We have gathered great new shorts for dancers to wear in the studio to the street!
Child’s shorts by Sofee.
Child Shorts by Theatricals.
Cycle Inspired Dance Short.
Monthly Archives: January 2015
Samantha De Chaves: Homegrown Performer
Onstage, Samantha de Chaves is eye-catching. Petite and wiry, she performs Chace Dance Company’s signature fusion style with such emotional intensity. Off stage, she’s a fun-loving, down to earth girl who thrives on spending quality time with friends and family.
A South Africa native, de Chaves has her teachers in RAD Ballet and teaches quite regularly in the Johannesburg area. Now one of only 8 dancers in the Pretoria based troupe, de Chaves gets very few breaks between rehearsals, classes, performances, and her day job. With director Tamra Chace’s full-bodied athletic choreography, cross-training to maintain stamina, and power is a high priority. The company works on a 10-month season, making it hard to stay fit, healthy, and injury free!
To say de Chaves stays active is an under statement. Running marathons, cycling, and mountain biking as much as possible, with addition to her active work life. For this lady adrenaline is a form of release, but as an aging dancer it causes for de Chaves to attempt things differently.
Currently she has remained injury free with a great warm up regime to keep on track. De Chaves always arrives early to rehearsals for sit ups and light stretching, always applying muscle products before physical activity, and reviewing her choreography. All great qualities for a Chace Dance Company Dancer.
Talent Africa- Performance Competition
“Talent Africa was established with the core objective of creating the absolute most prestigious National Talent competition of the highest standard ever to be presented in South Africa. The main aim is to give artists with the relevant talent the best opportunity to be exposed to all that the entertainment world can offer on both national and international level. The difference is that Talent Africa, through possible partnership with government and NGO’s could offer less privileged individuals a fair chance to receive the correct training and expertise, to ultimately be part of this grandeur event. Talent Africa also shapes each and every young performer who shows talent into a world-class entertainer through national competitions, workshops, pageants, and international exposure to some of the most prestigious events the world has to offer including the European Dance Festival in Serbia and Talent America – New York! We are passionate about the performing arts and as much as we like to yield performers, it is of the utmost importance that they will have fun, make new friends and learn about the performing arts through our events.” (www.talentafrica.co.za)
To see upcoming competition dates check out the following link:
2015 Seasonal Auditions Are Here!
2015 Season Auditions are here! They only come but once a year!
Please come warm and ready to dance. Looking for strong contemporary and classically trained dancers. Rehearsals are Pretoria based. Please bring R30 in cash for your audition fee. Combination will be taught.
Check out our FB Page for more info!
Banana Rama
To ward off those muscle cramps, a dancers go to food is a banana, helping to replenish lost potassium from exercising. According to new research one 4-ounce banana has 422 milligrams of potassium. But there are a lot of other potassium rich options to keep you going throughout an intense dance day. An 8-ounce cup of plain yogurt contains 531 milligrams, plus enriching calcium! So stash away a new option in your dance bag besides the usual banana!
Let It Out- Sweat It Out!
Warm ups need to go beyond your typical plies, lunges, and split stretches. You should be sweating every time before you even go on stage! That indicates your body is warm and at a high enough temperature for movement.
1. Activate your core– Start off with crunches, sit ups, and planks.
2. Do a short barre– Beginning with small leg swings, plies, tendues, and battement tendu jetes. Later escalating to developpes, grand battements, and adagio.
3. Up your heart rate– Jog or cardio work in place, jump rope, or a few jumping jacks.
4. Codify your routine: Once you build a pattern and warm up repertoire use it every time before you perform. Your body will warm up quickly and safely if it is in your muscle memory. Your body will be prepared knowing you are about to put it through a strenuous performance!
Drizzle Fo Shizzle
Four oils that give you body a healthy boost!
Dancers tend to avoid all fat in their diet and what some don’t realize is your body actually needs to consume a healthy amount of fat to function. “Fat plays an essential role in the absorption of vitamins A, E, D, and K, which are key for bone health and the immune system,” says Emily Cook Harrison (DM). “The body uses fat as building blocks. Plus fat can be used as fuel along with carbohydrates when dancing requires endurance.”
So what are healthy fat sources and how much should you consume? Fat has an average of nine calories per gram compared to protein’s four. This goes to show a little bit can go a long way! Company directors, nutritionists, and dance teachers recommend getting only 25 percent of your daily calories from fat; a small amount for long distance. Using oils to season food can be a nutritious way to make sure you get enough in a healthy way, and there’s no need to stick to the usual olive oil. There are many various heart healthy, omega packed, oils out there such as canola oil, sunflower seed oil, macadamia oil, flaxseed oil, and more! But here our Chace Dance Company’s four favorite oils to drizzle over meals.
Coconut Oil
Pure Virgin coconut oil is a saturated fat, consume it in moderation. The body absorbs this very rapidly, in which case it can serve as a quick source for fuel (instead of always grabbing the chocolate). Coconut oil is an immune booster as well, and an excellent source of lauric acid (for cholesterol). Use it for baking, or spooned right into your yogurt, oatmeal, or frying pan! It can withstand high heat and does not need to be refrigerated which is a plus for being in South Africa.
Walnut Oil
This is delicate with a nutty flavor and has many benefits. Walnut oil is packed with nutritional value of omega 3’s, vitamin K (bone health), and vitamin E. Plus walnut oil is a natural melatonin which will help improve sleep. Studies have shown a correlation between using walnut oil and lower blood pressure, also lowering the risk if heart disease. Because of its strong flavor, a small amount will be all you need to season a salad or meat dish. This oil has a short shelf life so will need to be stored in the refrigerator.
Flaxseed Oil
Touted by many as a more palatable alternative to fish oil, flaxseed oils carries many anti-inflammatory properties. In other words, perfect oil alternative for dancers! It is rich in omega 3s to help with brain function and lower the risk of heart disease. Go for the unfiltered options which tend to offer more nutrients. Flaxseed oil is a good substitute for cooking oil, but works great in pesto, humus, and salad dressings. This oil is perishable so store in the fridge with your walnut oil.
Sesame Oil
Nothing jazzes up a dish like sesame oil! Especially asian soy vinaigrette! This also is a host to health benefits, like helping lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Added nutrients included vitamin E and K. Some studies connect consuming sesame seed oil with reducing high blood pressure and artery plaque. THis oil works well for stove top cooking, baking, and dressings.
Chace Dance Company 