Hello again friends! An update and D.A.N.C.E.

The last blog post that was published from myself was dated February 11th of last year. Complete face palm. All I can say is my life and this studio has drastically changed a lot in a little over a year. To be completely candid and transparent, I haven’t always been here, mentally. Christmas 2018, I lost my grandfather. He was the pillar of my family, the head of the table, the man that could do anything. In February 2019, my family underwent a major transformation as my ex husband and I separated. On April 3rd 2019, devastatingly, suddenly, and tragically my mother passed away from an unexpected heart attack. I am coming up on the anniversary of that date in two short days. And that’s just me personally.

Since then, in the dance studio, we’ve had a lot of sickness… very serious, tumors and trauma type of stuff.. Life altering instances that make you pause. We’ve also had injuries and not just your typical injuries either… but injuries that require rest, therapy, and drastic action. Our staff has underwent their share of death and loss here in the past year and past couple of weeks. And then, well, there’s this.. a novel virus that no human on earth has seen yet and it’s making its way through the US and there’s not a whole lot anyone can do except pray and stay away from each other. So we are now conducting online classes being that we can’t come in close proximity of each other.

Whew. Honestly, I don’t know if I have a “dance” point to this blog post, except this… Life is so incredibly hard some days and I miss the routine of seeing my students. Lots of days, their joy and passion and innocence and drive to learn and perform and perfect motivate me to keep going on a daily basis. I love knowing that I am a part of something bigger, making (hopefully) a positive impact in their lives. And to say it’s okay to not be okay sometimes. I never thought I of all people would be saying this, but it’s okay to fail. Because ultimately injuries, pain, both physical and emotional, and confusion and derailment are a part of life. And you won’t always be at the top of your game because life, death, sickness, injuries, and viruses do happen. My pastor once said, if it was all an uphill joyride, you’d never appreciate those “good times” because you wouldn’t recognize or appreciate them.

Life will eventually get back to a normalcy we remember and long for. I have no idea if it will ever go back completely to how it was before… but in the mean time I encourage us all to create something to look forward to, something to work for in this weird time… let’s create a D.A.N.C.E. goal. (Y’all know how I love me a goal…")

D is Difficult but Realistic

Being stuck inside, mindlessly trolling Facebook or going on a binge on Netflix is always an easy option. But maybe not the healthiest. For my dancers, is winning first over all at the next competition realistic for you? Great, let’s work on that. Is making the most advanced level company realistic? Or is correcting a specific mistake or habit a better option? How about making a goal to focus either on stretching or strength building? For the adults reading this out there… is your goal weight feasible? Awesome! But maybe it starts with trying not to gain the Quarantine 15. Haha. How about your financial goals? Your family goals? Are they all do-able with some work? You want to pick something that is real for you. Something that is challenging but that you’ll feel awesome about it once you complete it.

A is Assessable and Measurable

You need something where you can track and measure the progression. If you’re trying to build up stamina, trying running every Monday and sticking with that plan. Sure, running faster and covering more distance each and every time is way more ideal and definitely for the over-achiever but my point is this… make the result a clear outcome, so you’ll know without a doubt you’ve reached your goal.

N is Negative Shemagative

If we’ve learned anything, it’s that life happens whether you want it to or not… so if you miss a day, a workout, a stretch, an online dance class, please don’t let that bump in the road get you off course. Make it up the next pretty day, cut your losses and move on to the next week, or be sure to watch the recorded video on the studio app. And when we are laying out our goal… don’t phrase it in a way like “I have to stop eating all my quarantine snacks” or “I will not get behind on my schoolwork” instead flip it (and reverse it haha) and say “I will make healthy food choices today” or “I will get my schoolwork done each day”. Being positive does wonders for the mind.

C is Clarity

Okay, so now that you have a measurable goal. Now, we might need a clear game plan on how to get there. It might look something like this… (just examples)

1. Run every Monday till this thing is oveeeer!

2. Do each of my routines 5 times without stopping. If I stop, I have to start from the beginning.

3. Face time with at least one friend each day so I don’t feel like Rapunzel locked away in the tower.

4. Stretch everyday!

5. Help someone in the house cook a great, healthy meal.

6. Create an ab/core workout routine to a song that I love.

Etc, etc. I think you get the picture. If you are having trouble coming up with your clear steps to make your goal achievable, then message us and we’ll be able to help with that.

E is for End Date

Ohhhh, I have a love/hate relationship with end dates. It brings me back to group projects in high school and term papers in college. Blah! It’s good to have an end date because, once again, it makes your goal measurable. But I, like many other people, get very discouraged about end dates because so often with being a mama, a business owner, an instructor, and the other hats that I wear, end dates are not my friend. Because life. Life happens, folks. Other things start to take priority. So here’s my golden ticket rule. Goals are meant to inspire you, light a fire in you, push you, get you up off your bum and into something that feels good to your soul. So I try to put some visual stimulation around my end date. I make a vision board, draw 12 hearts around my end date, and other crazy things to keep me motivated. If I don’t reach my goal by the that end date, I give myself some grace and a different date. And if I don’t make it by my second end date then I re-evaluate my goal. Obviously something is wrong… it’s unachievable realistically… I don’t know how to manage it and break it down… my original date was too soon… or flat out… I don’t want to do it. I entertain the thought of not having reached this thing… and if bothers me… like irritates me that I’ve put in so much work already, like I would be sad at the missed opportunity, or I would be unhappy with myself then I attempt it one more time. For adults, this process of goal setting, to me, takes a tremendously long time. More dedication and more effort simply because we have jobs to maintain, little humans to keep alive, and there are many more stall on the track but I believe the end result is worth it. For kids and my dancers, I think you’ll see results quicker but please remember, if it’s worth having, it’s worth the hard work. You’ll be amazed what a tiny amount of work can do and then you’ll be hooked on seeing that process continue.

Please share with us your goal! We’d love to hear it! Everyone be safe out there…

Dance Team Training... Much more than just poms!

Hey there! Whew! It’s been a while, ok, actually its been a long time. I haven’t blogged in a long time and here’s why. We’ve been a little busy here at Legacy Dance Project. Let’s review shall we:

We have moved! We are now located at 2535 E Ash Street behind Taco Bell! :) We had an army of the LDP Tribe in the studio fixing, painting, and creating a beautiful dance home. We are loving the new space. We are continuously growing and that is such a wonderful blessing. We’ve added 4 more petite/tiny classes to our schedule and also many level I classes to accommodate our growing dance family.

We participated in many extra performances this year outside of the studio including the Fire Princess Pageant, Thriller, and the great Vet Stories performance this year.

We have added events to our repertoire and we’ve hosted holiday parties, goal setting workshops, birthday parties, and tea parties, with more still to come.

We’ve added new styles of dance to our schedule like modern and cheer dance. Both of which I personally feel very fondly about.

But I wanted to take a second to talk about cheer dance or other wise known as dance team training.

I was on the dance team in high school and my freshman year and I continued on the judge dance team tryouts and had students to go on to be on university dance teams. I absolutely looooove good dance team training and a good dance team routine. The crispness, the energy, and attitudes, the attack, the teamwork… it all inspires me a lot. I had so many students that went to tryout and make it onto dance teams that I thought that is just another way I can help facilitate my students to better chase their dreams. I want everyone to know that just because you graduate from high school doesn’t mean you have to stop dancing… and dance team is only one option of that opportunity.

The benefits of dance team training are exponential:

fitness, core strength, teamwork, dedication, building a tough skin, working hard to not disappoint your coach, your teammates, and your self, pride in your personal appearance, being positive on the field and on the court, stamina, rise in technical ability as a dancer, still experiencing the joy of dancing and performing, stepping in the position of a role model, being part of the community, and the list is pretty much endless!!!

We start them young with their dance team training. We begin with drills of motion and trying to gain speed and fluidity with those movements. We constantly and consistently work on technique… the basis of our training studio wide. But it is essential for dance team success later on. We work on picking up choreography quickly to prepare them for the fast paced world of dance team.

I can remember stepping out onto the field at Dowdy-Ficklen for the first time. I was still under big lights but they weren’t stage lights anymore. It was grand stadium lights. The audience wasn’t a couple hundred anymore, it was thousands. It was a monstrous feeling of accomplishment, of adrenaline, of excitement! Something I wish all my dancers one day get the chance to experience.

My old-school picture of the ECU Dance Team circa 2004. Yes, my proud mother highlighted where I was in case you couldn’t spot me.

This old gal dancing with the dance team alumni two years ago… and getting it!

Mrs. Megan is in the far right corner performing as an ECU Alumni Dance Team Member in 2016

Legacy Dance Project Alumni Kailey Howard and Taylor Whaley (captain) perform and dance at ECU!

Next year, we’ll be adding more levels to this class and can’t wait to see all the other amazing paths that these up and coming dancers will take!

Until next time,

Megan

All the glitz, glamour... and the great garments!

Hello LDP Tribe...

Now that showcase is done its got me thinking back on all my years of dancing... there's always memories that outweigh others.  Sometimes those are memories of proud successes and sometimes of disappointing mistakes and sometimes... its all about the amazing fun you had when you felt like a superstar.  

My favorite costume I ever had was for my senior solo... now keep in mind this was in the height of 2000's fashion trends to I apologize in advance.  It was all black, with an asymmetrical hem and this weird squiggly line print. There were half sleeves that started at my biceps that had over exaggerated bell sleeves. As I probably wouldn't choose it now, man, did I think it was something! 

See, while costumes may not seem like a big deal to some it is a crucial part of the whole Legacy Dance Experience.  Our instructors spend a huge amount of time to think about 1) what would look best on the group as a whole 2) what color and cut best suits the concept of the dance and 3) what will the students LOVE.  

Many of our happy show-goers and parents expressed their thoughts on which costumes were their favorite... Here was some of the front runners...

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

How Far I'll Go 

Love Potion #9

Do Re Mi

More

Why else do we save our petite dancer's first costume in shadow boxes or their first pair of shoes buried in a box somewhere in the back of the closet or tucked away in the attic?  Because in each dance prop, each costume that was super itchy because of all the sequins, because in each strategically placed rhinestone and in the little details of each costume, there is a story to be told and a memory to be cherished. 

Our costumes are just another level of how we propel confidence in our students.  When you look good, you perform good right?  The creativity the choreographers use when designing and picking out costumes and the confidence these dancers exude on stage in all their fanciness is absolutely amazing. 

Tell us about your favorite costume or costume story?  When did you feel like a superstar?  When did a costume not come in a time and you had to put together a last minute solution? What would be your dream costume? 

Until next time, 

Megan 

LDP

How to know if your dancer is ready for a competitive dance experience

At Legacy Dance Project, we have three different programs... 

The Petite Program for 3 and 4 year olds to introduce newbies to the world of dance.  Our Sweet Petite Program consists of Tiny Tumble, Petite Ballet, and Petite Tap.  It's a fast growing program... so much so that we've created two Petite Ballet classes and all our Petite classes are quickly filling up. 

The second program is our Core Program.  This a structured program that is available to dancers with not as much previous dance training or would like to keep their dance experience on a more conservative side, taking 1-5 classes weekly.  Our core program is a wonderful foundation for any dancer between ages 5 and 18, wanting to gain more confidence and provides an avenue for dancers to explore their love of dance and performing. 

Our third program is our Concentrated Company Program.  This is a more intensive program that is designed for dancers ready to take their love for dance and transform that into a passion of the performing arts. Every Company Program is different at varying studios, so we encourage you to investigate what is required for the competitive company at each studio, to figure out which is best for you.  Our company classes are open to dancers 7 and up.  Really, once they can retain choreography and perform it without assistance, is when they are STARTING to be ready for company.  At Legacy, we require our company members to take technique classes during the summer to maintain their dance progress they have acquired during the regular season.  During the regular season, dancers are required to attend two technique classes during the week and attend choreography weekends, usually the 2nd weekend of each month to learn the choreography they will compete and perform.  They are also required to participate in other events like master classes with guest artists that are brought into the studio and will be required to be a part of Vet's Stories this year, a tribute to the veterans.  Ballet is not required, but HIGHLY encouraged of our dancers, as we have noticed those with ballet training progress to upper levels of companies quicker than those that do not enroll in ballet.  Also, ballet is the foundation of all dance, so if dancer's are serious about their dance education, than they should be enrolled in a ballet class.  We have 3 competitive teams this year... LDP Company (where dancers learn a lyrical/contemporary and jazz routine, with the possibly of a 3rd summer routine), LDP Tap (where dancers learn a tap routine), and the Goldsboro All-Star Dance Team (where they will learn hip hop, jazz, and pom routines to compete and perform around Goldsboro and Wayne County).  Each have their own set of placements/auditions attached to them. 

While many dancers have goals to be on a competitive team, it takes a lot and requires much commitment so I want to go through a checklist to see if your dancer is ready to join: 

• Is your dancer open to trying new styles of dance like jazz, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, modern, acro, hip hop, musical theatre and so on to help them become unicorns of dance?  Like a chameleon in all styles?
• Is your dancer ready for the lights, camera, and action of large crowds?
• Is your dancer eager to learn from other teachers on convention circuits? 
• Is your dancer motivated enough to practice, stretch, and work on their technique at home? 
• Is your dancer ready to be a team player?  To help other dancers, show up to mandatory rehearsals, and put in extra work for the sake of a team? 
• Does your dancer have the physical stamina, focus, and the attention span for long rehearsals with a lot of repetition? 
• Is your dancer ready to trust the process, hear a lot of corrections about their technique and ready to apply those corrections to help further their confidence?
• Is your dancer ready to be happy for the opportunity to dance, even when competition results don't go the way they'd like?
• Is your dancer ready to still push and be motivated when they are given a lot of praise and awards for their hard work?
• Is your dancer ready to go through a placement and/or audition process confidently where there is added pressure?  We do this so we know they are ready for the big competition stage. 
• Are you and your dancer ready for more hours at the studio?  It will often become their home away from home. 
• Are you and your dancer ready for more of a financial commitment?  Between extra costumes, competition fees, convention/workshop fees, and accessories and props, it begin to add up and if you aren't prepared for that, those given opportunities are often met with hostility instead of gratefulness. 

The attributes the performers gain from company are priceless! You'll find your dancer has more self-esteem, self-awareness, determination, perseverance, discipline, humbleness, and inspiration.  These kids often improve on study and time management skills.  It's an exciting program to be a part of but the dancers MUST be passionate about their classes and committed to their dance education.  

While, it may sound intimidating right now, I, the staff at Legacy, and the veteran competition parents, are here to help guide into this program so you can reap all the benefits.  

If you are interested in joining the Goldsboro All-Star Dance Team, you are invited to the interest meeting this Saturday at 4 at the studio and auditions that are this Sunday at 4.  You can rsvp here. 

If you are interested in joining the LDP Company, you are invited to interest meeting May 21st and placements May 22nd-24th.  You can rsvp here. 

If you are interested in joining the LDP Tap Company, you are invited to the Tap Placements in August.  You can rsvp here. 

Got questions? We got answers!  We can't wait to get started dancing with you!

Until next time,

Megan

LDP

What is a dance team exactly?

Hey y'all, 

So I've had about 51,679 questions about our new program, The Goldsboro All-Star Dance Team... which is totally normal. It's new, it's different, it's exciting, and there's some unknowns to it.  I'm here to help shed some light.  

So college dance teams are built on school spirit and are dedicated to supporting the university and athletics.  Where this is going to change for this all-star team in particular is that this team will be built on regional spirit, meaning Wayne County and Goldsboro pride.  We, of course, will support Goldsboro by performing at events and giving back to the community.  The dancers will serve as ambassadors for their team throughout the community and dedicate themselves to the celebration of dance for all to enjoy.

The emphasis is teamwork and dancing in unison when performing.  It's heavily based on technique, which is why we will require you to attend dance class at a studio outside of the all star team.  I'm going to share with you some of my favorite dance team videos in different genres...

First up... lyrical/contemporary... 

Secondly, this classic LSU hip hop routine... 

Third, and possibly my favorite, this mesmerizing jazz routine...

And lastly, this precise pom routine from the University of Minnesota... 

The Goldsboro All-Star dance team will learn routines in all 4 genres but we will be a bit picky when deciding what to compete, utilizing and highlighting the groups strengths as a group.  Remember, the interest meeting will be April 28th at 4pm and the audition day is April 29th at starting at 4pm.  It's open to all dancers in Goldsboro/Wayne County and surrounding areas ages 8 and up. I hope that answered some of your questions and if it didn't feel free to comment them below.  

Until next time,

Megan