Dancing4Jesus

 Happy September everyone! Today I'm going to be sharing how the first week of dance went.  As you'll know if you've read some of my recent posts, I got promoted to Apprentice and am also a teacher's assistant this year. If you haven't read  this  blog, make sure to check it out so you can see how I felt before classes started, versus how I felt after the first week. Classes started on Monday, which was also my first day of teaching. It went well and I had a lot of fun getting to know the students. After that I had a two hour class, which was my first class in two months. It felt so good to be back in the studio, and I really enjoyed getting to dance again.  On Tuesday I had conditioning, which was taught by one of my favorite teachers. It was low intensity, thankfully, and the focus was on strengthening and gently getting our bodies back into shape. After that I had a short ballet class, then partnering class was last. I really enjoyed it, and feel like I did r...

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...

Most advanced dancers take som e form of classes over the summer, whether that's a weekly class your studio provides, a summer intensive, or something else. Today I'm going to give you some tips on how to build on what you learned over the summer. Stay in touch with friends and instructors.  This one isn't about progress in dance, but it's still important. If you went to an intensive at another school, you probably met some new people. Try to keep up with them. If you have the opportunity, send the teachers you had a thank you card or text.  Use corrections you got from your teachers. If you took any summer classes, it's almost guaranteed you got several corrections. Use those in your dancing as you start regular classes again. Your teachers will most likely notice your advancement, and it might be useful later on during casting or level promotions.  Use compliments you got from your teachers. Don't forget about the compliments you got! Did a teacher say you hav...