top tips and tricks for performers: how prepare to shine on stage

Show days are such an incredible and memorable experience. As dancers, we train long and hard for our performances, and when the day finally arrives, it's essential to be fully prepared both physically and mentally. Show day can be nerve-wracking, but with the right tips and tricks, you can step on stage with confidence and give an incredible performance. In this post, we'll share some practical advice to help you make the most of show day and ensure that everything runs smoothly.

THE NIGHT BEFORE

It's crucial to start hydrating for your performance the week of your show. It's common for performers to become dehydrated due to the adrenaline tricking our bodies into not feeling thirsty during show day. The day before the show, bring that reusable water bottle everywhere and fill it up a few times. 

Did you know that depending on your hair type, textured/slightly dirty hair can be easier to style than clean hair? Plan accordingly.

Make a list of everything you will need to pack and pack your bag the night before. PRO TIP: Use that list when you gather all your stuff before you leave the venue post-show. You can find a packing list at the end of this blog. 

THE DAY OF

You'll want to eat a big breakfast/big meal before you head to the venue. A nutritious meal filled with protein, healthy fats and carbs will help to keep you energized and full throughout the day. Once the adrenaline starts to kick in, we don't feel hungry, and it gets hard to remember to eat and drink water. PRO TIP: set alarms on your phone that say "drink water" and "eat food". The trick is to drink and eat even if you don't feel like it. That's why having a few beverages (water, electrolyte drink, protein shake/smoothie) and easy-to-eat snacks (fruits, nuts, energy bars) will be the easiest to consume. 

Start your makeup and hair as early as you can. You often think that you will have time once you get to the venue, but there is no way to predict the unexpected things that will come up. Having your makeup 80% done will have you feeling less rushed. 

The same goes for your costume. Wearing as much of your base as possible saves you from finding time to change. Spend your time resting, practicing or eating when not needed on stage. 

If you get overstimulated easily, take stimulation breaks. You could step outside for a breath of fresh air and sunlight. You could curl up in a corner with your eye mask and noise-cancelling headphones on and tune out the chaos for 10 mins. This will help to regulate your nervous system.

Savour the moment. Take pictures with your friends. We often get so caught up in the chaos of the show day that it's over before we have a chance to let it soak in. Take moments to be present and revel in the magic you are a part of. 

AFTER THE SHOW

The best thing you can do post-show is to have a good meal. Whether you go out with friends after the show or not, we recommend a protein-packed meal to help your body recuperate all that energy expended. 

Taking a hot shower or an Epsom salt bath (if you get easily overstimulated try doing this in the dark) after the show will help to relax your muscles and your nervous system so that you can fall asleep easier. It will also help you avoid (what we like to call) the Glitter Crash (the physical, mental and emotional hangover you feel the day after your show). 

Take off all your makeup and cleanse your face to avoid breakouts. Sweating through a full face of show makeup is not great for your skin, so let it breathe once you get home. 

Our team has collectively built a top-notch packing list with everything you might need or want on show day. Bolded are the must-have necessities. Everything else is just a recommendation. 

Though this packing list seems extensive, it's important only to pack what you need because there are usually a lot of dancers sharing the same space.

PACKING LIST

• your costume

• your performance shoes

• a backup pair of shoes

• easy-to-eat snacks (fruits, energy bars - please avoid common allergy foods) in case you don't have time to grab something

• your biggest reusable water bottle filled with water

• an electrolyte beverage (with straw to not mess up makeup)

• a protein shake or smoothie for call time that you can sip throughout the day

• warm clothes to throw over the costume + keep warm. Even if it is hot outside, the venue will always be cooler, and it's important that our bodies stay warm throughout the long day

• a robe or coverup in case you need to step out into the audience area before/during the show in costume - don’t wanna spoil the surprise!

• a pair of slippers or runners that you can throw on so you aren't in your heels (or show shoes) all the time

• an eye mask (if you get overstimulated easily)

• some earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones (if you get overstimulated easily)

• a hand fan (can find these at dollar stores)

• a sweat towel

• a small amount of your makeup for touch-ups

• hairspray

• extra everything for hair and costume malfunctions (bobby pins, safety pins, fishnets, backup bottoms, etc)

Finally, never forget that the most important aspect of any performance is your passion and love for what you do. Keep these tips and tricks in mind and go out and shine like the star you are meant to be!

Did we forget anything? We’d love to hear some of your show rituals in the comments!

XO/ Shaka and the Lumi teachers

levels and placement class FAQs

As many of you get ready to register for next term we have had a lot of discussions and questions coming in from across the community regarding levels and placements. We have compiled a few of the most recurring questions below for your review. If you have further questions about levels, please review the progress information page on our website. You can also review our Placement and Preview class schedule on our website if you wish to register for a class and be assessed for a level change.

REGARDLESS OF LEVEL.. every student in our Progress program is appropriately challenged in many areas of the Luminesque experience.

let’s start with a review of our levels...

What are levels?

We have 3 core levels in the PROGRESS program: the KITTEN HEELS, the PUMPS, and the STILETTOS.

We created a level system to ensure everyone receives the training, support, and show choreography that will help them shine in their best light in studio and onstage in their performances. Although our levels have cheeky high-heel inspired names, these aren’t literally the shoes you’ll wear when you’re dancing in class or onstage.

How are levels decided?

While the 3 levels roughly translate into Beginner (Kitten Heels), Intermediate (Pumps), and Advanced (Stilettos), we consider a number of factors when deciding the level that’s right for you. These include but aren’t limited to:

• How much energy (focus, stamina, attention, etc.) do you have to give your class?

• How familiar are you with performing heels dance onstage and in-studio?

• How consistently do you demonstrate good injury prevention in heels?

• How familiar are you with heels dance technique and vocabulary?

• How much individual attention and/or constructive critique do you desire (if any)?

• How self-aware are you regarding your own artistry, embodiment, and limitations?

• How committed are you able to be in class and outside of class time (to practice, etc)?

• How dedicated are you to your team’s development (or are you focused on your own journey)?

Our levels aren’t like grades in school, where after a certain period of time you move to the next one. Many students choose the level that’s right for them and dance with the same group year after year. Our teachers work hard to ensure everyone - regardless of level - receives new challenges and learns new skills with every new term.

In order to join a PUMPS or STILETTOS course, you must attend a PLACEMENT CLASS. This includes if you took a 1st Term Pumps/Stilettos course, and want to move into a Returning Pumps/Stilettos course.

If you want to join a KITTEN HEELS class (1st term or returning), no placement class is required! Feel free to attend a COURSE PREVIEW if you’d like a taste of the experience before signing up.

the kitten heels

The Kitten Heels are students who just want to have fun! They may be brand new to dance, or have some experience - but ultimately they’re here to develop foundational technique, feel confident in their performances, become comfortable with expressing sexuality, and receive loving support from their teachers and fellow students. They receive the most guidance from our team, and students in Kitten Heels are able to succeed without much out-of-class-time commitment. If you’re a beginner dancer or just a busy bee, Kitten Heels is an excellent level for you.

the pumps

The Pumps are experienced dancers who are looking to further develop heels dance technique, strength and performance quality. They have a solid foundation of heels dance injury prevention and skills, and are looking to challenge themselves to take on more difficult choreography and performance prompts. They desire direct feedback from their teachers and are committed not only to their own journey but to their teammates’ success as well. They’re getting comfortable with expressing sexuality and storytelling, and are committed to practicing outside class time.

the stilettos

The Stilettos are advanced or professional dancers with years of experience, who desire a nurturing place to build upon their existing foundation of technique, artistry, and performance. They are extremely familiar with heels technique, and consistently demonstrate injury prevention, even during challenging moves. They’re super self-aware about their own goals and limitations, and desire to be challenged by teachers. They understand the value of collaboration over competition in a team, and are confident enough in their abilities to make room for others to shine.

frequently asked questions

Are the 3 levels (Kitten Heels, Pumps, Stilettos) in line with being beginner, intermediate and advanced?

1st Term Kitten Heels is our introductory class for beginners to build a foundation of Heels dance technique and learn our Luminesque curriculum. Returning Kittens requires previous Luminesque experience, and therefore ranges from Beginner to Intermediate. Similarly, Returning Pumps range from Intermediate to Advanced, and is where many of our long-term dancers stay for their entire journey with Luminesque. Returning Stilettos range from Advanced to Professional level, and most dancers in this level work in the dance industry, cross-train consistently in other dance styles at an advanced level, and/or train in dance for multiple hours a week outside of their course.

We do recognize though that every dancer is different, and this is why we are committed to offering free assessments and require certified Luminesque placement team recommendations to register for Pumps or Stilettos. Please note placement is not an audition and every student is let into the Progress Program at the level our experts assess to be the best fit for them at the time. This helps us adhere to our program’s commitment to injury prevention and safety, and place students on an individual level with others who align with their skills, expectations, and goals.

Can I enroll in a 1st term course even if I have taken Luminesque Progress program before?

Yes. If your focus is on deeply developing Heels dance foundations and solidifying your understanding of the Luminesque curriculum, or if you're looking for a lower cost and lesser time commitment option, you may rejoin a 1st Term class. Many 1st Term Kittens will desire a second round of this course to feel fully prepared and comfortable in entering the full program experience in a Returning Kittens level. This is also a great option for anyone who missed a significant portion of the course or wasn't able to perform. Placement class assessment and a recommendation from our Placement Team are still required for anyone entering a 1st Term Pumps or 1st Term Stilettos course.

Which classes require a placement class?

Any Pumps or Stilettos level class (1st term OR returning) requires a placement class with one of our trained faculty members.

Does being in a 1st term Pumps or 1st term Stilettos level guarantee me access to a returning pumps/stilettos next term?

No. 1st Term Pumps and 1st Term Stilettos courses focus on developing important Luminesque and Heels dance foundations at an Intermediate/Advanced level. They require previous dance experience, vocabulary and technique, and are designed to "fill in the gaps" for students new to Luminesque who may have missed certain skills or vocabulary in their other training that is needed to succeed in a Returning Pumps or Returning Stilettos course. While the 1st Term curriculum is designed to fill in these gaps, every dancer progresses at their own pace, and it's likely that one 1st Term course isn't enough time for a dancer to get up to speed and be able to succeed alongside long term Luminesque Pumps/Stilettos dancers. Transitioning from a 1st Term to a Returning Pumps or Stilettos course still requires a placement class between terms. Many dancers complete multiple terms in the same level before they feel comfortable moving elsewhere.

How do you determine entry into a level? Is there a specific curriculum you assess against?

Yes, every level in our program has an expertly designed curriculum that incorporates foundations, technique, mobility, injury prevention, body awareness, performance expression and more. Our curriculum goes far beyond a "swimming lessons checklist" - it is multidisciplinary, multidimensional, and proprietary to Luminesque, so it is not publicly documented. Our Placement Team is trained in depth in all aspects of our curriculum, and in how to assess which level is the right fit for each individual dancer. In the case of Returning students, the team also considers feedback from your former Luminesque teachers and past class videos/show performances to make the best assessment possible. In the past year, we have also standardized the placement class modules to help us assess specific skills and foundations with a consistent series of activities.

Why do you require assessment before moving someone to a new level?

We want to be clear that a placement class is not an audition. We are not comparing dancers seeking a specific role with only so many spots available. Everyone is welcome into the program, and we make sure there are enough spaces at every level for students to have a chance to dance at their given level. Placement classes are created to holistically assess individual dancers' education, experience, skills, and goals to ensure all dancers in all levels have success and joy within their courses. Our curriculum combines decades of experience operating Heels dance programs, formal training in several dance intersections (pilates, physio, yoga, dance, etc), and dozens of perspectives, including a J.E.D.I. committee. We strive to create the most comprehensive and inclusive level structure so all dancers can thrive, feel empowered, build connections, and be adequately challenged. We are also fiercely committed to injury prevention, and thus must ensure the curriculum aligns with the physical capabilities in every course and cohort. 

We are proud to say that since creating and curating these levels, assessments and curriculum, we have seen a massive increase in current student retention, progression and growth, and have documented a substantial decrease in dance-related injuries and program drop-out rates.

Is there a way to receive a private assessment if I don’t feel comfortable in a group setting?

Many people in our community have their own valid personal reasons why they may not feel comfortable in a placement class. If this is the case, you can email to request a discussion with our program director about being assessed directly in your class and show experience. We cannot guarantee you will receive as much feedback or as specific of a recommendation as being assessed by a Placement class though. You are also able to purchase a private lesson with one of our trained faculty members, which will provide not only a level assessment but a chance to review your specific goals and set you up with clear feedback and take-home tools to keep you on track to achieve them. 

What are my options if I cannot attend a placement class before I register for the program?

We always recommend enrolling in a course that you are guaranteed entry into, this would mean the same level you are currently in, or a Kitten Heels course. Upon receiving a new recommendation, you can then email us and we will manually transfer you to the new level. Sometimes these recommendations occur in the first couple weeks of the course with your teacher, who would have consulted our Program Director before advising you to move levels. Should you enrol in a level you have not received an assessment and recommendation into, we reserve the right to remove you and refund your course registration.

What do I do if my schedule only allows for a different level than what I've been placed in?

We are very committed to our assessment process and completely trust our faculty experts in their decisions to offer entry and recommend the correct levels for each dancer. We do not take the decisions lightly. If you are not placed into the Pumps or Stilettos level, and cannot attend a Kitten Heels level, then you will need to wait until the new term or adjust your availability to join the program. We strive to offer weeknight and weekend options at all levels to accommodate a variety of schedules. We know conflicts happen and apologize for any disappointment. We encourage students in this situation to take advantage of drop-in classes, workshops and intensives until they can find a Progress course that works for their level and schedule.

Since there are only 3 levels, won’t that mean there will always be a wide variety of dancers within my level?

Absolutely… and we do that deliberately! We believe dancers (and humans in general) from all backgrounds can learn from each other with the right attitude. We are all about building a diverse community at Luminesque, and have seen the incredible impact of having varied dancers train and perform together. If a dancer is in a course alongside you, we truly believe they also have what they need to succeed personally, and to contribute to the team in alignment with the goals of the group and the choreography focus for that term.

This means that it may be someone's first term in that level and they may have some specific goals/skills they are working on. These will be different than someone who has been in this level for multiple terms/years. In every course, you'll find dancers have their own abilities, strengths, struggles, and energy. We believe that every dancer is always learning, and brings their own unique experience to the table. Please be respectful of our decisions regarding who is in the group, and respectful of one another's individual journeys. It will never be a perfect system, but it can be a collaborative and community-oriented one if we all work together and support each other.

How long does the average dancer stay in one level before moving to another level?

This completely varies depending on the dancer, their personal goals and their commitment to their progression. There is no “ladder to climb”, or right vs wrong way to continue in the program. The only exception is that it's common for 1st Term dancers to join a Returning course at the same level after completing their first term.

We encourage and support every dancer in our community to continue to focus on what they need out of the program. One term it may be a lower-pressure, less commitment course. In one term it may be a more challenging and progression-focused course. Many of our long-term dancers stay in the same level for years, and we ALWAYS recommend moving between different teachers in a level before trying to change levels. Every faculty member brings a unique perspective and their own challenges to their courses.

If my goal is to eventually progress to a higher level, how can I get there?

Luminesque is dedicated to creating the most high-quality education experience we can, however, your commitment is essential! Taking advantage of the free and paid resources available to our community can massively increase your progression. You can find free tools like our course workbook, blog posts, Instagram reels and free workshops in our portal and throughout the term. Paid offerings that specifically help progression are things like our LumiTV subscription of virtual dance lessons, our Virtual Heels Tech Foundation workshop (available once per term, and includes a replay), intensives, workshops and our Heels Tech drop-in classes. We encourage you to speak to your teacher 1:1 if you have a certain goal or want to ask for feedback on your journey. Booking a private lesson with one of our Progression experts can also give you some personal feedback and tools to take your progression to the next level. We've standardized pricing for privates to make booking with your desired faculty accessible.

We are here to help, so feel free to ask us if you desire some guidance on this!

How can I find ways to challenge myself within a level, without moving to a different one?

This is one of our FAVOURITE questions. The truth is, there are endless ways! Focusing on small and specific foundation goals, taking good care of your physical mobility, and really pushing yourself to execute the intentions of your teachers and choreographers go a long way. Switching teachers each term can help you experience unique perspectives, and crosstraining with extra hours can really help. You wouldn't expect to go to the gym and immediately lift a 100 lbs weight! Small and consistent commitments make a big difference. We encourage you to discuss in your check-in circles, or 1:1 with your instructors what you desire so we can help you obtain it.

And don’t forget... PRACTICE MAKES PROGRESS!

Written by Vanessa Lalonde, Luminesque Founder

(+ the LumiHQ Team)

We hope this update helps answer some of your questions. If you desire more conversation around the level process of our program, feel free to email glow@luminesquedance.com and our HQ team will direct you to the answers or set up a call with you.

where to source dance costume supplies

Crafting the costume of your dreams can be a challenge when you don’t know where to start! This resource is constantly updated with crowd-sourced ideas for where to get supplies for a dance costume (tights, bottoms, tops, accessories, etc.) so if you have an idea for a place to add, please comment below and we’ll add it to the list!

While we recognize all of these sources may not be for everyone for a variety of reasons, we’ve done our best to provide a variety that balances affordability with ethical consumption.

inexpensive options

NASTY GAL
nastygal.com/ca/

WINNERS
winners.ca

JOE FRESH
joefresh.com/ca

WALMART
walmart.ca

SHOPPERS DRUG MART
shoppersdrugmart.ca

AMAZON
amazon.ca

second-hand options

POSHMARK
poshmark.ca
Individuals sell their clothing/accessories direct to buyers. Great search function!

ETSY
etsy.com/ca/

WILDLIFE THRIFT STORE
1295 Granville Street, Vancouver

RUMMAGE THRIFT STORE
2169 W 4th Ave, Vancouver

RANDOM & CO
38071 Cleveland Avenue, Squamish

PANDORA THRIFT
715 Pandora Ave, Victoria

plus-size options

PRETTYLITTLETHING
prettylittlething.ca

BOOHOO
ca.boohoo.com/womens/plus-size-curve-clothing

DOLLS KILL
dollskill.com/pages/plus-size-curve

ADORE ME
adoreme.com/plus/lingerie-plus

LONDRE BODYWEAR
https://londrebodywear.com/
*Also a locally owned company

AMAZON
amazon.ca/s?k=plus+size+lingerie

support local options

FORTOULA
fortoula.com

Where to buy our Signature black dance bottoms! Locally owned by a WOC Luminesque alumni.
*Luminesque students receive a discount

LONDRE BODYWEAR
https://londrebodywear.com/
*Also have great plus size options

MODEL EXPRESS
49 W Hastings St, Vancouver

ROKKO’S (Fabric store)
6201 Fraser St, Vancouver

DRESSEW (Fabric store)
337 W Hastings St, Vancouver

JQ CLOTHING
2120 Commercial Drive, Vancouver

LOVE BUZZ
1151 Davie Street, Vancouver

AMY’S ON DAVIE
1050 Davie Street, Vancouver

THE HIVE / QUEEN BEE BOUDOIR
38014 Cleveland Ave, Squamish
*Luminesque students receive a discount

FLAVOUR
581 Johnson Street, Victoria

BLING ON THE CHAOS
https://blingonthechaos.com/ (online only)

heels guide

Hi Dancers,

Here is a list of places (both online and local to the Vancouver + Victoria area) that we recommend you check out when looking for a pair of heels for dance class. We even have some discount codes for you too!

A reminder that while wearing heels is recommended for our courses, it is not mandatory. We want you to be comfortable and feel good first.

Another reminder that our level names (Kitten Heels, Pumps and Stilettos) do not refer to the actual shoe you are meant to wear, you can wear any style or height of heel that you feel comfortable in.

When searching for a dance heel we recommend that you look for:

• ankle support. Something that wraps around the ankle to ensure your shoe doesn’t slip off while you are dancing.

• a heel that is not too high. We suggest you stay within the range of 1.5 - 3.5 inches depending on what you're used to wearing.

• a non-marking sole. Suede or street soles are great options.

• avoid a platform. Platforms can be dangerous as they will add height to the shoe and they will make you feel less stable

• avoid wedges. These shoes are also dangerous because of the limited flexibility that your foot has in the shoe

Here are the retailers that we recommend:

Local Options:

Luminesque - few sizes left! Most convenient option.
https://www.luminesquedance.com/shop

The Dance Shop (1089 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6H 1E5) 
https://thedanceshop.ca/ 

Duck Feet Dance (1079 Marine Dr, North Vancouver, BC V7P 1S6)
https://duckfeetdance.wixsite.com/duckfeetdance 

Toes ‘N’ Taps (1733 Cook St, Victoria, BC V8T 3P4)
https://www.facebook.com/ToesnTapsDanceShoppe/

Online Retail Options:

Capezio - https://www.capezio.com/women/shoes?cat=95 

Burju - https://lddy.no/1j7k6 Use that link and use the code LUMIFAM to get 10% off a pair of Burju shoes. Please note that the funds we collect through this affiliate link go directly to the scholarship fund.

Heel Appeal (Canadian Owned) - https://www.appealofficial.com/shop/shoes/15 Use Shaka’s code SHAKA10 for 10% off

Bogue Moi - https://www.bouge-moi.com/ Use Luminesque’s discount code BMLUMINESQUE10 to get 10% off. Please note that Luminesque receives a small kickback and that money will be used to purchase shoes for giveaways, scholarship students, etc.

Dancewear Centre - https://www.dancewearcentre.com/

JJ’s House - https://www.jjshouse.com/?currency=CAD&ucid=3844 

Light In The Box - https://www.lightinthebox.com/c/dance-boots_58705?prm=1.1.51.0

Vegan Options:

Dance Vegan - https://www.dancevegan.com/

Burju - https://lddy.no/1j7k6 Use that link and use the code LUMIFAM to get 10% off a pair of Burju shoes. Please note that the funds we collect through this affiliate link go directly to the scholarship fund.

Heel Appeal - https://www.appealofficial.com/shop/shoes/15 Use Shaka’s code SHAKA10 for 10% off

10 creative ways to practice your dance

Dear fabulous Luminesque dancers,

For those of you who haven’t met me yet, my name is Britney Mocca. I have been with Luminesque Dance since the beginning of its creation. I have worked in various roles such as student, teachers assistant, coordinator and currently a drop-in teacher.  Below I have written a how-to guide, specifically tailored for Lumi dancers. This guide breaks down my personal method of the ten levels of practising so you can be the most powerful version of yourself on stage or on film. Some of these practising methods can be done on the bus, at work or in your shower and some methods don’t require you to move at all. Whether you have 5 minutes or an hour there is a practise method for you. 

Don't worry as always, I got you.

With love,
Britney Mocca

10 creative ways to practice your dance

1.  LISTEN TO YOUR MUSIC

Many artists often overlook this step even though it may seem obvious. Listening to your music outside of practice time is an easy way to familiarize yourself with a dance piece. 

• Google the lyrics so you can connect to the music on a deeper level. I suggest listening to your song until you know all the words. 

• For more in depth learning see if you can identify different instruments, including its entrance and pattern. 

• Give extra attention to the way the artist sings/raps/speaks the lyrics and the story the artist is trying to tell. 

• The deeper your understanding of the song, the easier it is to hear and dance to harder steps such as a syncopated drum beat or an irregular bass pattern. I highly recommend committing to this step everyday.

PRO TIP: Use your song as an alarm when you wake up in the morning. Or make a playlist, add the song(s) you will be performing to multiple times so you hear them frequently.

2. WATCH THE IN CLASS/TEACHER VIDEO

I suggest watching the in class or teacher videos at least four times.

• 1st screening: Watch as an audience member, admire your work and what you get to do. Take the time to acknowledge that you’re taking a class, putting in effort and giving yourself the opportunity to dance freely. Not all bodies are afforded the same privilege of expressing themselves through dance.

• 2nd screening:  Watch the sections of video where dance steps seem unclear several times over. If there is a move you didn’t get in class, slow that part of the video down and watch several times. It may be helpful to watch multiple people (if it's a class video) execute the move or sequence that is unclear. 

• 3rd screening: When reviewing commit formations (positions and shapes that artists dance in while they are performing) to memory (if the class is in person): Does your dance go from a line formation to a  square formation? Or an  X to three lines? What dance moves do you need to perform to transition to that formation? 

• 4th screening: Watch your teacher for how choreography should be executed. Is there a party section? Robotic section? What is the mood of the overall piece? Choreographers often make dances specific with many different intentions, be sure to take note.

PRO TIP: Download the video on your phone or record the video from another device so you can watch the video without using your data or being connected to wifi. In addition, when in class record a video from behind, facing the mirror, so you can follow the steps of your instructor.

3. VISUALIZE YOURSELF

I was once told that pro olympic athletes visualize themselves executing their sport multiple times a day. The act of visualizing movement stimulates the same part of the brain that is activated when their body is physically doing the sport. This allows multiple practise sessions that can be done anywhere without your body becoming fatigued.

• So sit back, relax, listen to your music and visualize yourself dancing. If you find yourself unable to visualize certain  dance steps, rewind the song to that section and try again. If you are still drawing a blank, rewatch the video of your dance and when you’re ready go back to visualizing. 

• Once you can visualize from start to finish without making any mistakes, incorporate how you want to feel, your facial expressions, how the audience reacts and what kind of performance you’re giving.  

4. RUN YOUR PIECE ALL THE WAY THROUGH

You know your music, you’ve watched your teacher (and maybe classmates) perform your dance a billion times and  can visualize all the moves in your head. It's time to get those moves on your feet and dance it out. 

• Play your song and dance the whole piece without stopping. If you forget a section, breathe, let the music continue to play and come back in when you remember your steps. This will give you accurate feedback of where you are starting from.

PRO TIP: Before you begin rehearsing your choreography, warm up your body, go through the dance drills your teacher does in class (i.e body rolls, arms, walks etc)  and end with a stretch. This will make sure you continue strengthening your body and lengthening your muscles to avoid injuries.

5. REFLECT AND DRILL

Reflect on what you did well. Don’t skip this step! It is important to acknowledge positive actions to maintain momentum and continue practising when you run into difficulties or frustrations. After running through your piece go over the sections you’ve forgotten or could use more work. 

• This could look like a 15 second choreo section. 

• Rehearse each section multiple times (I would suggest at least five times in a row) until you've gone through the entire song. 

• By going over small chunks you are working smarter not harder. This will prevent the exhaustion you would inevitable feel if you continually ran through the whole piece. 

• Continue this pattern until you’ve gone through the entire song.

Once you've done this method for all the parts you’ve struggled with, run the song all the way through from the beginning.

PRO TIP: Having trouble remembering your choreography? Connect your phone to your tv and play your class video while dancing so you can watch your teacher.Then start the video over, this time not looking at the video. When you feel confident just play your music. 

Practicing is a lengthy process, sometimes it takes days or weeks for your body to commit moves to muscle memory. Take your time and be patient. It is ok for feelings of sadness, frustration or anger to arise during this phase. Many great performers go through these feelings. This is what makes performing so rewarding in the end because you know you’ve worked hard. Be persistent, this step will pay off in the long run.

6. ADDING ELEMENTS

This step is for all my detailed babes out there. In this stage, run your dance piece extremely slowly without music and go over the four elements: focus, breath, character and execution. 

• When adding elements to a piece first think about what you’re going to focus on in terms of what you want your audience to notice i.e your beautifully extended arm, your admiring gaze of an audience member, fellow cast mates or something practical like a door frame so you have a focal point to execute a turn. Whatever it is, make it specific. 

• Then move on to breath. As I’m sure many of you have heard, Vanessa (Artistic Director of Luminesque and performance coach extraordinaire) loves nothing more than an exhaled breath as it seduces the audience. Find the places to breathe so you can achieve better stamina throughout the piece.

• Once you are breathing and focused you can move onto character. How can you elevate your character with breath, facial expression or movement? 

Lastly each dance has sections that are executed in specific ways. Is there a part of the dance that is robotic? Flowing? Hard hitting? Groovy? Find different styles in your piece.

PRO TIP: Practice this section with the shoes you’ll be using in the show/taping. This will help continue to build your muscles and develop your confidence.  

7. RUNNING YOUR PIECE

Running your piece should be done starting with “marking” (not doing the moves full out but moving enough for the brain and muscles to remember what you are supposed to be doing). End with performing full out through gradual repetition (this is to avoid injuring yourself). 

• The first run should be at 25% capacity meaning not using all your energy, marking the piece and maybe even visualizing harder sections in your head.

• The second run should be at 50%  which means you are dancing the whole piece at a low intensity but being mindful of adding your elements

• The second run should be at about 75%. You are doing your moves with high intensity and intention. At this stage this is a good time to add character choices and be mindful of where you are looking. 

• And lastly 100%. This step should feel as real as performing on stage. Breathing should be a number one priority, you should know what you are focusing on, you’re in character and fully ready to perform. I recommend changing into your costume (if it is close to show time), putting on your headphones/stereo on blast and dimming your lights. This is also a good time to break out any twinkle lights, disco balls or fancy light bulbs you have hiding in your closet. 

PRO TIP: Do the last run (at 100%) three times in a row to build up stamina. If you are out of breath that is the best time to push yourself into another run to challenge your body. This will also prepare your body for the increase in adrenaline you may feel on stage/film  performing for other people.

Give yourself the opportunity of performing full out so that you can adjust to your costume/shoes/hair etc in the privacy of your own home. At this stage things can go wrong; costumes can malfunction, makeup can run off your face, shoes can break or you can forget moves because you are not used to doing them full out or in character. If you are making mistakes and things are going wrong you are practising correctly. I have had more costume malfunctions, makeup don'ts and choreography memory flubs then I can count. This is why we practise at home. That way on the day of performance you have more mental space to focus on being present and fabulous. 

8. PRACTICE WITH A FRIEND

Sometimes it’s hard to get the motivation to practice by yourself. 

• Make a new friend or find a buddy so you can hangout on zoom (or your preferred social platform). This is a great way to involve yourself in the Luminesque community and get to know your dance mates.  

• Tell people about your dance classes and how you are practising. Having someone in your life to hold you accountable will help you along your journey.

• Ask your friend/partner/family member to watch you perform. This way you can get used to people watching you.

PRO TIP: Ready for the next level? Ask whoever is watching you for constructive criticism. You could ask them to watch you dance with a question in mind i.e “ Am I embodying this character?” Having questions for them to answer can help get the feedback you are looking for and speed your growth as a performer.

Make it fun! Have a glass of wine, put on some makeup or have a dance session outside (if they are in your bubble!)

9. TEACH SOMEONE ELSE

 If you can teach someone your choreography, you know your choreography. 

• Be as specific and detailed as you can.

• When you are teaching others ask yourself: Where do they look? What vibe does this piece have? What are your arms/face/legs doing at any given moment? What is the story? 

• While you’re teaching, take note of places in your choreography you are unsure about, write them down or refer back to that video you saved. 

10. WATCH YOURSELF

I guarantee you this will allow for the most amount of growth. I know the struggle can be real on this one (as I'm aware not everyone wants to watch themselves on video ) but watching yourself grow week to week can bring incredible rewards.

• Pay extra attention to your steps, face, execution and intention. 

• Tell yourself three things you did awesomely and three things you want to improve on. 

• At the end of the term go back and watch the video of yourself performing week one, then compare it to the end of term. I promise you that if you followed the steps above you will see improvement.

BONUS: REFLECT

Any one of these above methods of practicing will be helpful in your growth as a dancer. Many of these steps go above and beyond the expectations of Luminesque teachers. 

• Practicing is for you but it also benefits your teachers and fellow dancers. 

• When you practice you become confident and add layers to your performance.

• Practising adds a level of professionalism to your work that others will notice and admire. For more tips on professionalism see my previous article “The Luminesque guide to professionalism” in the student portal.

• When you come to class having already practiced you can ask your teachers to go over specific steps instead of asking them to review your whole piece. 

• Your class can move forward and look even cleaner, vibrant and visually appealing because you decided to put the extra effort in. 

• Taking the time to practice benefits everyone whether you did 5 minutes or an hour. Be proud of yourself every time you practise.

I want to encourage you to try all of these steps, (if you are able) at least once. If they don’t work for you that’s ok, find your own method. If the methods do work, amazing! I’m so glad I could be of help. Remember how much energy you put into these practices and how far you’ve come from day one. You’re already awesome for taking the time to read this. I wish you all the best on your performers journey, keep growing and keep glowing. 

Sincerely with love,
Britney Mocca

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would you like to contribute to our community updates? we’d love to hear from you! email us to pitch your idea.



dear glow getters…

Dear staff, students, and supporters of Luminesque —

I am - and have always been, since my first free class - deeply honoured to be part of this community. Vanessa and I have been dreaming, growing, and dancing together for years, and I am overjoyed to be her partner in this journey as the new CEO of Luminesque Dance. I can’t wait to see her shine even brighter in her genius zone as Founder and Artistic Director, serving as the creative soul of our community by charting our collective vision and crafting meaningful stories and program journeys.

My goal as CEO is for everyone to feel the joy, connection, and transformation I’ve experienced dancing with this company, and I’m so excited to work tirelessly to achieve it every day. 

In case we haven’t yet had the chance to connect, I’d like to introduce myself, share some of my own journey with Luminesque, and speak to how Vanessa and I will work together to lead the creation of empowering programs that celebrate expressions of self and sexuality in 2021 and beyond.

I grew up adoring dance. But when my body transformed from a tiny teen into a woman with curves that distorted the lines I’d drilled for a decade, I felt like I didn’t fit in the dance world anymore. I watched from afar as my peers kept performing, silently devastated by my belief that I no longer deserved to be beside them. Losing dance also meant losing my community, and I found it challenging to make new friends. Out of anger for my body betraying me, I actively abandoned it and escaped into my mind instead.

My degree at Simon Fraser University in Communications, with a heavy dose of Gender Studies, helped me understand why the pillars of our society (media, culture, education, law, government, etc.) had led me and so many others to the same self-destructive conclusions. Even still, I rejected my body for taking away dance, which had been the source of my confidence, my creative outlet, and my community.

Six years ago, I attended one of Vanessa’s shows. For the first time, I saw people with bodies like mine dancing on stage. My heart practically burst with hope that maybe dance wasn’t impossible for me. That said, the confidence and candid sexuality of the dancers felt so far from my own experience of insecurity. Nonetheless, I was intrigued and closely followed everything Vanessa produced from that day on.

For an entire year, I sat in the audience too afraid to join, as more and more of my friends claimed their place in the spotlight. I watched three shows in awe before I had the courage to commit to a course.

I remember stepping into my first class in a sweater and bootcut leggings - a suit of armour designed to prevent myself from seeing my shape in the mirror. I joined under the pretence that I wasn’t performing - I hadn’t worn shorts in five years, and the thought of wearing a bra and bottoms onstage in front of hundreds of people seemed impossible. 

But little by little with each class, I stood taller, I moved closer to the mirror, I watched myself for longer, and shed layer after layer of the baggy clothes I’d dressed myself in for almost a decade.

Beyond my own personal growth, I also came to know, trust, and befriend my fellow classmates of different ages and backgrounds. Suddenly the opportunity to be in the show wasn’t just about me (and my insecurity) - it was about standing beside my dear friends on that stage, and celebrating our hard work, progression, and (re)discovered connection with our powerful yet wonderfully different bodies.

Once the curtain closed on that first show, I knew I was hooked for life. But although I was so proud to be dancing again, I was terrified of what others would think of my new passion. I didn’t tell a soul that I was involved in Vanessa’s program for almost a year. I was worried that by embracing my femininity, I would compromise the reputation I’d built in the male-dominated tech industry as a professional worthy of executive roles and keynote speaker invitations. I was struggling with shame that came from having a (now ex) partner who was uncomfortable with me publicly embracing my sexuality. I was afraid of being judged by my family and friends.

It took an unexpected opportunity to collaborate with Vanessa on a script for me to break my silence. The show that inspired me to finally go public with my experiences was a stunningly progressive, powerful, and political story that subverted the problematic narrative of a wildly popular book. Seeing how Luminesque shows could rewrite societal scripts and influence public perception - beyond the impact we were making with the students in-studio - inspired me to speak freely about dancing with the company to tech colleagues at national conferences and to my loved ones closer to home.

Every time I shared my story, I confronted prejudice and watched it dissolve into new, nuanced understanding. I realized in these moments just how revolutionary this program could be. 

That project was the catalyst for what would become years of life-changing collaboration with Vanessa and the rest of the incredible Luminesque team. Since then, we’ve been building teams, developing brands, learning important lessons, penning policy, and charting our future. We’ve been growing and challenging each other to become better for our staff, students, and community. We’ve been deeply listening to feedback from diverse perspectives, and continually evolving with each new insight. And with every magical win and devastating loss, I’ve become more certain that standing beside her and dedicating my all to this company is my calling.

I’m excited to apply what I learned in my last career - working with Spotify, LiveNation and the world's biggest music festivals - to making the Luminesque experience the best it can be. I see a clear path to expanding our global impact and community - just like how I helped Tradable Bits evolve from a tiny Vancouver startup into an international industry leader. I will continue to draw on my executive experience to support and expand our team to include even more diverse expertise and perspectives.

Finally, I will channel my meticulous work ethic and commitment to lifelong learning into developing spaces, programs, and shows that will continue to empower dancers to build confidence, creativity, and community. I’m thrilled to be starting strong in January with our new home studio in Vancouver and a stacked lineup of courses for Spring 2021 term.

For years, I’ve watched Luminesque help people discover their power: the power to shed insecurities and accept yourself just the way you are, the power to leave a toxic partner and demand true love, the power to quit unfulfilling jobs and pursue passions, the power to overcome preconception and make genuine connections despite differences. 

I believe everyone deserves to feel the joy, pride, and love I felt when I performed alongside my friends in my first show. I believe everybody can and should feel good, be seen, and be celebrated. I believe that by providing opportunities for adult dancers to step into the spotlight again, or for the first time - no matter their age, gender, race, class, shape, beliefs, or background - we make the world a better place for everyone.

This company changes lives. I know this because it changed mine. And I am beyond ready to work tirelessly every day with Vanessa, and the rest of the Luminesque Dance dream team - so as many people as possible can experience this glow.

I hope you’ll join us (finally, or once again) in 2021. I can’t wait to see you all shine.

With so much love,
Emily Taylor
CEO, Luminesque Dance

back to school: lumi team training recap

From August 25-29, we had the pleasure of (safely) bringing our entire team together to connect, move, learn, and discuss how to offer the best season yet at our annual Luminesque Team Training summit. Although it would take four 12-hour days to explain everything we covered, we’re excited to share a high-level recap with you, so you can understand our priorities for the 2020/2021 season. We’d also like to thank Cicely Blain Consulting, Mikhail Morris, and Linda Mackenzie (MSW, MAC, RCC) of Mackenzie Centre Counselling for sharing your insight and expertise with our team. We’re so grateful for your collaboration.

In an effort to inspire you, stay accountable to our goals, and celebrate the achievements of our team - here is a brief summary of the Team Training curriculum we covered in 48 jam-packed hours of education, collaboration, and connection at Celebrities Nightclub. Below we explain the intention of each day, and provide a few of the key takeaways from each of the sessions we hosted throughout the summit.

day 1: what is luminesque

We started our training going back to the basics of who we are, what we do, and why we do it. Not only was this helpful to introduce our new team members to our business, but also to reacquaint our existing team with our vision, mission, and values. We also debuted the new 2020/2021 programming season, including the new dance programs we’ve developed and the shows we intend to produce this year.

CONNECT:
Knowing, Seeing + Understanding Your Team

We began with a circle discussion with the entire team, and (re)introduced ourselves, our values, our current passions, and our reasons for continually choosing dance as a career. We heard about what everyone was most excited for this year, and what everyone needed to feel prepared to dive in. Then, we had fun with a speed-dating style questions game aimed at quickly developing intimate connections.

MOVE:
Mastering the Rise + Shine 2.0

Next, we debuted the brand new Rise and Shine conditioning warmup that Vanessa designed after deeply auditing student and team feedback and class videos from the past three years. Our students and team needed a fresh new challenge, a refocus on specific areas of strength, and a more body-inclusive routine. The new Rise and Shine delivers all that and even more - by improving mobility, preventing injury, emphasizing accessible baselines (with modifications to add challenge) and strengthening the five specific muscle groups we’ve identified as the common weaknesses in adult heels dancers (especially beginners). We also explained the intention and anatomy behind each movement so teachers can educate students.

LEARN:
Overview of Luminesque in 2020/2021

In the afternoon, we gave the team a sneak peek of all the exciting initiatives we’ve planned for 2020/2021. We also talked about our solidified mission, vision, and values, and how we intend to implement them into every part of our business this year. We explained the philosophy behind the new program, pricing and level structure, so they could provide the best recommendations for their students. Finally, we introduced the new Student Experience Team and explained their importance in guiding our students on their personal journeys, providing mental health support for staff and students, and serving as a deep connection between Luminesque HQ and each and every person in all of our studios.

Highlights of the new program components:

• Multiple teachers in every course

• In-class assessment of dance ability

• Theory workshop to engage the mind

• Specialty workshop to engage the community

• Costuming workshop to help students feel confident

• Full dress rehearsal to provide the best possible experience

• Professional photo and video shoot before the show run

• Two show weekends where our students can shine

Summary of factors for Progress level placement:

• Level of commitment inside and outside class

• Amount of mental/emotional/physical energy to give

• Performance and personal artistry development

• Dance technique and injury prevention practice

• Dedication to consistent cross-training

• Desire for personal constructive criticism

• Self-awareness of one’s own abilities/progress

If you'd like a detailed summary of changes this year, check out Luminesque’s 2020 Evolution.

DISCUSS:
Effective Communication + Collaboration

We finished Day 1 with an interactive workshop about how to communicate and collaborate effectively as a group. From practicing kind callouts to (un)learning what professionalism means at Luminesque, our team shared their perspectives and techniques for creating open, honest, productive, and respectful dialogue.

day 2: leading a classroom

Our second day of Team Training focused on how to be a kind, supportive, and inclusive leader of a class. From sharing favourite tools for teaching, to how to plan a meaningful five-month course journey, our team worked together to identify how to be the best leaders we can be for our students and community.

CONNECT:
Sharing Tools for Teaching

We started the day by giving the stage to every teacher in the room - new and existing, course and rotating - so they could share their favourite exercises, techniques, and tools for teaching heels dance. We weren’t surprised, but we were so impressed by the vast array of expertise all of our teachers have acquired throughout their collective decades of experience in the performing arts. From how to create safe spaces for students to touch their own bodies, to practical steps for how to practice choreography at home, to acting techniques, to specific exercises to develop different dance repertoires - our teachers got the chance to flex their skills and share with the rest of the team. You may have seen a couple peeks on our IG Story!

MOVE:
Levelling Up the Rise + Shine 2.0

Next, we talked about how to break down the Rise + Shine 2.0 within our new level structure. We nerded out over dance anatomy, and explained how to identify areas of muscular overdevelopment and weakness in students long before they become injuries. Most importantly, we talked about our new philosophy for modifications, and explained how to teach the most accessible baseline that will appropriately challenge all dancers, before providing modifications to make things more difficult for students who want more. From pregnancy to injury, we shared insight into what different dancers may need to feel challenged while staying safe. Then we practiced doing the warmup at every level, so teachers are ready to teach it to you!

LEARN:
Introduction to Wellness Living + Studio Protocols

In the afternoon, we hosted a hands-on workshop where we introduced the team to our new app and booking system (Wellness Living). We also discussed how to keep everyone safe with COVID protocols.

If you haven’t downloaded the new app yet, ask your Student Experience Coordinator to show you how!

DISCUSS:
Building a Course Journey as a Team

For the last session of the day, we went week by week through the new Progress and Express programs and explained the overlap/division of responsibilities for our HQ, Teachers, Student Experience Team, and Cultural Consultants. Then, we split them into course groups to plan the ultimate journey for their students.

Summary roadmap of the new Progress course structure:

Week 1-3: Orientation, Training + Combos (Getting to know each other)

Week 4: Theory Workshop (Discussions about relevant themes/context/history)

Week 5-6: Teacher 1 Training + Choreography (Relevant movement + setting piece)

Week 7: Dance Workshop (Guest shares specific tools relevant to theme/choreography)

Week 8-9: Teacher 2 Training + Choreography (Relevant movement + setting choreography)

Week 10: Costume Workshop (Learn what to wear onstage and how to design a costume)

Week 11-13: Teacher 2 Training + Choreography (Relevant movement + setting piece)

Week 14: Tech Rehearsal (weeknight; no other in-studio class)

Week 15-16: BREAK

Week 17: Cleaning + Closing

Week 18: Director’s Rehearsal (no other in-studio class)

Week 19: Dress Rehearsal + Photo/Video Shoot

Week 20: Show Weekend 1 (no class)

Week 21: Show Weekend 2 (no class)

BONUS:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Exclusive Premiere

We finished a magical day with an even more magical screening of our Spring term virtual show: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. After being inspired by the beautiful film, we had a super socially-distanced dance party all throughout Celebrities Nightclub and remembered how great it feels to dance with friends.

day 3: leading a community

Our third day of Team Training focused on how to create safe and inclusive spaces for everyone in our program, how to respectfully appreciate and participate in culture and how to be an active ally to marginalized communities. We were grateful to collaborate with two prominent leaders in the community, who shared their expertise, perspective, insight, and guidance for how to be the best leaders we can be.

CONNECT:
Understanding Values + Safe Leadership Limits

We started Day 3 by connecting around the concept of values, and how they inform our choices, reactions, and interactions with others. We helped each other understand our own value systems, and we practiced how to have respectful, productive discussions with those who have opposing values to our own. After getting to know each other better, we had a dialogue about how to set healthy boundaries with students.

A large focus of this session was about empowering our team to make choices that feel aligned with their values and Luminesque values. That said, we also outlined specific types of language we’re committed to avoiding within our studios, shows, and online interactions with other staff and students. Some of the areas of language we’re working to unlearn are:

• Diet culture and fatphobia (i.e. “earning dinner”, “burning calories”, or complimenting bodies)

• Heteronormative, gendered, sexist, and/or transphobic language (i.e. assuming someone’s gender)

• Racist or culturally appropriative language (i.e. “spirit animal”, use of AAVE by non-Black folks, etc.)

• Violent or sexist language (i.e. slay, killing it, murdered it, excessive swearing)

• Ableist or ageist language (i.e. crazy, insane, dumb, “I’m getting too old for this”)

MOVE:
Breath + Embodiment

Vanessa shared some of the insight she’s learned over the past decade studying and training in somatic embodiment with the rest of the team, including a breakdown of the five bodies (physical, mental, emotional, energetic, and spiritual) and how they connect to performance. Lastly, she led us through a powerful embodiment exercise that helped us all reconnect with our breath, our emotions, and our selves.

LEARN:
Strategies for LGBTQ+ Inclusion with Cicely-Belle

We were so grateful to have Cicely-Belle Blain from Cicely Blain Consulting (who is the founder of the Stratagem Conference our team attended this summer) join us via a big-screen interactive webinar to discuss how to create safe(r) spaces for LGBTQI2S+ folks in our community and how to be supportive allies.

Below is a summary in their own words of the learning outcomes of their workshop:

• Define extensive and important LGBTQ+ terminology

• Recall the differences between sex, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation

• Hone inclusive language skills and understand correct pronoun usage

• Investigate and analyze existing barriers and challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community

• Develop the foundations for inclusion and equity strategies for the LGBTQ+ community

Their workshop was extremely informative, actionable, and helpful for everyone on our team. We highly recommend booking them to speak to your team about inclusivity, diversity, anti-racism, and allyship.

DISCUSS:
Open Conversation About Culture with Mikhail Morris

For the last session of the day, we were honoured that Mikhail Morris of Ketch Di Vybz joined us to facilitate an open dialogue about where dance comes from, why it is so much more than just movement, and what it means to teach dance (especially when you’re inspired by styles from the African Diaspora). Through Mikhail’s Pedagogy framework and metaphors, he explained how the narrative of any form of dance changes when it is contextualized in history, cultures, peoples, languages, values and lifestyles. We finished Day 3 with a better understanding of how to move forward as helpful allies and respectful guests. We are excited to continue collaborating with Mikhail in the years to come and highly encourage you to subscribe to his online education platform and webinar series, which can be found on Ketch Di Vybz.

day 4: moving forward as a team

Our last day of Team Training was all about putting everything we’ve learned together into a collaborative plan to create the best season yet! We kicked off the day with a fun photoshoot and wrapped up an epic 48 hour summit with an inspiring recap of our takeaways and a group and individual goal setting exercise.

CONNECT:
Promoting Yourself + Your Offerings Authentically

We started the day with a mini session from our Creative Strategist Kyra, who talked about how to talk about our passions and areas of expertise authentically. Then we turned on the stage lights, set up our DJ, and had a socially distanced photo shoot, video shoot and dance party to celebrate our new 2021 team. Stay tuned on our socials to see some of the wonderful photos and videos Kyra captured of our team!

MOVE:
Choreography, Conditioning + Consensual Critique for Mixed Level Classes

Next we talked about creating a culture of consent inside and outside the studio, and practiced how to consensually give critiques to help with injury prevention and progression. Then, we moved into an interactive workshop about how to choreograph and train a group of dancers with mixed abilities and backgrounds, while still showcasing everyone in their best light and providing appropriate challenges. In just 10 minutes, our choreographers developed dynamic, intriguing, and exciting pieces that ensured every student (even in a class with an extreme dance knowledge disparity) felt confident, celebrated, and seen.

LEARN:
Trauma-Informed Group Leadership in/out of Studio

In the afternoon we had the honour of hosting Linda Mackenzie (MSW, MAC, RCC) of Mackenzie Centre Counselling, who specializes in helping victims of domestic violence, sexual trauma, childhood trauma, PTSD, and addictions. Her insightful presentation provided accessible strategies for facilitating safe and trauma-informed classes and conversations. We learned about how to help students struggling with mental health or processing trauma, and when to reach out for support from the internal counselors available to Luminesque or crisis helplines.

DISCUSS:
Personal + Group Goal Setting for 2020 + Beyond

We wrapped up an epic four-day summit with an inspiring recap of everyone’s key takeaways, before leading a group and individual goal setting workshop. We guided individual team members, and then groups by city through the following questions:

INDIVIDUAL:

• How do you want to feel by the end of term?

• What do you want to know by the end of term?

• What would you have liked to achieve by the end of term?

• What are your 3 biggest priorities for your self this term?

• What are your 3 biggest priorities for your students this term?

GROUP (BY CITY):

• What are our 3 biggest priorities for our team this term?

• What are our 3 biggest priorities for our students this term?

LET’S GLOW!

Have any questions about our Team Training? We encourage you to reach out to your favourite teacher or team member and ask them about their experience - I’m sure they’d be excited to tell you all about it! Otherwise, please feel free to email glow@luminesquedance.com and we’ll share more about the summit.

luminesque’s 2020 evolution

Quarantine has been a time for deep reflection. Although COVID-19 hit us like a meteor, it presented an opportunity to pause and consider the past three years from many perspectives. It was an opportunity to reprioritize and refocus on who we are, why we exist and why it’s so important that we continue to fight to exist despite financial hardship. Conversations with leaders in the dance industry, students and former staff further invited us to reflect on how we can be more transparent, more inclusive and more accountable to our goals, values, team, clients and the world we all want to build.

COVID-19, consultations with local leaders, and conversations about decolonization arising from the Stratagem conference also helped us realize the value of slowing down, being human and thinking before we act. As a small team responsible for a large community, it’s easy to feel alone and overwhelmed. We’ve realized that admitting vulnerability and asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness - instead it’s how you become stronger. Decolonizing ourselves and our business, and practicing anti-racism is a lifelong journey, not a destination. We recognize that learning is a continual commitment and a crucial investment, and we’re excited to grow together.

All of this considered, we’ve made some major changes to our mission, brand and programming to better align with our purpose and vision for a better Luminesque.

intentional mission

Although we’re a program for learning heels dance, we recognize the work our students are doing in-studio and onstage is transformative and political, and we’re ready to be intentional about universal empowerment as a purpose, rather than a byproduct. We’ve updated our mission to reflect the work we’ve been doing together from the start.

mission:

Provide expertly-designed heels dance training and public dance shows that serve as a safe and empowering space to explore and celebrate otherwise repressed expressions of personal power and sexuality.

vision:

While the present world celebrates patriarchal power and sexuality - it often represses, shames and retaliates against all other forms.

We hope that by providing accessible space on our stage for our students to safely express their sexuality, power, and confidence, we work together to unlearn and challenge any sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, fatphobia, ageism and ableism that makes us feel like we’re anything less than brilliant.

When we radiate confidence in our bodies, minds and souls - we serve as shining examples that spread joy and empowerment to our loved ones and communities - thus making the world a better, brighter place for all. We call this “the glow”.

Explore our About Us page and Policies page to learn more about our vision and values.

new + longer programs

Dance is an important cultural art form embedded in history, storytelling and context. Learning to dance is a complex, personal and often deeply healing process. We’ve decided that 10 weeks is not enough to give a student who’s never danced before enough information and skills to confidently perform and understand the movement they’re learning. After considering staff and student feedback, we are confident that many of our past mistakes can be avoided in the future with more time for education, injury prevention, dialogue, and thoughtful review of student costumes and show scripts.

We’ve adjusted our core program (called PROGRESS) to be a five month curriculum, which includes dedicated time for theory, history, injury prevention, workshops with external experts, thorough technique development, ample time for choreography, full dress rehearsals, and prior filming - before the two show weekends as one epic cast.

We’ve also added a new program for dancers who already have this education and technique, called EXPRESS. This program is accelerated - understanding that participating students already built a strong foundation before diving into artistry, performance quality and storytelling in a short 10 weeks. This is why we require an audition, which will be a combination of testing understanding of dance as well as ability to execute movement.

Explore our new Programs page to learn more about our new structure.

focusing our offerings

Part of our new mission is focusing on what we do best - heels dance progressives and shows. Although we will have limited drop-ins on the schedule next year, they’re designed as complementary training for our students to improve stamina, technique, choreography pickup, and performance. These aren’t intended as standalone drop-in classes for the public. Twice a year we will offer a series of Trial Classes, Course Previews and Placement Classes - but all of these will be focused on introducing and assessing heels dance experience.

We currently have no intention of offering public drop-ins, master classes or intensives marketed as deep-dives into styles that have no relation to heels dance. We encourage anyone seeking casual offerings in a variety of styles to go to Ketchdivybz, Culturally Defined, Vancouver Burlesque Centre, iDance, Harbour Dance, or any of the other excellent studios in the lower mainland that specialize in public drop-in offerings.

Explore our Schedule page to see our current Summer offerings. Check back after August 6 to view the full Fall schedule!

expanded lumi team

Balancing a limited budget as a small arts business with paying professionals living wages has proven a difficult challenge. That said, we need more perspectives and areas of expertise at the table if we’re going to achieve all of our ambitious goals and properly serve our incredibly diverse community of dancers. Investing in our team is the best decision we think we could possibly make to continue to thrive.

As we’ve grown from 30 to 300 students, it’s become more and more difficult for our founder to be present in every room and deeply know every student. It’s our goal to properly support our teachers, while providing personal attention, care, and guidance to every single student that participates in our programs - as such, we’ve created a new Student Experience Team. These experts in trauma, transformation, recovery, healing, psychology, sociology and social justice are uniquely equipped to support our students in everything they experience in our program. They will be present in every class, and work closely with the HQ team to set policy, create support resources and make sure every student is having a fantastic experience.

We’re also very excited to announce that we’ve added new teachers to our Course Teachers and Rotating Teachers teams! These talented, passionate and brilliant teachers join us from all different dance backgrounds, and will provide fresh insight and education to our students this year. We can’t wait to see what they create with you!

Where we weren’t able to hire internally, we’re thrilled to be collaborating with consultants from a variety of industries and areas of expertise. These brilliant experts are working closely with us to improve teacher training, staff training, internal policy, dance curriculum, creative direction of our shows, and our ongoing commitment to dismantling systems of oppression.

Explore our Team page to meet some of the new additions to the Glow Giver family!

revised level structure

Removing competition and hierarchy from our dance classes and shows is a core goal of our business. The dance industry is infamous for it, and we actively work to dismantle it. Our previous numerical, hierarchical level structure based on dance ability ran counter to this goal. We recognize that numbers not only inaccurately inferred that dancers would rapidly move through (like grades), but also made dancers in “lower” levels feel less-than.

We’ve completely dismantled our previous system and created a new one for our PROGRESS program that’s focused on long-term goals, intentions, levels of commitment and the overall student experience. We also named them after types of shoes because we’re (obviously) obsessed with heels. Please note these are not literally the kinds of shoes you’ll be wearing to class!

Our EXPRESS and COMPANY programs are not organized by level, and are by audition instead.

We’ve also rebuilt our conditioning warmup to better support all levels of fitness and dance experience. We can’t wait to debut our new Rise + Shine 2.0 in classes this Fall!

Explore our new Levels page to learn more about the new structure.

let’s glow!

Despite facing massive challenges at the start of 2020, we are excited to bring you the best version of ourselves and our business for the rest of this year and beyond. We hope you’re excited to participate and support us in this evolution of our mission, program and team. We can’t wait to see what this year brings with all of you by our side.

As always, we’re here to answer any questions or to discuss any feedback. Please reach out via our Contact page to connect.

centring Black voices in vancouver’s dance industry: reflections and initiatives

Before reading this article, please watch this video apology from our founder, Vanessa Young.

As part of our ongoing commitment to educating ourselves, we attended two panels this past week (hosted by VIBFA and Nii (Prince) Engmann) to deeply listen to Black leaders in our community about how we can better practice anti-racism as individuals and an organization.

The intention of this update is to explain how some of the concepts/call to actions addressed by these panelists (and other folks from the community) apply to Luminesque Dance specifically, and to share what we’ve learned in an effort to uphold our commitment to transparency. We hope it will also encourage you to reflect on what you learned during your own research and discussions, and how you can integrate new insight into your daily life and role as a leader.

Thank you to panelists Lilac Lust, Roxie Reverie, Androsia Wilde, RainbowGlitz, Dominique Wakeland, Nii (Prince) Engmann, AJ (MegaMan) Kambere, Kevin Fraser (of Immigrant Lessons), and Venom (of KETCH DI VYBZ) who opened and generously shared in these talks:

VIBFA’s Centering Black Voices: An honest discussion in Vancouver burlesque with proceeds benefiting the NuZi Collective: Vancouver Therapy & Advocacy Fund and the Loveland Foundation. Access the panel by emailing: info@vibf.ca

Nii (Prince) Engmann’s Dance Leaders Meeting. The panel recording is being published next week; @princenii can be contacted by DM for details.

If you haven’t already, we encourage you to watch the two panel recordings yourself and compensate those involved, and decide for yourself how to integrate their insight into your own commitments to anti-racism.

We also thank the Black students, teachers and performers (as well as white and IPOC allies) who held public and private discussions with us to inform our strategy to make our community a safer place for Black dancers, and ensure our white and IPOC staff and teachers are being respectful guests of cultures originating from the African diaspora.

This is by no means a comprehensive summary of every point made by the generous, insightful folks who took the time to educate their communities this week. It is a summary of key takeaways from our conversations and independent research this past week, and an outline of some initial plans to ensure these insights are put into practice as thoroughly (and quickly) as possible. This is only one step of 1000+ steps we are taking in this iterative process. This is not meant to be a comprehensive plan, but a summary of lessons, themes, our intentions and our immediate steps. Although this document addresses some points of intersectionality (given the VIBFA talk addressed these at times), it prioritizes racism towards Black folks, as that was the main topic covered by these two particular panels. Our commitments to inclusivity for all BIPOC, gender identities, sexual orientations, levels of income, (adult) ages, shapes, and abilities, is available to read online at luminesquedance.com/inclusivity (and will be examined and updated as we continue to improve). You may also contact us directly at glow@luminesquedance.com.

We hope you will join us in making your own goals, plans and intentions for practicing anti-racism and promoting equity for Black folks in Vancouver and beyond.

Being respectful guests of Black culture

Summary of our new understanding based on what we learned about being respectful guests of Black culture

The metaphor often referenced by the panelists was that Black artists allowing white and other POC dancers, teachers and businesses to participate in and profit from Black culture, is like inviting a guest into your home. First, the guest must receive an invitation. Then, the guest must behave respectfully within the space and only take what they are offered. Lastly, the guest must never take something from the home and use/sell it without permission - and especially never steal it and then claim it was theirs all along. Importantly, none of the panelists stated that they believed that white or IPOC people should never enjoy, participate and/or even profit from music, dance and art that originates from the African diaspora. Instead, the resounding theme from the panelists was that outsiders can only partake if they’ve been invited, are respectful of the context and significance of the art, and give proper credit/compensation when it’s due. And just like a guest - if you’re disrespectful, you can also be un-invited for bad behaviour.

Hiring a more diverse team

Summary of our new understanding based on what we learned about hiring a diverse team

We understand that by historically hiring most positions internally (versus a public call for applications), we created barriers to employment for Black teachers and performers that do not already have a relationship with one of our current staff. We acknowledge that although a few of our teaching staff are BIPOC, most of our current staff are white.

We believe the best way to further diversify our team is to provide more opportunities for employment, with fewer barriers to applying. Only providing 3 full-time HQ jobs at our company inherently limits the amount of perspectives at the table. Only providing teaching positions to those who are able to commit to weekly classes for long periods of time, with non-compete clauses in their contracts, inherently prevents high-demand artists/teachers from working with us. Hiring internally and not posting public calls for applications inherently limits the potential pool of qualified applicants with access to the job. By publicly offering a wider range of positions/contracts with varying degrees of commitment, we hope to remove barriers for BIPOC and move towards having a diverse team of qualified professionals with varying perspectives and areas of expertise.

Unlearning white supremacy and promoting equity for Black students

Summary of our new understanding based on what we learned about promoting equity for Black students

We’ve created a metaphor that helps us understand how best to put this into practice:

When you’re in a fitness class, the teacher can have two approaches to modifications:

1. “Hey class - here’s the move we’re all going to do. If you’d like an extra challenge, here is a modification.” This accommodates all students to start, and empowers students to make adjustments to better suit their own situations if they desire. By changing the default, they’re actively choosing to be different in a positive way, rather than being different in a way that makes them feel unusual.

2. “Hey class - here’s the move we’re all going to do. If you feel it doesn’t work for you, here’s the modification if you need it.” This alienates anyone who needs the modification, and makes them feel “lesser than”. They’ll either end up doing the default move and risking hurting themselves; or they’ll do the modification and feel like they’re not part of the group.

When we build programming for the most privileged group (i.e. affluent, white cisgendered folks), it prioritizes them as the “default” way to be. In the context of race, this is white supremacy. When we provide modifications to adapt an otherwise white-centric default to accommodate a BIPOC dancer - especially after the fact - this alienates them and makes them feel like they don’t belong. They’re then faced with three awful choices: (1) participate in self-harmful behaviour to fit in (2) stand out in a way that promotes shame, or (3) leave (and lose) the experience. This is an unacceptable way to run a business aimed at providing joy, empowerment and connection for everyone.

Next Steps

We’d like to express our gratitude to all of the generous folks that shared their insight and perspectives with us this past week. We look forward to practicing these policies to better serve our community, and hope that this provides some takeaways that our students and staff can integrate into their own commitments to practicing anti-racism. We’d like to reiterate that this article is to specifically address how we’re planning to better support Black students, teachers and artists, though we have touched on some points of intersectionality. We hold similar commitments to all BIPOC students, teachers and artists; and folks who are marginalized by our society for other reasons, and will continue to promote transparency for these policies at luminesquedance.com/inclusivity.

This week of researching and attending these panels is just a small part of our continual journey to provide safe spaces for everyone to dance, connect, and empower each other. We are committed to continually educating ourselves on our own time. If you would like to share resources, events and leaders you look to for guidance on your own journey towards anti-racism, your recommendation is most welcome via email to glow@luminesquedance.com.