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 […]

The post Beyond Stretching, Part 4: Strength to technique – lighter than air appeared first on Dance Informa Magazine.

To dance with strength and stability, as well as to avoid injury, we have to have core strength. That’s not just six-pack abs — but a muscular foundation and integration through the side-body, back and pelvic area. As dancers, we also need conviction, confidence and commitment to our decisions — to perform at our best […]

The post Pilates for core strength: 4 exercises you can do to get strength back after the holidays appeared first on Dance Informa Magazine.

The McDonald College has curated a special program of four mornings in January, designed to physically prepare ballet students ages 12 to pre-professional, for a safe and strong return to the studio.  Each morning, held over the holidays from 18 – 21 January 2022, will consist of a one-hour conditioning/Pilates class and an hour-and-three-quarters ballet […]

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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 […]

The post A Pilates sequence for cross-training and re-centring in stressful times appeared first on Dance Informa Magazine.

Pilates was first introduced to me during my time at the Victorian College of the Arts, when I was studying for my Bachelor of Arts in Dance Performance. After an injury in a class one day, I was referred to a local physiotherapist who had set up a Pilates studio in his physio clinic. I had […]

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One of the good things about globalisation is the speed at which trends move around the world – from the return of the hipster and old-style barber-shops, to the availability of Xtend Barre on almost every continent. XtendBarre? Yes, Xtend Barre, also affectionately called “Ballet on Steroids”. Xtend Barre was developed and launched in the […]

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Winter has started to set in, and we are all beginning to freeze! This is a time for extra-concentrated warm-ups, careful cool-downs, and stylish accessories. This handy 10-step guide will get you through the next three months. #1. Takeaway tea in a super-cute thermos cup, to keep you warm on your trip to the studio. […]

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The Prix de Lausanne is widely regarded as one of the most elite ballet competitions in the world. Taking place at the end of January/beginning of February each year, it welcomes carefully selected competitors to Théâtre de Beaulieu in Switzerland for a week of technique classes, absorbing repertoire and, eventually, competition. In addition to the […]

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They’re the words no dancer ever wants to hear: “You have to take a break from dancing.” Getting injured can seem like the worst thing in the world, but are there any positive sides to it? Yes, there are! Having an enforced “rest” is a chance to stop, take a step back and analyse your […]

The post Can injury make you stronger? appeared first on Dance Informa Magazine.

As a dancer, you probably already incorporate Pilates into your conditioning programme. But have you heard of Gyrotonic? Well, it’s about to become your new favourite exercise. The Gyrotonic Expansion System includes two exercise methods: Gyrotonic (equipment-based) and Gyrokinesis (mat and chair work). Both were developed by Juliu Horvath, a professional dancer from Romania. After […]

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