Elemental Studios Community Blog

  Dance Class Etiquette starts with an attitude of respect and openness. Whether it is your first class ever at the studio or you have been a consistent attender of the studio for a long period of time. Being mindful of your behavior helps create a space that everyone feel welcomed and supported. Staying aware of those around you and having a positive mindset about the class can build a strong and encouraging environment for everyone that attends a class with you.  When you come into the studio space, take resposibility of your actions during your time in class, this will create a comfortable and effective learning environment for everyone. Regardless of experience and dance level, come to the studio showing commitment to courtsey, this makes the class a supportive place to not only challenge yourself but also for you connect with others in the space.  By following a lot of these unspoken rules in the space, you will be able to showcase yourself as someone who is responsi...

  Hello everyone, welcome to a special topic that I would like to cover:  Harassment and Bullying in the Dance Space.  Just to clarify, this does not happen often in dance spaces, but I think it is important to be aware of this if you see anyone being harassed or bullied by someone in the studio that you are in, and how you can help with this in whatever dance studio or dance style that you are training in.  In the dance community, we often forget how different we each are in our dance backgrounds and levels. When you go to a dance studio for the first time, there is often a fear of judgment from others and your own personal insecurities about trying something new for yourself. You don't know how you are going to be treated, and that is definitely one of the scariest things to process.  There are definitely studios that acknowledge the safety of the dancers in the studio, and know how to see and stop bullying and harassment, but some don't, and that's where peop...

  Hello everyone, Today I wanted to talk about some essentials to have in your dance bag. Now, I will say that everyone's preferences are different, and the bag sizes will vary as well. These are some of the items that I have in my bag and that I take to dance classes, as well as some other items to consider in your own. 1. Kneepads- In some dance classes, there is often floorwork, and it is really good to have them to protect your knees from bruises. You can often get these at sports stores like Academy, or you can find them on Amazon. Make sure that you get kneepads that fit and are comfortable. 2. Deodorant- You will want to make sure you are not only wearing it, but also have it as a backup so that you can reapply, and once you have sweated it off in class, and not create a bad odor around your fellow dancers. 3. Hair Ties/Pins/Products-These are great to have for styling your hair to get it out of your face and just to keep your hair looking tidy. Brushes are also good to have...

  Have you ever been to a dance class for the first time and wondered what certain terms that teachers were saying were leaving you scratching your head?  Today, I wanted to discuss those terms with you and what they mean. These terms are often used in every dance genre and will be good to know and useful in all the classes that you attend in the future.   Pas   De Bourrée - A fundamental ballet move with 3 steps, and translated to English means "step of the bouree". This move is often used for traveling, smooth transitions between larger movements, and also for changing direction or preparing for turns and jumps. It's often performed in many other dance genres like Modern dance, Jazz, Commercial, Musical Theatre, Ballroom, and many other styles.  Pow Wow, aka The Basic Step- A move used in breakdancing and house dance styles. Most commonly used as a way to step in time with the beat, usually moving clockwise. One foot lifts or steps on each beat with a sli...