Powered By Dance

Dance enables students to better understand themselves and the world in which they live.

As part of a group, each dance team member is learning to contribute to a larger purpose – to raise everyone’s potential. That purpose starts out with learning choreography together and then shifts into “practicing and polishing” mode, striving for excellence so that when the performance event arrives, everyone on the team is contributing their best effort. While winning is special, it doesn’t compare to the personal wins that come with dancing your heart out and cheering on your team while they do the same.

Creative thinking skills are developed through dance, as well as learning the value of discipline, commitment and work ethic. Self-confidence develops as young people overcome challenges to master new goals, learning to apply themselves and accomplish any task put before them. “We love our new students who at the beginning of the year are shy and lack self-confidence; but by the end of year they have transformed into a confident dancer.”

Dance teaches children about music, rhythm and beat. Students also have a better understanding of spatial relationships and learn to think with both sides of their brain. All these skills enhance a child’s academic performance, as well as their physical well-being.

Dance keeps you fit! Dance teaches the importance of movement and fitness in a variety of ways through a variety of disciplines. As well, dancers learn to coordinate muscles to move through proper positions. Dancing is a great activity to pursue at almost any age provided you are in proper health to handle the rigors of dancing for life.

All in all, dance is a great way to build invaluable social skills. Much more importantly however, it is an opportunity to teach your children the importance of being part of something larger than themselves. Dancers learn to take turns, to share attention, and to cooperate with others as they work within a group. These life lessons are part of the appeal of dance classes to parents around the world. Much like team sports, dance for children can teach some invaluable and important lessons.

Sportsmanship:

If you’ve seen the TV show “Dance Moms”, forget everything you’ve seen! These kids are good friends in class and out of class. They are determined, dedicated, and GREAT FRIENDS for each other. Parents become close friends with each other as well. At Powered By Dance we care more about the people they become than the trophies they win. While dance competitions are fun, they are not why we teach. Dance is an art and a skill that takes years to master. Every member and parent on our team support these ideas and has amazing camaraderie. Any negative comments, attitudes, and judgments will not be permitted either from the PARENT OR THE STUDENT! We know that with having so many members we can run into the members clashing due to rumors or just "hear say"; but the members and coaches work through it. The dancers may not be the best of friends but they are the best dance teammates and will help each other no matter what!

If you are interested in joining, please go to our contact tab above and call or email the teachers! We will find the best team for your child. Our Open Calls are at the beginning of  July. We look forward to always working with everyone and are excited about what the future holds. These teams are very important to PBD and us, Coaches, go above and beyond to ensure that this is an amazing experience for everyone involved!

Flexibility: Answers to Dancers Most Asked Questions

I have selected some of the most asked questions that I receive from dancers regularly. The following questions are also from two online dance magazines that I have recently done Q&As with.

1. Should I stretch every day and what time of day is best?

I feel everyone is different. For example some people are morning people and that time works best for them. Also it’s important to pick a time that works with your schedule and commit to that as you would to brushing your teeth. Listen to your own body clock with regards to best time of day.

It always good to warm up and cool down before and after you train. For serious or professional dancers or athletes, six days a week of stretching is good with one or two rest days per week. The body needs time to process, heal and repair. As far as daily training in your sport, it helps to cross-train and work different muscle groups so the other muscles can repair. This helps one progress. Make sure you are stretching correctly with good form. Never force or bounce.

2. My back leg turns out when I go into the front splits, how can I keep my hips square?

If you have developed the habit of going into the splits without being in correct alignment, the body becomes accustomed to that. When you try to change that and do it technically correct, it can feel uncomfortable. You may have had a tight back and hips to begin with, which may have lead to you cheating a bit, to feel like you are all the way down in the splits.

To help slide down into the splits with correct alignment, make sure you can feel the knee and the top of the foot of the back leg, on the floor. The front leg and the foot should not be rolled in or out, the leg and knee should be pointing up to ceiling in one clean line.

3. What are the most important areas or muscle or muscle groups to stretch for increased flexibility (for legs — arabesque, developed, split leaps, splits, etc.)?

Since everything is connected — it’s good to take the time to stretch the entire body and do it in the correct order. I like to start with upper body to get the energy going. Then work my way down, with each stretch gradually becoming more intense. Don’t forget to stretch the calve, it will make it easier to stretch the hamstrings and low back. You want to get that whole line stretched.

Make sure you open up your outer hips (IT band) and stretch the waist to help the lower back to release. Don’t forget the inner thighs, too, which is also a necessary area to prepare to perform the moves listed above in the question. Ankle weights are good to use once you are warmed up. This helps tire and strengthen the muscles to enable someone to increase their range of motion.

4. How do I know if I am overdoing it?

If you are feeling constant fatigue, soreness and your body is not performing at its best. I recommend getting plenty of sleep and taking some rest days so the body can repair and store up energy. This will help tremendously. Also massage and going for a walk can help get rid of the lactic acid.

5. How can I recover flexibility after a hamstring injury?

Do not stop training completely. Train around the injury with exercises that don’t bother the leg, such as a stationary bike, swimming and stretching. This will keep you in shape and get blood circulating to the injured area. This can help one to come back even stronger. Don’t do anything that causes the bad kind of pain. It also helps to visualize and see your body pain free and in top form.

6. What are the keys to flexibility?

A. Stretching properly with the correct form.

B. The body needs to be opened up step by step by doing the stretches in the correct order.

C. Using your breathing correctly is one of the biggest parts of getting results.

D. Relaxing — never force or bounce.

E. Warming up and cooling down regularly.

F. Dedicate certain days to just flexibility and core strength training

7. What do you feel like are the top three things dancers should focus on or include in their warm ups?

A. Create a sequence to wake up the major muscle groups to gently transition from whatever is going on in your day into practice that is completely focused.

B. Listen to your body. If your body is talking to you through back pain, shoulder pain or if you are unable to master a new dance move because you are too tight, I suggest you learn the best stretches for your specific needs, to avoid ending up with a lots of frustration and injuries.

C. Once warmed up, gently start practicing similar movements on the floor and at the bar, that you will be practicing or performing.

8. What are some myths about flexibility?

People believe they are old too increase their flexibility. The truth is anyone of any age can become more flexible, if they learn to do it properly and commit to it.

9. What do you wish dancers knew?

A. That the mind controls the body. See yourself exactly the way you wish to be and the body will follow by doing exactly what you believe you are capable of.

B. Stay away from cigarettes and starving to be thin. Treat food as medicine and learn to eat foods that heal and balance the body. Eat to be satisfied not to feel FULL! Then you will not have to worry about weight. You’ll also perform at top level while feeling and looking your best.

10. Why do you believe flexibility is important for dancers?

One’s level of flexibility affects that individual’s form, alignment, the ability to have clean lines, proper technique and it prevents injury.

Many parents came and spoke to us and said what a great environment we have at Powered By Dance. We built this Independent Team from the ground up. Like many other dance teachers, we started teaching at Lennox Park on concrete with about 15 students. We built a reputation one dancer at a time. Flash forward Seventeen years and we now have blossomed into over a hundred dancers on our team. 

On another Note:

We know that the biggest supporters of our team are their parents and if you are a Dance Mom or Dad, please know that we appreciate you! We get asked by parents all the time "how can I help?"  So, for all you dance parents out there who want to help, here are my top ten ways you can support our team:

1. Write a positive review. If you love our team, let other people know. We wouldn't ever ask you to do it, but it sure would be appreciated.

2. Pick up trash. We know, it's not glorious, and we don't like it either. But you know how you send your kids with their snack, dinner, drink, homework - it all adds up to piles of trash. And at the end of a long teaching day, the last thing we want to do is maid service, but we do! If you're there to pick up your dancer, take ten minutes to walk through the cafeteria and pick up trash that's on the floor (trust me, it's there) and get it in to the trash can. It means more than you know!

3. Bring healthy snacks to a long rehearsals. If it's a long practice day, bring down some snacks - but make them healthy please. We know the kids love cupcakes and it's fine to have a treat every once in a while, but bringing down some water bottles and fruit would be fantastic!

4. Stay connected. Read the emails and newsletters. Visit the website: poweredbydance.com. We spend a lot of time and energy putting out information. Before shooting off an email to us asking a question, take a look here first. Even better, if another parent isn't sure, you can help them out.

5. Keep time! Bringing your dancer to practice on time for their practice and picking them up promptly after their practice is a huge help. We are going straight from coaching one team to another and we don't want to leave your dancer alone. Dancers waiting for parents means one of the coaches are waiting with them and not able to give attention to their next group, or to get home to their own family.

6. Respect personal time. It may seem like we live at practice, but we do have a life outside of those four walls. If you need to reach any of us - please email.

7. Spread the word. A Team's best advertising is their own students and your support of the team can help build a stronger program. If you love your team, let people know. The performing arts needs people like you who see the value in artistic endeavors. Let your community know that you support the arts and share the benefits of dance education. Take a moment today to tell a friend where your child dances and what dance means to them.

8. Follow the "True, Kind, Necessary" Rule. When you start to say something about your dancer, about their teammates, about the team - ask yourself, is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? If you can not answer yes to all three, keep the thought to yourself. Remind your dancer of this same rule. Contributing in a positive way to your studio is the best way that you can possibly help. Take it one step further, walk in to the studio with the goal to say something encouraging. Tell a dancer you enjoyed their performance, compliment a teacher on their patience with the students, tell a parent who always volunteers how much you appreciate their energy. There are so many great things going on in a dance team, take time to appreciate them.

We are so lucky to have dance parents who not only help in all of these ways but in so many more!