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!

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!  The Dance Buzz and hubby traveled to Western New York for the holiday to visit Mr. Dance Buzz's family.

I can't believe how quickly the end of 2011 is rapidly approaching... I spent the day at the studio preparing recital costume orders, gathering up lost and found items to donate and rehearsing some of our performance team kids who came in over break.  Trying to tie up some loose ends before we begin the start of our busy season filled with competitions and recital preparations.


TOP DANCE BLOGS 2011
Thank you for everyone who commented on our 2011 entry into Top Dance Blogs - we didn't make the finals for Top 20.. but go on over to Dance Advantage to vote for the blogs who did!  I'm excited to find some new blogs to add to my blog reader.

If you want my advice (and why wouldn't you?), The Dance Buzz's favorite blogs on the list are Maria's Movers and Adult Beginner.  If you don't know who to vote for, I recommend one of these blogs!  But don't take my word for it, check 'em out!

SURPRISE COMING SOON... GET READY!
I have somewhat of a surprise for other bloggers to be revealed this week that I hope will inspire some dance bloggers to participate!  Sorry, can't tell you now... you'll have to check back later this week.

Think of it as a virtual Christmas / New Year's present to you from me :)

NMM: Hey Ya - Obidiah Parker

This one's been around for a while, but I recently re-discovered it in my playlists.

Today's New Music Monday song is an acoustic cover of Hey Ya  by Obadiah Parker

I like to use this song in my modern and contemporary classes and also for a cool-down in jazz class. The only problem is for the first few times you play it, the kids will be concentrating on figuring out why it sounds so familiar. I know I was!



Click here for all contemporary New Music Mondays

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And there's ONE MORE DAY LEFT to VOTE FOR US for Top Dance Blog of 2011 by commenting on the post (click this link). Thank you!

Monthly Recap

Are you on Pinterest yet?  If you were, you wouldn't have
missed this awesome picture!

Yes I am aware that monthly re-cap would make more sense at the end of the month, but its been a busy month! And at the end of the month we have to have yearly recaps... so here is December's (a bit early) recap.

What You Missed From The Dance Buzz

• Vote for us for Dance Blog 2011!
• Dance pinspiration over at my pinterest page
• Things I tweeted
• Dance Teacher Survival Kit gift idea
• Tons of music inspiration (holiday, license-free music, new music mondays)
• Blank Wall Makeover

Dance Happenings Around The Internet

• I am so excited about the Jacob's Pillow "KNOW DANCE" project inspired by the Never Stand Still dance documentary (directed by Ron Honsa). You can participate by creating a response by answering this question in a video: "what do YOU want people to know about dance"!  I can't wait to see people's responses and would like to involve my students in creating a response of our own.
• Economics behind the Nutcracker
• Top Dance Stories from my dance blog friends at Twitter
• Stephen Colbert features (and participates) in the Nutcracker:

And if this doesn't spread some holiday cheer, I don't know what will...

And did I mention, vote for us for Dance Blog 2011!?

Oh, I did?  Well then, why haven't you voted yet!   Tuesday is the last day for comment voting for Round #1

Holiday Gift Idea: Teacher Survival Kit!

Need a fun and unique gift for your dance teacher? Create a "Dance Teacher Survival Kit"!  Make a list of items your dance teacher likes and create individual baskets for each teacher.  Stick it all in a cute basket or bin and wrap it up in a nice bow and you are set to go!  Since you're customizing it, you can spend as much or as little as you'd like.

Practical Gifts To Include:

• Hair ties or bobby pins if she has long hair
• Aspirin
• Mini-sewing kit
• Small screwdriver if he or she is a tap teacher
• Small massager tool (for sore muscles or feet)
• Foot lotion or bath salts (although I'm guessing she already has a closet-full)
• Pack of stickers (if they use stickers in class)

Funny Gifts To Include (you will need to add an explanation for each one):

• A marble... for when you've lost yours
• String / paperclip... to keep it all together
• Sponge... to help clean dances
• Rubber band.. to keep you flexible
• Lifesavers... because you are one!
• Stars (could be Starbursts, or an ornament)... you inspire your students to reach for the stars!
• Candle... you light up people's lives

More ideas like this from Angel's Corner

Other Gifts

• iTunes gift card
• Bottle of wine (for after a long night of teaching!)
• Gift card to his or her favorite restaurant (or to the coffee shop/sandwich shop nearby the studio)
• Christmas ornament
• Cookies or chocolate
• Gum or mints

Share your own ideas: leave a comment!

Looking for more gift ideas?  Check out our ideas from last year.
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And there's only a few days left to VOTE FOR US for Top Dance Blog of 2011 by commenting on the post (click this link). Thank you!

NMM: Jungle - Emma Louise

Today's New Music Monday tune is Jungle  by Australian singer  Emma Louise.  Enjoy!




I've been using the "TapeGun" remix below for my jazz and contemporary classes, which you can download here (for free!).  I like the intro of this remix and that it is a little faster than the original. We used it for a combination that only used the first minute or so. After the chorus it gets into the more "remixed" feeling and dubstep, which doesn't inspire my lyrical-leaning choreography, but you might like it!




Click here for all contemporary New Music Mondays

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And there's ONE MORE WEEK LEFT to VOTE FOR US for Top Dance Blog of 2011 by commenting on the post (click this link). Thank you!

NMM: Holiday Music Round-Up

 If you enjoy this post, take a moment to VOTE FOR US for Top Dance Blog of 2011 by commenting on the post (click this link). Thank you!
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My students performing "Winter Song" (2010)

I started writing a post about holiday music, but I realized:

1. I did that last year and I still use the songs on the list.

2.  Other dance bloggers also have some great suggestions.

3. It's not Monday, so I guess this isn't a "New Music Monday".

So instead, I'm pointing you in the direction of some already awesome posts about holiday music! Ok, so one of them is my own post, so technically I just called myself awesome.. but let's let it slide, ok? 'Tis the season!

• The Dance Buzz Holiday Music - Full albums and individual track recommendations

• Dance Advantage: Nutcracker... With a Twist
• Dance Advantage: Holiday Head Start (scroll down for music recommendations)

• Dance.net:  Christmas Music to Highland To
• Dance.net:  Holiday Show Music 

And because I can't resist, here are a few more "winter" and holiday tracks to keep your playlists updated!

Music Monday: License-Free Alternatives

If you enjoy this post, take a moment to VOTE FOR US for Top Dance Blog of 2011 by commenting on the post (click this link). Thank you!
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Our most popular post to date has been Dance Studio Music Licensing FAQ.  If you haven't checked it out, it's worth a read whether you're a studio owner or instructor - including the comments!

After seeing more comments pop up, I became interested in researching royalty-free music.  While there are not that many specifically for dance studios, I did come across some alternatives.

My favorite alternative for royalty-free class music is the use of live music!  However, when live musicians are not easily available (or affordable), you maybe looking for some options.

You will notice that the prices for license-free music is much higher than the 99 cent or $1.29 per track cost of licensed music.  Because license-free artists do not receive royalties, the prices are higher. Either way, here are the tracks which you can use in class or for performance without paying ASCAP, BMI or SESAC:

1) Lynn Stanford's Ballet CD collection - I love Lynn Stanford's ballet music - possibly because my ballet teachers used his CDs throughout my childhood and then again in college.

The only one available on iTunes is #8301 "More Music For Ballet Class" , but you can find the rest on danceclassmusic.com - The ballet music titles that are without license are: #8001, #8301, #8403, #8712, #9121, #9122 (prices range from $16.00-$30.00).

He also has Music for Modern Class ($26.00).

2011 Top Dance Blog - Please Vote!

It's that time of year again... the 2011 Top Dance Blogs Contest - held by Nichelle over at Dance Advantage!

Last year, I threw our hat in the ring more as an experiment to see if anyone was actually reading this blog - and I was pleasantly surprised by the number of responses! Ok, so it was only five comments, but five people is way more than I ever expected.

So let's see if we can beat that number this year--it's up to you!

If you enjoy reading this blog, VOTE for The Dance Buzz by leaving a comment below on this post. 

I am entering under Teacher Talk category since most of my posts are about teaching or would be useful for dance teachers (I hope).  I have a feeling this will be a tough category this year, but I am happy to just enter.  Thanks Nichelle for hosting this contest again! :)

Thank you for your support!  Comments are open until December 20.

~Cait