When your brain is going a million miles a minute, it's good to take some deep breaths, slow down, and get rooted with the Earth again. During this week's episode of Trainer of the Month Club, that's exactly what you'll do, as yoga instructor Pilin Anice takes us through a 30-minute grounding yoga flow to help you feel more centered.
This hold gives your abdominal muscles a serious workout, hundreds of crunches not required. Pilin Anice, demonstrating this move here, is a dance instructor with Ailey Extension, which offers "real classes for real people" in a wide variety of dance and fitness techniques. To sign up for Anice's yoga class or view the schedule of virtual and in-person classes, visit aileyextension.com.
Season 5: Ep. 1: Mickela Mallozzi kicks off this new season of Bare Feet celebrating black voices in the arts by dancing with Virginia Johnson and the renowned Dance Theatre of Harlem, along with Misty Copeland and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater! She drums and dances with the Brooklyn United Marching Band, celebrating Juneteenth with Black-owned small business owners, restaurants, and festivals throughout the city!
We have all done it. You prepare to execute a series of flawless turns, only to fall flat to the floor. Or perhaps you're struggling to nail the balance at the end of a combination at the barre. You try again and again, but finding your center seems impossible—so you let yourself lean back or lower your standing heel just a little bit, just this once. While it seems like a good idea in the moment, that move has consequences that can range from inefficient movement patterns to serious injury. Fortunately, we can beat both the cheat and its potential side effects.
The pandemic did not stop New Yorkers from working up a sweat inside their homes through virtual dance classes. From keeping the beat to ending with a strong finish, Samba instructor Danielle Lima makes sure students get in a good workout during her class even though they aren't actually in the room. The pandemic didn't stop Lima from moving her feet.
When I was in high school, my friends at The Chicago Academy for the Arts told me about Lisa Johnson-Willingham, an impressive former Ailey dancer who was teaching Horton at Joel Hall Dancers & Center on Thursday nights. I decided I ought to give her class a try. The first time I went, I didn’t even pay for class. In fact, I don’t think I ever paid for her class. She was tough as nails, but she was always generous. The room was packed with people from all over the city. From modern dancers to professional ballet dancers to young students—everyone wanted to learn from her. Her classroom got so hot from sweaty bodies that the windows completely fogged up and contrasted the cold night outside.
Dance, fashion, and self-expression. It’s the heart and soul of voguing— a dance anyone can do. Just pretend you’re a model posing on a runway. “It’s not just an LGBTQ+ kind of thing,” said Vogue icon and pioneer Cesar Valentino. “It was always open to everyone and to people who just wanted to dress up and have a good time.”
As we gear up to celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is encouraging moms to have fun being fit and fabulous by offering virtual fitness classes. The Ailey Extension is a division of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater that offers “real classes for real people.” During the month of May, National Physical Fitness Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, they’re offering virtual classes and special workshops to promote physical and mental fitness.
For the past year, the Covid-19 pandemic has forced performing arts students to adjust to online Zoom classes, putting many of the performances on hold. NBC News’ Isa Gutierrez spoke to teachers and students, including Ailey Extension Director Lisa Johnson-Willingham, about how they have adapted to learning and teaching remotely.
Ailey Extension instructor Janelle Issis shares how she will have you moving and shaking in her BellydanceBURN class, available online through Ailey All Access.