Month: April 2022

How to Move Towards a Career in Dance

Are you considering a career in dance? Before you decide, ask yourself these four simple questions: What are my strengths? What motivates me? Am I willing to put in the hard work necessary to overcome challenges when they arise? And am I going to have fun doing this for many years to come? Dance is not just about making beautiful art and entertainment; it takes years of blood, sweat, and tears (literally) to make your dream a reality.

How to Make Your Dance Dream a Reality

Did you know only about 3% of the individuals passionate about dancing become professional dancers? Because their love for the art overrides all of the drawbacks. Even though it may be challenging to pursue a professional dancing career, it is certainly doable. Here are some suggestions to help you turn your dancing aspirations into a reality:

Know your craft and become more knowledgeable about it
Explore and learn dancing styles performed around the globe
Attend dance showcases and performances
Learn about the local dance community by attending dance workshops
Join a local dancing studio that offers space to develop your skills
Make new relationships by participating in networking events

How Bella Diva Supports the Path to a Dancing Career

Dance is the universal language that connects us all in our human experience, designed for everybody — no matter your age or size. Joining a dance class is easily done; however, enrolling in a class that gives you professional exposure is best — and this is where Bella Diva comes in. Bella Diva’s mission is to introduce authentic cultural dance forms to all people in Denver and create unique performance opportunities for the students via semi-annual student showcases hosted at prominent, diverse venues and professional theatres.

Ready to get started on making a career in dance? Contact us at Bella Diva!

How the Rio Carnival Became the Greatest Show on Earth

Normally held during the last week of February or the first week of March, Rio Carnival is a world-famous annual carnival that draws millions (2020: 10 million) of visitors from all over the globe to the Brazilian capital. In addition to taking place across Brazil, the most populous nation in Latin America, the festival is an unforgettable experience — included on every traveler’s bucket list. The question is, what makes Rio Carnival “The Greatest Show on Earth?”

Origins of Rio Carnival

The origins of the Rio Carnival event may be traced back to the 1650s; however, it is believed that the Portuguese introduced the notion of Carnival, or “celebration,” to Rio in the mid-19th century, while the custom of hosting grandiose balls was introduced by bourgeoisie immigrants from Paris in the same period. Even though the history of Rio Carnival is quite complicated, the current festivities include elements of African, Portuguese, and indigenous cultural traditions, making it a time to be enjoyed by everyone.

Tradition of Samba

Do you want to immerse yourself in the Brazilian culture? The Rio Carnival is the only event that properly captures the essence of the carioca way of life. In the Sambadrome, a parade has been conducted every year since 1984, during which twelve of the world’s best samba schools compete for the famous championship title with a winning prize of around $1 million.

The Rio Carnival 2022

This year, the Rio Carnival is scheduled in the Marvelous City of Rio de Janeiro from Wednesday, 20 April to Saturday, 30 April 2022. Carnival street parades in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, attracted 10 million participants in 2020 — this marks an increase of more than 40% compared to the previous year’s figures. So, what do you think; how many will attend the Carnival in 2022?

The Final Cut

Attending the Rio Carnival is a lifetime experience, but how cool would it be to learn the moves performed on the greatest show on Earth? Here’s some good news, YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN! Click here to discover the numerous kinds of Brazilian Samba, including the exhilarating and fast-paced footwork found on the streets of Rio de Janeiro and Afro-Brazilian motions from the beaches of Bahia.

New Mind-Body Wellness Hour Coming to Bella Diva

Starting in May, we will be offering a weekly Mind-Body Wellness class on Sundays from 4:30-5:30 PM.

“Prevention is so much better than healing, because it saves the labor of being sick”. – Thomas Adams

Mind-Body Wellness Post-Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought major life challenges and stressors into our lives that may have us needing to acknowledge the impact the cumulative trauma on our health and wellbeing has had over the past 2 years.

More than ever, it is necessary to set aside regular & consistent time for self-care, both mentally and physically, in order to foster a sense to balance and wellbeing in our lives.

Only by taking care of ourselves are we able to then take care of others and have something to give, whether it be as parents, caregivers, to your profession, and also as performers and dancers!

What to Expect

Every month will feature the same class offerings on a rotational basis:

Week 1 – Tai Chi Flow with Grace
Week 2 – Mat Pilates with Bonnie
Week 3 – Medical Qigong with Grace
Week 4 – Ellové Tecnique with Elizabeth

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese tradition that, today, is practiced as a graceful form of exercise. It involves a series of movements & forms performed in a slow, focused manner and accompanied by deep breathing.

Often described as meditation in motion, tai chi promotes serenity through gentle, flowing movements. Tai chi is low impact and puts minimal stress on muscles and joints, making it generally safe for all ages and fitness levels.

Mat Pilates

Pilates is a mind-body practice with benefits that include improved posture, better coordination and balance, increased lung capacity, improved concentration and focus, increased body awareness, stress management, and injury prevention.

Generally, the goal of a mat Pilates class is to strengthen the body’s “powerhouse,” a Pilates term that refers to your abdominals, lower back muscles, pelvic floor, hips and glutes. Through a series of floor exercises using resistance bands and rings, the workout helps build, sculpt and tone these muscles, giving your body a long, lean look. Pilates can aid in flexibility and improving posture, as stretching your body is a vital part of class.

Medical Qigong

It is also an important branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine known as “Chinese Yoga” and has significant similarities to Tai Chi, as both work on Qi and life.

During practice, body movement, breathing techniques, sound, meditation and mind activity are used to directly work on Qi – our energy or life force. Practiced by millions worldwide, Qigong is a powerful and effective tool for preventing illness and improving health.

It strengthens and balances the whole body, including the organs and the immune system. It helps to calm the mind so the practitioner can find a balanced, relaxed and harmonious state more easily and more often. When in a state of physical, mental and emotional balance, we are better able to meet all kinds of challenges in life.

Ellové Technique

The Ellové Technique is a conditioning and cross-training class taught by certified dance specialists and educators.

The pure techniques of ballet, yoga, fitness, and Pilates are set to music in a seamless movement sequence that improves strength, flexibility, and control.

Incorporating principles of dance medicine and science, The Ellové Technique reduces injury risk by targeting muscle imbalances, refining alignment, increasing endurance, and practicing safe stretching techniques.

Sign Up Today!

This class will also be included in the Monthly Unlimited Dance Passport.

Mind-Body Wellness