-explorational. College is a significant commitment of financial resources and, even more precious, a great investment of time and energy. It’s crucial to make the most of it! I hope you find this advice helpful in either starting or continuing your education. It’s a long journey, but it’s worth every step!
Advice for thriving in dance college:
Hannah Emory (@hannah.emory):
Remember, just because you’re different, it doesn’t make you a bad dancer technically or a bad artist aesthetically. You will encounter all kinds of stylistic and training differences while in college, but I encourage you to think of it all as tools in your toolbox, not a statement about what you should be. Especially in contemporary dance, teachers are those who have forged their own path in a discipline full of variety. Think of dance as a language where each mover has their own dialect - there is no right or wrong, just difference, and that’s what makes this artform so wonderful. There are structures you can learn and styles you can emulate, but you have your own unique way of dancing that should be celebrated. Explore it, express it, enjoy it and don’t allow anyone to tell you you’re not legitimate - not even yourself!
Controversially, I encourage you to prioritize your bodily wellbeing and training time over academics. In college, there’s always going to be tests to study for, papers to research, and rubrics to fulfill. But what can never be replaced is your bodily health, mental wellbeing, and this chance to absorb as much as you can about how to actually dance. Everything you will encounter as an academic subject in your course is important fuel for your dance journey, but it’s my opinion that pursuing academics should not take over your ability to dance well and feel great while doing it. If you’re struggling with the academic side of your program, please speak to your course directors and advisors, but don’t lose the joy of dancing in the midst of academic expectations. Grades are for the academy and for now; dancing is for you and for your whole life.
Spend your extra time in the studio to create your own work.
If you are able to book studios out as a student, that’s an invaluable resource! This is your opportunity to begin experimenting and making your own work. You can develop a regular improv practice, make solos, and collaborate with your friends to get well-versed in your choreographic process.
**Bonus points for filming and posting what you make on social media, especially if your goal is to be a performer or choreographer. An easily accessible catalog of your work on Instagram or Youtube gets your name out there to people you may have never met otherwise.**
Educate yourself on and take advantage of the resources your college has on offer beyond the studio space - everything from cameras to sound equipment to students in other courses who may want to work with you on projects. There’s so many opportunities for collaboration, exploration, and experimentation during this time in your life, with the tools you need and people to create with, all in one place.
Alice Gavigan (@alice_gavigan): What’s great about full time training and college is that you get to be truly immersed in dance and you get to study and practice what you love. In this environment, naturally, you want to do your best and go above and beyond what you’ve been asked to do. But, in my experience, this can lead to burnout and unnecessary stress. What helped me was establishing a routine for the week and having time separate from training and assignments. For example, I set aside one evening a week to do some fun self-care and fully relax. Balancing my personal life with my dance training has really helped me to preserve my mental health.
Marcela Pridavkova (@marcela_marar + @ulyogasoc):
During college, stay yourself. You will meet lots of new people with different skill sets and training. You might start comparing yourself to these people, but remember everybody has different strengths and there is something in you that other people will look up to.
Explore and adapt your own style, get to know your best skills and make the most of them, and be aware of your weaknesses and try to work on them.
Do not try to fix everything at once. Instead, set small goals for yourself and do not punish yourself if you don’t achieve the exact result you expected.
Work the best you can but be kind to yourself and others. Treat others the way you wish to be treated.
There will be challenging moments when you will feel like giving up. But stay strong, we have all been there, and it’s hard to be a dancer!
Don’t forget to enjoy it! College years are great, even with all struggles along the way, and you will make some great memories.
Sources:
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.
A Conversation About Acceptance In Dance Studios
When asked what her favorite thing about dance is, Amanda shares that the constant need to be present is something that she appreciates the most. “As a child, dance was really that escape for me, where I knew that I could go to the studio and just forget about everything else,” she shares. The empowerment that she says she felt in her body while being in the studio was something that felt really good to her. She’s also noticed that as she has gotten older that it is very hard to stay present with everything in life going on, but once she walks into the studio, every worry washes away.
Local Studio Owner Amanda Records On Body Positivity
By Nicole Barrett, DWC Blog Editor
From starting dance in the fourth grade to dancing in Rome, Italy Amanda Records is no stranger to how the dance industry operates. Now, the Artistic Director of Spotlight Dance Center in Renton, Washington, she hopes to share her knowledge of the dance world with every student that walks through the studio doors. Read on to learn more about Amanda’s dance journey!
Amanda Records started dancing when she was in the fourth grade at British Dancing Academy in Kent, Washington. The woman that watched her after school took her daughter there and Amanda got to observe the ballet class that she was in. “I was like ‘This is amazing, I want to do this,’” she shares. She was able to get signed up and she danced there until she graduated high school. After graduating, Amanda then went to Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York, and got her BA in Dance and Movement Sciences. After taking a break from school for a year, she returned to school at the University of Oregon to get her MFA in Dance, where she held a Graduate Teaching Fellowship.
Before moving back to Washington and co-founding The Barefoot Collective, (tBFC) a cooperative in Tacoma, Amanda spent six weeks in Austria on scholarship attending ImPulsTanz. There she completed the Danceability teacher training program and performed with Joint Forces Dance Company. Adding to her extensive resume of performance work, she also studied abroad in Rome, Italy, and got to perform amongst the picturesque ruins.
When asked about what sparked her decision to join Spotlight, she shares that the previous studio owner approached her hoping she could take over her position. “This was actually the second studio owner that approached me about taking over their business, so I thought there’s something in the stars because this opportunity keeps being presented to me,” she says. She was just wrapping up her graduate degree when she got the offer and she shares that she was very thankful that these women presented these opportunities to her. Ultimately, she took the job and has been the Artistic Director of Spotlight since 2011.
Every dance studio has its own flair that makes it stand out from the rest, so when asked about what made Spotlight stand out amongst others, Amanda had many things to share. She spoke about Spotlight’s Assistant Teacher Training Program (ATTP), which allows dancers to participate in lessons and mentorship in their teaching journey. She also shares that Spotlight has performing companies that allow dancers of all ages to perform in various events around the community. For middle and high school students in the performing companies, she expresses that Spotlight tries to open opportunities for them to perform at more prestigious events like the Western Washington University Dance Festival, BOOSTmeUP and Olympia Dance Festival. Spotlight is one of only five studios in Washington that has an NHSDA (National Honors Society for Dance Arts) chapter and that is something that Amanda believes is very important in her dancers’ journey. This program recognizes dancers’ work in and out of the studio and comes with many benefits once in the program.
When asked what her favorite thing about dance is, Amanda shares that the constant need to be present is something that she appreciates the most. “As a child, dance was really that escape for me, where I knew that I could go to the studio and just forget about everything else,” she shares. The empowerment that she says she felt in her body while being in the studio was something that felt really good to her. She’s also noticed that as she has gotten older that it is very hard to stay present with everything in life going on, but once she walks into the studio, every worry washes away.
As dancers, we all are used to dancing in front of a mirror and getting the corrections needed in order to make our moves look better. This is something that Amanda says was a struggle for her growing up in the studio. The constant need to compare what she looked like and the perfectionism that comes with that caused some insecurities and worry in her. She would like dancers that are struggling with this issue as well to simply know their own worth.
Moving forward in the dance world, Amanda would like to see much more body inclusivity and for studios to deemphasize the mirror. She shares that teachers can include moments of class oriented away from the mirror, thereby encouraging dancers to not rely solely on the mirror for how something looks, but on how certain moves feel in their bodies. Spotlight engages in Love Your Body Week, a national campaign to encourage body positivity and celebrate all the wonderful things our bodies can do every year, and Amanda would love to see more studios participating in this impactful campaign.
Coming up for Spotlight is the fall dance season! Starting on September 8th, all classes will be held in Spotlight’s new location, making this the first full year in their beautiful new space! Amanda is so excited to welcome new students and families into classes this fall.
Be sure to check out their website here for more information on events and classes that will be at Spotlight this upcoming dance season!
About the Author
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.
A Conversation About More Accessible Information for Dancers
When asked about what her favorite thing about dance is, Mallory shares that the ability to walk into the studio and leave everything at the door is something important to her. Growing up, she knew that she could always go to the studio and get lost in her movement and not have to think about anything else. “I could just be in a place that made me happy,” she shares.
Fulfilling the Legacy of Bremerton Dance Center with Mallory Morrison
By Nicole Barrett, DWC Blog Editor
Photo by Iklil Gregg Photography
The beginning of Mallory Morrison’s dancing journey doesn’t just start with her; she has a long family history of dancers stretching back to her grandmother. After starting dance at the age of 11, her grandmother opened up a studio in her basement that started with just 30 students. She then expanded to another location and that is where Bremerton Dance Center has been since 1969. Read on to learn more about Mallory’s dance journey and her ownership of Bremerton Dance Center!
Mallory’s first appearances on a dance stage were when she was just 18 months old. “I was told that when I went onstage, and then they just couldn’t get me off of the stage,” she shares. She then continued to dance at Bremerton Dance Center and shares that she participated in many dance intensives and has worked with numerous choreographers and guest teachers through her time at the studio. Later in her dance journey, she got asked to perform with the Peninsula Dance Theater, which is a non-profit pre-professional company, all the way until her senior year of high school.
After graduating high school, Mallory decided to steer away from a dance path and went to college for business. She studied at Central Washington University and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration while still continuing some dance training at school. When she returned from college, she continued on with dance but shares that she stayed more on the business and teaching side of things at the studio. Now, she has fully taken over Bremerton Dance Center and Peninsula Dance Theater and shares that she is teaching classes every day and strives to better the studio as a whole.
Photo by Iklil Gregg Photography
When asked about what her favorite thing about dance is, Mallory shares that the ability to walk into the studio and leave everything at the door is something important to her. Growing up, she knew that she could always go to the studio and get lost in her movement and not have to think about anything else. “I could just be in a place that made me happy,” she shares.
Mallory shares that one of her biggest struggles in the dance world was finding and having access to dance programs outside of her studio. She shares that she struggled with having the right information about different dance programs that she just didn’t know about. Mallory shares that the differences in technology from when she was having these struggles to the present day are very different, but still thinks they can be prevalent. She shares that information overload is something that dancers can struggle with, and the constant need to sift through this information can be draining. For her own students and others struggling with this issue, she shares the need to pick certain schools and programs that speak to them the most and that they enjoy. “It’s about not overwhelming yourself with all that information out there, because it is a lot,” she shares.
Although there are lots of changes being made in the dance world to further equality, Mallory believes that schools should normalize the need for more integrated schools. Her main goal in her own studio is to make sure that she has the same mindset that everybody in the dance world should be accepted. She shares that she wants to make sure that she is holding lessons for dancers that are appropriate for everybody and to continue the efforts of making sure that all bodies can dance. She emphasizes on the matter that she wants to make a space where everybody can dance and feel comfortable.
Bremerton Dance Center started its fall season with classes on August 29th after doing numerous camps during the summer for their dancers. The performing companies have been hard at work rehearsing for their performances coming up in the fall and spring and like many other studios, they are working on rehearsals for the Nutcracker! Along with that, Mallory is getting ready with her junior company to do school tours around the area. The company puts a storybook ballet to a certain book each year and travels to schools around the area and performs them in front of the students and allows them to ask questions and meet the dancers.
Be sure to check out their websitehere for more information on classes and performances!
About the Author
Sources:
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.
Preparing Mentally, Emotionally & Physically for Aging in Dance and Transitioning Stages
As a young company dancer at Olympic Ballet Theater in the 1980’s, one of my favorite pieces I performed was “Fall” as a part of the Ballet Seasons. Now in my 50’s, I’m in a very different season of my life as a dancer. I’ve always loved fall–the season that teaches us that change can be beautiful.
What I’ve Learned from 50+ Years of Dance!
Pronunciation: La-Ree Ba-Lees | Pronouns: she/her
By Laurie Balise, DWC Ambassador
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As a young company dancer at Olympic Ballet Theater in the 1980’s, one of my favorite pieces I performed was “Fall” as a part of the Ballet Seasons. Now in my 50’s, I’m in a very different season of my life as a dancer. I’ve always loved fall–the season that teaches us that change can be beautiful.
My life story thus far includes many different seasons, in both dance and otherwise, all of which I’ve tried to embrace. Each season has taught me something different that at now 53 has created wisdom. While there have been many successes and much happiness, I’ve also learned to deal with mistakes and disappointment, handling regrets, and practicing forgiveness. Often the greatest shifts and growth have come from re-addressing previous truths that came after life tragedies. My wisdom has taught me that everything in life, whether positive or negative, or significant or seemingly not, has value. Personal reflection is so important, and implementing new ideas or goals, yet still allowing yourself to dream. I likewise believe in teaching my dancers to be adaptable, disciplined, hard working, resilient and tenacious in all they do. Dance teaches us SO much more on our life path at times than just dance, and I’m grateful for all the lessons along the way.
Something I’ve also considered as I’ve aged is wanting to assure I’ve created a positive impact on the world. Whereas in my youth I was primarily a performer, transitioning to teaching gave me even greater purpose. Before teaching I incorporated the arts and dance into my academics in college with an internship at Pacific NW Ballet in their Public Relations Department and later was the Publicist for the Seattle Symphony. I have more avenues to explore, but I’ve also found peace and felt pride and satisfaction with what I’ve accomplished thus far. I think positive self validation is really important always, but especially as we get older-we don’t have to continually prove ourselves as dancers, or otherwise. What I hope to have passed along as a teacher and be remembered for is that I truly cared; that I challenged myself and others both creatively and in physical abilities and technique; that I showed my students how to have fun even when working hard; and that believing in themselves is always most important. I love connecting with others in our shared humanity which has been a big part of my purpose. I think it’s important to identify the why? as well and once we have, better align ourselves with our purpose. Progress and growth is always important, but sometimes it also includes rest or reinvention. There’s no particular ‘standard’ we have to meet to be dancers either- no right or wrong. Nor do we have to be doing certain things like performing or even teaching to still be viable in our art form and make a contribution. There are so many options for how we can incorporate dance into our lives that are meaningful and joyous. I love just dancing around the world or taking classes whenever I’m traveling. For many years I’ve also helped in volunteer positions judging the dance category in art competitions, assisting with high school dance team tryouts, producing and choreographing school musicals, and representing the arts at student career fairs.
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Sometimes rest or change is something we resist though until life throws us a prominent “stoplight!’ There are always indicators around us if we are present enough to pay attention, and sometimes an opportunity we hadn’t considered becomes a wonderful transition to a new chapter. The Universe sent me a message recently to listen to my gut, literally. It led me to health tests that revealed a gut disorder most likely brought on from years of cumulative stressors and past traumas. As dancers and artists, we of course are quite empathic and feel everything deeply. Additionally, we hold ourselves to high standards and push ourselves in all ways. And after so many years of being in front of people, no matter what level of confidence or mastery we have, we can still get anxiety and butterflies in our stomach. Practicing greater self care and managing stress including both physical and mental health has been a big priority for me especially in this latest season of my life. The gift in awareness was that I was able to bring its importance into my professional life as well by offering mindfulness and meditation classes for my dancers, as well as teaching yoga to both kids and adults.
In more recent years, I’ve really tried to start leaning more into my wisdom and intuition, giving myself more permission to say “no” when necessary to find greater balance in my life. I think this is such a great practice for dancers or anyone. Sometimes things are just too much at times, and when we ease off and take a few steps back we can actually proceed forward with greater care. We don’t always have to be “on'' and available to everyone either. We’re already so exposed as performers and teachers, and it’s okay to not have to always be front and center. Using this skill, I try to step back when I teach for instance so my dancers can let themselves be their own focus.
I may be getting older- everyone is! But I’ve found acceptance in that and all the undeniable things my body has gone through as a mother and otherwise. In this way I practice non-resistance to the things I can’t change. That said, I still don’t need to be limited by or defined by my body or age in my strengths or abilities throughout any of the seasons of my life either. In many ways I know my body has been stronger the older I’ve gotten. When we truly love ourselves, our body responds positively in a homeostasis in our mind, body, and soul. As a dancer and most importantly a human being, I am always viable in what I have to offer and in any capacity that I may find myself in. This is what keeps me going and growing, always, and staying positive and allows the freedom and ease of transformation to occur, in dance or otherwise.
If we think of ourselves as being in constant creation then we are in a revolutionary process of reinventing ourselves throughout life. Growth is a choice we can make over stagnation. The more we move in all ways,, the more we find opportunities to stimulate our brains and bodies in new exploratory ways. This can help us defy the aging process just by the natural occurrence of our choices and actions. You are confined only by the walls you build yourself; the opposite of courage is not cowardice, it’s conformity.
Just like there are several positions in dance that we flow through from first to fifth, we move through different points in our relationship with dance in each new season. Each is beautifully unique for what it offers us in experiences and memories and grows us in different ways. When holding a pose in dance, we still remain alive and breathing before transitioning into the next step, just like through the stages of our lives. So may we all Temps lié, Chassé or Pas de Bourrée into our next position in life and embrace whatever it may be! Ultimately as we know, life itself is truly a dance!
“You can have as much ballet or dance as you want in your life. You can have a lot or a little bit, or somewhere in-between,” said Miko Fogarty, the star of the 2012 dance documentary First Position who herself has found different directions in life beyond dance.
About the Author
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.
Getting To Know DWC Ambassador Laurie Balise
Becoming a DWC Ambassador was something that Laurie Balise knew she wanted to do. She saw an opportunity to positively impact the dance community by participating in the program especially because she shares the company’s ideals of integrity, laughter and tenacity. Additionally, her impetus was because she believes in the importance of positive support and collaboration in our industry in order to more greatly empower all dancers. We got the chance to speak with one of our new Ambassadors and hear about her dancing journey and what motivated her the most in the dance world! Read on to learn more about Laurie’s experience with dance and what she’s looking forward to most about becoming an Ambassador!
Pronunciation: La-Ree Ba-Lees | Pronouns: she/her
By Nicole Barrett, DWC Blog Editor
Becoming a DWC Ambassador was something that Laurie Balise knew she wanted to do. She saw an opportunity to positively impact the dance community by participating in the program especially because she shares the company’s ideals of integrity, laughter and tenacity. Additionally, her impetus was because she believes in the importance of positive support and collaboration in our industry in order to more greatly empower all dancers. We got the chance to speak with one of our new Ambassadors and hear about her dancing journey and what motivated her the most in the dance world! Read on to learn more about Laurie’s experience with dance and what she’s looking forward to most about becoming an Ambassador!
Laurie started dancing when she was just 3 years old. Ever since she has loved the world of performing arts. She was one of the founding senior dancers at Olympic Ballet Theater in the 1980’s and originally trained with Dorothy Fisher dancers. Her family has always been a big supporter of the arts, so growing up she knew her life would always involve her passion in some way. She’s had positions in the arts in several of Seattle’s largest arts organizations, as well as taught dance and fitness for many organizations, and currently teaches ballet, pilates, and mindfulness and meditation at Vibe Dance Studio and primarily pilates and yoga at Columbia Athletic Club. Her teaching career has spanned 22 years in the greater Everett/Seattle area.
One thing that Laurie is most excited about when it comes to her new ambassadorship is the community that is around Dancewear Center and the connection and education it provides. She loves the message that DWC has put out that “every body is a dancing body” and she is excited to offer her unique perspectives with the dance community especially as an older dancer and teacher. After nearly 50 years of dance experience, she has many personal stories and teaching wisdom she is looking forward to passing along during her ambassadorship, as well as she is hoping to be an inspiration in longevity to other dancers.
We are so happy to have Laurie as one of our new DWC Ambassadors! Be sure to check out her interview on our YouTube channel to hear more about Laurie’s dancing journey!
About the Author
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.
Tips for Exploring Dance in a New City
Whether you’re planning on making a cross-country move like me, or are graduating school and moving on from your familiar dance studio, life is full of transitions - some of which we’re prepared for and others we aren’t. One thing that can help make these transitions feel a bit more easeful is continuing to do what we’re passionate about. And fortunately, one of my favorite things about dance is its universality: no matter what country you’re in, what age you are, or what physical or mental state you’re experiencing, dance can be there for you in one capacity or another. In the short time I’ve spent living in a new city so far, here are some of the tips I have for exploring dance in a new place.
Advice for Dancing Amid Transition
By Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Contributor
I have recently relocated to a new city for the first time ever. For nearly 22 years, I’ve lived and largely operated within the same 20-mile radius. Understandably, this transition has been a bit of a physical and emotional challenge. I’m miles and miles away from the community that helped raise me, both my family and my beloved dance network. If there was one thing I was certain about when it came to making this life change, it was that I wanted to continue dancing as much as possible. While I’ve yet to establish a solid routine in this new place, attending dance classes has provided a level of comfort and normalcy amidst the whirlwind of change.
Whether you’re planning on making a cross-country move like me, or are graduating school and moving on from your familiar dance studio, life is full of transitions - some of which we’re prepared for and others we aren’t. One thing that can help make these transitions feel a bit more easeful is continuing to do what we’re passionate about. And fortunately, one of my favorite things about dance is its universality: no matter what country you’re in, what age you are, or what physical or mental state you’re experiencing, dance can be there for you in one capacity or another. In the short time I’ve spent living in a new city so far, here are some of the tips I have for exploring dance in a new place.
Do your research
Photo by Glenn-Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
When I began considering making this move, the first thing I began doing was researching dance studios in the city. As a 21-year-old with a full-time job, I wanted to make sure that I could find accessible dance studios that offered classes for adults at times that worked with my schedule. To my delight, I was able to find a plethora of options in this large city, many of which were “drop-in” classes, meaning I could sign up for them individually, often on the day they were being held. For those with a similarly busy schedule like me, I suggest searching for “drop-in” or “open” classes in your area for maximum flexibility. In the Seattle area, dance studios I highly suggest checking out for drop-in classes are Dance Conservatory Seattle, Dance Fremont, Pacific Northwest Ballet, eXit Space, and more.
After doing some Google searches to find dance studios near me, I also explored the website and social media pages of studios to learn more about their faculty and facility. Read the staff bios to learn more about the background and teaching methods of the instructors - do they align with the attributes you look for in a dance teacher? See if there are any videos on Instagram or YouTube to get a sense of what the class is like in terms of technical difficulty. And of course, don’t be afraid to call the studio itself to get more information you cannot find online.
Pack your bag with all you might need
Before I left for my first class, I was admittedly nervous! What if I forgot something important? What if I wasn’t dressed properly? Many questions circled around my frazzled brain. To ease my stress a bit, I picked out some clothes the night before my class to ensure I wasn’t in a rush to get out the door. I also stocked my dance bag with anything extra I might need, including extra types of dance shoes, a water bottle to fill up in the morning, a theraband, a massage ball, and several different types of warm-ups to throw on over my leotard and tights, including shorts and pants.
Arrive early
Since I’m notoriously directionally challenged, I decided to leave for my first class a bit early to leave extra time for re-routing in case I got lost. After mapping the route to the dance studio on my phone, I decided to leave with five to ten minutes to spare. I arrived at the studio several minutes early, which allowed me to take time to familiarize myself with the space, put on my dance shoes, find a space at the ballet barre, take a few deep breaths, and even introduce myself to the instructor. Having these extra moments for me before the class began helped set me up for success.
Remember: it’s okay to make mistakes!
Whenever I start taking dance classes from a new instructor, it can take me a handful of classes to get comfortable with the pacing of the class and the typical combinations. In open ballet classes, it’s often not clear whether the instructor has been trained in Vaganova, Balanchine, Cecchetti technique, or more. Offer yourself some grace as you get acquainted with the rhythm of the classes and, if it makes you feel more comfortable, find a spot at the back of the room so you can follow others in the class for the time being.
When I make mistakes in a new dance environment, where I’m not close with any of my peers, it can feel a lot more serious than it actually is. Back home, if I fall out of a pirouette, I know that I can turn to my friends and laugh about it; but in this new city, there’s no one to turn to yet. Remember that everyone in that class is dancing for themselves - they are not here to watch you mess up. Likewise, whether you’re looking to drastically improve your technique, simply move your body for the sake of it, or somewhere in between: you are attending this class for yourself. To further cement this idea in my brain, it can be helpful to imagine that the dance class is one big mindfulness exercise, focusing on the sensations in my body as I dance and not on who may be looking at me.
Photo by Chris Yang on Unsplash
If you’re anything like me, you might find change a bit scary, especially after getting comfortable with a reliable routine for so many years. But change can also be incredibly exciting. Getting reasonably out of your comfort zone can teach you so much about yourself, the world, and the life that you want to have. When you find yourself in a transitional phase like I currently am, know that dance can still be a part of your life if you have the tenacity to figure it out: which you do.
Local Dance Non-Profit on Prioritizing Dance Education for Adults
This new upcoming show will be held on November 18th and 19th at Broadway Performance Hall in Seattle at 8 pm. Dare to Dance’s shows started in 2010 with the first show simply called Dare to Dance. These shows aim to get people who don’t have a lot of dance training but want to start dancing on stage and perform. To include people who are dance enthusiasts and just want to dance. These dance pieces specifically are meant to showcase different dance styles and the utter joy that the people onstage have when performing.
A Conversation with the Directors of Dare to Dance Seattle
By Nicole Barrett, DWC Blog Editor
Photo by Zheng Wang
The dance world has come a long way in recent years for the acceptance of everyone. Gender norms are being broken and traditional ways of training are being pushed aside. One gap that is still working its way through the realm of dance is the gap for adults starting to dance at an older age. This is something that Dare to Dance Seattle is trying to tackle with their yearly performances. We got the opportunity to speak with Administrative Director Cindy Jacobs and Artistic Director Zheng Wang about their upcoming performance on November 18th and 19th! Read on to learn more about the mission of Dare to Dance and details for their upcoming show!
Zheng shares that he was not a dancer when he was growing up. He says that he never considered himself a dancer until he found a group that participated in flash mobs in 2010. The flash mob was performing at Westlake Center in Seattle and he says that he went with a friend and was a part of the big crowd dancing together. “That was just really fun, really exciting, so I just kept going back,” he recalls.
While participating in the flash mobs, he met a group of people that were very passionate about dance, but they weren’t “professionals.” He credits meeting this group of people as the true beginning of starting Dare to Dance and his reason for creating a show with the flash mob community.
Cindy started taking dance classes when she was five years old and shares that back when she was training, there were no performances or recitals. There were just strictly classes for technique. Her father was in the military so she says that she moved around a lot and learned different dance styles such as tap and hula. She continued to dance throughout high school and shares that she took a little break after graduating.
Photo by Zheng Wang
Later on, in her adult years, she started dancing again in some community-based performances and stage musicals. She then started dancing with a community show choir and later on choreographed for them. Cindy and her choreography partner Sue have worked together for many years and have choreographed numerous pieces in various locations. “I just love to dance,” she shares, smiling.
This new upcoming show will be held on November 18th and 19th at Broadway Performance Hall in Seattle at 8 pm. Dare to Dance’s shows started in 2010 with the first show simply called Dare to Dance. These shows aim to get people who don’t have a lot of dance training but want to start dancing on stage and perform. To include people who are dance enthusiasts and just want to dance. These dance pieces specifically are meant to showcase different dance styles and the utter joy that the people onstage have when performing.
Dare to Dance encourages group performances to share the joy of dancing together. Each specific piece showcases a dance style and choreographers from various locations bring these pieces for the dancers to perform. This organization just wants to share dance with everybody.
Cindy shares that when she joined the team in 2018 she was very impressed with the organization of the company and loved the mission. “It was extremely welcoming,” she shares. She says that something that surprised her was the amount of diversity between the dances and the dancers. “It’s really a fun show!” Cindy says.
The goal of Dare to Dance as a non-profit organization is to provide professional-quality opportunities for dance enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels to create, perform, connect and grow. “It’s really about providing that opportunity to people that don’t get it otherwise,” Zheng shares. He emphasizes the fact that “non-dancers” don’t get the opportunities to perform onstage like dancers that train at a studio do. Zheng believes that the audience can see themselves onstage when they are watching these performances that they might not with other shows.
When coming up with this idea, Zheng shares that he thought that this was a very out-of-the-box concept to create. He says that he disguised the first show as a big birthday celebration for his 35th birthday to ensure that people would turn out and want to celebrate. “I figured that if it was a total disaster, we could just write it off as having fun for my birthday!” Zheng shares, laughing. What surprised him the most was how successful it was and it allowed him to continue doing these shows from then on.
Something that makes Dare to Dance stand out amongst other organizations is the fact that every idea is open for discussion. “‘Hey, you have a good idea? Sure! Can you get some dancers?’” Cindy shares, smiling. She elaborates that there aren’t the boundaries that typical dance organizations have and they focus their time on allowing adult amateurs to have the opportunity to dance onstage. Cindy states that the most important thing about Dare to Dance is that there are no pre-existing rules for what kind of dance or dancers they need. “We are willing to look at everything,” she shares.
Photo by Zheng Wang
About the Author
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.
Exploring Dance in Academia as a Parent
“It’s my personal way of processing and understanding the world,” CarliAnn says of why she loves dancing. She describes herself as a kinesthetic person, using physicality as a way to connect with others and share experiences. CarliAnn also appreciates what a great medium dance is for storytelling, as communicating stories through the body can utilize a richness that simple text cannot, making it an accessible storytelling tool.
CarliAnn Bruner Recounts Her Dance Journey
Name pronunciation: Carlee-Ann B-run-er | Pronouns: she/her
By by Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Contributor
Photo by 127th St.
The role dance plays in a person’s life can vary immensely, from taking community classes, to professionally performing, to becoming a trained educator in the practice. Dance artist and educator CarliAnn Bruner has experienced this wide range of dance roles throughout her journey and currently works as an adjunct professor of dance at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Read on to learn more about CarliAnn’s dance journey and experiences exploring dance in academia and as a parent.
Some of CarliAnn’s earliest movement memories are in gymnastics lessons, which her parents enrolled her in at age two. She loved gymnastics but felt especially drawn to the dance and style aspects of the balance beam and floor routines. After participating in competitive gymnastics until she was thirteen, CarliAnn dove head first into dancing and fell in love with it.
“At fifteen, I was like ‘Mom, I’m going to be a dancer when I grow up!’” CarliAnn recollects. At sixteen, she began regularly driving herself two hours from her hometown of Yakima, Washington to Seattle to take dance classes at Velocity Dance Center, Spectrum Dance Theater, and Westlake Dance Center. “My parents were so trusting,” she laughs about her younger self driving so far for dance.
CarliAnn attended Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada, where she received her BFA, majoring in dance and minoring in kinesiology. While in the Vancouver area, a standout moment for her was getting to perform in the closing ceremonies at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
After college, CarliAnn auditioned for some dance companies in other cities, eventually landing a job with 127th St. Dance Company in Seattle. “That was my jumping-off point, my entry into the Seattle [dance] scene,” CarliAnn says of the job. “I met a lot of people who I’m still good friends with.”
CarliAnn later danced with Khambatta Dance Company, where she performed at venues around the world, including India, Brazil, Mexico, and Lithuania. She also danced in the inaugural season of Intrepidus Dance, with DWC Owner and General Manager Samantha Weissbach and former DWC staff member Holly Logan Livingston.
Through Khambatta Dance Company, CarliAnn was introduced to fellow dancer and DWC Director of Marketing Ethan Rome. The two artists were drawn to the art of choreography and desired to create their own dance company. So, they started Forthun + Rome Dance Theater in 2016, which created and showed work around Washington for about three years.
In 2018, CarliAnn and her husband found themselves itching to live in a new city. After some searching, they landed in Spokane. CarliAnn got connected with Gonzaga University Dance Director Suzanne Ostersmith and became a guest artist at the university, choreographing work for a production of theirs.
Photo by Audrey Parks
Teaching at Gonzaga prompted CarliAnn to think about getting her master’s degree. In 2021, she earned her MFA in dance at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Her thesis focused on indigenous contemporary dance, a subject personal to CarliAnn as a descendant of the Colville Tribe in Washington. “It was a nice way to use my art to reconnect to my heritage and my ancestry,” she says. Due to COVID-19, much of CarliAnn’s master’s program took place over Zoom in Washington, while she was pregnant with her second child. While this virtual format posed many challenges, she appreciated having the opportunity to interview family members for her thesis research, an opportunity she may not have had if she was living in a different state.
“It’s my personal way of processing and understanding the world,” CarliAnn says of why she loves dancing. She describes herself as a kinesthetic person, using physicality as a way to connect with others and share experiences. CarliAnn also appreciates what a great medium dance is for storytelling, as communicating stories through the body can utilize a richness that simple text cannot, making it an accessible storytelling tool.
Currently, CarliAnn is working as an adjunct professor of dance at Gonzaga University. She’s in the process of creating a curriculum for a course on arts leadership and administration with a specific focus on art management in the nonprofit sector. She’s passionate about making sure organizations are conscious of the voices that they are uplifting and hopes to bring attention to that through her teaching. CarliAnn also recently launched a course on dance improvisation, something that many of her students had been seeking more education about. She’s also planning on being the rehearsal director for the Gonzaga University Repertory Dance Company. This season, dance artist Ashley Menestrina will be setting work on the Gonzaga dancers, which CarliAnn is greatly excited to see.
In addition to her academic work, CarliAnn has been making a greater effort to slowly come back into the studio for herself for the first time in a while. She’s created a couple of pieces largely inspired by her thesis and personal research. She shares that being able to travel and tour her art around the world again is a long-time goal of hers.
Photo by Tabor Cote
“It’s interesting being an artist and a parent,” CarliAnn says. Not only has she had to re-acquaint herself with her body after having children, but she also says she’s learning where her place in the dance community is again. She says that in many ways, due to COVID-19, dance opportunities have been made more accessible to her as a parent due to the abundance of online options. At the same time, there are also many opportunities that aren’t as accessible due to time and distance limitations interfering with her important role as a parent. She shares that she sometimes feels like she has to hide her children away as an artist when in reality, they are an important part of her art-making. CarliAnn is excited to see discussions about being an artist and a parent beginning to happen more and hopes to see more holistic acceptance of artists and dancers as whole beings.
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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