January Challenge: What's In Your Bag?

Did anyone ever have any of the bags above? (The first one is a vintage bag from Etsy)

A dance bag is a dancer and dance teacher's most valuable possession.  Back when we used to use CDs instead of iPods, my bag weighed 50 lbs from the giant CD case I lugged around... now it still is pretty hefty, because I filled the empty space with water bottles and props. #notthesharpestpointeinthebag

January's Blog Challenge Mission:

So for the first Blog Challenge of the new year, I want to know:

What's in your dance bag?

Grab this snazzy badge for your post
if you'd like to  be-dazzle your blog!

How to Participate: 

If you have a blog:
1) Take a picture, make a video, write a post or find one that fits the theme (it doesn't have to be a new post if you've already written something that answers the question).

 2) Then make sure you leave a comment below with a link to your post so we can all read it!


Don't have a blog? 
No problem!  Participate by leaving a comment below, tweeting @thedancebuzz or posting to our Facebook wall a picture of your dance bag, or comment with your favorite item in your dance bag.

I'm getting my post ready to go and am looking forward to taking a peek inside of everyone's bag! :)

November Blog Challenge: 10 Things You Are Grateful For

New blog challenge badge for your blog!

Just in time for Thanksgiving, here is November's Blog Challenge.  Talking or writing about things you are grateful for can make you happy, more optimistic and less stressed (I can back that up).

I was inspired by this post by Marie Forleo, who is my business idol / inspiration / mentor!  In this post, Marie talks about gratitude and the positive aftereffects (if you have a chance, check out her video - its worth a watch). Also check out this article by the NY Times about the positive effects of keeping a gratitude journal.

November's Blog Challenge Mission:

Write a list of ten things you are grateful for.

Then let the happy feelings wash over you :)

How to Participate: 

If you have a blog:
1) write a post sharing your ten things, then share or link to your fall post (it doesn't have to be a new post if you've already written something that fits with the theme).

 2) Then make sure you leave a comment with a link to you post so we can all read it!

Don't have a blog? 
No problem!  You can participate by leaving a comment below, tweeting @thedancebuzz or posting to our Facebook wall your list of ten things!

I'm getting my post ready to go and am looking forward to reading all of your thankful things :)

October Blog Challenge: Fall Class Ideas

Happy Fall!

For me, fall means changing leaves, shorter days and Halloween!

Grab this baby for your blog!

What does fall mean to you and your dance classes?

October's Blog Challenge Mission: 

Last month's challenge was to share an inspiring video.

For October, your mission is to share an idea for a fall dance class.   

It can be about leaves, pumpkins, Halloween, apples - your choice!  If you're a student, tell us how or if your studio has any fall traditions that you enjoy.  If you're a teacher - how do you incorporate the changing season into your classes?

How to Participate: 

1) If you have a blog, share or link to your fall post (it doesn't have to be a new post, since I'm a little late in getting the challenge up this month).

2) Then make sure you leave a comment with a link to you post so we can all read it!

Don't have a blog? No problem! You can participate by leaving a comment below, tweeting @thedancebuzz or posting to our Facebook wall with your Fall dance class idea!

Can't wait to see all the good fall traditions :)

September Blog Challenge: Inspiring Video

Participating in this month's challenge?
Feel free to this bad boy to your post
so you can be official!

Back to School, Back to Dance

For many dancers, parents, teachers, September means one thing: Back to School!

While I'm sad summer is ending, a new dance season is always exciting and my time off has made me anxious to start teaching again.

I've spent the last few weeks searching for some new music and watching dance shows and performances for some inspiration.

September's Blog Challenge Mission:

Last month's challenge was to share the inspiration from books. For September, your mission is to share a video that inspires you.

Your video that you share can be a dance performance you find inspiring on YouTube or just you vlogging about why you dance, teach or just love dance. (Just don't go all eharmony cat lady on me about your love of pointe shoes or something!)

How to Participate:

If you have a blog, share or link to your inspiring video and post a few words on why you like it.  Then make sure you leave a comment with a link to you post so we can all read it!

Don't have a blog? No problem! You can participate by leaving a comment below, tweeting @thedancebuzz or posting to our Facebook wall a link to your favorite dance video and why!

Can't wait to see your inspiring videos!

August Blog Challenge: What Are You Reading?

Happy August! 

Wait.  That should read: What? It's August?  What do you mean there's only five weeks until classes start? Ack!

For me, August is the last chance for some time off from teaching (our summer classes only run until the end of July), which is when I do things like... go to the ballet, read dance books and catch up on SYTYCD.   A.K.A. dance inspiration time!

So in honor of the inspiration that comes from the written word, and in honor of all the college students heading back in for a new year of reading and learning, August's Blog challenge is to post about what you're reading now, what you've read this summer or even just your favorite dance book, business book or children's book.

Don't have a blog? No problem! You can participate by leaving a comment below, tweeting @thedancebuzz or posting to our Facebook wall!   Also follow my "Worth a Read" pinterest board, if you're obsessed with Pinterest like I am into that kind of thing.

I'll post my summer reading list shortly and I look forward to reading yours!

UPDATES
Check out these great reading lists:
+ Moira's recommendation for teaching irish dancing at On My Toes
+ The Dance Buzz's summer / fall reading list with a mix of dance and business books
+ Check out Read It. Move It. Share It., a collaboration between Maria's Movers and Picture Books & Pirouettes 

July Blog Challenge: Dance Outside The Box!

Feel free to grab this badge for your blog!

Are you ready?  It's time for July's Dance Blog Challenge!  This month, our challenge is a simple and fun photo challenge:  

Dance outside and share a photo or video of it!

What To Do:  
1) Grab a camera and head outdoors.  You might want a friend or at least a self-timer.
2) Dance!
3) Blog about your photo & leave a comment below or post it to the Facebook wall

I'll be sharing my photos for the challenge later in the month and I look forward to seeing lots of fun photos!

Ready... Set... Go!

Updated 7/14/12 with this month's participants:
Dancing In Virginia from Rince Go Bragh
Leaping on the beach from yours truly

June Blog Challenge: Confident & Humbled

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on your blog if you participate!

It's that time again!  Blog Challenge time!  June's writing prompt is this (writing prompt? I feel like an English teacher now):

Dance is both confidence building and humbling... write about a time you experienced either.

Not sure what to write? Here are a few ideas to get you going.

• Teachers... share how you inspire confidence in your students
• Students... share a time you felt confident after a class or performance
• Is it possible to feel both confident and be humbled at the same time?
• Is there a good balance?

No matter what you decide to write about, make sure you come back and leave a comment below with a link to your post.

Challenge Participants

Rince Go Braugh:  "Confidence at my first Oireachtas"

No blog?  No worries!  Share your thoughts in the comments below!

May Blog Challenge: Performance Pics

Many of us are getting ready for their recitals or spring performances this time of year.  The weeks leading up to the big performance are exciting and stressful, but are worth it in the end.  For studio owners and teachers, you may be wishing it was over sooner -- check out our mantras for surviving recital season.

To keep things stress-free, this month's challenge is easy peasy... it's a photo challenge! Share a picture that relates to a dance performance--it can be part of the preparation, dress rehearsal, backstage, final performance... it's up to you!

Share one, three or a hundred photos!

Blog Participants
Irish Dance Recital Pics from Rince Go Bragh
Performance Pinspiration (TDB)
Irish Dance Recital from Moira

Post a your dance photo(s) on your blog, and then come back here and leave a comment with a link to your post so we can all share!

Don't have a blog? You can still participate!  Just leave a comment below with a link to your picture, or post your picture on our Facebook wall.

Click here to see past blog challenges.

April Blog Challenge: Dance Imagery

"Flip the pancake!" my ballet teacher used to say as we did our fouettes (jumps not turns).  "Pretend your pelvis is a bowl of soup... don't spill the soup!" was another one of her favorite metaphors.

This month's challenge is to share your favorite dance imagery--either sayings that you use as a dancer or teacher, or favorite visuals your teachers use.

Share a your dance sayings on your blog and then come back here and leave a comment with a link to your post so we can all share!

Blog Participants
Moira at "On My Toes" - Irish Dance perspective
The Dance Buzz - Illustrated Dance Imagery

If you don't have a blog, you can still participate!  Just leave a comment below.

Click here to see past blog challenges.

March Blog Challenge: Where Do You Dance?

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your blog!

This month's challenge is a PHOTO / VIDEO challenge:

Where do YOU dance? 

Share a picture or video tour of where you dance on your blog and then come back here and leave a comment with a link to your post so we can all share!

Click here to see past blog challenges.

February Blog Challenge: A Day In The Life

It's that time again... time for another Dance Blog Challenge!  If you want to read more about why I'm doing this, read this post. Then come back and join the fun!

This month's blog challenge is "Day In The Life" post.  Take one of your busiest dance days, bring your camera (or camera phone) and take lots of pictures from the moment you wake up until you return to bed.  Or if you're an overachiever, make a video!  

This month's challenge is a bit more involved than last month's, but that's what makes it fun.  I will try to vary the 'involvement' of each post so if you're not feeling quite up to the challenge this month, do an easier one like January's photo challenge or wait to see what March brings.

Post your photos or video (with or without narration... its up to you) on your blog and leave a comment with the link here!

PARTICIPANTS (UPDATED 2/26/12)

• Cydney's Day In The Life (Releve Your Life)
• The Dance Buzz: A Day In The Life

I can't wait to see what everyone's studios and dance lives look like!  And if you're not actively taking or teaching classes, you can participate too... I want to see what you do in your job or school everyday.  And snap a quick picture of an arabesque in the hallway while you're at it... the point is to have fun!

Just make sure if you do take pictures of other people that they are ok with you putting their lovely faces on the internet.  Or use photo editing software crop or blur their faces :)

Think your life is boring or need ideas of what to document?  Keep reading after the jump for ideas.

January Blog Challenge: Personal Dance Firsts

Snag this bad boy badge for your own blog if you choose!
Right click + save as!

Attention all dance bloggers, here is your January Blog Challenge - we're starting off with a fun, personal one.

Your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to share a picture and story of one of your "dance firsts".  First class, first show, first shoes... whatever inspires you!

The Details

1. Choose one picture that represents your dance first
2. Share your story
3. Include a link back to this post (Permalink: )

If you participate, leave a comment below with the link to your post so we can share in the fun!

UPDATED JAN. 29, 2012 - Here are all the participants so far:

• Maria's Movers: The Class That Started It All
• Married To The Dance: My First Flamenco
• Nichelle (from Dance Advantage)
• Kim at Velocity Dance and Fitness
• Moira from On My Toes
• Sara from Rince Go Bragh

And with that, here's my dance first.... 

My first dance performance!

Happy New Year: Blog Challenge

This guy will kick your butt if you don't
participate!

Attention all dance bloggers - I am excited to announce that starting in January, I am going to be posting monthly blogging challenges called "Dance Buzz Blog Challenge".  I hope you all find a few that sound like fun to participate in.

WHY AM I DOING THIS?
I enjoy being part of a community of dance bloggers and I think it will be fun to get different perspectives or learn new things about the bloggers themselves.

I also enjoyed participating in Pas de Trois when that was going on, and I miss the inspiration.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?
Hopefully these challenges will jump-start your writer's block, should you encounter that anytime soon.  The next time you're stumped at what to write about, you can check out all the challenges for inspiration.

And you get to add this sweet badge to your blog if you'd like. BONUS! (To add the badge to your page, save the image to your computer and upload it to your blog).

Blog Challenge:  So easy you could do
it while perched on a young man's
shoulder.

SO... HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?
After I announce the challenge question or theme, write your own blog post related to that theme. Then add a comment on the original challenge post (on this blog) so everyone can share.

DO I HAVE TO POST IN THE SAME MONTH AS THE CHALLENGE?
No.  Absolutely not.  I am doing it by month because I think that is a reasonable time period for me to come up with another challenge.  If you decide to do the January challenge in July, so be it - just please still add a comment to the challenge post so we can all share!

CAN I SUGGEST A CHALLENGE?
Yes!  Email me at thedancebuzz@gmail.com or leave a comment below.

SO WHAT'S JANUARY'S CHALLENGE?
You'll have to wait until January to find out...  but I can tell you that it is a fun one!