Summer is here! Dance in the cool studio!

 

July 2024 schedule

Wednesdays

6:45-8:15PM - Beginner ballet
8:15-9:15PM - Beginner jazz (Leigh's Dance Party!)
Thursdays (No classes July 4th!)
6:30-8PM - Basic ballet
8-9:30PM - Open level ballet
Saturdays
9:30-11AM - Beginner ballet
11AM-12PM - Pointe/pre-pointe
Sundays

10-11:30AM - Intermediate ballet
11:30AM-1PM - Basic ballet

SIGN UP FOR ALL CLASSES HERE

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LET'S DANCE ALL SUMMER LONG!
Aside from Independence Day, I will be teaching all of July and the rest of the summer. It's a great time to be in the studio, especially when you need a break from the heat.

More fun - Zumba party with LPBC!
Company members MaLisa Martin and Samantha Mahony are holding Zumba classes on Friday nights at Inspire, 6:15-7:15PM. Loads of fun, great Latin music to dance to, and 1/3 of the proceeds will go to the company. It's win-win-win!

 

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LPBC News

Our first East Coast Ballet All Day workshops!

June 1st was a smashing success!
We had so much fun working with the dancers who attended our very first Ballet All Day event in Kingston, MA. Company members Amanda Singrassia (who owns Dreamworks Performing Arts Center & Wellness where we held the workshops) and Asher Taylor-Dawson not only taught Partnering but also performed with their respective dance partners, Cisco Sanchez and Tamar Cohen, which was such a treat for all of us. Company member Tom Misnik joined us too, coming all the way from Philadelphia.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. Can't wait for the next one!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you miss LPBC's video for Pride Month?
Check out the beautiful original duet created by Alexes Togiai Ciardi, Elena Castellanos, Jamie Haley and Jim Luna, performed by Alexes and Elena. Link here.

Dance at Home with Me!

Hello beautiful dancers!

As promised in my newsletter, I'll be posting on my blog some of my YouTube "pandemic" videos from 2020-2021 when I was doing daily live classes from my living room. Remember those days? Thankfully they feel very long ago!

This one is from June 14, 2020:

Beginner Ballet

Enjoy! And keep on dancing! 

I'll post more in the coming days while I am out of town.

What's happening in June? Check it out!

 Please note: no classes 6/21-6/23!

June 2022 schedule - In-studio and online!

Sunday (Inspire Dance Studio)
10AM-11:30AM - Beg/Intermediate level
Tuesday (Live Arts LA) no class 6/21

7-8:30PM - Beg/Intermediate level
Wednesday (Inspire) no class 6/22
6:30-8PM - Beginner level
8-9PM - Basic Lyrical Jazz
Thursday (Inspire) no class 6/23
7-8:30PM - Basic level
Saturday (Inspire)
9:30-11AM - Beginner level
11AM-12:30PM - Intermediate level
12:30-1:30PM - Pointe

SIGN UP FOR ALL CLASSES HERE

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Please note before you come to the studio:

1. Masks are optional for all dancers inside both studios where I rent.
2. Students must show proof of vaccination to attend class at Live Arts LA.

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Looking for something new? Try Jazz this summer!

My Basic Lyrical Jazz class on Wednesday nights, 8-9PM at Inspire is also available on Zoom. You can follow along at home or in the studio with energetic music and an easy "ballet-friendly" warmup with tendus, plies, isolations, etc. and some traveling combinations. Each week we work on a bit of cool choreography which I post on Instagram for reference. It's such a fun class - and we sweat too! Great for cardio!
 

SAVE $5 when you sign up for the Wednesday Beginner Ballet class at 6:30-8PM AND Jazz that same night. First sign up for the ballet class and get the discount code in your confirmation email, then apply that code to the purchase of the Jazz class.

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New class (and weekend schedule!) coming in July!

Summer time is vacation time - take a break time - enjoy the days time - for me too! I'll be changing up the weekend schedule next month to give everyone access to their classes but still have time for themselves. STAY TUNED! I'll update mid-month and then again in my July newsletter! PLUS I'll be bringing you a brand new class: Gentle Ballet!

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LPBC News

IT'S HERE!! HOTEL AT THE END OF THE UNIVERSE ON JUNE 18 & 19

The time-traveling hotel has been taken for a joyride by three feisty bellhops determined to have fun. Join us at the Madrid Theatre on Saturday June 18 at 7PM and Sunday June 19 at 4PM for a 2-act ballet that will lift your spirits and send your imagination soaring. TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!!

Note: We'll be streaming it on July 9 & 10 too.

Click this awesome image from dancer Bill Reiss and you'll be magically transported to the LPBC website to get your tickets. If you've got a group, contact me for a discount code!

FUN LINK!! Check out this super cool trailer, created by Kavita Master and starring EVERY SINGLE DANCER who is performing in the show, including the remote dancers!

WANT A FREE SHIRT? Become a Supporter of the company at any level BEFORE JUNE 19 and you'll receive your choice of a Sweet Sorrow or Hotel shirt! Join today! And when you sign up at the Aficionado, Connoisseur or Virtuoso level, you will also receive a discount code for 15% off Hotel tickets along with several other cool benefits! MORE INFO HERE!

Dancing toward the light at the end of the tunnel

Beautiful dancers,

As I write this, the FDA is authorizing emergency use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. The initial plan is for frontline workers and people in assisted living facilities to receive inoculations this month with the rest of us getting vaccinated over the course of the next few months. If all goes well, most of the population will have access to it by spring 2021.

This is amazing news and should give us all hope for the not-too-distant future. In scientific terms, this is nearly-instantaneous; for the rest of us we've got a major case of HURRY UP, ALREADY!

How does this affect me as a dancer?

Okay, so we know there will be an end, even if we don't know the date. So let's look at it this way. Pretend I'm the artistic director of the company you're all in and I've called you into a meeting (on Zoom of course because there's a pandemic).

Congratulations! You all have been cast in a show that will be performed in the Fall. We don't have a theater booked yet but we know it's going to happen so we need to be getting in shape and rehearsing now. We can't wait until we put a down payment on the booking because that might happen at the last minute.

Ooh, exciting! Which show are we doing? Which role will I have?

The question is: which role do you want? Do you want a lead role, one that dances a lot on stage? Do you want a corps de ballet role, which is just as challenging but more community-involvement? Do you want to be partnered or to be a partner? Do you want to be en pointe or in flat slippers? 

 But I look terrible! I haven't been dancing full-out in months! I'm not ready to be on stage!

Focus not on what your body looks like but on what it can do. We are ALL in the same predicament. We have been doing our best - whatever form that takes - and it's been difficult for everyone. Now is not the time for body-shaming yourself. And no, of course you're not ready for the stage. Professionals are not even ready and many of them are back in the studio. It takes time and a slow return to our previous mode of movement. 

Here is my advice:

1. Keep looking toward the future. Stop looking at the past, at what was, at what was supposed to be. A new day is dawning but it will just take a while to fully arrive. Don't stop thinking about tomorrow (okay, okay, I just used a whole bunch of song lyrics but you know what I mean).

2. Invest in yourself and your body. If you don't have a space at home, carve one out, even if it needs to be carved out every day. Get a stable barre or barre substitute. Find flooring that won't hurt your knees and back or wear shoes with support.

3. Move every day. Every. Single. Day. Maybe it's a YouTube ballet class one day. Maybe it's yoga. Maybe it's a Zoom group class. Or a long walk or jog. But move your body on a daily basis and breathe deeply.

4. Speaking of breathing...practice exercising in a mask because YOU WILL WEAR ONE for a while, possibly until the end of 2021. Get used to it now. It's not that hard. I've done it - and taught class in it!

5. Commit. Say to yourself, "I want to be in the show in the Fall, whatever show it is, whatever role I'm given. So I will stay healthy, stay distant, stay masked. I will wash my hands and avoid large groups indoors. I will do what I have to."

I want you all to be in the show, whether that's a literal show or merely a figurative one. If you've been inwardly focused or have had a hard time getting or staying motivated since March, there is a future to dance toward now. If you've been keeping your dance routine, don't stop now! 

And you know what? You will be in the show. Happy dancing~

Meet Dr. Danelle Dickson, Dance PT and ballet dancer!

Hello beautiful dancers!

Did you miss our live Zoom chat with Dr. Danelle Dickson last Friday? Then you missed an amazing opportunity to get your PT/dance injury questions answered by the extraordinary Dr. Dee from Washington DC. She's a ballet dancer who treats professional dancers, young pre-professionals, and amateurs alike. Working from her home on the east coast, she graciously and generously took time from her day to talk to us.

Lucky for you, I recorded it and uploaded it to YouTube! Check out the video below and hear what Dr. Dee has to say about treatment of dance injuries, the necessity of cross-training, and why she thinks dancers need to be considered athletes. She also answered the specific questions from our chat group, each of whom had a different dance background and experience. It was a fascinating - and fast! - 90 minutes.

Dr. Dee also talked about her new cross-training program, Dansebridge, which is available in the link below. Dr. Dee believes dancers don't necessarily need more classes when they want to improve their technique. She thinks working different muscle groups and in different ways can be more beneficial. Personally I love that the sessions are only 30 minutes long because these days, concentrating for long times is not easy.

Dr. Danelle Dickson's Dansebridge

Thank you SO MUCH, Dr. Dee! We loved meeting you and enjoyed hearing everything you had to say about ballet, training, and treatment.

LPBC's 2nd annual Silent Auction! April 13th~

Mark your calendars for my nonprofit ballet company's second annual silent auction fundraiser:

Saturday, April 13th!

Those of you who attended last year know that we had an amazing collection of items for bid and this year will be just as great, if not even more awesome:

-Massage gift certificates

-Fancy pocketbooks

-Ballgowns and handcrafted tiaras

-Autographed books

-Acupuncture gift certificates

-Yoga lessons

-Wines

-Original artwork

And so much more, including yummy baked goods and treats, merchandise and other swag! Each of our dancers brings to the company vast and varied resources that we are proud to promote. 

I'll also be showing a sneak peek of the original ballet, Hotel at the End of the Universe, a brand new show we're presenting on June 29th at the Colony Theater in Burbank. Limited seating is available for that event so you definitely want to grab your tickets soon which will be conveniently purchasable at the silent auction.

We're collecting items for donation so please do contact me if you'd like to give something. All donations, whether something you're giving or something you're bidding on, are tax-deductible and ALL proceeds go directly to the company for upcoming shows and outreach events. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

What: LPBC Silent Auction

When: Saturday, April 13, 6-8PM

Where: 1054 South Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015

RSVP (not required but will remind you): Eventbrite listing

Thank you all! Hope to see you there!

Pirouette tip: use that upper back torque!

Hello beautiful dancers!

Recently I've been watching my dancers do their pirouettes en dehors and have been noticing a common issue among those whose turns are not as successful as they would like, or those who can't complete multiple turns cleanly:

They don't articulate their upper backs.

Let me clarify the difference between "winding up" for a turn and "upper back articulation."

When a teacher tells you not to wind up before you turn, usually what that means is you are twisting your entire torso and arms at the waist before flinging them around. This completely throws off your center, doesn't engage your back muscles, and causes you to spin around rather than lift up.

On the other hand, upper back articulation is when you have a slight twist in the shoulders and top third of your torso, just around your scapulae. By pulling back at the scapula and allowing a torque under the shoulders, you are engaging the back muscles and also creating a spiral effect, much like the threads on a screw.

Dancer has slight torque in upper back - note scapula of left (closing) arm. Dance Australia photo credit

A dancer who isn't using their back is probably turning as a single unit, with no energy in their arms or force in their body. Remember, you need impetus to get you moving and momentum to keep you turning. All the releves and balance in the world won't result in multiple turns if you don't initiate from somewhere in your body.

No upper back torque: this is a single unit. Mom Ballet by Megan, cc license

Next time you are practicing your en dehors turns, try this:
--from your fourth position (or fifth or second), reach the gesture arm directly in front of you and the closing arm directly out to the side.
--pull back the scapula of the closing arm and feel the gesture arm stretch even farther away from your body. You should feel the shoulders twist toward that closing arm - but nothing else! Don't allow your torso or waist to twist. This is only in the upper back.
--when you release those arms for a turn, pull back from the scapula of the gesture arm and you should feel more force propel you as you pull the arms in. As long as you are pushing UP from the floor to a very high releve, you will achieve a pirouette rather than a spin.

Try it! And good luck! Happy dancing~

Dancing and Aging

Like most dancers (and most women), I can be hypercritical of my body. As women, we tell ourselves that "everyone hates something about their bodies" and "if it weren't for xyz on my body, I would be happy/wealthy/successful/loved".

I can't remember meeting anyone who didn't feel that way about themselves and in fact, if a woman was happy with her body, then she was criticized by others: "how dare she think she's perfect?" and "did you see her thighs?" And on and on.

But there is a difference between thinking you're perfect and being happy with the way you look. And if you do think you're perfect, then more power to you, because it takes a lot of inner strength to inure yourself to others' opinions.

As dancers, though, our self-critics are not just fully employed, they work overtime. Not only do we have to contend with the physical image we see in all those mirrors! We also have to contend with what our bodies can do. And as we age, they can do less and less.

(They can also do more and more...I'll get to that in a minute.)

Our aging is so evident because one day we can do several pirouettes and the next day, just one. This week our legs can developpe to 150 degrees but next week, it's barely above 90 if we're lucky. Jete battu? Saute cabriole? Italian fouette? Oh please no! Let's just do another port de bras and call it a day.

There it is in stark black-and-white-and-marley-gray. We are aging. We are weakening. We are no longer the best in the class. We no longer get chosen for the best roles. 

We become invisible.

Invisibility has to be the biggest blow to one's ego when one is a dancer. We practice for years for people to watch us on stage, to be noticed in the classroom by the teacher and other dancers. As we age, we become less relevant in the dance world.

If we're completely honest, ballet is painful. Not just emotionally but physically. Few people have natural turnout or the kinds of physical gifts needed to make the art form easier on the body. To achieve some of the kinds of things we want to do (or if we were forced to do them by teachers when we were young) we had to compromise our bodies. We had to give up time to rest and heal after an injury because we were performing at the time. We had to push ourselves harder than anyone else. We might have self-diagnosed because we couldn't afford a doctor and proper treatment. So years later, we have scar tissue buildup, muscles that are not balanced, and poor alignment. Women (and many men) who had/have eating disorders might also suffer from osteoporosis.

When we get to 40s, 50s, 60s, we often say "no more" to ballet. We discover yoga or another exercise that is less painful on our joints but really? We're afraid ballet doesn't want us anymore so we leave. If we're competitive people (and dancers often are simply because of the nature of the dance world), we often don't want to be seen at our lower points. Our egos get too easily bruised.

So...should the aging dancer just leave ballet behind? Should we turn our backs on the art form we spent years studying, whose discipline shaped our brains and bodies?

If you are indeed "broken," whether in body or spirit, no amount of talk from me is going to make you return to ballet. And that's fine. You have to do what is best for you. But if your soul is still connected to ballet, or dance in general, don't go! 

Find a different way to dance.

That can mean lots of things, depending on who you are. It can mean taking a beginner class instead of an advanced one. It can mean concentrating on demi-plie instead of grand plie. It may mean skipping one of the petit allegro exercises or modifying them so you can complete them in your own way. It may mean finding a different teacher, one who accepts that you won't be doing everything or that you won't be doing everything as choreographed.

There is, without a doubt, something you do well. It might be an arabesque. You might still turn well. You might have excellent balance. Whatever it is, acknowledge it and embrace it. Develop it. Look for it in every exercise you do. For me, that's adagio. I don't have the turns I once did, nor the super fast feet, but I have balance and precision. So when I approach every combination, those are the things I look for. The result is increased confidence, increased presence in the class. I look like I am enjoying myself because I am. I love it. I love dance. I love ballet.

I'll bet you do too.

I was feeling pretty good yesterday - far from perfect, I know my body is nothing like it used to be. Can it be better? Probably. Can I make it better? Maybe. Do I hate it a lot of the time? Yup. I sure do.

But yesterday I didn't hate it. I was taking class for myself and was happy to not be in pain, as I frequently am, happy I could releve and hold my balance at the barre, happy I could perform the adagio well, happy that my body was doing things I wanted to do. So I took a picture. I wanted to be able to look at this picture and think, "that's a moment I liked my body, that I appreciated what it could do."  I wanted to see it and be reminded that it wasn't a super thin body that did what I wanted. It wasn't a super young body that did what I wanted. It was a middle-aged, average size body but I was still able to make it do things that I loved doing and was proud of.

Don't leave ballet. Just find a different way to love it.

Meet Becca Duberman, founder of Footloose

For my very first interview, I think it's fitting that it be someone I have tremendous admiration for, a young woman named Becca Duberman who is the founder of a nonprofit organization called Footloose that collects gently-used dance shoes and distributes them throughout the country to dancers in need. I emphasize "young" because Becca founded this organization while she was in high school and currently she is still in college. Wow! Such an impressive accomplishment at a young age!

I am very fortunate to have met Becca through a mutual friend online and she was gracious enough to profile me on her website's Health and Wellness blog (here is the post if you didn't see it earlier). Of course I wanted to know more about her! So let's get to chatting!

Meet Becca!

Leigh: Welcome, Becca! Could you tell me a bit about your background, perhaps something more than what is listed on your site? I'd love to know where you grew up.

Becca: I am a Junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison majoring in Management & Human

Resources with a Healthcare Management minor in the School of Business. I became passionate

about business through my work for Footloose. I love working with my ambassadors and running a non-profit organization. I am originally from New Jersey and I attended Livingston High School.

An east coast girl! Can you tell me about your dance experience? 

Throughout my childhood I took dance classes at Michele’s Dance Studio in Livingston, New Jersey. I started when I was 2 years old and continued throughout high school. I danced competitively through Michele’s Dance Studio beginning at age 10. I danced competitively in Jazz and Lyrical while also taking ballet Classes.

Do you have dance aspirations aside from your philanthropy?

While I don’t formally dance now, my love for dance and the positive impact it has on self confidence, self image, and motivation is reflected in the work of Footloose. Footloose is my way to give back to the dance community that has given me so much joy throughout my childhood.

Was there a specific moment that inspired you to start your nonprofit? 

One summer as I was cleaning out my closet of old dance shoes, I was struck by the memories each pair brought to mind -- - the friends I made, the competitions we won and lost, the dances we learned -- - and felt so fortunate for all that dance taught me. That year, as we were once again buying new shoes for my classes at Michele’s Dance Studio I had an idea. Every year the parents would buy their children new dance shoes, in many different styles, because our feet were growing so quickly. I noticed the high price of the shoes. I started to question the availability of shoes to those children’s families who could not afford to buy new ones every year. Upon researching organizations that collected dance shoes, I could not find one that was in close proximity to me. So, I decided to start a shoe drive of my own, Footloose.

(courtesy Footloose website)

This seems like such a perfect idea for a charitable organization! Are there other organizations that do this? 

I did research and contact other organizations before starting my own, however there were none that were near my location. Once starting my own drive, I wanted to build it large enough that other inspired teens, like myself, could start their own dance shoe drive in their area. Not only would this inspire other dance students to give back to those less fortunate, but it would expand Footloose. I believe the ambassador program differentiates Footloose. Also, we are a registered 501C3, so we can accept monetary donations.

Logistically, this must take a lot of organizing. How does it work?

Footloose has various drop-box locations around the United States. These locations are run by a Footloose ambassador who is in charge of collecting, sorting, and ultimately sending the shoes to an organization or company in need. Once the ambassadors are done with their drive, they contact me. I have a list of organizations that are in need of shoe donations. These organizations have either solicited donations directly or I have found them by my own research.

You mentioned the Ambassadors (your teen activists). What is their role?

Below is the Ambassador process:

--Customize our Footloose shoe drive flyer to meet your needs.

--Distribute the flyer to local schools, shopping malls, etc., and post on your website and other social media outlets.

--Set up a donation box at your dancewear company for donors to leave their gently used shoes.

--Keep a tally of the number and types of shoes you collect.

--When you complete your drive, contact me via email, with a tally and we will supply you with the mailing address for the recipient.

--Ship the shoes.

Have you reached out to the big shoe companies about donating shoes?

Yes, we have partnered with Capezio and Freed of London in the past, who has donated a bunch of dance shoes in various styles and we are very grateful for their contribution.

Wow! Congratulations on that! What do see for your organization's future? 

Recently, Footloose launched the Health and Wellness blog where it shares interviews of avid dancers who have shared how dance has shaped their well-being and impacted their wellness. I hope that this blog will spread the positive aspects dance has on one’s health and well-being. I also hope that Footloose will continue to make dreams come true one step at a time.

I recently started my own nonprofit so I know there are lots of challenges ahead. Based on your experience as a philanthropist for the past seven years, what advice can you offer others who would like to do something similar? 

My advice to others who want to start their own organization is to choose a cause that you are passionate about. It makes it that much more meaningful when you are impacting other’s lives by allowing them to do something that they, as well as you, love. I would warn those to know that there will be times when it seems very hectic and you will feel like giving up, but knowing that you are impacting other’s lives makes it worth the stressful times.

Anyone who knows me knows I'm all about bringing more dancers into the community. Is there anything in the dance world you would like to see changed in regards to inclusivity of all dancers? 

For one, I would encourage schools to offer dance as a part of their physical education requirements. Secondly, I am encouraged to see so many dance studios opening their doors to offer free classes to those who can’t afford to pay the tuition. Thirdly, there are many great free tutorials available on YouTube and the Internet that can be located via a search engine. Lastly, dance is a form of self expression that can be practiced anywhere at any time. I would encourage students to let themselves feel the music and JUST DANCE!

(courtesy Footloose website)

Becca, thank you SO MUCH for answering my questions and providing us with more information about what you do and who you are. It's always encouraging to put a face to an online presence!

Readers! If YOU would like to be involved, either donating shoes or money, being an Ambassador, or simply spreading the word about Footloose, please visit the website, or contact Becca directly through her email, becca.duberman@yahoo.com.

Technique Tip: Stack your pirouette with boxes of kittens!

When we talk about alignment for pirouettes, we often use the visual image of a long pole representing the spine. We don't want the spine to bend in the middle - that's our strong core that we need to maintain the proper shape that allows us to turn smoothly and quickly.

(A food analogy: don't be the cooked linguine noodle; be the dried one fresh out of the box. Hmm, am I hungry this morning?)

Don't be mushy!

Do be firm!

But there is another way to visualize our bodies for pirouettes: stacked boxes.

Imagine your body as 3 boxes on top of each other (head, torso and hips). You want to keep the boxes balanced evenly. If one is off the edge (e.g. your chin is pulled back or jutted far forward, your rib cage is sticking out, your pelvis is behind your heels, and so on), it will threaten to collapse when you take it en releve.

Remember: releve is a precarious place for your body to be. To be stable and steady, everything needs to be aligned properly.

Next time you work on pirouette, try to visualize your body as 3 boxes filled with kittens (why kittens? because they love boxes and because they move around a lot which makes them hard to control, much like your body!).

Kittens! In a box!

If you can keep the boxes steady - and the kittens inside them quiet and still - you will have an easier time balancing them. This visual image will help remind you to push UP to releve rather than forward because you sure don't want to toss those kittens from side to side!

During the turn, hold your arms steady (maybe you even think about wrapping your arms around your kittens!), and maintain the shape of the 3 boxes.

On the finish, roll down smoothly and evenly, and don't disrupt the kittens in the boxes. You don't want to finish abruptly and throw one of the boxes off the center. Kittens everywhere!

Happy dancing~