Can you hold a plank for two minutes? Can you touch your nose to your knees in a pike stretch? You’re already halfway to BINGO! Download Turning Pointe’s BINGO card and challenge yourself this summer. Get five in a row (vertical, horizontal or diagonal) for 5 percent off one item from the TP logo wear store, or go for the full card to receive 20 percent off the item of your choice. Simply go for each challenge, mark off your progress, and verify your achievements at the front desk. (Don’t forget to write your name-o at the top of your card!)
Summer Devotional- Bloom!
Written by Beth Jordahl
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through Him.” - Colossians 3:17
I love summer! The weather is warm, the sun is shining, the stresses of the school year have faded, and there is a delightful haze that surrounds the beauty of the season.
If you like to garden, you also know that it is a season when all the plants are blooming and growing. Plants are green, flowers are opening, and fruits and veggies are ripening.
All of that hard work you have put in starts to become visible.
As you all know, Jesus liked to use stories to share truth with all of us. When he would speak about faith, he often used the imagery of gardens and plants. This imagery is actually continued throughout the Bible… the fruit of the Spirit, the parable of the sower, the garden of Eden. I could go on and on! But you get the picture.
There is something about the growth of the plants around us that can be connected to our faith. The flowers in some Bible verses symbolize beauty, growth and life. The message of God’s comfort compared to the perishable and temporary nature of humanity.
Take this verse for example:
“Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel, or the plain of Sharon. There the Lord will display His glory, the splendor of our God.”
- Isaiah 35:1-2
This past year, you have put in a lot of work.
You went to class, you practiced, you probably had a myriad of other things on your plate to accomplish as well. Then at the recital, you flourished! Your performances were amazing, breath-taking and inspiring.
So now what?
How do you take all of the effort and enjoy it for a while?
My friends, you follow the example of the flower and you BLOOM.
“Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you.”
- Luke 12:27-28
What does that look like?
- You stay planted.
Are you spending time in God’s word? Are you still worshiping? Don’t disregard all of the things that have helped you grow this year. Just like you have to continue to strengthen your body or you risk losing your dancer flexibility and strength, the same goes for your faith. Make sure that you set aside time every day to reset your intentions and check in with your heart and with God.
- You release your worries.
Just like the flowers of the field are taken care of by their Father, you will be too. It doesn’t always look the way we want it to. But trust the process! Let go of things that are outside of your control. And focus on what you can control: your response, your attitude, and the way you use your time.
- Spread the beauty!
Flowers don’t just bloom for themselves. They bloom and we all stand back and admire their beauty. How can you take what you have and bless others? Can you spend time with your family or friends? Can you share kind words? Can you give away your time, resources, or skills?
- Enjoy the time.
That is the thing about blooming, it’s just a season. Soon we will all return to the normalcy of the school year, with it’s requirements, tasks, and hard work. There will be so much to learn and do! You will grow even more. So don’t forget to enjoy this season!
Dear dancers, what a blessing you are! To your teachers, friends, classmates, and family. Go and continue to grow and bloom this season.
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” - Numbers 6:24-26
Young Performer Summit- STARZ Theater Company
Hey, guys! Team MOLO here. Moriah Swank (Mo) and Laura Bergen (Lo): Turning Pointe teachers, Starz Theater Company (STC) Creative Team members, and STC season vloggers.
Today, we are so excited to share with you details about STC’s annual theater intensive, Young Performer Summit, SPOTLIGHT coming up on June 24, 25 & 26th. This year’s Summit is in the style of the beautiful musical, Finding Neverland, and we can’t wait to welcome students to the best weekend of summer!
What is Young Performer Summit SPOTLIGHT?
YPS SPOTLIGHT features 3-days packed full of singing, dance and acting! Students ages 10-18 grow their skills by participating in Vocal Master Classes, Musical Theater Dance Classes, Acting Workshops and build community through breakout sessions, team building games and “Summit Sessions.” Summit wraps up at the end of the weekend with a performance for their families where parents can see what their students have been working on, ask questions about STC and, of course, take lots of pictures.
Who is YPS SPOTLIGHT for?
YPS SPOTLIGHT is for students interested in musical theater ages 10-18 from the Beginning-Advanced level. We group students by age and our teen level is grouped by experience level/training.
What workshops are offered at YPS SPOTLIGHT?
We have a full lineup of amazing workshops, master classes and Summit Sessions all taught by Guest Instructors from the community and Turning Pointe/Starz Theater Company Staff Members! Here is a sneak peek of our schedule (not all classes will be offered to all levels):
● Showcase Choreography by Liz Morales
● Showcase Vocal training by Kristi Hill
● Playwriting with Mikayla Taylor (2021 Best of the Springs winner for Best Play)
● Advanced Tap Combos with Anna Lincoln
● POWER UP with Team MOLO
● Vocal Health & Safety with Katie Wilcoxson
● Vocal Masterclasses with Kristi Hill
● Acting with Heath Arthur
● …and MORE!
Why should I attend YPS SPOTLIGHT?
YPS is where a sports skills clinic meets theater. Summit is a place to fully immerse yourself in theater training in a short-term burst. A place where students are encouraged to set themselves free and try new things in a positive, encouraging, FUN environment. An opportunity to learn from a variety of qualified and caring instructors. A place to be surrounded by new and old friends who all love the same thing you do. And a chance to be inspired as you push yourself to new heights!
I’m a teen who is new to Musical Theater - is there a place for me?
YES! For the first time this year, we are splitting our teen students into two groups to allow all students a place to grow at the pace that is right for them. Team Lo speaking here… once upon a time, I was an older beginner. I didn’t start my musical theater training until I was 18 and as I entered classes with advanced-level students who had years of experience, I remember feeling discouraged and overwhelmed as I worked to catch up. Those experiences shaped how I view training and I’m now passionate about offering opportunities for youth and teens at both the beginning stage and at the intermediate-advanced level. Teen Students are grouped after completing a brief survey giving us an overview of their training/experience.
How do I sign up?
We still have spots available and we would love to see YOU at Summit! We have capped class sizes to allow students to get to know their group, make friends and receive personalized attention from the instructors. Financial investment is $179/Attendee and each student will receive a 2021 YPS T-shirt (attendees from our 2020 YPS have claimed these are the softest T-shirts ever…and we agree!). Sign up through your danceworks account at http://www.starztheater.org/young-performer-summit-spotlight or turningpointeschoolofdance.com . For more information, please email: starz.laurabergen@gmail.com.
That’s it for now! We are looking forward to seeing you at YPS 2021!
Lightning? Thunder.
-Team MoLo
It’s Mini Camp Season!
Written by Mimi McKinnis
We’ve all been there as parents — the littlest voices asking ever-so-sweetly to do an activity over and over (and over) again, only to change their mind about that activity after they get started. Are the voices in your house asking for dance classes? Maybe they’re already dancing, but want to try a different style. Or maybe you can’t get them out of the studio and their summer classes just aren’t enough! If you’re both a little hesitant (lest you forget about the short-lived t-ball phase or the roller skates STILL in a box in the closet), or if you’re looking for some extra dance time this summer, Turning Pointe has just the solution.
Mini Camps offer three days of fun and dancing for students wanting to test the waters of dance class or a new dance style. They’re all of the fellowship and fun without the long time or recital commitment. With Twirl/Primary Camps (for 3-7 year olds) and Elementary Camps (for incoming 1st graders through outgoing 5th graders), and fun themes ranging from Frozen to Trolls and The Descendants, there’s a camp for every up-and-coming dancer!
What is a Mini Camp?
Mini Camps are three days full of friends, crafts, parties, and of course, DANCE!
For Twirl/Primary Camps: The first two days will be spent doing a rotation of dance and crafts, followed by dance, a tea party, and a parent performance on day three.
For Elementary Camps: The first two days will be spent learning about the history, culture and importance of a dance style, taking technique class, doing crafts and learning choreography. On the third day, students will dance, have a party, and perform for their parents.
Who are Mini Camps for?
● Students who are new to dance
● Students wanting to try a new style
● Current dancers who want extra summer fun!
Ready to give it a try?
Check out the amazing Mini Camps coming your way this summer!
Summer 2021 Twirl/Primary Camps:
● Beauty and the Beast Camp
Days: June 8-10
Time: 10-11:30 a.m.
Dance Style: Ballet
● Moana Camp
Days: June 15-17
Time: 10-11:30 a.m.
Dance Styles: Ballet/Jazz
● Aladdin Camp
Days: June 29-July 1
Time: 10-11:30 a.m.
Dance Style: Ballet/Jazz
● Trolls Camp
Days: July 6-8
Time: 10-11:30 a.m.
Dance Styles: Jazz/Hip Hop
● Descendants Camp
Days: July 20-22
Time: 10-11:30 a.m.
Dance Styles: Jazz/Hip Hop
● Frozen Camp
Days: July 27-29
Time: 10-11:30 a.m.
Dance Style: Ballet
Summer 2021 Elementary Camps:
● Beauty and the Beast Camp
Days: June 8-10
Time: 10-Noon
Dance Style: Ballet
● Moana Camp
Days: June 15-17
Time: 10-Noon
Dance Style: Hula
● Beloved Camp
Days: July 6-8
Time: 10-Noon
Dance Styles: Modern/Worship
● Descendants Camp
Days: July 20-22
Time: 10-Noon
Dance Styles: Jazz/Hip Hop
Enrollment is $70 for Twirl/Primary Camps and $80 for Elementary Camps. A 10 percent deposit must be made at the time of registration, and siblings receive a 10 percent discount. To enroll, visit TurningPointeSchoolofDance.com, click “enroll or make a payment” and sign up through your DanceWorks account!
Five Fun Facts about Musical Theater!
Written by Beth Jordahl
The triple threat of the dance world, musical theater involves acting, singing, and dancing. It uses the stage to tell stories. In Musical Theater, you will be pushed and challenged. You will also be greatly rewarded!
We love our musical theater classes and Starz, our theater company. If you love musical theater, or are just curious about it, let’s dive in and take a look at some fun facts!
1. Musicals have only been around for about a century.
While the theater has been around for a very long time, musicals started just about a century ago. Taking elements from Vaudeville and opera, musicals created their own unique form of theater.
2. Musicals were originally all comedic.
Up until the Hammerstein and Kern production of Showboat in 1927, all American musicals were based in comedy. Showboat opened the door to a wider variety of themes. Now musicals cover all human emotions, and themes from comedy to more somber content as well.
3. Broadway is “The Place” for musical theater performers and shows.
For anyone interested in musical theater, making it onto Broadway is often the ultimate accomplishment. To get there takes a lot of hard and intentional work! It is an extremely competitive and professional space. Some shows will even dismiss you for arriving late to a rehearsal. Broadway is also a fantastic place to see shows and enjoy great performers!
4. Broadway was known as the “Great White Way”
In the 1890s, the Theatre District in New York was one of the first streets to be fully illuminated by electric bulbs. Thus it’s nickname! Then in 1910, Broadway signs were illuminated with candescent bulbs to add dazzling lights.
Bonus Fun Fact : During WWI, the lights of Broadway were dimmed. However, the public outcry forced the government to increase the city’s rations in order to restore the lights.
5. Broadway Theatres don’t have to be physically located on Broadway Street
To qualify as a Broadway theatre, a theatre must have 500 seats and be located between 40th St and 54th St, and the West of 6th Ave. to East of 8th Ave, which includes Times Square. Theatres with 99-499 seats are Off-Broadway, and if they have under 99 seats they are off-off-Broadway.
For some extra fun, check out some of these popular Broadway productions.
● The Phantom of the Opera - the longest running show opened in 1988 and in these over 30 years, over 12,500 performances have been staged to 18 million people
● Hamilton - is a newer production, but has risen to great success and popularity. A rap based on the life of founding father Alexander Hamilton, it can be watched on Disney + (Caution for younger viewers)
● Disney's Lion King - is Broadway's biggest money-maker in history. In the 20 years it has run on Broadway, the show has grossed $1.4 billion, with an average of $2 million a week. It is also the first ever Broadway show to gross $1 billion dollars in revenue.
● Waitress - is the first Broadway musical to have an all-female creative team. Music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, book by Jessie Nelson, choreography by Lorin Latarro, and direction by Diane Paulus, the top 4 creative jobs were done by women, along with the costume design and musical direction also being handled with an all woman creative team.
● Wicked - is the popular backstory of the Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz. It has amazing music, costumes, and funny characters.
● Some Broadway Musicals that are now movies: Phantom of the Opera (2004), My Fair Lady (1964), Newsies (2017), Hello Dolly (1969), Fiddler on the Roof (1971), Cats (2019), Into the Woods (2014), Annie (2014), The King & I (1956), many others and coming soon: West Side Story & Dear Evan Hanson
Now that you know some more about musical theater, are you ready to get started? Auditions for Starz’ summer production of High School Musical are coming soon, and there are classes for Musical Theatre all summer long! Check out all our classes here.
Twirl Bible Study- May
It’s recital month! Is your Twirl student chomping at the bit? They know their dance, and they’ve heard all about pictures, the Red Carpet, and all the excitement that’s coming their way in the next few weeks. They’ve seen their costume, and let’s face it, they ask to wear it every single day (at least my Twirl Baby does). And while not every day can be a tutu day, each day CAN be an opportunity to talk about this month’s Fruit of the Spirit: Self Control.
“Prepare your minds for action. Be self controlled.” — 1 Peter 1:13
Self control can be a difficult skill to master, even as adults (and parents!). So how can we teach it to our littlest dancers? Here are a few ideas to get you started...
Talk About It!
Work this particular fruit into your mealtime, commuting or bedtime talks with your Twirl student. How does God show self control? What examples of self control can we find in the Bible? Jesus was tempted in the desert THREE TIMES! Nehemiah didn’t fight back when his walls were attacked, and David showed no aggression to Saul (even though he could cut a piece of his robe). How did (or didn’t) YOU show self control today? Help your student to see this fruit in action! Identify the successes and failures of each day, and the example God sets for each of us in the Bible.
● Take two carbonated beverage bottles or cans and shake them up. Open one right away, then wait for the other to bubble down to its normal state. Talk through what can happen if we act as we boil over, versus what happens when we show self control and allow ourselves to cool off — or not get shaken up in the first place! (Some additional reading for after this activity: Galatians 5:13-15/25-26, Hebrews 10:24-25.)
Practice!
You know what they say: Practice makes perfect! But practicing self control can be particularly difficult in the heat of the moment, especially when you’re a Twirl student in the throws of not getting your way. Start smaller, in ways that are easy to understand. In Twirl classes, students learn the fundamentals of spatial awareness, balance, coordination and listening skills before advancing to more difficult Primary and Level 1 dance classes. In this same way, Twirl students can work through the basics of self control. The more they practice, the more prepared they’ll be when more challenging moments arrive.
● Give your child a small treat. Explain that if they eat it now, they only get one. But if they wait until a certain time, after a certain event or until you get back from doing something in another room, they can have two.
Find Your Solutions
What do you do when opportunities to show self control arise? Take a minute away from the situation? Talk to someone? Listen to your favorite song? Teach these skills to your Twirl student! Give them the tools they’ll need when the need for self control presents itself. The next time you enter a toddler stand off, or the beginnings of a meltdown, try this: Take a pause, take a deep breath, talk to God. Praying together is a great way to calm hearts and defuse situations in a way that lets us refocus on God’s heart for us. He has called us to be peacemakers, and to encourage one another in love. Titus 3:1-2 says: “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.”
● Memorize this month’s memory verse (1 Peter 1:13): “Prepare your minds for action. Be self controlled.” When you need a minute to calm down, recite these words together. Prepare your mind for action, don’t act in haste. Be in charge of your emotions. Be self controlled, just as God has called us to do.
TAI Program- What is it, and how do I get involved?
What’s a TA? What’s an Intern? What’s an SA? What’s the TAI program?
TAs, or Teacher Assistants, are Turning Pointe students who volunteer to assist teachers in classes with younger dancers. You’ll find TAs in our Twirl classes and all the way up to our level 2b classes!
Interns are Turning Pointe students who have been a TA a few years and are interested in being involved in a larger capacity. In addition to volunteering in Twirl-2b classes, they assist with events and administrative work around the studio, substitute teach classes, and receive extra training to prepare them to be dance teachers one day.
SAs, or Student Assistants, are students from Turning Pointe’s sister companies, Fidele Youth Dance Company and Starz Theater Company, who volunteer to assist in those companies. These roles are specific to Fidele and Starz and may vary season to season.
All three of these roles fall under the TAI program! Miss Jenna is the program director, and Miss Emma is the program assistant. They support the TAIs throughout the year.
What do TAIs do? What does the commitment look like?
TAs volunteer in the same class(es) at the same time(s) every single week. They may volunteer in one class, or they may volunteer in many! Either way, their job is to help their teacher by demonstrating steps and choreography, helping keep students focused and on task, and making every kid who comes through our doors feel loved! They might help lead warm ups and be given other leadership opportunities by their teacher as well.
Outside of the classroom, every TA has an Act of Service; this is something they do to keep the studio running smoothly, like sweeping the floor or cleaning the mirrors. They also attend 2 TAI retreats each year- one in the early fall and one in the spring- where they receive training on how to be a good TA and spend time in community with the other TAs! Throughout the year, there may be additional meetings or events with Miss Emma and Miss Jenna.
Interns do everything that TAs do and more! The internship is designed to equip students to become dance teachers in the future. Interns can expect to be placed in at least 3 TA classes. Additionally, they will work with Miss Emma and Miss Jenna to help lead TAI events. They will work with Miss Tina and Miss Jenner to assist in administrative tasks around the studio. They will also work with Miss Tonya to assist with studio events! Throughout the year, they will have the opportunity to substitute teach classes and lead large portions of their TA classes. In the spring, interns complete the Intern Capstone Project, which culminates with the opportunity to interview for a job at Turning Pointe.
Both TAs and Interns also have the opportunity to TA summer camps and classes in addition to their school year commitments.
Why should I apply to be a TAI?
Being in the TAI program has so many great benefits!
As a TAI, you’ll gain great life skills. From year to year, we see our TAIs grow in leadership, confidence, teamwork/collaboration, and communication skills.
As a TAI, you’ll get plugged into a great community of other leaders! Our TAIs spend a lot of time together and build strong relationships with each other.
As a TAI, you’ll get to learn from your teachers in a whole new way! Our TAIs learn about classroom management and dance development from teachers who have a lot of experience and training in these areas.
TAIs receive credits towards their Turning Pointe tuition as a thank you for their time.
TAI hours can be used to meet volunteer hours requirements for NHS/NJHS, college prep classes, student counsel, or other leadership activities that require volunteer hours.
Being a TAI is a great thing to put on resumes/applications in the future, and Miss Jenna and Miss Emma are more than happy to write letters of recommendation for TAIs.
What does it look like to move through the TAI program?
Students can become at TA starting when they’re 13. Many students stick with TAing from the time they’re 13 through high school graduation! TA’s reapply for the program every summer.
Students who are interested in becoming an intern may apply after meeting a combination of different criteria (see below). Not every TA is interested in pursuing the internship, and that is totally okay! Students are more than welcome to remain TA’s their entire time in the program. Most intern applicants are 17, have been a TA for several years prior to applying, and are juniors or seniors in high school during their intern year.
The internship is designed to be a stepping stone to joining the Turning Pointe staff as a student teacher and is the primary way students can pursue being hired at Turning Pointe. At the end of the internship, students are given the opportunity to apply and interview to be student teachers.
How can I become a TAI? What are the requirements?
TAs: To be considered to be a TA, you must be 13 by September of 2021. You must be willing and able to commit to assisting in at least 1 class for the entire 2021-2022 school year. TA applicants complete an application (available at the front desk or online starting May 16th) and go through an interview process to be selected for the program.
Interns: To be considered to be an intern, you must meet three of the following five criteria:
-Be 17 or turning 17 during the 2021-2022 school year
-Be a senior in high school
-Been a Turning Pointe TA for at least 2 years
-Danced at Turning Pointe for at least 3 years
-Come highly recommended by a Turning Pointe Staff member
Additionally, interns must be available to TA at least 3 classes, have availability throughout the week to work on internship projects, and have a reliable form of transportation to and from the studio. Intern applicants complete an application (available at the front desk or online starting May 16th) and go through an interview process to be selected for the program.
SAs: This process depends more on the company you’re interested in working with- check in with the Fidele or Starz director for more information!
May Devotional- Beyond
Written by Beth Jordahl
There is something magical about recital season. Colorful costumes, all the hard work, backstage, and on stage. The lights, the cameras, the action! It all works together to create a memory that will last for a very long time.
But sometimes, at the end of all of that hard work, you find yourself leaving recital (or leaving the after party) and you feel a bit of a let down. You are tired, worn out, and you start to overthink all the things. You are sad because you won’t be doing that dance again. You might even be sad because some of your friends are leaving. It seems as if all of that work and time that you put into your performance has vanished. And now you are left wondering… what’s next?
I’ve been there. I often suffer from “post-recital blues” as I’ve decided to call it. I hit a low thinking about how much fun we all had and I don’t want it to end! I can’t wait for the recital next year. So I usually treat myself to something (maybe a Caramel Macchiato) just to bolster my spirits!
You might be laughing at me, or maybe you get me. Either way, I wanted to share that no matter when you find yourself in a place where you feel the blues, let down, or just a little low, there is incredibly good news!
This is not the end, God actually has more! And the more He has ahead is BEYOND anything you can imagine.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV) -
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
As you prepare for recital, you can remember that God is at work within you and your dance is all for Him. If you dance for Him, it will bring Him glory. No matter what! When all is said and done, you have no idea of what He can do with your gifts!
After the recital, when you aren’t sure what is coming next, that too is for His glory! He will lead you and guide you. As you step into what is ahead, know that you can’t even imagine all that He has for you.
So dream and imagine and get ready for what is coming next.
Here is a song that I love, that draws my eyes and my heart back to God (no matter my feelings). Feel free to listen HERE.
Ephesians 1:15-19 (MSG)
That’s why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!
You’ve got this, wonderful dancers! God is leading and guiding you and He is going to do even more BEYOND what you can imagine or ask.
Five Fun Facts about Swing and Ballroom!
Written by Beth Jordahl
Partners swirling across the floor. Big dips, lifts, and tricks. Fast and slow movement. Stories being told. There is something magical about swing and ballroom dancing! These styles of dance have a rich and varied history. They are styles that have captivated us in movies, T.V. shows, and on the stage. It is also something so fun to participate in!
If you are interested in swing and ballroom dancing and want to know more, here are some facts to get you started!
1. Ballroom and ballet come from the same root and beginning.
The words ballroom and ballet can be traced back to the latin word ‘balare’ meaning ‘to dance. Ball (meaning formal dance) and the Italian word ballare are also among several derivatives of this original beautiful word.
Centuries ago, ballroom dancing was primarily for the privileged and well-to-do, while the commoners had to make do with folk dancing. Now ballroom dancing applies to numerous dances in which a “leader” and a “follower” dance together in close proximity. This lets the two move together to the music!
2. The traditional stances and holds in ballroom dancing may have originated from swords and smells.
The “closed hold” is believed to have started as a way to avoid the sword. Since swords were always worn on the opposite side of connection, it makes sense to avoid it!
The other interesting hold of a beautiful stretch may developed as a result of bad body odors. It was a common practice among the aristocracy to bathe very infrequently during the early days of the waltz. So it was a good move by followers before deodorant!
3. Swing dancing brought together all ethnic traditions.
In the 1900s, America had a lot of different ballroom and folk dances. Then in the 1920s with the rise of jazz music, European-style ballroom began to merge with unique styles from traditional African dances, and African-American dances like Juba and tap. This ended up in a combination of formal and celebratory traditions with wide-legged, synchronized, energetic styles that are still a part of modern swing.
4. Both swing and ballroom encompass lots of types of dance!
It sounds like we are talking about 2 styles of dance. Actually, swing dancing includes Lindy Hop, West Coast, East Coast, Charleston, Balboa, and more. While ballroom dancing includes Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Quick Step, Samba, Cha-Cha, Rumba and more. So if you take either a swing dance or ballroom dance class, you will be learning a lot!
5. You can compete in swing or ballroom dancing competitions!
The first things that might come to mind are Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance. But there are also local competitions, collegiate competitions, and more.
For a bonus fun fact, check out these famous swing and ballroom dancers. Their passion and persistence changed the way we tap now.
● George “Shorty” Snowden was actually the inventor of Lindy Hop, along with his partner, Mattie Purnell in 1928. He initiated the very first performance group for Lindy Hop – the Shorty Snowden Dancers. There is a classic Lindy Hop move named after him called “Shorty George”.
● Frankie Manning is arguably the most famous swing dancer in history. As one of the best dancers performing at the Savoy Ballroom, Frankie was a talented choreographer of famous Lindy Hop moves, such as when he introduced aerials in a dance competition in the mid 1930s. After taking a break for several decades when WW2 started, Frankie was a major player in the swing revival of the 1980s, and carried on teaching Lindy Hop to the next generation of dancers.
● Norma Miller, also known as the “Queen of Swing”, started dancing Lindy Hop as a teenager. She was the youngest member of the original Lindy Hop group “Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers”. Norma is a Lindy Hop legend for helping to popularize the dance, as well as fuel its revival in the 1980s. Norma would regularly perform and teach at the Herräng Dance Camp in Sweden until she was 98 years old.
● Irene and Vernon Castle were a pre-WWI ballroom dancing sensation. They performed all the partner dances and sought out new forms based on African dance and jazz. Their wholesome appearance, growing ballroom repertoire, and the "safety" of a married couple demonstrating all the latest partner dances helped to boost them to stardom.
● Fred Astaire had a full dance card of gifted partners who were ballroom luminaries in their own right, but one of his most iconic and enduring partners was Ginger Rogers. Together they made nine memorable films, including Flying Down To Rio, The Gay Divorcee, Top Hat, and The Story Of Vernon & Irene Castle (who were strong influences on the young Astaire's style and career). All the films featured stand-out, crowd-pleasing dance numbers. His smooth style, incorporation of dramatic and comedic elements, and quintessential grace in ballroom dancing outshone even his effective crooning and acting.
● Ginger Rogers had her own very successful acting career, but it was her dancing films with Fred Astaire that cemented her stardom and their legend as one of ballroom's greatest duos. Their partnering style combined foxtrot, waltz, tap, and jazz - sometimes in the same routine. It's true Rogers did everything Astaire did, backwards and in heels. Although he was the more talented dancer, she contributed attitude and acting skills to their collaborations, and together they were a ballroom dancing juggernaut in the 1930s and 1940s.
Now that you know some more about swing and ballroom dancing, are you ready to get started? You can take either swing or ballroom at Turning Pointe!
All About Picture Week- May 24-29, 2021
Sign Up for Individual/Sibling/Friend Recital Portraits May 24-29 here: https://signup.com/go/AEXRUkL
