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Get To Know Miss Ruby

In the New Year, we want to take time to recognize all the wonderful people that make this studio possible. We have an amazing staff with qualifications out of the roof… but they are more than just dancers and educators. So for the next couple of weeks, we will be getting to know the humans behind the teacher, and their little fun facts. 

This week we are diving into the little details of Miss Ruby! 

There are many colors in the rainbow, but the one that has caught Miss Ruby’s eye is PINK!🌸 Who doesn’t appreciate a little pink every once in a while? Have you ever had the Starbucks pink drink? That’s reason enough to enjoy the color!

When it comes to food Miss Ruby will never turn down watermelon 🍉 The best time to enjoy this flavor-filled fruit is SUMMER! Anything that pairs well with the summertime heat is a win in our book. 

Florence + The Machine has plenty of good music, but when it comes to favorites the song that brightens Miss Ruby’s day is ‘Dog Days Are Over’🐶. Next time you’re feeling a little gloom and doom pop on that song and we promise those spirits will be lifted! 

Miss Ruby may love the song ‘Dog Days Are Over’, but her favorite Artist of all time is RIHANNA! And we can’t argue with that choice. She has music spanning over 2 decades that can make you cry, dance your heart out, and make you embrace the strength behind being a woman! 👗

She has done a lot in her life, but there is nothing like a childhood memory that sticks with you forever. When Miss Ruby was a little girl she started taking dance class🩰, and that remained her favorite memory. It gave her friends, confidence, and a skill set that she will have forever. Dance provides soo much for a young person, and we believe every child should dance at some point in their life. 

Even though everyone here is an amazing dancer our teachers are much more than that. Outside of the studio, Miss Ruby loves to travel, go to the beach, and spend time with her friends. But of course, she also loves to dance.

These are just a few of the things that make Miss Ruby so special! 

 

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SPREADING KINDNESS IN THE NEW YEAR 

A lot of the new year is focused on ways to improve ourselves, and what a better way to do just that than by spreading kindness. You never know how far you small acts can go for someone else! 

Below we will dive into 3 simple ways to spreed kindness this year❤️

 

LET SOMEONE KNOW YOU APPRECIATE THEM!

Words hold a lot of power. All it takes is a few simple words to lift someone’s day. Your friends and family know you love them, but hearing it more often will never be a bad thing. That goes for other people that you come across in your every day life as well. Whether it’s barista or your teacher at school let them know you appreciate the task they have done for you in that moment, or just in general. The 💪🏼 behind a “THANK YOU” is immense!

 

DO A FAVOR WITHOUT ASKING FOR ANYTHING IN RETURN 

Think of someone who goes above and beyond for you. Could be a parent or guardian. The teachers you see everyday or an older sibling. They do many things for you because they truly care. What could you do for them? Something that makes their day easier of course! You can make sure you room at home or work space as school is always clean. It could alleviate some of their everyday stressors, and give them one less thing to worry about. If you are the older sibling try helping out with your smallest family member once in a while. Any big or small task to make the day easier for the person you care about will go further than you may think. The 🔑 is NOT as for something in return for the favor you gave!

 

SMILE 

Look people in the eyes when you give them a grin. This is such a simple way to spread kindness, and it’s another freebie! Be generous with your smile and put feeling into it. Smile at cashiers, waiters and baristas, mail carriers, and other people you come in contact with. This easy gesture can brighten people’s day. ☀️

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It is almost the New Year which means it’s time to set some new goals for yourself for 2023!

Here are some habits for your dancer to incorporate into their new season of life and dance.

Roll Out!

Foam roller, marshmallow stick, or tennis ball. Give yourself ten minutes after class or rehearsal to break up the fascia in your body. Your muscles will thank you!

Say no to inflammation.

Dancers’ bodies are sensitive to inflammation, so it’s a good idea to incorporate some anti-inflammatory foods into your diet.

The chances are that some of these foods are already familiar to you: almonds, green tea, and blueberries, for example. You can find out more here.

(https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-inflammation)

Cross train

If you don’t already, cross-training can make a big difference in your dancing. Popular regimes for dancers include pilates, yoga and swimming. Check our some of our teacher tip videos for some guidance! 

Below are some technical goals for your dancers to set for themselves this New Year!

  1. Break your habit of hopping in your turns.
  2. Improve your balance.
  3. Jump smarter – knees over toes, deep plié.
  4. Get your hips square consistently.
  5. Improve your turnout, either flexibility-wise or in your dancing.

Here are some artistic goals that your dancer can look to strive for in the New Year! 

  1. Get more comfortable with improv.
  2. Make a habit of using your eyes, not looking at the floor.
  3. Improve your transitions to get that “graceful” look.
  4. Get better at showing different emotions through movement.
  5. Improve your musicality.

 

1. Christmas Obstacle Course

This is a fun game for dancers and GREAT for teamwork – it can be done at any time of the year but is especially fun at the holidays. 

First grab some tinsel and  any other decorations you like, such as lights, gift boxes, etc so that it is “hard” to get from one end of the room to the other. If you have enough family members to spilt into teams that adds an extra layer of fun. 

If using teams the first person should stand in a line with hands on shoulders. The person at the back is Santa and the rest of the line are the reindeers. The reindeers have to close their eyes and must be ‘lead’ by Santa through the maze to a specified spot on the opposite wall. Teams take turns to navigate the maze and the team with the fastest time wins. Variations on the game include changing the maze for each team or having all the participants face away from the maze while it is being set up.

2. Snowflake Waltz

The primary objectives of this activity are to help your dancer explore a range of shapes with their bodies, and develop a greater understanding of musicality by working within a set number of counts. To begin, remind dancers, “No two snowflakes are alike!” Explain that this exercise may feel repetitive, but the challenge is to find as many different snowflake shapes with their body as possible.

To play:

  • Direct the dancers to start in a “Snowflake Shape” of their choosing. They are to consider different levels, spatial planes, directions, body parts, lines, facings, and angles as they create their shape.
  • They will hold their shape for 8 counts, then “melt” out of their shape and dance to the floor for 8 more counts.
  • On the 1 of the next phrase, they will find a new Snowflake Shape, and the dance will repeat.
  • Continue this pattern of Snowflake Shapes and melting dances to the floor as many times as desired.

3. Holiday Pajama’s

This is a really fun holiday dance game and also works really well as a fun family bonding activity .  Grab some cheap Christmas pajama pants and your dancers must put them on (over their “regular” clothes)  WITHOUT using their hands – it is hilarious!  To make it easier you can let them put their feet in or make them start from scratch.  To do the exercise in partners you can have two dancers work together to put the pants on one of the dancers BUT neither dancer may use their hands.