The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus famously asserted “Life is flux.” Dancers most certainly know this to be true. Whether they are early in their training or seasoned professionals, change is your students’ persistent companion. Dancers must nimbly adjust to shifting expectations, choreography and opportunities, as well as to transformation within their very own bodies, the […]
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 […]
Dancers crossing over into the fitness realm may be increasingly popular, but it was never part of French-born Julie Granger‘s plan. Though Granger grew up a serious ballet student, taking yoga classes on the side eventually led to a whole new career. Creating her own rules along the way, Granger shares how combining the skills […]
Guess what, dance teachers. Today is the third annual International Yoga Day. In honor of the event, a special free yoga and meditation session will be held at Castle Clinton in Battery Park, NYC, 5–8:30 pm. To register, click here. The first 500 participants get a free yoga mat! For those of you not in […]
Biking develops strength in the quadriceps and glutes. Working at a lower resistance will enable dancers to avoid building bulky muscles. An elliptical gives you an intense cardio workout without the impact on your joints. Adjustments to the incline and resistance can add variety to the workout. Pilates stabilizes the core and targets specific muscle […]
Back in the day, dancers often studied a single technique and swore allegiance to one choreographer. Now, dancers typically must handle a much wider range of physical and creative demands. One way to gain the mental and physical resilience their careers require is through the practice of yoga. Yoga classes that incorporate all aspects of […]
You’d be hard-pressed to find a dancer who hasn’t taken yoga to supplement her training. Many don’t realize, however, that B.K.S. Iyengar is to thank for the Eastern practice’s proliferation in the U.S. The legendary yoga guru died this morning at 95 in Pune, India. Iyengar began practicing yoga to restore his poor health as […]
New Jersey–based yoga enthusiast and teacher Laura Kasperzak uses social media to document her practice and update students on her class schedules. She has recently stumbled into Instagram fame, largely thanks to her daughter’s guest appearances in her yoga photo shoots. Kasperzak even appeared on “Good Morning America” in a segment on how to turn […]
In the December issue, DT staff reflects on their favorite covers of the year. Assistant editor Andrea Marks picked August. “TaraMarie Perri’s dancer-turned-yoga-instructor story was inspiring. She has such a complete knowledge of anatomy, and I love that she’s made it her life’s work to help dancers use their bodies in a healthy way. I […]
How I Teach Yoga for Dancers In a small studio four floors above Manhattan’s rush-hour commute, 20 or so students sit on their heels at the center of their yoga mats. “We’re going to do a hips class today,” says TaraMarie Perri, adjunct professor at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. The dancers […]