A Journey Through Dance: African Ceremonial Dance

Dance is an intricate thread in the web of culture. Each country or geographic region has a dance that is dedicated to the social culture. African dance is one of those dances. The energetic, expressive movement of the body conveys the dancer’s emotion. It captures the heart of the audience and embeds the message via the percussion of the costume and the beat of the drums. The gyration of the hips, rhythmic stomping clapping and chanting adds to the excitement and enchantment of the dances. It is amazing how a dance is incorporated in the tribal hunting rituals, funeral processions, religious rites of passage and celebrations. It is more than just a dance. It is a part of life.

Ballet On Wheels offers a class that gets to the root of things and teaches students how to embody the culture and embrace the elaborate movement. By the end of the class, it would feel as you have stepped into a whole new world. Visit www.balletonwheels.org to view the schedule for classes and register today!

Is Dance a Sport?

                                                 
     There has been much debate of dance being considered a sport. Outsiders would argue that dance is just a hobby. Those on the inside will state that dance is as much of a sport as gymnastics or football. Let’s define sport:  Sport /spôrt/: (noun) an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others.
     There is a genre of dance considered competitive dance. Competitions are held throughout the country, where dance studios can come and show off their talent. This is a chance to show sportsmanship and follows the same qualifications as a deemed sport such as football, basketball or baseball.
It takes hours of practice to perfect one’s craft. Teams practice for more than twenty hours a week at times in order to perfect and synchronize their movement. They exercise, run laps and condition to prepare for optimal performance.
      Another important detail to acknowledge when discussing whether or not dance is a sport is the fact that the winning team is determined by a panel of judges. Some may argue that because the teams are not facing off head to head, dance is not qualified as a sport. The Lifetime Network has a competitive show called Bring It! that showcases talented majorettes as they face off with the best of the best in majorette. It is intense and the dancers put in several hours of practice and choreography. To tell them that what they do is not a sport could be deemed as unfair.
     Let’s take gymnastics for example. Gymnastics is an extremely difficult sport, which is why it is presented along with many other sports in the Olympics. The scores of the competitors are solely determined on the scores that the panel of judges decides to give them. There is a strict set of guidelines, which the judges follow in order to determine their scores. The same rules apply at dance competitions, so why would one qualify and not the other?
     Ballet On Wheels is looking to host a few competitive events throughout this dance season. Mark your calendar for March 14, 2015 for the Dance In His Name Liturgical/Praise Dance Showcase & Competition. There is also a Bring It! style competition in the works for the fall season. Visit www.danceinhisname.org to register your praise dance/mime/step team.

The Root of it All: Ballet

Ballet is the skeleton of dance, dating back to the time of King Louis XIV in France. His royal court dances evolved into what we know as Ballet. Today, there are several forms of dance: Jazz, tap,hip hop/breaking, flamenco, African, modern and liturgical/praise dance and more. Although each dance has its own technique and style, the fundamentals of Ballet are sprinkled throughout each genre.  At the root, you have Ballet.

Students with a solid foundation in ballet tend to excel in other genres because they have mastered discipline and technique, and they have an appreciation and love for all forms of dance. Modern is an earthy, gravity-friendly dance that celebrates constriction and involves the essence of the soul. It adapts several dance techniques and utilizes the same foot and arm positions as ballet. Jooking, a common Memphis dance style in the urban community, requires both males and females to apply opposition and ballet moves to a hip hop beat. Ballet is the root of fusion with each dance style there is.

Ballet On Wheels has plenty of classes for your ballerina to explore. Ages 3 & up are invited to experience the different genres in dance or to simply learn the root of it all, also known as ballet. Visit www.balletonwheels.org to register your child or to get more information on what we have to offer. Also, feel free to contact us by phone at 901-870-4248.

“Diversity in Ballet: Crossing Cultural Barriers"

                                                                                                        

Tall. Slender. Poised. Elegant. Fair Skinned. These are all characteristics commonly attributed to ballerinas. With finesse, they travel across the stage clad in pink tutus and pointe shoes. The crowd applauds as they take a bow. In recent times, diversity has begun to emerge on the scene, adding a bit of color to the landscape of classical ballet. Many ballerinas of color experience similar obstacles that block their success: Their skin tone is not fair enough. Their body type is too full figured to showcase perfect lines. They often struggle to pay tuition for classes.

Although many have overcome these challenges and have finally become accepted as dancers, there are still some barriers. There is the idea that due to the lack of trained ballerinas of color, there are not many role models that are visible to the current generation that can inspire them to want to learn. There is also the fact that most dance outreach programs are purely educational and not as focused on the training aspect.  

While these issues may be prevalent, it is safe to say that Memphis has a dance program that is geared toward training a diverse group of dancers at Ballet On Wheels Dance School & Company. As a pre-professional youth dance company, Ballet On Wheels provides the opportunity for dancers to showcase the techniques that they have learned and to embrace the art of ballet and other dance forms. Visit www.balletonwheels.org for more information. There are financial aid opportunities available for those students who qualify. 

"Top Ten Health Benefits of Dance"

1. Memory Boost- Dance prevents the development of dementia as the aging process occurs. 

2. Increases Flexibility- Back bends, simple stretches, and a quick 2-step can help ease joint pain and post-exercise soreness.

3. Stress Relief- Ever felt so stressed out that you wanted to scream? Find your favorite tune,  grab a dance partner and bust a move!

4. Destroys Depression- There is another word that starts with a "D" that can destroy that melancholy feeling, and that word is "DANCE"! Dance away your blues. Don't do it alone. Grab a partner. 

5. Helps Your Heart- Fight the risk of cardiovascular disease with a dance. It improves heart health, breathing and quality of life.

6. Weight Loss- Shed a few pounds with a good dance work out.

7. Better Balance- Dance requires good posture and helps maintain control of your body. This is good to avoid the risk of falls when you begin to age. 

8. Increases Energy Levels- When your body gets used to high energy movement, it will begin to adapt to the new feeling and increase endurance. 

9. Builds Stronger Bones- Dance helps to reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

10. Builds Lasting Relationships- Being involved in a dance troupe allows you to be socially engaged, and you are never alone. This leads to a healthy and peaceful life. Get up and dance!!!!

Check out this video of an 80 year old dancer who still has some moves!

http://youtu.be/EyMXYvvVRc0

Need a dance troupe for your daughter to join? Visit the Ballet On Wheels website to register!

: “More than Just Art”

There is more to dance than just tutus and ballet slippers. The art of dance provides a stage for students to build confidence, which carries over to their academic abilities. When a student is educated in the art of dance, they are encouraged to engage in the artistic processes of creating, performing and critical analysis. These activities require students of dance to read symbol systems, to use critical thinking skills and to utilize their bodies in nonverbal reasoning and communication. They are inspired to exchange ideas, to work cooperatively and collaboratively with others and to interact within a diverse society. Dance allows students to develop kinesthetic (tactile) and spatial (visual) learning abilities. Ultimately, they gain knowledge of themselves and others around them.

 Here are 4 products of a Ballet On Wheels Dance School student:

• Self-motivated, disciplined and focused in her everyday life
• Expressive in her communication of emotions, thoughts and feelings
• Creative and imaginative
• Able to critically analyze her own work and the work of others

  Visit www.balletonwheels.org for more information about our dance program.