Didn't dance this summer? Here's how to get ready for fall classes!

"Don't forget to practice over the summer!"

Those are not only the words of dance teachers, but the wish of nearly all teachers. You have a summer reading list, maybe a project to do and some students go to tutoring, skill camps or do online training in the summer to improve or increase skills at school. A lot of students practice intellectual or physical skills in the summer.

Why then would I say that it's okay if you didn't dance this summer?

You work hard all year long in dance class. You do, don't you? Be honest! I know if you do or not anyway! Well, of course you do. Since that's the case, it means that you are building muscle in specific areas of your body. Hopefully, you listen to and apply correction, but if you're repeatedly doing something wrong, you're using muscles incorrectly and reinforcing that in your memory as well. Also, the majority of people are stronger on their right side than their left, so there's an imbalance there.

When you take time off from dance during the summer, only taking a week of dance camp or periodically practicing skills at home, you give your body and mind the chance to heal, strengthen and rest. Did you do that this summer?

Walking, running, swimming, hiking, climbing, biking and playing sports are all great activities to keep your body limber, active and building muscle, so I hope you did a lot of them during your break!

Now that dance classes resume in two weeks, you might be thinking about whether you still have your split, if you can still nail those double or triple pirouettes, do a grande battement and grab your leg, pulling it in towards you, do bridges or nail that round off you were working on last year.

It's better for your body and your mind to start slowly getting back into dance mode now, before classes resume, then you'll be relaxed and ready to come back! Here are some things you should consider doing during the next two weeks. Don't worry, they're all easy!

1. DEMI PLIES & TENDUS. Use a chair and stand in first. Lift up through the top of your head and use correct posture. Do nice slow, careful tendus from first going from front to side, back and side again. Slowly extend your leg keeping it straight, leading with the heel, turned out and going all the way to a fully pointed foot and back. Remember to brush through the floor. Each time you come back to first, do a nice slow plie.

2. GRANDE PLIES. Do nice slow, measured grande plies without the barre! Watch your posture!

3. PORT DE BRAS. Do slow, gently port de bras, stretching over with a flat back and then, back up. In first and then in second, lean over and reach for the floor keeping your legs completely straight. Try to flatten your body against your legs, hold your ankles, and draw yourself down. Try to put your hands completely flat on the floor. No cheating - keep your knees straight and don't sway back! Take your time and feel the stretch.

4. BACK STRETCHES. Touch your toes to the back of your head, do bridges and try some new stretches to limber your back up so you can improve your arabesques!

5. BALANCE. In first and fifth, slowly rise to releve and balance. Hold it as long as you can without wiggling!

6. CHAINE TURNS. Practice chaine turns across the floor. You may have limited space. A hallway is perfect. Slow, steady, clean turns in a straight line are far more beneficial than speed. Whatever you do - stay away from the stairs!

7. PIROUETTE PREPARATIONS. Practice your pirouette preparations. Worry less about the turns and more about placement and posture. In fact, you can skip the turns and just work on preparations and holding your balance in passe releve!

8. STRETCH FOR SPLITS & EXTENSIONS. You knew I was going to say it! You can start with butterflies, but then do slow, gentle stretching to prepare for a split. Try the splits at the end of exercising. Lay down and do the leg lifts that strengthen your abs. See how many you can do before coming back! You'll be surprised how fast you can increase the amount you can do!

9. GOALS. Think about what your goals are for this year at dance. I'd like for you to come to dance with two goals. #1 is an achievable goal. It's something new to learn or something to improve upon that you are confident you can do. #2 is a challenging goal. It's something you really want to do, but you know it will take work and dedication to achieve.

10. SUMMER MEMORIES. Think about something special you did this summer that you can tell me about when I see you!

If you have any questions, you can send me a little video of what you're working on. Enjoy the rest of your summer vacation and have a wonderful first day of school!

I can't wait to see you!

Miss Stephanie