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debut picture book, Pilar’s Worries, with charming pictures by illustrator Jess Golden, tackles a subject that is common to children but especially true for dancers and other kids who pursue the performing arts. While anxiety hits kids of all ages in all ways, there are two elements of this story that especially speak to dancers: ~the use of breathing to help Pilar relax and refocus her attention is a technique dancers are encouraged to use because of its effect on their muscles. ~lots of young dancers feel pressured by a parent to be the best without regard for their inner turmoil and this can contribute to anxiety, but Pilar’s mother places no such demands on her daughter. Parents of dancers can learn from this too: their kids might be experiencing anxiety but by allowing them to pursue dance in their own way and at their own pace, ballet will be a source of pleasure and not stress.

As a choreographer and artist-in-residence, I’ve been featured in publications like the New York Times and received funding to keep dancing. Over the last 5 years, CDI has provided over 100 dancemakers with: Considering that they just announced a major 5 year anniversary event, now is a good time to sit down with CDI Director Alyssa Alpine, as well as her CUNY cohorts, to absorb all they have learned from running a prominent residency program. We flock to dance capitals of the world, like New York and Los Angeles, but rising real estate prices and stagnate artist compensation are challenging the ability of urban areas to serve as a creative incubator. Heralded as “Chaplin-like” by Backstage and “Insightful and Irreverent” by LA Weekly, Benson’s highbrow-meets-lowbrow work has been presented around the United States, across the international film festival circuit, within the Phaidon book Wild Art, and funded by the Brooklyn Arts Council.

A review of Alison Stone’s “Pointe and Shoot,” a mystery set in a dance school in a small New York town. Jayne Murphy has always put family first

If it wasn’t, the idea is simple: set goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. Start at the beginning of the year with a recording of what you want to work on, whether it’s an audition routine, a turning figure, or just barre work. Once you’ve gone through the nitty gritty of creating your SMART goals, it’s time to plan. If you want to set yourself up for success, you need to know how you’re going to get there.