It’s no secret that a professional dancer is one of the most challenging yet rewarding journeys one can undertake. It involves countless hours of rigorous training, endless corrections and the pressure to reach a high standard within a narrow timeframe — all while still growing and developing physically and mentally.  In our fifth Beyond Stretching […]

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In the captivating world of dance, our journey towards mastery often mirrors the great feats of aviation pioneers. Picture yourself in the shoes of Santos-Dumont or the Wright brothers, facing the monumental challenge of crafting vessels “lighter than air” capable of soaring amidst the clouds. Their breakthroughs revolutionised human flight, shaping the way we traverse […]

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For this edition’s Beyond Stretching column, Zac Jones, founder of Heal Yourself and Move, joins Dance Informa to delve into the nuanced realm of ‘sustainable flexibility development.’ Whether you find yourself in the role of a student or a teacher, integrating this concept into your daily training regimen in 2024 will help you cultivate new […]

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Dancers, no matter where they come from, have many things in common. They’re passionate, hard workers and, however their dance journey has developed, with dedication they can achieve great things. Dance Informa spoke with three dancers from around the world about their training and aspirations. Here, they share their challenges, successes and everything in between. […]

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Welcome to this issue’s Beyond Stretching column with Zac Jones from Heal Yourself and Move! In part two, we will be sharing strategies to help dancers safely maintain their range of motion and extensions over the Christmas break.  Dancers often encounter challenges in maintaining peak physical condition during holiday breaks, where the notion of rest may inadvertently lead […]

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When it comes to professional development, as educators, we want to be sure we are spending our precious free time on something engaging, informative and relevant to us. Vitality Teacher Conference at Energetiks VDF is always chock full of inspiring seminars, Q&As and practical workshops, meaning we walk away from a full day of learning […]

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Over the next six issues, Dance Informa will be collaborating with Zac Jones, director of Heal Yourself and Move, on a series that explores flexibility. Throughout these upcoming editions, we gain insight into how to maintain and master flexibility throughout different seasons of study, training, performance and teaching.  Graduate of The Australian Ballet School, Jones is a […]

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Dancers are agile and intelligent individuals, who have the capacity to learn quickly, adopt new information and strike with precision. So when it comes to evolving in a climate that has posed multiple challenges, especially financially, all it takes is some innovative thinking to build upon one’s skill set.  This can be done by moving […]

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Pilates is about centring, literally and figuratively — building core strength and finding one’s metaphorical centre, one’s sense of inner strength and calm. The practice incorporates timing, shape and breath in reaching toward achieving goals in both areas — things that dancers are accustomed to working with and refining. Core strength (which we know goes […]

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Dance and movement educator Zac Jones leads Heal Yourself and Move, a conditioning and strength training program which he teaches at a number of institutions. Heal Yourself and Move, developed by Jones, enables dancers and gymnasts to improve their flexibility and strength and rehabilitate after injuries. Because of COVID, Jones innovated his work to develop a digital platform […]

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