Guest User 12/18/23 Guest User 12/18/23

How to do a Ballet Bun with Wavy/Curly Hair

Getting ready for Nutcracker or another ballet show? Or maybe it’s your first ballet class and you need a little guidance on the hair? We’ve got you covered with this ballet bun walkthrough!

By Emma Neilson, DWC Social Media Manager

Dancers come in all different shapes and sizes, and hair is no exception. All different types of hair from textured to straight are thrown into ballet buns every single day, but sometimes it can be a struggle to find the right way to put up your hair. DWC Social Media Manager, Emma, will show you how she does her hair class and performances!

Wet down hair and pull into a pony tail
Pull pony tail into two sections
Wrap and pin the first section
Wrap and pin the second section
Cover with a hair net and pin it in
Double check for loose hairs!

We hope that this quick how-to helped you learn to do a ballet bun with braids! Be sure to check out the video below for a more in-depth description!

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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.

Guest User 12/11/23 Guest User 12/11/23

DWC's Best Nutcracker Gifts

Everyone’s favorite time of the year is finally upon us: Nutcracker season! Around the Seattle area, hundreds of dancers are preparing for their annual performances of The Nutcracker, getting ready to entertain audiences of all sizes and make unforgettable memories. To get in the spirit, we’ve put together a list of our favorite Nutcracker-themed products being sold at Dancewear Center. From fun scrunchies and storybooks, to ornate leotards and ornaments, any of the items on this list would make superb holiday or performance gifts for your favorite Nutcracker performers.

By Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Editor

Motionwear Nutcracker Hoodies, Crewnecks, and Tank Tops

During the winter months, it’s even more crucial for dancers to bundle up and stay warm when they train and rehearse. Fortunately, Motionwear has dancers covered with their line of Nutcracker hoodies, crewnecks, and tank tops. Check out the preppy “Nutcracker Academy”crewneck, spirited “Was it a dream” tank, laid-back “Nutcracker on Duty” hoodie, and more at Dancewear Center.

Dance de Paris Nutcracker Sweet Leotard

The “Nutcracker Sweet” line by Dance de Paris features products adorned with a celebratory Nutcracker print, displaying characters from the production, like Clara, The Nutcracker Prince, and the Rat King. This woman-owned business has the “sweetest” leotards for the holiday season.

Ainsliewear Mesh Shoe Bag with Snow Nutcracker Print

Woman-owned dancewear company Ainsiliewear is known for producing high-quality products with elegant and fashion-foward designs. Their line of Nutcracker products certainly keeps with this theme. Ainsliewear’s “Snow Nutcracker” print depicts the iconic “Snow” scene in The Nutcracker, featuring dazzling “snowflake” ballerinas twirling throughout the sky with wrapped presents. Check out this print on the mesh shoe bags at Dancewear Center.

Covet Dance Nutcracker’s Back Tote

With an increased number of rehearsals and performances during Nutcracker season, dancers will need to carry many items with them to rehearsals and shows. This punny tote should give you and the entire cast a good chuckle. It's great for rehearsals and for dragging along your dance gear, laptop, tablet, etc. as you shuffle back and forth to rehearsals and the studio during Nutcracker season. From woman-owned dancewear brand, Covet, it’s a perfect holiday or pre-performance gift for your favorite dancer.

“Nutcracker Dancing Shapes” Book from Once Upon a Dance

Local small business Once Upon a Dance produces educational and entertaining dance and movement books for children of a range of ages. The brand is especially known for its “Dancing Shapes” books, which outline different dance poses for children to learn and follow. The “Nutcracker Dancing Shapes” book adds a festive spin on the series, providing readers with twenty-five different Nutcracker roles to follow.

“The Nutcracker Practice and Play Book” by Russian Pointe

One of the most endearing and exciting parts of The Nutcracker is the story itself. Who doesn’t want to follow Clara’s journey as she ventures through an enchanted, snowy forest and the Land of Sweets? “The Nutcracker Practice and Play Book” from Russian Pointe is the perfect gift for a youngster who enjoys ballet and allows for yet another fun and stimulating way to engage with the iconic plotline.

Cloud & Victory “Winter is Coming” T-Shirt

Cloud and Victory is a small, woman-owned business known for its charming and stylish graphic T-shirts, leotards, and other dancewear products and accessories. The brand’s “Winter is Coming” T-shirt is the perfect gift for a dancer who loves Game of Thrones, as it depicts characters from the fantasy series as characters in The Nutcracker.

The Nutcracker has become an important part of how many families celebrate the holiday season. Commemorate its significance with some of DWC’s favorite Nutcracker products - whether it’s gifting them to others or yourself, they're sure to add a pinch of magic to your dancing and holiday experience.

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Guest User 12/11/23 Guest User 12/11/23

How to do a Ballet Bun with Braids

Dancers come in all different shapes and sizes, and hair is no exception. All different types of hair from textured to straight are thrown into ballet buns every single day, but sometimes it can be a struggle to find the right way to put up your hair. Former DWC Ambassador Niyah Pratt is here to show you just how you can do it! Here is how to do a ballet bun with braids:

By Niyah Pratt, Former DWC Ambassador

Dancers come in all different shapes and sizes, and hair is no exception. All different types of hair from textured to straight are thrown into ballet buns every single day, but sometimes it can be a struggle to find the right way to put up your hair. Former DWC Ambassador Niyah Pratt is here to show you just how you can do it! Here is how to do a ballet bun with braids:

First, flip your head over and gather all of your hair to the top of your head.
Secure it up into a ponytail with a hair tie.
After you have the ponytail in, you are going to start a twisting motion to gather all of the hair and begin to wrap the hair around the top of the ponytail.
Once all of the hair is gently wrapped around the top of the ponytail, use another hair tie to wrap it all into place.
Lastly, secure any loose pieces with bobby pins and then you have a gorgeous ballet bun!

We hope that this quick how-to helped you learn to do a ballet bun with braids! Be sure to check out the video below for a more in-depth description!

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About the author:

DWC Ambassadors 20-21 Sept. 2020-186.jpg — by niyah pratt

**Niyah Pratt** was born in raised in Renton, Washington. She began dancing at age six, at the British Dancing Academy where she trained in ballet, jazz, tap, and modern. She is currently attending the University of Nevada Las Vegas where she is double majoring in Dance Performance and Urban Affairs. She hopes to continue her dance career for as long as she possibly can, and make an impact not only in the dance community, but on the youth as well. She wants to be the role model she never had when she started dancing for someone else, and “thinks it is important to start implementing this in dance.”

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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.

Guest User 12/8/23 Guest User 12/8/23

Tips for Preparing for Nutcracker Season

Growing up, Nutcracker season was one of the most magical and exciting times of the year. The giggles backstage with my friends, the swelling of my heart as I’d listen to the beloved music, and the adrenaline in my chest as I graced the stage were truly unbeatable sensations. While performing in a production of The Nutcracker is undoubtedly an exhilarating experience, it can also be an incredibly stressful one. Not to mention, this is many dancers’ first time performing in front of a live audience in a while, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s understandable if people are feeling a little extra overwhelmed and nervous this time of the year! From organizing costumes, managing your time, taking care of your body amid numerous performances, and staying mentally healthy, there is certainly a lot to oversee. Fortunately, there are steps we can take to ensure we’re putting our best foot forward this Nutcracker season.

By Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Editor

“Nutcracker season is a thrilling time of the year, a time when some of the best dance memories are made. Making sure you’re organized and effectively taking care of your body and mind makes it that much more magical and enjoyable. Happy Nutcracker season to all!”

Before the performances even begin, there is a great deal of energy put towards preparing for The Nutcracker. A big part of this preparation is making sure you have all the tools and materials you need to be successful - I’m talking about costumes, pointe shoes, snacks, water, and more. There is nothing worse than showing up to the theatre the day of your performance and realizing you’ve left your hairpiece at home or have a run in the only pair of tights you brought. To prevent this from happening, create a checklist a few days before your dress rehearsal or performance to ensure you don’t leave anything behind. Some important items to include on your checklist could be functional pointe shoes, a sewing kit, ballet flats, an extra pair of tights or two, warm-ups, a foam roller, hairnets, hair ties, bobby pins, makeup, warm-up clothes, snacks, water, and (importantly) all pieces of your costume. Creating this list a few days in advance of your performance is helpful, so you have plenty of time to find or purchase the items you need.

Each year, most dancers perform in several performances of The Nutcracker, sometimes spanning several weekends. This is a lot of dancing! Especially after the break many dancers took in 2020, this much performance time may understandably take a toll on your body, leaving your muscles feeling sore. Post-rehab Specialist Leah Bueno, also known as @thepilatesdancer on Instagram, writes that “added rehearsals and performances can leave the body vulnerable to injuries.” Thus, she advises dancers to warm up every time they dance, making sure they warm their bodies back up if they haven’t been dancing for 20 minutes. This is a particularly important tip, considering The Nutcracker can involve a lot of starts and stops. Bueno also recommends dancers spend extra time on recovery, involving self-massage, exercises that reset the body, and getting a good night’s sleep. Finally, Bueno says dancers should “seek support if something hurts,” pointing out that prioritizing your health now can prevent less time away from the studio in the future.

Finally, in addition to staying organized and physically healthy, it’s also important to keep your mind mentally healthy throughout Nutcracker season. Performance season can be a stressful time for everyone. I remember during my Nutcracker performances growing up, I would get so stressed out that I would sometimes snap at my family members, friends, and instructors, as my intense focus on my performances kept me from being mindful about my behavior. I also held myself to a strict performance standard, emotionally berating myself every time I faltered onstage. One year, when I was performing a solo as the Sugar Plum Fairy, I slipped and fell on my behind - I was mortified and let my shame eat me up.

As much as we try, it’s near impossible for every performance to turn out exactly how we want it to. Tiny slip-ups are bound to happen here and there, most of which may not even be caught by the audience. We must take our performances seriously and strive to be the best dancers we can be, but also, have a sense of humor when things don’t turn out exactly as expected. After all, it’s the holiday season, an exciting time to celebrate with friends and family.

When you feel your stress building up, instead of intensely internalizing it or blurting out something you regret to one of your loved ones, try taking some deep breaths to relieve some of the tension you’re experiencing. Instead of fixating on your fear of messing up on stage, shift your mind to all the positive, exciting things about The Nutcracker season, including getting the chance to perform on stage, be around friends, and show off your dance training. I also find it helpful to write down or speak some positive affirmations about myself aloud before I begin a stressful endeavor. If you are feeling good about yourself and believe you can succeed, you’re setting yourself up for a great performance!

Nutcracker season is a thrilling time of the year, a time when some of the best dance memories are made. Making sure you’re organized and effectively taking care of your body and mind makes it that much more magical and enjoyable. Happy Nutcracker season to all!

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Guest User 12/4/23 Guest User 12/4/23

O-Jak Bridge Art and Dance Festival 2023, A Non-Traditional Swan Lake

In Korean Folklore, the “O-Jak Bridge” refers to a bridge made by crows and magpies that spans across the Milky Way allowing two distant lovers to reunite one night each year.

In 2022, Korean Artist MiYoung Seul Margolis, founded the O-Jak Bridge Art and Dance Festival, showcasing Korean creative culture through a one-night-only performance that nearly sold out the 300-seat capacity of the Broadway Performance Hall in Seattle, WA. This inaugural performance featured the MMDC (MiYoung Margolis Dance Collective), Adage Ballet Academy, Eurasia Academy and Ensemble and KOSMIX. Altogether more than 60 dancers took the stage to share their performance art with the audience. Each group brought its own unique style and cultural influence which created an incredible juxtaposition of traditional and modern styles blending across the diverse cultures of the dance companies.

By MiYoung Margolis, DWC Ambassador

Name pronunciation: Me-Young Mar-gole-is | Pronouns: she/her

In Korean Folklore, the “O-Jak Bridge” refers to a bridge made by crows and magpies that spans across the Milky Way allowing two distant lovers to reunite one night each year.

In 2023, The O-Jak Bridge Art and Dance Festival will be held in close partnership between MiYoung Margolis Dance Collective and Adage Ballet Academy and feature guest performances by dancers of the Pacific Northwest Ballet. The theme for this year’s festival is “Non-Traditional Swan Lake”. (Location: Erickson Theater, Date: December 9th, Time: 3:30pm and 7:30pm)

The choreography for the “Non-Traditional Swan Lake” is being directed by MiYoung Margolis, the founder of the O-Jak Bridge Art and Dance Festival, and Guillaume Basso, a former PNB ballet dancer and chief of Adage Ballet Academy.

This year’s cast will be 45 dancers strong. The choreography will once again be anchored in Korean Cultural Dance and blended with traditional ballet, street and tap dance to tell the classic story of Swan Lake but through a non-traditional lens.

Swan Lake is a tragic love story that follows the relationships between Odette, the White Swan and Prince Siegfried. The story beings in a lake filled with the tears of Odette’s mother, tears of sorrow, but also tears of hope that one day her daughter’s curse would be lifted, and she would find her true love.

After the famous repertoire of Swan Lake and traditional ballet of the four swans, the first act ends with a duet of the famous Odette and Prince Siegfried falling in love, and the second act begins with the Great Ball to find Prince Siegfried’s bride. During the Ball, the traditional Swan Lake ballet includes performances by Hungarian, Spanish, and Russian ballet, the O-Jak interpretation replaces these with alternative styles, including a Korean solo sword dance and a Gender Twisted Princess, creating a unique and fresh story to attract the audience.

Another exciting departure is highlighted at the end of the ball, upon Odile <the Black Swan> entrance pretending to be Odette. This Scene is presented as a modern dance piece, choreographed by MiYoung Margolis and set to the orchestral accompaniment of BTS’s Black Swan.

Though Swan Lake traditionally ends in tragedy, the O-Jak Bridge interpretation diverges, and the two lovers are embraced by a happy ending, where once per year, they cross the Milky Way to reunite thanks to a bridge of cows and magpies. The Korean traditional dance company <Morado> will finish the festival with Jin-Do Drum dance to boost the festival’s energy, and Kathryn Tower’s Tap Dance work, selected through the <Non-Traditional Four Swans Dance> choreography competition, attracts attention.

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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.

Guest User 12/4/23 Guest User 12/4/23

Dance is Life

To dance is to embody freedom.

To dance is to express oneself in a most powerful way.

To dance is to share oneself with others so that their lives might be enhanced by a blessed gift.

Part 1

By Vania Bynum

Vania Bynum | van-ee-uh bye-num | pronouns: she/her

To dance is to embody freedom.

To dance is to express oneself in a most powerful way.

To dance is to share oneself with others so that their lives might be enhanced by a blessed gift.

When I think about my journey in the arts, I reflect on my love of music, my desire to sing, and the excitement of theater and performance. When I think about my specific journey in Dance, I reflect on the fact that my whole life has been enhanced through the power of movement and dance. I ponder the truth that I would not be the same person without dance in my life. And I acknowledge that the healing elements of Pilates, yoga, and dance totally transformed my quality of life. After being struck by a pickup truck, a life of daily pain became an opportunity to heal and give thanks for the basics in life. I danced with praise for the ability to utilize my body as a tool for self-expression, and to bring joy to others by inviting them into my love of the arts. I dedicated my gift to liturgical dance, ministering to others, sharing stories through the power of gospel music and dance. The effect that the arts have had on my life and my health are undeniable and will continue to manifest as I enter my next phase of dance in my 50+ Vessel. With a recent diagnosis of Lupus, which has potentially debilitating effects on my body, the ability to move as long as possible has become even more precious. I am even more committed to embracing the spirit and vitality of dance so that I CAN live.

Although the diagnosis of Lupus was greatly unexpected, it was not completely surprising because the disease has shown itself in our family history with devastating results. As I navigate this new space, I now understand where some of my pains have come from. I understand why I danced consistently with ankle braces for no apparent reason, why I have mysterious joint pain that magically goes away, and maybe why I have had ongoing hip pain… even when I felt at my best. Oblivious to what was happening internally, I took the no pain, no gain stance because I was determined to dance at Cornish College of the Arts with other artists almost half my age. I was Free to Dance after a corporate job in Computer Engineering. I was committed to dance ministry as my way of communing with God and giving thanks for my life. I was thankful to Edna Daigre for introducing me to Pilates and the power of moving with Negro Spirituals, and to New Beginnings Christian Fellowship of Kent, WA., who embraced my gifts and provided a platform to speak from the heart through dance. And there are many others to thank that you will read about in the future. I am beyond grateful that I did not know that Lupus lurked in my body when stressful seasons came. All I knew was that I have a desire to dance and that throughout the “episodes,” I have never lost my ability to move. The flame still burns as I am challenged with the reality that I must be consistent in taking medication despite my free-spirited personality. I must monitor my stress levels and change my diet to keep Lupus at bay. I communicate with a family member to learn more about the disease so that I can be responsible. Lupus is a disease that affects people of all ages. I am not the first dancer who dances with Lupus, and I will not be the last. For this phase of my life, the arts will help me continue to thrive. And I can inspire others like those who inspire me. See these inspirational stories below about beautiful people and their journey with Lupus.

“ “To dance is to live. But to live, I must dance.” I dance for my Life. ”

click below to shop the look:
*Bloch- Ladies Zip Front Mesh Back Crop Top*
*Girlfriend Collective- Compressive Pocket Legging*
*motionwear-* *Nutcracker's Back Tote Bag*

VCBynum Arts & Education

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Sources:

Journeys with Lupus...

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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.

Guest User 11/27/23 Guest User 11/27/23

Local Nutcrackers Performances to Check Out This Holiday Season!

The almost comprehensive local Nutcracker performance list! Nutcracker season is a thrilling time of the year, a time when some of the best dance memories are made. Making sure you’re organized and effectively taking care of your body and mind makes it that much more magical and enjoyable. Happy Nutcracker season to all! If you would like to be featured on our list email us at info@dancewearcenter.net

By Emma Neilson, DWC Social Media Manager

If you have a Nutcracker performance you would like to have listed please email us at info@dancewearcenter.net

“Nutcracker season is a thrilling time of the year, a time when some of the best dance memories are made. Making sure you’re organized and effectively taking care of your body and mind makes it that much more magical and enjoyable. Happy Nutcracker season to all!”

— Madison Huizinga

Ensemble Ballet Theatre- https://www.ticketsource.us/ensemble-ballet-theatre/e-jgovkp

ARC Dance- https://arcdance.org/

Port Angeles City Ballet/ Sylvia Joyce Wanner School of Ballet- https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?actions=10&p=1

Ballet Arts Academy- https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/pbaa-nutcracker-suite-2023-2649309

Evergreen City Ballet- https://www.evergreencityballet.org/the-nutcracker

Body Language Studio- https://www.blsdance.com/

Emerald Ballet Academy- https://www.emeraldballet.org/#

The Dance School- The Dance School presents: The Nutcracker ✨https://www.thedanceschool.org/the-nutcracker/

Land of Sweets Matinee

Saturday, December 9, 2023
4:00pm-4:45pm
Free 45-minute Sensory Friendly & Child Friendly Matinee performance

The Nutcracker

Saturday, December 9, 2023
7:00pm-9:00pm
General admission: $14
Children 6 and under: free

Academy of Dance- December 16 @ 5pm & December 17 @ 1pm at Central Kitsap Performing Arts Center. http://www.ckschools.org/tickets

Northwest School of Dance- email nwschoolofdance@yahoo.com.

Auburn CDT- We are producing our 11th production of the nutcracker and our performance will be in Fife, WA on Dec 8th and 9th! Ticket Link: https://childrensdancetheater.com/tickets/

Children’s Dance Theater in Auburn and Federal Way, WA is producing its 11th annual production of The Nutcracker. Our show is true to the classic ballet, while also being modern and culturally relevant. We celebrate our students diversity and cast anyone and everyone who auditions. There are no professional dancers hired to be in our show. All of the parts cast, including the major lead roles, are all local students who train rigorously.

Our show will be on December 8th and 9th at 7pm and December 9th at 2pm at Columbia Jr High School in Tacoma, WA. Tickets to our show start at $20 a piece. Tickets can be purchased online at https://childrensdancetheater.com/tickets/

Studio West- Studio West Dance Theatre - The Washington Center for the Performing Arts washingtoncenter.org

Whidbey Island Dance Theatre- https://www.widtonline.org/

Ferndale Dance- https://ferndaledance.org/performances/

Bainbridge Dance Center- https://bainbridge-ballet.ticketleap.com/bb-nutcracker-2023/

Duvall Performing Arts-

What is it?: Duvall Performing Arts proudly presents The Nutcracker! Directed and staged by Dañela Lewis. Journey with Clara and her Nutcracker Prince on an unforgettable adventure in the Land of Sweets. Watch as snowflakes dance, flowers waltz, and the sweetest delights come to life! In this family-oriented, 90 minute production, you’ll enjoy enchanting choreography, dazzling costume design, and the timeless music of Tchaikovsky.
Join us for this annual holiday tradition and make special memories to last a lifetime.
When is it?:
Dec 8th: 7pm
Dec 9th: 2pm + 7pm
Dec 10th: 2pm
Dec 17th: 2pm + 7pm
Where is it?: Cedarcrest High School Theater (29000 NE 150th St, Duvall, WA, 98019 US)

Tickets: Ticket link: https://duvallperformingarts.regfox.com/landing-page-rf?fbclid=PAAaaYHV2fDeSZtxEYuy40xN3j_JVNK87G7atYC0WEAcKjAjIz-GH_AaobJro

Dance Fremont-

Dance Fremont presents the 28th annual production of The Steadfast Tin Soldier, A Story Ballet. Join us for a holiday extravaganza that delights all ages with a tender retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale.

The ballet includes the work of a number of local visual artists and features talented young dancers from Dance Fremont. Enjoyable for all ages, its length of 1 hour and 15 minutes makes it a perfect introduction to the theater for young audience members! Colorfully hand-tailored costumes, locally designed and hand-painted scenery, a cast of fifty young dancers, and an ensemble of musicians come together to present this charming holiday dance event.

Enjoy original choreography by Vivian Little, director emerita of Dance Fremont with music and lyrics by composer Kathleen Mills, who conducts the live The Steadfast Tin Soldier Ensemble. Signing in Exact English (S.E.E.) has been incorporated into the choreography to make this performance accessible for the hearing impaired. The show's content is delightful and appropriate for all ages.

Masks are encouraged but not required.
December 9 & 10, 2023
Saturday, December 9th at 2:00 & 7:30
Sunday, December 10th at 2:00
Shorecrest Performing Arts Center: 15343 25th Ave NE, Shoreline (Free Parking!)
Suggested Donation: $25 Adults, $15 Students & Seniors
Tickets: purplepass.com/steadfast OR https://www.purplepass.com/#268648/Dance_Fremont-The_Steadfast_Tin_Soldier,_A_Story_Ballet-Shorecrest_Performing_Arts_Center-December-09-2023.html

Dance Conservatory Seattle- https://www.danceconservatoryseattle.com/?fbclid=PAAaYDTVPrCFlK6pPY52dmFjd9hWv4G85eiPQR8lLjs_I9bB1qXOjN2ClpcQA_aem_ATiYR7mD4TuHA_N0fYM5QoIfyB9-3-ydp_oEgjaQcQOYYGTb9SyR3im3REg_RSaZ4vI

Momentum Dance Academy-
Join our Contemporary, Hip Hop, Irish, Jazz, Tap, Theatre, and Creative Dance dancers for a festive seasonal celebration on Friday, December 22nd, 2023, and Saturday December 23rd, 2023 at 6:00 pm (seating opens at 5:30 pm). Highline Performing Arts Center

Pacific Northwest Ballet- https://www.pnb.org/nutcracker/

And digital- https://order.pnb.org/24-digital/nutcracker

Flight Feathers Ballet presents The Nutcracker:

Show #1: Friday, December 15th
Show Time: 6:00 - 8:15PM
Show #2: Saturday, December 16th
Show Time: 4:00 - 6:15PM
Venue: Glacier Peak High School Auditorium (7401 144th Pl SE, Snohomish, WA)
Ticket Link for the Nutcracker:
https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/22503/glacier-peak-high-school-performing-arts-center?performance_id=35316213&country=US&language=en
Short Info:
Step into a magical world where tradition meets modernity in Flight Feathers Ballet's full production of the Nutcracker. Our adaptation weaves the classical beauty of the Ballet Masterpiece with a modern twist, for an evening of pure elegance, excitement and renovation.

Opus Performing Arts: https://www.opusbellingham.com/?fbclid=PAAaaaWw2w8gO_IIq6hC8tqzmBAveuRC3Cgl25Ey8bK3L-qGfQDF9Rhua489s_aem_AQ3klwb9GAkvtF9-XQ3DlzF-o7WXBdx5x-olc-39BozcKn_HUakaGVQ4SNBy6DgYNms

DassDance-

December 2nd at 6:30pm
December 3rd at 2pm
https://www.dassdance.org/performances

Fidalgo Dance Works-Friday, December 8th at 7:00 and Saturday December 9th at 2:00 and 7:00

Brodnick Hall. Anacortes WA
Tickets can be purchased at https://www.fidalgodanceworks.org/news-events/nutcracker2023-tickets

Peninsula Dance Theatre

Performance Dates:
December 2nd at 2pm and 7pm
December 3rd at 3pm
Performance Venue:
Bremerton High School Performing Arts Center
1500 13th Street, Bremerton

Olympic Ballet Theatre

Dec 8-10 in Everett (Dec 8 is an abridged matinee) Everett Performing Arts Center
Dec 14-20 in Edmonds (Dec 14 & 15 are abridged matinees. There is also a full performance in the evening of Dec 15) Edmonds Center for the Arts
http://olympicballet.org/

Tacoma City Ballet Dec 9, 10, 16, 17, 23.

If you have a Nutcracker performance you would like to have listed please email us at info@dancewearcenter.net

Guest User 11/23/23 Guest User 11/23/23

What We're Thankful For

The DWC Team took a moment to share what they were thankful for this year. Read on to get to know us a bit better!

By: The DWC Team

Emma:

I have so much to be thankful for this year! This past year was my first year freelancing as a professional dancer in Seattle, and I had so many wonderful opportunities come my way, which also led to meeting some amazing people and artists in our local dance community. I was able to build a close-knit group of friends and I am very, very grateful to have a support system that I know will have my back no matter what. This next season of my life is very exciting, as I am gearing up for ballet company audition season. I can't wait to see what will come next for me, as well as for DWC!

Olivia:

I am thankful for my parents and DWC for being so quick and open to welcome me home after my busy year and a half in San Francisco. I am also thankful for my best friend and cat, Maxine. She has put up with a lot of traveling between SF and Seattle and she is the best little travel buddy I can ask for. I'm looking forward to continuing fitting pointe shoes at DWC and putting my new degree in fashion design to work!

Samantha:

Although the last few years brought many challenges, they came strolling (and sometimes barreling) into my life arm-in-arm with an abundance of riches. Day in and day out, I get to teach, dance, fit pointe shoes, and exercise my creative and critical thinking skills! I have amazing students who are smart, brave, and dedicated, incredible clients at DWC who support us so fiercely, and colleagues that I teach for and alongside who are truly brilliant educators and people. My family (especially my mom & husband) support me and love me through my ups and downs, which allows me to chase my dreams while simultaneously supporting others while they chase theirs. Of course, I can't forget my phenomenal team at DWC. These individuals are the absolute lifeblood of this small retail business. They are passionate, innovative, and caring - and it shows in every interaction.

As I reflect on the wealth of love and joy I have in my life, I am most thankful for the unfathomable gift of being able to wake up every single day and work exclusively in a field I love - something so many people dream about and so few actually get to do. Being able to do it all alongside people that I have such a tremendous amount of respect for? Absolutely incomparable. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Ethan:

I am grateful that I was able to do a bit of traveling this year and see family that I have not seen in many years. My family is very spread out and it was a privilege to see them. I am looking forward to taking some rest from this very busy year and watching all the movies!

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Guest User 11/19/23 Guest User 11/19/23

Elise Beers on Healing Community and Acknowledging Land Through Dance

In the age of commercialized dance, it can be easy for many to lose sight of the true origins of dance in many communities. Before the era of dance competitions, dance mainly served as a source of expression and community building. Whether it’s to express celebration or grief, movement has the power to unite and heal people in ways that other modes of communication can’t. Indigenous dance artist Elise Beers is harnessing this idea of using dance to connect to the land and community and alleviate pain in her latest project Earth Works Dance.

By Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Editor

Growing up with a father in the United States Air Force, Elise’s family moved around quite a bit. This prevented her from having a consistent routine for a while as a child. However, once her family landed in Washington, Elise began taking gymnastics classes at the YMCA in Tacoma and later branched out into ballet and jazz. As she began training at other studios, dance stuck with Elise tremendously and she was able to train under influential instructors, such as Miss Ally from Dance Ally in Gig Harbor, WA.

When she got older, Elise started dancing in Seattle more often, frequenting Westlake Dance Center and Velocity Dance Center. She ended up getting accepted into the dance program at Brigham Young University, where she studied contemporary dance, choreography, and performing. “While I was there, I was able to choreograph a lot and really just hone in on my skills and everything,” Elise says of her time studying dance in college. She ended up getting her BFA with a double major in filmmaking and dance. After graduating, Elise worked and danced in Utah for a while, before returning to Seattle around 2018.

Dance is an important art form for Elise because it has given her a means of expression, something she felt that she lacked as a child. “Growing up, I was a pretty shy kid, so I didn’t really have a voice,” Elise shares. “When I was able to dance, I could express myself.” Community is another major reason why she has stayed connected to dance for so long. Finding other dancers that Elise was able to mesh with was transformative.

Physically, the feeling of “building up momentum within [her] body” is a satisfying part of dancing to Elise. “Momentum building up in your body and feeling that almost ‘falling’ moment...that’s like an addicting feeling,” she stresses.

“Art is a spiritual and emotional provider that other people need to see the value in and then support...so their communities can grow and thrive, and in a sense, heal, mourn, and celebrate,”

— Elise Beers

Nevertheless, as with most dancers, Elise’s dance journey hasn’t been completely smooth sailing. “I feel like the biggest challenge I’ve had for a long time [is] my body type. I don’t have that skinny, tall, European body,” she says. She spent much of her training trying to show others that she could hold her own as a dancer, regardless of what she looks like. For others feeling overlooked because of their bodies, Elise advises them to find their niche as a dancer and lean into it. Finding what you’re good at and learning how to capitalize on it throughout your dancing can be incredibly useful.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Elise was deeply saddened by the hardships occurring around the world, especially within Indigenous communities. “It’s just really hard to [feel] like you’re on the sidelines,” Elise says in regards to her capacity to make positive change. Growing up, Elise’s family favored outdoor activities, constantly camping and “roughing it” in the wilderness, so nature has a special place in her heart. “Seeing all these pipelines and oil protests just really breaks my heart,” she shares. For Elise, the tipping point was the heightened news coverage about the Canadian government discovering hundreds of Indigenous children’s bodies buried beneath residential schools. This was information that Elise’s family had known about through passed down family stories, and knowledge that the public was no longer able to ignore. At this point, she knew she needed to contribute to activism in a way of her own.

“I want to do something. I want to create something in my own expression,” she states.

Earth Works Dance is primarily inspired by the concept of giving and receiving from the earth. “We give to the earth, the earth provides, and eventually we provide for the earth when we die,” Elise shares. In a similar vein, land acknowledgment is an act that Elise values greatly. Land acknowledgment doesn’t involve knowing who the “owner” of the land is or was, but who its keeper and caretaker was. This is ultimately what got the ball rolling on Elise’s project.

“With Earth Works Dance, I want to focus on the original land caretakers and be honest about land acknowledgment and focus on ceremonial healing in dance workshops,” Elise shares. Healing the “body, spirit, emotion, and mind” is a significant goal of the project. “That’s something that I feel like, as Indigenous people, we’ve held back from because of colonization and literal genocide. [There’s] a lot of healing that needs to happen,” she says. “Finding the expression from that and then taking it to a show or dance film” will be the ultimate progression from these workshops. “As an Indigenous person, I feel very drawn to this and feel like this is what I need to do,” Elise states.

While the specific details of its format are still in the works, utilizing dance as a means of healing, community building, and connection to the land will be a predominant focus of Earth Works Dance. In tandem with this objective, Elise hopes to see funding for the arts improve moving forward. “[Art] is a spiritual and emotional provider that other people need to see the value in and then support...so their communities can grow and thrive, and in a sense, heal, mourn, and celebrate,” Elise says.

You can learn more about Elise and her work on her website and Instagram. Look out for her choreography in the next Seattle International Dance Festival, Tint Dance Festival, and Full Tilt, and see her performance in EL SUEÑO’s upcoming dance film.

Elise's Instagram

Elise's Website

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Guest User 11/13/23 Guest User 11/13/23

Celebrating Indigenous Dancers Past & Present

Many people in western culture generally feel comfortable with a binary kind of thinking because it's a way of processing information that we’ve grown up with. Things are either black or white, day or night, right or wrong. But when we make binary statements about people and art, we can create a rather limiting perspective for ourselves. I’ve found that such generalizations are often made about certain genres of dance or dance unique to specific cultural communities or regions.

A Look at the Contributions of Indigenous Performers Nationwide

By Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Editor

*Photo of Indigenous Enterprise performers Kenneth Shirley and Dominic Pablo at Jacob’s Pillow in August 2022. Photo by Danica Paulos.*

For example, many are quick to assume that indigenous dancers and dance within indigenous communities must look a certain way. However, within indigenous communities across the globe, dance has played a variety of roles, including making cross-cultural connections in the case of “The Five Moons,” as well as telling stories, healing from trauma, and exercising imagination. Let’s take a look at just a few of the many talented former and active indigenous dancers contributing to the rich dance landscape across the country.

“The Five Moons”

Myra Yvonne Chouteau, Rosella Hightower, Moscelyne Larkin, Maria Tallchief, and Marjorie Tallchief, otherwise known as “The Five Moons,” are five Native American ballerinas from the U.S. state of Oklahoma known for achieving international recognition in ballet during the twentieth century.

“Of course, my parents were not about to let ballet take me away from my Indian dancing,” says Chouteau in American Indian Ballerinas. After touring globally with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, Chouteau, a Shawnee-Cherokee, returned to Oklahoma and helped found the dance program at the University of Oklahoma in the early 1960s and the Oklahoma City Civic Ballet. On the other hand, Hightower, of the Choctaw Nation, found great success abroad, particularly in France where she earned the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, a high marker of civil distinction in France, in 1975. Nonetheless, some jokingly argue that Hightower’s greatest accomplishment was famously learning the lead for Giselle in less than five hours!

*The Five Moons. From left: Maria Tallchief, Marjorie Tallchief, Rosella Hightower, Moscelyne Larkin and Yvonne Chouteau. Photo courtesy the University of Oklahoma School of Dance.*

Among Larkin’s accomplishments, one particularly notable is helping found the renowned Tulsa Ballet. Larkin, an Eastern Shawnee-Peoria, was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1979. A descendant of a Russian mother and a Native American father, Larkin famously said that ballet gave her the freedom to express all parts of her identity.

Marjorie Tallchief, of the Osage Nation, performed with the Paris Opéra Ballet from 1957 to 1962, as well as the Chicago Opera Ballet, Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas, and many other large-scale companies. Her older sister Maria Tallchief was the first American dancer to achieve the title of “prima ballerina.” When George Balanchine co-founded what would become New York City Ballet in 1946, she was the company’s first major star. Tallchief showcased her talents across the globe, becoming the first American to perform in Moscow, Russia’s Bolshoi Theater.

“These are American Indian people that have made this impact on ballet,” says Russ Tall Chief, a relative of Marjorie and Maria, and a co-planner of the 2021 Five Moons Dance Festival at the University of Oklahoma. “And that they consider themselves American Indian before they consider themselves ballerinas, I think that’s important. That is part of their vocabulary as dancers. They bring that history of American Indian culture to their dance, and to their interpretation of the way that they see ballet.”

“The Five Moons” overcame preconceived, limiting notions of what a ballerina should look like, particularly during a time when American ballet was viewed as inferior to European ballet. Writer Meryl Cates points out that these women not only grappled with finding their place in the culture of their companies as Oklahomans but as Native women in a white-dominated field. These women have come to represent much of what people think of when they envision successful indigenous dancers of the twentieth century. But the story has certainly not stopped with them. Today, and for thousands of years before today, indigenous dancers have been using movement as a way to tell stories, heal, connect with their own culture and the world around them, and much more.

Dancing Earth

Dancing Earth is a company striving to create contemporary dance and related arts through global-Indigenous and intercultural relationships. The company is based in Ogaa Po Ogeh and Ohlone occupied territory, otherwise known as Santa Fe, New Mexico, and San Francisco, California. It specifically centers its mission on ecological and cultural diversity for creativity, health, and wellness. Founding Artistic Director Rulan Tangen descends, in part, from the Kampampangan people of Luzon in the Philippines. A cancer survivor and recipient of Kennedy Center’s 2018-19 Citizen Artist fellowship, her work interprets dance as a functional ritual for transformation and healing, using movement to foster a connection with all life forms on Earth.

Earth Works Dance

Formerly based in occupied Duwamish territory, otherwise known as Seattle, WA, Earth Works Dance is a nomadic dance company focused on earth healing and land acknowledgment. Using dance as a means to help heal the “body, spirit, emotion, and mind” is a driver of the company’s mission. “[Art] is a spiritual and emotional provider that other people need to see the value in and then support…so their communities can grow and thrive, and in a sense, heal, mourn, and celebrate,” says Earth Works Dance founder and artist Elise Beers. Click here to read more about Elise’s work with the company.

Indigenous Enterprise

Indigenous Enterprise centers its art on what it refers to as “the three Ps”: Preservation, Performance, and Progression. Through its teaching efforts, the company strives to help preserve a strong Native American identity while welcoming many different kinds of performances and continuing to “progress” amid cultural and global changes. The dance group has been featured at Lincoln Center’s Summer For the City, Jacob’s Pillow, and lauded in Dance Magazine for their imaginative fusion of hip hop and Native American dance on season four of World of Dance.

The Jingle Dress Project

The idea of the Jingle Dress Project came to Navajo photographer Eugene Tapahe in a dream. Amid one of the heights of the COVID-19 pandemic, Eugene dreamt of jingle dress dancers appearing as he sat, watching bison graze. Seeing the dancers perform the traditional Ojibwe healing dance gave Tapahe a sense of peace, a feeling he knew the world was craving during such a grave global crisis. Jingle dresses are traditionally adorned with beadwork, ribbon work, as well as triangular metal cones around the skirt that shake and create a distinctive sound with each movement. The Jingle Dress Project has traveled across the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to help uplift communities. “The jingle dress is really important for Native people, and the purposes of healing,” says Eugene, illustrating yet another way that dance can be used to heal in and out of indigenous communities.

While this article is certainly not exhaustive of all the Native American dancers creating art across the United States, it provides a peak into some of the exciting, multifaceted artists contributing to a long-standing, vibrant dance landscape. To explore some of these artists in greater depth, click the links below!