Your dancer may feel that she needs extra practice to get that one step, or increase her strength, or clean her routine... but muscle memory is an interesting thing. If your dancer practices something incorrectly, it's possible that at-home practice can actually cause more problems (especially for serious dancers). How can you as an awesome dance-mom but non-dancer help support and teach your child to improve their technique without developing bad habits?

1. Video + Comparison

This is my go-to for most situations. If I have a student who gets a correction constantly, sometimes it's because their brain is sending the wrong instructions to the body. They might know they're dropping their arm in their turn (because you told them), but they don't see how much they're dropping it.

Until you take a picture or a video.

I often whip out my cell phone and take a quick video snip of a student doing something, and then slow it down and let them watch, pointing out exactly what I'm saying. ("See how that toe isn't pointed? See how your elbow sinks below the wrist?")

Sometimes they just have to see what they look like in order to realize "Oh, that's not what I want it to look like. I want it to look like THIS." and then boom, much better.

Photo credit: Yellow Sky Photography on Visual Hunt / CC BY-SA

>>>>>You might like: The two best imagery books on the market by Eric Franklin

2. Visualization 

Many times when a student can't do something correctly, it's because they can't do it in their head. For example: a dancer needs to be able to have a visual picture or video in their mind's eye of what their step should look like. If the video in their head is wrong, they will execute the step wrong.

My dance teacher told a story about how she couldn't do a double attitude turn. She was capable, but unable to do it. Her teacher forced her to close her eyes and do it in her head, and really see herself doing it correctly. She claimed it took several days of practicing in her head, but when she could finally see it in her head, she could do it just fine.

Photo credit: kalop.eu on Visualhunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Enrico Cecchetti said, "The limbs are servants to the mind." Whatever our mind tells our body to do, the body has no choice but to do it! So using visualization for students who are unable to get past a correction can sometimes be the most powerful tool.

If your dancer doesn't know what it's supposed to look like correctly, showing a video of a professional dancer doing the exercise can help. This is why watching other dancers while they practice is so valuable.

>>>>>You might like: Arch exerciser for foot strength

3. Repetition and Specification

When I started ballet, my mom used her VHS video camera to record an entire ballet class. I watched (and danced) that barre and center every day for about 3 months. I saw the same corrections and heard the same corrections every time I watched that video, and it helped me remember those corrections and change them before I made the mistake. This can be a very helpful tool for a student wanting to do extra hours.

Photo credit: counterclockwise on Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-SA

4. Make them teach it to you. 

Best way to help a student remember choreography, arms, and positions? Have them teach it to you! Put on your yoga pants and let them teach you the steps and combinations they've learned. Practice their dance with them. This allows them to pick out the little things on you that they need to fix on themselves!

What I do not recommend:
I don't recommend watching youtube video tutorials to learn new steps or "learn helpful tips and tricks." Many teachers don't agree on these "tricks," and it's very easy to learn something incorrectly if there isn't a teacher there to provide assistance and personal correction.

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Now don't get me wrong, there are lots of great video tutorials out there that are suitable for students. However, not all of them are created equal! Be sure to get teacher approval before watching a tutorial.

I am currently creating a playlist on Youtube of good teacher-approved tutorials. Have one you like? leave a comment with a link and I'll take a look? Have a specific request? I'll keep my eyes open!

We all know dance is expensive. Many of you moms and dads make sacrifices for your children to be able to dance! I've seen testimonies of Moms donating plasma while their child is in rehearsal, Dads picking up extra shifts, and family members getting side-jobs and joining work-from-home businesses to be able to afford all the fees, tuition, travel expenses, and costumes.

Does dance have to be so expensive? And is the price worth it?

Why is Dance so expensive?

Well for one, because you have to pay your teacher and keep the lights on.

I'm going to do some math for you, using some made-up numbers and made-up examples.

Did you know that starting wage for many dance teachers in my state is $25/hr? That seems like a lot on the surface! But remember, we don't work 40 hours a week, and we don't work 12 months a year! Let's pretend I make $25 an hour (I don't). And let's pretend I work at a dance studio where I am the only ballet teacher (I don't, and I'm not).

Monday - 4 hours.
Tuesday 4 hours
Wednesday - 2 hours
Thursday - 4 hours
Saturday - 6 hours
total: 20 hours X $25/hr = $500 a week gross. Don't forget to pay your taxes.

That comes out to about $2000 a month, but my take-home pay will be more like $1500. That's certainly not enough for a ballet teacher to live on. So now I'm forced to get a second job that accommodates my teaching schedule (possibly an early-morning start with a late-afternoon quit time. Did I mention I worked at a gym and my shifts started at 5am?)

Personally, there are several weeks out of the year I don't work. We have a Thanksgiving break, a Christmas break, a Spring break, and a Summer break. It usually ends up being about 8-8.5 months out of the 12. So in the example above, I'm looking at $17,000 per year.

Aaaaaaaand now you know why I work 4 jobs.

>>>>>You might like: 10+ fundraisers for your studio/team!

Now let's talk about the cost of running those classes. 

Maybe my 2-hour Wednesday class only has 5 kids in it. Let's say each kid pays $45/month to take that Wednesday class. That's $225 a month of income for 5 kids, and it comes out to $56.25 a week of income for the studio... and they're paying me $25 an hour. So the studio's income for that class is $6.25. That probably goes into keeping the heat and lights on. So the studio isn't going to actually start getting out of the red and into the black until they get about 7 or 8 kids in the class, and won't make a decent income until they hit closer to 10 kids.

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Why all the fees? 
Because dance teachers and studio owners don't break even. This is a conversation between a dance parent and a studio owner.





This teacher very eloquently broke down the cost of running a (fairly inexpensive) recital. If you're wondering about competition, just imagine this, but on a MUCH larger scale.

Could you find less expensive costumes, and use fewer rhinestones at a competition? Probably. But would you tell your child to go to prom in a plain dress? Probably not.

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Is the cost worth it?

Well, personally, I think so. But just to be sure, I asked every dance mom and gymnastics mom I could find. Here are just a few of their responses.

• Seeing my daughter work her way past fears and never giving up - learning such a valid life lesson is priceless. I’m a working mum of 3. Eldest has now quit the gym and is a beautiful contemporary dancer. My middle daughter trains in an elite squad 4 times a week and lives for her gym. I couldn’t ever be the reason that she had to quit or cut back. Only if that’s what she wants, but while she wants it I’ll continue working 3 jobs to pay for it
• ...it's the discipline it teaches her and how fit it keeps her. My daughter isn't interested in tv iPads phones YouTube like lots of children her age! Which I personally am very anti because she's either at gym or playing gymnastics at home it's a fantastic hobby!
• As a coach, I've seen shy little 6 year olds walk in the gym and leave as confident happy teenagers ready to take on the world! It teaches them such good life lessons, and the joy and excitement when a new skill is achieved is priceless! I love my job 😊
• For my son it keeps him focused, he has ASC, ADD and Sensory processing difficulties. He is part of a ‘team’ and he can be one of the cool kids in a world that finds it difficult to accept different. For my daughter it gives her a sense of achievement when with her ASD and LEarning difficulties very little else can x
• It makes my daughter happy beyond measure. We both know she won't ever be an elite gymnast. However she is determined to improve and trains hard. It gives her confidence in all areas of life. For example her maths improved when she realized that practice, hard work and having a go is important.
• It teaches our kids resilience. It shows them that to achieve something worthwhile, they have to work hard.
•  It gives my daughter happiness, structure, routine, respect for other, friends & she is learning that if u work hard enough at something you can achieve your goal x
• My kids have grown in confidence beyond measure
• Teaches the huge lesson in life that nothing comes easily, hard work pays off and just because you may fail once if you persevere you can achieve anything you want!
• she’s learning how to be disciplined and to persevere and also how to support others and also to be gracious.
• It has given her time management skills, how to be a leader, how to lose gracefully even to your teammates, how to get along with others who are not your cup of tea, how to take criticism, how to grow from disappointment and how to be a better human being.
• My daughter is extremely shy and didn't make friends easily (doesn't help that she is the young b/g twin). She has made such great friends that are just hers and that is priceless to me.
• It teaches her time management and teamwork. She learns to work toward goals and how to persist even when it’s hard. Because of dance she is comfortable on a stage in the spotlight in front of big audiences as well as judges. She knows how to handle disappointment as well as success. She has developed a lot of confidence in herself and a great work ethic.
• My daughter is now 14. She dances for a performing arts high school. She’s danced on a team for ten years now. She learned how to win with pride. She learned how to lose with grace. She learned teamwork, sacrifice and dedication. She found passion in an activity that made her a better human being. #worthit
• Kids are expensive period...I would rather spend my money on these experiences that she will have for the rest of her life, that will make her who she’ll be..then on “things”
• She used to be pretty shy and self-conscious. She wouldn’t stand up for herself with her peers. Dance has helped her become a more self-assured person. She now isn’t afraid to try new things, perform in front of people (with dance or other activities). She is also better able to advocate for herself with her friends
• I don’t pay for dance. I pay for life lessons. I pay for her to learn teamwork. I pay for her to help her teammate with choreography and to sit on the side of the stage and cheer her friend on even though they’re both competing in the same category I pay for her to learn disappointment when it doesn’t go her way and I pay for her to learn humility when it does.I pay for her to learn persistence and to learn dedication when she’s in the studio for hours and hours. 
  If you look at it that way- it’s actually a bargain.
• When I left my abusive ex-husband last year the kids and my lives were turned upside down. Dance was the only place where my daughter got to keep her normal, and trust me, those teammates and studio owner bent over backwards to make sure she kept it. Dance gives my daughter confidence, and a sense of self-worth like I’ve never known an eleven-year-old could have. It makes her stronger because with Dance she is never alone, even when she is the solo in the spotlight her crew is cheering her on.
• The dedication, the passion, seeing her try hard and fail, seeing her try even harder and accomplish her goals. Seeing her choose to work with younger dancers rather than go out and party with friends. The late night runs to the studio to just hang out and create. The people she has met and kept up with from all over the country. How she tries to help her students have passion for dance.
• my daughter was having panic attacks and we had no idea why. I was tucking her in the night of a local performance (she had been invited to the competition team and her dad and I were still deciding). She was in tears and I asked her why and she said “Mom, I just wish I could always feel as great as I feel on stage”. I knew right then that we were doing this regardless of the cost/time required to make it happen.
• My husband was terminally ill, and I took care of him in our home until days before he passed... During this time our daughter danced. Not only did she make it through this difficult time, she thrived. Teachers and school counselors were amazed by her positive attitude and focus, they like to give me all the credit but I know that it was not a solo effort we had each other, our family, and our dance family. Dance was her therapy, it had a built-in support system, and a freedom of expression that words didn’t allow. It gave us all something positive and beautiful to focus on, and even though the expense of it was hard (still is) it’s benefits are invaluable.
• When she went from a highly anxious and difficult to separate child, to wanting to quit at 5, to being in the front row of a hard hip hop at 6. When I saw her begin to identify herself as a "dancer" and integrate that into her perception of self in a positive way.
• My kiddo loves it and WANTS to work hard at it.
• School is hard for her... she struggles with a learning disability. She loves gymnastics... it's her place to shine. It's really helped rebuild her confidence and self-esteem.
• Besides my daughters love for the sport, you can’t put a price on teaching determination, dedication, teamwork, persistence, and drive. All qualities that will make her an outstanding young person and adult.
• My daughter is one that things tend to come easy to. School, athletics, etc. But not gym. She does do well, but it's not easy. The conditioning, the never-ending set of skills to learn, and taking weeks to perfect a new one. It teaches perseverance, hard work and dealing with failures. 
• My daughter suffers from several chronic medical problems which makes her feel "not normal" as she says. Having gym to focus on and escape to every day makes her feel "normal" (again, her words). I can't put a price tag on the benefit gym has given her mental and emotional health. She works so incredibly hard to do what comes so easy to most girls and if she's willing to do that, even though she rarely places at the top, how could I not support her? It's totally worth it to me.
• Gymnastics is making my daughter strong. It's increasing her self-confidence, allowing her to experience what her body can do rather than just how it looks. She's learning what she can accomplish with determination and hard work, and developing habits that will help her set and achieve positive goals later in life. How do you put a price on that? It's the same reasons my son plays an instrument, plays football, flies airplanes and is in powerlifting. Because what they get out of it is worth so much more than the price.

Thank you, dance moms, for pouring and investing in your children so they can learn, grow, and develop into the best possible person they can be!


P.S. - You think dance is expensive? Have you looked into horse-back-riding?

Let's get personal! A young lady who is hitting puberty in the dance studio still experiences all the pain, discomfort, embarrassment, and confusion that any other child would... only she's practically naked and contorting her body in weird shapes at the same time.

We want to make sure our daughters have the best possible dance experience, but that they are also cared for mentally, emotionally, and physically. Here are some of the resources I recommend!

For Menstruation

Thinx Panties - These "period panties" are designed to hold anywhere from 1/2 a tampon to 2 tampon's worth, and are practically seamless. They come in a variety of colors and are perfect for young girls to wear in the studio or on the stage.



Not sure undies could do the job? I searched through a variety of testimonies of dance moms and the conclusion is very clear - these are perfect.

Make sure you click the photo above so you can get $10 off your first order.

Flex menstrual disk - This is something an older dancer may consider if they have heavy periods and changing tampons/pads in class are not an option.

Flex - Similar to the diva cup, the Flex disk is folded and inserted and sits against the cervix. It is disposable, can remain inserted safely for up to 12 hours, and is suitable for 95% of menstruating women.

Bras

Petals - these are stick-on nipple covers that are ideal for competition and recitals. I wouldn't recommend them for every-day class, but for shows (since we all know that sticky stuff might last a few uses but it won't last forever.

Disposable Pasties - these may add up over time, but are a good alternative for a student who isn't quite ready for a bra, or perhaps a student whose teacher is a bit more of a stickler on the seamless dress code. This set comes in a pack of 30 from Amazon for about $8.

Clear Bra - Yes it doesn't look totally comfortable. But if you're working with a costume that has a weird neckline, this might be a good option! the whole thing (save the underwire) is clear!



Just Enough of a Bra - For a young lady who wants to have a bit more coverage in her every-day class, I have several students who wear a comfortable lace bralette from Victoria's Secret or American Eagle, but these bralettes are available almost everywhere. They look nice under most leotards (especially those that already have lace, or pretty cut-outs) and provide an extra layer of coverage.

The DIY Solution - Did you know you can sew a bra or a liner into a leotard or costume? It's a lot more simple than you think! This provides support without a bra line or straps under the leotard - perfect for the student, perfect for the teacher. (I will be making a tutorial soon! Follow for updates.)

When in doubt - make it part of the costume! Depending on the style of dance and the type of costume you're wearing, making the bra part of the costume or class dress can be an option! See Workout bras, and the customizable bra (a personal favorite!)

1. Wear 2 pairs of tights. I know it sounds ridiculous but it works. Especially if you have sweater tights or legging tights, or fleece lined tights to go over. But even if you don't, just an extra pair of tights can really give you a lot of warmth!

2. Wear Leather shoes instead of canvas. Leather doesn't breathe as well... which means it'll hold the heat in your slippers better. Make sure you put some shoe dogs in when you're done though, otherwise you'll end up with seriously nasty shoes!

You might like - Keep your shoes from smelling!

3. Wear Appropriate Warm-ups. Jackets, sweat pants, and big puffy coats are not appropriate dance warmups. If you're allowed to wear warm-up gear in the studio, make sure it's something that still allows for the teacher to correct your placement.

Snug leg warmers, wrap sweaters or tightly-fitting long-sleeved shirts, knit dance shorts, and shoe covers are all great options.

Photo credit: Yellow Sky Photography on Visual hunt / CC BY-SA

Photo credit: Yellow Sky Photography on Visual hunt / CC BY-SA

Lot's of stuff hanging off of you? not so much.

These are examples of warm-ups not appropriate for class (professionals only). As you can see, the backs and ribs are hidden, they're wearing tshirts and sweaters, and pants that hide the ankles. It is acceptable for professional dancers to wear things like this, as they are confident and trained in their technique; but students should follow the examples given above.

Photo by KCBalletMedia on Visualhunt / CC BY

Photo by KCBalletMedia on Visualhunt.com / CC BY

Photo by quinn.anya on Visual hunt / CC BY-SA

My goodness, my holiday break was awesome! I slept a lot, ate like a pig, and didn't even look at my suspension trainer or my pointe shoes. But now it's back to the grindstone.

If you're a student, you're about to head back into the studio and start preparing for audition season and competitions. If you're a teacher, you're about to wiggle back into those yoga pants. Let's try to keep 2018 injury free by doing it carefully so we don't risk injury after a long break!

Here are a few tips on how to get back into the season without hurting yourself!



1. Don't worry - you will get your strength back.

It's so hard to go back to the barre and try to do what you did in December only to realize there is no way you're leg is getting above 90 degrees today... and you worked so hard for that extension! Or maybe your hard-earned splits are gone.

Bodies are adaptable and versatile; you will get back what you had, it will just take careful training. So don't stress too much about it, and allow yourself to work hard to get it back.

2. Make sure you are truly and thoroughly warm. 

Don't assume you're warm after degage; yes you may be warm superficially, but your muscles will not be fully saturated with blood and ready for deep stretching until after a few hours of high-intensity dancing. Warm up before class with some jumping jacks, some brisk walking or jogging, or a quick set of sautes and echappes. Work through your class combos carefully and thoroughly. And save your stretching for after class. Check out this awesome article by Marissa Shaeffer on safe stretching!

3. Wear Warm-up Gear.

In most parts of the country, it's a record low temps right now. Make sure you keep your warm-ups on (if you have permission from your teacher!) to help encourage blood flow.

>>>>>You might like - Leg warmers and dance sweaters! 

4. Condition, Condition, Condition! 

On the days you don't have class, or the days you have fewer classes, be sure to do exercises and routines that work different muscle groups than you normally work. This will help you prevent over-strengthening of one part of your body, and help keep your body well-rounded and injury-free.

>>>>>You might like: Safe Pain Relief for dancers

5. Don't be afraid to speak up!

If you do feel that you've overworked something, tell your teacher. It is better to take it easy the first few days back from a break than to end up injuring yourself during audition and competition season!

Happy dancing!