Monday, May 27, 2013

Ballet gets to grips with its inner sole

Date     May 15, 2013   Jenna Clarke Jenna Clarke Entertainment and lifestyle reporter

- If the shoe fits: Dr Gordon Waddington with 16-year-old ballet student Emily Clout. Photo: Melissa Adams

An Australian researcher is undertaking the first major redesign of ballet slippers since the 1600s.
The University of Canberra's professor of physiotherapy Gordon Waddington and Assistant Professor Jeremy Witchalls are working to give dancers extra "grip" and more control over their movements to prevent lower leg injuries.
"My research week sees me working with ballet dancers at one end and dealing with big rugby league footballers at the other," said Dr Waddington, who works across a number of sport disciplines.
"All of these people are quite similar, believe it or not, as they rely on having a very good perception of surface and the ground they are moving over. They rely on having very good movement control to do the things they need to do safely."
Dr Waddington has developed an insole made from textured PVC which has a lined pattern so it locks into the skin - similar to a doormat but on a smaller scale.
It slips into the ballet shoe for barre work only, in the testing environment. Should it prove to increase surface perception and thus decrease ankle and lower limb injuries, the insole would be worn during all practice sessions, rehearsals and performances.
Classical kinetic educator at the Australian Ballet School, Janet Karin, a long-time fan of Dr Waddington's work, has enlisted her students for an 11-week trial using a PVC shoe insert.
"I came across Gordon's work and the research he was doing into the movement of footballers and geriatrics more than 10 years ago, but the technology wasn't available back then. These changes could be revolutionary, not just for dancing but for all movement-based sports and activities," Ms Karin said.
"We are four weeks into the trial and are just using the insert … for barre work at the moment. Some have said they don't notice it, while others have said they find it 'interesting'.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/dance/ballet-gets-to-grips-with-its-inner-sole-20130514-2jkjq.html#ixzz2UYc2oRBY

Thursday, May 2, 2013

CREATE A DANCE STUDIO MARKETING PLAN


Many businesses create a Marketing Plan which is written 12 months ahead.  That way a budget can be developed specifically for this area of business operations.  The Marketing Plan can be applied to Dance Studios with great effect.  Start by identifying your target customers – those who have a need, can afford classes and are willing to pay for it. Once you have done the list you need to decide the way in which your message will be conveyed to your target audience. You will need to think about your studio’s Mission Statement and the image you want to express to the general public.  Sometimes image is referred to as Brand.  If you develop and consistently communicate the positive characteristics of your studio you will find customers will start to identify and relate to your name.  A Marketing Plan should encompass Goals, Objectives and Strategies.  The Goal is the overall target that supports the purpose of the dance studio.  The Objectives are the major ways the goal will be reached.  The Strategies are the how-tos for achieving the objectives. 

A Marketing Plan will include:
  • Your business purpose
  • Your target customer
  • Details of your marketing strategies
  • A budget
  • An Action Plan
  • Opportunities for long-term market development
Happy planning!

TDT