Services

OMG – I’m Growing, My Body is Changing Too Fast!

Navigating dance safely through the Adolescent Growth Spurt

During the Adolescent Growth Spurt (AGS), young dancers aged 10-14 are more prone to injury and frustration as their bodies grow asymmetrically. Balance fluctuates, knees and hips ache more, feet can lose strength and range of motion changes. Christina’s special skill set with this age group allows her to adapt ballet classes to focus on technical areas that instructors feel would be most beneficial for their dancers. Throughout AGS ballet classes Christina always includes humor, kindness, lots of explanations and individualized corrections. Dancers learn to understand their growth spurts and why their technique is changing – not always for the better – even though they are working hard in classes. They learn how to navigate some common challenges during this time – including but not limited to:

• How to feel the end of their limbs again.
• Tools and tricks for discovering their balance again.
• Stability exercises and technique changes to ease the knee pain related to growing.
• Proprioception exercises to help them realign their new height.
• How to jump safely.
• Foot work and connecting steps which help dancers improve foot articulation and speed while not stressing growing joints.

You’ve Earned Your Pointe Shoes – Now What?

How to make your pointe shoes work for your feet

There are so many things to learn about dancing on pointe, buying pointe shoes and pads is just the beginning! Christina danced on pointe for over 30 years and has picked up tips and tricks from her mentors, fellow dancers, physical therapists and professional pointe shoe fitters. Everything she has learned will be shared in this clinic.

In addition to the foundational requirements, dancers will also learn:

Pointe Shoe Fit
Understanding how pointe shoes should fit, including where the shank should bend.

Ribbons and Elastics
The importance of proper placement and secure sewing techniques.

Foot Taping Techniques
Creative ways to tape feet to:

• Prevent blisters
• Alleviate or lessen hammer toe pain
• Reduce various pressure points
• Prevent and treat bruised toenails

Creative Padding

• Solutions for dancers with different size feet to make the shoes work for both feet
• Methods to reduce or alleviate pressure points when store-bought pads are ineffective
• Techniques for preventing blisters, managing ingrown toenails, boney pressure points and more
• Tips for performing with swollen feet, blisters, etc.

Caring for Feet, Ankles and Calves

• Daily care routines for feet – including toenail maintenance, calluses, and treating splits, bruises
• Techniques for massaging sore feet, ankles and calves
• Guidelines on when to ice, when to heat and why

Youth & Teens

Technique Intensives and Residencies

Summer intensives and school year residences offer a unique opportunity for dancers to delve deeper into their craft under Christina’s expert guidance. Christina is happy to collaborate with Dance Directors and studio owners to tailor lesson plans that meet the specific needs and ages of their students.

Specialized Intensive Programs Can Include:

• Muscle Awareness: Learn ways to engage the correct muscles without creating unnecessary tension.
• Deep Dives: Intensives can focus on one or more elements of technique; extension, turnout, turns, fast foot work, petite and grand allegro, or pointe work of any level.
• Create Fluidity: Discover how it feels to flow more freely in ballet and the joy it can bring within the traditional ballet framework.
• Pantomime and Acting: Explore the traditional ballet pantomime vocabulary and learn how to express a gamut of emotions that will touch the audience at the back of the theater.
• Corps de Ballet: Practice techniques used by the Royal Ballet to achieve stellar and consistent corps de ballet work.
• Classical Variations: Receive coaching on classical ballet variations.