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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.

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PARENTS GUIDE TO: HELPING YOUR DANCER AT HOME

SUPPORT THEIR TEACHERS

Encourage your child to share their goals with their dance teachers so that their instructors can help to put them on the right path. This can help your child build self- confidence, and feel empowered in the process. If you do choose to reach out to your child’s dance teacher on their behalf, be sure to do so respectfully and with an open mind. The more your child sees you working in support of their teacher, the more they will be likely to do the same.

ENCOURAGEMENT

If you are a parent to a younger child, then you know how much your child looks to you for help and guidance. At this age, support looks like listening to their interest and enthusiasm and the correct level of participation. Encouragement looks like asking your child to show you what they’ve learned in classes and making it a priority to show up to dress rehearsals, recitals, and other events.

SLEEP & NUTRITION

Dancers are working out new muscles everyday, pushing their bodies to new limits in every class. Sleep is important for your muscles to recover. Good sleep habits are especially important for dancers of a young age because their bodies are still growing. Snacking before class is key to success! It’s most important for your tiny dancers coming right from school, or close to lunch times. Food is fuel. It helps your child perform well in class and to their fullest potential. Dancers can’t focus on an empty stomach especially younger dancers. A hangry dancer isn’t the happiest of dancers, and our goal is to have our kiddos feeling full of happy feels after every opportunity to dance!