Proper Foot Alignment in Ballet Class: Why It Matters For Injury Prevention

Whether you’re new to ballet or have been dancing for years, mastering proper foot alignment in ballet class is one of the most important, yet sometimes often overlooked fundamentals. And it starts at the bottom: your arches. Improper alignment doesn’t just look off; it can lead to injuries that disrupt your training, strain your joints, …

Why Dance Class Etiquette Matters: Setting the Standard for the Next Generation of Dancers

Do you ever find yourself saying things like, “Kids just aren’t the same anymore,” or “Back in my day, we would never get away with that”? If you’re a dance teacher, chances are you’ve had those moments, watching students yawn during barre, chew gum in the middle of pliés, or check their smartwatches while you’re …

Career Day: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at My Role as a Program Coordinator

Introduction When people think about ballet, they often picture dancers performing on stage. But behind every successful dance company, there’s a team making sure the performances, rehearsals, and programs happen smoothly. As a Program Coordinator at Ballethnic Dance Company, I get to be part of that process, helping dancers access training, performance opportunities, and community …

The Art of Listening: What a Vinyl Listening Party Taught Me About Music, Dance, and Artistic Value

A couple of weeks ago, I attended a vinyl listening party, an experience that felt almost foreign in today’s fast-paced, content-driven world. We gathered, we sat, and listened, really listened, to D’Angelo’s Voodoo album from start to finish. No skipping tracks, no background distractions. Just the music as it was meant to be heard. For …

March is Dance in Schools Month: Why We Need #DanceEducationForALL

Every March, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education, we recognize Dance in Schools Month, a time to highlight the importance of dance education and advocate for #DanceEducationForALL. As someone who started as a dance educator in underfunded schools, I’ve seen firsthand how dance changes lives. Many of my students faced challenges outside the …

Discover Capoeira: The Afro-Brazilian Art of Movement and Resilience

Capoeira isn’t just movement, it’s history, survival, and art wrapped into one. This Afro-Brazilian practice blends dance, martial arts, music, and storytelling into a powerful display of skill and resilience. What started as a form of resistance among enslaved Africans in Brazil has become a global phenomenon, bringing people together through rhythm, strategy, and tradition. …

Saturday Morning Ballet Class: A Nostalgic Rite of Passage

There’s something undeniably special about Saturday morning ballet class. It’s not just the pink tights, the soft leather ballet slippers, or the adorable bags shaped like oversized ballet shoes. It’s the tradition, the ritual, and the nostalgia that swirl together, creating cherished memories that linger long after childhood. For me, the journey began in the …