We understand that many of you have been hit hard by this virus. Now more than ever we are challenged to kickstart our positive thinking and be determined to turn adversity into opportunity. This is the approach we adopted, the moment our physical doors shut we went looking for new doors to open. Instantly we doubled down and within days we had launched our online delivery system. It was ‘all hands-on deck’ as we filmed content and Zoom took the place of the car park. The response from our family was incredible. Lounge rooms and garages became studios and it was business as usual! It takes remarkable spirit to adapt to change so quickly and we are so grateful that our dance family instantly ‘changed lanes’ with us but are still in for the long ride. 

Where to now? As you know we are all shackled by the new restrictions and we all need to do our part to ensure that this virus doesn’t take hold in Australia the way it has in other nations. That means our online system needs to continue. What that also means is that your child will continue to train, learn and develop. Remember we are stopping the virus we are NOT stopping your child becoming their ‘best self’. 

You can dance at home. You can learn at home. Take this as an exciting change and remember it IS temporary. Just enjoy watching Wil or Marko from their loungerooms and take it all as a bit of fun and feel confident that you are developing and growing at the same time. We’ve heard such wonderful feedback of parents joining classes and of dancers finding the confidence to push past comfort zones in the safety of their bedrooms. 

We are offering a virtual smorgasbord of classes for you to take. On top of our formal classes there’s a plethora of extras. We have everything from mindfulness to cooking to fitness. We also have our specialist workshops still running, in fact our latest with Cat Santos was a huge success and the extra bonus of being online meant that people as far away as Western Australia could join in. 

They say that in times of stress you find out what you’re really made of. Well, this test has just proven what a loyal and connected community we are so blessed to enjoy. We can’t control this, but we can control how we react. There’s no way we will allow this to dim any of our lights. So jump online, continue learning and make this a time of growth and transformation. The economy is in hibernation but we’re not, take this as a ‘cocoon phase’ and come out the other side ready to fly into your super future. 

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A question that challenges most parents is how to give their kids the best start in life. What skills will best prepare them to succeed in the future? Owing to the digital revolution this is no longer clear. But one thing all futurists agree on is the critical importance of confidence and creativity. That’s why the role of dance in education has become more important than ever.

The earlier you start teaching this the better. There is a widely accepted myth that real learning starts with school. This couldn’t be further from the truth. During the preschool years the rate of learning growth is exponential. In addition to walking, toddlers are expected to learn a new language as well as developing social and emotional intelligence.

By any benchmark this is a lot! The challenge for parents is to find opportunities that offer the rapid activation of these skills. That is why Ready Set Dance is an ideal way to accelerate development. And here’s the best part – your child gets to learn while having fun!

The Top Three Benefits

1. CONFIDENCE

Feeling confident is the centre-point of success at any stage in life. Why not imbue your child with a strong sense of self-worth at the earliest possible age? Dance classes offer the opportunity for socialisation and self-expression which translates into confidence.

2. CO-ORDINATION

We expect toddlers to master the art of walking, but the finer skills of balance and rhythmic movement tends to require a more structured approach. Dance classes build muscle strength and co-ordination all while singing, dancing and playing with friends!

3. CREATIVITY

Leading education expert Sir Ken Robinson is well-known for his argument that dance should hold the same status as Maths and Science. Dance classes ignite the imagination and fuels creativity.

Dynamite is passionate about the importance of our Ready Set classes. We are so proud that our commitment to the program has recently been recognised by our nomination for Studio of the Year! If you or someone you know is looking to give your child a jump start in development, be sure to contact enquiries@dsa.com.au to secure your place.

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This comes as no surprise. The video is raw, cutting-edge and innovative. The power isn’t just in the cinematography and choreography, it is underlying purpose that resonates with viewers: our dancers stridently celebrating their connection regardless of differences.

“This year I wanted to create something that explores the concept of Freedom, Unity and Diversity,” explains the Executive Producer, Abbe Bradbury. “I wanted to show that you can be as one but still be different. You can be diverse and individual but connected with a fierce sense of belonging.”

Anyone who is a member of the DSA Fam can attest that there is a strong sense of belonging at the studio, regardless of your background or your preferred dance style. By showcasing a range of styles and dancers the aim is to show that we don’t just create one type of dancer, that our dancers come from diverse genres.

Furthermore, the short film articulates that Dynamite is a place of acceptance and inclusion. No person is defined by their age, gender, ethnicity or sexuality. This was thematically captured by the masterful merging of contrasting elements. The juxtaposition of the hot pink costuming set against the Australian outback demonstrates that opposites can be fused together in a harmonious union.

Another defining feature of the short film is the expression of the Dynamite Army. The marching and the militant mood captures the Dynamite ethos that once you join our family we are all fiercely loyal and connected.

Miss Abbe and Miss Erin did a phenomenal job producing this short film; however, it is Wil Sabin who added the flair and texture that takes this short film to the next level.

“This was the first film I have creatively designed, choreographed and directed,” explains Wil. “It was also about pushing my own personal boundaries and I wanted to grab the opportunity to make this as EPIC as possible.”

Well Wil most certainly did that! This week he generously gave up his time to answer a few questions that offers us some insight into his creative genius.

1. What message did you want to communicate with this piece?

I wanted to showcase the diversity in dance, I think society can pigeonhole certain dance studios into certain genres and I really wanted to show that these kids can do it all!  From age 10 through to adult, hip hop through to ballet. I thought it was important to show everyone’s individuality whilst still having unity when they come together.

1. Can you explain how the choreography expresses the creative vision of the theme of unity and diversity?

The focal group choreography is essentially urban contemporary jazz style, Joel Murphy assisted me on the choreography also bringing his unique flair to the piece – he is incredible! I often work with recording artists where the dancers are secondary focus – so it’s such a great opportunity to put dance at the forefront!

I train the dancers weekly so I know what all of their best assets are as dancers, so I have spent a lot of time in the studio working to pull out these strengths – it was actually a really fun part of the process … they all cheer each other on and support each other so much! The studio is where all the hard work is done.

3. How did you aim to represent diverse identities?

We went through the entire studio and really pulled out star performers and identities, any age, any gender, any style, any ethnicity, there was no “mould” that anyone had to fit- just be the best at what you do. Which is really what I encourage as an educator – always be yourself! Be unique and be confident!

1. Can you explain a bit about how the setting, lighting, costumes, camera angles and special effects such as the dust help communicate your overall message?

I started with a treatment for the entire video. I wanted everyone to see what was in my head … a mini army of electric pink dancers in the outback. Location wise I wanted to showcase the vast space of the Australian landscape. The location of the video is so important, we were lucky enough to find a true Queensland beauty and the location becomes another character in the film.

The entire video was story boarded frame for frame which made it really great on the day given we had limited time to shoot in order to keep the lighting consistent. I worked tirelessly with the dancers in the studio, working out exactly what angle to shoot from so that each frame was meticulously prepared before the day.  I also spent days and days working on dancer’s individual bespoke look that best represents them, the brand and the overall aesthetic. Everyone had their own head to toe look from hair, make up, and costume. The music was for the video also created specifically for this film.  As a lot of the dance is bare feet we created a large custom-built stage and erected it on the day.

Abbe had the idea that “Together we are different” and I thought that separately you look at all the dancers and see this – but when they are together they all blend into one cohesive family.

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First off, if you have an injury don’t be too hard on yourself, you are in good company. Will Sabin suffered a bulging disk, Tahlia Fowler endured broken bones in her foot and Joel Murphy recently dislocated his shoulder. Remember it’s a setback not the end of the world.

But here’s the good news, injury is preventable. Miss Erin is living evidence of this. Did you know that she has never been injured! Yes  that’s right, in two decades of dancing she has not suffered one single injury! Naturally we asked her to share her secrets.

Miss Erin’s top three injury prevention tips are:

1.    Nutrition, sleep and hydration.

2.    Avoid overtraining and manage fatigue.

3.    Follow safe dance practices – warm up and cool down.

“We want our dancers to have long sustainable careers, that’s why we teach them how to take care of their bodies and how to manage injuries properly,” says Miss Erin. “Under no circumstances do we encourage dancing whilst injured.”

Dancers are also encouraged to know their pain. There is a big difference between the pain you feel when you are told to run the routine just one more time compared to the pain you feel when there is an injury in your body, yet you continue to dance.

If you push through pain you are asking for trouble. There is a very high chance you are turning a minor problem into a long-term issue. You only get one body, don’t risk it. Miss Erin advises that the first thing you need to do is get a diagnosis as a matter of urgency. You must follow the recommendations made by your doctor or physiotherapist – this is a non-negotiable, even if it means sitting out of classes.

No-one understands this more than Chloe Baker who injured her foot last year. When it happened she thought she’d be out for 6 weeks and would be back in time for ADF. You can only imagine how shattered she was when she was told she’d need surgery! Instead of feeling defeated she accepted that her body needed to rest in order to heal. And in a remarkable demonstration of resilience for such a young girl, she dedicated the time to making the most of any other opportunities offered by DSA.

If you are injured make the most of your recovery time. Give your brain a work out. Learn a new skill. While you let your body heal take it as an opportunity to regroup, rethink and rebuild. And remember you are working on the most important muscle of all – resilience!

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Obviously, dance excellence is imperative to us, but we also aim to teach the whole person not just the dancer. Ultimately, our vision is to empower young people with dreams and the confidence to see them through.

We want our students to have passion and purpose. We aim to deliver educational experiences that help build happy and hopeful young adults who are excited about their futures.

Mr. Tim is tireless in his commitment to helping students reach beyond their perceived limitations. He devotes countless hours to researching the science of success and any student who has been lucky enough to be in one of his classes knows that he is deeply passionate about helping adolescents feel a sense of strength and self-worth.

In this week’s presentation Mr. Tim delivered a powerful presentation on motivation. His content was inspired by his personal hero Arnold Schwarzenegger, someone who overcame adversity and achieved huge success in fitness, film and politics.

We firmly believe that success isn’t an accident, which is why Mr. Tim shared Schwarzenegger’s formula with our students and now we want to share it with you.

1. Find Your Vision: Without a clear vision you just drift, you are an unanchored boat.

1. Never Think Small: Dream big! Don’t play small. Shoot for the stars!

1. Ignore the Naysayers: When your vision is big you will be laughed at. Don’t listen!

1. Work Your Ass Off: If you want to win there is no way around hard, hard work!
2. Don’t just take, give something back: help your community or your country.

The true purpose of a Dynamite education is to nurture wellbeing and ignite potential. Nothing gets us more excited than the work we put into transforming lives.

“You can’t climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pocket.”

The post 5 Rules For Success appeared first on Dynamite Studios.

Gone are the days that learning means sitting in a classroom staring at a teacher in front of a whiteboard. Education has changed and luckily we are synced to the skills kids need to flourish in the 21^stcentury.

So, what exactly are we doing to get our kids future ready? Well, taking the lead from some of the top educational institutions from around the world we are using real-world projects to rapidly upskill our students.

Why are we doing this? Because all of the research predicts that the type of person who will thrive in the future job market will be the mover and shaker, the entrepreneur, the risk-taker and the innovator.

How do we build these muscles in our students? We give them the opportunityto create, to lead,to collaborate, to communicate andinnovate.You see we don’t just train students to perform we want them to lead the pack.

And that’s why at the beginning of the year we launched our 21^stCentury Choreography Competition. Each student has been invited to choreograph and perform a dance that communicates a social message.

Wait for it, here’s the best part - the winner stands the chance to have their performance showcased at Grad. Imagine that! Imagine being 14 and having your work performed alongside industry heavyweights such as Talia Fowler and Will Sabin.

Dynamite kids don’t shy away from challenges, so as you’d expect each student has jumped at the chance to become a creative leader and some very exciting pieces are being created. Stay tuned for updates on the making of our next Marko Panzic or Travis Walls from our very own studio!

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There’s no better way to see what happens at DSA than to hear directly from our dancers. That’s why we have decided to start the ’10 Questions with …” so that you can get a backstage pass into the lives of our dancers. First cab off the rank is the pocket-rocket powerhouse Amber Watson. Amber is 14 years old and has been part of the DSA Fam for eight years.

1. How many hours do you dance a week?

Over 45 hours a week, plus teaching Ready Set Dance and assisting teaching other genres. I usually don’t get home until 8:30pm each night plus I dance on Saturdays.

2. What’s your preferred dance genre?

Commercial jazz and contemporary.

3. Why do you dance?

The feeling I get is indescribable, it puts energy into me and lets out all of my emotions

4. Who is your biggest inspiration?

I have a few, probably the top five are mum, Miss Abbe, Marco Panzic, Joel Murphy and Delany Glazer.

5. What’s your dream career?

When I turn 18 Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruiselines. I want to teach and do shows at the Dream Dance Company.

6. What’s the hardest thing about being a dancer?

It’s different for everyone but for me it’s my flexibility. I’m not naturally flexible but this year I have been working with Talia Fowler and I’m learning about my body and pressure points and I’m seeing a lot of improvement.

7. What’s your favourite dance that you have performed in?

Definitely ADF 2018 Beyonce Army.

8. What’s one thing you can’t live without?

Taco bowls

9. What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a dancer?

Work really really hard and have a positive mindset because a lot of people will push you down. Be happy with how you look and feel, so you can get up and stay strong.

10. What’s it like to be a part of the DSA fam?

I’ve been a part of this for eight years and I’ve loved it since the start. The people are so welcoming, the staff know your goals and really care about you.

The post 10 Questions with Amber Watson appeared first on Dynamite Studios.

Hard work!

Abbe always says that her main aim is to help students dream big and reach their fullest potential. How do you do this? The first step is to imagine what could be possible. The next step is what a lot of people don’t see and that’s the commitment, perseverance and endless hours of training.

Estee Lauder famously said, “I never dreamed of success. I worked for it.” All you need to do is take a tour of our studio to see this attitude in action. At Dynamite it’s the drive that goes with the dream that makes all of the difference.

A dream without action is just a fantasy.

Our passion is to turn dreams into realities. You can have the best mentors and choreographers but if you don’t invest the effort there’s no hope of seeing results. It’s basic maths: zero times zero equals zero!

Dynamite is well-known for our stand-out dancers, but most people don’t see the hours and hours of training it takes to reach that level. Many of our students are at the studio for up to twelve hours a day. And that’s before they go home to do stretch and technique exercises before going to bed!

And it’s not just the hours. The second part of our motto ‘Believe” also forms part of the hard work. Our students’ mindsets need to be just as robust as their bodies. So often they have to push past fear, self-doubt and exhaustion.

What’s the take away here? Success doesn’t just happen! No-one has said it better than our wonderfully talented Tayla Yarker, “Hard work is what I’m good at.”

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Have you ever wondered what a sports day looks like at a dance studio? Forget the traditional oval, Dynamite lifted it to the next level when we took the Academy and Full-time students out bush to participate in the RAW Challenge.

The moment you arrive you know you’re about to experience something special. Set against a lush mountain backdrop is an obstacle course that looks like it has been lifted from the set of Ninja Warrior!

The anticipation really revs up after the hosts come flying out on buggies wearing fluorescent tutus and wigs. The DJ blares music across the field and the excitement turns electric - a sports day the DSA way!

The RAW challenge is about connecting, being challenged and working as a team. And this is exactly what happened. So, when Teiya got stuck in the mud it was her supportive team mates that helped her get out. It was also about crushing comfort zones. Naturally no one struggled with the dance station, but the mud and heights were a different story. There was no way Jade McLean was going to submerge herself in a pit of muddy water and pull herself along beneath a metal grate. There were tears, protests and in the end lots of screaming but she did it!

Most of all, there was no containing the laughter. Like when Hayley Renzella showed off her ADF flying skills at the end of the 50-metre slide to make a magnificent entry into a muddy pool. Or Lachie flying up the quarter pipe at the end of the course helped by his recently arrived height. And then there was the beaming smile of Texas he walked the course with his dog friends Bruce and Willis.

Now here’s the next problem, how do we top this next term?

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Here’s some good news for our parents, experts are now saying that dance is just as important as maths and science. We all know that dancing is good for the body, but new research is applauding the way dance improves wellbeing and academic performance.

Leading expert on education Sir Ken Robinson argues that dancing is as important as literacy and that it needs to have the same status in our schools. Obviously at Dynamite we have already achieved that!

According to Robinson, traditional education is preoccupied with teaching kids from the neck up. If we want to be serious about educating the whole child, we need to get the brains and the body moving and dance makes them move together! So, not only does dance offer joy and emotional release, it fires up the learning process.

One of the top skills our kids will need to succeed in the 21^st century is creativity. Dance nurtures creativity. Our students bounce from genre to genre. In each class their brains are stimulated and the creative neurons fire and flare! Put simply, having access to a diversity of dance classes supercharges brain cells.

If you don’t believe that dancing accelerates learning growth take a look at one of our fasted learners at Dynamite, Harlow Bradbury. Just like all of our Ready Set Dancers Harlow is in the largest growth phase of her entire life. What is her top learning tool? Creativity! All her learning happens via singing, dance and play.

Sadly, for so many students this learning rate stops once they start formal school. That’s not the case for our students who continue singing, performing, creating and playing right through their teenage years. In fact, we think you would be foolish to ever stop!

Dance plays a pivotal role in helping kids reach their peak performance. Don’t stop dancing!

https://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity?language=en

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