Love to Dance, Inc. Dance Donation Drive

November 14, 2011, Love to Dance, Inc., in Carmel Valley, is holding a dance donation drive November 14 – 19, 2011. They are collecting used dance shoes, apparel and costumes to send to underprivileged dancers who cannot afford costumes or dance apparel. Love to Dance, Inc. wants to enrich the lives of these children and encourage them to have the opportunity to perform and take classes with appropriate dance attire. Items can be dropped off at the studio November 14 – 19, 2011 at 11120 E. Ocean Air Drive between the hours of 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Monday through Friday and 9:00 am – 2:00 pm on Saturday.

Get Excited for National Dance Day!

Love to Dance, Inc. Dance Studio will host a National Dance Day celebration on Saturday, July 30 from 5 –8:30.

For those familiar with the Fox TV show "So You Think You Can Dance," you may have already heard the buzz regarding this event. This day has been created so the nation, young and old, can experience the fun and healthy benefits of dance.

No prior dance experience is necessary. Both boys and girls age 5-17 are welcome to attend. All participants will learn a special routine, we will offer two separate routines depending on level, that have been created for National Dance Day.
Dinner (cheese pizza), snacks, and drinks will be served.

How do you get involved? It's easy. Register at Love to Dance, Inc. 11120 East Ocean Air Drive, Suite 101 San Diego, CA 92130. Cost $35.00.

Love to Dance, Inc.
www.lovetodanceinc.com
858.229.0120

Aerial Dance - Learn to Fly

Aerial modern dance is a small genre of modern dance that incorporates silks attached to the ceiling, allowing dancers to explore space in three-dimensions. The ability to incorporate vertical, as well as horizontal movement paths, allows for innovations in choreography and movement.

The influence of new fitness trends on dancers is nothing new. As dancers we are constantly seeking new physical challenges, trying something new that will in turn help influence our movement and choreography. As a full time Instructor at Love to Dance, Inc., a San Diego Dance Studio, I am always looking for new elements to enhance my mind and body, so I may bring an edge into the classroom. As a mentor once said "Once you learn something it will stay with you forever". I feel that dancing at these heights and flowing through the air allows my mind to create from a new place.

It is this time of year when many of us hit "walls" when trying to choreograph for so many classes and create original works of art that feature the strengths of our students. I find my search for new avenues seems to pave the neural pathways for creativity and I strongly recommend Dance Instructors/Choreographers to be on a fun-filled endless pursuit of knowledge.

In the past few years I have witnessed and attempted new fads such as Pure Barre Technique (a twist on ballet, exercise and Pilates), Zero gravity yoga (yoga moves done in a soft sling in the air), Gravity classes (Pilates done on a glide board). Just like the fashion world the biggest trend setters in fitness are those oh so in shape celebrities we all look to for physical inspiration. How many women flocked to the yoga studios when we saw Madonna's killer arms? One recent trend that has majorly sparked my interest is aerial work. I have seen countless Cirque du Soleil shows but never thought that learning such an art would be accessible to me, I had always left it to the overly flexible circus performers. I was then inspired by the flawless Grammy performances that Pink gave singing her hit "Glitter in the Air" while suspended upside down in the air. If they could do it maybe I could too.

Aerial classes are now finding their way into local gyms and studios and reaching a much wider audience however they are not just staying in the classroom. Some of the coolest dance shows I have seen recently have had aerial elements involved. It is not just another fitness fad but also a place where a dancer can express their artistic side, grace, balance and flexibility, usually while suspended in the air. It is literally where dance can take flight!

Written from Staff of Love to Dance, Inc.
Visit us at www.lovetodanceinc.com

Hip Hop Dance - from the Streets to a Global Dance Form

From the 80's street corner in NY and LA you could see the locking, popping, freestyle, up-rocking, down-rocking, grinding, the running man, gangsta walking, krumping, the Harlem shake and breaking. Inside the cipher, the formation circle gathered around a dancer gave birth to the first informal competition.

Hip Hop has growth up and become a Billion dollar industry. Taught in every dance studio across the nation the art form has countless styles within itself. Hip Hop has spread to Europe, Japan, Europe, and Africa. For example, as Hip Hop evolves in Japan and Italy they are adapting their own cultural influences and dynamics.

Hip Hop influences Fashion, Music, Movies, and TV. America's Best Dance Crew is a wildly popular American Idol-esque reality show aiming to find the most talented and entertaining hip hop dance group in the nation. ABDC's first season winner, the JabbawockeeZ, are now a featured show in nightly at the Monte Carlo Casino in Las Vegas.

Taking Hip Hop out of the streets and turning it into a planned and practiced choreographed dance style has forever changed the dance community. It is arguably the most diverse dance form in existence and seems to have no boundaries or depths of influence in mainstream America. Hip Hop today is prominent and thriving in studios, on the streets, and in the professional performing world.

The internet has brought Hip Hop to a global connection allowing cultures to express their own unique self-expressionism. Social networks bring hip-hop-minded dancers together like BlockSavvy and DanceJam. With the ability to access video, music, and dance gear this dance form is growing by leaps and bounds.

The unique and explosive qualities of hip hop dance have captivated audiences for years and show no signs of slowing down anytime soon!

Staff Writer of Love to Dance, Inc.

Modern Dance and Where it Is Today?

Modern dance first emerged in the early 20th century and has since evolved into one of the most prominent dance forms seen today.

Modern dance was originally started as a way to rebel against the confines of classical ballet. In the early 1900's, modern dancers sought to shed the oppressive technique, shoes, physique, costuming, and most of all the rigidity of ballet. The dancers aimed for self-expression in their dancing rather than a display of technical prowess.

Modern dance deconstructed the classical lines and positions of ballet. Rather than working from a turned out position, they worked from a more natural parallel position. One of the most famous aspects of modern dance is its utilization of floor work, which was a revolutionary concept at the time of its inception. Modern dancers also traditionally do not wear shoes when they dance.

Today it overlaps into a variety of genres and no longer has clear definition. Modern, Lyrical, and Contemporary, is incredibly prominent in the dance world. There are hundreds of professional companies in the United State alone, from the Alvin Ailey Company in New York to Our Dance Commons in San Francisco. Dance studios often compliment these classes with their formal dance curriculum producing well rounded dancers. Being a well-rounded dancer has long been sought after but, the attention from the shows like, So You Think You Can Dance, have made it a must in the dance world. It is a constantly changing and developing dance form that is welcoming to all who are interested in trying it.

Director, Mindy Love Watkins, of Love to Dance, Inc. in San Diego, CA understands the balance of having her dancers cross trained in all genres to escalate their technic and prepare them for dance life after high school. "Comprehension is a huge part in becoming self-aware about how to interpret, extrapolate, and execute your technic. To communicate in silence requires a deep understanding of what expression actually is. Modern, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Hip Hop help in developing these talents."

Visit Love to Dance, Inc. at http://lovetodanceinc.com/

Beyond The Bun

Three easy and exciting hairstyles for dancers who are tired of the basic ballet bun!


The Braided Bun
You will need: three ponytail holders, bobby pins, hairspray
Begin the braided bun by gathering your hair into a ponytail and secure it with a ponytail holder. Then simply braid all of the hair and secure it with another tie. Next, wrap the braid tightly around the base of the ponytail and secure it with another ponytail holder and bobby pins as necessary.






The Figure 8 Bun
You will need: bobby pins, a large clip(optional), hairspray
The Figure 8 bun is a very easy and pretty hairstyle for dancers with long hair. Begin by simply twisting your hair into a basic low bun, but do not secure it. Take the inner circle of the bun and flip it upward above the original bun. Secure it with a large clip across the center of the figure 8 and bobby pins at the top and bottom.





The French Twist
You will need: a French twist comb, bobby pins, hairspray
The first step to making a perfect French twist is to gather your hair into a low ponytail, but do not secure it. Start twisting your hair clockwise and begin to lift the ponytail upward towards the top of your head. If you do not have a French twist comb, then secure the hair with bobby pins as you twist. Once you have twisted most of your hair, it should look like a French twist with extra hair on the end. Twist this end very tightly and tuck it into your French twist. Secure the hair with more bobby pins and finish with hairspray.


Dancers often wear their hair in a "ballet bun" because long hair can obscure the line of the neck and get in the dancer's face while they move, making movements difficult. It provides and clean line and looks neat and elegant.

National Dance Day

Anybody and Everybody…GET UP AND DANCE!

National Dance Day: July 31st, 2011

What started as a small fantasy turned to reality when Nigel Lythgoe (of “So You Think You Can Dance”) declared July 31st a holiday, National Dance Day. This holiday was created in hopes of encouraging Americans to get up and move for the day. Not only to be active though but also to promote health and positive self-esteem through the art form of dance lessons. Learning and practicing dance exercises the mind, body and soul, creating fullness many Americans are lacking in today’s busy world.

The national holiday is actually going a step further, as it is being acknowledged by congress with an official act to pass the holiday. Congress supports this day for the fact that it will fight upcoming issues such as obesity and sedentary lifestyles. We know this holiday will accomplish the goal of encouraging a healthy lifestyle, through programs exploring dance education and physical fitness.

Last year was so much fun. Every dance class we held performed the dance. Flash mobs appeared and performed the routine. In cities people gathered by the thousands and moved to Flo Ridas “Club Can’t Handle Me” (http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/club-cant-handle-me-single/id378650465). Check out the video and learn the dance(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKUyp1GMQVg).

On a final note, we want to remind everyone that National Dance Day is a NATIONAL holiday; meaning EVERYONE can participate! This holiday isn’t just for the professional dancers or those trying to lose weight, ANYONE and EVERYONE should participate! This is a holiday made by the people, for the people to enjoy!

Dance away America! Have fun getting your groove on!

Staff Writer of Love to Dance, Inc.

ITS NEVER TOO EARLY FOR DANCE

Dance classes for Children in San Diego, as early as 6 months of age!

A well designed toddlers dance program is designed with a child’s psychology in mind for a child to evolve with each and every class.

Classes like Sing, Sign, and Play help form the early effects of communication, enhance bonding, increase IQ, with less crying, tantrums, and frustrations. These classes help parents open a window into their babies minds and personalities by teaching them effective two-way communication through a fun and simple combination of play, music, and American Sign Language signs. These classes can open your eyes to your baby's world and make life a little easier for you.

As early as 15 months of age a child can experience a “Magical Mornings” Dance Class. These are parent and child classes, so they can enjoy dance and have fun together. They are a nice step up in a fun yet structured environment using all types of music, improvisation, basic dance moves, and song. They really help and focus on building self-confidence, coordination, movement, imagination and a sense of rhythm. Sharing, forming lines, and interaction with other dancers and adults helps prepare young dancers for so many things you will want them involved in very soon, not to mention, the joy of a well behaved child.
Sometime after a childs second birthday when they begin to show signs of independence they can start their first beginning Ballet class. These types of classes enhance young childrens rhythm, movement, and coordination. They are taught with age appropriate music and imaginative props, little dancers stretch their imaginations while learning to dance.

At Love to Dance, Inc. in San Diego, CA the Director has designed a very comprehensive program known as the Tiny Tots Program. “This program prepares little dancers for so many things foreseen and unforeseen they will experience in their future. There are preschools, organized activities, and before long an after school dance programs that will take them through to their High School graduation and beyond.” Says Mindy Love Watkins- the Director

It is not hard to imagine, with introducing dancers so early, where they will be in the future. Growing up in a dance studio creates so much more than just a healthy lifestyle and activity. There are traditions, history, personal values, and self-worth that will remain with them for a lifetime.

-Staff Writer at Love to Dance, Inc.

Keeping Your Dancer Healthy

We’ve been noticing that a lot of dancers forget to take care of themselves throughout dance classes and rehearsals. Here are a few tips to remember because just like any other athlete, dancers need to nourish themselves properly to ensure the best focus and strength possible, as well as maintaining a healthy lifestyle as a young athlete!

Keep their bag packed with these items:

- Calories! Kids in general need more calories than adults, especially when exercising, so remember to adjust daily calorie intake to the dancer’s age and level of dance intensity!

-Carbohydrates are essential! Complex Carbs give a great energy boost right before a work out or even during activity to maintain energy levels. Keep some high carb foods like low sodium pretzels, peanut butter on whole wheat, breakfast cereal, and tuna jerky in your dance bag to make sure you always have a quick energy boost available to you!

-Fats! Many people try to avoid foods high in fats but, fats are truly necessary in a healthy, balanced diet. Pick foods that are LOW in saturated fats to get the benefits of “good fats”. Variety of nuts, pumpkin seeds, and whole grain crackers are all examples of healthy fats.

-Vitamins and Minerals! Always monitor calcium and iron levels as exercise can often lower iron levels. Similarly, calcium is crucial in keeping bones strong and preventing stress fractures on the body. String cheese, yogurt, cereal bars are great calcium snacks. Veggies, fruits, and fruit crisp can help fulfill iron and other vitamin needs.

-Water! Hydration is equally important as food intake for young athletes. Do not wait until thirsty to drink water as thirst is a poor indicator of hydration. Try to drink BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER exercise to keep water levels sustained throughout the day. Also, for a more tasty hydration try ZICO, a coconut water that contains electrolytes to replenish the body.

Always remember these suggestions when choosing to nourish your body for activity.

Keep Dancing!
Staff Writer at Love to Dance, Inc.

2011 is in full swing at the studio

With the new year, we have many exciting things going on! First of all, the costumes for the 2011 Dance Concert have been ordered! We've also started on our dances for the recital, so fun! This year we will be performing a very special finale that will involve all of our Division II dancers. We cannot wait to dance on the big big stage!
The first season of dance company will soon be coming to an end. This means that we will be starting our second session of company very soon! Auditions are open to all of our Division II dancers. We will have packets available at the front desk by next week. Please pick one up if you're interested!