The Value of Summer dance training

Summer dance!  A time to pack your dance bag and head for daily classes!!   With school off your to do list, many dancers jump at the opportunity to have daily classes all summer long at summer camps across Canada.   Classes can begin at 9 am and end at 5 pm where your day starts with ballet, moves on to pointe, modern or jazz, conditioning, and ends with repertoire.  This repeats Monday through Friday for two weeks or a month, and then on to another dance camp.    Some camps become auditions for Professional Training during the school year at facilities such as Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Quinte Ballet School or Canada’s National Ballet School,  where dancers cram school and daily dance classes together. 

Dancers are described as “artistic athletes” and as an athlete they need to stay in shape. 

If dance classes aren’t available then take to the water for strength and endurance.  Running works against a dancer’s muscles, causing them to shorten,  so hit the pool on those hot summer days.    Taking a break all summer long will not make a good September startup .  Daily conditioning for both strength and flexibility is essential,  and as young dancers continue to grow, this needs to be a daily routine. Dance parents should be seeing their child practicing splits on the floor daily, along with a variety of strength exercises for core, balance, turnout and posture. 

The studio at Fleet-Wood Dancentre never stops all summer.   Dancers in the Competition Stream begin their new routines, or take extra technique classes.    A week long camp in July offers morning classes for the recreation student while evening classes will challenge experienced dancers in jazz, modern, ballet, conditioning, turns, jumps, conditioning to name a few. 

Guests artists are key to a dancer’s development if they are unable to travel to outside dance camps.   This year Rachel Prince and Brandon Lee Alley, professional dancers with Ballet BC will be offering workshops at Fleet-Wood in July.   An incredible opportunity and a pretty special visit, as Rachel started her training with Jane Wooding of Fleet-Wood Dancentre.