Everything You Need For Your First Ballet Class!
Are you or your little one getting ready for their very first ballet class? Follow along with DWC Fitter, Emma, as she guides you through everything you need to be ready for a ballet class!
By Emma Neilson, DWC Social Media Manager & Pointe Fitter
Are you or your little one getting ready for their very first ballet class? Follow along with DWC Fitter, Emma, as she guides you through everything you need to be ready for a ballet class!
Ballet Flats
Ballet shoes come in many varieties! There are leather and canvas, with or without drawstrings. Some people prefer the feel of leather, while others like that canvas can stretch. Often your studio will specify which they prefer so be sure to check what is required and then come in to Dancewear Center to try some on!
Transition Tights
Tights also have many varieties, often the go-to tights are transition or convertible tights, which allow you to roll them up off of your feet for before and after class. Check with your studio for color and style guidelines!
Leotards
Leotards are essential in ballet. They allow dancers to move freely and securely. And they are the best thing to wear so teachers can give adequate corrections to students. Colors vary by studio guidelines, feel free to try some on in one of our stores!
Skirts
Skirts are a classic ballet accessory that goes over your leotard. Be sure to check on styles and colors from your studio!
Dresses
Some studios require that younger dancers wear dresses instead of leotards to prevent fiddling with skirts. We have a variety of options and colors to try on!
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.
DWC Recovery Product Guide
After getting back into dance following a break, it’s typical for your body to need a little extra TLC (see Physical Therapist Colleen Bickel’s article on tips for physically returning to dance). Not to mention, many dancers are also gearing up for competition and convention season, which is always physically demanding. Taking time to rest and recover is often just as important as the dance training itself. This means rolling out and resting your sore muscles but also setting aside time to pamper yourself to feel mentally refreshed. Check out this list of our favorite recovery products at Dancewear Center to help provide yourself with some needed restoration in the coming dance year.
By Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Editor
As dancers are coming back from summer intensives/vacation and preparing for the new dance year, it is vital that we as dancers take care of our bodies properly. After getting back into dance following a break, it’s typical for your body to need a little extra TLC (see Physical Therapist Colleen Bickel’s article on tips for physically returning to dance). Taking time to rest and recover is often just as important as the dance training itself. This means rolling out and resting your sore muscles but also setting aside time to pamper yourself to feel mentally refreshed. Check out this list of our favorite recovery products at Dancewear Center to help provide yourself with some needed restoration in the coming dance year.
Bloch Resistance Bands
Using latex material, this resistance band is perfect for dancers recovering from an injury or for young dancers preparing for their pointe shoes. This product comes in three different colors that indicate different weights, mint green is light, teal blue is medium and royal blue is heavy. The weights can determine which band is best for your recovery process and can target specific areas that are in need of strengthening. Shop for this product in-store or online here!
Flexistretcher
The Flexistretcher is leading the dance world as one of the top training tools for strength and flexibility. Using elastic resistance technology, this product effectively and safely improves flexibility and strength by strengthening the muscles as you stretch. The loops are fully adjustable to fit all bodies and have rubber stoppers that allow the loop to always stay in place without falling off. Be sure to find this product in-store or online! Be sure to check out our How To Videos on the Flexistretcher as well!
Footsie Roller
Do you have tension in your feet that just won’t go away? The Footsie Roller is just the product for you! This roller is designed to relieve tension in the arches of the feet from long rehearsals or sudden injury. Being made of wood and silicone allow for the roller to alleviate knots and tiredness in the feet instantly. Lightweight and durable, this product is easy to throw in your dance bag and carry around wherever you need it!
Apolla Performance
Apolla Performance products are known to be top-notch for dancers around the country for recovery and performance use. Recently featured on Shark Tank, Apolla’s compression socks and legwarmers leave dancers’ feet and legs feeling and looking great. Apolla Performance products use shock absorption technology to help comfort the balls of the feet and squeeze the arch of the foot for maximum comfort and support in any style of dance. The Amp Shock, Performance Shock, Infinite Shock, and the K-Warmer are perfect to help dancers’ feet recover and get prepped for the new dance season! Be sure to check out our How To Video on using traction spray with Apollas!
FLX Infinity Ball
Unlike your regular tennis ball, the FLX Infinity Ball is strategically designed for dancers that need to roll out their sore muscles. While this product is small, it packs a lot of power and is built to handle intense pressure to ensure that knots and soreness in muscles are alleviated. The contoured shape is perfect to get a targeted deep-tissue massage to diminish pain and restore mobility. DWC carries this product in two different colors so be sure to get one in-store or online!
Tiger Balm
Tiger balm is a topical ointment that is aimed to help relieve sore muscles for dancers and hurt areas on the dancer’s body. This product is perfect for use after a rough class or rehearsal where the body needs a little love. You can keep this product in your dance bag for easy access after classes that leave muscles feeling sore. Shop for this product in-store at either Dancewear Center location!
We hope this Recovery Guide can help make the recovery process a little easier!
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 DWC Back-to-School Shopping Guide
Just like that: back-to-school season is upon us! And as the summer winds to a close and students start stocking their pencil cases, that also means back to dance season is upon us. Back to dance season often calls for a trip to the dancewear store, as young kids grow out of their old leotards, and older dancers wear out their favorite dancing shoes. As always, Dancewear Center strives to set all dancers up for success year-round, and the back-to-school season is no exception. Here are some of our back-to-dance season must-haves!
Our Must-Have Picks For Fall
By Madison Huizinga & Nicole Barrett, DWC Blog Editor
Just like that: back-to-school season is upon us! And as the summer winds to a close and students start stocking their pencil cases, that also means back to dance season is upon us. Back to dance season often calls for a trip to the dancewear store, as young kids grow out of their old leotards, and older dancers wear out their favorite dancing shoes. As always, Dancewear Center strives to set all dancers up for success year-round, and the back-to-school season is no exception. Here are some of our back-to-dance season must-haves!
Basic Leotards
We love our fashion leotards just as much as the next dancer here at DWC. At the same time, we know that some dress codes are a bit more specific about what they expect students to wear. That’s why we’ve got our local community covered, offering leotards in camisole styles, tank styles, cap sleeves, long sleeves, and more in a variety of colors for both children and adults. We also offer a selection of basics for men, including leotards and dance shirts.
Tights
As a dancer, tights are an item I simply cannot have enough of. Having extra tights on hand is not only helpful in case of emergencies at performances and competitions, but also during a hefty class and rehearsal load each week. At DWC, we have an abundance of classic transition tights, perfect for the busy ballerina. We also carry footed tights, footless tights, fishnets, and men’s tights, so there is an option for whichever genre you’re exploring.
Hanami Stretch Canvas Ballet Shoe
For those taking ballet classes, having a trustworthy pair of ballet slippers is of the utmost importance. Of all the fabulous ballet slippers Dancewear Center carries, the ones I swear by are the Hanami Stretch Canvas Ballet Shoes by Capezio. With its soft canvas fabric, this ballet slipper stretches around the foot and holds it firmly, similar to a sock. The split sole of the ballet shoe allows for a seamless line when pointing the foot, and the no-drawstring design makes it completely hassle-free. This ballet slipper simply cannot be recommended enough!
Warm-Ups
As the temperatures outside begin cooling down and dancers have more and more downtime in between classes and rehearsals, it’s important that they wear clothes that keep their muscles warm when they are resting. A wrap sweater is a classic option for bunheads, whereas the Dancewear Center hoodie is sure to keep you warm in the studio and at home. As far as pants go, the Eurotard Ripstop Warm-Up Pants are sure to keep dancers’ muscles insulated with heat, and the Claudia Dean World Tracksuit Pants are the perfect option for staying cozy.
Dance Bags
Back-to-school season is also the perfect time for dancers to try out a new dance bag to carry all their new goodies for the dance season ahead. The AK Multi-Purpose Backpack by AK Dancewear has all the features a dancer needs, including numerous pockets, an air-ventilated shoe compartment at the bottom of the bag, a padded zipper compartment for electronic devices, and a separate wet zipper pocket for temporary sweaty gear. The Claudia Dean World Pro Bag by Claudia Dean World similarly has an abundance of storage space, and insulation, and is complete with adorable rose gold detailing. Or this stylish RP Origami bag!
Tiger Balm
Tiger balm is a topical ointment that is aimed to help relieve sore muscles for dancers and hurt areas on the dancer’s body. This product is perfect for use after a rough class or rehearsal where the body needs a little love. You can keep this product in your dance bag for easy access after summer classes that leave muscles feeling sore. Shop for this product in store at either Dancewear Center location!
Capezio Ballerina Girl Water Bottle
Coming back to dance after a break requires dancers to make sure that they are keeping hydrated. The Capezio Ballerina Girl Water Bottle is perfect for this! This stainless steel water bottle is lightweight and small so it is perfect to travel with and includes a convenient clip on the lid to attach to your favorite dance bag. Be sure to stay hydrated dancers!
Hair Supplies
Every dancer knows the struggle of reaching into their dance bag, looking for the right materials to make the perfect bun and finding…nothing. All of the hair ties, bobby pins and hair nets fall deep into the abyss that is the dance bag. So, in order to be prepared for the inevitable, extra hair ties, hair nets and bobby pins are a must to get through the rough first classes back. DWC has all of your needs covered with different styles and brands to choose from in store or online!
The Flexistretcher
As you are coming back from the off-season you may have lost a little flexibility. Nothing to worry about! The Flexistretcher is designed for dancers to build flexibility safely and in control. With adjustable straps and padded brace, it will help you build your flexibility back and gain even more range than before! DWC also has you covered with how to videos to get you started with your Flexistretcher!
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.
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.
Get To Know DWC Ambassador Caroline Schmidt
For our new DWC Ambassador Caroline Shmidt, the Seattle dance community has always been somethihng that is special to her. Luckily, we got the opportunity to speak with her about it to see how it affected her dance journey! Read on to learn more about Caroline’s dancing journey and why she decided to become an Ambassador!
Pronunciation: Care-oh-line Shhmit | Pronouns: she/her
By Samantha Weissbach, DWC Owner & General Manager and Nicole Barrett, DWC Blog Editor
For our new DWC Ambassador Caroline Shmidt, the Seattle dance community has always been something that is special to her. Luckily, we got the opportunity to speak with her about it to see how it affected her dance journey! Read on to learn more about Caroline’s dancing journey and why she decided to become an Ambassador!
Caroline started dancing when she was around age two or three beginning in creative movement classes. When she got to middle school, she decided that it was time to try ballet and she instantly fell in love with it. Caroline danced for many years at ARC School of Ballet in Seattle and got to do a little bit of every style of dance throughout her journey. After high school, Caroline knew that she wanted to continue dancing, so she attended Western Washington University and got her BFA in Dance and BS in Kinesiology. Caroline currently resides in St. Louis, Missouri getting her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She shares that she hopes to keep dance in her life and work with dancers when she becomes a physical therapist.
When asked what inspired her to become a DWC Ambassador, Caroline shares that she loves seeing the Seattle dance community grow. Growing up a Seattle native, she loved seeing the community and resources of the dance world here and hopes that she can be a greater part of the community when she returns. She also loved the fact that she could find people that love dance just as much as she does and be able to shares resources with those same dancers.
Caroline shares that she will be in Seattle for the next couple of months for her clinical rotations and will be taking as many open classes as she can! She currently goes to Westlake Dance Center for classes and is planning on attending some workshops in the near future!
We are so happy to have Caroline as one of our new DWC Ambassadors! Be sure to watch the rest of her interview below to learn all about Caroline!
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.
How To Flexistretch Your Hamstrings
The Flexistretcher is a great tool that is used for the recovery and strengthening that dancers around the country find themselves using. Luckily, we have a certified Flexistretcher instructor on our DWC team that has a great tutorial on how to use this product. Read on to learn more about the FLX Hamstring Stretch with DWC Staff member Emma Neilson!
By Nicole Barrett & Emma Neilson
The Flexistretcher is a great tool that is used for the recovery and strengthening that dancers around the country find themselves using. Luckily, we have a certified Flexistretcher instructor on our DWC team that has a great tutorial on how to use this product. Read on to learn more about the FLX Hamstring Stretch with DWC Staff member Emma Neilson!
Grab your Flexistretcher and lay on your back with your knees facing up.
Bring your leg to your chest and place the ball of your foot on the elastic pad.
Hold the loops on either side of the elastic pad and carefully extend your leg.
Once your leg is all the way straightened, gently pull down on the loops to activate the stretch.
Hold this stretch for 30 seconds.
Repeat on the other side.
We hope that this tutorial helped you perfect your hamstring stretch with the Flexistretcher! Be sure to watch the full video below for a visual of this stretch!
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.
Coaching For Excellence and Debunking Misinformation
Ms. Robbins also wishes to see a greater focus on keeping Washington’s aspiring ballet dancers performing at a national level and being prepared to audition for international schools and companies. In her teaching and coaching philosophy, she believes in breaking down mechanics, dynamics, and coordination to find the root cause of a challenge a dancer is facing to eliminate incorrect muscle memory or habits that hold them back or cause weakness/insecurity in their performance. She is passionate about coaching pirouette and jumping techniques as separate classes in her workshops and developing dancers who articulate their epaulement and footwork at a high classical standard. Through KMCoaching intensives, Ms. Robbins aspires to help PNW-based students supplement their year-round training with hands-on attention and challenging high-stamina classes, to ensure dancers feel prepared to take the next steps in their careers.
Kathryn M. Robbins on Her Training Philosophy
By Madison Huizinga, Former DWC Blog Editor
Photo by David Cooper
Operating in a history-rich artistic genre like ballet has its benefits and drawbacks. While there are benefits in upholding the traditions of classical ballet training, there is also a need to push for more up-to-date information about important training aspects, particularly those relating to nutrition and mental health. Kathryn M. Robbins, the owner of The Sylvia Joyce Wanner School (previously known as The Ballet Workshop of Port Angeles) and director of KMCoaching Seattle, is passionate about technically progressing dancers through coaching workshops and helping demystify widespread misinformation in the dance realm. Click here for more information on KMCoaching’s Young Professionals Intensive 2023 being held August 21-25, 2023 at The Francia Russell Center at Pacific Northwest Ballet.
Ms. Robbins’ dance journey began in Toronto, where she only began serious ballet training at the age of 11. At age 15, it was The Joffrey Ballet School that would introduce her to the professional world of dance. She would go on to become an apprentice at Ballet British Columbia in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and perform on tour with Vancouver Goh Ballet, Colorado Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. Due to injury, and a desire to step into pedagogy, she stopped dancing in her early twenties. She shares that her goal in dance was always to teach, after first performing at the highest professional level that she could, as she saw the value in bringing the first-hand perspective of a professional dancer to her role as a teacher. She opened her first all-junior private academy, Vancouver Junior Professional Division, in 2005.
Before transitioning into teaching full-time, Ms. Robbins shares that she did a lot of independent research, using her Cecchetti certifications to help build her base of knowledge. She attended consecutive teachers' course summers at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where she honed in on what type of content she wanted her teaching curriculum to contain, drawing inspiration from the renowned Marcia Dale Weary. She continued to stay connected with CPYB and is now a frequent guest teacher at their summer intensives.
After years of research, Ms. Robbins would base her Vancouver ballet school’s syllabus on what she learned at CPYB, combined with principles from The Royal Ballet School’s teacher program, the Paris Opera Ballet School’s demonstrations, and ABT’s curriculum. “I was sort of getting a sense of all these different training methods and what I thought was useful from all of them,” she says of honing her own syllabus. From 2009-2015 her students would win consecutive medals at YAGP and in 2013, she was named Outstanding Teacher at the YAGP New York Finals. After running her ballet school for nearly eleven years, her syllabus produced graduates who would go on to dance with Princess Grace Academy, English National Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Dresden Opera, San Francisco Ballet, School of American Ballet, and The National Ballet of Canada, to name a few. In 2015, Ms. Robbins founded KMCoaching as a professional coaching/workshop outlet for Seattle-based students and relocated to Port Angeles, Washington where she bought an existing dance school, The Ballet Workshop, founded in 1970.
“The kids here are doing wonderfully,” Ms. Robbins says of The Sylvia Joyce Wanner School. “I’m very happy with where I’ve landed at this point in my life.”
Ms. Robbins’s parents are renowned sports coaches and educators, which helped instill an appreciation for excellence in athletic coaching and achievement in her. The way her parents superbly communicated athletic skills with students and team members greatly resonated with her growing up. “I latched on to them as mentors,” Ms. Robbins says, sharing that her parents involved her in coaching gymnastics and participating in dance.
“Ballet is 90% psychology. Dance is so much in your head,” Ms. Robbins says, sharing that the psychological approach to sports training that her parents often utilized was something that she was inspired to translate as a classical ballet coach. Teaching dancers to capitalize on their emotional capacity to invest in themselves and be fully present are aspects of sports psychology Ms. Robbins found particularly fascinating.
“It feels like a private language,” Ms. Robbins says of classical ballet. “I think there’s something so comforting about knowing that people understand this language that you speak.” She also has an appreciation for the rich history and traditions of ballet. “It feels like such a privilege to carry that history with you,” Ms. Robbins says, while also acknowledging how some of the old traditions and ways of thinking have become outdated and unhelpful to dancers of the modern age.
One of the biggest challenges Ms. Robbins feels she has witnessed in the dance world is the dissemination of misinformation about training, including antiquated beliefs about nutrition and body image. Growing up, she shares that she received a lot of conflicting information about diet and muscle recovery, which contributed to nutritional challenges, injuries, and issues with her body image as a teenager. Since she started dancing a bit later than many of her peers, Ms. Robbins was also often told that she could never make it as a professional, which wasn’t true.
“We still have very outdated ways of thinking [and] looking at things…which I think this generation of leadership is trying to change gradually in the ballet world,” Ms. Robbins says. She hopes to see improved access for dancers on how to take care of themselves, how to pace their training, recover nutritionally, and rehearse effectively. At this point in time, she encourages young dancers to always advocate for themselves and do their own research rather than just take information at face value. She feels hopeful seeing schools and companies talk more about mental health challenges on social media outlets and teachers encouraging open dialogues with their students.
Ms. Robbins also wishes to see a greater focus on keeping Washington’s aspiring ballet dancers performing at a national level and being prepared to audition for international schools and companies. In her teaching and coaching philosophy, she believes in breaking down mechanics, dynamics, and coordination to find the root cause of a challenge a dancer is facing to eliminate incorrect muscle memory or habits that hold them back or cause weakness and insecurity in their performance. She is passionate about coaching pirouette and jumping techniques as separate classes in her workshops and developing dancers who articulate their epaulement and footwork at a high classical standard. Through KMCoaching intensives, Ms. Robbins aspires to help PNW-based students supplement their year-round training with hands-on attention and challenging high-stamina classes, to ensure dancers feel prepared to take the next steps in their careers.
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.
Get To Know DWC Ambassador Alaina Fowler
Here at Dancewear Center, our Ambassadors are something we love to share! We got the opportunity to speak with one of our new Ambassadors Alaina Fowler! Read on to learn more about Alaina’s dancing journey and why she decided to become a DWC Ambassador!
Pronunciation: Ah-lay-nah Fow-ler | Pronouns: she/her
By Samantha Weissbach, DWC Owner & General Manager and Nicole Barrett, DWC Blog Editor
Here at Dancewear Center, our Ambassadors are something we love to share! We got the opportunity to speak with one of our new Ambassadors Alaina Fowler! Read on to learn more about Alaina’s dancing journey and why she decided to become a DWC Ambassador!
Alaina started dancing when she was just 2 years old and her parents enrolled her into a local dance studio’s mommy and me dance class. She shares that her parents would trade off on taking her to those classes each week. Her mother danced when she was younger so that was a big part of what sparked her to continue taking classes. Since then, Alaina has taken classes at Fidalgo Dance Works. When she was 12, she shares that she had a really big turning point in her dance career when she got her first big role as Clara in The Nutcracker. She shares that this is what made her want to take dance more seriously. Later that same year she got her first pair of pointe shoes and went to her first summer intensive at Summer Dance Lab, pushing her to continue dancing more.
Alaina shares that the summer intensive she attended is the reason that she is where she is today and gave her that kickstart to make dance a career. During the pandemic, Alaina had a teacher that was offering her privates so she could still continue dancing. She shares that if it wasn’t for that teacher and those privates she may have quit dancing altogether so she is forever grateful for that opportunity. Alaina is still continuing her training and is off to another summer intensive this summer!
When asked about why Alaina applied to be a DWC Ambassador, she shares that one of our former Ambassadors Kendall Hadley introduced her to the ambassador program. She shares that she helped her with certain social media posts and she shares that she loved it. Alaina says that she was really inspired by the amount of change and impact that DWC promotes and loves that DWC creates a safe space for dancers to be who they are. She shares that she is really excited that she applied and was accepted and is excited to see where this journey goes!
We are so excited to have Alaina as one of our new DWC Ambassadors! Be sure to check out the rest of her interview 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.
Get To Know DWC Ambassador Marika Jaffe
Here at Dancewear Center, we are always so excited for our new Ambassadors to come in each quarter! We got the opportunity to speak with one of our Ambassadors Marika Jaffe! As a teacher in the local Seattle area, she is no stranger to how the dance industry functions. Read on to learn more about Marika’s dancing journey and why she decided to become a DWC Ambassador!
Pronunciation: Maar-ee-kaa Jah-fee | Pronouns: she/they
By Samantha Weissbach, DWC Owner & General Manager and Nicole Barrett, DWC Blog Editor
Here at Dancewear Center, we are always so excited for our new Ambassadors to come in each quarter! We got the opportunity to speak with one of our Ambassadors Marika Jaffe! As a teacher in the local Seattle area, she is no stranger to how the dance industry functions. Read on to learn more about Marika’s dancing journey and why she decided to become a DWC Ambassador!
When Marika was young, she shares that she would dance around her house to U Can’t Touch This by MC Hammer. Her parents loved it and came to a point where they needed a way for her to get her energy out. At the age of 4, she was signed up for her first creative movement class, and by the age of 8, she was in more than ten classes per week. She shares that she was obsessed with all styles of dance and in middle school, she was on the competition team.
During eighth grade, Marika saw an ad for a hip-hop team that was having auditions. She went in and auditioned and fell in love with it. This led her to quit the competition team that she was on and was on the hip-hop team all through high school. After high school, Markia moved to Thailand and taught some hip-hop classes at her college there and those were mainly to youth that wanted to take dance classes but didn’t have access to them. She then moved back to the U.S. and started teaching at a few studios in the area and a few years ago became the director of The Dance School in Everett.
When asked about why she applied to become a DWC Ambassador, Marika shares that her love of shopping in our Kirkland location was a big factor. She shares that this is her go-to spot and loves how knowledgeable the staff is. Marika shares that she also loves watching the social media of DWC and the community that is built within the company.
We are so excited to have Marika be one of our new DWC Ambassadors! Be sure to check out her socials here and watch the rest of her interview on YouTube!
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.
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