Before flamenco dancer Irene Rodríguez ever learned to dance, she learned to make music. Specifically, she studied piano, going to a professional school for the instrument in her native Cuba, where she excelled (partially thanks to large hands, she admits). “But as soon as I met dance, I really started wanting more hours of dance lessons than music lessons.” Rodríguez ended up studying at the school of the Ballet Español de Cuba and eventually became a principal dancer of Spanish dance and flamenco at Ballet Español de Cuba and the renowned Ballet Nacional de Cuba, in addition to founding her […]
With Jennifer Homans, Dance History Is Getting a New Chair, and a Seat at NYU’s Liberal Arts Table
Jennifer Homans has been named the inaugural Van Cleef & Arpels Chair in the History of Dance at New York University’s College of Arts & Science. A force in the dance world, Homans is a former professional dancer, the current dance critic for the New Yorker, and the author of the best-selling books Apollo’s Angels and Mr. B: George Balanchine’s 20th Century. She has been a Distinguished Scholar in Residence at NYU since 2008 and founded its interdisciplinary Center for Ballet and the Arts (CBA) in 2014. Dance Teacher recently spoke with Homans about her new appointment and her hopes […]
Watch DT+ Teacher Talk: “What Audition Panels Are Looking For”
Watch this hour-long conversation to get the insight you need into providing meaningful dance education for students with disabilities, whether you teach in a K–12 setting, private studio, or community dance program. Additional resources Click here to visit Special Education PTAs to gain awareness and information about special education services, educational laws, and community supports to members. Browse this list of federal laws that protect people with disabilities. Top 3 takeaways from the speakers Sandra Stratton-Gonzalez See the child. Embrace the child. Lift up their responses. Incorporate their movement choices into the work you do with them. Be flexible. Write […]
Register Now: DT+ Teacher Talk, “Dealing with Perfectionism and Performance Anxiety”
We’ve all seen it: The students who are so hyper-focused on being “perfect” that they can’t freely experience the joy of movement. But when it comes to working in a high-pressure industry, we dance teachers are just as susceptible to falling into the trap of punishing perfectionism as the students we teach. Whether it’s helping your students cope with performance anxiety, unpacking your own personal self-criticism, or simply managing the day-to-day stresses that come with teaching, you’ll find plenty of professional advice in our next DT+ Teacher Talk, “Dealing With Perfectionism and Performance Anxiety,” on Thursday, May 8, at 12 […]
Registration Link for DT+ Teacher Talk: “Dealing with Perfectionism and Performance Anxiety”
Whether it’s helping your students cope with performance anxiety, unpacking your own personal self-criticism, or simply managing the day-to-day stresses that come with teaching, you’ll find plenty of professional advice in our next DT+ Teacher Talk, “Dealing With Perfectionism and Performance Anxiety,” on Thursday, May 8, at 12 pm EDT. Dance Teacher’s editorial director, Reanne Rodrigues, joins writer and mental health advocate Kathleen McGuire Gaines and Dr. Elizabeth Hutter, the school principal of New Ballet in San Jose, California, and president of the American Psychological Association’s section on performance psychology, in this live hour-long Zoom discussion. Attendees will also be able […]
How Kumudini Lakhia stirred the dance world with her pathbreaking approach
The 95-year-old legendary Kathak dancer, choreographer and guru passed away on April 12 in Ahmedabad.
Kathak legend Kumudini Lakhia passes away
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to her and said her passion towards Kathak and Indian classical dances were reflected in her remarkable work over the years
Contemporary dancer, Shruti Maria Datar’s ‘C. Tactile’ is all about the power of touch
The Mumbai-based dancer will present her dance choreography in Bengaluru on April 11
What to Know About This Weekend’s NDA College Nationals
With the excitement of January’s Universal Dance Association (UDA) College Nationals dying down, dancers won’t have to wait long for their next obsession: National Dance Alliance (NDA) College Nationals are just around the corner. This year they’ll take place April 9–13 in Daytona, FL. Ever wonder what separates these two collegiate national championships, or what you should be looking out for in Daytona? Dance Spirit has got you covered. UDA vs NDA What separates UDA from NDA? For starters, while teams compete each dance style separately at UDA (think Hip Hop, Jazz, and Pom events), NDA is known for its […]
The making of Adishakti, a unique art research space in Auroville
Adishakti artistic director Vinay Kumar on how he found a guru in Veenapani Chawla and the joy of taking forward her vision.