Between Nutcracker rehearsals, competition preparations, and college applications, the dancers in your life are about to enter their busiest season of the year. Now is the best time to give them a little excitement. Holiday gifts are guaranteed to uplift their spirits and support their passion for dancing.

If you want to entertain your favorite dancers this season, Harlequin Floors can meet your needs. Take a look at these special holiday deals, which will surely satisfy every dancer's wish list.

Dedicated technician Jayme Thornton, courtesy of Harlequin Floors Studio Series Ballet Barre, 4 Feet and 6 Feet (as low as $259) When it comes to focusing on technology, having the right ballet bar is essential. Harlequin's portable ballet bar adopts a lightweight and stable structure, which provides dancers with a very important studio feel, while being compact and easy to store at home. For future choreographer Jayme Thornton, provided by Harlequin Floors Dance Mat Kit ($175) Harlequin's Dance Mat Kit contains two iconic dance mats plus a roll of professional PVC floor tape. With lots of safe moving space (approximately 42 square feet, to be precise!) and the non-slip surface of Harlequin Cascade™ vinyl can rotate and slide, this gift is perfect for choreographers who like to improvise and play. In addition, these cushions are made with Harlequin's BioCote® antibacterial protection, which means that they can be kept clean, hygienic and odor-free with only occasional wiping. For the aspiring Sugar Plum Fairy Jayme Thornton, provided by Harlequin Floors Barre and Mat Bundle (from $295) Harlequin's dance mat and Ballet Barre are absolutely essential for dancers who want to practice toe techniques safely and effectively Yes, so why not bring them together at a special price? Mat & Barre Bundles offers 4 or 6-foot Barre. For Self-Tape Queen Jayme Thornton, provided by Harlequin Floors Home Dance Studio Kit ($875) Self-tapes will continue to exist, so investing in a top-notch film submission location is one of the most useful ways you can give to dancers this year . With Liberty LatchLoc™ spring-loaded floor panels and Harlequin Cascade surfaces for all dance styles, Harlequin's home dance studio suite has everything your dancer needs to safely go all out for every shot. Choose between 6x6 feet or 8x10 feet double-layer dance floors to create your ultimate home movie set. For traveling'Trina Jayme Thornton, courtesy of Harlequin Floors Dance Mats and Bags ($115) With Harlequin's dance mats and bags, the world is a stage. The mat can be rolled up and fits perfectly into a durable storage bag. This bag is perfect for those who travel, between home and school, or any dancer who travels frequently (to be honest, this is every Dancers). For the detail-conscious performer Jayme Thornton, courtesy of Harlequin Floors Glassless Mirror (as low as $235) Dancer and mirror merge like hot chocolate and candy canes...like they are dancers The best tool and stage to perfect the lines, epaulettes and focus. More importantly, Harlequin's glassless mirrors are lightweight and shatter-resistant, and can be mounted on the wall or ordered with wheels for easy movement. For all #HomeStudioGoals, you can even order bi-fold or tri-fold mirrors to perfectly fit any space.

Jayme Thornton, courtesy of Harlequin Floors

Studio Series Ballet Barre, 4 feet and 6 feet (from $259)

In terms of focusing on technology, having the right ballet is essential. Harlequin's portable ballet bar adopts a lightweight and stable structure, which provides dancers with a very important studio feel, while being compact and easy to store at home.

Jayme Thornton, courtesy of Harlequin Floors

Harlequin's dance mat kit includes two of its signature dance mats and a roll of professional PVC floor tape. With lots of safe moving space (approximately 42 square feet, to be precise!) and the non-slip surface of Harlequin Cascade™ vinyl can rotate and slide, this gift is perfect for choreographers who like to improvise and play. In addition, these cushions are made with Harlequin's BioCote® antibacterial protection, which means that they can be kept clean, hygienic and odor-free with only occasional wiping.

Jayme Thornton, courtesy of Harlequin Floors

Barre and Mat Bundle (from $295)

Harlequin's Dance Mat and Ballet Barre are absolutely essential for dancers who want to practice toe techniques safely and effectively, so why not put them together at a special price? Mat & Barre Bundles provide 4 feet or 6 feet Barre.

Jayme Thornton, courtesy of Harlequin Floors

Homemade videotapes will continue to exist, so investing in top-notch movie submission locations is one of the most useful ways to give to dancers this year. With Liberty LatchLoc™ spring-loaded floor panels and Harlequin Cascade surfaces for all dance styles, Harlequin's home dance studio suite has everything your dancer needs to safely go all out for every shot. Choose between 6x6 feet or 8x10 feet double-layer dance floors to create your ultimate home movie set.

Jayme Thornton, courtesy of Harlequin Floors

Dance mat and bag ($115)

With Harlequin's dance mats and bags, the world is a stage. The mat can be rolled up and fits perfectly into a durable storage bag. This bag is perfect for those who travel, between home and school, or any dancer who travels frequently (to be honest, this is every Dancers).

Jayme Thornton, courtesy of Harlequin Floors

Dancers and mirrors are combined like hot chocolate and candy canes...like the best tools for dancers to perfect their lines, epaulettes, focus and stage performance. More importantly, Harlequin's glassless mirrors are lightweight and shatter-resistant, and can be mounted on the wall or ordered with wheels for easy movement. For all #HomeStudioGoals, you can even order bi-fold or tri-fold mirrors to perfectly fit any space.

On a rainy day in November 2018, Paloma García Lee received a call from her agent. She knelt down outside her New York City apartment: She will be in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story. Played Graziella in.

The call was made after Spielberg had a long audition process in the room. The role was played by Wilma Curley on Broadway in 1957 and later played by Gina Trikonis in the 1961 movie. , Is her biggest dream. In fact, Garcia-Lee said that she showed this on the day she announced the film plan in January 2018. "I wrote in my diary:'I am playing Graziella in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story.'"

Garcia-Lee grew up in her mother's dance studio at the Pennsylvania Academy of Performing Arts in Bucks County, Pennsylvania (her mother sold the school earlier this year). In addition to regular training, she also spends a few hours a day in New York City and New Jersey to attend classes at Steps and Princeton Ballet School on Broadway, respectively. The walls of her bedroom are covered with paper-cuts from "Dance Spirit", which is the source of inspiration for her to achieve her goals. Her mother Terri Garcia was a professional dancer in the 1980s (she even danced Francisca on the West Side Story tour in 1985), and Garcia-Lee is eager to follow in her footsteps. "I would lie in bed until 3 AM, staring at the ceiling and thinking,'Well, I'm ready,'" she said.

Garcia-Lee attended high school at the University of North Carolina School of Art, where she first studied ballet and then drama. In her sophomore year, she played Graziella in the "West Side Story" produced by the school. The magic of performing Jerome Robbins' iconic choreography has never left her. "The last time I stepped into Graziella's shoes, it changed my life," she said. "She got those important features in "Gym Dancing" and "Cool." [She] is so strong, strong, and a badass."

Since then, she has been knocking on the door of West Side Story. After graduating from high school, Garcia-Lee set off for New York City and made his Broadway debut in "The Phantom of the Opera" at the age of 17. She will continue to perform in five other shows on Broadway: if you can get it, then good work, in town, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and the recent Red The mill! She has always hoped that the West Side Story will come true one day.

In 2009, Garcia-Lee was considered to play Graziella in the Broadway revival, but failed to get the role after numerous callbacks. She said: "I was sobbing at my mother on the phone. It was a mess." "For whatever reason, it doesn't suit me."

After that, two more works did not select her as Graziella. In 2016, when "West Side Story" was staged at the Paper Mill Theater in Milburn, New Jersey, Garcia-Lee was invited to play Mugsy. For the revival of Broadway in 2020, she only got the opportunity to audition for the role of Anybodys. She rejected these two opportunities and turned to support other projects-she would wait for Graziella.

Despite being rejected, she was not deterred. Therefore, when Deadline published an article announcing the film's remake, Garcia-Lee felt that playing Graziella was destined.

The audition for Steven Spielberg's "West Side Story" was held in the fall of 2018-at the same time Garcia-Lee was filming for the award-winning FX series "Fosse/Verdon". She had to negotiate with the production team to ask her to leave. During the audition, the casting room was packed with many of her friends and Broadway darlings, such as Eloise Kropp (cat) and Jonalyn Saxer (mean girl). "Paloma has a way to remove all the tension in the audition room," said Saxer, who played Jet in the film. "You can feel her love for dancing emanating from her and spreading to other people."

According to film choreographer Justin Parker, Garcia-Lee quickly attracted the attention of the creative team. "She is one of those artists who poses a true triple threat to her talents and abilities," he said. "She was really committed to the particularity of the sport, and she was determined to do it well. I felt this from the first audition." He recalled that during the entire rehearsal process, Garcia-Lee took any free time to solicit Feedback on his style. "This is indeed reflected in the final result of the movie."

Garcia-Lee discovered that she had booked "West Side Story" in November 2018. At the same time, she is committed to the Moulin Rouge on Broadway! , And found that both works were planned to start rehearsals at the same time. For most of the winter and early spring of 2019, she was trying to figure out how to do it all. Fortunately, both are in New York, and Garcia-Lee is already familiar with the Moulin Rouge! Choreographer and stage performance, as she has been part of the show since the lab in 2017. She asked if she could miss some rehearsals and most of the rehearsals (including the most important first rehearsal) so that she could shoot her scenes in the movie. "It was not a simple negotiation," Garcia-Lee explained. "I am the biggest proponent of'If you don't ask, that's no'. You will be surprised how people unite around you to help you realize your dreams, but this requires adventure," Garcia-Lee said.

The work of West Side Story Film is very different from any experience Garcia-Lee has on Broadway. "It's not just a learning step," she said. "This is not a front desk performance-it is really a 360-degree experience. I will never forget that Steven is on the ladder, Steven is half of the ladder, and then Steven is on the rolling chair, and Steven is lying Looking up on the floor [choreographer]] In this way, Justin adjusts and adjusts."

The rehearsal of the iconic "gym dancing" scene lasted two weeks. Every day starts with a ballet class led by Peck, his wife, Patricia Delgado, a former Miami City Ballet dancer, or Craig Salstein, a former American Ballet Theater dancer. Garcia-Lee said that before starting her work, she was familiar with Peck's work as much as possible to understand his style. "It is based on Jerome Robbins and integrated into it, but it is also driven by Justin," Garcia-Lee said. "His action is not natural to me. But, I like its challenge."

After the rehearsal, the shooting of "Gym Dancing" lasted six days. According to Garcia-Lee, her foot had never suffered such serious injury in her life. But this did not prevent her from absorbing magic. Especially on the day she filmed a duet with her partner Mike Fest (Riff). "We are so tired, we do our best," she said. "I only remember that we did the impossible. We lost ourselves in art. We are finally over. [Filming] Mike and I fell to the ground. Steven ran to us and jumped to the floor with us. Love suffocates us. This is amazing."

After "West Side Story" ended in September 2019, Garcia Lee continued his journey with the Moulin Rouge! But when the pandemic hit in March 2020, all these celebratory canning campaigns came to an abrupt end, just when she felt she was "stepping into the peak of her career." Garcia-Lee is one of many people in the company who have contracted COVID-19. Although she is lucky to recover, she still wants to know what the future holds. A few months later, it was announced that the release of the West Side Story would be postponed for one year.

Garcia-Lee volunteers in a stable in Brooklyn. This was the first time in decades that she found time to return to the saddle, just like she grew up near a Bucks County farm when she was a child. "In addition to being a performer, there is a lot of work to do," she said. She found comfort and comfort around the horse. "I believe riding a horse is like dancing with a partner," she said. "It really provides me with a place to feel that I am growing and achieving achievements."

Then, with the help of her father, she drove across the country to Los Angeles to start again. She wants to focus on acting and find something new to achieve her goal. But this does not mean that she gave up dancing. As the studio resumed face-to-face classes, Garcia-Lee returned to the dance floor. "Going back to the room will only have a lot of anxiety-many of us are really unhealthy," she said. "It's a journey back. The learning curve now helps me a lot."

In Los Angeles, she has been out of the comfort zone of musicals and entered the jazz lessons with teachers such as Will B. Bell. "She may be one of the most dedicated dancers I have known during the pandemic in the past year," Bell said of Garcia-Lee. "When she came to class, she came there with mission and goals."

In terms of professional work, Garcia-Lee has been auditioning for film and TV projects, while training the next stage of her career. "This pause was a blessing in disguise," she admitted. "It really takes some time to calibrate yourself in a different way." She is eager to create new characters, as well as classic characters, such as those found in Bill Condon's upcoming men and doll movie musical. She also dreamed of playing Roxie in Chicago on Broadway.

However, for now, Garcia-Lee is eagerly looking forward to the West Side Story movie to be released in December. After a year of delay, she is ready to celebrate her role as Graziella both physically and mentally. "Actually, I am ready now," she said. "I think many of us feel that way. The timing is right."

Let's face it-dancing is difficult, and in order to achieve your goals, you need to devote yourself to your training. "However, there is a fine line between promise and being consumed." Dancers can and should be interested outside the studio.

Not convinced? We interviewed Dr. Lucie Clements, a dance psychologist, and two multifaceted dancers, Kristen Harlow (a musical theater dancer who pursued a career in New York and Kentucky) and Kallie Takahashi (she studied at the Tisch School of Art at New York University). Dancers in the last year) and get inside information on how hobbies other than dancing can improve your artistry, expand your reach and help prevent burnout.

Dance spirit: If dancers have other passions, will they be less dedicated to dance?

Dr. Lucie Clements: Absolutely not. In fact, I always encourage dancers to have more than one passion. Having multiple hobbies can help you maintain balance in your life, bring new perspectives, and also bring many new skills to your life that may be transformed into dance.

DS: What is the difference between a commitment to dance and an obsession with dance?

LC: In psychology, we call the difference between a commitment and a preoccupied hobby as harmonious or compulsive passion. Harmonious passion means that dance is in harmony with other activities and is related to positive emotions. We know that if we get hurt, we will deal with it. In essence, this is a place where a person chooses to dance in his life, and also makes time and space for other things. In contrast, obsessive passion is a passion for our life and breathing dance, at the expense of other hobbies, maybe even friendship or relationships, especially our own happiness. This commitment can lead to so-called "controlled internalization"-we dance because we feel compelled to dance, because we can't imagine life without it, not because we like it. Always remember to check and ask yourself if the dance is in harmony with the rest of you.

DS: What are the benefits of having other hobbies and interests?

LC: There are many interests that can build a broader self-concept, which is related to the way we label ourselves ("I am a dancer", "I am a swimmer", "I am a sister"), and is also related to what we have The values ​​are the strongest (for example, be creative, be kind, be strong). Self-concept is indeed the key to our happiness, it will cause our evaluation of self-worth and self-esteem. When dancers encounter setbacks in dancing, such as injuries, a series of "no"s during auditions, or long periods of non-work, if they label themselves as "dancers", their self-concept may be wiped out go. If we only have to dance, it will prevent us from coping in times of loss, because this rejection or hurt is taking all of us. People with various hobbies can use their other aspects to improve self-esteem and find goals.

DS: Are there any risks in pursuing other interests that we should be alert to?

LC: Doing too much activity can lead to burnout. To avoid burnout, don't forget to rest and take care of your hobbies!

Photo courtesy of Christine Harlow

Kristen Harlow on the relationship between dance commitments and hobbies: "I believe that dance is still your favorite hobby, because you can allow yourself to explore new creative channels. This is the beauty of being an artist: we can use our expertise in art Love to try new things!"

Kristen Harlow (Kristen Harlow) talked about her own non-dance interests: "My passion beyond dancing is to be a cake artist/baker! During the pandemic, all I want to do is spread happiness because we Not being able to dance together in New York, baking became the next best thing for me."

Kristen Harlow on the similarities between baking and dancing: "Since I started Kristen's Kreations, I have realized that there may be thousands of different similarities between the two. Dancing has always been my joy and motivation for me. The source, baking soon becomes the same."

Photo courtesy of Christine Harlow

Kallie Takahashi about her own non-dancing hobby: "I like sewing and designing my own clothes. Sometimes I just make small changes to the old clothes I already own, sometimes I buy something, knowing that I want to take it apart completely. Open, or I will even start from scratch, choose fabrics, and dream about everything I can think of."

Kallie Takahashi taught her in dance and sewing classes: "Patience is everything. You won't get it right the first time you try, but it doesn't mean you won't learn something on the road."

Kallie Takahashi on the benefits of versatility: "Expanding your horizons can make you a more comprehensive person and provide you with more channels to express yourself. Who knows, this industry is so versatile, maybe other interests will help you in the long run Look, your dancing career-special skills and so on!"

Kallie Takahashi modeled for her pants. Photo courtesy of Kallie Takahashi

In the end, finding a balance between dancing and other hobbies may be difficult to control at first, but in order for your best qualities to shine, it is well worth it.

Open your candy cane, pour hot chocolate, and surround your theater lovers: NBC will kick off the Christmas season with its latest live TV musical. Annie live! It premiered on December 2 with a star-studded cast, including Harry Connick Jr., Titus Burgess, Megan Hilty and the young talent Selena Smith as the protagonist.

Fortunately, when the actors kicked off the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade with a performance last week, people have already grasped the meaning of the special program. However, because you have never dressed neatly without a dance soul, we interviewed Brittany Conigatti, one of the young orphans and adult ensemble members on the show, To understand what it's like to make a large live production for the show on a small screen.

The cast of Annie Live! Photo courtesy of Conigatti

Brittany Conigatti: Since 2014, I have been participating in the creation of "A Bronx Tale" with the choreographer Sergio Trujillo (Sergio Trujillo). Last year, I should also perform "Thoroughly Modern Millie" with Lear deBessonet in downtown New York. When I saw the announcement that Sergio would choreograph for Annie Live! And Lear will be the co-director of the show, and I know I want to be considered for production. I have always liked Annie. When I was growing up, I watched this movie a lot. I can basically recite every line.

Conigatti: I received audition material during my honeymoon, so I ended up taking my selfie in Hawaii! My husband generously offered to be my partner in the scene, and I submitted a dance combination, profile and a song at the same time. They started casting roles based on these self-recorded recordings, and by August I found out that I was going to join the ensemble. Because I was short and looked young, I was also double-acted as an orphan.

Conigatti: Sergio did a lot of pre-production before the company's rehearsal, so most of the choreography has already been arranged. As an orphan, I started rehearsing with the children and two other duo actors a week ago, and then other actors joined in. We squatted down and learned all the dance numbers immediately, so all of them were almost taught performing choreography in the first few weeks, and we started layering from there. In the end, we rehearsed for a total of seven weeks.

Conigatti: Our COVID-19 team is on the deck of our facility every day and knows our name, so I feel very safe. We all take the test at least 3 times a week, and wear masks throughout, unless there is a special reason we need to complete the test without wearing a mask. Everyone on the show must be fully vaccinated, as well as the staff we are working with. So no matter where you are in the building—clothing, lighting, screening, design—everyone is truly on the same page.

Conigatti: This is a completely different beast-more like a 1000 piece puzzle than a 100 piece puzzle. First of all, there are no "wings", so the viewer can see you from all directions, and your "front" constantly flips, depending on what camera you are guiding. In addition, there are always cameras around you, but the operator knows when to get away and how to move around you, just as they have their own choreography.

During the rehearsal, Sergio and his colleagues Morgan Marcel and Paul McGill would walk around and take pictures of us with their phones so that once we started rehearsing in the sound field, we could get used to the camera position. Then, when we got there for the first time, we did so-called "dry blocking", that is, we counted step by step, one by one, to make sure that no props or people collided or blocked the camera. Some things must change dramatically, while others are perfect, so the key is to be prepared to adapt. But it’s amazing to see so many different departments working together to make the show go smoothly.

Conigatti: It's more like jumping back to the full schedule after two years. I had to restart to take care of my body mentally and physically, and start my previous daily activities, such as doing yoga every morning. But it's great to be with people again, we all have different appreciations for what we are going to do. I feel that the energy to get into this project is different from most other shows I have done. It feels easier to find interesting and positive things instead of ordinary things every day, because everything still feels very fresh and fresh.

Conigatti: "A hard life." Dancing with children is fun, their energy is unreal. This cheered me up and said, "Well, I have to give 100%, because these 9 and 10 year-olds are doing their best every time." I am also very happy to be able to perform in front of a live studio audience. I don’t I know that not every "live" performance has it.

Conigatti: Our version of Annie is very similar to movies and musicals, but adds some unique elements to cater to the actors and their talents, which will make Annie live! Except for any previous incarnations of it. I also think that the storyline and background of the show have some interesting similarities with what we are now experiencing as a country. I think it will talk to many people on a deeper level than they expected.

Catch Annie Live! Only one day left, December 2nd at NBC.