Tag: meditation

Susan Jaffe's Essential Daily Practice

Throughout Susan Jaffe’s performance career at American Ballet Theatre, there was something special, even magical, about her dancing. Lauded as “America’s quintessential American ballerina” by The New York Times, Jaffe has continued to shine in her postperformance career, most recently as the dean of dance at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. […]

3 Stress-Reducing Exercises to Give Your Students Before Going Onstage

The pressure young dancers feel to succeed at competition can lead to unhealthy stress levels that take the fun out of performing. To help your students feel calm, cool and collected before dancing, teach them these three stress-reducing exercises to do before going onstage. Trust us, learning how to manage anxiety will benefit your dancers […]

Mindfulness for Less Stress

You know that feeling you get right before the curtain goes up—palms sweating and your heart pounding? Stress often accompanies performance, but it needn’t be debilitating. In a recent study, mindfulness meditation—actively tuning in to the body and breath in a still position—proved helpful in reducing stress reactions in athletes. Scientists measured the stress levels […]