Tip of The Day: The Importance of Flexibility in Dance

Q:  Why is it important for dancers to build flexibility?

Choreographer, Dance Instructor Shannon Thomas

A: Flexibility is an important part of overall health.  Dancing requires a large amount of flexibility in the major muscles groups to create a broader range of motion.  Most dance classes start with a warm up of cardio and stretching to prepare the muscles for movement.  Flexibility is in order to even be able to attempt certain techniques or moves.  It is important that dancers work to achieve overall flexibility in the torso, back, neck, shoulders, legs and feet.  Having a broad range of motion allows dancers to jump high into the air and lift the legs effortlessly as if they were moving in water.

Tip of the Day: Benefits of Hip Hop Dance For Technical Dancers

Dancers at Daytona Dance Studio, Amanda's Dance Center

Q: How does taking hip-hop class benefit a technical dancer?

A:  Hip hop dance class utilizes high impact and low impact footwork, isolations, and musicality.  It can help to improve overall general movement, free range of motion, body control and awareness, musicality, and most importantly a fun healthy workout.  This type of grounded movement can give a dancer a sense of freedom that can sometimes get lost in classical disciplines of dance. Studying various forms of dance can benefit the dancer to be as well rounded as possible and more employable.  Especially when training for a dancing career or teaching and choreography career.



Written by Shannon Thomas

Tip of the Day: Do I have to take ballet?

Q:  Do I have to take ballet? 

The answer is YES!  Why?  Classical ballet provides the technical foundation for all other dance forms. It is the most demanding, most disciplined of all dance forms; but also the most rewarding. With a solid ballet foundation, classically trained dancers can transfer their skills into jazz, tap, modern dance, or any other dance form or dance class they might decide to pursue. Accomplishing that solid ballet foundation is crucial to becoming an outstanding dancer in any dance form.

I would encourage dancers to try all forms of dance.  Training in all different forms gives a dancer more versatility if they ever decide to pursue a professional dancing career or teaching career.


Written by Shannon Thomas

Atlantic Center for the Arts NSB Winter Dance Workshop with Surfscape January 2012

Dance in the New Year with Surfscape Contemporary Dance Theatre!

SCDT's Winter Dance Intensive January 28 and 29 from 9am-3:30pm at Atlantic Center for the Arts. Tuition $85. 

To register or for more information, please contact SCDT at 386-233-4885 or email: register@surfscapedance.org

Surfscape Dancers