Tracy's Thoughts on Dance and Everything Else

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Mon, 18 May 2009 02:40:00 +0000

Happy St. Patrick's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:15:00 +0000

Revamped ITA Site

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:55:00 +0000

The International Tap Association recently updated their website. The newly redesigned site not only contains upcoming tap events and news throughout the world, but simple articles on tap history, influential legends and contemporary tap leaders.

Their are also many great links to tap information, movies, books, and writings related to tap dancing. One of the locations on the site I like best is for viewings. Audio and video clips are housed in this location for both past and present tap performances and documentaries.

Check out the revamped site.

https:/www.tapdance.org

Amazing Video! Happy Holidays!

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 19:38:00 +0000

I Didn't Disappear

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:12:00 +0000

Hello Everyone!

I did not disappear from the face of the earth. Thanksgiving and birthday prep for my son's party took over. I had company Wednesday-Saturday this past week. The company was my in-laws. Don't get me wrong, they do help out, but like any company you constantly feel like you have to "entertain" them and make sure they are comfortable.

My husband took a nap on Friday and woke up unable to use his left ankle. The pain is moving up his leg, but he is a very stubborn man and will not go the the doctor. He insists it is sprained and will heal on its own. Has anyone else ever sprained their ankle sleeping? Didn't think so. I am worried that it could be a nerve or a blood clot or gout or something terrible. He is stressing me out.

Saturday I, along with the help of my mother-in-law, took the kids to Proex to get their pictures taken. They turned out super cute! I can hardly wait to get them pictures back. Send me a note if you would like me to send you a copy.

I spent Sunday cleaning, buying, and prepping for Ryan's forth birthday party. I've got the whole Spiderman theme goin' on! I would typically buy a cake for an event, but decided this year to make a cake myself. Anyone who knows me knows I do not cook, let alone bake. How hard can it be to make a cake out of a box? Betty Crocker can help me with that, right? Wish me luck with the party and I'll chat again soon.

Tracy

Dance Board Game

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:52:00 +0000

Their seems to be a Monopoly type game for almost every interest. The Farming Game comes to mind because of my farming in-laws. They just love it; buying and selling livestock and crops. Pretty boring if you ask me.

I came across the Dance-Opoly game and it rocks! Instead of buying and selling properties or livestock, you are trading different dances. Along the way you attend auditions, build studios and dance theaters, and dance your way to Broadway! The dance possibilities are endless.

This game is new, so your special dancer would love it. I am going to buy this myself so maybe The Farming Game marathons my in-laws love will come to an end. If anything, I'll play with my neice while the famers are busy.

Click below for a preview of the game!

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting: What Makes Tracy a Happy Healthy Hip Parent

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 04:22:00 +0000

My high school classmate, Sondra LaBrie, interviewed me for her blog, Happy Healthy Hip Parenting. Check it out!

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting: What Makes Tracy a Happy Healthy Hip Parent

The Dance Teacher's Daughter

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:06:00 +0000

Dancer Universe published a great article on 11/9/08 by Wendy Garofoli, regarding the children of dance teachers. I used to teach dance and if my health had not got in the way I would still be teaching today. It was interesting to read this article and imagine what kind of a teacher I would have been to my daughter in her class. I know that their are several dance teachers that read this blog, so please share your personal experiences regarding the relationship between you as "the teacher" and your child "the student".

On a more local note to those in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, this article references the relationship that Shirley Larkin had with her own daughter, Kelly Larkin.

Click here to read the entire article.

The Master Tapper! Savion Glover

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:27:00 +0000

Last night I saw the master tapper, Savion Glover at Minnesota Orchestra Hall. I have seen Savion Glover before, but seeing him again is like seeing him for the first time. He is absolutely amazing. The precise sound and various rhythms that his feet produce is unbelievable. I don't even think I could shake my hand as fast as his feet move.

The show is titled Bare Soundz. It stars Savion Glover and two supporting tappers, Marshall Davis, Jr., and Maurice Chestnut. All music provided is preformed from a combination of all three dancers feet. The synchronization is so in tune that you forget that only their feet are making the music.

I couldn't find a clip from last nights performance in Minnesota, but the like below is the same show I saw last night, but in Kansas. Enjoy!

Watch Savion Glover in Bare Soundz

Emergency Dance Guide For Men

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:53:00 +0000

The below video illustrates how badly men can dance. We all know this guy. You might even know a woman who needs a little work too. The video is five minutes, but worth watching.

Send me a comment, who does this remind you of?

Party Etiquette:Dance Moves: An Emergency Guide For Men

Dealing with Difficult Times

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:48:00 +0000

This is the first blog that really isn't about dance. This is why I amended my title to "and everything else." I've had a rough week and am trying to be positive. A little personal rant here from me....

A few weeks ago my Jeep dies on the freeway. That was very scary. Thank goodness my kids were not with me because the cars were whipping past me annoyed. Like I wanted to die on the freeway during rush hour! Had to reschedule my first PT appointment to get the Jeep fixed.

Last Friday I killed my husbands car. I rear ended someone at 6:30 in the morning on the way to PT. Thank goodness again that my kids were not with me. I had to miss my 7:00 PT appointment. I just found out this morning that the insurance company isn't going to total the car! That is a relief. I guess I will get a loaner tomorrow.

I HATE VEHICLES!!!

Okay, I feel a little better now. I am going to spend the rest of the day being positive. I need to be thankful for the good things in my life. A car or Jeep ain't gonna bring me down anymo!

Children With Special Needs

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:50:00 +0000

Children with special needs often need specialized outlets to help either calm or stimulate the mind and/or body. According to the National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies Association, dance is the most fundamental of the arts, involving direct expression through the body. Thus, it is an intimate and powerful medium for therapy. Based on the assumption that body and mind are interrelated, dance/movement therapy is defined by the American Dance Therapy Association as "the psychotherapeutic use of movement as a process which furthers the emotional, cognitive and physical integration of the individual." Dance/movement therapy effects changes in feelings, cognition, physical functioning, and behavior. Many Dance Therapists advocate dance as a great tool to increase communication skills and self-confidence.

The great thing about dance therapy is that it is easy, reasonably priced, and personal. Anyone can learn the basic skills to engage with children of special needs without even leaving the house. Sure, you can pay someone else to teach you child, but if you have the desire to teach your child at home, check out this great resource written specifically to teach special needs children.

Click Here!

My Assignment - Yoga

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:39:00 +0000

Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis
Posted using ShareThis

My neurologist recommended that I take up yoga to help improve my strength, balance, and flexibility. I was looking around online and found the above article outlining the benefits of yoga as it not only relates to multiple sclerosis, but the entire self: body and mind.

I've put together this simple link at amazon.com to provide you with any products you made need to start your own yoga program. After I start my program and will tell you about my progress. Hopefully you will share yours with me.

Good Luck!

Zumba...What is it?

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:37:00 +0000

There has been a lot of hype about this thing called Zumba. What is it? It sounds like a new board game or something my kid would want. After looking around a bit I discovered this entire community of individuals having fun while they exercise. I don't ever remember exercising being fun. Zumba is a easy to follow workout system that combines latin rhythms and easy to follow steps. You get to decide how much or how little you want to get your heart pumping. The goal of Zumba is to make the workout fun. I read that Zumba fanatics achieve long term benefits while experiencing an absolute blast in one exhilarating hour of caloric-burning, heart-racing, muscle-pumping, body-energizing, awe-inspiring movements meant to engage and javascript:void(0)captivate your life!Looks like something to check out. If anything can make exercising fun, why not?If anyone has tried this fun workout called Zumba? Let me know. I am very curious as I'm sure others are too.

Wii Fit, I think it's for Me...

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:35:00 +0000

I saw my neurologist last week and was prescribed Physical Therapy to help with my balance and strength. He also suggested I take Yoga classes for some extra help. Although I am not overly thrilled about exercising, it would be nice to have the strength back that I lost since 2001. I used to dance twice a week and that is too painful now for me. I miss it more then you can imagine. Not only will I be starting my PT this Friday, but I need to find a yoga class in my free time. I went online and discovered that the Wii Fit looks like a pretty good option for me to work on balance and body fitness. The Wii Fit concentrates on four key areas of fitness: yoga, balance, strength training and aerobics. I will already have to miss some work for my PT appointments, so the benefits of using Wii Fit at home after my children are asleep is quite attractive. Who knows maybe my three year will find it interesting also.If you have the Wii Fit and can offer any tips or advice on its use leave me a comment. I am anxious to start rebuilding my dance body!

Evolution of Dance

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:11:00 +0000

I know that this video has been around many times and you have probably all seen it, but it sure is good. Ever have a favorite movie that you could watch over and over again without getting bored with it? Well that is how I feel about this clip. Judsonlaipply's video on YouTube is the 32nd highest ranked video on all of YouTube. Just goes to show you that I'm not the only one who could watch this over and over again. Enjoy and have fun remembering the songs and dances!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg

Dancers Smoking

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:34:00 +0000

I found a great article on dancehere.com about dancers smoking. Some surveys suggest that up to 40% of dancers smoke. There are many reasons given for smoking and really only one reason to quit...HEALTH!!!I have to admit that I was one of the closet smoking dancers and I regret it every day. Not only did my classmates not know, but I even taught and kept it a secret from students and their parents.The only thing I can add to the article is...do not ever start! It will be one of the hardest battles you ever experience. I heard so many people tell me that and I did not listen. I thought I could quit whenever I choose to, but it is not that easy.

It will require help, so don't be afraid to ask.

Sick of Being Sick!

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:30:00 +0000

I apologize in advance for not blogging the last few days. I also apologize for this blog inspired by complaining. I've been sick for three days now with a "virus." A virus that is projected to stay with me for 7 to 10 days. Related to dance it brings me back to 12th grade when I got mono and missed lessons for a few months. I started to loose strength and muscle. Once I was free from the mono, I had a lot of catch up to do. I needed to get back in shape and learn a lot of routines I missed. This brings me to my message for the day. Eating right! I am the first to tell anyone that eating healthy is not fun. I am truly a meat and potatoes kinda girl. Salad? Why waste your time with that when it just takes up room for the good stuff. Well, to a dancer, to an athlete in general, you sometimes just have to get into the routine of eating healthy. Well, I, like most people need some guidance when it comes to eating right. I am a huge reality TV buff and was addicted to The Biggest Loser. I've come across a great diet that outlines the proper foods to eat and meals to make with those foods. It might sound a bit commercial, but if this worked for those on The Biggest Loser, why wouldn't it work for me? Let me know if it works for you.

Good Luck and Happy Eating!

When can my baby take dance classes? - BabyCenter

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:31:00 +0000

When can my baby take dance classes? - BabyCenter

Some parents may be overly anxious to put their child into dance class. Don't start them to early. Creative movement classes may be a better place to start.

read more digg story

Boys Should Dance too!!

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:02:00 +0000

I have had a good week talking to all my friends about there little kids starting dance class. Mostof my friends have little girls, but few have boys beginning their dance adventure. The little boys are the topic of my blog today. My husband and I do not agree on the whole boys dancing saga. As many others do, my husband has a bad attitude about boys dancing. See the attached pdf article below written by Marian Rose that outlines the reasons that boys are driven away from dance. The biggest factors are society and fear. Little boys really don't see men dancing and usually are not drawn to idolizing dancers versus professional football players for example.Dance can do many great things for boys. Dance can build social skills and help them "get over" the "girls are gross"perceptions. Dance will also help boys in sports. Balance and coordination are key contributors to a successful sports career.Ultimately dance is all about fun. Girls and BOYS can have a great time moving, shaking, and wiggling to the music!

http://www.cdss.org/newsletter/articles/forboys.pdf.

Tap dance lovers of all kinds!

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:27:00 +0000

America's Got Talent has the tap dancing Dads as contestants. Take a look at the video. I don't know about your Dad, but I can't imagine I could ever get mine to do something like this...especially on national television. Don't get me wrong, I don't think they will ever win this competition, but still very entertaining. Who isn't gonna smile watching a bunch of middle aged tap dancing Dads?!?

Only Three More Years

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:21:00 +0000

This has been a fairly busy Labor Day weekend, filled with friends and family. Spending time with my family is a rarity (an entirely different blog), but always fun. My cousin's little girl was telling me all about her first day of kindergarten excitement and the return of dance class!!! This will be her second year at dance and it should get more challenging. She is five now and coordination and patience are improving greatly. This year should really be a special year for her. It may sound ridiculous to a non-dancer, but around this age a child could decide if this is really for them or not; a passion or a past-time. That just makes me think of my 4 month old daughter and how she can begin dance lessons in three years. I can only imagine how she will be in class and how beautiful she will look on the big stage! Time for me to get ready for another work week...baths for the kids and lunches prepared. Talk to you later!

New Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:19:00 +0000

I will take a little time to introduce myself to anyone who might be interested in what a girl who once had a dream of being a professional dancer and traded that for a family has to say. I grew up in St. Paul, MN and took dance lessons from age 3 to 24. I taught from 16-22. I love dance, especially tap. I went to the University of Minnesota and received a Finance degree. I married my husband, Todd, in 2003 and had my first child in December 2004. My second child was born last May. I am currently an Accounting Manager for a small company. That is my life in a tiny little nutshell. The majority of my life has had an aspect of dance in it. Now that I have a daughter I can hardly wait to sign her up. I know it sounds sad, but I will relive my dance years through her. I know it sounds sad, but I am not in denial about it. It will break my heart if she doesn't want to dance. She's only four months old, so not pressure...yet:) I wanted to sign my son up for dance, but my husband axed that one. I guess that's what I get for marrying into the military. I will try to update me blog as much as possible and fill you in on any of the latest dance news as I begin this new blogging adventure.

Have a great weekend!

Improve Dance Technique

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Hartjen) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:11:00 +0000

I remember being a little girl and dreaming of being a ballerina some day. Unfortunately that dream never came true. By the time I realized my ballet technique was far from perfect, I was a teenager and gave up. If I would have had the Complete Ballet Bible I would have increased my skills and acheived so much more with dance.

CHECK THIS OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!! CLICK HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!