The New Green Dancer

Let me start this off by saying that I am not a hippy. I love the earth as much as the next guy, but saving the planet isn't at the top of my priorities. I'll can easily say its selfish of me, but I do a small part and I hope it makes a large enough impact to matter in the long run. I'll admit that being a dancer from north, central Florida who loves her air conditioner, that I'm not willing to give up my creature comforts for the whole of the environment, but doing small things can help everyone and our future generations awareness to the ever growing problems.

We've all heard about global warming and about not leaving the earth polluted for the generations to come, but how much can we really help out with as dancers? A lot of dancers first approach would be to create pieces to raise the awareness of the world and hopefully change how we live. The piece Future of Tomorrow was based entirely on the environment and was widely received as an awe inspiring look into our planets true face. I will say that these pieces have noble intentions and really make themselves a statement, but what did they really do to help the environment? Most of the people who follow the dance community already care about the world around them. How could they have really helped in the long run?

Well lets look at how most dancers attend class and some simple, easy changes that can really help out in the long run. First of all lets talk about your hydration system. Are you still using disposable water battles? Shame on you! Did you know that it takes 17 million barrels of oil to make these water bottles? Which is enough to run 100,000 cars for a year, according to the Pacific Institute. Wow, what an impact on our earth! Not to mention that 70 to 80 percent of the 34.6 billion plastic water bottles Americans buy each year end up in a landfill or incinerate and millions of gallons are used in manufacturing the bottles and that two gallons of water are wasted for every one gallon that goes into the bottles through the purification process. Opt for a metal water bottle instead. They're quite stylish and re-washable too!

Now here a simple one that might even make mom happy, carpooling. Although its not always feasible and sometimes its down right impossible, carpooling really helps cut down on the carbon dioxide put into the atmosphere and could help create stronger friendships in the process. For every gallon of gas your car consumes, it creates 20 pounds of carbon dioxide which contributes to global warming. The average car emits about six tons of carbon dioxide every year according to Julia Wang of TerraPass. Thats a lot of crap we have to breathe in everyday! Carpooling and walking to and from dance can really help cut those numbers down.

Now lets look at our clothes for just a minute. Look at the label of your leotard and tights. You'll probably see its made out of a blend of Nylon, Spandex and Lycra. How does that effect our environment? Well its simple, they're made from plastic. Plastic takes forever and a life time to degrade and is only recyclable once in its life time. Not to mention all the chemicals that were used to forge that striking halter leo you're sporting these days. Unfortunately its not really as simple as just wearing 100% cotton either. According to the Organic Consumers Association, it takes one-third of a pound of agricultural chemicals to produce one cotton shirt in the United States. That roughly means that your 100% Cotton Leotard is actually about 73% cotton and 27% chemicals. So whats a trendy, environmentally aware dancer to do? Its simple really, buy used leotards. I know some of us cringe at the thought of wearing a leotard someone else has danced in but its really the best way to help out. (You may notice I only said leotards here, thats simply because wearing used tights in disgusting and would be like wearing used underwear. Ew)

However, if you still aren't comfortable with buying used, just try to buy a leotard with the highest amount of cotton available in it. This is a good example. Stylish yet breathable, what more could you ask for? There are also some interesting options for shoes now a days. Finding shoes made from vegetable dye instead of complete nylon is an amazing feat of human technology, in my opinion!

However you decide to help the environment helps out in the long run. Remember that it won't be our planet forever and only we can make the change!

What would you like to hear about next, my lovelies? Leave me a comment or message my facebook. -Ms Ivy

hair, tights, shorts, shoes and confidence

So here you are. You're all geared up and ready for class. You walk in the door, excited for a wealth of knowledge and physical release, only to be sent home. Where did you go wrong? What happened? Its obvious, your teacher just has it out for you. That jerk, who does she think she is, telling you to go home?

Hold on, lets take a look at ourselves before we go off blaming the teacher. You're emotionally prepared, right? Ok good. You're mentally prepared, right? Also, good. Wait, what're you wearing again? Oh... Thats why. Well what do you expect the teacher to think when you walked in the door wearing your hair in a pony tail, tan tights, shorts and socks? You may have been prepared in every aspect inwardly, but your outward appearance doesn't show it.

We all know that ballerinas spend years with their hair in a bun, but why? Why not a spunky pony tail? Ooh! Or better yet, pig tails? Well the answer is relatively simple. When you learned how to add, you wrote it down right? You didn't do anything in your head until you where confident on paper. Well when learning how to turn your eyes need to learn how to adjust to spotting. If you have hair getting in your face every time you turn, you're not giving your eyes the proper training they need to spot confidently and always have a direct turn. For some more stylish and perfectly acceptable options, try a french twist, or a french braid (or if you do it inside out a dutch braid). Just make sure you tuck those ends under the braid itself.

So why all the hype on the color of your tights? Well, if tan tights do one thing and do it well, its making your legs look fabulous. It hides all the semi-straight legs and the muscle development so well that most ballet studios shun them entirely. I will agree that tan tights look fabulous on you. I will agree that when you look fabulous, you feel fabulous. I will not agree that you should be wearing them to your ballet class. Why would you want to hide the thing you're paying someone to fix? Ditch the tan tights for some pretty pink ones next time. Seamed is even better so you can focus on your turn out while you check youself in the mirror!

Oh yes... You're wearing shorts too aren't you? Tsk tsk tsk... While I'll admit that sometimes wearing shorts makes it easier to see your alignment at the barre and they generally make you feel a bit more confident around your special time of the month, they really hinder your teachers ability to teach. If you're wearing shorts, you're hiding your entire pelvic region for the teacher's immediate view. This is a crucial part of your development, as your turns come from having a strong center and so do most other basic moves. Don't hide your ballet bread and butter from the teacher!

And last but not least, we come to your socks. As a teacher and a dancer I have a lot of mixed feelings on socks in class. I feel that they give you a better feel of the floor and more control of you person foot development in a tendu. I also know from personal experience that they don't protect your feet from the harsh impact of your grand allegro, or provide a realistic surface for your pirouettes. Remember, class is all about training you to do something great. If you aren't doing everything you can to be great, then why bother? Instead of socks next time, opt for your classic ballet slippers. They are the proper training shoes for all dancers and look darn good on your feet. (And save dancing barefoot for your modern class. It was meant to be danced barefoot, after all.)

Alright, my lovelies, just one more thought on your classroom wardrobe, to feel like a ballerina you need to look like a ballerina. I know it sounds crazy, but it works. Haven't you ever walked in your class, with your hair in a pretty bun, your black leotard and your pretty pink tights and ballet shoes and just thought, "Wow, I look lovely!" Why do you think I call you all my lovelies? When you dress the part and try your best, you are lovely! So stop hiding behind your clothes and get out there and dance!

What would you like to hear about next? Comment or message my facebook! -Ms Ivy

Pointe Shoes

We all dream of wearing the magical shoes one day, but how're they made? Whats their history? Who was the first person to ever wear them? If you're anything like me you're obsessed with ballet, and if you're a lot like me, you're obsessed with history.

So who was the first person to dance on pointe? Well, Marie Taglioni often gets the credit and the blame for being the first to dance on pointe. But no one really knows for sure. It is established that in 1832 Marie Taglioni danced in the full length La Sylphide on pointe. But almost certainly there were dancers before her who rose onto the tops of their toes. It's even possible that Mme. Camargo had done so one hundred years before. There are references in newspaper accounts of various ballerinas with "fantastic toes" or "falling of her toes. " Taglioni herself most likely danced on pointe before La Sylphide.

You also have to take into consideration that ballet was a lot different back then. Men had most of the glory back in those days, and women had to face a lot of social criticism for being performers at all. The Eighteenth Century saw an increased prominence of the female dancer and the expansion of the ballet vocabulary to include more jumps and turns. Among the other stars of the era were Mlle. Lyonnais, famed for her gargoulliades, and Fraulein Heinel, who dazzled Europe with her multiple pirouettes--but on demi-pointe.

Taglioni wore soft satin slippers that fit like kid gloves. They had a leather sole and some darning on the sides and under, but not on the tip. That's all. It must have been a lot like standing barefoot. The blocked pointe shoe with a stiff sole as we know it today did not evolve until much later.

By the end of the century the ballerina faced new challenges. In Russia, in St. Petersburg, Marius Petipa was creating what would become the classics: Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, La Bayadere, Don Quixote, and many more. At this time there were two main--and rival-- schools of ballet in Europe: the French School, which Petipa brought to Russia, and the Italian school of which Cecchetti is a famous example. When the two of the great ballerinas of the Italian School, Virginia Zucchi and Pierina Legnani, came to St. Petersburg, their visit has a profound effect on the history of ballet.

Whereas the French school emphasized refinement, the Italian school was more athletic; its dancers developed powerful calves and thighs. The Italian school pushed technique to the limit in order to achieve dazzling feats. The Italians had a secret weapon, a closely guarded trade secret, for turning multiple pirouettes: spotting. They also had better shoes.

Pointe shoes have evolved so much since then too. Take this video for example, I highly doubt they made them like this back in those days! The modern day pointe shoe is a work of modern ingenuity and classic refinement. Gaynor Minden makes what I like to call "sci-fi pointe shoes." Instead of using the traditional paste and cardboard, they use plexiglass and come pre-padded. No toe pads required!

The wait for going onto pointe is a long one. It feels like its taking forever and your teacher just won't budge! To be ready for pointe, you must have had at least four years of classical ballet training (And I mean bare minimum by at least) and be old enough and strong enough to handle the pressures of pointe work. Its hard to make yourself look oh so lovely, when you've barely had time to cultivate your own sense of style.

Pointe shoes are a beautiful part of your ballet training and one you'll love for years to come. What would you like to hear about next? Comment or send me a facebook message! -Ms Ivy

(Resources for this post include: The Ballet Companion and Pointe History)

The truth on turn out

Turnout is a headache among the best of the ballet community. Coming from a teacher who was born "pigeon-toed" I can be honest and say its my least favorite focal point in ballet. Turn out was originally designed to emphasize the beautiful ankles of the aristocrats during their lengthy court court dances. After a few decades it was discovered to allow dancers to hold positions on their legs longer by giving a much wider platform to stand on. Thus, a constant annoyance is born!

Kinesiologists have recently argued that it is impossible for anyone to have perfect turnout without their bodies being damaged as a young child, or having it from birth. The idea was that a muscle has to be torn and healed and torn and healed may sound a bit familiar. (Stretching anyone?) But recent discoveries have shown the looseness of a muscle could be well determined by your person physical make up, your diet and the amount of stress you carry with you.

But Ms Ivy, turn out is how far out our feet go, what does that have to do with stretching? Well my lovelies, turn out is actually a movement in and of itself and therefore not a noun.

It is a constant stretch from behind the hips to the inner thigh and your progress is shown by how far you can open your feet. Its a little not fair, isn't it? Something you control by opening your thighs is marked by your feet which are half down your body away! Luckily for us we've discovered all sorts of new ways to not only increase our turn out, but also build strength while doing it.

Most of us ballerinas remember taking ballet and having to lay in that horrible "frog" position for forever, it felt like! It was said to increase out turn out which no seven year old really cared about. Well how many of us wish we'd started doing it back then, instead of waiting for now? Apparently we don't have to go back in time and yell at our former self to wake up and quit cheating our future selves out of a career though. Question and answer blogs like this, really help us out as grown dancers. I mean come one, a rand de jambe helps increase motion in the hips? Interesting!

Oh, my favorite website for anything, Ehow had something to say on the matter, of course. This one mostly focuses on a daily routine for your hips. I love getting something prepackaged for whatever I feel the need to work on, don't you?

My last note on turn out is this. You will never achieve perfect turn out, no matter how hard you strive. It is physically impossible to do everything you need to in ballet with perfect turnout. That doesn't mean we ever stop trying! But accepting our limitations and working around them is how a mature dancer responds to the individual demands of their bodies.

What would you like to hear about? Post me comments or message my facebook. -Ms Ivy

Dancing in the rain

I love rainy day weather! It gives me the perfect excuse to watch ballet videos. Since I made the transition from dancer to teacher I'm constantly looking for new ways to teach children. As I stumbled through youtube and expertvillage (now ehow) I found a video that took my breath away. Thats a five year old! Oh my Lord, I have never seen a child do half of those things!

As I continue on my rainy day ballet voyage, I came across this little gem. May I just say, lovely? How many hours of ballet does this one take a week? Where does she train? I wonder how much more amazing she is now! How has her pointe work progressed?

Speaking of pointe work... Any time I look up pointe videos I always come up with a bunch of eight to ten year olds dance enpointe. This is an outrage! Your muscles have not had the proper time to develop yet and your bones haven't set to where they need to be! This is a mostly American trend too. Some days I wish America would take the stand most other country's have on dance and say that you have to be certified by the state to be a dance instructor. How many children are hurt every year from having a teacher who doesn't understand how to properly stretch a child or puts them in pointe shoes too early? Or worse yet, allows them to wear poorly fitted shoes for classes.

Ballet should be cultivated like a soufflé, you need to take your time. You'll rise when its time, my lovelies! -Ms Ivy

Random Inspiration

Today I'd like to focus on the little tools we can use to inspire ourselves. When I was younger I happened across a website that was full of pictures of ballerinas. The site was invigorating and I spent hours looking at different pictures of all the amazing dancers, from Margot Fonteyn to Julie Kent.
The site features a short bio of every dancer they highlight and wonderful pictures of them as well. Its definitely worth checking out for a few hours for some small inspiration.The Ballerina Gallery is one of my favorite sites to frequent ;)

The next site I'd like to recommend is a series of youtube videos from the Anehiem Ballet Company. These videos are just simply breathtaking! I love watching all the different things they have to say about ballet and the life style. From ways to afford your one dance class a week to equality for anyone with passion, you'll love these videos.

Of course what type of teacher would I be if I didn't include some legit ballet wisdom? One of the greatest tools I've found on line is Lisahowell2's vlog. These video's are informative on pointe work and various other necessary training exercises. Their tips on how to break in pointe shoes and how to tie them are a life saver and will help you to not spend so much time figuring things out for yourself! I'm a firm believer in doing what works and not rocking the boat unless it doesn't. The Perfect Pointe is their main website and it offers more sage bits of ballet wisdom for the growing dancer.

My last little bit of inspiration is a book I like to refer to as The Ballet Bible. This book has everything you could want from a ballet book! From ballet's origins to tips for healthy cross training, its a complete wealth of amazing knowledge, and if you order from their website you can get all sorts of beautiful posters for further inspiration!

In your journey for ballet inspiration keep us informed. What gets you pumped for ballet class? -Ms Ivy

New Pointe Magazine

I wait patiently for a new issue to come out every two months. I sigh breathlessly every time I open a new issue. I brace myself for the wealth of knowledge I greedily want to devour, only to be disappointed time and time again by the lack of helpful articles. I've been reading this magazine for around seven or eight years, and while I'll say I've learned so much from them I can also say that I've wasted a lot of energy reading them.

The average "studio brat" isn't interested in different places to audition, or how many productions the Russian companies are performing this season. They want to learn how to become better dancers. The long and short of what I miss from the older version of this magazine are their care and keeping of you section, which discussed everything from different exercises for strengthening, how-to's on every aspect of your body as a dancer from your epaulment to how to properly hold your feet when learning to control your turn out, and different dieting ideas that were actually beneficial and not detrimental to your life style.

The newer issues highlight whats in style to wear around the studio, question and answer panels with a world renowned ballerina, highlights of different principle dancers from dance companies all over the globe and unlimited audition information for summer intensives and dance companies. You will never have another question about what to do, wear or act during an audition after reading about six months of this magazine. (Thats three issues fyi.)

I currently find myself only ready this magazine for inspiration of camaraderie. I love seeing how many other people are living their life through movement and are letting themselves get carried away with their dreams. Their main spotlight for this issue is on Melissa Hough of the Houston Ballet and may I just say, lovely? I love hearing all the different tales of dancer's becoming dancers! Its so inspiring and refreshing to hear that everyone starts out facing the barre in first position struggling to remember to hold my tummy in and your butt under while doing a plie'!

I'll still read this magazine every other month despite my disappointment with it's current condition. Its a window into the dance world that everyone can appreciate on some level and you will love seeing all the differences in style, technique and general artistry provided by our current prima's. Check it out and tell me what you think. http://www.pointemagazine.com/ -Ms Ivy