my hamstrings hurt. too stretched out.

Ya know what that means? Too many downward dogs. Troppo yoga. (That means “too much yoga” in Italian.)

Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against yoga. I love many forms of it. Years ago it was the physical practice that kept me connected with my body after I quit ballet. Lots of gratitude for it and for those who are called to practice and teach it.

I just have one issue. In general, there’s troppo yoga and poco danza. (That means “too much yoga and too little dance” in Italian.)

Yoga/fitness studios have popped up everywhere, and oftentimes a Zumba class will get thrown into the mix, but what about spaces for pure dance? Free, expressive dance? Dance of many forms and styles? Dance that creates a welcoming atmosphere accessible to everyone, no matter how much experience you have or what your body is like? Those are the spaces I dream about.

Those are the spaces I’ve been creating here in NYC with my Dance Again programs, and those are the spaces I’ve been helping others to create in their local areas with the Dance Again Teacher Training.

(Because, while dancing alone, together from our solitary bedrooms is one amazing option, I also know the power of coming together in the same room, human bodies with permission to move.)

if you’ve ever thought about joining or creating this kind of space for dance, I invite you to join us.

Even if you have no formal dance training - especially if you have none! We need you. And when I say “we” I’m speaking for the people out there who are moving through their days thinking “someday I’ll dance” and meanwhile, their shoulders feel weighed down from troppo stress and their hamstrings are overstretched from troppo yoga and their soul is locked inside their body that keeps moving forward but forgets to move from within. They/we are craving these spaces for dance, and we can only create them together.

Learn more about the training here.

Balliamo. (That means “let’s dance” in Italian.)

from hamstrings to heartstrings,

Jess