Embracing Diversity and Enriching Studio Culture through Hip-Hop Dance | Aysha UpChurch
Welcome to Beyond the StEPS
In today's ever-evolving dance landscape, studio owners and dance educators are increasingly recognizing the importance of embracing diversity and creating inclusive spaces for all dancers. One powerful way to achieve this is by incorporating a hip-hop dance program into studio offerings. Hip-hop dance, with its rich history and diverse styles, has the potential to transform studio culture, fostering a sense of unity, individuality, and creative expression. In this article, we will explore the benefits of adding a hip-hop program to a dance studio and how it can enrich the overall dance education experience.
Cultivating a Multicultural Environment:
Hip-hop dance has a unique potency that appeals to people across all identities and backgrounds. By incorporating hip-hop into a dance studio's curriculum, studio owners have the opportunity to create a welcoming environment where individuals of different ages, genders, races, ethnicities, religious practices, and body sizes can come together. Hip-hop dance acts as a bridge, connecting people from diverse backgrounds through a shared love for movement and rhythm. This multicultural environment allows dancers to gain exposure to different perspectives, fostering empathy, understanding, and appreciation for each other's unique experiences.
Expanding Movement Aesthetics:
A hip-hop dance program offers a wide range of movement expressions, styles, and histories. By introducing students to various hip-hop styles such as freestyle, popping, locking, breaking, and more, studios provide a platform for dancers to explore different movement aesthetics. This exposure to diverse styles enhances dancers' versatility, creativity, and adaptability. It encourages them to step out of their comfort zones and discover new ways to express themselves physically. Students can experiment with different hip-hop techniques, discovering their individual style and flavor, ultimately nurturing their own unique voice within the dance community.
Fostering Individuality and Self-Expression:
Unlike some traditional dance forms, hip-hop dance celebrates individuality and encourages dancers to find their own lane of flavor. In a hip-hop dance class, multiple teachers can teach the same choreography or technique, each offering their own distinct style and interpretation. This diversity of teaching styles allows students to explore different approaches and find what resonates with them on a personal level. By nurturing their individuality, hip-hop empowers dancers to embrace their true selves, fostering a sense of self-confidence, authenticity, and self-expression both on and off the dance floor.
Incorporating a hip-hop dance program into a dance studio can have a profound impact on studio culture. By cultivating a multicultural environment, expanding movement aesthetics, and fostering individuality and self-expression, studios provide dancers with a more holistic dance education experience. The addition of hip-hop dance not only enhances technical skills but also encourages students to embrace diversity, develop empathy, and celebrate their unique identities. It is vital for studio owners and dance educators to recognize the transformative power of hip-hop dance and to create inclusive spaces where dancers from all backgrounds feel welcomed, valued, and empowered.
As the dance community continues to evolve, it is our collective responsibility to promote diversity, dismantle barriers, and celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures that make up the world of dance. By incorporating hip-hop dance into studio programs, we take a step towards building a more inclusive and enriching dance education experience for all. Let us embrace the power of hip-hop dance, fostering unity, individuality, and creativity within our studio spaces. Together, we can create a vibrant and inclusive community where every dancer feels seen, heard, and celebrated.
Beyond the StEPS Homework | Aysha UpChurch
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Here is what you can do to take a step towards improvement and enlightenment before next week:
Watch a documentary: There are numerous documentaries available, especially ones focused on hip-hop dance. Choose one that interests you and explores hip-hop culture and its ties to Latinx culture. One highly recommended documentary is "From Mambo to Hip-Hop: A South Bronx Tale." It provides valuable insights into the origins and evolution of hip-hop. You can find it on streaming services or even search for a DVD copy. Alternatively, there is a version available on YouTube.
By following these instructions and watching a documentary, you'll be taking a significant step towards broadening your knowledge and understanding of hip-hop culture and its impact. Enjoy the experience and use it as a means to further enlighten yourself.
We are an all-female owned company that created this company from the ground up to change the world of what people wear on their feet. See where we started as this all-female owned, 100% Made In the USA startup company that has developed an incredible following in an industry of some of the toughest athletes in the world... dancers. Apolla has single-handedly changed the game for compression socks, and this video shows you where it all started.
Take our StEPS Initiative
What Is The StEPS Initiative?
We understand 2020 brought to light so much pain in the world, injustices to be corrected, loss, and a feeling of helplessness. Apolla was created to HELP dancers and give support inside AND outside the studio. We feel the calling to shine a light and DO something we can control. To give help where we can starting with our home, the dance community. So we created the StEPS 2020 Initiative... STudios for Equity, Prevention, and Science. This is our way of starting conversation and igniting a catalyst for change in our dance industry.
We curated this course from the generous donations of experts in the fields of racism, sexual abuse prevention, dance medicine and science, gender equity, dance integration, and nutrition. This is a broad starter course to creating a safe space for your studio and is great information for parents too! In each chapter there are also resources for you to continue to learn more and continue your journey into each topic!
One of the foundations we believe creates change is EDUCATION. So we curated this course from the generosity and donations of experts and every studio owner that applied for the financial relief was required to complete the StEPS 2020 Initiative. We then realized it was such a valuable professional development and continuing education course for ALL educators. So we have decided to keep it available for FREE for all. This course provides education, perspective, and actionable items that every studio can implement right away to effect change. Click here!
Watch the full Beyond the StEPS Episode with Aysha UpChurch Below!
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Apolla socks provide the benefit of a shoe and comfort of a sock. That is why dancer's call them Shocks! They provide all the sport-science features you need in ONE sock.Â
Patented targeted zones provide arch and ankle support:
The 20-30 mmHg compression zones lift in key points of the feet to lift and stabilize but do NOT prevent range of motion like an orthotic...so you can still build foot strength
The high quality compression assists circulation & recovery by reducing inflammation which energizes your muscles.Â
This is very similar to the support you will get from taping…except it allows for better movement and comfort.
The stability they provide is raved about from customers with joint hypermobility and are looking for comfort and stability.
Knit-in Energy Absorption:
A 2019 independent study at Ohio University showed Apolla socks reduced force.
Our padding on the ball of the foot AND the heel provides comfort for your metatarsals but is not too thick in shoes.
Additional Features:
Antimicrobial
Moisture-wicking
Durable
RecycleableÂ
Apolla socks are anatomically correct. Click here to see how to wear them properly
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ALL OF OUR APOLLA SOCKS HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE AMERICAN PODIATRIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION SEAL OF ACCEPTANCE.Â
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WHY DO YOU WANT ALL OF THESE FEATURES IN YOUR SOCKS?
Our high-quality, patented compression, and energy absorption combined stabilizes the 26 bones in the foot and the ankle’s tendons and ligaments. This minimizes the amount of inflammation that takes place during your daily life or exercise that occurs due to overuse in your joints and muscles. We encourage you to have a pair for your exercise and a pair for recovery or everyday wear.
Inflammation is a natural occurence in the body, but if it is not removed or given enough time to decrease it can build up to cause chronic pain and issues like plantar fasciitis and tendonitis. Apolla socks help to not only decrease this painful inflammation that exercise and long days on your feet produces, but it also helps remove it. You will notice less fatigue, muscle pain, and they don't prevent range of motion so your muscles can still build strength. When you remove inflammation, you ache less and feel better…and you can do MORE of what you love, longer & stronger!
TRACTION OR NON-TRACTION?
Traction = grip so you don't slip!
There is an Apolla Shock for everyone and we recommend having one of each in your bag to keep you protected on any dance floor, in and out of the studio, from cross-training, to travel, from stage to recovery and everything in between! All Shocks are available WITH or NON traction.
Here are some guidelines to help you choose which option is best for YOU:
Choose WITH traction:
For any dance floor or slippery surface
We recommend if you are going to be using primarily on a dance floor that you always get WITH traction on all styles of Shocks, then wear it down to your preferred grip.
Choose NON traction:
For carpet at conventions
I will be wearing my Shocks in shoes (i.e. tap shoes, sneakers, etc.)
IMPORTANT: YOUR TRACTION WILL START VERY STICKY THEN WEAR DOWN TO THE GRIP YOU WANT TO KEEP IT AT.
This break in period can be 1-3 classes on average
IF you do not feel strong resistance on the first step? Please always contact Apolla customer service so we can help.
Once broken in, start refreshing the grip every class to KEEP the level of "stick" you want.
You must start refreshing your grip with either E6000 Spray Adhesive (this is what we recommend) or other refreshers can be Bloch rosin spray or a regular rock rosin.
If you do NOT start refreshing or you wear your WITH traction Shocks on carpet or in shoes, it may wear down your grip to almost nothing and make it not as effective.
Refresh your traction so you can keep "re-sticking" your grip over and over for the life of the Shock.
Please note:Due to the antimicrobial/moisture wicking properties in every pair, we recommend to treat your Shocks more as you would a shoe. They do not need to be washed daily or even weekly, as water will naturally break down the traction faster. Wash your Shocks only as necessary to possibly preserve the life of the traction. OR wash your Shocks if you want to wear the traction in faster. You will find they continue to bounce back to fit like a glove to your foot the more you wear and wash them. For the Joule, we recommend washing to bounce them back to shape when needed.
Care:All of our Shocks can be washed and dried according to our recommended care instructions and always use your Apolla Mesh Bag when laundering. We also recommend washing the WITH traction Shocks inside out to help preserve the traction.
Why I need E6000 for my Traction Shocks?
The beloved E6000 company has created a non-toxic spray adhesive that is the favorite refresher of traction for all of our Apolla Shocks. Apolla Shocks unique traction has eliminated the bulk and seams underfoot. It starts out sticky then you wear it down to your preferred level of grip. Then you keep it there by using a traction refresher. Some will refresh right away, some may never refresh...it is completely personalized to your need and floors. This is our recommendation. It is a pump spray and when you apply 5-10 pumps to your traction, it dries instantly, and does not damage floors. It helps to "re-stick" the grip over and over for the life of the Shocks. Some dancers start refreshing in the first class, some never refresh, some refresh when needed. It is important you have a bottle in your dance bag or at your studio to use as needed...one bottle last a long time! Your traction will wear down to nothing if you don't use a refresher, so make sure to order a bottle with your traction Shocks today!
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