Dancing4Jesus

Today I'm going to share some tips and advice to help with barre. I get it, barre isn't always the most fun. In some ways, it can even seem like it limits your ability to move and dance. My goal in writing this post is to help barre become more interesting and useful.  Barre is not a warm up. Barre should never be replaced for your warm up before class. The whole point of doing a warm up is so that you will be able to find and activate your muscles while dancing. If they're not warm, you won't be able to actively engage them. Even if you only have three minutes before class, find some exercises that warm you up quickly. I like to do the plank, crunches, squats, etc. It's important to warm up your full body before class.    Barre isn't a time waster. Barre can definitely seem like a waste of time, but it's not. If it were, why would every ballet class include it? Barre is vital if we want to dance well in center. It strengthens us, helps us find our balance, ...

Today I'm finishing up my back to dance series with an exciting announcement... I'm going back to dance in 5 days! I've been watching so many videos lately about dance, aching to be back in the studio and to see my friends again. My classes start on August 23rd. I'm so excited... I've been looking forward to this day for so long. I'll finally be an Apprentice! I can't wait for more challenging classes, dancing en pointe more, starting partnering, and all the other perks of being in Apprentice.  I also start teaching on my first day back. I attended a teacher training a couple of days ago to learn about my position as a teacher and all the details that come with being an instructor. I'm so blessed to have the opportunity to be a teacher's assistant and I can't wait to share more about that journey on here. Although I'm super excited, I'm still a little nervous about being in a new level, especially because it's so advanced. Because all...

After months of an empty schedule (for most of us), it can definitely be overwhelming to jump back into school, sports, work, and everything else that comes with a new school year.  Over the next two months I'll be starting school (I'm homeschooled), two new jobs, four in-person classes, dancing 4 days a week, and obviously still going to church and youth group. Because I have such a full schedule, I've had to come up with some ways to stay organized, and I thought I'd share what I came up with on here since many of you are starting the new school year soon too. Use a calendar or planner. This one is very important if you have a busy schedule. There's calendar apps, planners, bullet journals, wall calendars, and so much more that you can use to keep track of your schedule. Personally, I use a calendar app on my phone and a planner. Find what works best for you.  Get places early.  This is one of my biggest goals for this school year. Recently I heard someone say tha...

It's easier than usual to get injured at the sta rt of a new year of dance. In today's post, you'll learn why that is, and what you can do to prevent it. Why are you more likely to get injured now? One reason is, after months of no classes, or less classes than normal, you won't have the strength and stamina you had months ago. Your muscles will get tired faster, which will result in less support for your joints.  The other reason is dancers are more likely to push themselves beyond their limits. Whether it's out of excitement or an effort to prove themselves at the start of a new school year, dancers can actually work too hard.  What can you do to prevent injuries? Now that you know why injuries are more likely to occur right now, I'm going to show you what you can do to help prevent it. To start with, go slow. Build your body back up to what it was capable of before summer. Listen to your body, and if you feel fatigue or pain, take it easy. Only attempt things...