Summer is often associated with relaxation, vacations, and a break from routine. For many dancers, it’s tempting to take a hiatus from dance classes during these warmer months. However, while a gigantic break might seem appealing, it can actually hinder progress and growth in the long run.(Talk about a fun sponge, sheesh!) Here are 5 reasons how summer dance can make all the difference:
- Keep Momentum. Have a goal you’ve been trying to crush? Want to join TEAM in the fall? Hoping to get noticed for your awesome skills? Well, regular class attendance provides dancers with the structure and support they need to progress towards their goals. Taking the summer off can disrupt this momentum and make it harder to stay motivated and focused.
- Stay Connected To Your Dancefam. Dance is not a solitary pursuit but a collaborative art form that thrives on community and connection. It’s a dancer’s home away from home, and that’s why we call ourselves the dancefam. By attending classes throughout the summer, dancers who stay in touch strengthen these connections and feel supported in their artistic journey.
- Explore New Styles. Summer dance is a great time to mix up the routine by trying something new. At EDC, our summer program offers a variety of classes that are not available during the regular season. This presents dancers with new opportunities and some fresh excitement to explore new styles to broaden their skillset, while discovering more about what types of dance they’re most passionate about. Summer classes inspire creativity and help dancers grow both artistically and technically.
- Build Strength and Stamina. Dance is not only about technique, but also physical strength and endurance. Skipping summer classes can result in a loss of strength and stamina, making it more difficult to execute movements with precision and power. Dancers who train consistently continually challenge their bodies, and gain an edge for the upcoming season.
- Maintain Technique. Dancing requires constant practice to maintain proficiency. Just like any other athletic pursuit, dancers need to keep their bodies in shape and their technique sharp. Taking a break from classes can lead to a decline in muscle memory and flexibility, making it harder to pick up where you left off when you return to the studio in the fall. Consistency is key to mastering technique, and regular classes throughout the summer avoid the “summer slide,” and keeping dancers on track for continued improvement.
By attending classes throughout the summer, dancers are continually growing, and setting themselves up for success in the upcoming season and beyond. And as if you needed a 6th bonus reason, let’s not forget that summer dance is F*U*N! At EDC summer dance means we’re NOT preparing for a performance, dance is NOT keeping you out late on a school night, and even though the sun is always shining inside the studio, you are NOT leaving in the cold, damp, darkness. So think twice before tucking those dance shoes away in the back of the closet this summer – your future self is waiting to thank you for it later this fall!
Elevate Dance Center began 4 years ago, but most of our staff has been in the business of dance for longer than some of our dancers’ parents have been alive, and many of our staff members have worked together for a decade or two before EDC. When the dance studio I was working for in Westminster closed it’s doors in 2014, my sons still wanted to dance, so I went on the hunt for a great school for them close to home. I tried several, and I couldn’t find it. So, Elevate Dance Center was born. We were founded on the idea that what I wanted in a dance studio for my own children did not exist on our side of town. It was also founded on the idea that there are a lot of goofy- but sorta true- complaints about this industry, and we thought we could easily do business in a way that totally eradicated them. Now I mean absolutely no shade to any of my competitors, but the truth is, I saw certain norms being perpetuated in dance studios everywhere, and I wanted a change for the industry. I wanted to do it all differently. So, we did. Here are 8 things EDC does to revolutionize the studio experience:Read More
If you grow up playing little league soccer and football, then the natural progression is to try out for your high school team when the time comes. If you’re good enough, you might even earn a scholarship to play in college, and an elite few will even turn pro! Dance is trickier though, and there are many paths to professional dancing. Oftentimes, joining the poms team isn’t the way forward in your dance dreams. That’s not true for every team, nor is it the only reason to join or not join Poms. Read More
When I was two years old my mother put me in dance classes because my older cousin was taking lessons. I loved it, so my mom never looked back. She signed me up every single session until I could decide for myself, at which point I would beg her to take more and more classes and hand her paycheck to the front desk until I was practically living at the studio. Read More
You are dying to sign your tiny dancer up for dance class, but how do you know if your little one is ready to go or if you should wait a bit longer? We ask several questions when we’re trying to assess dancer readiness. Here they are:Read More
It’s hard to be a new dance parent while helping your child navigate dance for the first time, right? Don’t worry, we got you. We are here to walk you through a few life hacks to make it seamless. Some of our top 5 tips are counter-intuitive, but trust us. We’re experts! Read More
I’m a 40 year old woman, I’ve been a dancer since I could walk, and I just finished my first month training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. While I am a “black belt” in dance, I am as novice as it gets in jiu-jitsu. I have learned so much in just a short time, and it’s exciting because it’s only the beginning. Every class brings a new surprise, but the biggest surprise so far has been how much I’ve learned about dance class during my jiu-jitsu training. Here are four of the biggest “new student dance class fears” and tips to overcome them, brought to you by my jiu-jitsu academy:Read More
It’s the middle of February, and six weeks into 2021. How is your year going so far? Did you pledge to make a change or two on January 1st? Now is the perfect time to assess your progress. Making changes is not easy- in fact, it’s really, really hard. But in the words of Coach Jimmy in the movie A League of Their Own, “It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.” Coach Jimmy was talking about baseball, but I think it applies here too. When the hard parts becoming the best version of myself aren’t feeling so great, I go back and review the most impactful book I’ve ever read about change, Atomic Habits by James Clear.Read More
Tyler Muhlenkamp is a dancer with The Walt Disney Company, in Orlando, Florida. It was so exciting to host Tyler at EDC for a Musical Theatre Master Class and Audition Workshop in September. We caught up with Tyler in between his busy schedule of dancing, rehearsing, performing and teaching to get answers to our top 6 burning questions.Read More
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