Dance Spirit

If you watched portions of last night’s “Dancing with the Stars” episode through a film of welling tears, you’re not alone. Dedication Night is always emotional, and this season’s edition made good on that promise. It’s also often a turning point for competitors as they give themselves fully to their performances.

But it wouldn’t be reality television without a few ...

Therapist Kelsey Fyffe asks Houston Ballet Academy students a simple question each year: Does the adrenaline rush they feel before a performance help or hurt them? The answers are always split. Usually a little more than half of the students say that adrenaline enhances their dancing, helping them feel more alert, present, and grounded. But a sizable minority typically report...

Every football game has its share of hustles, flags, fumbles, and touchdowns. On Super Bowl Night, “Dancing with the Stars” delivered each of those in true fashion. The night, themed around iconic Super Bowl halftime performances, included some notable appearances by former NFL-player “DWTS” alumni, as well as by guest judge and sportscaster Joe Buck. In his words: “I know ab...

How can I tell if my pointe shoes are dead? I started pointe last fall and have only had one pair, so I don’t know what to look for. —Maya

Hi, Maya,

This is a familiar conundrum! I remember wondering the same thing when I was a first-time pointe student. It’s hard to know what to look for when you’re still getting used to the sensation of dancing ...

Let’s face it: Dance can be expensive. In some cases, an hour of work at the U.S. median wage rate may barely cover a single class, let alone the costume fees, shoes, travel, and other costs that serious training demands. That price of admission shuts out many talented and passionate students from chasing their dreams.

Addressing that problem might sound like a job...