Jule Dancewear’s Julia Cinquemani
Many people are drawn to dance because it is a means of self-expression, allowing individuals to share their emotions with others and have a creative outlet to relieve stress. In many ways, clothing operates similarly to dance for many people, as it communicates a lot about a person’s identity and can invoke specific emotions in viewers and wearers alike. Founder of Jule Dancewear Julia Cinquemani knows all too well that wearing clothes that don’t fit right can make a significant impact on people, particularly with dancewear. Combatting this phenomenon was the inspiration behind Jule Dancewear, as well as creating dancewear products that cater to dancers with a variety of body types. Read on to learn more about Julia’s journey to Jule Dancewear.
By Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Editor
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Many people are drawn to dance because it is a means of self-expression, allowing individuals to share their emotions with others and have a creative outlet to relieve stress. In many ways, clothing operates similarly to dance for many people, as it communicates a lot about a person’s identity and can invoke specific emotions in viewers and wearers alike. Founder of Jule Dancewear Julia Cinquemani knows all too well that wearing clothes that don’t fit right can make a significant impact on people, particularly with dancewear. Combatting this phenomenon was the inspiration behind Jule Dancewear, as well as creating dancewear products that cater to dancers with a variety of body types. Read on to learn more about Julia’s journey to Jule Dancewear.
Julia grew up in Dallas, Texas where she began dancing at age four. “I was very passionate about ballet and left home at age 16 to train year-round at the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle,” she shares. Later on, Julia ended up signing her first professional contract at Los Angeles Ballet, where she danced for seven years, even earning a promotion to Soloist in 2014 and Principal Dancer in 2016. “I then joined Miami City Ballet in 2017 where I danced for four seasons,” she shares. Highlights from her time at Miami City Ballet include Aria 1 in Stravinsky’s “Violin Concerto,” Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and War Girl in “Symphonic Dances.”
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One of Julia’s favorite parts of ballet was the discipline involved with it and being able to express herself within the studio. “Part of expressing myself was how I presented myself; how I did my hair and what I wore to class,” she shares. At age 14, Julia began designing and sewing her own ballet skirts to wear to class. Eventually, she began creating and selling these skirts to her friends. Shortly after this, as the skirts gained more popularity, Julia was approached by her local dancewear store asking if she wanted to start carrying her own line of wrap skirts in the store. What started as her individual outlet of expression soon became a product for others to enjoy as well.
Jule Dancewear was established in 2011 to “reshape dancewear.” Julia’s mission is to “design and produce dancewear that offers support, conforms to all body types, is high quality, and incorporates the latest in fashion with a commitment to ‘made in the USA.’” “Support” is a crucial aspect of the products Jule Dancewear offers. Julia shares that during her teenage years, when her body began changing, she realized she needed a leotard that provided more optimal coverage and support for herself. “I hated that my ill-fitting leotards were making me self-conscious in a profession where confidence is key,” she says. This is what inspired her to incorporate the support of a sports bra in her leotards in her leotards. “As a result, we are known for reshaping the dancewear mold to support all body types,” she shares.
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In addition to stunning leotards and wrap skirts that flatter an array of body types, Jule Dancewear has become well-known for its “meshie” tights and crop tops. Intended to flatter and accentuate muscle definition, these high-quality mesh tights and crop tops make for unique, colorful, and comfortable outerwear to wear over the top of leotards. Julia shares that Jule Dancewear has “many new products” coming soon, so stay tuned for more!
Julia shares that she’s always loved the way a good outfit makes her feel. This feeling was one of the main sources of inspiration for her products. “My goal in the design process is to bridge fashion and function,” she says. Julia points out that it helps that she spends most of her days in a leotard and tights, as it allows her to seek inspiration for designing products that make her look and feel her best.
For those who are interested in starting their own business, Julia advises them “to have patience and commit to creating in a field that [they] are passionate about.” Once you realize that you can be the solution to the problems you’re facing, many doors are opened.
DWC Holiday Shopping Guide
At last, the gift-giving season is upon us! When it comes to shopping for holiday gifts, an unnecessary amount of stress can easily accrue. What do I get for them? What’s on-trend? Will they like it? Countless questions circle through our brains, making an activity that’s supposed to be festive feel a bit overwhelming. That’s why here at Dancewear Center, we’re making your life a bit easier by giving you our ultimate guide to holiday shopping for your favorite dancers! From stocking stuffers to affordable activewear to luxury leotards, DWC is your one-stop shop for holiday gifts this season. Read on to learn about our top picks that you can get for 30% off at our Small Business Saturday Sale, starting with the more affordable finds and leading into more upscale items.
By Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Editor
At last, the gift-giving season is upon us! When it comes to shopping for holiday gifts, an unnecessary amount of stress can easily accrue. What do I get for them? What’s on-trend? Will they like it? Countless questions circle through our brains, making an activity that’s supposed to be festive feel a bit overwhelming. That’s why here at Dancewear Center, we’re making your life a bit easier by giving you our ultimate guide to holiday shopping for your favorite dancers! From stocking stuffers to affordable activewear to luxury leotards, DWC is your one-stop shop for holiday gifts this season. Read on to learn about our top picks that you can get for 30% off at our Small Business Saturday Sale, starting with the more affordable finds and leading into more upscale items.
Once Upon a Dance Books ($)
Once Upon a Dance is a local, woman-led business born during the COVID-19 pandemic (click here to learn more about their founding). The brand, run by Terrel Lefferts, offers movement and dance books for children of all ages. Check out the “Dance-It-Out” series for stories that stimulate young children’s imaginations while giving them guides for movement. The “Dancing Shapes” books make excellent gifts for older elementary-aged children to learn ballet and body awareness in a fun and guided fashion.
Pirouette Planner ($$)
With 2022 coming around the corner, it’s getting close to the time of year when people make resolutions for the new year. The Pirouette Planner is the perfect present for dancers who are eager to set goals for the upcoming year and track their growth. Designed for dancers by dancers, this planner contains guided journaling and goal setting and a monthly coaching section, covering topics like nutrition, audition prep, team building, and more.
Nutcracker Products ($$)
What’s more holiday and dance-related than The Nutcracker? Dancewear Center’s got your Nutcracker lovers covered, with Nutcracker-themed sweatshirts and hoodies galore. And check out these adorable makeup bags and mesh bags from Ansliewear, featuring designs inspired by the beloved Snow scene in the classic holiday production.
Wear Moi Knitwear ($$)
With the frigid winter months upon us, dancers often need to wear extra layers to class to stay warm. From cozy legwarmers to stylish wrap sweaters, Wear Moi knitwear is sure to keep your favorite dancer warm this season. Offered in a variety of colors and patterns, these pieces are functional and fashionable.
Girl Power Sport ($$)
Girl Power Sport is a small, local gymnastics, dancewear, and activewear brand based out of Vancouver, WA (click here to learn more about founder Lisa Fairman). The brand offers leotards and biketards in colorful prints and patterns, as well as cozy hoodies that read the phrase #girlpower. These products are perfect for a young gymnast or dancer who loves bright colors and extravagant designs.
Flexistretcher ($$)
The Flexistretcher is one of the world’s leading training tools for flexibility and strength. Unique from your average resistance band, the Flexistretcher contains custom hardware to prevent sliding, adjustable loops and custom strength elastic to adjust resistance levels, rubber stoppers to keep the loop in place, and much more. This is an excellent gift for older students eager to work on their flexibility and strength for the upcoming dance year!
AK Dancewear ($$$)
AK Dancewear is a small, woman-led business that never compromises on quality. Offered in a rainbow of colors, from vibrant corals to subdued blues, these leotards contain dynamic designs sure to make any dancer feel comfortable and confident. We love the rose print on the Emery in Rose Garden Leotard and the monochromatic tones of the Celia in Motley Leotard.
Jule Dancewear ($$$)
The woman-led dancewear brand Jule Dancewear offers beautiful leotards and dancewear geared towards older children and adults. Well-known for its line of “meshie” crop tops, tights, and skirts, these high-quality products contain classic color combinations and shapes, sure to bring a smile to any dancer’s face. The color blocking on the Luster Leotard and Royal Leotard and unique texture on the Royalette Crushed Velvet Leotard are some standout picks.
Bonus: Stocking Stuffers!
Apolla Performance
Apolla Performance products are a must-have for any dancer looking for specialized dance socks and leg warmers to train, perform, and recover in. This USA-based, entirely women-led business was founded with dancers in mind, aiming to reduce the staggering number of injuries in the dance world. The Apolla Amp Shock, Performance Shock, and Infinite Shock compression socks have cushioning on the balls and heels of the sock for shock absorption from jumps and a tight squeeze around the arch. The K-WARMER Shock is a thigh-high compression leg warmer that’s perfect for the chilly winter months.
Tiger Balm
Tiger Balm is a tried and true topical ointment aimed at effectively relieving pain for sore muscles and minor bruises. It’s helpful for active dancers to keep a jar of this in their dance bag or on their shelf after those long classes and rehearsals that leave their muscles feeling weary. Shop for it in-store at Dancewear Center!
Bullet Pointe Skirts
Since their conception, Bullet Pointe skirts have taken the dance world by storm! These circular skirts possess flowy fabric sure to drape beautifully and flatter every body type. The Bullet Pointe skirts come in a wide array of colors, one for every day of the week and then some! They’re also easy to roll up, making them an excellent option for stocking stuffers.
Holiday Keychain
The classic pointe shoe keychains Dancewear Center carries just got a whole lot more festive. This winter-inspired, holiday-themed keychain from So Danca makes the perfect stocking stuffer for your favorite dancer, especially those who just began driving and need something to hold their keys on.
Covet Dance Apothecary Set
The Dance Apothecary Set is an ideal stocking stuffer for any active dancer. The set comes with four of Covet’s most popular “after dance” care products to help relieve dancers of muscle pain, bruising, and swelling.
We hope this DWC holiday gift guide has given you a little bit of guidance this holiday shopping season. Come down to Dancewear Center Saturday 11/7 and Sunday 11/28 for our Small Business Saturday Sale to pick up the perfect treasures for the dancers in your life. Happy Holidays!
Expressing Thanks to the Dance Community
It's finally that time of the year when families around the country gather around a table replete with food to share what they're thankful for with one another. After an unusual holiday season in 2020, people are undoubtedly eager to return to a sense of normalcy this Thanksgiving.
By Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Editor
It's finally that time of the year when families around the country gather around a table replete with food to share what they're thankful for with one another. After an unusual holiday season in 2020, people are undoubtedly eager to return to a sense of normalcy this Thanksgiving.
It’s no secret that in 2021, many people have returned to their pre-pandemic routines, including going back to school and working in person. Many have also gone back to training in person in their dance studios. It's safe to say that returning to dancing among others, the way that dance was intended, is something many community members are thankful for. After many months of dancing in confined spaces, we’re finally free to move freely without bumping into our living room furniture.
The many months of dancing in confined spaces, physically distanced from our peers, has shown us that our dance lives aren’t something to take for granted. Dance is a creative outlet that we rely on to stay both physically and mentally healthy. Within each of our lives is a vast network of individuals and organizations that keep the dance community afloat. Local studios and their faculty keep dancers growing through training, teaching new techniques and modes of artistic expression, and transforming the lives of their student bodies. Venues and theaters in our communities provide platforms for choreographers and dancers to share their creations with audiences. Families work together to transport their young dancers to classes and conventions, attending performances and competitions to show their loved ones support. Local dancewear stores, like Dancewear Center, offer individualized and educated pointe shoe fittings and a curated selection of dancewear to keep dancers performing safely and confidently. Perhaps most importantly, the dancers themselves keep these enterprises going! Local businesses rely on dancers to keep their organizations functioning and to fulfill their mission statements.
Dance may be a global phenomenon, but action clearly begins at the local level. The relationships between studios, instructors, venues, choreographers, dancewear stores, and dancers and their families are all interconnected, perhaps even more than we realize. We all need one another, we all fill each other's cups.
Throughout the pandemic, all of these arenas have struggled in one way or another. However, it was the relationships and the passion for dance we all share that kept us functioning through the past year and a half of hardships. In the spirit of giving back this Thanksgiving, let's show our community love in any way we can. Express thanks to your studios' instructors and staff for their perseverance through a challenging year of teaching. Purchase a ticket or virtual pass to an upcoming show to support your beloved local venues and theaters. Donate to a dance nonprofit that's creating work that inspires you. If you're a student, give your family a huge "thank you" for the support they've shown throughout your dance journey.
Here at Dancewear Center, we want to extend our thanks to you! We wouldn't get the chance to provide expert pointe shoe fittings, offer diverse merchandise, create insightful blog posts, or carry out our mission to support and empower the dance community if it weren't for you. Part of how we're showing our gratitude this year is through our Small Business Saturday Sale. Join us Saturday, November 27th, and Sunday, November 28th for 10% off pointe shoes (Use Code: ShopSmall10) and 30% off all other products (discount automatically applied at checkout). Come help yourself to some discounted products to get ready for the coming months of training and performing - our thanks to you!
DWC Ambassador Coco Liu on Beginning Dance as an Adult
Have you ever wanted to try something new, but felt like you weren’t welcome to or as though your time to begin had passed? If so, you aren’t alone. There’s an unspoken assumption that as adults, we somehow know exactly what we enjoy doing and have all of our passions clearly defined. However, DWC Ambassador Coco Liu is here to tell you that it’s never too late to try something new, specifically with dance.
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Have you ever wanted to try something new, but felt like you weren’t welcome to or as though your time to begin had passed? If so, you aren’t alone. There’s an unspoken assumption that as adults, we somehow know exactly what we enjoy doing and have all of our passions clearly defined. However, DWC Ambassador Coco Liu is here to tell you that it’s never too late to try something new, specifically with dance.
Coco began taking dance classes as an adult, but her admiration for the art form began as a child. Growing up in China, Coco’s mother would take her to see Russian ballet performances. She remembers being thoroughly engaged with the shows and learning to appreciate dance through being an audience member. Coco shares that she was an active kid, but didn’t enroll in dance classes because there weren’t many high-quality studios in her area. At age 15, after moving to the United States, Coco recalls constantly playing the game Just Dance on her host family’s Wii, continuing it into college with friends. “I remember playing for hours on that thing!” she says, as it helped cultivate her love for dance.
After graduating college, Coco was inspired to take her first ballet class after watching her best friend dance. She visited her friend in Utah and watched her perform the “Waltz of the Snowflakes” in The Nutcracker. Coco remembers being amazed by the performance, and immediately thinking she should try to dance herself. She researched studios in the Seattle area and decided to enroll in a class at The Ballet Studio in U District. “Slowly, it just stuck,” Coco says, sharing that she’s been dancing for about three years now. She mainly focuses on ballet training but has also started taking classes in contemporary, modern, and hip hop styles. Dabbling in other styles has made Coco realize how fundamental ballet skills can be for other genres of dance.
Coco says that one of her favorite things about dance is the community. “Some of my very close friends nowadays, I met through dance,” she says. Coco points out that the dance community feels both big and small at the same time, mentioning the connections she can make with all types of people, from different areas of her life, through their shared love of dance.
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On a personal level, Coco enjoys seeing the self-improvement that comes with ballet training. “The amount of effort you put in, you get back,” she says. “You see that improvement within yourself. That really kept me going.” Within the dance world, particularly ballet, it always feels like there is more to learn and improve upon, preventing most dancers from feeling stagnant within their practice.
When Coco first began dancing, she struggled with feeling like she was “good enough.” She remembers going on Instagram and seeing dancers post photos and videos of their high extensions, fast turns, and other impressive feats. As a beginner, exposure to these posts made her feel a bit frustrated at first. However, after some more practice, this feeling went away. She recognized that most of these dancers had started training as young as age three, it was unrealistic for her to expect herself to be at the same level as them.
“To get out of that mindset, it was about having a competition with myself,” Coco shares. Each week, she would shift her focus on a specific technical element she could improve upon, whether it was her turnout or engaging specific muscle groups correctly. From there, she could gradually build her muscle memory and advance at her own rate. By channeling her energy into improving her own skills rather than comparing herself to others, she was able to truly appreciate other dancers and herself fully.
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Carmen Wrap Sweater by Wear Moi | Quilted Warmup Booties by Russian Pointe
Coco first learned about Dancewear Center when she bought pointe shoes. She learned about the ambassador program through a mutual friend and thought it would be a good opportunity for her to share her story and show people that it’s never too late to start dancing. That is the message she strives to promote as a DWC ambassador.
In addition to being a DWC ambassador, Coco’s dance group has a performance planned for December for friends and family at Dance Underground in Capitol Hill. Coco also began teaching beginning ballet to adults at Second Act Dance, an adult ballet studio. She shares that teaching has been an exciting and challenging new endeavor for her, as the experience is quite different from being a student.
Ultimately, Coco hopes that more opportunities come about for adult dancers, specifically beginners. While researching for her first class, Coco found that most studios in the area solely cater to adults with prior dance experience. She recalls being placed in intermediate classes at some studios, likely due to her age, and feeling intimidated and unconfident. Thus, she hopes more classes can center on teaching beginner adults. “If you love ballet, if you want to try it, you should try it. It’s never too late to do something that you’ve always had a desire to do,” Coco says.
DWC Ambassador Kristina Koumaeva on Putting the Human Before the Dancer
From competitive commercial dance to ballet academies, there has historically been a laser focus on technique in various dance realms, even at the expense of dancers' mental health. DWC Ambassador Kristina Koumaeva speaks on prioritizing the human over the dancer, cultivating self-confidence and self-care, and what she looks forward to doing as a DWC Ambassador.
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Luster Leotard with Black Pop Mesh by Jule Dancewear | Seamless Rib Short by Capezio | Performance Shock by Apolla
From competitive commercial dance to ballet academies, there has historically been a laser focus on technique in various dance realms, even at the expense of dancers' mental health. DWC Ambassador Kristina Koumaeva speaks on prioritizing the human over the dancer, cultivating self-confidence and self-care, and what she looks forward to doing as a DWC Ambassador.
Kristina began dancing at age four at Turning Pointe Dance Centre in Washington. From then on, dance became a significant part of Kristina’s world, cementing itself into every part of her life. “I don’t think I have memories without dance in them,” she shares. Throughout her childhood, she danced at studios, attended conventions and intensives, and participated in competitions. A program that stands out to her was called “Camp”, in which she flew out to rural Massachusetts and trained with “beautiful movers and artists” like Jason Parsons and Stacey Tookey. “That was really transformative and gave us a chance to choreograph and work on improvisation,” Kristina recalls.
After graduating high school, Kristina danced with the UW Cheer & Dance Squad, which was a completely different world of dance than what she had been a part of previously. However, she enjoyed the versatility she gained training in pom. She has also worked with Veronica Lee-Baik’s modern dance company, The Three Yells.
Following college, Kristina greatly drew inspiration from her brother to move to Los Angeles and pursue a career in commercial dance. Kristina’s older brother is an “incredibly inspiring professional dancer” who moved to LA when he was 16 to achieve his career goals. Similarly, Kristina spent four years in LA, diving into the commercial world of dance and working with luxury brands and a number of musical artists. Upon returning to Seattle, Kristina took up teaching again, and participated in various performances.
When Kristina thinks about what has kept her connected to dance all these years, music is one of the first things that comes to mind. “I have always been obsessed with music,” she says. “I think that’s just one of the greatest gifts that was given to this world. I’m super inspired by music of all kinds.” For Kristina, being able to dance to live music and feel a connection to real instruments is a fully immersive experience.
In addition, Kristina loves how dance enables her to connect her mind and her body. She shares that more conventional modes of expression, like public speaking, make her nervous. Yet, dance is “the complete opposite.” When dancing, Kristina feels like she can express anything she wants to efficiently.
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Throughout her dance career, handling self-confidence and self-care have been the biggest challenges for Kristina. She shares that even after all her years of dancing, she still experiences some nervousness when she performs in front of others. However, she says that building a toolkit of coping strategies and practicing self-care have been the most helpful tips for bolstering her confidence. Kristina emphasizes that self-care wasn’t deeply discussed in the dance realm when she was younger, especially in the competition dance world. Nevertheless, it’s important to understand that dancers need to take care of themselves, as their bodies are their “whole art.” “Having the time to slow down for yourself and prioritize your needs is really important,” Kristina stresses.
Kristina also shares that the pursuit of perfection, particularly in ballet, can serve as another challenge. Recently, Kristina has looked into studying holistic approaches to dance training, drawing inspiration from her beloved ballet teacher Rachel Tudor. Rachel taught Kristina that pursuing perfection often leads to prioritizing the dancer over the human. “I think the person should always come first,” Kristina says. Balancing teaching technical skills with supporting dancers’ needs is a step in the right direction. "Dance wasn't meant to be this intense thing…it's freedom of expression, and I think we lost that at some point when we got really deep into technique," Kristina voices.
This school year, Kristina is teaching at three different studios and choreographing competition pieces for various students. "That's been super exciting!" she shares. Additionally, Kristina has started collaborating with some local dance artists, including Daniel Wilkins from DASSdance. They're aiming to release some work, either in the form of a live performance or virtual experience, sometime in January 2021. The two are seeking inspiration from the various stories of individuals grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and are interested in "telling different perspectives of what people went through during that time." Kristina shares that during the creation process, she got the opportunity to create a work to live jazz music and "it was just magical."
Kristina has also been connecting and creating contemporary videos and phrases with artist Stephanie Golden, and was featured in an Amazon commercial. Next summer, Kristina will perform in a jazz, burlesque show at the Can Can Culinary Cabaret in Seattle. "I love exploring different realms," she says of performing burlesque.
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Kristina has always been hesitant about partnering with a company, as she is nervous about promoting products and services she isn't actually proud of. However, Dancewear Center is not only a brand Kristina can strongly stand behind, but she also has a special connection to it. "I got my first pair of pointe shoes here!" she shares. "I grew up going [to Dancewear Center]." She really appreciates what the brand stands for and how it has made advances to connect people and create a more intimate dance community. She is looking forward to sharing her perspectives, particularly as an adult dancer, with others.
Looking ahead, Kristina hopes to help "create a safe, welcoming, and nurturing dance space" for everyone. Even if students don't plan to pursue dance professionally, she hopes they can gain assets from their amazing experiences within dance communities. "I just want to make sure that they have space to be themselves," Kristina says.
DWC Ambassador Ava Budish on Self-Expression and Breaking the Mold
In nearly every industry, expectations are set regarding what a professional individual should look and act like, and dance is no exception. However, these standards are arbitrary. The dance world is a much better place when dancers have the freedom to break the mold and express themselves freely. DWC Ambassador Ava Budish shares her thoughts on expressing herself through dance, creating connections, and breaking the mold.
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Carmen Wrap Sweater in Sky by Wear Moi | High Waisted Active Leggings by Capezio | Infinite Shock by Apolla Performance
In nearly every industry, expectations are set regarding what a professional individual should look and act like, and dance is no exception. However, these standards are arbitrary. The dance world is a much better place when dancers have the freedom to break the mold and express themselves freely. DWC Ambassador Ava Budish shares her thoughts on expressing herself through dance, creating connections, and breaking the mold.
Ava began dancing around age three in her hometown in northern California. She focused solely on ballet for around ten years. After moving to Washington and starting high school, she ventured into new styles at Glass House Dance, including lyrical, modern, jazz, and contemporary. Ava also joined a competition team, where she’s been competing for about three years. Recently, Ava has also started teaching dance to little kids, which she greatly enjoys. She loves witnessing children explore dance for the first time, and getting the chance to “help shape their first experiences.”
What’s kept Ava connected to dance for so long is it being an effective source of expression for herself. She shares that for a long time, especially as a child, she danced more for the performance aspects. But, as she’s gotten older, tried new styles, and connected more to herself as a dancer, she feels like she’s gotten more opportunities for self-expression. Rather than solely performing to entertain an audience, dance has become a vessel for Ava to come in closer contact with her inner feelings and share them with others. “This is my outlet in that way,” she shares.
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A challenge that Ava faced after moving to Washintgon was trying out new styles of dance and feeling comfortable outside of a hyper-focused, competitive ballet atmosphere. “To me, ballet was what tied me back to California. And for a while, that was the reason I kept dancing,” she says. “I really tied it to my identity.” She felt like if she wasn’t training in a competitive ballet environment as she did before, she wouldn’t be the same person. However, once she got out of that mindset, she found herself enjoying dance even more. Soon after, Ava was able to take some steps in a healthier direction, towards a more balanced lifestyle with more dance genres under her belt.
For others struggling to try new classes, Ava shares that trying out the first class is the hardest step, but it’s also often the most impactful. She suggests that people just try one new class, “give it a shot,” and go from there.
After a long break from dancing on stage due to COVID-19, Ava is thrilled to return to performing and competing this season. “I’m super excited for this company/competition season,” Ava says, sharing that she’ll be competing in a duet with former DWC Ambassador Niki Kothari. She’s also looking forward to attending some dance conventions this year to learn from some of the best professional dancers and choreographers in the industry.
As a DWC Ambassador, Ava is excited to bridge gaps between different dance communities. She points out that there is a lot of separation in the dance world, so she is eager to help cultivate a space that values connection and collaboration. Ava also looks forward to being a voice for those in various dance realms, from those who have trained strictly in ballet to those who dance more recreationally.
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Seamless Rib Racerback Leotard by Capezio | Bullet Pointe Skirt by Bullet Pointe | Infinite Shock by Apolla Performance
Looking ahead, Ava hopes that the dance world moves towards being more inclusive, with fewer barriers and expectations regarding what a dancer is supposed to look like. While the dance community, in general, has been moving in a positive direction, she says that more work can be done in amplifying the voices to people who don’t fit the typical “mold” of what a dancer is expected to be like. “You don’t have to fit that mold to do great things in dance and make a difference,” Ava says.
Inspiring a Lifelong Love of Dance Through Accessibility
Youngsters eager to learn dance in the greater Seattle area are always in luck, as the Pacific Northwest abounds with high-quality dance studios eager to take on more students. However, adults with the same enthusiasm aren’t often as fortunate. Most dance studios across the region offer dance classes up until the age of 18, after which students are expected to move on to more professional training or get a non-dance-related job and move on with their lives. Luckily, Karena Birk and the rest of the team at Dance Fremont are providing high-quality, affordable dance education to youth and adults to foster the passion for dance in people of all ages and identities.
Dance Fremont’s Karena Birk
By Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Editor
Youngsters eager to learn dance in the greater Seattle area are always in luck, as the Pacific Northwest abounds with high-quality dance studios eager to take on more students. However, adults with the same enthusiasm aren’t often as fortunate. Most dance studios across the region offer dance classes up until the age of 18, after which students are expected to move on to more professional training or get a non-dance-related job and move on with their lives. Luckily, Karena Birk and the rest of the team at Dance Fremont are providing high-quality, affordable dance education to youth and adults to foster the passion for dance in people of all ages and identities.
Karena began dancing at Spectrum Dance Theater at age three, eventually moving over to Cornish where she did the bulk of her training. She danced with the Colorado Ballet before wrapping up her college degree. Karena later danced with the ARC Dance Company in Seattle, predominantly focusing on ballet, modern, and jazz. Around the same time, she also began teaching. “Teaching fed me as a dancer, and vice versa” Karena says, explaining how teaching and performing held co-benefits for each other. After dancing with several other local companies, Karena decided to dedicate more of her time to teaching. She got her MFA in dance from Ohio State University, came back to Seattle, and continued teaching. Karena enjoyed being able to teach a wide range of individuals, from kids at dance studios to young adults in higher education. She prides herself in adopting an education model in which students get to understand their abilities and limits rather than imposing unrealistic expectations onto them, as traditional teaching models often do.
After nearly 20 years of running Dance Fremont, co-owners Vivian Little and Mary Reardon retired in 2015 and were considering closing the studio. Eager to keep the dance community alive, Steve Casteel bought the business and hired Karena as the dance school’s director, where she’s been ever since. After a few years as director, Dance Fremont was turned into a nonprofit organization, which has enabled the studio to have more unique opportunities to support the community.
Dance Fremont’s mission is to “inspire a lifelong love of dance in each student in a nurturing atmosphere full of joy and creativity.” Karena shares that the studio strives to “provide quality ballet and modern dance education to all who are interested.” It’s important to Karena and the rest of the Dance Fremont staff to provide dance education to all regardless of economic status, race, gender expression, and more. Classes range from youth programs for three-year-old students, all the way up to pre-professional training for students who want to dance in college or become professionals.
Something rather unique about Dance Fremont’s programming is its robust adult programming. “For adults, we offer beginning classes in ballet and modern, and drop-in intermediate/advanced ballet classes,” Karena shares. “We have everyone in there from professional dancers to people who start dancing as adults...It’s a wonderful community. I love working with them because they’re just there because they love to dance. As a dance teacher, there’s nothing better.” The adult open classes are held Monday through Saturday, with a Zoom option on Wednesday mornings.
The in-person open classes are taught by a different instructor every day of the week, so dancers get a variety of perspectives and get to find out what instructor fits best for them. Karena shares that the instructors for the open classes care immensely about their students. “I feel like one of the things that really distinguishes our open class teachers is that they really want to be here teaching these people,” Karena says.
Many dance studios in the Seattle area don’t offer classes for adults, as most are centered on providing rigorous training for youth. However, the benefits that children can reap from dance classes, including stress relief, creative expression, and community, are just as important for adults. “Everybody deserves to have dance classes,” Karena says. “There should be a space for people to continue dancing and continue dancing in an environment that really values what [they] have to say.”
An exciting development at Dance Fremont is it offering its Zoom adult open ballet classes as “pay if you can, pay what you can.” Dance Fremont made this change to provide more access to classes for adult dancers, as many lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. “A lot of people in the dance world were hit really hard,” Karena points out. Additionally, for in-person open ballet classes Dance Fremont is offering its pay-what-you-can Community Class Card, a donation-funded card in which dancers can choose the amount they pay for classes. “The donation support that we receive as an organization will cover the rest of the cost of [the classes],” Karena shares. “That’s something that we hope to be able to continue long-term and not just while the pandemic is still going on.”
Accessibility to classes is of the utmost importance to Karena, sharing that she “would rather be here for people” and have them take classes at the rate they can afford than feel like access is shut off to them. “There are a lot of issues in the dance world, especially the ballet world about accessibility, [particularly] with race, gender identity, and body type. Another big component is economic accessibility...I feel like this is at least one way we can start chipping down some of those barriers,” she says.
Karena points out that the world of ballet and modern dance is predominantly Eurocentric, and that moving forward “the beauty of the diversity of the world around us” ought to be embraced. “I would like to see dance made more economically available to people and for people to feel welcomed in their identities,” Karena shares of her vision in the dance world. Through providing affordable access to high-quality dance education to students of all ages, it’s clear that Karena and the rest of the team at Dance Fremont are taking a step in that direction.
Starting Ballet as an Adult: Things I Wish I Knew
Starting dance as an adult often means that you have to manage your training on your own. You may start taking a few open classes but then be unsure about how to improve or how to make the best out of it.
Over the past few years, I looked back at what I learned in the process. Here are some things I wish I had known when I started.
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Starting dance as an adult often means that you have to manage your training on your own. You may start taking a few open classes but then be unsure about how to improve or how to make the best out of it.
Over the past few years, I looked back at what I learned in the process. Here are some things I wish I had known when I started.
Finding the right classes and teacher
This might sound like an obvious one, but when I started, I mostly stuck to the same studio and classes. It took me some time to build confidence when dancing, so it felt easier to just go back to the same classes and teacher. Only after a while, I tried different studios and saw the variety of teaching methods and the impact it had on my training. Some teachers would provide very little feedback and others would give corrections to every student in the class.
Given the time and investment I was putting into dancing, I realized how important it was to have a teacher that really cares about your progress and gives you good corrections to help you improve. Having a good teacher became one of my top criteria for choosing a school or studio.
Knowing the differences between the teaching methods
I used to think that the differences between the various ballet styles were mostly artistic. But later, I realized that the corresponding teaching approaches are very different, and some might be a better fit for me than others. Some styles will focus on speed and powerful jumps, others will focus on precise footwork or on expressive port de bras.
Good technique can be achieved through any of these methods, but I feel like it’s important to choose one that fits your artistic preferences and the way your body likes to move naturally.
The more dancing I do, the more conditioning I need
I started getting pain from overuse when I went from one class a week to two or three classes per week. Doing more classes helped me improve my technique, but it wasn’t enough to build the required strength to sustain my class load. It was especially true since I was only taking open technique classes, which don’t always include conditioning. I realized that I needed to spend extra time strengthening my core and my ankles. Once implementing more conditioning, not only did I progress faster--it also helped me prevent injuries.
Now that I’m doing four to five classes a week, I need to do even more conditioning and recovery routines to stay in good shape. Some schools will include such training as part of their program but if not, you may need to do it on your own time.
There are more opportunities than I think
This might be the biggest tip for me! I used to think I would only be able to do open classes and stick to that. The dance world has a lot of learning opportunities that are geared towards younger dancers, so I thought those opportunities would not extend to me.
Later, I met other adult dancers who did performances, went on pointe, did summer intensives or even landed dance gigs! That’s when I realized I shouldn’t limit myself and I should try to actively search for these opportunities. They’re not always easy to find, but I can see that more and more schools and studios are offering programs for adult dancers. I realized that one of the reasons I didn’t find these opportunities before was simply because I didn’t look for them in the first place.
These things have really helped me improve over the past few years. Everyone’s dance journey is different, but I think it’s important to find the training that works best for you, and to not limit yourself in your dance practice!
Teaching with Intentional Positivity
As I grow in my role as an instructor and choreographer, I have reflected on my dance journey and the people who influenced me through teaching. Most of my free time growing up was spent in the dance studio under the instruction of Jennifer Picart Branner, or as I know her, Ms. Jen. When I consider the kind of teacher I am today and the teacher I hope to be, I often draw from my experiences as a student. Under the instruction of Ms. Jen, I felt a sense of accountability and support that allowed me to develop self-discipline positively. Through the intentional teaching methods modeled for me growing up, I grew as a dancer and a person. I attempt to inspire my classroom in the same way I felt inspired as a young dancer through modeling the importance of self-worth and resilience while creating a positive learning environment.
By Madison Walker. DWC Ambassador
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As I grow in my role as an instructor and choreographer, I have reflected on my dance journey and the people who influenced me through teaching. Most of my free time growing up was spent in the dance studio under the instruction of Jennifer Picart Branner, or as I know her, Ms. Jen. When I consider the kind of teacher I am today and the teacher I hope to be, I often draw from my experiences as a student. Under the instruction of Ms. Jen, I felt a sense of accountability and support that allowed me to develop self-discipline positively. Through the intentional teaching methods modeled for me growing up, I grew as a dancer and a person. I attempt to inspire my classroom in the same way I felt inspired as a young dancer through modeling the importance of self-worth and resilience while creating a positive learning environment.
Studies show that students who have positive and trusting relationships with their teachers, show more engagement in learning and achieve their learning goals at higher rates (Rimm-Kaufman, S., 2010, April 19). When students are positively engaged in the process of learning, they grow to enjoy learning in general. By positively engaging with my dance class, I am creating an environment in which my students can become more self-directed and resilient in their dance education. While technique is a crucial aspect of growth in a person’s dance journey, dance is also an art that requires vulnerability and creativity. I have great respect for the emotion that goes into a dancer’s execution of choreography. I also have great respect for my students as they grow into their own as artists and begin creating their own work. Since it requires so much vulnerability to improv and perform choreography, it is imperative that students feel comfortable and supported enough to explore the performance aspect of their dancing.
Providing critiques is a crucial part of teaching and something I have always valued. As Ms. Jen would often tell my class, “The day I stop critiquing you is the day I stop caring”. When I was a student, I learned to appreciate the individualized attention and the expectation that I could do better. Knowing that someone else believed I could achieve more, allowed me to have the confidence to push myself there. Teaching in my classroom today, I echo this motto and work diligently to acknowledge each of my students for the work they are putting into my class. I often say that ballet, while an art form, is a strict discipline that teaches us respect in addition to many other life lessons. It is out of respect that I address each of my students and critique them in a way that builds them up rather than tears them down.
“By encouraging my students to compete with themselves rather than comparing themselves to the person next to them, they learn to set and achieve realistic goals while appreciating their skills and ability level. ”
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In dance, there is a constant drive for perfection. Although we as dancers and as humans know that perfection is almost unobtainable, we push our minds and our bodies in the pursuit of being as close to perfection as we can be. As an instructor and choreographer working with young dancers, I strive to foster a love for the process of learning and put an emphasis on resilience. Through dance and specifically ballet, I learned the meaning of work ethic. My students know that when they come into my classroom, there is an expectation that they are working their hardest. I aim to hold my students accountable in a positive way by challenging them to développé higher than the time before, jump higher than the day prior, and push for more rotations in every turn. By encouraging my students to compete with themselves rather than comparing themselves to the person next to them, they learn to set and achieve realistic goals while appreciating their skills and ability level.
Working in mental health with youth by day, I am always engaging in training and with resources that translate to my dance classroom. Although as dance instructors we are responsible for our student’s technical growth, we are also playing a role in our students’ social and emotional development. I believe that all dance instructors should aim to educate themselves on the development of youth and how we as instructors can improve our teaching methods to best serve our students.
Below I have comprised a list of my main teaching tips that have helped me develop a positive dance environment. For more information on how you can create a better learning environment for your students and why it is important, check out the links listed under “Resources/Articles”.
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My Tips for Teaching with Intentional Positivity:
My number one rule for myself when teaching is setting expectations. When your students know what is expected of them from day one, it is easier to hold them accountable in a constructive way.
Positively acknowledge each student during class. When students feel like they have been acknowledged in a positive light, they are more receptive to criticism.
Create structure. Having a routine in the classroom assists in keeping your students on task and leaves less room for shenanigans, allowing you to focus on the positives!
Give space for creative exploration. I love to incorporate improv into my classes to allow my students to apply the technique they learn in class while also pushing themselves to grow as artists. When students find a personal connection to their movement, they remain motivated in their dance education.
Give meaningful feedback. When students are given meaningful feedback, they can improve at a faster rate but it also builds a sense of self-worth to be acknowledged. Every dancer goes to class to improve so it is important as an instructor to ensure that each of my students walks away from each class with valuable feedback.
Know your students. There is great importance in knowing your students as people and dancers. I want to be able to help my students set and achieve goals by holding them accountable. When I know where my students are skill-wise, I am better able to recognize progress and regression.
Resources/Articles:
https://www.danceinforma.com/2012/09/03/guiding-students-towards-positive-thinking/
https://us.humankinetics.com/blogs/excerpt/creating-a-positive-learning-atmosphere
http://www.citraining.com/Teaching-the-Dance-Class-Strategies.html
Where Reading and Dancing Meet
For many young students, dance education consists of verbal instruction and demonstration from a teacher. While that has proven to be an effective means of teaching, having alternative methods, such as using visual aids and storytelling, can immensely benefit students. Thus, Terrel Lefferts and her daughter Kaelyn or “Ballerina Konora” have created Once Upon a Dance, a business that creates interactive movement and dance books for children of a wide array of ages.
Terrel Lefferts on Once Upon a Dance
By Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Editor
For many young students, dance education consists of verbal instruction and demonstration from a teacher. While that has proven to be an effective means of teaching, having alternative methods, such as using visual aids and storytelling, can immensely benefit students. Thus, Terrel Lefferts and her daughter Kaelyn or “Ballerina Konora” have created Once Upon a Dance, a business that creates interactive movement and dance books for children of a wide array of ages.
Growing up, Terrel trained pre-professionally at Louisville Ballet and BalletMET, dancing up to 40 hours each week. Around her freshman year of high school, she ended up dropping out of dance after concluding that she likely wouldn’t become a professional. However, she ended up returning to dance in college while majoring in engineering. “I joined ballet and modern dance classes in college and was a founding member of the dance performance group there. I rediscovered dance during grad school, as well as during my time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa,” she shares. “Dance kept coming back all the time.” As Terrell fell back in love with dance, she decided to start teaching during the evenings and on the weekends and eventually quit her main job to devote her full time to teaching. Terrel has taught all over the Eastside, including building a dance program at Redmond Parks and Recreation.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Washington state, Terrel’s daughter had been in town dancing as a professional division student at Pacific Northwest Ballet. The two decided to make some dance videos to keep kids dancing at home engaged in their learning; however, many of the videos got copyright blocked and others didn’t receive many views. Eager to reach a larger audience, the two decided they would try their hand at making books instead of videos. “There was a lot to learn - many areas outside a dance teacher’s wheelhouse,” Terrel says of creating her books.
“My advice would be to have patience, keep making small steps, and try to enjoy the journey.”
When the idea to create books struck Terrel, she says that it felt “like exactly what [she] was meant to do.” She had been teaching dance for years, was a board member for PNB, had taught English during her time with the Peace Corps, worked as a family advocate for an early learning center, and much more. “I was just like ‘Oh my gosh! All of these things I've done are totally book-related.’”
Terrel essentially taught herself everything she needed to know about creating and distributing books, such as software like Adobe InDesign, uploading books on Amazon, and more. She even found illustrators from all over the world to create the artwork in her books. The process was full of trial and error and she came up against roadblocks time and time again, like losing her Word document with the book’s story, InDesign crashing several times, and Amazon removing her books from its platform. But she pushed through it all and managed to create Once Upon a Dance.
“We created the books I wished I’d had as [a] mother to a little girl and dance teacher of young kids. My daughter would have adored these stories had they been available when she was young,” Terrel shares. She points out that when her daughter was growing up, there was a lack of movement books available that offered creative ways to teach dance steps. Terrel describes printing out images she found online of ballerinas to use as visual aids when teaching her students.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, Once Upon a Dance produced 16 books and currently have more on the way. The series Dance-It-Out! Creative Movement Stories for Young Movers is designed for ages 4+ and includes stand-alone stories that feature movement suggestions and photos of Terrel’s daughter as “Ballerina Konora.” “We think of each book as a dance performance, with different formatting, layout, and illustrators, just as a different show would have new sets, costumes, and choreography.”
The series Dancing Shapes: Ballet and Body Awareness for Young Dancers for ages 6+ gives a glimpse into Ballerina Konora’s journey to becoming a professional dancer, while she leads readers through a warm-up, mini ballet lesson, and an in-depth look into the details and shapes involved in dance. “We were honored that the first Dancing Shapes book won several awards including a 2021 Independent Press Award,” Terrel shares.
The final main series, coming out in 2022, is Ballet Inspiration and Choreography Concepts for Young Dancers, which is designed for ages 8+. This series includes tips on technique and dives into more advanced dance concepts, such as choreography, posture, and even “falling” on stage.
In addition to its three main series, Once Upon a Dance carries a couple of journals, as well as Konora’s Shapes Series, which is a card collection of poses intended to be cut out from the book. Additionally, people are encouraged to look out for Once Upon a Dance audiobooks coming soon, as free companions with the books.
If Terrel were to give one piece of advice for people who want to start their own business, it would be to “celebrate the small successes.” The phrase has become Terrel’s mantra through this whole process. “Being part of Dancewear Center was cause for celebration. We are thrilled and appreciative to have a local seller, so folks have an option beyond Amazon, Target, etc.” Terrel says. “My advice would be to have patience, keep making small steps, and try to enjoy the journey.”
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