drdance

Confuddled: I bought this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N48IJ2M?ref_=pe_3187911_248764861_302_E_DDE_dt_1 and use it with the wide and macro lenses together and it seems to help!

Students and teachers are feeling it too! I'm pretty disheartened by it all and it takes vast amounts of energy to teach online classes. I started back last week and my experience was mixed and I was left feeling tired and emotional. After getting feedback from parents, I'm trying a new timetable this week and I'll see how it goes. I just can't wait to be back doing actual, real, face to face classes. The world is an overwhelming place right now and we just have to go with it. Some days will feel awful, and the only way to get through them is making sure our basic needs are met (nutrition, safety, love). Other days might feel less scary and it's only then that we can do things above and beyond our basic needs (hobbies, work, chores, learning etc).

You can buy lenses to clip over a webcam or ipad that makes the angle wider... I bought a set off amazon which helps make the view from my ipad better. For teaching I have a laptop connected to the computer which enables me to see the students in gallery view, then I also log into the meeting on my ipad in portrait view with a clip on lens which ensures the students can see me from top to toe. For younger classes I put myself in spotlight view so they can only see me and no-one else, but for older students they benefit from seeing the whole class including themselves.

Ponklemum - I reiterate that students should be guided by their regular teacher at their dance school or associate programme. These teachers know your child and most are offering some way of giving feedback either by doing age appropriate zoom/skype classes or as in my case (as I've had the virus and been too ill to teach) I'm having video sent to me from students and giving feedback by email or video message. A LOT of the online offerings are not designed for children, nor are they taught by people who are used to working with children (ie they are used to working with advanced students and professionals and both physically and mentally, children are NOT mini adults!).

I think they don’t participate in it but they offer places and scholarships to competitors/ prize winners.

From next term I've asked for a £5 contribution from anyone who can afford it. But there are a few who have contacted me to say they can't and I completely understand.

I'm not saying don't do any of them - just exercise caution. Those that are aimed at young people from a reputable source like NYB and EYB will be great! My post was really aimed at all those who feel the need to join in with every single thing going - every professional ballet dancers' class, every Instagram live, and every opportunity to get a name check or a shout out from someone on social media!

Thank you Alison for sharing my post. Please look after your bodies while enjoying access to the wealth of online classes now available! Not all are suitable for children/adolescents or adult beginners. Not all are delivered by people who work with children or adult beginners. This would be the WORST time to get injured!

Pleasure! Please do share the post on social media if you can. Thanks

Thank you, Alison. Please do share on social media if you can! Thanks x

Hi everyone, I have just posted on my FB page https://www.facebook.com/saferdancetraining/ a post with advice for young dancers regarding online/home training. I would be very grateful if you could share this on your pages/social media. Thanks The text reads: "This is a message for all you young dancers out there – especially those of you who are training at a vocational level, or who want to become professional dancers in the future…. My message to you is the same as it always is – you have one body and it’s got to last you your whole career. You are probably panicking right now about being away from your dance school or your normal classes. Many of you probably take lots of classes and you’re worried about keeping up with all of it. Maybe you’re worried you’re going to fall behind, that you’re going to lose fitness or flexibility during this time. I completely understand your fears. It’s probably not helped by being away from your classmates. The only contact you have with them might be on social media which, right now, is being flooded with pictures of people joining in with online classes from home, or if they’re really lucky, they’ve got a home studio set up! But all that can make you feel like you’re not keeping up. It’s a worrying time. I’m here to remind you NOT TO PANIC! Try and treat the next few days, maybe even a week, like a holiday. Take a break! Your body and your mind will thank you. Spend some time with your family – appreciate them because we all know that if we’re lucky and no-one gets poorly, we’re going to be stuck with them for a while. A few days off will not be a disaster, just like a few days off at half term or over the holidays is never a disaster; then once you’ve had your break, start by using the classes that your own teacher or school has provided or recommended for you. They know you best and they know your level, and what you should be working on. It’s going to be really tempting to try to fill your schedule with every available online class going but it’s worth remembering some basic advice that I give at any point in time: 1) Do not do more classes/training/exercise than you would normally do. You might risk burnout, or injury. 2) Do not attempt moves or styles that you don’t normally do, especially if the person leading the class cannot see you to guide you. 3) Make sure you warm up properly before starting any exercise session. A warm up should get your heart rate and breathing rate going faster and loosen up all your joints, in an active way. Avoid passive stretching! (see my aerobic interval training video if you want any tips). 4) Avoid the temptation to practice contortion or acro tricks. These are really dangerous if you’re not with a qualified coach who can supervise you. You risk serious injuries. 5) If you are tempted to join in online classes that aren’t from or recommended by your own teachers, check the credentials of the person running the class. Make sure they really know what they’re doing, especially when it comes to teaching things like strength, flexibility, acro or other specialisms. Remember that children and adolescents should not be trained in the same way as adults, because their bodies are very different. So check the qualifications and experience of anyone who says their fitness/stretch/strengthen/acro class is suitable for children/ adolescents. 6) Finally, and I cannot stress this enough, your body has got to last you your whole career. With any luck, that is going to be a long career and hopefully lasting way, way past this period of time. What you do now could cause you serious long term problems but it could also set you up for an amazing career! Good luck and if you have any questions about how to stay safe please drop me a message!

I'm going to be doing some free online classes via my dance school on Facebook live - it's Warwick School of Dance. These are going to be aimed at community engagement and also ballet/tap/modern classes for younger children. I'm aware there is a wealth of pro/vocational level online material but less for children. If they go well I will be streaming classes and then if anyone wants private coaching via video I am going to be doing that too.

I'm going to be doing some free online classes via my dance school on Facebook live - it's Warwick School of Dance. These are going to be aimed at community engagement and also ballet/tap/modern classes for younger children. I'm aware there is a wealth of pro/vocational level online material but less for children. If they go well I will be streaming classes and then if anyone wants private coaching via video I am going to be doing that too.

Thank you. It's very worrying for those of us who run schools and programmes. Believe it or not, many of us live pretty much hand-to-mouth. There are no reserves of profit in the bank to tide us over (with perhaps some exceptions of very large schools). Those of us that prioritise things like smaller classes, quality tuition, expensive teachers etc just about cover the costs of the classes we run. Those teachers who lease studios will have rent, bills, business rates etc still to pay. Teachers who hire community facilities may be luckier; in my small provincial school I hire 3 venues. One has allowed me to cancel immediately, another is looking into their own rent situation and the third which is a big leisure centre has billed me for the next month and no further into the future, but have said that I can have the same time slots when I reopen later in the year. Everyone is trying to do right by their pupils but ultimately, there is a risk that we will lose customers during this time. It's very scary.

I've been told to assume nothing will re-open after Easter....and to prepare to be closed for a long time:-(

Sad times indeed but with RAD exams cancelled I'm making the difficult decision to close early for Easter too. But I'm going to offer private lessons to those pupils who have paid enough fees to cover the costs. After Easter - who knows!

It appears that a lot of the advice is to stop people mixing with people they wouldn't normally mix with - hence interschool events (however small) are cancelled but normal school goes on. Re dance schools, I would follow the same logic really - practice good hand hygiene, avoid unnecessary touching (we're British!) and clean barres, door handles, props etc Hysteria really is setting in. The virus is here and it's going to be here for a while, if not every year. But lets remember that other illnesses are much more deadly. Food for thought - suicide is still much more of a threat to life than COVID-19.

My pupils are working hard for their ballet exams in Warwick on 28th March..... Seriously hoping we don't get cancelled

Thanks Wildflowers, thats an interesting insight but did anyone else think it sounded like it had been written by a child? Or perhaps one of the students who doesn't have English as their first language? Or perhaps I spend too long reading scientific journals! 😂

Why do you want Grishko or Russians next time if you say the Suffolk’s fit your arch? Where did you go to get them fitted? I’m a little concerned that you didn't know how/where to tie the ribbons or what type of elastic is best or where to sew the elastic or ribbons. Usually a teacher or the shop assistants should advise on all this if it’s your first pair? Where did you buy them from? Also, where are you taking classes? How old are you? Usually beginners only do one pointe work class a week unless they’re late starters so a bit older and stronger.

Hi, I’m in Warwickshire and could have a look if you’re concerned? I’m a Ballet teacher and dance scientist (Plus sports massage therapist, injury rehabilitation and strength & conditioning coach) with lots of experience working with adolescent dancers. I do agree with the advice about auditions and not worrying your DD - at this age they’re looking for a love of dance which might be impeded if she’s worried about her shoulders!

Sounds like a dance research project needs to be done!!!!!! Interestingly (or not) I also do north-west Morris dancing and the polka step in clogs is VERY different! Although it has the same rhythm.

Interesting, because I wouldn’t say this is a ‘pure’ arabesque at all (largely because of the arms and upper body line) and from this photo it is difficult to see which direction he is facing in order to reference his alignment. Eg if he is facing the side, his supporting leg appears parallel and his body is twisted towards the lifted leg. However, if he is facing the corner, then it changes things, but then his lifted leg doesn’t appear to be behind him. Case in point of trying to apply fixed position “rules” to a professional, probably in motion, maybe even turning, performing a stylised movement.

The above video is incorrect for the ISTD polka too. I’ve found a version of it being shown sideways on YouTube so at least you get an idea of the step....

Personal opinion is all - I’ve seen it done so badly particularly in festivals that I developed a dislike for it early on! As an RAD trained dancer I wasn’t exposed to it until I began teaching in my 20s and didn’t quite understand the relevance of it, especially as I was seeing it done so badly most of the time! I’m sure if I had seen it done beautifully and properly from the outset my opinion would be different!