You have heard all the catch phrases about 2020 by now and know them well.  Some inspire us to pull together and support each other “We are all in this together” while others send a message that imprints into our minds “Stay Home Stay Safe”.  When these messages contradict each other “Get our schools and economy back on track” we can feel conflicted to say the least even as adults.
 
For Australian children and teens, these public messages and new rules combined with observations on how the adults surrounding them react have been at times unsettling.  News footage of large numbers of deaths internationally, national and state virus tallies and communities scrambling for items from empty shop shelves have been observed by our kids in recent months.  While children were learning online, the opportunity to have discussions about these issues lead by teachers or with friends have not always been possible. Families are busier then ever juggling home life with new work demands that are so different to the beginning of 2020.  All this begs the question …….  how are our children and teens processing what they have been through, continue to adapt to and feel about their future?
 
One way is definitely through art.  Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw said “Without art, the crudeness of reality would make the world unbearable”.  Art enables us to express what we sometimes do not have the words to express.  Art enables us to dissect an experience or feelings, abstract it into another form and release it.  Art is also a healthy escape – especially dance.  For children to be able to access an artform that they connect with is vital at times of stress.  If that artforms is shared with like-minded people and includes a level of physicality then all the better!  
 
Unfortunately, during financially difficult times funding to the arts gets slashed and our ability to learn and access art can become more challenging.  Recently, our beloved ABC will cut many programs and staff due to reduced funding, community performing art facilities like Carriageworks have gone into Voluntary Administration and university arts degrees double in cost as a deterrent to study art at a tertiary level.  The message is clear – art has slipped down the Governments priority list and this is not a new phenomenon in times of crisis. 
 
What doesn’t change but increases are the individual and community need for art during these times.   In isolation we became inventive in ways to source and express our artistic side whether it’s through technology, social media, at home alone or with family.  Now, as restriction lift  it’s exciting that we can once again access more opportunities for artistic expression.
 
As we take our next cautious step forward with a return to face to face dance classes we do this with a sense of optimism.  Are kids have so much to express right now and also so much to simply release.  On Saturday 25th July 2020 we will come together once again, and this time it feels a little more special – a privilege to commune in the artform of dance. 

Happy dancing everyone!
 
Written by
Natasha Swan
Natasha is a mother of two girls and owner of Momentum Dance Studios in Sydney Australia.  She holds a Bachelor of Education & Bachelor of Arts (Dance & Theatre).  Natasha teaches in a local girls high school in the Creative & Performing Arts Department, is P&F Committee President at her children's high school and volunteers for local NFP organisation Learning In The Hills as dance teacher.
Follow Momentum Dance Studios via Instagram @momentumdancestudios
and visit the website www.momentumdancestudios.com.au
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Learning choreography for a dance routine is part of a dancer’s daily life.  Every dance class, every audition, every job will involve this skill so the below tips will help you master this skill faster.  Picking up choreography quickly is vital to successfully audition for work but will also make you feel more confident in class and on stage as a student.  Ultimately, these tips will also help you to make the movement your own and stand out from the crowd! 
​Let’s get ready to slay your next routine by:
 BREAKING IT DOWN!
Yes, I mean literally break the routine down into bite size chunks or short sequences of movement.  Good choreographers will teach sections of movements at a time then repeat it before moving on.  A sequence of movement is approximately 16 counts of music.
Don’t think of your routine one step at a time (like a word) think of your routine in sequences (like paragraphs). This way your brain will recall large amounts of movement in one go because it is linked or clustered together rather than 100 singular steps.
 
LINK MOVEMENT TO A COUNT, LYRIC OR MUSIC!
When learning movement your choreographer may allocate a count for each step like….
walk 1, 2, 3 kick 4.  This is a neat and precise way learn movement but not everyone can do this easily as we all learn in different ways and at different ages. Practicing this method will help you to do it better but let’s say your choreographer doesn’t allocate counts to all movement taught. What then?
You can then use lyrics in the song or part of the music to do this.  It may not be for every step but you will remember a sequence of movement commences on a certain lyric or part of the music.  This lyrical or musical trigger will help you to recall the movement sequence more easily.
 
REPEAT, REPEAT, REPEAT……
It’s simply not enough for most of us to learn a routine and expect to do it again a week later without revision during that time.  Repeating what you have learnt daily will reinforce your muscle memory and make movement recall instant and seamless.  
The good news is revision can be done mentally, statically or with full movement.  If you don’t get the chance to physical revise your routine every day then try visualisation.  Visualising your routine can be done anywhere!  On the bus going to school, in bed at night or side stage before you perform. This is a proven technique used by professional athletes and dancers.  
Static revision is while seated or standing when you simply go over the movement using only your hands.  You will often see teachers describing a dance exercise to students like this or dancers at the back of class doing this before executing the movement full out.
Repetition in any of these ways will help solidify what you have learned.
 
FIND THE RESTS & BURST
Performing a dance routine is a high level energy task requiring dance technique.  To sustain your energy and be able to perform the movements safely, in time and beautifully you must understand the Restsand Burstsrequired in each routine.
Restswill be the parts of the movement that allow you to breath deeper, compose yourself for a moment and think ahead.  They are the slow or still counts in your routine.
Burstsare the parts of the routine that require full burst of energy (ballistic endurance) and little or no time to think about what you are doing.  These are often the faster, more physically demanding sections of the routine.  The bursts will require more practice so your body muscle memory can execute them without pause for thought. 
 
TAKE OWNERSHIP OF YOUR MOVEMENT
Once a routine is taught to you and you have memorised it, you should then take ownership of it!  As no two bodies are alike, you will naturally perform movement differently to the choreographer or fellow dancers.  Your dance training, body size and fitness will impact how you dance as well as your own personal style!
The key here is to understand what makes you unique, can be your biggest and best asset.  Embrace the dancer you are and perform the movement your way. While troupe performances need to remain in time and have a sense of unity you will still have many opportunities to– slay it your way!

Happy dancing everyone!

Written by
Natasha Swan
Natasha is a mother of two girls and owner of Momentum Dance Studios in Sydney Australia.  She holds a Bachelor of Education & Bachelor of Arts (Dance & Theatre).  Natasha is also a volunteer member of ADESA (Australian Dance Education Standards Association) who have created an awareness campaign for child safety in Australian Dance Schools and volunteer for NFP Learning In The Hills.
Follow Momentum Dance Studios via Instagram @momentumdancestudios
and visit the website www.momentumdancestudios.com.au

​This year the Teaching Team at Momentum Dance Studios are focusing on one key pedagogy theory specific to educating young people in the creative arts.  
 
It’s called SPARK!
 
The term “Spark” in relation to education for children and teens was crystalised by the American Psychologist Peter L. Benson and his work on positive facets of youth development. Peter Benson understood many young people thrived in life when their spark of the creative arts was facilitated and supported by those around them.
 
Personally, I love the word spark because it captures what we in the performing arts have felt intuitively since starting dance class, performing in our first concert or watching our choreography performed on stage.  It certainly feels like a little spark that ignites within you and drives you to continually to improve, explore and evolve – even when your feet hurt and your body is tired!
 
Our challenge this year, is to look beyond the dancer standing in front of us in the studio and really observe what element of dance ignites each student’s spark.  This will be different for each student.  Some children thrive of the routine of a well-structured class with repetition, clear rules and planned progression.  
 
Others will experience the spark by responding positively when given the opportunity to contribute and express themselves through dance creation.   I observed evidence of this only last Saturday in our Contemporary Dance class which caters to students age 10 to 12 years.  We introduced an enormous sheet of fabric to incorporate within a dance routine.  The physical presence of shimmering satin that stretched from one end of the studio to the other was a pure delight for students to explore.  Imagination ran wild with the potential impact of this prop on stage under lights!  Student’s faces glowed as they ran across the studio with the fabric and smiles were abundant. 
 
More commonly, a young person’s spark is ignited after they perform a meaningful, fun or exciting piece of choreography publicly.  Provided the child is well prepared and the performance environment is a supportive and organised one, this is where the spark is so visible it tends to illuminate kids.

The adrenalin experienced when performing can aid young people to produce a higher level of energy and technical ability not yet achieved in the studio.  The body’s endorphins are released and elation is experienced – a nice natural reward for their previous hard work in class.  These positive elements coupled with praise and respect from observing family and friends enables children and teens to thrive in areas beyond the performing arts.  
 
So, our little obsession with spark will continue year long.  Momentum’s Teaching Team observations and adjustments in class may seem inconsequential but now you know that we are vigilant observers of all things that make our students thrive and we hope you might be too!
 
Written by:
Natasha Swan
Director of Momentum Dance Studio since 2004 based in Sydney Hills District.  Natasha holds a Bachelor of Education & Bachelor of Arts (Dance & Theatre).  She is a member of Balcombe  Heights Estate 355 Council Committee and volunteers with Learning In The Hills.  As a mother of two, she is also passionate advocate for child safety issues in the dance community.

Watch Peter Benson's TED Talk here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqzUHcW58Us

You can follow Momentum Dance Studios via Instagram @momentumdancestudios
 
 
 
 

After recently completing the very informative and at times confronting Child Safety Training from the Office of The Children’s Guardian (OCG) I am even more compelled to ensure child safety is put at the forefront of my dance school and encourage other dance school owners to do the same.
 
This free online training is well structured into easily digestible modules.  The option to pause the module you are working on to attend to any business is great, not to mention you can move at your own pace, work from your own home and at a time that suits you.  Cleverly, the OCG has removed many of the road blocks that busy dance school owners may have experienced even when they want to make child safety a priority their school.
 
One very interesting message that has made a strong impression on me after completing this training is how child safety isn’t the job of one person.  While strong leadership in this area is vital, it takes a village to keep our children safe.  An informed village is more likely to deter offenders, prevent harm, report assaults and secure convictions.


​To achieve this, your dance village needs to be included in the initial planning and policy making. The Child Safety Risk Management Strategy (CSRMS) isn’t created by the dance school Principal alone and preserved in a filing cabinet like a museum artefact.  Consulting staff, stakeholders and students is how you can create a CSRMS that is alive!  By alive, I mean the CSRMS should be the foundation of your daily work, your compass for decision making and regularly reviewed as events occur and times change. 
 
Personally, I find it a reassuring thought that my staff, dance parents and students will contribute to my CSRMS because then I know it will be a more valuable and ultimately more effective strategy. 
 
More importantly, if my dance students are part of a village that is child safety aware, even our youngest dancers will be more empowered to speak up if they feel unsafe and know their rights.
 
Until a time when having a CSRMS is linked with a dance school’s insurance requirements not all schools will be informed or willing to put child safety procedures and policies at a high level priority and children may still be vulnerable in this industry.  Since the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse the dance community has struggled to come to terms with some of the horrible events that were recounted in March 2016.  The Findings from the Royal Commission have guided government, regulatory bodies and in particular the OCG to make so many positive changes towards prevention of harm and protect children better.  Dance schools need a push to make the time and effort to create a CSRMS and regularly review it. 
 
One incentive that may become the tipping point for a dance school to train, develop and implement better Child Safety protocol is the NSW Government Creative Kids Program.  Introduced for 2019 this wonderful program recognises the value of the creative arts for young Australians and provides $100 vouchers to all school age children to participate not only in dance but also theatre, circus skills, singing and art.  Similar in concept to the Active Kids Program, dance schools can apply to become an approved service provider.  Wisely, the NSW Government has set a prerequisite for approval which includes submitting your Child Safety Policy or completing the OCG Child Safe training.
 
Now with a financial incentive, those dance  schools slow on the up take to self educate and put into practice child safe protocol may be spurred into action.  

Here’s hoping that in 2019 every dancer will be safe amongst their more knowledgable dance village!
 
Happy dancing in the New Year everyone!
 
Natasha x
 
Credits
Photography credit: Dagmar Wilcox from Fabulous Photos

Dancer: S.Hams Garriga from Momentum Dance Studios (published with parent consent)

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE & SAVE
Over the course of a dancers life time they will use an average of 50+ pairs of dance shoes.  Multiply this buy the amount of dancers around the world and then you will see the environmental foot print our dancing feet leave on the planet.  When you have the opportunity to pass on or reuse a pair of dance shoes don’t be afraid to do this.
 
Our school provides a Pre-loved Dance Shoe Box for parents to sell their child’s shoes once they have grown out of them.  This is a great option for younger dancers and they will often grow out of their shoes before they wear them out.  Needless to say, you will be saving money each time you buy a preloved pair and earning money each time you sell a pair of dance shoes.  It’s a win win situation!
 
Keep in mind that for older or more serious dancers, correct shoe fittings are important to ensure the right fit for their growing feet, especially if undergoing long hours of training. 
 
COST COMPARE
Your biggest expense will be your tuition fees.  There can be a big difference in cost from one school to another so always know what you are in for before signing up your child.  Once settled into a school it can be difficult to move across to another and you may literally pay the price if you didn’t read the fine print on your contract.  Look for or be proactive and ask about the additional charges.  Hidden costs such as exam fees, compulsory workshops or international/interstate dance performances can double your fees without you realising.
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Personally, I would avoid schools that want you to sign a contract, direct debt or require your credit card details as you will be less aware of your monthly costs.  When paying dance fees independently online, by cash or cheque you will naturally assess each time if the classes are still worth it and that’s a good thing. 
 
Do a cost comparison with local schools if you haven’t done this before.  You may be surprised to see that your dance school is above and beyond it’s competitors and may prompt a change.  If changing schools allows your child to do more of what they love then go for it!
 
Wishing you a long and affordable dance journey!
Natasha x 

It seems really obvious right - put on a jumper!
But knowing how to dress properly in winter is a bit of an art and can make a difference to children when participating in physical activities like dance.
As an Aussie dancer, it wasn't until I spent my first winter in the UK that I discovered the skill of layering clothing so you can quickly adjust to the varying temperatures when you are out and about in a cold climate country or season. I have been sharing this concept to all the dance students in my school, Momentum Dance Studios ever since.  Layering clothing for children when training in winter is important, not just in dance but any physical activity.

Here are three key points for dressing your child for physical activity in winter:

BASICS FIRST:
Your child's sport or activity may have a compulsory year round uniform whether baller leotard, soccer jersey or netball uniform so ensure this is the base.  On cold days or evenings, children will warm up and even get hot when exercising.  Good activity organisers will factor in a solid set of warm up exercises to prepare kids for their game or activity so overdressing them can cause it's own difficulties.  Over heating in children will cause them to fatigue more quickly and participate less.  Performing a Grande Jette in a bulky parker is near impossible!

LAYER MAGIC:
Adding a long but light layer of clothing on top of your child's basic kit is going to help in a few ways.  Initially, it will simply keep children warm and then as they start moving these layers can be easily removed.  Layers that a child can remove on their own are best . The tie up wrap ballet tops are impossible to remove on their own so go for the elasticated ones.  Light layers are ideal because they keep muscles warm without over heating children and prevent injury.

TO & FROM ACTIVITIES:
Never underestimate a good warm jacket, parker or coat that is quick to put on and off.  If your child arrives to their activity already warm you will be helping them to adjust to the demands of a physical exercise more quickly.  Your child will be hot and potentially reluctant to put a jacket on after an exciting game of soccer or a fun dance class however the body cools down quickly after exercise so keeping warm will help to prevent muscle soreness the day after.

After a long hot sumer it can be a shock for Australian kids when winter hits.  While our children are lucky that we don't experience excessive snow fall in Sydney unlike some European and American cities, it is still important to remain active during winter time and leave hibernation to the bears!

Written by
Natasha Swan
Natasha is a mother of two girls and owner of Momentum Dance Studios in Sydney Australia.  She holds a Bachelor of Education & Bachelor of Arts (Dance & Theatre).  Natasha is also a volunteer member of ADESA (Australian Dance Education Standards Association) who have created an awareness campaign for child safety in Australian Dance Schools.  
You can follow Momentum Dance Studios via Instagram @momentumdancestudios

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