Lessons from the Emerald Isle: What I’ve Learned as a Contemporary Dancer in Ireland
On September 12, 2021, I hopped on a plane and moved from Seattle to Ireland to study contemporary dance at the University of Limerick. It was a move five-years in the making, fueled by my lifelong love of Ireland itself and my growing career as a movement artist. I can say without reservation that this move was the best personal, professional, and artistic decision I’ve made to date. Living in a country that feels like home while advancing myself as a dancer has been transformative on a cellular level. I would love to share with you a bit of what I’ve learned on my Irish journey so far.
By Hannah Emory, DWC Blog Contributor
hannuh EM-or-ee), She/They
On September 12, 2021, I hopped on a plane and moved from Seattle to Ireland to study contemporary dance at the University of Limerick. It was a move five-years in the making, fueled by my lifelong love of Ireland itself and my growing career as a movement artist. I can say without reservation that this move was the best personal, professional, and artistic decision I’ve made to date. Living in a country that feels like home while advancing myself as a dancer has been transformative on a cellular level. I would love to share with you a bit of what I’ve learned on my Irish journey so far.
I traveled to Ireland twice in 2018, first as a tourist and again as a volunteer hostel worker, to sort of test-run my dream to live in the country. The pull I felt toward Ireland was intense well before I set foot in the country. I immediately fell in love with the spirit of the place and during my travels, I became convinced that Ireland would be my future home. Of course, visiting a place is totally different from starting a new life there, but even after returning to America, I yearned to get back to the Emerald Isle and give my new life a go.
Meeting my course director over Zoom in the weeks leading up to my immigration gave me a sense that the University of Limerick would provide me exposure to artists from around the world, students and teachers alike who would open my eyes to new facets of the dance world. Additionally, I would be able to tap more into my passion for fiddling, interest in Irish paganism and mythology, and growing skills in Irish dance. The weeks flew by as my anticipation, and a little bit of natural nerves, grew. And before I knew it, I had packed a massive suitcase, said goodbye to my family, and was marching through SeaTac with my heart pounding. As my Aer Lingus flight soared toward my new home a few hours later, I knew I was embarking on an incredible adventure.
It is wild to think that two years have passed since that fateful day. Sometimes it feels like I have been a student in UL for ages, other times it feels like I’ve snapped my fingers and found myself here: stronger after two years of rigorous training, with so much creative fire in my belly for what the future holds.
In that time, I have made dear friends, learned from some of the world’s best contemporary dance teachers, and been involved in some absolute dream projects. I’ve learned a tremendous amount from the last two years, and am anticipating so much growth in my final year of study. If I were to condense this time of my life into three crucial lessons, it would be the following:
Photo by Nikola Evora Zonenberg
Find your own creative path and follow it: When you’re in university, there will be many new sources of information and training that cross your path. I encourage you to soak it all in and seize the opportunity to make what you learn a part of your own unique creative signature. I did this by spending as much independent time in the studio as I could. I reviewed what I was learning from my teachers, improvised and experimented, and recorded my movement research. I also took improvisation classes, worked with my fellow students, and watched performances that gave me a vision for what I want my own choreography to look like. Finding your creative voice takes a mixture of relentless pursuit, joyful creation, and curious learning. It will be your most important tool as a movement artist and will give you endless material for creating work in the future.
Collaborate as much as possible: Collaborative projects are a bit like creative pressure cookers. They bring you into contact with artists who have ideas different to your own and are an amazing way to give and take creative inspiration. As an example, my class cohort came together for our first independent project in the summer of 2022. We learned so much about filming, rehearsing, choreographing, and we got a lot closer to each other. At the end of it, we had a work in progress that we are extremely proud of that served as a springboard for projects we’re doing now. You never know what will come from working with other dancers (especially when it’s with folks you’ve never worked with before); it’s one of the best learning tools available.
Don’t be afraid to forge a new path: Until about a year ago, I was convinced that I would follow a relatively traditional contemporary dancer’s path once I completed my degree. I supposed I would find work with a dance company and follow a standard performing dancer to choreographer/company director pipeline. But, through my education in UL, I discovered circus arts and fire performance, and my whole vision for the future changed and I unlocked a part of myself that was waiting to speak and move. I say all this to encourage you to not be afraid to reinvent yourself throughout your career. Wherever you started your training does not have to dictate the path of your future, and having a wide range of movement experiences under your belt is a commodity in the dance world. As another example, one of the girls in my year started as a popping street dancer, came to UL where she started contemporary dancing for the first time, and is now an incredible aerial dancer. Because of her willingness to go down new paths and explore, she has a range of movement available to her that makes her a dynamic and sought-after performer. So, if there is an avenue of movement arts you haven’t explored yet but want to, I encourage you to allow your path to shift from what you thought it would be. Answer the call to reinvent yourself and it will take you to amazing places.
In my experience, these invaluable lessons were heightened by training in another country where my comfort zone has been expanded by default time and again. Yet, these principles apply in any educational context and you don’t have to make a huge life change to implement them for yourself. Wherever you find yourself in your training or work as a dancer, you can stay in relentless pursuit of your own artistry, chase the collaborative opportunities that come your way, and stay open to reinventing yourself. I’ve found these elements to be highly adaptive tools in any movement context, and believe they are the spice of being a dancer. The possibilities are truly endless when you keep yourself open to what’s around you. Go forth and dance, my friend.
Dance and Motherhood
Becoming a mother is a major life goal for many women in the world. But what does it look like when you’re a dancer? So much of the aesthetic of ballet relies on your body looking a certain way, so what happens when you no longer fit that mold? These were questions I started to ask myself when I saw those two VERY dark lines on my pregnancy test.
By Andrea Hines, DWC Ambassador
pronunciation: And-rea High-ns | pronouns: she/they
Becoming a mother is a major life goal for many women in the world. But what does it look like when you’re a dancer? So much of the aesthetic of ballet relies on your body looking a certain way, so what happens when you no longer fit that mold? These were questions I started to ask myself when I saw those two VERY dark lines on my pregnancy test.
I found out in August 2021 that I was pregnant after almost a year of trying. While I was obviously very excited, I couldn’t help but also have a wave of panic come over me once I realized that it meant my body was going to change drastically. As a ballet dancer, there is a certain aesthetic that comes with the art form, and unfortunately, with a former eating disorder and a massive case of body dysmorphia, I was anxious as to what was to come regarding my body changing. The uterus is a safe, warm and cozy place for baby, but for a lot of women, it is often a source of pain and anxiety.
I was determined to stay active throughout my pregnancy. Whether that was getting into the gym, going on walks, or taking ballet class, I promised myself I would keep myself as healthy as possible. I was able to keep with this, until I reached my third trimester. I was diagnosed with Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction, which meant anytime I walked or moved, I had extreme pain in my pelvis. This resulted in being put on bed rest for the last three months of my pregnancy. I would later learn that the reason for this diagnosis was because of my tenacity to stay active. I pushed myself too far, didn’t slow down, and as a result, my body was FORCING me to rest. While I knew logically this was the safest option for me and my baby, the little voice in my head said “Well, what now?”
From my first OB/GYN appointment to my 39-week appointment, I had gained a total of 50 pounds. While this is a totally normal amount of weight to gain while pregnant, my body dysmorphia told me otherwise. I was ready and determined to get back into shape after I gave birth. Cut to April 20th, 2022, my water broke at 11:30pm, and it was go time! 19 hours later, my son was here! I would later learn that the reason for my pelvic pain was also due to an 8 pound 3 ounce baby living inside me. But here we are, a new family of three! The next six weeks of recovery, healing and figuring out how to keep a tiny human alive swept by faster than I could have ever imagined. Once I got the go ahead to incorporate exercise back into my life, I thought to myself “How the F&!# am I supposed to find time to exercise when I have a tiny demon attached to me 90% of the day???” It started with small walks, while my son was napping, following a YouTube workout, and eventually, I got back into a ballet class…. But not right away.
I volunteer as one of the Rehearsal Assistants at Evergreen City Ballet, which means that I assist run rehearsals and teach choreography for whatever production we are getting ready for. In this instance, we were gearing up for Nutcracker. Running these rehearsals became another form of exercise, and one that I enjoyed. Rehearsals continued on, and we got to our final weekend of shows. I made a vow to myself that night, and promised myself that I would work my butt off, so I could get in shape enough to perform in Nutcracker 2023. And not just a character role; this meant I would strap on my pointe shoes and perform in a corps role.
January 2023
I looked into as many Open Adult classes as I could. I started the week on Mondays taking a beginner’s class at Northwest Ballet Center, so I could get back to basics and work on the fundamentals of ballet technique. Since this class went from 8pm-9pm, I was able to hand off any baby-duties to my amazing Husband. I won’t lie, this was a STRUGGLE, as I also work a regular 9am-5pm corporate job. I also recognize that I have the luxury of the support of a partner, so I am able to pursue the activities I want to pursue. Even if it meant bringing my son to the studio, my heart NEEDED to be in the studio.
After a few weeks, I started taking other open classes at Evergreen City Ballet & Dance Conservatory Seattle. Both these places have a special place on my heart for a few reasons:
ECB is where I got all my training. It is my comfort- my second home.
DCS is so incredibly inclusive, so I didn’t have to worry about my body looking a certain way to fit in. This place helped me rebuild my relationship with this new body of mine.
March 2023
I got fitted for pointe shoes from the ever so lovely Samantha from Dancewear Center!
June 2023
I performed a contemporary piece with DCS, and got back on stage for the first time in 12 years.
I continued to take classes, continued to get my strength and flexibility back, and then, we get to September 2023. Nutcracker casting is posted, and I see my name on the list: Andrea Hines, Snowflake & Flower. This was a momentous time for me. I have achieved my goal. I have the opportunity to perform the same choreography I performed as a student, 13 years later. As I’m writing this, I am in between Nutcracker rehearsals, and I am just happy.
As I mentioned, I am so incredibly lucky to have the support of my Husband, Maveryke, and a part-time nanny who allows me to get out of the house so I can take class and make it to rehearsal.
I just want to share that dance after giving birth is possible. It’s cliché, but it truly takes a village. My son is lucky to have so many people who are willing to watch him so I can achieve this goal of being able to dance again. I cannot thank them enough, from the bottom of my heart. And thank you Dancewear Center for taking a chance on me as your new Ambassador, and being able to share a new perspective.
Happy Dancing, and Happy Parenting!
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.
Gearing Up for World Ballet Day November 1st 2023!
We all deserve to celebrate our passions openly and enthusiastically. World Ballet Day offers us the opportunity to do just that. This November 1st, tune into company livestreams, share your favorite ballet photos on social media, and support your favorite local companies, all for the love of ballet.
By Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Editor
In preparation for World Ballet Day 2023, (November 1st!) let’s take a glimpse back at past years’ celebrations.
One of the most compelling parts of World Ballet Day each year is undoubtedly the live streams of professional ballet companies’ classes. One that I always look forward to viewing is The Royal Ballet’s company class. Viewers get to experience these seasoned professionals warming up and practicing on the stage of the Royal Opera House, hearing advice and feedback from some of the world’s best instructors. There is a lot that dancers can gain from tuning into these livestreams, from what it’s like to be a part of a professional company to constructive criticism to apply to their dancing.
In many different companies around the world, promotion and live streams were all over social media. Classes were also live-streamed from the Birmingham Royal Ballet, Nationale Opera & Ballet, and more. Be sure to look out for content from these companies and more, come November 2nd.
Apart from YouTube livestreams, dancers often share World Ballet Day content on other platforms, like Instagram. There are currently over 200,000 posts under the hashtag #worldballetday on Instagram. Under the hashtag, I always see dancers in my community, across the country, and around the globe sharing photos and videos of them doing their best ballet moves. If there’s any day to share your favorite dance photos on Instagram, it’s World Ballet Day. And with Tik Tok recently surging in popularity, I’m sure that will be another excellent platform to see some World Ballet Day content from your favorite professional ballet dancers, like Isabella Boylston and Tiler Peck.
It’s that time of the year again! It’s World Ballet Day 2023! This will be the ninth year that the world joins together to celebrate the art of ballet with the world’s leading dance companies. Throughout the day, rehearsals, discussions, and classes will be streamed across six continents, providing viewers with educational tools and inside looks into the biggest ballet performers in the world. The Royal Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, and The Australian Ballet will be in charge of the majority of the programming. People can tune into a variety of social media platforms, including TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook to join the festivities.
Finally, a significant part of World Ballet Day 2021, particularly for The Royal Ballet, was that this was going to be the biggest yet. For example, on YouTube, attached to the livestream of its company class, The Royal Ballet racked up thousands of viewers from across the world. The Royal Ballet continues to participate in World Ballet Day year after year and each year is bigger and better than ever.
A large part of how we can preserve this art form that we all love dearly is by investing in it. Thus, for World Ballet Day 2023, consider donating what you can to local dance companies. ARC Dance, Dance Fremont, Seattle Dance Collective, Khambatta Dance Company, Whim W’Him Contemporary Dance, Spectrum Dance Theater, Coriolis Dance, and Velocity Dance Center are just a handful that you could consider supporting this World Ballet Day.
We all deserve to celebrate our passions openly and enthusiastically. World Ballet Day offers us the opportunity to do just that. This November 1st, tune into company livestreams, share your favorite ballet photos on social media, and support your favorite local companies, all for the love of ballet.
Sources:
https://www.roh.org.uk/news/worldballetday-returns-on-19-october-2021
https://worldballetday.com
Get To Know DWC Ambassador Andrea Hines
Andrea Hines trained in dance at a high level from a young age in classical ballet. She started in Tacoma City Ballet and transitioned to Evergreen City Ballet and continued to train throughout high school. Since then she took some time off from dance, moved to California and back again, got married and had a baby! In 2019 she decided to come back into the dance world. Starting in the administrative side and then gradually back into ballet classes. Read on to learn more!
pronunciation: And-rea High-ns | pronouns: she/they
By Samantha Weissbach, DWC Owner & General Manager
Andrea Hines trained in dance at a high level from a young age in classical ballet. She started in Tacoma City Ballet and transitioned to Evergreen City Ballet and continued to train throughout high school. Since then she took some time off from dance, moved to California and back again, got married and had a baby! In 2019 she decided to come back into the dance world. Starting in the administrative side and then gradually back into ballet classes.
Andrea speaks to the difficulties and realities of getting back into dance after having a baby. She says it is fully possible, but it takes time. Social media skews many mothers’ expectations and can make them feel inadequate if they are unable to bounce back immediately. She wants to share her journey, and show other mothers a realistic approach to returning to activity after the baby.
This has become an overarching passion for Andrea. They want to teach others that what you see on social media is often improbable to achieve and at times, simply impossible. She feels the culture has shifted into nonstop comparisons. She says, “love that body that you have now, and work with what you have.”
Andrea teaches at BLS and ECB which holds open classes on Saturdays for adults. They will be performing in Auburn December 8-10th and Ikea Performing Arts center December 15-17th.
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.
Our Top 5 Ballet Villains
The clouds are getting darker, the leaves are turning orange, and there’s a chill that’s been lingering in the air. You know what that means: it’s spooky season. For most of us dancers, dressing up in dazzling costumes is just another day in the office. Nevertheless, when Halloween time comes around, I can hardly contain my excitement. So what better way to celebrate the Halloween spirit than to count down some of our favorite ballet villains! From sorcerers and fairies to rats and royalty, this list is chock full of ballet’s best scoundrels. Read on to find out my evil top picks from some ballet classics.
By Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Editor
The clouds are getting darker, the leaves are turning orange, and there’s a chill that’s been lingering in the air. You know what that means: it’s spooky season. For most of us dancers, dressing up in dazzling costumes is just another day in the office. Nevertheless, when Halloween time comes around, I can hardly contain my excitement. So what better way to celebrate the Halloween spirit than to count down some of our favorite ballet villains! From sorcerers and fairies to rats and royalty, this list is chock full of ballet’s best scoundrels. Read on to find out my evil top picks from some ballet classics.
5. Rat King
Photo of the Rat King in The Nutcracker by Liza Voll, from the Boston Ballet
This list would be incomplete without one of the most iconic ballet villains of all time: the Rat King. The Rat King is a part of the beloved holiday classic The Nutcracker and stirs up havoc by battling The Nutcracker with his evil troupe of rats and mice. With so many variations of The Nutcracker, have come many different interpretations of the villain. In some productions, there’s a Rat Queen, or in the Balanchine version, a multi-headed Rat King. Considering that the Rat King isn’t present throughout the entire production, he’s relegated to the bottom of the list. Nonetheless, The Nutcracker wouldn’t be the same without him!
Photo of Amy Harris as the Stepmother in Cinderella, photo by Lynette Wills. From The Australian Ballet
4. Stepmother
From the pages of storybooks to the stages of theatres, the stepmother from Cinderella is a ruthless villain through and through. Much like in the literary and film versions of the story, in the ballet Cinderella, the stepmother forces her stepdaughter Cinderella to be her family’s servant. Something a bit different about the ballet version of the fairy tale is that the stepmother tries to fit into Cinderella’s slipper at the end of the ballet herself. The stepmother may not have any flashy powers or flamboyance to her personality, but her demeanor towards Cinderella is utterly heartless, making her a true villain.
Photo of Gillian Revie as Carabosse in The Sleeping Beauty, photo by Jeff Busby. From The Australian Ballet
3. Carabosse
Coming in at number three is Carabosse, the evil fairy from The Sleeping Beauty. Carabosse ranks high on this list as her source of villainy comes from out of sheer pettiness, which makes her character quite amusing. When Carabosse isn’t invited to Princess Aurora’s christening by King Florestan XXIV and the Queen, she is fiercely upset and puts a curse on Aurora to prick her finger on a spindle and die on her sixteenth birthday. How bitter! Fortunately, the Lilac Fairy changes the curse from death to a 100-year slumber, but regardless, Carabosse certainly puts a damper on things with her wickedness.
Photo of Thomas Whitehead as Rothbart in Swan Lake, photo by Bill Cooper. From The Royal Ballet
2. Rothbart
Second place goes to Rothbart from Swan Lake, a cunning owl-like sorcerer who curses the maiden Odette to be a swan by day until she can find a man who’s never loved before to love her forever. A complicated and wicked curse indeed. The villain is portrayed in different forms in different productions, including a human form and a reptilian form, but in most, he remains an owl-like creature. Rothbart’s eccentric costume and flair make him one of the more exciting villains to watch on stage.
Ako Kondo as Myrtha in Giselle, photo by Jeff Busby. From The Australian Ballet
1. Myrtha
And finally, first place goes to the one and only Myrtha from Giselle. Maybe it’s because Giselle is my favorite ballet (or because it’s one of the spookiest ballets) but regardless Myrtha is one of the most fierce ballet villains of all time. She is the leader of The Wilis, the ghostly spirits of maidens who have been betrayed by their lovers. Considering Myrtha is literally a ghost, she reigns supreme in terms of ballet villains.
Antagonizing as they may be, ballets would be nothing without their villains. They stir up trouble, serve some menacing looks, and allow the heroes to prevail at the end (most of the time). Whether you’re watching some YouTube videos of these favorite villains, or channeling them in your Halloween costumes, we hope you have a hauntingly good spooky season!
Get To Know DWC Ambassador MiYoung Margolis
MiYoung Margolis is one of our newest ambassadors here at DWC! She has had a wonderful career in the arts both in South Korea and here in Seattle. An accomplished mixed media artist, fashion designer and choreographer, she brings a unique perspective to the arts and our ambassador program. Read on for more about this unique and interesting artist!
pronunciation: Me-young Mar-go-lis | pronouns: she/her
By Samantha Weissbach, DWC Owner & General Manager
MiYoung Margolis is one of our newest ambassadors here at DWC! She has had a wonderful career in the arts both in South Korea and here in Seattle. An accomplished mixed media artist, fashion designer and choreographer, she brings a unique perspective to the arts and our ambassador program. Read on for more about this unique and interesting artist!
MiYoung trained from a young age in classical western dance as well as traditional Korean dance and eventually received her degree in dance in South Korea. After moving to Seattle she worked in various artforms including visual art and fashion. Her gallery in Seattle displays her impressive range of art and creations and doubles as her company’s rehearsal space.
She is very passionate about getting every body into dance (something we can definitely agree on). She focuses her teachings and art on including all humans regardless of their background or training.
Her dance company, MMDC, is co-hosting the O-Jak Bridge Dance Festival with Adage Ballet on Dec 9th at the Erickson Theater in Seattle. They will be performing a non-traditional Swan Lake performance, as well as performances by multicultural artists and choreographers. You can click here to book tickets now!
We are thrilled to have MiYoung join the DWC family and you can look forward to seeing more from her on our Instagram and 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.
Repurposing Your Dance Costumes into Halloween Costumes
As anyone who’s danced for an extended period knows, costumes can accumulate quickly. After various performances and recitals, the number seems to stack up exponentially. Before you know it, your closet is filled to the brim with tutus, bodices, leotards, jumpsuits, and hairpieces galore. Rather than allowing these sequined creations to collect dust in your bedroom or garage, why not sift through them to create this year’s Halloween costume? Read on to find out some of my top suggestions for turning dance costumes into Halloween costumes.
By Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Editor
Wanda Maximoff and Vision from WandaVision, photo from www.thedirect.com
As anyone who’s danced for an extended period knows, costumes can accumulate quickly. After various performances and recitals, the number seems to stack up exponentially. Before you know it, your closet is filled to the brim with tutus, bodices, leotards, jumpsuits, and hairpieces galore. Rather than allowing these sequined creations to collect dust in your bedroom or garage, why not sift through them to create this year’s Halloween costume? Read on to find out some of my top suggestions for turning dance costumes into Halloween costumes.
Superhero
A colorful or sequined leotard paired with colorful tights or leggings and a cheap cape will transform you from zero to hero this Halloween season. You can even make your own superhero emblem out of paper to tape onto the cape or create your own headpiece out of cardboard to further the details. For me, the inspiration behind this idea was undoubtedly Wanda Maximoff’s Halloween costume in WandaVision. By wearing a red leotard, pink tights or leggings, a red cape, red gloves, and a cardboard Scarlet Witch crown, you can morph into an Avenger just like that!
80s-inspired jazzercise outfits, from www.popsugar.com
80s Jazzercise
Similar to the superhero costume, the base of an 80s jazzercise costume is a colorful leotard and a colorful pair of tights. However, instead of accessorizing your ensemble with a cape, add some bright legwarmers around your ankles and sweatbands around your head and wrists. Throw on some chunky sneakers and show everyone your best jazzercise moves this Halloween. Extra points if you carry around a boom box!
Zombie ballerina
If you have the full ballerina get-up (leotard, tutu, tights, etc.) on hand, you can easily turn it into a costume with some eccentric makeup. Why not dress up as a ballerina turned into a zombie? By adding liquid latex to your face to look like peeling skin and some red, brown, and green eyeshadow to look like rotting flesh, you can become the scariest undead ballerina ever. Check out this zombie makeup tutorial to give you some assistance!
Angel
A simple white leotard can be transformed into an angel costume with just a few additions! Add a white tulle skirt or tutu to make it look like you’re sitting atop the clouds. Making your own wings and halo out of cardboard and feathers or pipe cleaners will complete this heavenly look.
Still of Natalie Portman in Black Swan, photo from Fountain Resource Group
Odile from “Black Swan”
If there’s any movie that encapsulates dance and horror the best, it has to be the 2010 thriller Black Swan. In the film, Nina Sayers, played by Natalie Portman, has her reality distorted as she prepares for the polarizing roles of Odette and Odile. Overcome by the demands of her choreographer and the role itself, Nina transforms into Odile, the “Black Swan,” growing black feathers out of her face and beady red eyes. If you have a black leotard or bodice, black tutu, and pink tights, all you need is some heavy black makeup, red contacts, and black feathers to complete this costume. It’ll be sure to give people a fright!
Catwoman
For this costume, black latex is your best friend. Pair some black latex pants or a black latex jumpsuit with a black (preferably latex) top or black leotard. Add some cat ears and some black whiskers to complete the look, or create your own Catwoman mask out of felt to complete the look!
Flapper Girl
Costumes for jazz dances often feature fringe details, making them a great base for a 1920s-inspired flapper costume! Pair a fringe dress or biketard with a homemade flapper headband and some character shoes to transport you back to the roaring 20s!
Instead of spending excess money and time searching for a Halloween costume this year, look no further than your own closet! With a little tweaking, accessorizing, and charm, you can turn your everyday dancewear and dance costumes into some remarkable Halloween creations. Happy haunting and happy creating!
About the Author
Disclaimer
All content found on the Dancewear Center Website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and all other relevant social media platforms including: text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Offerings for continuing education credits are clearly identified and the appropriate target audience is identified. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Dancewear Center does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on dancewearcenter.net. Reliance on any information provided by dancewearcenter.net, Dancewear Center employees, contracted writers, or medical professionals presenting content for publication to Dancewear Center is solely at your own risk.
Links to educational content not created by Dancewear Center are taken at your own risk. Dancewear Center is not responsible for the claims of external websites and education companies.
Empowering Dancers in the Studio and On Stage - Local Choreographer Alicia Mullikin On Creating An Inclusive Space for all Marginalized Communities
Empowering dancers is something that is very important to local dance teacher and choreographer Alicia Mullikin. Being able to be your true self in the studio and on stage is one of the main goals she tries to pursue with her dance company El Sueño. We got the chance to speak with Alicia about her mission statement, her dance company, and her personal dance journey. Read on to learn more!
Pronunciation: Ah-lee-see-ah Mull-ih-kin | Pronouns: she/her
By Nicole Barrett, DWC Blog Editor
photo courtesy of https://www.aliciamullikin.com/works
Empowering dancers is something that is very important to local dance teacher and choreographer Alicia Mullikin. Being able to be your true self in the studio and on stage is one of the main goals she tries to pursue with her dance company El Sueño. We got the chance to speak with Alicia about her mission statement, her dance company, and her personal dance journey. Read on to learn more!
Alicia started dancing in the middle school show choir. While she was in the show choir, the choreographer quit which left the group without choreography. Alicia decided she wanted to help choreograph without taking any dance classes and fell in love with the creative process. She asked her parents to put her into dance classes at the local YMCA, where her love of dance and choreography bloomed.
After high school, Alicia went to Riverside City College where she continued to train in dance before transferring to Cornish College of the Arts. It was here that she encountered some struggle and came up against some rigid viewpoints about body shape and traditional expectations around size. However, it is also where she met some incredible teachers and lifelong friends. Alicia later went on to get her Masters in Dance from Cal State University of Long Beach and she was recently selected as an Arts Advocacy Leadership fellow by the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures.
When asked about Alicia’s favorite thing about dance, she says, “Dance allowed a space for me to express myself in ways that I am unable to verbally. It allows me to be the person I want to be.” Folks often describe Alicia’s movement as expressive and powerful. She strives to bring this out of her students as well as guide them to stand in their full power and own their own story.
photo courtesy of https://www.aliciamullikin.com/works
El Sueño is an organization founded by Alicia. They use dance as a platform for community engagement, empowerment, and healing of marginalized communities. The phrase el sueño means “the dream” which is important to her as a first-generation American. Seeing her parents sacrifice and strive for the American dream has inspired her to continue pressing forward. Alicia’s family is descendant from the Indigenous people’s of North America and the genocide and struggle that they went through inspires her to be resilient. She shares, “I am the recipient of the American Dream, that is generations in the making.”
Alicia is currently working on a new work MESTIZO. It is an evening of collected stories of the Mexican-American experience. The description states As Mexican people, our histories are painfully entwined with both our Indigenous ancestors and our Spanish colonizers. So much of our Indigenous history was stripped from us through centuries of cultural erasure and genocide. What we have been able to hold onto has been strategically hidden within Catholic images and appropriated spiritual practices. Assimilation was the way we survived extinction, but defiance and resilience was threaded in the ways we stealthily passed our cultural practices through the colonial lens. MESTIZO bravely claims the pain and power of this history with each artist documenting their experiences. The event will include visual arts, film, music, dance, and ceremony that powerfully weave together our collective experiences.
You can find out more about Alicia and her new work at https://www.aliciamullikin.com/mestizo
And follow the El Sueño Instagram here!
If you’d like to support Alicia’s upcoming production of MESTIZO you can donate to their project fundraiser at https://www.gofundme.com/f/mestizo
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 Create a Dancer Warm Up and Why it is Important
As a young dancer I never really considered the importance of warming up. If you looked across the room before a ballet class I remember seeing dancers sitting in their middle splits, legs on the barre stretching forward and chatting about their weekend plans. When I got to college level dance I discovered my schools recreation center and weight room. It was not until my Anatomy and Physiology class in college that I learned how to strength train and why it is so beneficial in activities like jumping and leaping that was necessary in dance.
By Caroline Schmidt, ACE CPT, DWC Ambassador
pronouns: she/her | pronunciation: kay-row-line sh-midt
As a young dancer I never really considered the importance of warming up. If you looked across the room before a ballet class I remember seeing dancers sitting in their middle splits, legs on the barre stretching forward and chatting about their weekend plans. When I got to college level dance I discovered my schools recreation center and weight room. It was not until my Anatomy and Physiology class in college that I learned how to strength train and why it is so beneficial in activities like jumping and leaping that was necessary in dance. In undergrad I started personal training and discovered a warm up routine that worked for my body. The first most important thing when creating a warm up is to ask yourself what is required of me? In running you need strong legs and core, for rock climbing you need mobility and upper body strength, in swimming you need length and power. My warm up routine is a combination of yoga, running and strength training that I have found over the years!
You might ask: why do I need to warm up? I am a young dancer I can just jump right in to my dancing right? Well, there are many benefits to a good warm up. The most important thing is that it is a gentle way to start preparing your body for what is to come. If you were to do a heavy squat you wouldn’t just jump in to lifting the heaviest weight right? You start with a gentle activation of the muscles to tell them it’s time to work. It is also good for your muscles and your heart to gradually build up to movements. A warm up is also really important to decrease the likelihood of injury. If you go too hard too fast you might tear a muscle or hurt yourself.
Studies have shown the importance of a good warm up and how it can increase your performance in 79% of all aspects being analyzed. This analysis has shown that performance improvements can be seen after completion of adequate warm-up activities, and there is little evidence to suggest that warming-up is detrimental to sports participants. (Fradkin et al, 2010). There has been a large debate regarding if static stretching before activity decreases physical athletic performance. I prefer a dynamic stretching approach which you can see is built into my example warmup program. Dynamic stretching is where you are stretching throughout a range of motion however you aren't just sitting in a position for prolonged period of time. You are active and using your muscles to move through the range. I like this because it is more functional in dance! There are also some detrimental effects to just static stretching especially before you are warm enough including decreasing your ability to produce a strong muscle contraction for powerful movements like jumping and thus decreasing performance (McMillan, 2006).
I like to take a very analytical approach to my warm up. You have your major joints and its a good idea to warm up each major muscle group. Major muscle groups include: glutes/hamstrings, quads/ hip flexors, shins and calves, abdominals, chest pushers and pullers. An exercise for each with a gentle activation will start to remind these muscles it's time to work! I like to start with a whole body connection to get the blood flowing and end with a full body connection moment putting everything together. I also like to do exercises where I am not only stretching but strengthening to start to build the neural connections. This is an example warm up routine that I have found works for my body but may not necessarily for everyone!
My Warm Up Routine:
Step 1: whole body connection movement
- Sun Salutation from standing into plank and hip stretch with worlds greatest stretch
Step 2: chest pushers
- Plank shoulder taps
Step 3: back pullers
- Superman and lat pulls
Step 5: quads/ hip flexors - Bird dogs
Step 4: glutes/hamstrings - Bridges
Step 6: abdominals
- Dead bugs
Step 7: shins and calves
- Squat into a calf raise
Step 8: full body connection moment puting everything together
- Single leg RDL with arm movements (balance incorporated into the movement)
Resources
Fradkin AJ, Zazryn TR, Smoliga JM. Effects of Warming-up on Physical Performance: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2010;24(1):140-148. doi:https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0b013e3181c643a0
Kozai A, Surgenor B, Ma. The Importance of a Good Warm-Up: Are You Warm Enough to Start Dancing?; 2017. https://iadms.org/media/3598/iadms-resource-paper-the-importance-of-a-good-warm-up.pdf
McMillian DJ, Moore JH, Hatler BS, Taylor DC. Dynamic vs. Static-Stretching Warm Up: The Effect on Power and Agility Performance. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2006;20(3):492. doi:https://doi.org/10.1519/18205.1
NYSMI | The Importance of Stretching and Warm Up Exercises Before Physical Activity. Accessed August 24, 2023. https://nysportsmedicineinstitute.com/the-importance-of-stretching-and-warm-up-exercises-before- physical-activity/#:~:text=Warming%20up%20exercises%20increase%20blood
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 Vania Bynum
Vania Bynum is one of our newest ambassadors with a unique dance story and very interesting perspective, read on to learn more about her and her organization, VCBynum Arts & Education!
Vania Bynum | van-ee-uh bye-num | pronouns: she/her
By Samantha Weissbach, DWC Owner & General Manager
Dance can be life-changing in many different ways. It can unleash a new identity inside and help express oneself for the whole world to see. We got the chance to speak with our very own DWC Ambassador Vania Bynum about what dance means to her! Read on to learn more about Vania’s dancing journey and what inspired her to become a DWC Ambassador!
Vania started dancing when she was in a club in school that allowed opportunities for underserved communities to be immersed in various forms of art. She was introduced to dance through this program and she shares she was in and out of this program for a couple of years. After going to college to become a software engineer, she came across Alvin Ailey for the first time in her late 20s and she realized that she needed to get back into dance.
While she was working at Microsoft, she would take classes in order to get back into dance and practice. Vania danced for Eastside Dance and Elizabeth’s Dance Dimensions in adult groups which made her want to further her artistry and take her dancing to the next level. Vania took a year off and studied dance which was her love and passion and auditioned for Cornish College of the Arts where she got in.
When asked about what inspired her to become a DWC Ambassador, Vania shares that her friend, former DWC Ambassador Robbi Moore, introduced her to the program. She was asking them about the things they were posting and they talked about it which led to Vania doing her own research. She believes that this will allow her to move forward in her dancing journey and be able to share her story with others. This can allow her to grow as not only a person and push herself but as an artist as well.
Vania is in a 50+ group that is called The Throwbacks that do performances so be sure to watch out for those performances! Vania also has VC Bynum Arts and Education which hosts classes in Bellevue, so look out for those flyers and sign up for classes!
We are so excited to have Vania as one of our DWC Ambassadors! Be sure to check out the full 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.
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