Hey everyone! We hope you are doing lovely on this Friday! Today we are going to be talking about the beloved center leaps! Most commonly used in Jazz, center leaps are a staple in dance leaps and turns. The middle split equivalent of a front split leap, this leap can always be found on stages and in technique classes around the globe. Learning the split, however, can be a little tricky for some and those who already have the logistics of it down may want to perfect it even further. That’s why today we are going to be sharing five tips that will help you not only get the center leap down, but ..read more

Hello there dancers and welcome back to From The Top! Today we are here with volume 9 of our Follow Along Ballet Barre Warm-Up! The perfect class companion, this volume mixes in elements of easier combos with more challenging barre exercises as well. The ideal in between, volume 9 is great for dancers who are looking to give themselves some extra foundational practice in their technique both in ballet both in class and at home. To check out this new installment of our warm-ups, feel free to print out your copy down below! As always, we hope you enjoy using this barre routine as much as we love ..read more

Hello FTT Family and welcome back to another blog post! Today we are working on our fitness. That’s right, pack your bags, because we’re heading to the gym! In so many ways, the gym and dance go hand and hand. This is because when we work on strengthening our bodies outside of the studio, it translates to better technique and excelled ability inside the studio. As a gym rat myself, I personally have found that staying in the gym made me an even more of a well rounded dancer. However, with so many machines at the gym, it can be hard to know exactly where to start or what exercises may benefit y ..read more

Hello From The Top Family and welcome to another blog post! Today we are talking about a subject that we feel is of the utmost importance to discuss and that is the subject of burnout. The honest truth is that from time to time, even though we love what we do, sometimes we simply do not feel like doing it. We are mentally, physically, and in some cases, emotionally exhausted. This is commonly known as the feeling of burnout. However, when we get stuck in this rut, what is our way out? How do we go about coping with it and what can we do to come out of it? Those are the questions that we will b ..read more

Hello From The Top Family and welcome to another blog post! Today we are sharing the fourth installment of our Across The Floor Jazz Routines! As you all know, one of our pride and joys here at FTT is providing quality training materials that can be used both in class and for at home practice. Much like our Follow Along Barre Routines, our Jazz routines are geared towards both students and teachers alike with growth in mind. With that being said, volume 4 is all about leaps and turns! In this edition you will find pirouettes and A La Seconde turns, as well as calypso and switch leaps, all to h ..read more

Happy Friday FTT Family and welcome back to another installment of love it or leave it! For those who may be new here, “Love It or Leave It’ is a segment here at From The Top where we review different dance products and give you all our honest opinions. Today we will be reviewing the Russian Pointe Balance Board. An at home practice favorite, balance boards are a crowd favorite when it comes to perfecting your sense of balance! The way they challenge to hold your core, manage your focus and truly implement your technique is a great way to get achieve a strong sense of balance, en pointe and ou ..read more

Hello FTT Family and welcome back to another FTT blog post Today we are sharing a quick little blog post on how to take your flexibility to the next level safely! Extensive flexibility is a goal for a lot of dancers, but sometimes it’s not achieved in very effective ways. There are tons of methods available online that claim to show you how to increase your flexibility and today we would like to add to those methods, but this time from a risk free perspective. So come along with us as we share four effective tips on how to elevate your flexibility game, while avoiding all the injuries. Let’s g ..read more

Hello FTT Family and welcome back to another blog post! Today we are talking about our feeeellinngs. Most specifically, the feeling of being left behind. Sometimes we can feel as though something is missing within our abilities as a dancer. When we begin to feel that way, it can be easy to think others are excelling at a faster rate. However, most importantly, what should we do with these feelings when they arise? While there is nothing wrong with wanting to improve (in fact that is a very healthy desire), it’s important to handle that desire with a healthy approach and a positive mindset. So ..read more

Hello FTT Family and welcome to another blog post! In the theme of a new year, there are always new things to try! That is why today we are talking about what to bring along with you if you are trying dance for the first time in 2024! Starting your dance journey is a new experience and you may not know where to start in terms of personal needs. At this time you may be completely unaware of how to pack your dance bag, but have no fear! We’re here to help you along and share some of the core items take along with you as embark on your first class. Let’s get started! 1. Don’t Forget Hydration Num ..read more

Happy Friday, dancers and welcome to the first blog post of 2024! With the year just beginning, we decided this would be a great time to do another edition of teacher tips! So, with that being said, let’s dive into the topic of substitute teaching a dance class. A part of being a teacher in any profession is the responsibility to substitute a class for a fellow teacher, and naturally this also a small part of being a dance teacher. In this post, we will discuss four key tips that we believe every teacher should keep in mind when taking on substitution duty, as well as how to make yourself a su ..read more