Jessica Wilson – Page 114 – Dance Direct Blog. News, Reviews & Advice About Dance

Taking Care Of Your Body During The Summer

Take Care Of Your Body For many dance students, the summer spells summer schools and dance intensives. These summer training programmes are designed to push dance students further and give them another dance experience. They can vary in length, style and structure, but it is important to make the most of the programme while looking after your body.

It is important to warm up properly, despite the fact the warm weather will make you feel like you are already warm and flexible. While your body is warm however, your muscles and joints are not. Don’t be tempted into skipping your usual warm up, in order to give your body the preparation it needs to dance and protect itself from injury.

Remember to drink enough water during summer programmes: staying hydrated is one of the most important parts of taking care of yourself during long days of dance. Make sure you drink water before, during and especially after classes, and also ensure you eat well-balanced meals. You will be dancing for many hours every day, which may be more than you’re used to, so make sure you eat enough of the right food to get you through the day.

With many different dancers around it is tempting to become competitive and push yourself beyond your dancing limits. Get enough rest to balance out the energetic days, which also means you will decrease the risk of injuring yourself. Injuries are common during summer programmes, simply because you are dancing more than your body is used to. Pay attention and listen to what your body is telling you and at the end of the day cool down and stretch.

Above all, remember to have fun! Summer intensives are designed to push you towards being a professional, but remember to enjoy the hard work.

NYT Perform at Commonwealth Games

Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014 At the recent opening of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, young performers from the National Youth Theatre appeared as part of the ceremonies to welcome the countries’ teams. The cast of 60 NYT members were involved in the Village Ceremonies, which included the opening of the athletes’ village, the team welcome celebrations and the imminent farewell ceremony, meaning the performers will have much exposure throughout the Games and will be present during many parts of the ceremonies.

The outdoor performances are created entirely by the NYT, holding much prestige throughout the Games in the demonstration of the group’s creative and artistic talents. Performers aged 15 to 25 were selected from NYT’s social inclusion programme in Glasgow and other areas of the UK it works in, creating links to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games geographically, artistically and culturally.

In 2012, the NYT performed as part of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games welcome ceremonies, so the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games has added to their growing experience of performing at large-scale cultural events. For the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games NYT has staged youthful and inventive ceremonies full of spectacle and style that capture the spirit of Glasgow.

The opening ceremony of the athletes’ village is one of the first experiences for the competitors when they arrive in Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games, so it is a fantastic experience for NYT to be involved in such a primary and important event for the competitors, some being welcomed to Glasgow for the first time by NYT and the other performers. The ceremonies will not only represent the spirit of Glasgow and the Commonwealth Games but will be an unforgettable experience for all those who take part.

NEBT Round-Up

The recent performances of the New English Ballet Theatre were a breath of fresh air for its spread of audiences. Opening night at the Peacock Theatre, London, saw a multitude of audiences vying for a taste of the company’s work, still reasonably new and fresh on the dance and ballet scene. The cast were all a credit to the company, well trained dancers who ate up the stage.

The company began as a summer festival of productions, looking to becoming a full time company. It is neo-classical in genre and encompasses a huge variety of styles and vocabulary in as wide a spectrum as possible. The company employs over one hundred classical dancers, giving them lots of support from the dance world at a high level. This company of emerging dancers was born from the huge talent pool of the industry and the lack of jobs available.

The company is solely dedicated to producing neo-classical work but as a cross-discipline company, commissioning a number of young artists, musicians and designers to work alongside the company. It is clear the company is going from strength to strength, especially evident from the mixed programme recently presented in London. Following the Peacock Theatre, the company will be performing at the Lantern Studio Theatre in Canary Wharf: it has recently been rehearsing five world premieres!

In terms of long-term goals, the company aims to expand its programming and build up the company’s repertoire of commissioned works of exciting new neo-classical choreography, becoming the number one company for this style of work. It has been lucky recently to receive an arts council grant for audience development and touring to arts festivals in Europe, and delivering larger programmes in the UK.

The Dance School Dilemma

Choosing a dance school is of utmost importance for your budding dancer. For young dancers it is important they have fun in addition to learning about the dance basics before they progress further. With older dancers who are changing dance studios, it may be an idea to find out where current and former students of the studio are and what they are doing. Depending on how serious your child is about dance, it is importance to find a dance school with excellent technical training alongside a passion for developing youth dance.

Your dancers may wish to study a variety of dance techniques or just focus solely on one. Many schools offer a full range and require the students to be trained as an all-rounder, and others enable you to pick and choose training. Make sure you are able to check on your child’s progress effectively and if parents are able to watch classes. Some studios also offer the chance to be entered into competitions and other performances outside of dance school hours, but these are not usually mandatory.

Dress code or uniform is also a consideration: this reveals a lot about the dance school’s approach. The school should require close fitting clothing and appropriate footwear, no jewellery and hair off the face. Teachers must be able to see body alignment in order to provide essential corrections. Try and see this first hand before joining the studio by visiting the school to gain a better idea of how it operates, as well as the general vibe and rapport between parents, students and teachers.

In visiting the school you can also assess its cleanliness, safety and studio arrangement. You can see if there are changing areas, water accessibility and adequate materials such as mats, barres and safe floors. The atmosphere should be vibrant and the mood positive.

Musical Hits Cats And Evita To Return To The West End

Cats The Musical West End superstars Cats and Evita are set to be returning to the West End for limited runs at the London Palladium and Dominion Theatre respectively.

The original creative team for Cats will reunite for the December opening, with direction from Trevor Nunn, design by John Napier and superb choreography by Gillian Lynne. According to sources Andrew Lloyd Webber is re-writing a couple of songs. Further information has now been confirmed. The team are taking the Cats show that is currently touring, and will be working on it afresh.

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita will also be retuning to West End for limited run at the Dominion starring Marti Pellow & Madalena Alberto to open in September. The production will run for 55 performances only until 1 November however Marti Pellow and Madalena Alberto will reprise their performances from the UK Tour as Che Guevara and Eva Peron, with direction by Bill Kenwright and Bob Tomson.

Evita will be the first show to run at the Dominion following its renovation work and the closure of We Will Rock You. Evita charts the story of Eva Peron, wife of former Argentine dictator Juan Peron, from her humble beginnings through to the extraordinary wealth, power and iconic status which ultimately led her to be heralded as the ‘spiritual leader of the nation’.

For over 30 years Marti Pellow has enjoyed global success as the lead singer of Wet Wet Wet and as a solo artist. He has appeared in The Witches of Eastwick, Chess, Jekyll & Hyde, Chicago and Blood Brothers. Madalena Alberto’s theatre credits include Les Misérables (25th Anniversary production), Jekyll and Hyde and Fame. Her first album Don’t Cry For Me will be released to coincide with Evita’s opening.

Frantic Assembly to offer MA

Physical theatre company Frantic Assembly is set to partner with Coventry University in order to deliver a postgraduate qualification in theatre-making, much to the delight of many of its fans and followers. The two organisations have claimed this marks the first time a professional theatre company has been involved in the creation of a master’s degree programme in the UK, and is thought to offer participants an enriched and all-round fulfilling education.

The one-year course, named Collaborative Theatre Making MA, will see Frantic Assembly lead intensive, practical performance projects, which will feature alongside supporting seminars, research events and master classes run by the university in a balance between the academic and the practical. The theatre company will lead modules on devising work and engaging with young people and communities, and will also work with students to create a public performance as part of the course.

The course will begin in January 2015 and will offer professional level training for 26 full-time students from all disciplines, including actors, directors, writers, dancers, choreographers, composers and musicians and will be taught in both London and Coventry. Coventry University will run a taster workshop on the new MA course in London in mid July in order to give potential students the opportunity to work with Frantic Assembly and to find out more about the course.

The new MA course will produce a creative environment where emerging artists are encouraged to think beyond their background genre and their own areas of expertise in their theatre-making. It will provide exciting opportunities for the participants to develop their practice and understanding of the theatre industry and it will mean they can develop a ‘total theatre’ approach to open up the potential of devising theatre with highly skilled and exciting collaborators.

Becoming a Professional

Dance Auditions Making the transition from student to professional is a hazy one – dancers can gain employment whilst in full-time training and there are factors that can help navigate the transition. Aside from having talent and passion, dancers need to be self-motivated, persistent and professional. It’s also much easier to survive if you are liked by your peers and professionals, and have a reputation of working hard and making the most of every opportunity.

It is important to remain motivated and take class, to keep up to date in the industry and with the new faces. Work may not come along for a while, but it’s important to keep your face out there and remind teachers, agents and other dancers that you are there. Dancers may also need to take on other forms of casual employment to pay the bills. For many, this means teaching or waiting tables; whatever it is, having the flexibility to get to classes and auditions is essential so that you can be as fit and ready for work as possible.

Finding an agent is a high priority for graduates as there are many jobs that only agents hear about and because they can negotiate agreements. Some agents attract a variety of work and others specialise in one or two areas, so make sure they have a reputation for getting the type of work you’re interested in. It may be that you cannot find an agent until you have some experience, so remember that there are still open calls, particularly for jobs such as theme parks, cruise ships, and other shows.

Auditions are a big part of a dancer’s life so it’s vital to cultivate a positive attitude and develop a thick skin. Keep in mind that each audition you attend is an opportunity to show what you can do, whether or not you get the job. If you aren’t right for the job this time, make sure you impress someone enough for a job in the future. Always ask yourself what you can improve on from the experience that will help you get closer to getting the job next time.

Recovering From Smaller Injuries

Shin Splints While major injuries are devastating, it is often the smaller injuries which have more of an effect on a dancer’s wellbeing, such as being covered in bruises or burning the feet constantly. Dancers can become desperate for a cure, such as for cuts, split skin, blisters and bruises.

For cuts and split skin, lots of dancers use fat-based balms to keep skin softer so it’s less likely to split in the first place. Use a pumice stone to reduce the thickness of skin or calluses, or nail clippers to trim tough edges so they don’t get caught and pull the wound open. Some dancers also develop taping methods for prevention. Cuts need to be kept clean and sterile, to prevent microorganisms from growing and tape can be used to hold the skin together.

Despite being small, blisters can be painful and troublesome. They form due to friction on the skin but by placing a layer between what rubs and your skin can eliminate the friction, such as by using tape, tights or clothing. Your skin will also toughen up with exposure so you will be less susceptible to blisters once your skin gets used to a new shoe or to dancing barefoot. As with calluses, dancers can use a balm or oil to make sure their skin stays soft and doesn’t dry out and harden around the blister: make sure you keep an open blister clean, sterile and covered. Don’t pop the blister, but if it is no longer intact, leave the skin over the wound.

Bruises are difficult to prevent, as they occur when capillaries, and sometimes tiny veins, are broken due to impact, allowing blood to collect near the surface of the skin. Try to control descents to the floor with strong muscles and smooth, coordinated movement. If you do bruise easily use balms and creams such as Arnica to help the healing process, and don’t let the small stuff get you down!

Leroy Dias Dos Santos: A Flawless approach

Leroy Dias Dos Santos is a passionate dancer, choreographer, model, singer and a social mentor who continues to strive for perfection. In 2007, he graduated from Middlesex University after studying Dance Studies.

As a freelance dancer, choreographer and teacher Leroy is a proud member of the street dance group Flawless, who were finalists on ITV’s ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ (2009). Flawless have had great success in the entertainment industry featuring in movies like ‘Street Dance 3D’ 1 and 2 by Vertigo films (2009), appearing on Eastenders -E20 BBC 1 (2010), being invited by HM The Queen for the ‘Youths In The Arts’ event at Buckingham Palace (2011) performing at The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with Kylie Minogue (2012) and also performing at the Paralympic Opening Ceremony (2012).

There have been many highlights in Leroy’s career through performing and touring but also meeting many prestigious people such as HM The Queen, Prince Charles and other members of The Royal family, and working with artists such as Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Leona Lewis, Sugababes and choreographers such as Jermaine Brown, Rafael Bonachela, Shobana Jesaysingh, Mavin Khoo and companies such as English National Ballet.

When did you begin dancing, where and why?

I started dancing from the age of 6 years old and as I grew older I started to train and practice Hip Hop with my cousins and friends in my free time. Dancing is a big part of my culture, in my family everyone would always dance and show off at birthday parties and weddings. I wanted to be the best dancer so I would always dance and practice my best moves.

I’d say Michael Jackson was one of my key inspirations throughout my childhood.

What were your early years of dancing like?

My early years of dancing were fun and exciting. In secondary school I would always compete in dance competitions with my friends and we would always win every year. I was taking street dance classes outside of school with my friends, which really helped me interact with other people and boost my confidence. Having friends who were into dance encouraged me to keep on dancing.

How long have you been performing? Did you start young?

I have been performing for about 14 years. I started performing at events, festivals, parties and bar mitzvah’s from the age of 15. I was committed to several community dance groups, which gave me opportunity platforms. Performing from a young age was a great experience, which helped enhance my skills and ability.

Where did you train and what was a typical day like?

After secondary school I took a BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts, which was a 2-year course at Barnet College. In this course I was able to develop my singing, dancing and acting. This was also the first time I experienced Contemporary and Ballet training. A typical day at College was Ballet and Contemporary class in the morning, drama/singing and technical theatre in the afternoon. I would then go to D.I.C.E. after college, which was a community street dance group for Popping, Bboying and Hip Hop training. This was my schedule for most days.

What is a typical day like now?

A typical day for me now is very hectic and spontaneous. The majority of the time as a freelance dancer, choreographer and teacher I am always kept busy touring across the world. If I am not performing or touring with Flawless, I am either teaching workshops in schools or universities, choreographing shows and working on my own individual projects.

Everyday has a different story and is never the same.

Do you still take classes? How do you keep on top of your technique?

I still take class in my free time, as it’s important for me to keep on top of my game. I take general classes from Ballet to Hip Hop classes. I also go gymnastics too as I like tumble and practice different tricks. Being an all round dancer means I always have to keep on training and having balance in training all styles.

What’s the best part about performing?

The best part about performing is being able to engage with the audience and being in the moment.

What would you say was your greatest achievement to date?

My greatest achievement so far was being invited by HM The Queen to perform at Buckingham Palace (2011) and performing with Kylie Minogue at The Diamond Jubilee (2012), which was such an honour.

Which part of dance do you enjoy most?

The part of dance I enjoy most is definitely performing.

What advice would you give to someone aspiring to be part of the dance industry?

The best advice I would give is that you have to be very disciplined, hard working and consistent as a dancer/choreographer. Make sure you are always training, learning and exploring. It’s great to be ambitious, creative and confident in every path you take and make the most out of every given platform and opportunity.

What’s next for you?

I am currently on tour with Flawless featuring in a show called ‘Flash Mob’ which is being toured across the UK from June till August 2014. I am also working on my solo show called ‘The Battle Within’ which will be performed in theatres towards the end of 2014. I will be choreographing a few projects and creating video concepts throughout 2014. For more details check my website www.leroydias.com twitter.com/Fx_Flawless

Step LIVE!

Eighteen youth dance groups from mainstream and SEN secondary schools across London have been selected to perform at Sadler’s Wells in London’s biggest celebration of youth dance, taking place on 5 July.

Step LIVE! is the end of year showcase from Step into Dance, the UK’s largest inclusive secondary school dance programme. The event will feature over 350 young performers, who all receive specialist dance education thanks to the Step into Dance programme – a partnership between the Royal Academy of Dance and The Jack Petchey Foundation. The event is the culmination of a year of hard work and a fantastic opportunity for young dancers on such a large stage.

From a pilot of 28 schools, the Step programme is now a fully inclusive programme delivered in 200 schools and available in 32 London boroughs and Essex, including Special Educational Needs schools and Pupil Referral Units. Step into Dance is unique in offering sustained training (of up to 2 hours per week) and performance opportunities throughout the academic year.

Following a series of nine London-wide Borough Events, groups who showed the most promise and talent were invited to auditions across the capital. Lambeth Academy were one of the groups to impress with an energetic street piece choreographed by their Step into Dance teacher, Kevin Young. The group from Lambeth, who performed outside a local supermarket to raise money for costumes, will join seventeen other school groups from the Step into Dance programme performing at Step LIVE! 2014. Also performing will be the three Step into Dance Youth Companies, showcasing the very best of the programme’s promising young talent.

Tickets to Step LIVE! 2014 are now on sale at www.sadlerswells.com or via the Box Office on 0844 412 4300.