Category: News

Yoga has many benefits for dancers, helping them to cross-train their bodies in order to build more strength for dancing, in addition to working on their flexibility from a breath perspective. Going to the gym and practising Pilates are perhaps more common ways of cross-training the dancing body, however yoga is certainly on its way up. Continue reading Yoga and ballet

Launching in the 40th year of the festival, ResCen: Dance Umbrella at 40 will be documenting the creative process of artists it has commissioned, as they develop and create new work. The programme kicks off by capturing many of this year’s events but will also chart how artists approach their choreography from the inception stage of their ideas, to the development of their vision through to a finished dance work programmed and performed at future festivals. Continue reading Dance Umbrella and the choreographic process

Hadar Neeman, a graduate from Israel’s national school of art, the Bezalel Academy of Art, has designed a personalised pointe shoe made using 3D-printing technology, designed for the individual ballerina. Continue reading 3D-printed pointe shoes

Forty years ago, Raymond Briggs’ illustrated book The Snowman transported children into the wintery wonderland of a boy and his snowy companion. Now, in its record-breaking 21st year at The Peacock, Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s twinkling production of The Snowman returns, as a magical mix of dancing and live music lift the boy and his friend from page to stage. Continue reading Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s The Snowman

It is the ultimate question – can stage presence be taught or improved upon? Or do dancers just have to do their best with what they’ve got? It is an illusive thing – for some dancers it appears to come naturally whereas others may have trouble with it on stage, regardless of how much they love dance. Stage presence draws your eye to a dancer, it is how they project themselves on stage and connect with the audience, it is the essence of the performer. Continue reading Stage presence

In an effort to boost themselves as a performer, in terms of self-branding, building a professional network or simply staying informed, many dancers use social media. The three main platforms, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, see dancers of different demographics use them. The platforms can be hugely beneficial as tools, but if they are not managed correctly then they can also be hugely negative. Continue reading Dancing on social media

DANSATHON, a dance and technology hackathon to explore future innovations in dance, will take place in London, Liège and Lyon this September created by the BNP Paribas Foundation in partnership with Maison de la Danse in Lyon, Sadler’s Wells and the Théâtre de Liège. Continue reading Technology and dance combine for international DANSATHON

Initial details for the screen to stage adaptation of a musical version of Mrs Doubtfire have been confirmed, and the musical will be heading to Broadway. US theatre producers Fox Stage Productions and Kevin McCollum have confirmed the first steps for the musical version of the hit film, and reportedly cannot wait to get into production. Continue reading Mrs Doubtfire musical heading to Broadway

Showcasing high voltage tap dance and rugged, raw talent, Dein Perry’s multi award-winning Tap Dogs celebrates its long-awaited return to the UK in 2018. Continue reading Dein Perry’s Tap Dogs

Teamwork is the cornerstone of most sports, and it often is for dance too. Dancing – for some – is mostly an individual sport, and the focus can often be on yourself and your skill as an individual. However events like fundraisers, galas or competitions require dancers to work as a team, consolidating their skills as individual performers. Dancers can also compete as soloists at competitions, but even then, support from teammates from your dance school or group is necessary even if they’re competing against you. Continue reading Teamwork makes the dream work