National Dance Day 2013, and a peek into the archives at my best bits

In homage to National Dance Day, I’ve been sifting through some of the archives here and elsewhere to get an idea of everything that’s happening dance-wise.  As a person who likes to write about dance, I find it really difficult to narrow my focus to just education, or just previews and reviews.  So I resolved to put my hands into a little of everything.  As I shuffle through my writings from the past several months to give a debriefing on some of my best stuff (I flatter myself).

But seriously, I do a lot of writing, and I know it can be hard to keep up with the streams of content coming at you from every which way.  So here is a reader’s digest of the highlights from the spring and summer seasons:

Dance Instructors and Injury Management: Leave it to the Pros

on Dance Advantage

DA is where most of my health related stuff goes, and I’m so honored to have contributed to the site since 2010.  In this post, I discussed strategies for working with health care professionals as part of comprehensive injury management, particularly with student dancers.  Too often, dance instructors play doctor and try to diagnose and treat injuries, sometimes to the detriment of the dancer.

Musical Theatre Dance: In the End, it’s About the Process

on 4dancers

This June I spent three weeks in Wyoming teaching musical theatre and I reflected on my experiences here.  I never anticipated such a deep and enlightening experience, or one that would influence and challenge my creative, professional, and personal processes.  Just read it.

PSA for Small Dance Companies

on The Huffington Post

My latest on HuffPo shares insight and harsh realities regarding working with the press.  The long and short of media relations with dance writers and critics are laid out here for the benefit of small companies in need of press, and also for my sanity.

A Conversation with Michael Uthoff

Here on Art Intercepts I had the pleasure and honor of my biggest interview to date.  Michael Uthoff, Executive and Artistic Director of Dance St. Louis discussed his annual Spring to Dance Festival, the state of dance in the Midwest, and shared our mutual visions for the future.

Dance Audiences, Technology and YOU

on SeeChicagoDance

My role on SCD is mostly to write reviews, but I enjoyed writing about my experiences at this special event put on during Chicago Dance Month. The day was filled with deep thought, excited conversation, and action items regarding how we can utilize social media to recruit new audience members to dance, and re-energize the ones we already have.

Rockford Dance Company: Thoughtful, Talented Dancers who are Really Far Away

I didn’t anticipate thinking much about the Rockford Dance Company, and I certainly didn’t expect my afternoon with them last April to be so thought-provoking. Read about Rockford, and much more than that in this post on Art Intercepts.

Author: Lauren Warnecke

Lauren Warnecke is a reporter for NPR affiliate station WGLT and freelance arts and culture critic, primarily reviewing dance for the Chicago Tribune. Lauren enjoys cooking, cycling and attempting to grow things in her backyard. She lives in central Illinois.