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In 2023 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 Leighanna! 

There are many colors of the rainbow. Some shine bright like the sun, and some are as dark as night.. but they are all special to someone. The color that caught the eye of Miss Leighanna PERIWINKLE🦄! It’s a soft a cozy color that makes of think of all things good. We completely understand why this color holds a special place in her heart❤️.

When it comes to food Miss Leighanna loves  SWEET POTATOES🍠 . In any shape, way, or form she will take it. You can never go wrong with this super yummy food. It’s versatile like regular potatoes but it’s got a twist! 🌪

Miss Leighanna is a lover of all things music🎵. There is no way she could go a day without it. Her life is full of it. When we asked what her favorite song was she thought long an hard. Leighanna went back a forth and came to the conclusion that she simply couldn’t pick just 1️⃣.

When it comes to favorite artist it was a little bit easier for her to choose on this matter. Though she did take a little time to think over all her options one artist stuck out more than the rest. When in doubt Miss Leighanna will always be a fan of Kendrick Lamar!

We are made of memories☁️, and as we grow older we become a product of all the things we have experienced along the way. Some memories stick out more than others💬. She looks back fondly on Disney🪄 trips she took as a kid. But of course she couldn’t look past all her days spent taking dance class🩰 as she grew up. 

Even though everyone here is an amazing dancer our teachers are much more than that. Outside of the studio, Miss Leighanna loves to travel✈️. Seeing the world is something she finds is one of the best ways to spend your life. On top of that she loves photography📷, and we gotta say she is pretty great at it to! Last and certainly not least she loves to visit Disneyland🪄on her days off!

Possessions can come in many different shapes or forms. Some things are tangible that we can hold in our hand, and others are things like time spent. When it comes to things that are extra special to this teacher of the week she keeps her photo albums of her and her family🖼 in a safe place.

Our teachers here at Reach For the Barres are fountains of knowledge⛲️. They are people who are full of amazing advice. What Miss Maraya would like to pass on to the students here is “Always lead with you heart”💕

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

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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 Bea!

When it comes to color Miss Bea couldn’t pick just one! Her heart belongs not to one, but to two. Some of the prettiest things are the color pink. So of course this is one that as stole her heart💕. When it comes to the color gold it represents generosity and compassion. One of the many reason it’s perfect color for our honey Bea🐝.

Fun fact about Miss Bea she is from Brazil 🇧🇷. So when it comes to food she can’t help but find the food from home to be her favorite. Especially their meat! But she also can never turn down sushi 🍣, or a night in with pizza 🍕! 

Music is our language of love  ❤️ , and with there being soo much good music it truly is hard to pick one favorite song 🎵 . And our teacher of the week couldn’t agree with us more. So here are a few of the ones that have inspired Miss Bea: ‘The Climb’ Hannah Montana LOL 😂, ‘Someone’s Watching Over Me’ Hilary Duff, and ‘You Will Be Found’ From Dear Evan Hansen. 

Just like how she feels about color and song she simply cannot pick one favorite artist. When it comes to favorites Miss Bea has 3️⃣! They all share something in common..they top the charts in pop music. We can’t blame her for her taste in music. I think we all love a little Justin Bieber and Harry Styles moment in our days☀️. Plus there is something about the nostalgia of the Jonas Brothers that make them extra good👍🏼.

We are a sum of our memories. They make us who we are! The ones Miss Bea cherishes the most are the trips she takes every year with her family🏠 for the holidays. She will never turn down the chance to get everyone together and see somewhere 🆕.

Outside of the studio our teacher lead great lives, have many hobbies, and love to fill their time with fun. When Miss Bea isn’t here with us spreading the love of dance she likes to spend the day at a theme park🎢! As we know she loves music 🎶 and what better way for her to enjoy music than at live concerts. With all that adventure and fun she also loves to keep it calm and see a good movie while loading up on snacks🍿.

Possessions come in many different forms. We all have different things we hold near and dear to us🫂. What is super special to Miss Bea is her family. She would call them her most prized possession🎁. Which we sure can relate on. There is nothing more special than a strong and loving family unit. 

As always our teachers are full of knowledge and experience🧠. They bring so much to the table that travels far beyond the ability to teach dance🩰. When it comes to advice we have some of the best sitting within our teaching staff. What Miss Bea would like to pass onto her students is “Be patient, be in the moment, don’t give up.” 💪🏼

 

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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!

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HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY AS A DANCER

Dance is physically demanding on top of it being fun. Taking care of your body should be your number one priority. Without taking care of yourself dance becomes harder, and leaves more space for injury. Here are some ways to take care of your body throughout the day and dance season. 

HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE!💦

Water is a must-have when doing any and all physical activities. Dancers will need to drink water more frequently. Within one class a dancer can lose up 2 liters of water. YIKES! 

Fluids are especially important after class and rehearsal, but make sure to steer clear of carbonated drinks and fruit juice. Drinking tons of fluids is a simple and easy way to take care of your body as a dancer.

WARM UP YOUR BODY AND STAY WARM🌤

Every dance teacher will start your class with a warm up, and that is for a reason. A solid warm up helps your muscles become less stiff, and less prone to straining something. 

In addition, it’s also important to stay warm while you’re not dancing. If you decide to take a break and wait on the side, make sure to cover up so your body doesn’t get cold and do a quick warm-up before you go back on.

DON’T SKIP STRENGTH TRAINING 🚫

Dance itself is a strenuous physical activity, but keeping up with strength training will only help you improve as a dancer. 

In a previous blog we went in depths on the importance of strength training! 🔗

NURISH YOUR BODY! 🌯

Once again dance is an extremely physical activity, and you can’t run on zero! Making sure you eat enough is one side of it. On top eating enough the food you consume while dancing needs to be something that will give you energy, and is healthy. The food you eat before class is essential. When choosing what you are having make sure there is protein, carbohydrates, and/or healthy fats. Also you can NEVER go wrong with fruits and veggies on the side! 

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY👂

Neglect of a sickness or injury can end up bringing a dancers season to a halt. Don’t be afraid to see a doctor or physical therapist about recurring or frequent pain. Sitting out of a few rehearsals or taking a sick day is better than having a serious sickness or injury put you out for a long time.