just dance! | january 2013 | issue iii
DESCRIPTION
The third issue of this great new resource for local dancers.TRANSCRIPT
Natalie thorNley-hall is iN THE sPOTLiGHT
$4.00justdancemagazine.com
January 2013 | issue iii
Good Advice> MAkeup MAGic with MAc> tiMe MAnAGeMent tips> costuMe cAre
+
cold weAther Fun!
Pros & shows:WisE WOrds frOm EmiLy mOLNar, JOsH BEamisH & arTEmis GOrdON
An interview with indiAn clAssicAl dAnce Guru MenAkA thAkkAr
2 just dance! | January 2013
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Co-publisher & Managing editorracquel Foran
Co-publisher & Public relationsandrea albanese
art Director (Ad production, layout &
image submission guidelines)laura Bellis
Copy editorhillary wood
staff PhotographerKaren Fisher-hagel
operations assistantMeagan o’Connor
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Copyright © just dance! magazine 2013:material appearing in this publication may not be reproduced in print or electronically without written permission of the publisher, and without proper credit given. Editorial viewpoints and opinions do not necessarily reflect the view of the publishers.
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Happy New year! it is hard to believe that
not only have we started a new year, but that we have already published three issues of
just dance! it has been a whirlwind six months. We have met dozens of new people who have all enthusiastically shared ideas, information and resources with us. Every day that passes we learn something new about the dance community or about magazine publishing. But the constant learning and flood of fresh new ideas is what keeps us motivated and inspired, and confirms for both andrea and me that people want more of what we are providing.
in this issue of just dance! we are honoured to be able to share our conversation with “the mother of indian dance in Canada,” dr. menaka Thakkar, as well as teach our readers a little bit about the ancient history of classical indian dance. if you are ever offered the opportunity to take a menaka Thakkar
workshop, it is an experience you should not pass up.
With competitions just around the corner we also wanted to provide you with some information to help you have a successful season. Caitlin Callahan, senior artist with maC Cosmetics shares makeup tips for both stage and street; co-publisher andrea albanese provides excellent advice on how to get the most out of your costumes; and professionals from the dance community tell young dancers why they should get out and see some live performances. We hope you find all the information helpful.
Of course, we are also already planning our next issue. available march 15, this issue will be dedicated to “mom.” One of the things we have learned is that no matter who you speak with, “mom” plays a major, if somewhat invisible, role in a dancer’s life. if you have a great story about how your mom has helped you realize your dream of dancing, just dance! wants to know, so make sure to contact us.
and as always, keep dancing!
— Racquel
Happy New year! i’m hoping that
everyone had a lovely holiday break and managed some downtime from
the business of life. Though somehow i doubt it…There was a lot going on in the dance world these past weeks: Countless productions of ‘The Nutcracker’ staged by professional companies, local youth companies, dance schools and community programs—all giving opportunities to local dancers to perform on stages big and small. i was lucky enough to see our ‘in the spotlight’ dancer perform the role of Clara with the Goh Ballet as well as attending ‘mixed Nuts’ by arts Umbrella dance and the mOVE 2013 Gala which gave me the opportunity to see some of the choreography that local Team Canada dancers competed in Germany this past October. i found the performances inspiring and exciting. There’s a lot of talent in this town.
as always, we continue to meet enthusiastic and inspiring members of the dance community who are generous with their time, expertise and advertising
budgets in supporting just dance! so that we can continue to bring you—our readers and dancers—great content to celebrate your achievements, to inform and inspire you and to create a great local dance community.
We’re right back in the thick it now: auditions for summer intensive programs began the first weekend of January in seattle (check our website for more information); festival and competition choreography is being finalized and rehearsed; costumes are being ordered and sewn; some schools are planning January showcases and performances; and some are planning trips to compete or attend dance conventions in other cities. Let us know what you’re up to. We’d love to post some photos on facebook of our local dancers working hard in the studio, rehearsing, auditioning or competing!
as always, thanks to our readers for your support, enthusiasm and feedback; to my partner racquel for her vision and willpower; to our art director Laura for her patience and incredible skills; and to my family and friends for their encouragement.
Best,
— Andrea
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iN TH
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Publishers’ letters ...........................................................................................2 By Racquel Foran & Andrea Albanese
Competitions ..................................................................................................4in the spotlight Natalie Thornley-Hall ..........................................................5 By Andrea Albanese
why the Pros go to shows ........................................................................8 Emily molnar, Josh Beamish & artemis Gordon Explain Why dancers should sit in the audience By Andrea Albanese
Putting your Best Face Forward ................................................................11 By Andrea Albanese
Balance ................................................................................................ 14 Time management: relieve stress with Good Planning By Racquel Foran
just dance! wants to Know .................................................................. 16 What is your favourite dance Photo of yourself?
just dance! talks with Dr. Menaka thakkar, Canada’s ........................ 20 “Mother” of indian Dance By Racquel Foran
the history of Dance indian Classical dance ......................................... 23 By Racquel Foran
Flurries of Fun Winter activities for dancers ............................................. 26 By Andrea Albanese
Creative Costuming: recycle, reuse & revamp ................................... 28 By Andrea Albanese
Directory listings ........................................................................................30
112823
Cover: Natalie Thornley-Hall, photo credit: Visual arts masters vamproductions.com.
shiNe DaNCe Festival shinedancefestival.com
Okanagan – Vernon and district Performing arts Centre: april 4 to 7
mission – Clarke foundation Theatre: april 18 to 21
North Vancouver – Centennial Theatre: may 2 to 5
PeaK iNvitatioNalpeakinvitational.ca
surrey – Bell Performing arts Centre: february 28 to march 5
Burnaby – michael J. fox Theatre:april 13 to 21
North Vancouver – Centennial Theatre: april 23 to april 28
abbotsford – abbey arts Centre:may 3 to may 12
Whistler – Westin resort & spa: may 17 to 20
terPsiChore terpsichore.ca
Chilliwack – Chilliwack Cultural Centre: may 23 – 24
North Vancouver – Centennial Theatre: may 9 to 11
thuNDerstruCK CaNaDathunderstruckcanada.com
maple ridge – The aCT arts Centre & Theatre: april 6 to 8
Festival Du Ballet festivalduballet.com
surrey – surrey arts Centre: may 14 to16
surrey Festival oF DaNCesurreyfestival.com
surrey – surrey arts Centre: april 2 to 30
star taleNt DaNCe CoMPetitioN startalentdancecompetitions.com
maple ridge – The aCT arts Centre & Theatre: april 12 to 14
Burnaby – michael J fox Theatre: april 26 to 28
Chilliwack – Chilliwack Cultural Centre: may 10 to 12
Next level hiP hoP CoMPetitioNnextlevelhiphop.ca
surrey – Chuck Bailey rec Centre: april 12 to 13
KiDs helP PhoNe ChalleNGeshowtimedancepromotions.com
surrey – Bell Centre: april 5 to 7
Great CaNaDiaN DaNCe ChalleNGeshowtimedancepromotions.com
Kelowna – Community Theatre: may 8 to 12
DreaM teaM DaNCe Festival showtimedancepromotions.com
surrey – surrey arts Centre: may 3 to 5
syNerGy DaNCesynergydance.ca
Kelowna – rotary Centre for the arts: march 1 to 3
surrey – Bell Performing arts Centre: april 15 to 21
Burnaby – michael J. fox Theatre: may 1 to 4
Victoria – University of Victoria: may 18 to 20
Prince George – Vanier Hall: may 24 to 25
5678 showtiMe5678showtime.com
Whistler-fairmont Chateau Whistler may 17 to 19 (see special valentine’s Day offer, pg.19)
DaNCe Powerdancepower.com
Burnaby 1– michael J. fox Theatre: march 5 to 10
surrey – Bell Performing arts Centre: march 25 – 31
Chilliwack – Chilliwack Cultural Centre: april 3 to 7
Burnaby 2 – michael J. fox Theatre: may 6 to 13
maple ridge – The aCT arts Centre & Theatre: may 22 to 27
competitions
February 22, 2013, 7:30pmFebruary 23, 2013, 2pm and 7:30pm
Terry Fox Theatre, Port Coquitlam, BCTicket price $25.00
tickets are available at the studio or call (604)420-0204
Douglas Ballet Academy presents ...
CALL DOUGLAS BALLET ACADEMY AT (604) 420-0204 FOR TICKETSEmail: [email protected] Website: www.douglasballetacademy.com
Renowned for its classical technique, Douglas Ballet Academy follows theoverwhelming success of Coppelia (staged Spring 2012) with a full length production of the fairy story ballet Cinderella.Come celebrate 20 years of dance training with us!
competitions iN T
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OT
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Natalie Thornley-Hall has
packed a whole lot of dance
into her 12 years. The Grade
7 french immersion student
started dancing at age 2½ with
her twin brother James, who
quickly decided that the dance
world was not for him. at age
5, Natalie was taking jazz, tap,
ballet and gymnastics and by
7 she decided her true love
was ballet. she then began
training at the Vancouver Junior
Professional division (VJPd),
a North shore studio that
specializes in classical ballet.
In the Spotlight:
NaTaLiE THOrNLEy-HaLL
By andrea albanese
January 2013 | just dance! 5
Top
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Lo
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Natalie comes by her love of
ballet honestly: Her mum took
ballet and classical spanish dance
until the age of 16; her beloved
grandma took ballet classes when
she was a young girl; and her
aunt, Leigh-ann Cohen-Hafford,
danced professionally with Ballet
BC and various other companies.
Leigh-ann is now a senior ballet
instructor at the Cornish institute in
seattle and also works as a private
ballet coach and choreographer.
The youth america Grand Prix (yaGP) creates a unique opportunity for ballet students, teachers and choreographers to come together with the artistic directors of the world’s finest ballet schools and companies. Founded in 1999 by two former Bolshoi Ballet dancers, the yaGP is the largest international dance competition for students age 8–19. Over 5,000 dancers compete for more than $250,000 in scholarships as well as job offers from the world’s top ballet companies.
In 2011, director Bess Kargman received permission from YAGP organizers to film a documentary on the competition and the resulting film, First Position, has met with resounding success in both the ballet and non-ballet worlds.
By the age of 10 Natalie was
dancing upwards of 12 hours per
week at VJPd where students
wear a uniform, ankle socks (until
division 3) and are expected to
sport a perfect ballerina bun with
no wispy bits. Natalie doesn’t
mind the strict discipline and says
the only thing she doesn’t like
about ballet is “getting up really
early to compete or take class.”
Natalie’s current schedule is
approximately 15 hours per week
and includes ballet, character,
conditioning and modern classes
plus private instruction to rehearse
the variations she will perform for
the year.
in 2012, Natalie competed at the
youth america Grand Prix (yaGP)
for the second year in a row. she
did variations from Paquita and
Swan Lake and a contemporary
piece choreographed and
coached by her aunt. she
6 just dance! | January 2013
Youth America Grand Prix
Natalie with her aunt, Leigh-ann Cohen Hafford. Natalie performing her contemporary solo (choreographed by her aunt) at the yaGP 2012.
Getting ready for class at The dance Centre.
January 2013 | just dance! 7
in t
he
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ht
1-866-491-9019 | [email protected] | en-pointe.com
Ballet BarresStudioBarres, PortaBarres, Wall Mount Barres & Brackets
Dance FloorsSprung Dance Floor, PortaFloor, Vinyl Dance Flooring
Glassless MirrorsWall Mount Mirrors, Mirrors on Rolling Stand
Staging
competed in two YAgp Regional
competitions: In Seattle she placed first
in her division and in los Angeles she
won the hope Award for the second
year in a row. her scores earned her a
spot to compete in the NYC finals where
she was awarded a bronze medal.
When asked if there were any scary
competitive dancers at the YAgp nat
replies, “no…they were competitive, but
pretty friendly and nice. i liked it at YAgp;
the dancers were really good.”
her YAgp success earned her an
invitation—as the youngest performer—
to Miami’s international Ballet Festival
Young Medalist gala, which features top
award winners from the international
ballet competitions of 2012. Back at
home, natalie also won scholarships
from both the Vancouver Ballet society’s
(VBS) Spring Seminar and the Pacific
West performing Arts Festival.
natalie attended the national Ballet of
Canada’s summer program in 2011 and
was asked to stay on for full-time training,
but she wasn’t quite ready to move
to toronto. For now, natalie is happy
living at home and training locally. she’s
busy almost every day with dance:
performing the role of Clara in the goh
Ballet’s Nutcracker for the second year
in a row, perfecting her new variation
from Le Corsaire for the YAgp in seattle
this February and attending auditions for
summer intensive programs. she’s been
offered several scholarships for summer
programs but hasn’t made any decisions
yet, though she’s hoping her family can
come along for at least part of the time.
As for her future dreams, natalie says, “i
like classical ballet and i’d like to dance
for the paris opera Ballet.” When her
mom informs us that almost all of their
dancers come from the paris opera
Ballet school located in nanterre on the
outskirts of paris, natalie replies, “that’s
oK. i’d go there.”
getting ready for class at the Dance Centre.
8 just dance! | January 2013
By andrea albanese
Getting out of
the studio
and seeing a
professional
show can
be an eye-
opening experience. Let’s face it;
beginner hip hop class is nothing
like seeing the Bad Boys of dance.
‘intro to Contemporary’ bears no
resemblance to Kidd Pivot or Ballet
BC, and those first few years of acro
do not prepare you for Cirque du
soleil. seeing a great performance
can lead to a new appreciation
and excitement for an unfamiliar
type of dance. dancers may begin
to see similarities in technique and
movement as well as being able
to spot the differences. Ballerinas
and hip hop dancers don’t move
the same way at all, but both
need strong technique to perform
and spend countless hours in the
studio. And finally, both dancers
experience the same thrill when
performing.
Emily molnar, artistic director
of Ballet BC, passionately
believes that seeing a wide
variety of dance performances
ranging from classical ballet
to contemporary, musicals to
modern, and tap to street dance
benefits every dancer, and is, in
fact, an essential part of being a
dancer. she recalls eagerly taking
in all kinds of performances as a
student. “if you want to become
a professional dancer,” she says,
“it is so important to see what is
out there. it helps you believe in
what is possible and see where
you are going as a dancer. When
i was in Europe, as a 17-year old
dancer, it opened my eyes to
all kinds of dance. it was a huge
learning curve. seeing different
types of dance enlarges your
world and your perspective. it
why the Pros Go to shows: EmiLy mOLNar, JOsH BEamisH & arTEmis GOrdON ExPLaiN WHy daNCErs sHOULd siT iN THE aUdiENCE
many dancers may be missing a key component of their
dance education without realizing it. dancers know that
they spend most of their time in the studio perfecting
technique, conditioning their bodies and learning
choreography. Less time is spent on stage, but that is
another key component of dance education—the art
of performance. But how many dancers regularly spend
time in the audience watching dance? There are two
main reasons why dancers do not attend professional
dance performances: money and time. Or a dancer
may think, “That’s not the type of dance i do” or “i don’t
like contemporary dance/musicals/classical ballet.”
mic
ha
el s
lob
od
ian
January 2013 | just dance! 9
encourages you to learn how to
evaluate the quality of technique
and artistry. you learn who you
want to become as a dancer and
even where you’d like to dance.
as a professional, it will inform and
inspire you.”
Josh Beamish, founder and artistic
director of mOVE: the company,
agrees. “How are students
supposed to truly understand what
they are aspiring towards without
seeing professional dance?” he
asks. “Even as a professional,
i consider seeing work to be
as high a priority as my daily
training.” Beamish says viewing
others’ work keeps him aware of
how audiences respond. it also
inspires and challenges him in
his own choreographic process.
“seeing Crystal Pite's Uncollected
Work completely challenged
my every notion of the depth of
communication that dance could
offer,” he says. “seeing (William)
Forsythe for the first time made me
wish i'd worked harder in ballet
growing up, so i that could have
danced that work myself.”
do you know that in almost all
professional schools dancers are
required to attend professional
dance performances? it is as much
a part of the curriculum as daily
class, repertoire, conditioning,
Pilates, nutrition, dance history and
music. artemis Gordon, artistic
director of arts Umbrella dance,
believes attending performances
is so important that tickets to
Ballet BC, danceHouse and the
Chutzpah! festival are included
in the yearly tuition for arts
Umbrella dance programs. and
Emily molnar recalls, “When i was
a student at the National Ballet
school we had subscriptions to the
National Ballet of Canada shows
in addition to Harbourfront Centre
to see contemporary and modern
dance.”
Not living near a big city doesn’t
mean you have to give up the
idea of attending performances.
since 1995 dance photographer
and parent Erik Zennestrom has
organized countless road trips
for Okanagan dancers to see
performances in Vancouver. He
says those trips are still talked
about fondly by former students
who enjoyed the thrill of seeing a
show, having a backstage tour,
meeting Karen Kain (or other
famous dancers), and travelling
with up to 60 fellow dancers and
a couple of parent chaperones.
apart from the obvious aim of
supporting professional dance in
the community—“dancers need
to support dancers”—Zennestrom
goes on to say, “i think the most
important thing that happened
during the trips was meeting
professionals, realizing that they
are no different. They get sore
and tired, yelled at sometimes,
disappointed often. They also love
what they do aNd they take class
why the Pros Go to shows: EmiLy mOLNar, JOsH BEamisH & arTEmis GOrdON ExPLaiN WHy daNCErs sHOULd siT iN THE aUdiENCE
Ballet BC’s muse.
10 just dance! | January 2013
every day! Even on performance
days! all this creates a visible
bridge, the realization that the pros
aren't superhumans, and you don't
need to be one to be successful.”
But what if you don’t want to be
a professional dancer? What if
you just like to dance and maybe
perform in local competitions and
festivals? molnar says it doesn’t
matter. in fact, she believes that
dancers who compete frequently
might get a very interesting
perspective by spending some
time in the audience. “When you
compete, you are being judged
by the audience, because that’s
where the judges sit. it’s hard to
forget that. There is a focus on
showmanship. Not that that is
a bad thing, it’s just that it can
be a very different experience
to perform when you are not
being judged—you develop a
relationship with the audience.
you are sharing and participating
in a mutual experience, which is
that of the performance.” molnar
feels that spending time in the
audience, experiencing how the
performers on stage connect
with the audience, will not only
inspire dance students, but will
also help them improve the quality
of their own performance by
enhancing their ability to make
that connection. and that just
might be something the audience
(and the judges) will notice the
next time you’re on stage.
The bottom line is that seeing
professional dance performances
is an important part of your
dance education. Being a
dancer in the audience can
be an inspiring, educational,
interactive, motivational, learning
and life-changing experience
that’s a whole lot more than just
entertainment. arts Umbrella
parent Noni raskin says, “it's
often quite interesting to watch
the faces of the dance students
in the audience of a dance
performance and to follow their
gaze. They're soaking it all in and
are often the ones to lead in the
applause and standing ovations
because they know that the magic
on stage is a result of endless hours
of focus, determination, passion
and hard work.”
Once you’ve decided to make
audience participation part of
your dance education, where
do you start? ask your teachers
what to see. search the ‘dance
Listings’ online or in the local
newspaper. if expense is a
consideration, talk to your parents
and set a budget, keeping in
mind that community theatres
are often more affordable than
downtown venues. Vancouver
Ballet society members often
get special rates for many local
dance performances (not only
ballet), as do members of Harbour
dance Centre. Ballet BC offers
2 for 1 tickets on the day of the
performance from Tickets Tonight.
make a commitment to see at
least one performance every few
months and see how it changes
your dancing world!
Ballet BC is committed to creating a bridge between the studio and the stage to make the professional
dance world more accessible for dance students. in addition to hosting two student dress rehearsals, choreographic workshops, artist salons, and presenting a summer intensive in collaboration with arts Umbrella, artistic director Emily molnar is currently designing an outreach program that will make it easier for local dancers to attend Ballet BC performances. Contact Kerriann Cardinal ([email protected]) for more information on group tickets for dance studios.
balletbc.com
dancehouse.ca
chutzpahfestival.com
thedancecentre.ca
artsalive.ca
movethecompany.com
arts Umbrella dancers at the theatre--a required element of their dance training.
Kid
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putting
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FaceBEST
By Andrea Albanese
maC Cosmetics senior artist, Caitlin Callahan’s
degree in theatre arts coupled with her training
and international experience as a senior artist with maC
Cosmetics makes her a true subject matter expert in
the field of stage makeup. Caitlin views makeup as an
essential aspect of being on stage and sees it as an
extension of your costume.
12 just dance! | January 2013
applying taupe contour shadow along the orbital bone.
2
1
3
4
Caitlin explains that being a
‘makeup artist’ is just that—you
are truly ‘painting your face:
Foundation evens out the skin
tone, creating a ‘blank’ canvas;
contour powders add highlights
and shadows, giving the face
shape; an eyebrow pencil brings
out brows, framing the face; lip
colour defines the mouth; and
finally eyeliner and eye shadow
emphasize the eyes, giving life
and depth to the face.
if you understand the basics of
drawing and shading, you have a
bit of a head start in the makeup
department. don’t worry though:
there are proven techniques that
you can use to get great results
even if you can’t draw a straight
line.
in addition to basic skincare,
there are two things you need
to remember about makeup
according to Caitlin: always
remove your makeup aNd wash
your face. This is NOT the same
thing. if there’s any makeup on
the towel, your face is not clean,
which can lead to breakouts.
LETíS GET STARTED!first, wash your face. apply a small
amount of moisturizer on your face
and lips. (Or if you want to get
fancy, use moisturizer, eye cream
and lip conditioner.)
1 With a small flat brush, apply
concealer on any blemishes
and under the eyes in a ‘C’
curve (go right up along the side
of your nose but not to the edge
of your eye).
Powder foundation (maC studio
fix) is easiest to apply. Use a
medium/large round powder
brush—a sponge gives much
heavier coverage—and cover
your whole face. remember, you
are creating your blank canvas.
2 Contouring adds shape
back to your face. To
highlight, apply white
powder (or a colour that is 1 to -2
shades lighter than your skin) with
a contour brush (round, smaller
than the foundation brush) aBOVE
your cheekbones, on the top of
your jaw line, under and above
your eyebrows and on your lower
eyelid.
3 To shade, use a taupe
or brown powder (1 to 2
shades darker than your skin
tone) and apply with a contour
brush under your cheekbones,
under your jaw line and under your
bottom lip.
Blush is not commonly used unless
you are trying to look very young
or have very pale skin. To apply
blush correctly, smile and brush
blush on the ‘apple’ of your
cheeks with a contour brush.
4 for your eyes, use your
taupe/brown contour
powder and an eyeshadow
brush. apply along orbital bone
which is above the crease of your
eye but don’t go into the crease
of your eye.
Use a small angle brush and put
the taupe/brown contour colour
under the eye in a line about 2mm
under the lash line. follow the lash
line but don’t start right in the
corner.
fill in the space between the
colour and the lower eyelashes
with white eye pencil.
applying concealer in a ‘c-curve’.
after the contour shading has been applied under the cheekbone.
filling in the liquid eyeliner outline.
January 2013 | just dance! 13
5 6 7you can also use white eye pencil
on the inside of the lower lashes to
emphasize your eyes even more
(takes the red out).
Use a dark eye pencil along the
outside of the lower lashes to
outline the eye.
Outline the shape of your eyelid
using liquid eyeliner then fill it in.
Use the side of the brush for more
control (press the colour on, don’t
‘paint’ it).
5 False eyelashes may need
to be trimmed for younger
dancers. apply a thin line
of adhesive to the eyelash. Keep
young skins are sensitive and when you are dancing and sweating, your pores open up, absorbing all that makeup. it’s important to buy the best quality cosmetics and brushes you can afford and to take good care your makeup kit. don’t forget to remove your makeup and WasH your face!
applying false eyelashes just along the upper lash line.
Outlining the lips with lip liner. Pressing on lip colour with a lip brush.
• Keep makeup in a cool, dry place away from the light.
• don’t share your makeup.
• Wash your brushes frequently (after every competition/performance, especially if you use brushes to touch up your makeup each time
you perform. sweaty
skin=bacteria).
• mascara doesn’t keep. The
brushes can hold bacteria
from your eyes, which
then contaminates the
remaining mascara in
the tube.
the eyes open and look down.
apply along the natural line of the
eyelashes. you can add mascara
to ‘stick’ the false eyelashes to
your real eyelashes if you wish.
6 Using a lip liner, outline the
lip starting in the middle of
the lower lip. Use the flat of
a sharp lip pencil to follow the
natural line of the lip. if you need
to even out your natural lip shape,
use a taupe colour pencil BEfOrE
you start. for long-wearing lip
colour, fill in the whole lip with liner
before you apply lip colour.
7 apply lip colour over top of
the lip liner using a lip brush
to press the product into the
lips for long wear, making it less
likely to smear on costumes.
Always fill in your eyebrows with
an eyebrow pencil in an elegant
classical arch shape. if you have
very light eyebrows, maC carries
a pencil called ‘fling’ which is an
ashy blond.
for a fancier and more dramatic
eye add more shadow in a natural
tone (plum, brown, peach–NO
green or blue) with an angled
brush above eye and make the line
under the eye thicker.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR INVESTMENT!
14 just dance! | January 2013
Ba
La
NC
E
Just thinking about the work
ahead makes you feel stressed
out. you wonder how you will
manage everything: achieving
good grades in school; improving
and advancing in dance; finding
time for friends and family;
sleep…?
resPoNsiBilities shoulD Not Be stressFulBut having a lot to do shouldn’t
make you feel overwhelmed
and stressed out. Being able
to achieve the things we set
out to, and doing a good job
of those things is what gives us
self-confidence and a sense of
purpose. Life will always be busy
and you will always have to juggle
multiple responsibilities with varying
priority levels. it is important to feel
positive about our responsibilities,
not stressed— and this comes
down to good time management.
PlaN aheaDIt is difficult to manage your time
when you don’t know what’s
coming. if things are always
catching you by surprise, it’s
because you aren’t planning
a ead. This is where a calendar
comes in handy. This can be the
calendar on your smart phone,
tablet, computer, or an old-
relieve stress with Good Planning
Time management
“Always arrive on time: if you
arrive late you waste the time
of the person expecting you, if
you arrive early you waste your
own time.”
it is 9:00 p.m. on wednesday night and you just walked in the door after
having spent the previous three hours at the dance studio. you have been
on the go since 6:30 a.m. and are feeling exhausted, but you still have to
work on an english assignment that is due the next day. it looks like you are
heading into a late night of homework—again!
fashioned wall or desk calendar,
but in it you should list every event,
important date, and deadline
you can think of for as far in
advance as you can. Birthdays,
school holidays, competition days,
school and dance exam days,
dance class days and times, and
anything else that you need to
make time for should be noted in
your calendar.
But don’t stop there. after you
have filled in your calendar, go
back and review each of your
entries to see if there is any pre-
planning associated with the item
listed. for example, Valentine’s
day falls on february 14, so on
february 10 you might want to
schedule time in your calendar to
go to the mall to pick up cards and
chocolates for friends and family,
and on the 12th you should block
off 30 minutes to write your cards.
Then on the morning of the 14th you
will be all set to enjoy the day.
PrioritizeAfter your calendar is filled in, it is
all about prioritizing and the best
way to prioritize is with lists. Each
day get in the habit of setting aside
15 minutes to list out your daily
schedule; good times to do this are
right before going to bed, or while
eating breakfast in the morning.
referring to your calendar, write
down everything you need to do,
noting times where necessary and
making sure to add anything that
has come up at the last minute.
Then number these items by
By racquel Foran
Ba
La
NC
E
To get your world in order, call Duhita: 604.472.1000
yourworldinorder.com
your world in orderBalance Your World
Staging | Organizing | Designing
What’s in it for you?Sell your home faster!
Find what you’re looking for!Love your home again!
importance. for example, school
at 8:30 is a must, so it is #1 on the
list, but watching So You Think
You Can Dance is something you
would like to do but might not
have time for, so it would have a
number towards the end of the
list. When you are done, tuck this
list in your planner or pocket and
refer to it throughout the day so
you stay on track and don’t forget
anything. Each time you complete
a task cross it off the list. you will be
Dividing large projects into small tasks not only makes the project feel
smaller and more manageable, but you will also likely spend less time
working on it and produce better results than if you try and cram the
whole thing into one or two work sessions. When you are assigned a
new project at school, ask your teacher how much time she thinks a
student should spending working on it to achieve a good grade. If your
teacher responds with six hours, for example, and you have seven days
to complete the assignment, then set aside one hour a day for each of
the seven days. If you follow this method, late nights studying and late
assignments will be a thing of the past, and if things go well you might
even finish your assignments early.
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amazed how good it feels to see
everything checked off at the end
of each day.
in the beginning, it might be
difficult to develop the habit of
keeping a calendar and lists, but
once you start you will realize that
being in control of your own time
and responsibilities will free you to
truly let loose on the dance floor.
16 just dance! | January 2013
just DaNCe! waNts to KNow… W hat is your favourite dance photo of yourself ?
Our march issue is all about mom so just dance! wants to know, “what does your mom do to support you and your dancing?”
send a favourite photo of you with your mom for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate from Jazz Ma Tazz dance and Costume supply and a photo shoot with Nadine
Tygre Perl age: 14
attending idylwild arts
academy in California
beginning January 2013
This is my favourite photo of myself
because i think that the nature
scene really matches my tutu
and it almost looks like i am a fairy
nymph in the middle of the forest.
Daniel la Pettenon age: 15
douglas Ballet academy, Burnaby
This is my favourite dance photo of myself because it brings back
memories of my first pointe dance back in 2011. It was choreographed
by meagan Ekelund and the piece was called shooting stars.
i absolutely loved our silver costumes and dancing with the silk scarfs. in all
my years of dancing, this was one of my favorites.
Matisse Maitland age: 15
Tri-City dance Centre,
Coquitlam
i have attached one of my
favourite dance photos . it
was taken last year at a dance
competition. it is my favourite
because i think they just caught
me at the perfect time.
Kennedy Urquhart age: 11
The danceLab, Coquitlam
i love this photo because it is very
different from other dance photos
i have taken. my mom found this
cool graffiti wall downtown and
we went there and took pictures.
We had many homeless people
watch and tell us the pictures will
be beautiful. i hope you like it too.
GTf
oto
fx
Tam
ara
Le
ch
ne
r
am
an
da
mu
rph
y
ab
iga
il W
dL
Kin
g
inkster Photography for you, and a
gift basket and free consultation from
your world in order for mom.
Congratulations to our November
winners Jada Tang and amanda de
Paiva who won gifts donated by Live
Love dancewear, sugar & Bruno, and
Ballet BC.
Respond to Win!
just DaNCe! waNts to KNow… W hat is your favourite dance photo of yourself ?
January 2013 | just dance! 17
Tiffany Reitsema age: 9
Place: dance Power maple
ridge may 2012
This is one of my daughter’s
favourite photos from last year’s
dance competitions. she was
performing her lyrical acro solo
at dance Power maple ridge.
The judges made a special
mention of her for being able
to smile throughout the whole
performance, even during her
tricks – which can be quite
difficult. Tiffany, (she just turned 9
in this photo) loves to dance and
perform, and this photo captures
her joy of performing, even in a
difficult position.
i asked her what the best part of
going to competitions was for her,
and i thought for sure she might
say winning a medal or trophy,
but she surprised me by saying,
“getting that piece of paper
to see what i need to work on
for next time” i was pleasantly
surprised to be reminded how
mature my 9 year old can be
about receiving constructive
criticism, and actually looking
forward to it, to make her a
stronger person and dancer.
Emma Kel ly age: 9
K&s dance, Port Coquitlam
my name is Emma. i am 9 years old and i have been going to K&s dance
in Port Coquitlam since i was 2. attached is my favourite dance photo of
myself. it is my favourite because it is from my very 1st solo, and i love the
colour of the tutu!!!
Amanda De Paiva age: 11
studio One dance Center, aldergove
This costume so far has been my favourite because I really had to find my
character in this dance!! This solo taught me about dancing the music and
having fun!! i’m a Cyber Girl! many dance families we have met always
say to me “you’re that Cyber Girl!!” yEs, i am!!
Hana Pauls age: 13
Centre stage dance, Pitt
meadows
This is my favourtie dance photo
of myself because this was my first
in-the-air photo. i was so happy
when i saw what it looked like, i
realized how high i could go and
how much further i could go. it felt
effortless, that is why i love it.
Pho
to E
xpre
ss
GTf
oto
fx
GTf
oto
fx
On
sig
ht
Pho
tos
18 just dance! | November 2012
The Montreal CID Section of the International Dance Council will host the 34th CID World Congress, the
first on the North American continent. D A N C E I S O U R V O I C E is intended primarily for professionals though
supporters in related professions and youth are welcome to attend this Congress which is an opportunity
to share one’s work with teachers, choreographers, dancers, researchers, organizers, and suppliers.
CIDCID is the only international organization representing all forms of dance that is recognized by United
Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO. CID Headquarters are in Paris,
France, and the administrative office is in Athens, Greece. In 1982, CID designated April 29 as World
Dance Day with celebrations in more than 200 countries. In 2001, CID hosted the first World Congress
in Athens, Greece. Approximately 400 conferees from more than 40 countries attend each congress.
Host Hotel - Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, Montreal - 866-540-4483 - Code 13Showtime - from $169
cid-portal.org - cidcanada.org - cirquedusoleil.com/jobs - 5678showtime.com - danceworldcup.com
5678 Showtime first hosted Dance World Cup in Vancouver. More than 6,000 dancers from China, Japan,
Guam, South Korea, New Zealand, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Austria,
Poland, Turkey, Hungary, India, Ghana, USA and Canada have competed at Dance World Cup since 2008.
Dance World Cup is recognized as a CID-UNESCO event. Qualify for Dance World Cup at 5678 Showtime.
Contact us at [email protected]
6 0 4 - 9 4 5 - 7 4 6 9 - i n f o @ 5 6 7 8 s h o w t i m e . c o m - R E G I S T E R B Y F E B 1 4
F A I R M O N T C H A T E A U W H I S T L E R - M A Y 1 7 - 1 9 , 2 0 1 3
C I D W O R L D C O N G R E S S - M O N T R E A L - J U LY 3 – 7 , 2 0 1 3
D A N C E S P E C I A L I S T S F R O M O V E R 4 0 C O U N T R I E S
W O R K S H O P S ; E X H I B I T I O N S ; P E R F O R M A N C E S
C I R Q U E D U S O L E I L D A N C E A U D I T I O N S
M O N T R E A L - J U N E 2 9 - 3 0 , 2 0 1 3
I N V I T A T I O N S @ 5 6 7 8 S H O W T I M E
Visit cidcanada.org - cid-portal.org or email [email protected]
With 20 CID members, BC can host the CID World Congress in 2014
anniversary
m o n t r e a l , c a n a d a
N A T I O N A L S , J U L Y 5 - 7 , 2 0 1 3
D A N C E W O R L D C U P , J U L Y 8 - 1 0 , 2 0 1 3
BE PRESENT FOR EXHIBITIONS at NATIONALS
and Dance World Cup
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL CASTING TEAM
WILL OFFER TOURS, WORKSHOPS AND
F R O M A F A M I L Y B A S E D B U S I N E S S I N V A N C O U V E R , B C
withwith one competition 20 years ago, 5678 Showtime now
hosts 15 annual dance conventions and competitions
across Canada from BC to Newfoundland. Their mandate
is to P R O M O T E E X C E L L E N C E A N D D I V E R S I T Y. They have
achieved this by bringing families together at World Class
Resorts, developing an award system that emphasizes
diversity of training, initiating summer dance tours in
Hollywood,Hollywood, New York, London, and Paris, and awarding
outstanding performers $ 1 , 4 1 2 , 4 0 0 . 0 0 Cash in 20 years.
5678 showtime has now reached a global scale by
hosting Dance World Cup since 2008, working with
Cirque du Soleil since 2011, and sponsoring the first CID
World Congress in North America in 2013.
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL CASTING TEAM
V A L E N T I N E ' S D A Y O F F E R F O R B C S T U D I O SF O R S U P P O R T I N G U S F O R 2 0 Y E A R S
R E G I S T E R F O R T H E W H I S T L E R C O N V E N T I O N a n dE N T E R Y O U R C O M P E T I T I O N R O U T I N E S F O R $ 2 0 E A C H
Cirque du Soleil Casting Team is holding auditions to cast dancers in their new and existing productions.
5678 Showtime will be scouting for dancers for Cirque, and will be present at the Cirque audition in
Montreal. Unlike most auditions where dancers learn set choreography, Cirque auditions encourage
dancers to “improv” in groups, with partners, and as soloists utilizing their diverse vocabulary of
movement to music that spans the spectrum. Cirque is lookiing for dancers that T H I N K O U T S I D E T H E B O X
January 2013 | just dance! 19
The Montreal CID Section of the International Dance Council will host the 34th CID World Congress, the
first on the North American continent. D A N C E I S O U R V O I C E is intended primarily for professionals though
supporters in related professions and youth are welcome to attend this Congress which is an opportunity
to share one’s work with teachers, choreographers, dancers, researchers, organizers, and suppliers.
CIDCID is the only international organization representing all forms of dance that is recognized by United
Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO. CID Headquarters are in Paris,
France, and the administrative office is in Athens, Greece. In 1982, CID designated April 29 as World
Dance Day with celebrations in more than 200 countries. In 2001, CID hosted the first World Congress
in Athens, Greece. Approximately 400 conferees from more than 40 countries attend each congress.
Host Hotel - Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, Montreal - 866-540-4483 - Code 13Showtime - from $169
cid-portal.org - cidcanada.org - cirquedusoleil.com/jobs - 5678showtime.com - danceworldcup.com
5678 Showtime first hosted Dance World Cup in Vancouver. More than 6,000 dancers from China, Japan,
Guam, South Korea, New Zealand, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Austria,
Poland, Turkey, Hungary, India, Ghana, USA and Canada have competed at Dance World Cup since 2008.
Dance World Cup is recognized as a CID-UNESCO event. Qualify for Dance World Cup at 5678 Showtime.
Contact us at [email protected]
6 0 4 - 9 4 5 - 7 4 6 9 - i n f o @ 5 6 7 8 s h o w t i m e . c o m - R E G I S T E R B Y F E B 1 4
F A I R M O N T C H A T E A U W H I S T L E R - M A Y 1 7 - 1 9 , 2 0 1 3
C I D W O R L D C O N G R E S S - M O N T R E A L - J U LY 3 – 7 , 2 0 1 3
D A N C E S P E C I A L I S T S F R O M O V E R 4 0 C O U N T R I E S
W O R K S H O P S ; E X H I B I T I O N S ; P E R F O R M A N C E S
C I R Q U E D U S O L E I L D A N C E A U D I T I O N S
M O N T R E A L - J U N E 2 9 - 3 0 , 2 0 1 3
I N V I T A T I O N S @ 5 6 7 8 S H O W T I M E
Visit cidcanada.org - cid-portal.org or email [email protected]
With 20 CID members, BC can host the CID World Congress in 2014
anniversary
m o n t r e a l , c a n a d a
N A T I O N A L S , J U L Y 5 - 7 , 2 0 1 3
D A N C E W O R L D C U P , J U L Y 8 - 1 0 , 2 0 1 3
BE PRESENT FOR EXHIBITIONS at NATIONALS
and Dance World Cup
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL CASTING TEAM
WILL OFFER TOURS, WORKSHOPS AND
F R O M A F A M I L Y B A S E D B U S I N E S S I N V A N C O U V E R , B C
withwith one competition 20 years ago, 5678 Showtime now
hosts 15 annual dance conventions and competitions
across Canada from BC to Newfoundland. Their mandate
is to P R O M O T E E X C E L L E N C E A N D D I V E R S I T Y. They have
achieved this by bringing families together at World Class
Resorts, developing an award system that emphasizes
diversity of training, initiating summer dance tours in
Hollywood,Hollywood, New York, London, and Paris, and awarding
outstanding performers $ 1 , 4 1 2 , 4 0 0 . 0 0 Cash in 20 years.
5678 showtime has now reached a global scale by
hosting Dance World Cup since 2008, working with
Cirque du Soleil since 2011, and sponsoring the first CID
World Congress in North America in 2013.
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL CASTING TEAM
V A L E N T I N E ' S D A Y O F F E R F O R B C S T U D I O SF O R S U P P O R T I N G U S F O R 2 0 Y E A R S
R E G I S T E R F O R T H E W H I S T L E R C O N V E N T I O N a n dE N T E R Y O U R C O M P E T I T I O N R O U T I N E S F O R $ 2 0 E A C H
Cirque du Soleil Casting Team is holding auditions to cast dancers in their new and existing productions.
5678 Showtime will be scouting for dancers for Cirque, and will be present at the Cirque audition in
Montreal. Unlike most auditions where dancers learn set choreography, Cirque auditions encourage
dancers to “improv” in groups, with partners, and as soloists utilizing their diverse vocabulary of
movement to music that spans the spectrum. Cirque is lookiing for dancers that T H I N K O U T S I D E T H E B O X
20 just dance! | January 2013
just dance! talks with Dr. Menaka Thakkar Canada’s “Mother” of Indian Dance
The Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in Performing arts was established in 2001 with a $1.1 million donation to the Canada Council for the arts. The prize is awarded on a four-year cycle in dance, theatre, dance and music “in recognition of the highest level of artistic excellence and distinguished career achievement by a Canadian professional.” menaka Thakkar was awarded $30,000 in 2012 for her contribution to the field of dance.
20 just dance! | January 2013
By racquel Foran, Photos by David hou
in 2012 dr. menaka Thakkar
conducted an indian dance
workshop and presented two
shows at Evergreen Cultural
Centre in Coquitlam. i was invited
by Evergreen to interview dr.
Thakkar, who had recently been
awarded The Walter Carsen Prize
for Excellence in Performing arts.
i thought young dancers would
like to learn about the woman
who is credited with bringing
indian dance to Canada.
i arrived at Evergreen with
questions prepared and
tape recorder ready, but
as soon as we finished our
introductions dr. Thakkar
simply started to talk. at 71
years old, she appears ageless.
she is a petite woman who
moves calmly and silently, but in
her stillness there is also energy.
Her dark eyes are unbelievably
bright and i sensed she didn’t
miss much. she serenely took
command of our meeting without
me even realising she was doing it.
if not for the fact that she needed
to eat, rest and prepare her
theatre company for the evening
performance, i would have gladly
listened to her for many more
hours.
Through all her many stories, there
were three points she tended to
come back to: if you want to be
a dancer you must be patient,
passionate, and you must, as
she said, “practice, practice,
practice.”
menaka was born to dance.
By the time she entered the
world in Bombay, india in 1941,
her sister sudha was already an
accomplished dancer. at the age
of three, she was begging sudha
to teach her dance. One of the
first lessons Sudha taught Menaka,
however, was patience. she did
not immediately agree to teach
menaka, saying that she was too
young. When menaka argued she
wasn’t, sudha questioned how
January 2013 | just dance! 21
just dance! talks with Dr. Menaka Thakkar Canada’s “Mother” of Indian Dance
serious menaka was. menaka
assured her sister she was very
serious and finally, after months of
begging, sudha agreed to teach
her the beginning step of indian
dance: aramandi or half-sitting.
“she told me ‘When you master
this step, i’ll teach you the second
one’,” menaka explained. When
she heard this she thought, “Okay,
i must practice.” and practice
she did. Every day for a year and
a half she practiced that single
step until finally her sister told her
she was ready to learn the second
step. almost 70 years later menaka
still remembers how excited she
was. “i ran to my friends saying
YES!, I have learned the first step.
Now i get to learn the second.” at
only four years old, menaka had
already proven she had patience
and passion, and that she was
more than willing to practice.
With sudha as her guru (teacher)
guiding her through the first seven
years of her training, menaka
gained experience dancing in her
sister’s productions. But the path
to graduation and arangetram
(on-stage solo debut) is long, and
menaka moved on to broaden
her experience by training under
several well-known classical indian
dance gurus. she was different
from other indian dancers in
that she studied three forms of
indian dance: Bharatanatyam;
Odissi; and Kuchipudi. By her early
twenties she had a successful
solo career in india, travelling to
festivals throughout india with her
eight-member band.
a trip to Toronto in 1971 to visit
her brother and sister, both of
whom were working there at york
University, changed everything.
a young student from dr. Thakkar’s school demonstrates the first position of classical Indian dance - “aramandi” or half-sitting.
a younger menaka demonstrating one of many intricate hand gestures.
When menaka visited york, she
met Grant strate, the founding
Chair of the department of
dance, who invited her to teach
an indian dance workshop. This
offer led to her staying in Canada.
Originally, she had planned to stay
for only three months; she is still
here more than 40 years later.
since arriving in Canada she
has built an impressive list of
accomplishments. she has
choreographed more than 20 works
including traditional classical indian
dances, children’s works, and works
that fuse Western music and ballet
poses with indian dance styles
and music. in 1971 she founded
Canada’s first school of Indian
dance, Nrtyakala (the Canadian
academy of indian dance). five
years later she founded Canada’s
first professional Indian dance
company, menaka Thakkar dance
Company. for the past 20 years she
has also spent summers teaching
Bharatanatyam to students at
Canada’s National Ballet school.
she has travelled across Canada
to both teach and perform, and
although well past the age that
many retire, she shows no signs of
slowing down. “i am lucky to spend
my life doing what i love,” she says.
i ended our interview by asking dr.
Thakkar if she had any advice for
young dancers. she encouraged
all dancers to be open to learning
about their own culture as well
as others’. she concluded by
reminding dancers that your body
is your instrument and “to be
honest about what your body can
do and then practice with that
understanding.”
Namaste dr. Thakkar.
The york university Department of
Dance launched in september
1970 under the leadership of
founding Chair Grant strate with
five faculty members and an
inaugural class of 32 majors. in
1976 the department launched
Canada’s first Master’s Program
in dance. Today, the department
offers a full range of study options
to over 250 dance majors pursuing
Ba and Bfa degrees at the
undergraduate level, as well as 45
students pursuing ma, mfa, and
Phd degrees at the graduate level.
Find out more at: dance.finearts.
yorku.ca/about-us/mission-history
More info about
Menaka thakkar:
menakathakkardance.org
EVERGREEN CULTURAL CENTRE | 1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam | 604-927-6555evergreenculturalcentre.ca facebook.com/evergreenculturalcentre @EvergreenArts
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FAMILY SUNDAY: Norman Foote & Big Voice February 17, 2pmwith Children’s Choirs from Coastal Sound Music Academy and School District 43
La Diva Malbouffa (pictured)
March 10, 2pmfeaturing Natalie Choquette
Naomi’s Road Sunday, May 5, 2pmVancouver Opera in Schools based on the novel by Joy Kogawa
TICKETS$14 for Children | $18 for Adults | $54 for a Family of Four
Th
e h
isT
or
y o
f D
an
ce
Indian Classical Dance
When someone mentions
Indian dance, the first thing
you likely think of is Bollywood; this
is the unmistakable influence of
pop culture. But the huge dance
numbers with distinctive music
that are part of every Bollywood
production don’t truly represent
classical Indian dance. Bollywood
isn’t even a type of dance, but
rather it is the name used to
describe the Bombay arts, culture
and movie industry. The dances
performed in modern Bollywood
productions are a fusion of Indian
classical and folk dances, belly
dancing, and modern jazz, with a
hint of Western pop culture as well.
This modern style of Indian dance
has a large following worldwide,
but it has only been evolving
over the last 50 years or so. Indian
classical dance, however, has
a 2000-year history.
Carvings on the hillsides of the
eastern Indian state of Odissa
dating back to the first century
clearly depict dancing. And the
Natya Shastra, one the world’s
oldest handbooks on dramatic
arts, mentions dancing from
this region in its text. Over the
centuries different regions of
India have each developed
their own folk dances, but it is
the dances that have stood the
test of time and had influence
throughout the country that are
considered classical. There are
several, including Manipuri from
Northeast India; Bharanta Natyam
from Tamilnadu in Southern India;
Kuchipudi from Andhrapradesh
in the southeast region; Kathakali
By R
ac
qu
el F
ora
n
Pho
tos
by
Da
vid
Ho
u
January 2013 | just dance! 23
24 just dance! | January 2013
TH
E H
isT
Or
y O
f d
aN
CE
from Kerala in the south; and
Odissi from Odissa in the east.
Each of these styles of dance
has religious beginnings; the
dancers would worship the gods
by re-enacting their lives through
dramatic storytelling. There are
three main parts to indian dance:
natya, the dramatic; nritta,
the dance itself and how it
interplays with the music through
movements of the hands and
body, and by the stamping of the
feet; and nritya, mood portrayed
through facial expressions, hand
gestures, and foot and leg
positions. all of these combine
to create a very unique style of
movement that relies on every
part of the body to convey a
message and tell a story.
The movements and poses of
indian dance are very different
from Western ballet. indian
dancers’ feet are almost always
flat and their knees frequently
bent. Jumps tend to be small and
light and footwork focuses on
stomping rhythms, which enhance
the accompanying music; many
dancers wear bells on their ankles
to add another dimension to the
music and beats. They use their
entire body to tell a story. The hips,
torso, arms, hands, neck and face
are all in constant fluid motion,
with each movement having a
specific purpose. For example,
the well known side-to-side
movement of the head is meant
to bring attention to a change
in facial expression. movements
are often subtle but detailed; the
position of each pinkie finger is
choreographed and eyes dart to
the rhythm of the music.
a classical indian dance performed
mostly by men is Kathakali; even
female roles are played by
men. it is a very fast dance that
is characterized by elaborate
costumes, make-up and head
dresses. Everything about Kathakali
is bigger than other types of indian
dance: legs are lifted higher, lunges
are deeper, and jumps travel
farther. arm and body movements
are much larger and facial
expressions are more exaggerated.
it is said that the most talented
Kathakali dancers are able to laugh
with one side of their face, while
simultaneously crying with the other.
indian dance training begins at a
young age and is a lengthy process
that takes a great deal of patience
and desire to succeed. dr. menaka
Thakkar said that when she was a
child she practiced the first pose
she was taught for an entire year
before she advanced to learning
the next pose. (read interview
with dr. Thakkar on page 20)
However, despite starting young,
dancers do not usually advance
to company until their mid-teens
Neena Jayarajan assistant artistic director of menaka Thakkar dance Company models the dramatic makeup that indian dancers wear to enhance the facial expressions that are such an important part of the dances.
raveena ravishankar depicting Lord shiva, the lord
of dance in indian mythology.
Ancient Indian Scholarly TextThe Natya shastra was written by indian sage and priest Bharata between 200
B.C. and 200 a.d. it is considered to be the oldest written work detailing the art
of writing and dramatic production. it covers all aspects of the arts from poetry
and drama to music and dance. it is believed that its primary purpose was to
promote indian drama as a vehicle for religious enlightenment.
Tri-‐City Dance Centre • Jazz & Lyrical, A.I.D.T. Tap and Musical Theatre with Vocal Coaching • Complete R.A.D. Ballet Exam Program from Pre-‐Primary to Solo Seal • Recreational and Competitive Programs • Professional Training Program from Age 8 • Lots of Performing and Competing Opportunities • Half Day Intensive Program from Age 13
Artistic Director: Shannon Stewardson (RAD TC, RAD TD, CDTA) 98 Brigantine Drive, Coquitlam, British Columbia V3K 6Z6 ~ Phone 604-‐523-‐6868
Website: www.tricitydance.com ~~ Email: [email protected]
(Just off United Boulevard between Ikea & the Home Depot)
January 2013 | just dance! 25
TH
E H
isT
Or
y O
f d
aN
CE
The Art of Well Being®
Misha WaiteMA, RCC, Certified BodyWorker
PosTurAl AlignmenT for dAncersOn-site treatment available for local dance studios.
[email protected] 604.727.8662 www.theartofwellbeing.ca
and they do not have their senior
debuts arangetram until they are
adults. This is because indian dance
has deep roots in storytelling.
many of these tales cover mature
subjects that must be conveyed
through facial expressions, making
youth a disadvantage. as Neena
Jayarajan, assistant artistic director
of The menaka Thakkar dance
Company explained, “a child of
13 or 14 cannot understand the
emotions of a mother or a woman
scorned.” Neena herself did not
have her senior debut until she
was 30 years old. Now, at 32, her
career in indian dance as both
a performer and choreographer
is just starting to peak at an age
when many professional ballet
dancers might be considering
retirement.
There is no doubt that classical
indian dance has a very different
look and feel than Western styles
of dance, but the passion and
commitment of the dancers is the
same. They dance because they
want to share their story, their art
and their culture with others. and
their enthusiasm has caught on,
with both classical and Bollywood
dance experiencing growth
around the globe.
Multitude of Complex Gesturesindian dancers use a large number of gestures to express complex events, ideas, and emotions. There are 13 gestures of the head, 36 different glances, and 67 mudras (hand gestures). all of these can be combined in any number of ways, with each combination conveying a different meaning.
in aramandi position, holding the pose of Lord Ganesh another God in indian mythology.
26 just dance! | January 2013
Many dancers’
jam-packed
schedules
don’t leave
much time
for winter
sports, especially ones that
involve driving to ski hills, hauling
gear, or taking lessons to learn
skiing, snowboarding or figure
skating. Winter weather also tends
to makes an appearance in
December—Nutcracker season—
and wraps up in March—just in
time for competitions and ballet
exams. The cost of winter clothing
and equipment, in addition to
dance expenses, can rule out
winter sports for many families.
And finally, the main reason why
dancers often ‘freeze out’ winter
sports like skiing or snowboarding
is the potential for injury. Great
news! There’s a lot of winter fun
out there that is affordable and
safe for dancers, that does not
require a huge time commitment,
AND can actually enhance your
dance training.
What is cross-training? One of the
current buzzwords in the world
of dance fitness is cross-training.
The idea behind cross-training is
to enhance your dance training
by doing a completely different
activity. The key is choosing
activities that will work on areas
of the body that are important
to dancers (like the core) OR
enhance areas that need work
(like balance or flexibility).
You might be surprised to learn
that cross-country skiing is a great
cross-training activity for dancers.
The parallel foot position used
in cross-country skiing works on
internal rotation, and strengthens
the hips which are sometimes
weak and overstretched in
dancers from being in an
externally rotated position (aka
turnout) most of the time. It’s also
a great cardio workout. Even
beginners can have fun gliding
through the trails and cross-
country equipment can be easily
rented at most ski hills.
TIP: Though the injury rate is low,
the most common way to hurt
Flurries of FunWinter Activities for Dancers
By Andrea Albanese
January 2013 | just dance! 27
DiD you KNow? There was a competitive sport
called ‘ski ballet’ that achieved
demonstration status in the
1988 and 1992 Olympics. in
the late 1960s, ski ballet was
categorized as a discipline
of freestyle skiing that used
choreographed jumps, spins,
flips and rolls on a downhill
slope. after the mid-‘70s it was
even done to music! sadly,
the international ski federation
ceased all competitive actives
for ski ballet (later called
acroski) in 2000.
Kay Meek Centre1700 Mathers Avenue, West Vancouver
Saturday, November 17th, 7:30 pmTickets: $15 at the Kay Meek Box Office
Pre-Professional Programs ShowcaseKay Meek Centre1700 Mathers Avenue, West VancouverFebruary 23, 2013 7:30 pm
Tickets $17 / $25at the Kay Meek Box Office
Pre-Professional Programs ShowcaseKay Meek Centre1700 Mathers Avenue, West VancouverFebruary 23, 2013 7:30 pm
Tickets $17 / $25at the Kay Meek Box Office
Photography: Pam & Scott McFarlaneDancer: Chloe Campbell of Pro Arte's CatchingART Contemporary Ballet Theatre
www.proartecentre.com
yourself is to ‘catch an edge’ in
the snow and twist your knee. Look
for soft powder snow and avoid
icy areas to keep your knees safe!
another great option for dancers is
snowshoeing, which can also double
as a fun social event with friends. you
can find organized snowshoe tours
(fondue and hot chocolate–yUm!)
on most of the local mountains or
you can follow the marked trails
with your own group. snowshoeing
is a great activity because it’s
affordable, fun for beginners and not
difficult to organize. You can easily
rent snowshoes on the mountain
and have a great afternoon
with friends without lessons or
complicated equipment. it’s also a
GrEaT cardio workout with a pretty
low risk for injury.
another fun winter activity is ice
skating, especially if you can skate
outdoors and enjoy the alpine
scenery but if you can’t get up
the mountain, there are plenty
of community rinks with public
skating sessions and skate rentals.
don’t forget about sledding and
snow tubing as well—fun activities
for everyone that don’t require
any special skills and also give
you a great workout in that crisp
winter air!
Grouse Mountain:
grousemountain.com
snowshoeing, sleigh rides,
outdoor skating.
Cypress Mountain:
cypressmountain.com
snowshoeing, cross-country skiing,
snowtubing.
Mount seymour:
mountseymour.com
snowshoeing, snowtubing,
tobogganing.
Downhill skiing and figure skating
might not be activities your
dance teacher would want you
to pursue…but skiers and figure
skaters often take dance/ballet
classes to enhance THEir training!
There are specialized coaches,
training programs, and books on
how ballet enhances figure skating
by improving posture, balance and
musicality as well as performance
qualities. downhill skiers and
aerialists are also encouraged
to take dance classes in the off
season because dance improves
your balance and your ‘kinesthetic
awareness’, which is the ability to
feel how your body moves through
space.
Left
: J. J
. Ko
em
an
, Lo
ca
tion
: Cyp
ress
mo
un
tain
.
Creative Costuming:
Recycle, Reuse & Revamp
Costumes can make or
break a routine but they
don’t have to break the
bank. There are lots of creative
and affordable ways to source
costumes for solos, duos, trios and
even groups if you’re resourceful
and persistent. Costumes are not
usually worn for a long time on
stage nor are they used for a large
number of performances, so they
CLeaning:Costumes are not everyday clothes and many must be washed by hand or dry-cleaned—if at all. That’s right. Many costumes are made of fabrics that can’t get wet, which is impractical but very common.
Spot clean only. Never soak or immerse a costume in water.
Follow the manufacturer’s directions, but still keep washing to a minimum.
If you take a stained costume to a dry cleaner, make sure they have experience working with costumes and speciality fabrics with rhinestones, feathers, delicate fabric and glue. (Note that dry cleaning does not remove body odour.)
If a costume smells bad, it does not necessarily need to be laundered: air it out after every performance, and use a odour neutralizing product—Fresh Again®, Febreeze®, water/vodka mixture etc.—but always test any spray products on the inside of the costume.
Use dress shields pinned into your costume if you sweat a lot. Take them out before you store the costume.
tanktop: Walmart
3 for $6
top: TNA $32
skirt: Claires $16
socks: American
Apparel $10
pink shoelaces:
Walmart $5
shoes: Payless
Shoe Source
approximately $25
can have a pretty long life if you
take care of them. (See sidebar).
Where to Look:Ask around. Check with your
studio, your dance friends and
teachers to see if they know
of anyone selling or renting
costumes.
• Check with your local dance
retailer for new or consignment
costumes.
• Consider a hand-me-down
from an older sister, a friend or a
dancer in your studio.
• Swap with a friend who has a
costume you’d like to use.
• Use the same costume but for
a new dance or in a different
dance discipline.
• Use an old costume that has
been ‘revamped’.
Check local studios and rec
centres for costume sales (usually
near Halloween) and keep an
eye on the just dance! Facebook
page. This fall, the Shadbolt
Centre for the Arts and the ,Anna
Wyman School of Dance Arts both
held costume sales.
28 just dance! | January 2013
By Andrea Albanese
Check on e-Bay. it sounds crazy,
but often you can get decent
costumes at very reasonable
prices even taking alternations
and shipping costs into account.
revamp old Costumes:many costumes (or plain
bodysuits) can easily be altered or
embellished to create an entirely
new look by adding accessories
and trim, using pieces from other
costumes, dying the fabric, or
doing minor alterations. The very
first place to look is your own
closet! find all the costumes that
fit you and see if you can:
• Combine parts of a various
costumes for a whole new look
• Change the look with a new
accessory
• Purchase a new top/bottom to
use with a piece you already own
• Cut off the sleeves or add
sleeves, shorten the skirt, or
make pants into capris or shorts
Tutus or ballet dresses can be
changed by adding lace,
appliqué, flowers or feather
trim to the bodice and straps,
and ribbons, sequins or lace to
the skirt. Check craft stores or
fabric stores—dressew has an
amazing collection of fabric,
lace, trim, sequins, appliqués and
rhinestones.
For a flat tutu, you can add an
overskirt to cover the top layer
of net with chiffon or lace of
a different colour and/or add
rhinestones and appliqués.
a hip hop costume can be
changed by adding a different
hat, new socks, a coloured
bandanna, coloured shoelaces
or new runners or high tops. many
of these items can be purchased
cheaply at a dollar store, Wal-
mart, Winners or Payless shoes.
Two-piece costumes can be
separated: pants or shorts can be
used with a different top; a chiffon
top can be used with different
bottoms. alternatively, you could
dye the costume a darker colour
for a new look.
Accessories like feather boas, fluffy
skirts, hats, ribbons, bows, wigs and
coloured tights can totally change
the look of a costume and can
be purchased cheaply at dollar
stores, fabric stores or accessory
stores like Claire’s.
Get creative. Have a look in your
closet and see what you can
re-use and revamp. Consider
also what you don’t need and
think about donating it or selling
it on e-Bay, through your studio or
on facebook. Who knows…you
may help create someone else’s
dream costume!
storage:Taking good care of your costumes
protects your investment: Even if you
don’t wear it again, you can re-sell it,
rent it or donate it.
• do not store a costume that is dirty.
• store completely dry costumes in
fabric bags, not plastic.
• add a dryer sheet, small fabric bags
of lavender and/or baking soda to
help keep costumes fresh.
• store costumes in a cool, dry
place out of the light. add silica if
necessary (those little packages of
crystals that come in your vitamin
bottles, with your new shoes and
in any electronics packaging) to
absorb any dampness.
January 2013 | just dance! 29
how about gloves or armbands?
remove belt and add a sash
wear tights instead of leggings
wear jazz shoes and leg warmers
add pink bows to tap shoes
add a hair bow or hat
add a feather boa
add sleeves or wear a long sleeved
hot pink or black top underneath
revamp
30 just dance! | January 2013
aCaDeMies, sChools & stuDiosBallet BloCh CaNaDaballetbloch.com
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the DaNCelaB stuDios ltD.dancelab.ca
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DeBBie lee DaNCe CoMPaNydebbieleedance.com
604 312 4408
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604 272 0808
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604 420 0204
202 - 4199 Lougheed Hwy, Burnaby
FusioN ForCe stuDiofusionforce.ca
604 533 1863
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PlaCe Des arts placedesarts.ca
604 664 1636
120 Brunette ave, Coquitlam
Pro arte CeNtre
proartecentre.com
604 984 2783
3 - 1225 E. Keith rd, North Vancouver
the sPiral DaNCe Co.
spiraldance.ca
604 541 2840
1471 stayte rd, White rock
tri-City DaNCe CeNtre
tricitydance.com
604 523 6868
98 Brigantine dr, Coquitlam
CoMPetitioN & eveNt orGaNizersNext level hiP hoP
nextlevelhiphop.ca
604 868 1426
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thunderstruckcanada.com/BC
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wemlive.com
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facebook.com/danceproducts
1 866 491 9019
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abbotsford: 604 855 9166
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Move athletiCs moveathletics.com
Greater Vancouver: 604 812 1382
Toll free: 888 267 0576
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604 727 8662
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January 2013 | just dance! 31
Dr. lawreNCe ChaNNaturopathic doctor for Ballet BC
integrative.ca
integrative Healing arts,
Vancouver: 604 738 1012
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drfredmeinzer.com
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Vancouver: 604 738 1012
aldergrove Wellness Centre:
604 856 5299
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thunderbirdwellnesscentre.com
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