Everyone has different motivations and reasons for dancing. Some people are put in dance classes as little kids and fall in love with it, while others find dance at an older age.
Dance teaches you so much more about life than just movement. It inspires, teaches perseverance, and challenges you daily.
Listen to McRae Whitley talk about why she has been dancing for 18 years and what she loves about it.
Showing posts with label dance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dance. Show all posts
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Friday, November 14, 2014
Pack your bags...with healthy snacks!
Dancers are constantly on-the-go. Whether you are in middle
school, high school, college, or dancing professionally you know what it means
to balance a lot of different things at the same time.
As a college student, I balance tests, papers, and presentations
with dance classes, rehearsals, and performances. Let’s just say days can get
pretty hectic. But even in this crazy life, it is so important that dancers
take time to eat healthy.
 |
| Photo credit to Corwin Johnson |
Dancers need high-energy snacks to refuel between classes
and shows. These snacks can’t be found in a vending machine, which is why it is
so important to plan ahead.
Pack your dance bad with snacks containing complex carbs,
healthy proteins, and healthy fats. Try to keep snacks below 300 calories so
that you are satisfied and refueled but never too full to dance.
My two favorite snacks to keep in my dance bag are an apple
with peanut butter and a healthy variety of nuts and dried fruit with a little
bit of dark chocolate thrown in the mix. If these snacks don’t sound good to
you, don’t worry! There are lots of other easy options to pack in advance and
eat on-the-go.
The Rockettes have a long list of healthy snacking options for dancers on their website.Check it out for even more ideas about how to eat healthy as a dancer!
Monday, November 10, 2014
Project Dance International: London
 |
| Lara Pilcher |
Project Dance is a global movement of dancers that began in
New York City. Lara Pilcher was the first person to take Project Dance overseas
to Sydney, Australia. In 2015, Project Dance will have events in four international
cities and seven American cities. Today,
Lara is the event producer for both the Sydney, Australia and London projects.
Lara has been involved in many different aspects of the
dance world. She worked with Steps Youth Dance Company, New Trails Dance Theatre, and Tab 1 for The Feast Jerusalem. She has also founded dance troupes,
been involved with international dance exchanges in China, and started a dance
studio in Australia. Lara is not only a
dancer but also a teacher and a choreographer.
 |
| Photo credit to Doug Titus |
When asked to explain the dance world in London, Lara said, “This
city is an ARTS HUB to the max, and artists relocate from all over the world to
try to ‘make’ it here.” London has some of the world’s most incredible dance
companies including The Royal Ballet, Rambert, and Sadler’s Wells.
There are also great dance studios to visit if you find
yourself in the area. The Place for Contemporary and Pineapple Dance Studios
are Lara’s recommendations to get the real industry feel. She also said to go
to Dance Works if you want to great ballet class.
1.
Perseverance
2.
Strong training
3.
Good community
Project Dance wants to help you achieve all three. The 5th
annual Project Dance London will take place July 17-19, and you don’t want to
miss it!
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Take Class
Photo Credit to Doug Titus
One strength that is priceless to dancers is versatility.
Whether you are a lover of ballet, jazz, modern, ballroom, tap, or contemporary, we all have our favorite style of dance.
Regardless of your favorite, it’s important that dancers train in multiple disciplines. This flexibility prepares you for any audition or situation you might find yourself in. You do not have to be an expert in every style but don’t be afraid to try something outside of your normal discipline.
Take class.
 |
| Photo Credit to Jamie Childress |
When you travel, take classes at a new studio. Learning from a different instructor can give you a fresh perspective. Check out the previous blog Atlanta Takes the Stage to see recommendations for studios to take class at in Atlanta, Georgia.
One great thing about Project Dance is the opportunity to take master classes in different disciplines. Each participant gets to hand-pick their own schedule. See what interests you. Take your favorite style from a new teacher and get a new perspective on it or try a class that is completely new such as Musical Theater.
Versatility turns a good dancer into a great dancer so get out there and take class!
Sunday, October 26, 2014
2015 Cities Announced
Since 2002, Project Dance has been presenting open air concerts in major cities around the world. Cities include Atlanta, Brisbane, Costa Rica, Detroit, Greenville, Hong Kong, Houston, Jerusalem, Kansas City, London, Los Angeles, Manila, New York City, Orlando, Penang, Puerto Rico, San Francisco, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Washington, DC.
Dancers, teachers, choreographers, and more than 300 volunteers make it possible. Project Dance serves more than 2,000 dancers worldwide, and 2015 is expected to do the same.
Project Dance just released their 2015 locations. If you've never been a part of the Project Dance movement then this is the year for you, and for those of you who are returners we cannot wait to see you again!
Check out the list of Project Dance 2015 cities to decide which one...or two or three, you will be a part of!
Founder of The Project Dance Foundation, Cheryl Cutlip, desires to inspire dancers to take dance outside of theaters and studios and into the heart of the public. She challenges dancers to "join the movement that is changing the face of dance in our culture."
Dancers, teachers, choreographers, and more than 300 volunteers make it possible. Project Dance serves more than 2,000 dancers worldwide, and 2015 is expected to do the same.
Project Dance just released their 2015 locations. If you've never been a part of the Project Dance movement then this is the year for you, and for those of you who are returners we cannot wait to see you again!
Check out the list of Project Dance 2015 cities to decide which one...or two or three, you will be a part of!
- Houston - March 13-15
- Orlando - April 10-12
- New York City - April 24-26
- Greenville - May 22-24
- Costa Rica - June 12-14
- Detroit - June 19-21
- London -July 17-19
- San Francisco - August 14-16
- Atlanta - October 2-4
- Singapore - October 23-25
- Puerto Rico - November 6-8
Sunday, October 12, 2014
A Successful Project Dance Atlanta
Project Dance Atlanta was a huge success last weekend!
Dancers came from all along the east coast to celebrate the art of dance. Saturday, dancers shared their passion for dance at a free outdoor concert at Atlantic Station. In case you missed it, here are some pictures that helped capture the event.
A huge thank you to Doug Titus for photographing the event. Also thank you to the Project Dance team for making Atlanta a great success!
To see more pictures from Project Dance Atlanta check out the Project Dance Atlanta page on facebook.
The next Project Dance is happening in less than one month in Puerto Rico, and it's not too late to register! Visit projectdance.com for more information.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Every Step Counts
Instead of viewing every technique class and rehearsal as training for that one moment, let’s view it as the moment. When you walk into modern class, pretend you are walking on stage. When you learn a new combination in jazz class, give it all you’ve got just as if you were in front of an entire audience. When you are at the barre in ballet class, imagine you are performing.
This doesn’t mean we can’t make mistakes. After all, what better place to fall out of your fouette turn than in class with your friends, but remember that training and rehearsals matter just as much if not more than the actual performance.
We cannot be our best on stage if we are not our best in rehearsals and technique classes. It’s important to enliven the rehearsal and class experience by making each step count. Learn to enjoy the process of working towards the end goal—not just arriving at the end goal.
The next time you walk into a dance studio, take a minute to remember why you are there. This change of perspective helps change our attitude, refresh us, and renew our passion and love for dance.
Remember, this concept is not just relevant for dancers. It applies to every area of our lives. Make every moment count, and remember that anything worth doing is worth doing well.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Atlanta Takes the Stage
As a city, Atlanta truly has a heart for the arts, making it the perfect location for Project Dance. Dance is thriving in the Atlanta area. The city is filled with dance studios as well as pro and semi-pro companies. Autumn said she knows of two new dance companies starting just this year as well as a new arts festival. Atlanta is an up and coming city in the film industry which means there are more and more agents looking to hire dancers. Bottom line – if you are a dancer, Atlanta is full of opportunities!
If you are visiting Atlanta, here are a few dance studios you should definitely check out. Dance101, Ikonic Dance Studio, Dance411, Atlanta Ballet and Gotta Dance are the main studios in the Atlanta area offering adult classes, and they are excellent resources for dancers.
As a dancer, the training never stops. That’s why it’s so important to get plugged into the dance world and train under as many people as possible. Autumn said that when she was growing up she was never the best dancer at her studio or the one who was chosen to be in front; instead, she worked hard and it paid off. Autumn worked as a Radio City Rockette for seven years as well as performed with Walt Disney World, Stiletto Entertainment and more. She said, “If you love dance, stick with it. True art takes a long time to perfect so continue to work on your technique and performance skills and never give up.”
Mission and Goals: Project Dance® is a movement of dancers seeking to positively impact culture through artistic integrity. Our desire is to see every dancer nurtured to their fullest human potential for their own wellbeing and their contribution to the world. We offer training, education, and performance opportunities for dancers worldwide who desire to dance with integrity to inspire. Check out www.projectdance.com to learn more.
Friday, June 12, 2009
The Need for a New Kind of Culture
Cheryl Cutlip identifies an emerging community of culture creators
Cheryl Cutlip posted 5/19/09
Dancing as a Rockette has taught me a lot: how to kick perfectly in-line with 36 other dancers, how to survive a 200 performance Christmas show season at Radio City, and how to apply red lips and lashes for that on-camera interview with Diane Sawyer. So what can a Rockette contribute to the conversation on culture? Well, I’ve been thinking about more than eye-high kicks lately. As a former Radio City Rockette and student of Westminster Theological Seminary I’d like to explain a new kind of culture that blends art and belief.
Culture is difficult to define. We hear its voice. We see its image. We feel its heartbeat. Popular thoughts and ideas run rampant on the streets enforcing its agenda. As new restaurants, art galleries, and movies hit the streets their fate falls into the hands of the public. Only the strong survive.
On the flip side is subculture. Extracted from culture are pockets of exclusive yet hidden passionate communities with more narrow ideas about life and how it’s lived. Whether The Amish or Goth, subculture exists to give identity and validity to more unique lifestyles and beliefs which allow them to thrive and exist.
.
While mainstream culture and subculture move along life’s timeline a brand new kind of culture is emerging all around us. I call this supculture.
Supculture is the artistic infusion of absolute truth within an existing society.
By definition the word sup means to eat or drink in small amounts. This ideology, both excellent and passionate exists to infuse absolute truth in digestible doses. This can be done through direct display of truth within an artistic expression such as Lord of the Rings or The Matrix. It can also be done through the infusion of truth to the people within a given cultural project such as Broadway Underground or The New York City Ballet.
To better understand this new culture we need to observe the characteristics of its people. Their overarching commonality is a shared belief that we exist in a world that has a divine creator who is personal and as a result all of their life work flows out from that solid foundational position.
With this as a starting point let’s explore some of the other unique characteristics of supculture. Because of this strong belief in a personal and divine creator there is a deep affection for the church. In this case, the church is not a building or established denomination. The church is “those who call themselves believers in God through Jesus Christ.”
Though there is a trend among some within the church to simply complain or muse about the church’s treatment, or its lack of knowledge, or poor expression of art this new band of artists rejects such complaints. Those in supculture work to find solutions to problems rather than running from them. They’re willing to take on a responsible role in stewarding art when expressed in and for the church.
While many within church communities have stepped away from culture, those in supculture thrive on its heartbeat and sink deep into its daily flow. Culture is the place where voices on the street are heard, understood, and expressed. To be in the mix of culture is to sharpen one’s communication of their beliefs as well as show compassion and respect for those with whom they strongly disagree.
Let’s examine a common experience of some believing artists. In most cases these artists are expected to outlay their goods in either “The Church” or “The Culture.” If the art is to be offered within the church it needs to specifically fit the expectation of the church and serve its current needs. These needs are based on a particular style of art for a particular purpose which extends out of the particular people group being served in that particular church community. If a church is unable to utilize the skill of an artist in their midst but still has a desire to validate them, they often encourage them to go out into the culture for what is termed, “marketplace ministry.” This current phenomenon within the church makes sense as we know clearly that the Bible teaches us to be in the world but not of the world. We understand that the Bible validates working artists and that by having believer artists sprinkled throughout the marketplace; Christ is therefore impacting many arenas. Once in the marketplace, believers sometimes find themselves challenged on many levels. What started as a purpose driven assignment can become an excuse for mediocrity or a ticket to a life with less integrity than hoped. The current cultural mindset can then lead believing artists to accept less from themselves in areas of personal excellence. In contrast to this, the new flock of supculture creators are bold in their personal integrity while maintaining deep authentic friendships and business relationships with many who do not share in their own personal beliefs.
Often times the church is so far from culture that they lose sight of the very people they’ve encouraged to venture there. This creates an opportunity for working artists to live a secret life in their cultural environment but still seem to remain healthy in their church environment. This divide eventually damages those struggling to maintain their life’s call as an artist while desiring to grow and remain spiritually strong. Supculture bridges the gap for artists. It creates a place for artistic and spiritual excellence and allows both to co-exist without being pulled in one direction or the other. Many believing artists today feel a bit scysophrenic. Supculture reminds them that they are not crazy. They are called to this life of creating masterworks for the world with God’s stamp of approval.
Supculture is not merely marketplace ministry whose highest expectation is to impact others in the marketplace with truth. Supculture takes this notion a step further and longs to take the driver’s seat in the creation of new projects within the marketplace. And, while those within supculture find themselves deeply ingrained in the marketplace they are also equally ingrained within a community of believers in a local church. They flow freely and regularly from the culture to the church and usually have deep rooted friendships in both worlds. Supculture has no specific spiritual agenda. However, since passion for truth is the driving force behind its people and their projects we often see lives changed through it.
We now understand that two pillars uphold this new kind of movement: the church and the culture. Balanced between these two immovable columns is supculture resting hesitantly yet fervently on a tight rope (careful not to slip). Poised as pioneers who’ve come of age within marketplace ministry or birthed out of a short term surge of artists’ acknowledgment by the church comes this unique and powerful display of something new, something supernatural, and something we want to participate in as a way of enriching the human experience.
To help better understand supculture; let’s think about Mel Gibson’s film, The Passion of the Christ. Quite noticeably, this film is infused with absolute truth. The very life of Christ is depicted through cinematography. Director Mel Gibson utilized his artistry and skill to offer the public an excellent film. Both the culture and the church had to sit up and take notice. Though I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Gibson, it is my understanding that the views depicted in the film also represent his own personal beliefs. Had he created this film and opposed its beliefs the pillar of the church could have suffered a blow. However, he made it clear that he was a follower of Christ throughout the movie’s debut when asked those questions by the media. On the other hand, had he created a film infused with this kind of absolute truth without using the skill of amazing film professionals, the culture would have laughed at the notion that anyone could believe such a truth. Why? Simply put-our current culture demands quality. The message itself is often secondary to its aesthetic majesty.
Another example of supculture is the variety show Broadway Underground, which the New York Times gave rave reviews. While the content of this show (which I help produce) doesn’t overtly convey absolute truth, those producing it strongly believe in core supculture values. Unbeknownst to the audience, before each show the entire cast circles up for prayer, and those involved attribute its success to their divine creator.
Countless other examples are popping up all over the place and it’s time to give these people and their projects a name all to themselves. The concept of supculture sounds brand new but it’s really age old. As I focus on the person of absolute truth, Jesus Christ, I see that he is the author of supculture. From the streets (culture) to the synagogue (church), Jesus bridged the gap between these two worlds. He was completely committed to culture; it’s where he chose his 12. He honored the synagogue and died to uphold its value. With hands outstretched he said; “For God did not come into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
Today’s most vibrant culture creators are those who have mastered the ability to tell the truest story in the most excellent way. Might the church and the culture celebrate these who’ve emerged and are here to stay? Now believer artists have a place to call home. It’s the new emerging supculture. Welcome! Now, let’s get to work.
Click here for more information about Cheryl Cutlip
Cheryl Cutlip posted 5/19/09
Dancing as a Rockette has taught me a lot: how to kick perfectly in-line with 36 other dancers, how to survive a 200 performance Christmas show season at Radio City, and how to apply red lips and lashes for that on-camera interview with Diane Sawyer. So what can a Rockette contribute to the conversation on culture? Well, I’ve been thinking about more than eye-high kicks lately. As a former Radio City Rockette and student of Westminster Theological Seminary I’d like to explain a new kind of culture that blends art and belief.
Culture is difficult to define. We hear its voice. We see its image. We feel its heartbeat. Popular thoughts and ideas run rampant on the streets enforcing its agenda. As new restaurants, art galleries, and movies hit the streets their fate falls into the hands of the public. Only the strong survive.
On the flip side is subculture. Extracted from culture are pockets of exclusive yet hidden passionate communities with more narrow ideas about life and how it’s lived. Whether The Amish or Goth, subculture exists to give identity and validity to more unique lifestyles and beliefs which allow them to thrive and exist.
.
While mainstream culture and subculture move along life’s timeline a brand new kind of culture is emerging all around us. I call this supculture.
Supculture is the artistic infusion of absolute truth within an existing society.
By definition the word sup means to eat or drink in small amounts. This ideology, both excellent and passionate exists to infuse absolute truth in digestible doses. This can be done through direct display of truth within an artistic expression such as Lord of the Rings or The Matrix. It can also be done through the infusion of truth to the people within a given cultural project such as Broadway Underground or The New York City Ballet.
To better understand this new culture we need to observe the characteristics of its people. Their overarching commonality is a shared belief that we exist in a world that has a divine creator who is personal and as a result all of their life work flows out from that solid foundational position.
With this as a starting point let’s explore some of the other unique characteristics of supculture. Because of this strong belief in a personal and divine creator there is a deep affection for the church. In this case, the church is not a building or established denomination. The church is “those who call themselves believers in God through Jesus Christ.”
Though there is a trend among some within the church to simply complain or muse about the church’s treatment, or its lack of knowledge, or poor expression of art this new band of artists rejects such complaints. Those in supculture work to find solutions to problems rather than running from them. They’re willing to take on a responsible role in stewarding art when expressed in and for the church.
While many within church communities have stepped away from culture, those in supculture thrive on its heartbeat and sink deep into its daily flow. Culture is the place where voices on the street are heard, understood, and expressed. To be in the mix of culture is to sharpen one’s communication of their beliefs as well as show compassion and respect for those with whom they strongly disagree.
Let’s examine a common experience of some believing artists. In most cases these artists are expected to outlay their goods in either “The Church” or “The Culture.” If the art is to be offered within the church it needs to specifically fit the expectation of the church and serve its current needs. These needs are based on a particular style of art for a particular purpose which extends out of the particular people group being served in that particular church community. If a church is unable to utilize the skill of an artist in their midst but still has a desire to validate them, they often encourage them to go out into the culture for what is termed, “marketplace ministry.” This current phenomenon within the church makes sense as we know clearly that the Bible teaches us to be in the world but not of the world. We understand that the Bible validates working artists and that by having believer artists sprinkled throughout the marketplace; Christ is therefore impacting many arenas. Once in the marketplace, believers sometimes find themselves challenged on many levels. What started as a purpose driven assignment can become an excuse for mediocrity or a ticket to a life with less integrity than hoped. The current cultural mindset can then lead believing artists to accept less from themselves in areas of personal excellence. In contrast to this, the new flock of supculture creators are bold in their personal integrity while maintaining deep authentic friendships and business relationships with many who do not share in their own personal beliefs.
Often times the church is so far from culture that they lose sight of the very people they’ve encouraged to venture there. This creates an opportunity for working artists to live a secret life in their cultural environment but still seem to remain healthy in their church environment. This divide eventually damages those struggling to maintain their life’s call as an artist while desiring to grow and remain spiritually strong. Supculture bridges the gap for artists. It creates a place for artistic and spiritual excellence and allows both to co-exist without being pulled in one direction or the other. Many believing artists today feel a bit scysophrenic. Supculture reminds them that they are not crazy. They are called to this life of creating masterworks for the world with God’s stamp of approval.
Supculture is not merely marketplace ministry whose highest expectation is to impact others in the marketplace with truth. Supculture takes this notion a step further and longs to take the driver’s seat in the creation of new projects within the marketplace. And, while those within supculture find themselves deeply ingrained in the marketplace they are also equally ingrained within a community of believers in a local church. They flow freely and regularly from the culture to the church and usually have deep rooted friendships in both worlds. Supculture has no specific spiritual agenda. However, since passion for truth is the driving force behind its people and their projects we often see lives changed through it.
We now understand that two pillars uphold this new kind of movement: the church and the culture. Balanced between these two immovable columns is supculture resting hesitantly yet fervently on a tight rope (careful not to slip). Poised as pioneers who’ve come of age within marketplace ministry or birthed out of a short term surge of artists’ acknowledgment by the church comes this unique and powerful display of something new, something supernatural, and something we want to participate in as a way of enriching the human experience.
To help better understand supculture; let’s think about Mel Gibson’s film, The Passion of the Christ. Quite noticeably, this film is infused with absolute truth. The very life of Christ is depicted through cinematography. Director Mel Gibson utilized his artistry and skill to offer the public an excellent film. Both the culture and the church had to sit up and take notice. Though I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Gibson, it is my understanding that the views depicted in the film also represent his own personal beliefs. Had he created this film and opposed its beliefs the pillar of the church could have suffered a blow. However, he made it clear that he was a follower of Christ throughout the movie’s debut when asked those questions by the media. On the other hand, had he created a film infused with this kind of absolute truth without using the skill of amazing film professionals, the culture would have laughed at the notion that anyone could believe such a truth. Why? Simply put-our current culture demands quality. The message itself is often secondary to its aesthetic majesty.
Another example of supculture is the variety show Broadway Underground, which the New York Times gave rave reviews. While the content of this show (which I help produce) doesn’t overtly convey absolute truth, those producing it strongly believe in core supculture values. Unbeknownst to the audience, before each show the entire cast circles up for prayer, and those involved attribute its success to their divine creator.
Countless other examples are popping up all over the place and it’s time to give these people and their projects a name all to themselves. The concept of supculture sounds brand new but it’s really age old. As I focus on the person of absolute truth, Jesus Christ, I see that he is the author of supculture. From the streets (culture) to the synagogue (church), Jesus bridged the gap between these two worlds. He was completely committed to culture; it’s where he chose his 12. He honored the synagogue and died to uphold its value. With hands outstretched he said; “For God did not come into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
Today’s most vibrant culture creators are those who have mastered the ability to tell the truest story in the most excellent way. Might the church and the culture celebrate these who’ve emerged and are here to stay? Now believer artists have a place to call home. It’s the new emerging supculture. Welcome! Now, let’s get to work.
Click here for more information about Cheryl Cutlip
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