Performing Arts

Now that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is closed, world-famous Big Cat/Animal Trainer Alexander Lacey takes a look back at his years with the Greatest Show on Earth © – and a look forward.

Find out how participating in musical theatre help build confidence to a child or adult.

Luigi technique is a long-established and effective method of training for modern jazz dance

Ever wonder what goes on backstage and before the play, to bring you that entertainment? Read on; it's a fascinating journey.

A quick and easy guide for men on what clothes they should wear to salsa clubs. Answers to all of your major questions from a professional salsa dance teacher.

Card tricks range all the way from those that rely on mathematical principles and are called “self working” to those that require difficult and elaborate sleight of hand.

Flexibility is an essential part of a dancer's life. We are all not blessed with natural flexibility and must work hard to gain that skill. In this article are great tips to get/maintain flexibility.

Planning a seventies party? You don't have to dance like John Travolta—there were many 1970s routines like the Bump Dance and the Hustle that are easy for anyone to learn.

Advice for comedians who want to create their own stage time by independently producing comedy shows.

An introductory list of ways to get last-minute show tickets in New York City.

There are two main types of Scottish dancing: highland dancing and Scottish Country dance.

As a professional dance teacher, here are the 4 primary charactertistics of successful salsa dancers that I've identified for men who are really good leaders and can dance salsa with any woman.

A list of the top ten reasons why you should learn how to dance salsa and how it can change your life, or at least make it less pitifully boring than it is right now, as told by a salsa teacher.

In ballroom, Latin, tango or salsa dancing, the woman can't just dance what she wants - she must follow her partner. And the man MUST lead! How does that work?

Why dance? There are many reasons: Read on to discover why!

Ask almost any child to dance, and they'll move to the music. So why do so many adults find it hard to dance? By understanding the reasons, you CAN learn to dance!

Tons of talent-show song titles, including ballads, party songs, show tunes, duets, and songs for males, females and kids. Plus tips on choosing a song that's right for you. Video examples included.

Shows like "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" brought improv to our living rooms. Here are life lessons I've learned during my career as an improviser and how it can benefit your health and your pocketbook.

As I mentioned in my previous article, "Diary of an Adult Ballet Student," more and more adults all over the world are taking ballet lessons nowadays. What's attracting them to the dance studio? Apparently, ballet brings with it tremendous benefits...

People often wait when they should jump into comedy. This article can help you start telling jokes before live audiences and move forward from there.

Perfect songs for listening to after a recent break up. A list of great bachata songs to dance to for beginner, intermediate and advanced bachata dancers who want songs with a lot of passion and drama

The success of an audition hinges strongly on how the audition is structured and executed. This article is a step-by-step guide on how to set up, run, and complete an audition and have it be a success!

An examination of various ways to memorize lines for a script or play.

The Shakespeare Morris Side, keepers of the Bidford Dances of the Cotswold tradition, are a regular sight in Stratford, England. I caught up with one of the dancers to learn more about Morris Dancing.

Make sure you have fun every time you go out salsa dancing at a nightclub by avoiding these 10 common mistakes and following my professional advice on what to do in a salsa nightclub.

Pretending to die on stage for a play or skit is one of the most difficult jobs for an actor. Here are my tips and anecdotes about pretending to die on stage.

The entertainment is a tough industry to break into. Even worse, there are hundreds of thousands of actors in the U.S. alone, but only a small percentage of them are actually employed as a working actor. Here are five tips that can make breaking into the industry a little easier.

This article provides 10 effective tips to help you sing better.

Ideas for the upcoming talent show: for example, singing and dancing, karate, and tricks with a pogo stick or a yo-yo. Plus tips on how to make your act as memorable and as professional as possible.

Precise, fast footwork is essential to a flamenco dancer. It's impossible to build speed unless you get the basics right first. Flamenco footwork technique is an exact science!

A professional salsa & latin dance teacher's guide for women on what clothes, shoes, and makeup to wear to go salsa dancing at a studio or a night club, with tips on how to look hot and stay cool

How to learn your acting lines and memorise a script. Quick tips and advice on the best ways to retain dialogue. Includes videos and monologues.

Do you want to know magic? Learn these five easy, simple mind-reading tricks to amaze children, friends, et.al. with your special psychic abilities! Simple enough for a child to perform.

The end of the circus! As an outsider looking in, this author and circus-lover offers an editorial look at the closing of the Greatest Show on Earth. ®

Flamenco or flamingo? Gypsy or Latino? What is flamenco dancing? It may be easier to say what flamenco isn't!

Sevillanas is a Spanish folkloric dance often taught to flamenco students. It's unique in the flamenco repertoire in having set steps. This article explains how to dance each copla "paso a paso."

Gaynor Minden pointe shoes have a reputation for being a "cheater's shoe." Why? Is it true? Why do ballet teachers dislike them so?

The bata de cola is a flamenco dress with a train. Learn what it is and how to dance in it. The bata de cola kick causes more trouble for flamenco dancers than any other aspect of handling it!

Although not popular in flamenco nueve, castanet playing is still an essential skill for any budding flamenco dancer. Learn what to buy and how to get started.

Learn to juggle using a few quick and easy exercises that you can do anywhere.

It's becoming more and more popular for dancers to share videos. Lucky us! Here are some of the best dancers you should be following on Instagram.

Half a century after the Great War started, a group of British writers and actors created a macabre and satirical musical about the dreadful sacrifice of the common soldiers.

When Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus announced its closing, the casts and crews for both shows were in shock. What lies ahead? Some of Ringling’s performers share their stories.

I discuss the differences between the Russian Vaganova system and the RAD system of studying ballet from my own experience taking lessons.

Social dancing comes with its own set of rules that might not be that obvious if you're new to it. Tips for men and women on how to keep the peace and avoid problems when you're out social dancing.

Tips and advice from a professional dance instructor on what clothes and shoes men should wear to a private dance lesson or group class for salsa, swing or ballroom dancing.

Di Nu Hua, written in 1957, is a very famous Cantonese opera. It focuses on the story of Princess Changping, the last princess of the Ming Dynasty.

Dramatize a classic or modern story. 20 tips from the opening page to a full performance.

A guide to building a hard-backed theatre flat for your stage set.

The flamenco 12-beat rhythm is hard to master, but the compas clock will help you understand flamenco rhythms easily.

Stilt walking is an amazing athletic type of hobby offering fun, challenges, and excitement for self and others. Art and craft abilities, costuming, and imagination add to this performing hobby. Stilt walkers anchor different types of stilts on their legs and utilize crutches for their arms.

Comedy and clowning go hand in hand. These warm ups encourage fun and creative expression and will help release your inner clown. They're good for those who are in the performing arts business too.

Learn how to properly ask a woman to dance and interact with her, from the moment you first see her, all the way through to when the song is finished and you're getting ready to part ways.

It's impossible to even start choosing a pair of pointe shoes until you know what shape your foot is.

To be able to create a believable character an actor, in collaboration with the director and cast, will need to analyse the character thoroughly. Not all characters are rounded/arched characters......

The craft of puppetry can satisfy creativity and imagination for designing, constructing, and managing man-made replicas of people, animals, or objects to perform amusing feats for entertainment.

Samuel Beckett's short scene plays are perfect for teenage performers. From mimes to intriguing dialogue, they offer all types of student the chance to participate.

Tips on how to covertly hypnotize the people around you.

If your middle or high school is missing a drama club, read here to learn how to get started, recruit new members, and just what to do once you've got that club started.

Are you constantly seeking inspiration? Here's the list of the top 11 dancers you need to follow on Instagram to always stay up to date with the latest dance videos and news!

Who is The World's Greatest Magician? Why, you are, of course! I mean this very seriously. When you are performing magic for your friends and acquaintances and doing it well, to them and at that moment, you are the greatest magician in the world. ...

A small glossary of theater terms, including Acting Terms, Audition and Rehearsal Terms, Script Terms, Technical Theater Terms, Theater People Terms, and Stage Directions.

The illusionist from India caused a sensation in Britain in 1956 when he appeared to cut his assistant in half using a massive circular saw.

Flamenco shawls are beautiful to look at and warm to wear. But in flamenco dance, the shawl or "manton" is also an important (and useful) part of the costume and is also used as a dramatic prop.

One of the exciting things about Tribal belly dance is the great variety of Tribal Fusion styles that are constantly emerging. However, please don't forget to respect the genre you're fusing with.

This article will explain what pregnancy is like and how to implement pregnancy symptoms in your acting. In addition, this article will also offer advice on how to fake labor and delivery.

What - me sing? Absolutely! And here are some important reasons to sing. Whether you are a pro or have never sung a note in your life you'll want to learn why you should be singing.

Is your speaking voice representing the right image of who you are? If not, there are exercises and information available in this article to help you. Be a winner by learning how to successfully build your image with the use of your voice.

If you're wondering how to learn belly dance at home, it's not that hard. Unlike most other kinds of dance, it's quite possible to learn and enjoy the basics in your lounge room.

Your voice is a network of pipes and bellows which are fine-tuned to produce the most amazing sounds and notes. But when a cold strikes, your human pipe organ can become blocked, strained and painful.

Aerialists strive to entertain circus audiences with daring feats. Trapeze artist Ammed Tuniziani is at the top of his game—hitting quadruple somersaults with amazing consistency.

Includes hilarious video examples! The sequel to my first article listing ideas for a killer comedy act for your school, church, fraternity, sorority, or office talent show or variety show.

Want to be an actor? why not join your local Amateur Dramatic club or society. Its a great way to dip your toes into acting. here's a few tips on how to join, what to expect and how much will it cost?

Competition ballroom dancing is known as "dancesport". But is it a dance or a sport, or is it possible to be a mixture of both?

At face value, a play or musical is entertainment for entertainment sake: fun for a moment then often forgotten. But in working alongside those who are actual participants I have gained insight.

A list of the top 10 common mistakes men make when they go out salsa dancing by themselves or with a date. Do's and Don'ts for men everywhere.

A list of all the top reasons why women say "no" to dancing with a man. Advice from a professional dance teacher about what to do in each situation so you can don't keep making the same mistakes!

Who knew there were so many cool hula hoop tricks to try? Check out this list of the 5 easiest and coolest looking hula hoop tricks to impress your friends!

Creating score sheets for any audition can be difficult. How do you make sure you are fair to all those auditioning? This article is a guide to creating score sheets for multiple genres of dance auditions for multiple skills and ages.

Have you ever wanted to play with fire without those pesky burn marks? With this experiment you can light money or your hand on fire without it burning. This is a neat and relatively safe trick for all the pyromaniacs out there.

7 myths about dance lessons that you thought were true, busted! All your excuses and misconcpetions busted by a professional dance teacher that knows what's really going on with you.

A simple 6 step guide on how to inexpensively build your own ballet barre in your home with readily available hardware items, plus other alternative options.

Super easy-to-do magic tricks for beginners.

What are the three biggest mistakes singers make? After 40 years of research I'm excited to share the following findings and solutions. You may be surprised at what you find.

This article discusses many factors that affect the adaptation of texts into movies and plays.

Flamenco dresses and costumes are expensive to buy, because there is so much material and work involved. If you are up for the work, you can make your own flamenco costumes.

Learning how to dance salsa in a private lesson or group class is a lot of fun! Wearing the right kind of clothes and shoes minimizes risk of injury and keeps you feeling comfortable and looking good!

Teaching young children can be a challenge. Getting them moving is a great way to assist in their development while engaging their creativity.

The proud carriage and fluid arms of a flamenco dancer's body are part of the essence of the dance, so it's important you understand and master them, if you want to look authentic.

Learn about the fate of Phantom's characters, as revealed in the sequel musical, "Love Never Dies."

Got an audition coming up soon for a musical theater production? Maybe just a singing or a dancing audition? You're not alone! I moved to the Des Moines area last year and have auditioned a few times with the Des Moines Playhouse. During the...

Opening a belly dance studio is an interesting and life-changing event. It will come with many challenges. Energy, creative thinking, and business acuity will be your tools for success.

Countdown and review ten of the greatest magicians the world has ever known!