Dancer’s Den

AD VER TISEMENT Dancer’s Den Dancewear supports new performing arts directory

Dancer’s Den Dancewear has been in business for 36 years; never have we seen a time like the last 18 months with COVID. We still pride ourselves on being Saskatchewan’s professional dance store with the best service and the best selection. Our staff continues to provide the knowledge and experience that our customers rely on every season. This year we keep all these ideals close to heart, but we realize our friends, who are made up of our customers, teachers, studios, clubs, and associations, need our help making this fall season relaunch a success.

Dancer’s Den Dancewear is pleased to support the performing arts in the province through the development of a province-wide free directory, with the objective of helping music, dance and drama teachers, as well as performing arts organizations, to connect with new students and participants. Few sectors have been as hard hit by the pandemic as the arts, and we hope to help them get back on their feet.

Art is too important not to share, and we believe that individuals of all ages should follow their creative passions and share their wonderful talents. Whether you were born and raised in Saskatchewan or are new to this beautiful province, you are in the right place to find the perfect creative outlet for yourself or anyone in your life. ArtsNow.ca is a convenient and easy-to-use guide for anyone looking for information on performing arts programs within Saskatchewan.

The triple threat concept is well known. The individual who does it all — singing, dancing, and acting — whether you aspire to one of these areas or all of them, Saskatchewan is a land of opportunity with some of the very best teachers and instructors in the country. What makes Saskatchewan unique is the accessibility of these programs, whether it is piano lessons in Swift Current, voice lessons in Saskatoon, drama classes in Regina, or dance classes in Estevan. Many Saskatchewan small towns offer an opportunity to participate in some or all of the performing arts.

Whether you are a grandparent, parent, uncle, or aunt, there is no better time to start a child on the path of fun and enjoyment of music, dance, and drama.

Contact the store if you would like your group listed in the directory.

ArtsNow.ca is proudly sponsored by Dancer’s Den Dancewear, located at 1630 Albert St., Regina. Contact us at 306-352-3858, info@DancewearNow.com, www.DancewearNow.com.

Dancer’s Den Dancewear is proud to stock Ainsliewear, a Canadian dancewear manufacturer, with dozens of unique designs. SUPPLIED

Music can help us begin to heal (cont’d)

Story continued from page 26 can be a bonus. Check in with your own body for what feels best for you when you’re mindfully listening to music. Highpaced or aggressive sounding music may not produce the desired result.

Choosing a song with specific beats per minute (BPM) that matches your resting heart rate, can help support body regulation. “When we’re in a trauma response, when we’re in fight or flight mode, our heart rate is usually quite elevated so even just having that music on in the background and attuning our body, our nervous system will often attune to the beat of that music,” says Scandrett. Resting heart rate can vary based on age. Online resources offer charts to help determine one’s resting heart rate. Then it’s a matter of finding music that matches that heart rate.

Energy healing brings the mind-body-heart-spirit connection into play. Listening to compositions that focus on balancing the energy field is one way we can connect into healing energetically, Scandrett says. A style of music known as Solfeggio 5 often includes labels with the energetic frequencies. “There might be one for healing grief or one for bringing in vitality.” You can also try listening to sound healing meditation.

Attending live music events is now an option. “This promotes social connection which is really important right now for supporting a nervous system that’s been through a lot over the past year.” Scandrett suggests that people check in with themselves to assess what size of gathering is best for them at this moment in time. Beyond listening to music, becoming creative with music brings in another type of healing. “Getting into the music, being part of the music and actively participating in that creative process can help spark vitality and flow,” says Scandrett. “Even if you don’t consider yourself a musician, this is a great time to pick up the guitar if you haven’t touched one in 10 years.”

It doesn’t have to be about performance, it’s about self-nurture, it’s about participating in a process that can be engaging and fun. “We need more playfulness and fun right now,” she adds.

This transition we’re currently in will involve some learning and relearning. It may involve a different pace than before COVID. It will require conscious alertness to a new post-COVID landscape.

“As we open up, now is the time to have that compassion for each other and especially for ourselves, says Scandrett.

“Come make with us” at SILT Studio (cont’d)

Story continued from page 24

Classes are available and are taught by Kimball and two or three other professional artists. There are also seven sunlit studios for rent to artists and makers, although there is currently a waiting list for these spaces.

On Friday evenings, Date Nights are a good introduction to pottery for couples. Pieces are glazed, fired and finished by the studio’s technical staff and are ready for pickup four to six weeks after each workshop. A cocktail or non-alcoholic drink is included in the price.

What makes ceramics such an enjoyable pastime? Part of its popularity could relate to a tangible outcome that you can hold in your hands. “Clay can be anything, small or large. It’s soft and malleable and it requires your complete focus. Once the clay is baked,

SILT Studio members have 24-hour access to the ceramics workshop, which includes pottery wheels, a kiln room and a glaze lab. (Photo: SILT Studio)

it’s permanent and forever,” says Kimball.

With provincial restrictions lifted on July 11, SILT Studio is cautiously reopening this summer. Despite the large space and good ventilation, masks will be required in the studio because pottery involves being in close quarters. “We want to have the safest space for customers that’s possible. I encourage people who live in Regina and out-of-towners to come hang out with us for a couple of hours. Come make with us,” says Kimball.

SILT Studio is located at 2275 Albert Street (on the top floor) in Regina. Email siltstudiocollectivecraft@gmail.com or go to the website siltstudio.com to learn more.

Experienced dance moms share advice

BY RAY PENNER

When parents start enrolling their children in activities, they soon realize that it isn’t just the child that’s involved — it’s the whole family. “There are hockey families, soccer families, gymnastics families. As it turned out, we became a dance family,” says Michelle Nelson. She enrolled her daughter in dance when Kate, now 13, was six. Nelson’s son, Alex, who is now in Grade 12, became interested in hip-hop after attending his sister’s dance recital, and enrolled when he was 10.

“We liked the fact that having our kids in dance meant our summers were free, and the commitment and schedule was clearly spelled out at the beginning of the dance season, so we could plan well in advance. We didn’t mind, either, that we always got to see our kids compete while sitting indoors in theatre seating,” says Nelson.

Sharleen Weese Maley also has two teenage children in dance. Stephen is 13. Alex, who is 15, excels at baton and represented Canada at an international competition in France in 2019.

As experienced dance moms, Nelson and Weese Maley were happy to provide advice to parents who are thinking of enrolling their children in a studio.

First and foremost is understanding the commitment. Dance is most often a group activity, where each week the students are being prepared for the dance routine they will perform in the spring. Each child has a unique role, and there is no “second line” to fill in. Unlike some activities such as music lessons, where you can miss a lesson but still practice at home, dance generally doesn’t require practicing between classes, especially at the early stages, but does expect attendance each and every week, at all levels.

That commitment grows as the child develops. “When Kate was just starting out, the class was 45 minutes a week, and that was it,” says Nelson. “I took Kate to dance Saturday morning, had coffee with the other parents during the class, and then we got on with our day. But as Kate got older, it became jazz, ballet and tap, so it moved to three classes a week, and then four.”

Weese Maley stresses the importance of being organized. “You need to maintain a family calendar,” she says. “Your child needs to learn to manage time, to get their homework finished before they go to dance, so that schoolwork is never an excuse for missing dance.” Nelson agrees: “If you’re disorganized, you’ll find it overwhelming.”

An important role for a dance

An important role for a dance mom is ensuring the costumes are ready, the makeup is done as directed by the instructor, the shoes still fit, and the hair is exactly right. (Photo: Michelle Nelson)

mom is ensuring the costumes are ready, the makeup is done as directed by the instructor, the shoes still fit, and the hair is exactly right. For some parents, the hair styles can be daunting. “Make sure you learn to do the styles well before the day of the competition,” advises Weese Maley. “Other parents are happy to help you. They’ll show you how to do it, or, if you’re really feeling overwhelmed, they’ll do it for you. My challenge was Dutch braids!”

As with any activity, parental involvement is essential in encouraging a child to cheer for others, to lose gracefully, and to win gracefully. “You as a parent have to get involved in teaching what behaviour is acceptable. The objective is to improve, not to win at all costs,” emphasizes Weese Maley.

Given the importance of involvement, Nelson urges parents to choose a dance studio carefully. “Some studios can be much more competitive than others, so if you don’t want to be heavily involved, you might want to choose a studio that has a much more casual program. But remember, if you want your child to excel at dance, then you will want to select a competitive school with impressive credentials, where they stress the right techniques and instill a solid foundation.”

Weese Maley agrees. “When you talk to a studio, understand the expectations.” It might seem daunting at first, but she reassures future dance parents that all will be well. “It is a gradual process,” she concludes, “You get to learn.”