In the age of social media, people everywhere are constantly updating their Instagram pages to showcase their passions, artwork, and lives. As a dancer, I'm always stalking my own Instagram and thinking I don't have enough dance photos posted. Something almost all dancers are guilty of is taking dance pics in random places, anywhere from a field to a castle to Disney World. My friend Lex and I danced together for about two years and last week we decided to go to the beach and ended up trying to be artsy and take dance pictures. After each one she'd take, I would check my technique and see if I could do every little thing better, from my turn out, to my extension, etc. Self correction is a good tool for ballet dancers; this is exactly why we have mirrors in dance studios. While I was going through the photos I noticed little things that I'd gotten corrected on in class, so I'd retake the photo and try to fix them. Having a dance photo shoot is a great way to self correct, practice your technique, and have fun. You do need to be cautious with dance photo shoots, however, especially ones where you're running the show. Technique is a very important element of dance, but it's important to not be too self critical. It's more important to be holding your head up high and smiling in a photo then it is to have a 180 degree turnout. It's hard not to compare yourself to the dancers in photos you find online than you use as inspiration for your own photo shoot, but just remember those are probably professional dancers that have many more years of training than you do. What makes a good photo are the ones where you look happy to be dancing, not the ones where you look exhausted from trying to get that leap just right. You should also never be ashamed to post your photos just because they aren't technically perfect. Perfect technique is the dream of every ballet dancer, but when you go on stage, the audience is going to care more about your performance quality than your technical quality. Apply this concept to your photos. Don't be discouraged to post your pics! There's no harm in documenting the process of improving; someday when you're a prima ballerina you can put the photos side by side and show the world that hard work pays off. Here's an example of how my first arabesque has improved over the past year Check out some of Lex's and my photos from our impromptu photo shoot at Seabrook Beach! ...for the sake of comedy and to show that not every picture will come out perfect (and that's okay!), here are some of our bloopers August 2015 Photo Credits Kayla Pacenka Photography
All other photos are original content
1 Comment
Mary
8/7/2016 10:15:59 pm
So beautiful!
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September 2020
Offline Updates7/16 Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the showcase I was selected to choreograph for at NYU was unfortunately cancelled. However, I was able to turn my work into a mini-documentary about the choreographic process and art prevailing during these trying times. You can watch my video my clicking the button below!
9/18 Follow my new Instagram just for my dance things!
12/23 I was one of NDEO's Guest Bloggers this year! Read "Teaching is a Vocation. Not a Fallback" on their Behind the Curtain Blog!
9/27 I will be presenting my research at the National Dance Education Organization National Conference next week! See my research project by clicking the button below!
4/15 While working on PMA's production of The Addams Family, I got to combine my two favorite styles of dance (ballet and musical theatre) for "The Moon and Me"! Watch my talented students dance by clicking the button below!
2/20 I am choreographing PMA Theatre Guild's Production of The Addams Family! Come see these amazing high school students perform at Presentation of Mary Academy in Methuen, MA April 13 & 14! Tickets available at the door.
2/20 I am stage managing BSU's Dance Kaleidoscope this year! Show dates are March 29-31 at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, MA. Come see this student choreography showcase!
11/5 I will once again be dancing in a BSUDC concert! Tickets to WinterDance are now available!
8/24 NDEO's National Honor Society for Dance Arts has published one of my articles in their newsletter! Read an updated version of "Audition Advice" here:
5/16 Interested in learning about movement concepts? Visit Becca's new Educational Dance website!
5/8 BSU Dance Company's Dance Kaleidoscope 2017 is now on Youtube! You can watch my performances by visiting the VIDEOS page!
4/23 I recently performed for the residents of Allerton House in Hingham, MA! You can watch part of my performance here!
Amesbury Children's Theatre presents...James and the Giant Peach Jr, featuring choreography by me! Click for tickets!
2/8 My piece "Barefoot" is now available to watch online! Click to watch!
2/5 Happy to say I have been cast in BSU Dance Company's Spring concert Dance Kaleidoscope! I will be dancing in 3 faculty choreographed pieces, including excerpts from The Sleeping Beauty in which I will be dancing the role of Lilac Fairy! Show dates are March 31-April 1 at Bridgewater State University.
Click the button for more info! 1/15 Ballet with Becca is now on Facebook! Click to visit the page, and be sure to like it while you're there!
1/14 I am happy to say I will be attending artEmotion's summer intensive in June! I will be dancing in the one week artEmotion Adult Program. If anyone would like to join or audition for any other artEmotion program, visit their website!
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