Harper Watters is a ballet dancer for today's generation. A social media maestro and a charismatic performer, the Houston Ballet soloist is equally at home in front of the camera hosting his hit YouTube series, "The Pre Show"; interacting with fans on his crazy-popular Instagram account; or showing off his beautiful classical technique onstage. It's a multifaceted identity that's proven to be invaluable to his career—and it's taking him to places he never even dreamed of.

Baby Boy

Watters was born in Atlanta, GA, but was adopted at two weeks old and raised in Dover, NH. He started tap and jazz classes at an early age. "I was a constant mover as a kid," he says. But his first exposure to ballet wasn't in the classroom—it was via a VHS tape of New York City Ballet's production of The Nutcracker. "I watched it 10,000 times," he says. "I even choreographed my own one-man Nutcracker over a holiday break."

Photo by Thornton

However, becoming a ballet dancer wasn't his end goal. "I was set on joining Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater," Watters says. "They were the first professional company I saw perform, and I was so inspired by the fact that dancers who looked like me were up on that stage. I researched how to get into the company, and found out that a ballet class was part of the audition. So, it was set—I had to become better at ballet to join Ailey." Watters started training at the Portsmouth School of Ballet in Portsmouth, NH, where he learned the fundamentals and "most importantly," he jokes, "the proper way to put on a dance belt."

Schoolin' Life

After Watters spent his sophomore and junior years at the Walnut Hill School for the Performing Arts, and attended the Washington Ballet summer intensive, a career in classical dance seemed more real. "I attended the Houston Ballet summer intensive the following year, and they placed me in the highest level, so I basically thought I was the next Carlos Acosta," Watters says. "The first day proved I was highly delusional."

Photo by Thornton

At the end of that summer, he was offered a contract with Houston Ballet's second company. "I loved that Houston Ballet was dancing amazing rep, and that their dancers had this incredible mix of finesse, confidence, and artistry," Watters says. In 2012, he was promoted to the main company, and by 2018, he was a soloist.

Me, Myself, and I

These days, Watters is also a bona-fide social media star. But his internet fame didn't happen overnight. "When I first started my YouTube channel, I was only copying things I'd seen—viral challenges, trends—and those videos weren't doing very well," he says. "I just kept reminding myself that Beyoncé wasn't built in a day."

Photo by Thornton

Enter "The Pre Show," Watters' hilarious, honest, and unfiltered view into his dressing room shenanigans. " 'The Pre Show' started out of pure boredom. The conversations that happened between my dressing-room mates and I were too funny to not film," he says. Viewers agreed, and "The Pre Show" took off. "I think it resonated with people because they saw these unique dancers who werevocal and breaking stereotypes," he says.

Watters recognized how powerful and positive social media could be. " 'The Pre Show' happened organically, and the response was incredible," he says. "Building a community of people was so rewarding, and that's what keeps me going. People follow me for me , for what I'm doing and who I am. And that taught me how crucial it is to be 100 percent authentic."

Six-Inch Heels

That authenticity is on full display in the now-viral video of Watters and former Houston Ballet company member Rhys Kosakowski strutting their stuff on treadmills while wearing sky-high pink stilettos. It's been viewed over a million times, and it became the first in a series of heels videos that have brought Watters one opportunity after another. "People might see these videos and think, 'Oh, that's funny,' but it's way more than that," Watters says. "They embody this long journey towards self-acceptance." The social media success was also a big boost to his confidence. "In the heels videos I was projecting this persona that was sassy and fabulous, and I was like, 'Why don't I do this every day?' You have to own it, and once I did, I was able to explore new movement, shake off little things that used to really irritate me, and come into my own."

Photo by Thornton

Kosakowski, who's a mainstay on "The Pre Show," agrees. "Harper's showing people not to be afraid of who they are," Kosakowski says. "If you want to put on makeup and heels, do it. His message is exactly what this generation of ballet boys, and the whole ballet community, needs right now."

He Came to Slay

Despite the success of the heels series, Watters is quick to clarify that he is first and foremost a classical ballet dancer. But that doesn't mean he isn't seizing every opportunity he gets, especially when it comes to educating the general public about the ballet world. "The treadmill video has been picked up by everyone from the TV show 'Broad City' to Elle.com, and their audiences don't know much about dance," he says. "Using these opportunities to shatter ballet stereotypes is important to me."

Photo by Thornton

One particularly special collaboration was with Urban Outfitters for its #UOPride campaign, which launched last June in honor of Pride month. "I think Harper shows that professionalism and authenticity don't have to be mutually exclusive," says Jason Donahoe, former senior content editor for UO. "To do what he does, onstage and online, requires an openness and vulnerability, a lot of self-knowledge, and a lot of self-acceptance. Dancer or not, I think everybody can learn from that."

Who Run the World?

Unsurprisingly, Watters' dream project is totally original—and totally him. "I'd love to have a talk show, but with a performance aspect, like if Wendy Williams and Beyoncé had a child," he says. "I don't want to do anything that's already been done."

Photo by Thornton

In the meantime, his priority is continuing his ballet career, while remaining tapped into pop culture and social media. "When I first started using Instagram, everyone laughed it off," he says. "But look at everything it can bring you, and all the ways you can use it. We're living in a time where the most powerful thing you can be is yourself. So, own it."

A version of this story appeared in the February 2018 issue of Dance Spirit with the title "He Ain't Sorry ."

Ah, fouetté turns: They can make even a veteran ballerina shake in her pointe shoes. Performing a seamless series of perfectly placed fouettés requires both strength and finesse. Struggling to get to 32? Dance instructor Stephanie Kaiser Green from Eleanor's School of Dance and other studios in Albany, NY, told us her 10 best tips for improving fouettés.

Close Your Ribs

During fouetté sequences, "many dancers let their ribs splay open in front," Green says, which throws off their alignment. "I tell them to think about wearing a corset, so their rib cage stays closed."

Stay Aligned

It's important to keep your body straight up and down in any turn, but especially while you're doing fouettés. Imagine a pole running down the center of your body, from the top of your head through your supporting leg and foot.

Rotate Your Hips

Achieving a clean second position during a fouetté is impossible if your turnout isn't coming from the hip. "If you think about rotating from deep within your hip, and focus on drawing the heel of the working leg forward, you'll engage correctly through your hamstring instead of gripping your quad," Green says.

Don't Hyperextend Your Arms

With most of the focus on your lower half, it's easy to neglect your arms during fouettés. "Many dancers hyperextend their arms in the back, swinging them behind their torso every time they plié," Green says. "Then they have a lot more to pull back in as they relevé."

Use Your Peripheral Vision

To make sure your arms and working leg are hitting the correct position each turn, Green advises using your peripheral vision. "Even when they open in second, the arms and working leg should stay a little bit in front of you," she says, which will help you stay on your leg.

Create Momentum

Properly placed arms will also help you gain momentum during fouettés. "Think about pulling your supporting side arm in quickly," Green recommends, which will bring your body around with more force and ease the burden on your legs.

Work on Your Balance—Everywhere

One of the keys to perfect fouettés is great balance, something that's only achievable through practice. Green suggests practicing constantly, whether you're warming up before class or in line at Starbucks. Rise to relevé on one leg, focusing on holding the balance, with good turnout, for as long as you can. Then switch legs.

Take a Pilates Class

Green is a huge fan of pilates. It's great for strengthening your center, which is essential for turning. "Pilates is focused on core training, so any Pilates exercise is going to be good for your turns in general," Green says.

Build Your Strength

Being able to survive 32 fouettés is as much about strength as it is about technique. Here's Green's go-to exercise for building fouetté-specific strength: Stand by a wall with your right leg in second. Plié deeply and then stretch up through relevé. Do 15 reps, and then repeat to the other side.

Don't Lose Your Spot

Never. Stop. Spotting. 'Nuff said.

After years of watching the incredible feats posted on @worldwideballet , we thought we'd seen it all.

We thought we were hard. Jaded. Unable to be moved by even the tornado-iest turn sequence or sky-grazing-est extension.

Then, the account posted a video of an unsupported arabesque promenade on pointe, as executed by Los Angeles Ballet's Abby Callahan ( @bunhead1027 ). And guys: It got us. It got us GOOD.

Just...how?? HOWWWW????

We bow down to you, Abby, and your truly unbelievable inner thigh strength. #goalsgoalsgoals

Houston Ballet soloist Harper Watters has over 130,000 followers on Instagram, so it's safe to say he knows a thing or two about crafting the perfect post. Here are his pro tips.

1. Less Is More!

"I rarely use filters. A little brightness and a little sharpening usually do the trick. If all else fails, black-and-white can save the day."

2. Get to the Point

"I save the long, emotional quotes for my Facebook statuses. I keep Insta captions short and always add a dash of humor. Can't think of anything? Drop a few emojis. Also, be sure to tag any brands you're wearing—you could get noticed by the company."

3. Use the "Explore" Page

" 'Liking' the content that Instagram suggests for you is a fantastic way to broaden your audience and connect with like-minded individuals. You'll see new traffic on your page and also discover new people and brands."

4. Stay True to You

"Post what makes you happy. You have a much better chance of attracting followers with similar interests if you post what you actually like. And the quality of your followers is much more important than the number."

Want to hear more from the social media sensei? Click here!

A version of this story appeared in the February 2018 issue of Dance Spirit with the title "Insta Tips from an Insta Master."

Leap! National Dance Competition offers dancers of all skill levels an opportunity to showcase their talents in an event where the focus is on fun and competing is just a bonus!

Drew Vamosi, a professional dancer and former studio owner, founded Leap! and serves as its Executive Director. Vamosi, who fell in love with dance at the age of three, attended Oklahoma City University as a dance major and has numerous professional credits in television commercials and national and European touring productions. He served as the Director of CAM Talent Agency in Cincinnati, Ohio and is the co-founder and former Owner/Director of BravO! National Dance and Talent Competition.

Vamosi's dedication to instilling the love of dance in teachers, students and parents led him to found Leap! National Dance Competition , which is based in Omaha, Nebraska. This exciting dance competition provides the stage for recreational and professional-dancers-in-training to shine with more than a dozen events scheduled annually from coast to coast.

Leap! offers two levels of competition for participants to choose from, a unique adjudication system, and an exclusive leaping competition are just some of the elements that put Leap! in a category all its own when it comes to national dance competitions.

Leap! competitions are open to dancers of all skill levels. SKIP! level competition is for recreational dancers who spend less than five hours a week in the studio. Serious dancers with an eye toward a career in the dance industry can enter the Leap! level competition for a bigger challenge.

Leap! 's panel of judges is unique to the dance competition industry. By coincidence, the first event featured three male judges, and according to Vamosi, it was positive participant feedback about that all-male panel that led Leap! to continue the tradition. All judges are professional dancers and teachers, and they are selected for their diverse knowledge in all areas of dance.

Leap! judges evaluate dancers according to a star ranking instead of the traditional bronze, silver, gold, and platinum awards seen in other competitions. This unique adjudication system diverts focus away from winning and losing and puts more of an emphasis on dancers embracing the opportunity to be the best they can be with a chance to go home with a top honor. Vamosi feels that this helps keep dancers and their parents from fixating on the competition side of the Leap! experience.

The Leap! for the Stars competition is the only one of its kind in the industry. Dancers who enter this special showcase competition have an additional opportunity to show off their leaping abilities. Participants compete in two groups, ages 12-19, and ages 11 and under. Dancers are free to do a series of leaps across the stage or focus their efforts on a single leap. Leapers are judged on height, style and creativity. The winner receives a cash award, merchandise credit, a special prize from sponsor Dream Duffel, and the honor of having their award-winning leap featured on the home page of the Leap! website.

Vamosi believes that above all else, dance should be fun for the participants as well as the spectators. Leap! competitions are high energy from beginning to end with the dancers' performances enhanced by a state-of-the-art professional light and sound system. Music videos between dance routines and exciting audience giveaways ensure everybody dances away with precious memories and a positive and uplifting experience.

For more information about performance guidelines, rules, and the current Leap! National Dance Competition schedule, please visit www.leapcompetition.com or call 1-800-790-LEAP (5327).

Sofia Wylie might be best-known for playing Buffy in the hit Disney Channel show "Andi Mack," but it's her dancing that originally propelled her into the spotlight. Even before her breakout role, the Arizona native had an enviable resumé that ranged from dancing on tour with Justin Bieber to performing at Radio City Music Hall. Stints on TV shows like "America's Got Talent" and "So You Think You Can Dance " gave her way more visibility in the industry, which in turn brought more opportunities her way.

Now Wylie's an up-and-coming celeb hoping to use her platform to boost the careers of other dancers. Her new YouTube dance series is one of her attempts to give back to the dance community. "My goal is to help dancers get that look that might help them book their next big break," Wylie says. One of the most popular videos from her series is a dance tribute to the hit film The Greatest Showman , featuring dancers from Utah to California, which has already garnered over 150,000 views. Wylie's videos seem to be producing the outcome she's been hoping for because a number of dancers have obtained dance gigs as a result of the exposure her videos brought them. "There are so many amazing dancers and sometimes all they need is a chance to be seen," she says.

And even though Wylie's acting career keeps her busy, she remains committed to her dance roots. We caught up with Wylie to find out how her dancing has influenced her acting and get her audition advice.

What's your favorite style of dance?

I've trained in everything but I love hip hop; I just love how free it is. My dad was a dancer during the original hip hop movement, and he encouraged me to learn about all styles of dance, including the culture and community that originally created each one! So there's a special connection there.

If you could dance with anyone, living or dead, who would you dance with?

Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Beyoncé, and Rihanna.

What are your pre-performance rituals?

I love to close my eyes and visualize my performance from start to finish. I've had the opportunity to dance in some amazing places! So most of the time I'm also pinching myself before I perform because I know how lucky I am!

Photo by Dave Brewer, courtesy Disney Channel

How has your dance training helped you with your acting?

Dancing and acting are very similar. You can learn the choreography or you learn your lines, but the performance doesn't come alive until you truly live it! In both acting and dancing my goal is to become part of the scene or the movement. Sometimes I forget I'm Sofia because I get lost in my emotions.

And how has your acting helped with your dancing?

My acting training allows me to perform more than just the choreography. It's taught me how to bring a character to life in dance. My goal is to tell a story in my movement. I recently started teaching a class on how to use basic acting skills, like facial changes and connecting with a camera, while dancing.

What inspired your YouTube series?

A few months ago I decided to start filming a monthly dance series. My goal was to help dancers and performers who don't have a large platform to get noticed. I have a great opportunity to give back to the dance community, by using my social media following to showcase dancers across America!

Wylie (third from the left) in "This Is Me," a tribute to the film "The Greatest Showman" (photo by Riley Jackson, courtesy Sofia Wylie)

You've been holding a lot of auditions for this project. What's it like being on the other side of the audition table?

I've learned that confidence is vital! I find myself casting dancers that have a certain level of self-confidence and special stage presence over dancers who just stick all the moves.

Photo by Dave Brewer, courtesy Disney Channel

Do you have any tips for young dancers looking to break into other performance fields like you did?

The most important thing is to never give up. I had a lot of "NOs" in my short career, but what I've learned is you can never stop believing in yourself!

You can catch Sofia Wylie on an episode of "Andi Mack" tonight at 8:00 pm, ET/PT on Disney Channel

These days, dancers are on television more than ever before. From live shows like "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Dancing with the Stars" to teen sitcoms like "Shake It Up," flip through your TV lineup and you'll see dancers in more than just music videos and award shows.

But what is it actually like to dance on TV? We caught up with Tiffany Maher from BET's hit drama series "Hit the Floor" to find out. Dance is the focal point of "Hit the Floor," which centers on the Devil Girls, dancers for the faux-NBA Los Angeles Devils. Maher (who's also a "SYTYCD" alum) took some time out between rehearsals, fittings, and catching a flight to teach at Tremaine Dance Conventions to give us the behind-the-scenes scoop—and to explain what exactly "bacting" is. Because we definitely don't know.

Tiffany Maher (front) on "Hit the Floor" (photo by Ron Jaffe, courtesy Sarah Fahey)

Before the Shoot

What do all professional dancers have in common? They rehearse. Dancers on "Hit the Floor" log eight-hour rehearsal days before filming even starts. "The challenge is finding a day where all three actresses who dance with us can be in rehearsal together," Maher explains. "They all have such different filming schedules. So normally the dance is prepped, taught to the dancers, and then taught to the actresses before we solidify everything. Sometimes the process takes one day. Sometimes it takes four."

The Devil Girls always have a camera blocking rehearsal as well, which is a change from typical stage performance rehearsals. "For television, sometimes you have to cheat your angles or cheat a formation to get a shot," Maher adds. "Our choreographer always goes over the steps slowly to tell us the different angles that look better on camera."

The dancers' days on set always start with hair and makeup. For the Devil Girls' smoky-eye, red-lip, curled-hair look, the whole process takes about two hours. "Specialty numbers take even longer to get ready for," Maher says. "In Season 2, we had a Bollywood number that took four hours. There's one number you'll see this season that took three to four hours for everyone to finish. But the hair and makeup was amazing!"

On Set

When the show airs, all the audience sees is a fierce two-minute number. In reality, one routine normally takes between three and four hours to shoot. First, as a warm up, the dancers run the number for the crew, so they can get an idea of how to film it before they hit record. But once the camera starts rolling, the dancers are expected to do their best work in every take.

"We always do five or six passes of the dance all the way through, and then we'll break it up into sections," Maher says. "We do that for various reasons. Sometimes it's to get a part really tight; sometimes it's to get a specific look between two characters for the storyline." Devil Girls are always serving drama!

After filming the dance routine, frequently the Devil Girls stay for "bacting."

OK, for real: What is bacting?

Since "Hit the Floor" is first and foremost a scandalous drama, the dancers aren't always just dancing on set. They're often "background acting," aka bacting. "We always have so much fun with it," Tiffany says. "And the producers give each Devil Girl a line every season, which is really sweet."

Maher (front) on "Hit the Floor"—with some serious "bacting" going on behind her (Ron Jaffe, courtesy Sarah Fahey)

What It Takes to Dance on TV

The Devil Girls dance in styles including hip hop, jazz, Bollywood, contemporary, lyrical, heels, and jazz funk, and their hot routines are choreographed by Michael Rooney (whose resumé, by the way, is six pages long). "I wasn't expecting how intense the dancing would be on the show. It's no joke," Maher laughs. "I have so much respect for the actresses who dance with us because it's not easy. Especially by the tenth take!"

Clearly, if you want to be a Devil Girl, versatility is key. Maher remembers that part of the three-day audition included reading lines for the casting director. While this can admittedly be more nerve-wracking for a dancer than just, well, dancing, having some acting chops is definitely required for a show like "Hit The Floor."

Dancing on Camera vs. Dancing Onstage

Maher admits that performing for the camera is very different from performing for a traditional audience. Dancing live is one shot; on a TV series, there are always multiple takes. In a live show, you can get your energy from the crowd; on camera, you have to pull it from within yourself. In a traditional performance, you might spend some time in the back row; in a filmed production, you'll probably have to work it for a camera right in front of your face. It takes some getting used to.

That said, filming videos has become a prominent part of taking class these days, and Maher urges young dancers to take full advantage of any opportunity to perform on film. "It's important to be comfortable getting up close and personal with the camera and looking directly into the lens," she says.

Even after all of the preparation, there's still a lot to keep in mind once filming begins. "It is important to be attentive, efficient, and follow all directions," Maher says. "Be wise about your angles. Be aware of your formations. If you can't see the camera, the camera can't see you. Always ask the director if you're looking into the lens or past the lens. If a camera looks like it might hit you or you might hit it, stop dancing! Do not hit the camera," she laughs. "It is so expensive."

Picture this: You've made it to the final round of an audition. All your hard work has paid off, and you're feeling good. Then the artistic director stands up and asks you to join her in another room for a one-on-one interview. Wait, what?

Many dance companies include interviews as part of their audition process. "I need to know more about people than what I see on the floor," says Debbie Blunden-Diggs, the artistic director of Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. It's normal to be nervous when you're faced with an interview—especially when you're used to letting your dancing do the talking. To help you prepare, Dance Spirit asked Blunden-Diggs and two other artistic directors for their tips to help you put your best (interview) foot forward.

Questions and Answers

What kinds of questions should you expect during an audition interview? While it varies from company to company, all three artistic directors agree that they ask questions for the purpose of getting to know you better. In other words, it's not a test that you can only pass with the "right" answer.

• "Why do you want to be here?"

You probably have a ready reason that includes the repertoire and/or choreographers at the company. But use this question to show that you understand being a professional is about more than performance highlights. Are you interested in the company's education programs? Say so. Did you notice that the dancers often choreograph? Mention that you make work. Blunden-Diggs urges dancers to think, and speak, specifically about how they might fit in. "Before you put your name on the line, understand what you're coming into," she says.

Oliver Wevers (left) working in the studio (photo by Bamberg Fine Art, courtesy Whim W'Him)

• "How do you deal with stress? Injury?"

Zoé Henrot, artistic director of St. Paul Ballet, says that she poses what she calls "situational character questions" to potential new hires, to hear how they solve problems and defuse tense moments. This helps her assess the work ethic and drive of the person she's interviewing. If you encounter this kind of question, don't make assumptions about what the director wants to hear—they're probably asking because they want to know more about your personality and how you'd vibe with the company. If you give an answer just to please the director, it's a disservice to both of you. "Being in the studio is a social experiment," says Olivier Wevers, the founder and artistic director of Whim W'him Contemporary Dance. "The right personalities are important for the success of the creation process."

• "What are your other interests?"

"We want to nurture people off the marley," Blunden-Diggs says. If you're mostly interested in dance-related activities, that's totally fine. But it doesn't make you look less professional to talk about nondance hobbies and interests—in fact, it might help the director remember you, or envision you fitting into the bigger picture.

Wevers (left) with Whim W'Him dancers in rehearsal (photo by Bamberg Fine Art, courtesy Whim W'him)

• "Do you have any questions for me?"

In order to avoid that awful, put-on-the-spot feeling, prepare a list of questions beforehand, "even if they're just clarifying questions," Henrot says. Try to find a balance that shows you're invested in becoming a long-term company member (no director wants to feel like you're treating her company as a pit stop in your career!), while still addressing any logistic and artistic concerns you might have. "The audition interview is a two-way street, and I think that's forgotten," Wevers says. "When I feel a dancer interviewing me, I love it. It means they're inquisitive and they'll be that way in the studio, too."

A version of this story appeared in the February 2018 issue of Dance Spirit with the title "Acing The Interview."

At 11 years old, Cierra McCauley has already fought one of the hardest battles one can face—the battle against cancer. At age 6, Cierra was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. But having danced since she was 3, Cierra decided to continue dancing and ended up using it as a way to cope with her illness. Cierra even competed in Nationals during her chemotherapy treatments (That's one tough dancing kween). "I remember going on stage without any hair and a bow taped to my head," she says. "That year I finished fourth at Nationals in my age group."

Cierra saw dance as an escape that allowed her to focus on something other than her pain. Now she's healthy and wants to use dance to help other kids, the way it helped her. "You do feel better when you're dancing, and it's a good inspiration for kids when they're in the hospital," she says.

After performing a tribute dedicated to the friends she lost to cancer, she decided to create a social media challenge to raise funds for Pediatric Research and Patient Care at Riley Hospital for Children. And the best part is YOU can help Cierra by using your krazy kool dance moves to choreograph your own dance to Meghan Trainor's Better When I'm Dancin song . Then tag it with #DancerBeatingCancer and challenge your friends. And don't forget to visit the Riley Children's Foundation website to donate to the cause.

Just in case you need some danceperation, we've included a few of our favorite vids:

At 11 years old, Cierra McCauley has already fought one of the hardest battles one can face—the battle against cancer. At age 6, Cierra was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. But having danced since she was 3, Cierra decided to continue dancing and ended up using it as a way to cope with her illness. Cierra even competed in Nationals during her chemotherapy treatments (that's one tough dancing kween). "I remember going on stage without any hair and a bow taped to my head," she says. "That year I finished fourth at Nationals in my age group."

Cierra saw dance as an escape that allowed her to focus on something other than her pain. Now she's healthy and wants to use dance to help other kids, the way it helped her. "You do feel better when you're dancing, and it's a good inspiration for kids when they're in the hospital," she says.

After performing a tribute dedicated to the friends she lost to cancer, she decided to create a social media challenge to raise funds for Pediatric Research and Patient Care at Riley Hospital for Children. And the best part is YOU can help Cierra by using your krazy kool dance moves to choreograph your own dance to Meghan Trainor's Better When I'm Dancin song . Then tag it with #DancerBeatingCancer and challenge your friends. And don't forget to visit the Riley Children's Foundation website to donate to the cause.

Just in case you need some dancepiration, we've included a few of our favorite vids:

Pretty much every ballet student struggles with fouettés, those fiendishly difficult turns that require both crazy strength and laser-sharp precision. But even the pros, who can make 32 of 'em look effortless, still get a bit of fouetté fear—especially when they're fouetté-ing at the end of Swan Lake 's Black Swan pas de deux, one of the most difficult, and exhausting, pieces of classical choreography.

Pacific Northwest Ballet's Swan Lake opens this week (be sure to tune into their live-streamed rehearsal this afternoon !), and the Seattle Times caught up with three of the company's Odette/Odiles—Laura Tisserand, Lesley Rausch, and Elizabeth Murphy—to talk about those infamous fouettés. Their consensus? Yes, they're intimidating, even for gorgeous principal ballerinas, and getting through them is a matter of finding ways to push through the nerves.

"You start those turns, and you know that, even for a novice in the audience who's never seen a ballet in their life, it's clear what you're supposed to keep doing," Rausch told the Times . But "it is what it is, and you don't have time to allow yourself that indecisive moment of fear." A little audience support always helps, too. "You feel people start to get excited, and...it's like everyone's on your team," Murphy says.

Read the whole article here , which includes a video of Rausch talking through her fouetté strategy. And if you need help fixing your own fouettés (who doesn't?), check out our top tips .

In our "Dear Katie" series, former NYCB soloist Kathryn Morgan answers your pressing dance questions. Have something you want to ask Katie? Email dearkatie@dancespirit.com for a chance to be featured!

Dear Katie,

I like dance, but what I really want to do is choreograph. The problem is that I'm only 15 and I live in a small town, so there aren't many opportunities for me to create dances. How can I develop the skills I need to become a choreographer?

Angelica

Dear Angelica,

Good for you! I'd suggest reaching out to your local arts community. Is there a small theater group with a musical coming up? That could be a great place to start your choreographic adventure. Are any nearby schools or churches putting on productions? They'd probably be thrilled to have you!

In terms of developing your skills, there's so much available online these days. Watch videos of pieces by your favorite choreographers. Analyze the patterns and formations they use, the structures of their pas de deux, and the way they connect to music.

You can also put together a choreography reel, even if you don't have professional experience yet. Find friends or classmates who are willing to be your guinea pigs, create something small for them during your downtime in the studio, film it, and post it to YouTube. That way, you'll have something to show the people you'll be reaching out to. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there!

For more of Katie's helpful tips and advice, click here .

Last night marked the 60th annual Grammy Award ceremony, and the 3-and-a-half-hour event was beyond inspiring. The evening's performances were brimming with passionate pleas and political pronouncements. And though the Grammys are typically all about the music, last night proved that great music and great dancing go hand-in-hand. Check out our favorite dance-y moments:

Bruno Mars and Cardi B, Finesse

Kendrick Lamar featuring U2 & Dave Chappelle, Medley

There were chills when Kendrick Lamar opened the Grammys with this moving military-inspired dance routine. Lamar himself seemed to be overcome by emotion at times, which made his performance all the more exhilarating. He dove into his hit song New Freezer, while a taiko drummer dressed in white breakdanced across the floor. The piece ends with dancers in red dropping to the ground. The routine was clearly meant to make a statement about political issues in America and the dancing emphasized Lamar's sentiments.

DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna & Bryson Tiller, Wild Thoughts

It's hard not to gush about choreographer Lauren Adams. The always-smiling 24 Seven faculty member has a heart of gold, and the moves to match: She's a contemporary queen who can also hold her own in the ballroom and at the ballet barre. Add the fact that she's a total knockout, and it's safe to say Lauren is equal parts #goals and #girlcrush. So how does she stay so happy, healthy, fit, and fabulous? Here are her secrets.

1. She gets her LOL on daily.

"The most important thing I strive to do every single day is laugh," Adams says. "While I absolutely love my job, I can get pretty serious when I'm working. I become physically, mentally, and emotionally drained after I teach, choreograph, or judge. The best medicine I know of is laughter. Thankfully, I have a really funny husband, quite a few hilarious friends, and a stunning little dog with a healthy sense of humor. I also love to unwind while watching comedy TV series. Right now I'm loving Jerry Seinfeld's 'Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.'"

2. She stays hydrated.

"I try to drink a ton of pH-balanced water," Adams says. "I feel so much better when I'm hydrated. Since I travel a lot, staying hydrated is practically a full-time job, but I feel more awake and my skin looks better when I drink at least 10 8-ounce glasses of water per day. Water is the key to success."

3. She makes moving a priority.

"When I'm not traveling, I go to at least one movement class per day," Adams says. "I alternate between Pilates, Gyrotonic, weight training, and Latin ballroom lessons. I love being a student! On days when I can't get out, I'll get on my elliptical or do my new favorite thing, which is following along with a Jane Fonda workout DVD. Let me tell you, Jane Fonda is legit! I'm sore for days after her program."

4. She connects to her emotions through music.

"When I'm stressed, or if I just need a good, healthy cry, I listen to music. I'm addicted to Spotify. I look forward to Mondays, because they curate a new playlist each week called 'Discover Weekly' based on your individual taste."

5. She doesn't stress about her diet.

"If you know me, you know I have a sweet tooth—but I really love vegetables, too, I swear," Adams says. "I was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism, so I'm giving up gluten and I've cut back, ever so slightly, on sugar. I will say, though, I think it's super important to enjoy your life, and a big part of my life's enjoyment is eating. So I truly eat whatever I want, whenever I want."

6. She loves a good soak.

"I believe wholeheartedly in Epsom salt baths," Lauren says. "I don't think there's much they can't cure."

In less than a week, Mr. Justin Timberlake and his crew of amazing dancers will take to the biggest stage of their lives: center field at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN, for the Super Bowl LII halftime show.

We know the performance will be top-notch; we'd expect nothing less from JT. (Although we're guessing that, 15 years after the "nipplegate" scandal , the costumes will be, uh, full-coverage.) But exactly how fabulous will the choreography be? Well, we just got a look at some behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage. And based on the clips, the answer to that question appears to be: very fabulous.

The sneak peek comes courtesy of Pepsi, which documented Timberlake's NYC rehearsal time with longtime choreographer Marty Kudelka. Not only has Kudelka been with JT from the beginning (and by beginning, we mean *NSYNC days)—many of Justin's dancers have also been loyal to the star for years, including our fave Dana Wilson, who's all over this vid. (Ivan Koumaev, we see you, too!)

"13 minutes of insanity is fixin' to happen," Kudelka says. "The hard thing is only having 13 minutes." We can't wait.

If you're one of the lucky dancers #blessed with hyperextended knees, you know that while they're super-pretty to look at, they're also super-prone to injury. Dance Spirit asked Sean P. Gallagher, BFA, PT, CFT, CPT, MS, and founder of Performing Arts Physical Therapy in NYC, about the most effective strengthening moves for hyperextension.

Photos by Jayme Thornton. Modeled by Sarah Meahl.

Exercise #1 – Skeletal Alignment Awareness Knee Sink

PT's Note: This exercise will discourage you from constantly standing in hyperextension by training your mind and muscles to be aware of your knee position.

1. Start standing with your legs shoulder-width apart. Allow yourself to relax into your what feels like your "normal" standing position, with your knees hyperextended but not locked.

Exercise #2 – Hamstring Stretch

PT's Note: This exercise encourages hamstring stability, as your hamstrings are key tendons in maintaining a proper, non-hyperextended standing position.

1. Start facing a barre or table that's a little more than hip height.

2. Place your right foot and ankle on the barre or tabletop, keeping both legs and your torso straight and both legs in parallel. Make sure your knees aren't hyperextended, but in "normal" position from Exercise #1.

4. Repeat this stretch with your raised leg turned out. Switch legs and repeat each stretch.

Exercise #3 – Theraband Strengthening for the Knees

Position A

1. Tie a Theraband in a loop around a stationary object. Step your left leg inside the loop and position the Theraband behind your knee. Walk backwards until there's tension in the band.

Position B

2. Slowly bend and straighten your right leg 10 times, making sure to remain in "normal" position, and avoid hyperextending the knee. Switch legs and repeat the exercise.

A version of this story appeared in the January 2018 issue of Dance Spirit with the title "Calling All #Hype Girls."

For any dancer, there are some days when staying on the music can feel almost impossible. But the dancers of the China Disabled Peoples' Performing Arts Troupe are known for performing with exquisite musicality—even though they're deaf.

Founded in 1987, the China Disable Peoples' Performing Arts Troupe includes both hard-of-hearing dancers and blind musicians. Members of the dance group may not be able to rely on music to synchronize their movements, but their teachers have developed a method to help the performers stay on the music. By clapping to the beat, the teachers create vibrations that the dancers can feel in their body. This approach allows the dancer to sense the beat without using their ears, and has helped them develop a fluidity to their movements.

Watch these dancers as they embody George Balanchine's famous quote: "See the music, hear the dance."

Gorgeous Dutch National Ballet soloist Michaela DePrince is no stranger to fabulously dancey ad campaigns. (Hello, Jockey .) But her new spot for Chase QuickPay—which you probably noticed during the Grammy Awards Sunday night, and about every five minutes since—might be our favorite Michaela ad to date.

Why? First, because we get to see her in beautiful ballerina mode, doing an epic grand jeté in a fantasy sequence. Second, because we also get to see her hanging out with her real-life sister/bestie, Mia . And the two of them are the. cutest. ever.

The cheeky classical piano cover of "Wrecking Ball" is just the icing on the cake:

You're dressed in your favorite gear, ready to dance—but instead of heading to the studio, you take out your smartphone. A dance celeb has posted a new master class online, and you can't wait to dive in. Then, you might watch a popular choreographer's newest step-by-step tutorial. Who doesn't want to get words of wisdom from the best in the biz?

But while video classes and tutorials have definite benefits, they can't compare to in-person sessions with a teacher who knows you and has watched you grow. Here are tips to help you navigate the world of online learning, so you can find supplemental training that helps you become the best dancer you can be.

Learn from the Pros

The upsides to online dance training are pretty obvious: Technology can get you closer to the professional dancers you admire. Hearing from working pros can inspire you and help you plan your career. And "the more teachers you learn from, the more diverse your skill set will be," says dancer and choreographer Matt Steffanina, whose hip-hop tutorials and dance videos average millions of views on YouTube.

Some teachers and choreographers, like Steffanina, post free videos. Others charge for their content, but the fee is generally much less than you'd pay to travel to NYC or L.A. to train, or to bring someone out to your area. One company, CLI Studios, operates on a membership model, partnering with dance schools to give students and teachers access to more than 150 hours of classes from popular instructors. (Among the fan faves you'll find on the CLI Studios site and app are Allison Holker, Stephen "tWitch" Boss, Teddy Forance, and Kathryn McCormick.)

Nick Lazzarini teaching a CLI Studios class (photo by Lee Gumbs, courtesy CLI Studios)

"Our choreographers are in demand around the world, but they can't get to every studio," says Jon Arpino, who co-founded CLI Studios with Forance, tWitch, Holker, and Caitlin Kinney. "We want to put their knowledge out there in an affordable and convenient way." In addition to instructional videos, the company recently added a direct-feedback feature to its app. "You can learn a routine, upload 30 to 60 seconds of yourself dancing, and pay to get written comments from the choreographer," Arpino explains. "Someone like tWitch might say the same things your regular teacher says, but hearing feedback in a different voice can have a big impact."

Take Charge of Your Training

Online resources make for ideal "dance homework" between classes, on weekends, and during vacations. Get the most from this extra-credit time by setting concrete goals. Maybe you want to test out a new style, or you're wondering if you're right for a certain company. Perhaps you want to work on a specific move, like an arm wave, or a quality, like musicality.

Whatever your plan, don't rush things. Steffanina advises dancers to tackle one of his tutorials per week. "Learn the choreography on the first day, clean it up over the next few days, and then film it, watch it, and make more tweaks," he says. "Maybe by the weekend you'll post your own video, to get feedback from your peers." Even if you aren't ready to share your work, Steffanina says, filming yourself weekly is a great way to track your progress over time.

Matt Steffanina with the camera he uses to film tutorials (courtesy Steffanina)

Dancer, choreographer, and recording artist Mandy Jiroux, who posts choreography tutorials on her YouTube channel and has 1.3 million subscribers, recommends taking into account what you need on a given day. "Sometimes, it can be fun to just dance, without the strictness of the studio environment," she says. "Or, doing a video can be a good workout." You might also think of online learning as pre-professional practice. "I've had auditions where I had to get the choreography from a tape, instead of being in the room with the choreographer," Jiroux says. Accurately reproducing what you see, without help, will serve you well in your dance career.

Stick with Your Studio

No matter how excited you are about digital classes, though, don't dial back your dance studio commitment: There are critical benefits that only in-person training can offer. For a start, training face-to-face means getting real-time critiques. Teachers can answer questions and adjust your body to correct you. They can tailor combinations to your needs and abilities. They can also demonstrate or explain steps in another way, if something's not clicking.

"Everyone learns differently," says Jami Artiga, co-owner of The Dance Zone in Henderson, NV. While watching a video might work for some, "for others it makes a big difference to have physical touch, to hear the teacher's tone of voice change, or to see their expression up close," she says.

Teddy Forance and Caitlin Kinney lead a CLI Studios class (photo by Lee Gumbs, courtesy CLI Studios)

On top of technique and artistry, Arpino credits the studio environment with fostering discipline, camaraderie, and teamwork. And, Artiga says, "there's so much value in the connections you make at your studio, both with other students and with your teachers." Those friendships and mentorships can last a lifetime.

The internet can be your portal to new and exciting techniques, ideas, and ways of moving. But there's just as much to be said for the consistency of working with the same teachers, year after year. Think of online resources as a bonus, rather than as a replacement for your studio experience, and you'll have the best of both worlds.

A version of this story appeared in the February 2018 issue of Dance Spirit with the title "Dance Class Goes Digital ."

It's the day we've all been waiting for—"Step Up; High Water" has officially launched on YouTube, and everything about this series (from the dancing to the drama) is completely #savage. The show captures all the elements that made us fall in love with the original "Step Up" almost eleven years ago, while also introducing fresh and exciting new components.

We especially love how the creators use the show to shine a spotlight on real life issues teens struggle with, that aren't always addressed in mainstream media. Characters deal with everything from disabilities to coming to terms with their sexual orientation and finding self-acceptance. Basing a dance series that incorporates such weighty subject matter also adds another dimension to the dancing.

And don't get us started on the all-star cast of beyond talented dancers. NE-YO, Naya Rivera, Faizon Love, and Jade Chynoweth bring their all with high-energy performances that we can't even begin to do justice to by talking about. So enough jabbering. Grab some popcorn and watch the first episode RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. Don't be too surprised if you binge straight through this dance-tastic series!