Every Friday I teach at middle school 324 in Brooklyn, New York in an after school program. I have had a few students express an interest in auditioning for performing arts high schools. They seemed so nervous just talking about auditioning, and I can’t say that I blame them. Opening yourself up to the possibility of rejection is not easy, especially when it comes to something you are passionate about. For many adults we know that life goes on after a heartbreaking rejection, but for a 13 year, the world seems to be over! So how do we help children to get through what can sometimes be a scary and intimidating process.

I read an article from the September 2008 issue of Dance Teacher Magazine titled,  Audition Advice by Dana Grunklee which is focused on university dance programs. Although the article was written with college bound students in mind, middle school students can certainly benefit from it. Here are some points that I think are major:

• Get to the audition early in order to get a space at the barre that you feel comfortable with, and to mentally prepare for the audition.
• Most high schools that audition potential students for their dance program are looking to see if you have knowledge of dance vocabulary, for example, you should know what a plie is, or a tendu. You should also know the five basic ballet positions of the feet.   
• If someone is teaching choreography, try your best to learn it. This has always been a struggle for me, especially when I was younger.
• If you make a mistake keep going, and know that you can make up for it by being determined to get it, and giving it your best shot.

What can children do if they have a passion for dance, but may not have been able to start dancing at age 5? In other words they have a passion, but not the technique to make it through an audition. I personally think the following:

• Go to the audition anyway for the experience, and to know that you tried.
• In your high school directory book you’ll find a number of great high schools that have a solid dance program that you don’t need to audition for in order to get in that you can apply to.
• If dance is what you enjoy, I encourage you to stick with it. You can get stronger and more confident as a dancer with time, hard work, and a positive attitude. 

is what I call my logo for urban plie, because it appeals to boys, and girls regardless of race, or nationality. These factors are a big deal to me, because one of my goals is for my program to attract a diverse group of children.

The logo was created by Meg Levine of Meg Levine Design (www.meglevinedesign.com.) Meg infuses: Experience, logic, and creativity into her work. I am so pleased with my logo, and must say that the “universal dancer” is an accurate symbol of what I want urban plie to represent.

So, what does urban plie represent, and what do I see when I look at my  logo? I see:

• Strength
• Beauty
• Grace
• Confidence
• Radiance 
• No limitations

I’m curious, what do you see?

I was recently in Seattle, Washington where I was fondly reminded of myself as a little girl. My friend’s energetic 4 year old daughter, Symphony is quite a little dancer! She twirled out of her room and was in front of the mirror showing me all of her dance moves. She pointed her feet, she jumped up and down, but clearly her favorite was twirling around. She twirled so much at one point I was surprised she didn’t get dizzy! When I asked her mom where she takes dance classes, I was amazed to hear that she was not enrolled in a dance program yet. Symphony’s love for dance is inspired by a couple of sources, although her favorite is the cartoon, Angelina Ballerina, which is based on a book series by, Helen Craig and Katherine Holabird. The book series features an enthusiastic mouse, Angelina, and her tenacious pursuits of becoming a prima ballerina.

As a dancer, and a dance teacher it has been my experience that books about dance can be a positive way to spark a child’s interest in dance, and/or to encourage their desire to learn how to dance. Here are 3 books that I think are a perfect example of this:

•  Allen, Debbie. (September 2000). Dancing in the Wings. New York City: Penguin Group (USA.)
• Cooper, Elisha. (2001). Dance.New York City: Greenwillow (HarperCollins.)
• Benzwie, Teresa. (September 2002.) Alpabet Movers. Silver Spring: National Dance Education Organization.

I first learned of Dancing in the Wings when a friend of mine bought it for me as a gift. I LOVE this book, and immediately related to the main character, “Sassy” who is tall, like me. Sassy faces some challenges as a result of being the tallest dancer in her dance class.  She is taller than the boys, and therefore is not chosen for partner work. She is taller than all the girls, and does not quite blend in with them. With the support of family, Sassy learns to find confidence in herself and unapologetically auditions for a once in a lifetime opportunity, and gets her chance to “shine” onstage. I have read this book to my kindergarten students, as well as my students in middle school and found that both age groups are moved by this story. I think two of the main reasons are- it encourages children to go for their dreams irregardless of any obstacles, and this story also promotes self-acceptance, which can be difficult for many dancers to have. The fact is- sometimes after spending a lot of time in front of the mirror in dance class, and being surrounded by competitive behavior, dancers (especially young dancers) can become quite harsh and judgmental towards themselves.

Dance, by Elisha Cooper exhibits the reality into the disciplined life of a dancer, and the hard work required that enables a dancer to appear to effortlessly move with grace. Cooper begins with the dancers warming up their bodies for their rehearsal.  He then goes through the process of working with a choreographer, (the person who makes up the dance) and a musician. The dancers work together as a team to bring the choreographers’ vision of the dance to life. The book ends with the dancers on stage about to perform after all their work. I recommend this book for any young person who needs a dose of reality with regards to the dedication and focus that dance professionals possess.  

The final dance book that I think is inspiring for kids is, Alphabet Movers by Teresa Benzwie. This book works particularly well with pre-school aged, and kindergarten children, since children at this age are generally learning the alphabets. This book is very interactive. It takes children from “A” through “Z”, and they are able to make the shapes of each letter with their bodies. Being able to physically go through this process is crucial for children who are tactile learners. In addition to this, Benzwie also uses  action words for each letter, which gives children yet another opportunity to learn through movement. What I particularly like about this book is the fact that, you don’t necessarily have to be a “dancer” in order to enjoy it. Whether a child’s goal is to dance in the spotlight like Sassy from Dancing in the Wings, or to eat, sleep, and drink dance like the dancers in Cooper’s, Dance; I think it is important that Alphabet Movers allows children to celebrate movement just for the sake of movement. Whatever the goal, I’m confident these 3 books will be a source of inspiration. Happy reading young dancers!

I was honored to be a participant at the 1st annual Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service’s (BBCS) East New York Wellness Day, outdoor fair on Wednesday, July 29, 2009.  The day was fun-filled for families and children with music, face painting, tasty refreshments, and a live marching band. There were free health screenings available, and opportunities for adults to give blood. The primary focus of the event was on children, and providing them with tools on how to take care of their bodies and maintain good health.

I taught a beginner modern dance class to a group of energetic, enthusiastic kids from the East New York area of Brooklyn. Much to my delight these children were so focused, and eager to dance! (A dance teacher’s dream.) I was particularly excited to have boys who stepped up to the front and were uninhibited in their expression (I have found that boys tend to be less open to learning modern dance.)

    Dancing is a fantastic way for kids to get in shape; however the benefits of dance in a child’s life are far more than physical. I like the way Creative Dance Teacher Mary Joyce states it in her book, Teaching Creative Dance to Children: “Children find a fulfillment through dance that can be realized through no other discipline, because dance simultaneously involves the inner being and the physical body…dance experience teaches children both awareness and control of movement. They use these skills in games, sports, and everyday living…movement is closely connected with the mind and the spirit. It is inherent in any kind of growth activity. The act of growing is movement. Mentally, spiritually, and physically, children need to move-a lot.”

In addition to my dance class, kids and their families were able to sign up for a Brooklyn public library card, and had the thrill of meeting Maurice Evans, a professional football player with the New York Giants who also gave many tips about exercise. 

The Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service’s 1st annual East New York Wellness Day- It was definitely a day well spent, and an event I was proud to be a part of.

If you’ve never studied classical ballet, or if you are not proficient in French; chances are you have no idea what plie is! Plie, [plee-AY] is a French classical ballet word, which means to bend your knees.

Many dance classes for children, as well as for adults begin with plies, because of its ability to warm-up the knees. The knees are very vulnerable to injury while dancing; therefore the proper execution of plie is crucial. I found a great picture on photobucket of a dancer in a plie position:

Dancer's feet are in fifth position

Although it is a part of the ballet terminology, plies may be used in the warm-up for other genres of dance like: modern technique, hip-hop, jazz, African, and tap to name a few.

Urban Plie, Inc is a dance program that I started in April of this year for children between the ages of 3-18. I currently offer ballet, modern dance technique, creative movement (children ages 3-5 only), West African, jazz, and yoga. Inspiring kids through dance is the mission of my program. 

I am focused on urban communities throughout the country because: dance classes are usually more readily available to children who live in suburban neighborhoods, and there are many kids who live in large cities who would love dance as a creative form of expression.

Urban Plie dance programs are accessible wherever there are children who want to learn how to dance; whether it be an after school program, a workshop at a children’s museum, a youth program at a church, or at a public library.

If you would like to know how you can set up a dance workshop, or a dance class for your event feel free to send me an email at, natasha@urbanplie.com.

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