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Martin Howland

@howlyballet

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Ballet Teacher - Coach - Strategist
Lover of innovation & education
Ex Pro Dancer trained at RBS
Founder & Co-Director of @project.resurgence

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WHAT A DIFFERENCE 4 MONTHS MAKE! I love a before and after and this is just such a shining example of the process and patience required in ballet class.

This is @tillypyrah18 who is a wonderfully trained young dancer and she attends our mid-week intermediate associates @project.resurgence

We began grand allegro training at the barre in February and like many of the students really struggled with the technique, coordination and process of a grand jeté en tournant.

Mistakes and failure are the most important aspect of success and you can clearly see such an incredible development of the preparation in particular that is leading to such dramatic improvements.

Love love love this! ❤️

A students desire, application and focus means way more to me than specific natural gifts and I completely appreciate how hard tillie has had to work on this 👍

Dance training is a marathon and not a sprint! Bravo Tillie 👏👏👏👏

#ballet #training #beforeandafter #dancer #improvement #practice #workhard #dedication #balletdancer #balletclass taken in Project Resurgence by @howlyballet

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a year ago

Cabrioles are one my all time favourite dance steps. So flamboyant, so dynamic and so very physical!

Here’s a great little tip to allow you to make the movement more extravagant by not lifting the working leg too high at preparation.

Remember to use the inner thighs to beat for both safer dance practice and elaboration 👍

Filmed @project.resurgence Senior Associates on Sundays

Fabulously demonstrated by @poppynevillex

#ballet #tutorial #dance #dancer #balletteacher #demo #balletdancer #strengthtraining #danceclass taken in Project Resurgence by @howlyballet

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a year ago

FIRST EVER DAY of 1-1 lessons @project.resurgence new dance studios and I absolutely loved every minute of it!

Even though the space is huge it also feels really personal and an even bigger advantage is that I have a strength and conditioning room and equipment at my disposal to help me with all of my training and practice ideas.

It will definitely take me a little time to get used to my new surroundings but after such a productive morning with @miarose1712 & @cocoevedancer I can’t wait to get my next classes in as I have so many ideas that I’ve never had the opportunity to explore before.

Loved working on this combo with Mia, we really focused on the value of good preparation through articulation and muscle function. Mia is a beautiful dancer but has a little tendency to prepare her allegro a little flat and turned in on her supporting leg.

We got through a lot of work and technical build ups and she really started to grasp those new ideas towards the end of the session.

My brain is now filling up with so many new ideas ahead of the academic year and I can’t wait to trial some new methodology on the students of next years programme.

Back to the building tomorrow as we enter the final stage of painting and contrary to popular belief I will have a brush in hand for the next few days 😂

#ballet #balletdancer #balletteacher #dance #danceteacher #danceclass #classicalballet #dancers #jumping #joyful #dancestudio #ballerina #balletboy taken in Bradford United Kindom by @howlyballet

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2 years ago

As much as I love ballet I consider myself a dancer first and foremost and I love to watch people connect and leave their hearts on the dancefloor,

This is @tillieannacopley who I’ve had the pleasure to teach this year @project.resurgence and I just absolutely love not only her work ethic and technical development but just simply how dancing makes her feel and how she translates that back to her audience,

We can all get a bit lost in technique and I’m more guilty of that as a teacher than anyone, but when you truly identify the music and the emotion, dancing truly feels like an expression of your soul.

I promise to do more of this next year with all of my students ❤️

Bravo Tillie 👏👏👏

#dancer #passion #expression #choreography #balletdancer taken in Project Resurgence by @howlyballet

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11 hours ago

Recreating that magical movie moment with Baby Francesca @zoedeal911 with a full pressed lift and turn in the swimming pool.

I feel like she needs to work on her core strength to really accomplish a fully horizontal position but it’s a cracking start for a 1 year old! 😂😂

#dirtydancing #funnykids #iconic #dancers #pasdedeux taken in El Valle Golf Resort by @howlyballet

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2 days ago

Getting your big jumps sorted at the barre is by far the most effective method of creating sustainable development and confidence in both your technique and foundations.

These are our intermediate students @project.resurgence who are aged between 10-13 yrs and this type of work is perfect for launch and landing making sure that turnout is never lost throughout.

The biggest mistake I witnessed with young dancers during grand allegro is losing external rotation through dynamic movements. The barre is the perfect place to implement good habits that will last a lifetime 👍

#ballet #dancer #ballerina #balletclass #training taken in Project Resurgence by @howlyballet

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3 days ago

The word legend is so often overused but I truly believe that this word befits Peter Mallek who has sadly passed onto the next chapter during the last week.

Peter gave his life to dance and theatre and was a true inspiration to so many people including myself. I loved working for, chatting to and having the occasional glass of vino with. 🍷

His work in taking ballet to parts of the UK & Europe that would otherwise never have seen such shows was truly extraordinary and made ballet so much more diverse and accessible outside of major cities.

I feel blessed to have caught up with Peter & Gill in 2023 when I went to Vienna with my friend Alex for a 4 day trip to catch up with them both. It was such a brilliant few days.

My deepest sympathies to Gill and his entire family at this most difficult time. He will never be forgotten and his legacy will continue through his family and the dancers that worked with him and his special ballet company.

Cheers Peter 🥂 & rest in peace ❤️

#legend #balletdancer #inspiration #rip #gonebutneverforgotten taken in Vienna - Austria by @howlyballet

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3 days ago

This little girl has our hearts! ♥️ The trembling is absolutely magnificent! 😂😂

On holiday with the family down in southern Spain and it’s the first time I’ve had to spend time with my great niece Francesca @zoedeal911

She’s so beautiful and I love this little thing she got going on! A proper little attention seeker and hopefully future dancer/performer based on this display.

Took a week away this week to be with my family and reconnect after a busy couple of years and it’s been absolutely beautiful. (Sadly the wife is working but south of France bunions are coming back at end of August)

No matter where I am I will be performing the ‘Francesca Freeze’ forever xxx

#baby #funnykids #funnyvideos #babyvideo #babygirl taken in La Torre Golf Resort by @howlyballet

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4 days ago

A growing concern for me in the world of dance is the loss of leg strength to secure leg positions, instead dancers are now tilting their hips to create the illusion of a higher leg line.

We all want to create beautiful leg lines and positions but that should not be at the sacrifice of secure hips and control.

Quantity will never usurp quality in my opinion and I hope this tutorial provides you with structure on how to practice developing leg lines and positions slowly over time 👍

#ballet #danceteacher #balletclass #strengthening #balletteacher taken in Project Resurgence by @howlyballet

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4 days ago

I’ve had some comments recently about my belief in square positions that dancers should be trained with freedom of movement, hips and arms etc to make an arabesque more fluid… I wholeheartedly disagree 💥

Yes we dance because it’s joyous and I want students to enjoy their work, however the joy from dance can be felt much more by being completely on balance and owning your positions.

To those people out there who believe ballet training is too rigid and focused on the details to engage with students nowadays I suggest you spend some time trying to hold accurate positions on demi-point and see how you get on.

You never know you just might like the feeling of total body connection 👍

Blending movements is very different to committing to your technique and the true joy of dance it’s self becomes your confidence and conviction when binding it all together.

Filmed @project.resurgence

#faulty #partner #ballet #balance #strength taken in Project Resurgence by @howlyballet

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5 days ago

Obviously massively gutted about the exploits of the national team on Wednesday but a big congratulations to Argentina, the best team won.

Just because our journey is over doesn’t mean I won’t share this video of our Intermediate students on Sundays @project.resurgence version of Vindaloo.

Obviously congratulations to @england on finishing 3rd this year. Fingers crossed we can finally get over the line one day as our hearts would finally be full. Still proud of the boys and all the incredible football fans that keep us believing in England!

The videos will return in 2 years at the next European Championship so until then we are signing off with the greatest football song ever written.

#dance #balletdancer #balletteacher #dancer #choreography taken in Project Resurgence by @howlyballet

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6 days ago

I JUST LOVE THAT FLOOR PRESSURE ❤️ The improvements made this year on our mid-week junior programme @project.resurgence on Mondays have been immense!

I know you ballet purists out there will note that their legs are not yet joining in the air but we have only thus far worked on creating energy through the floor by using friction to create momentum and to secure hip position for the future advancement.

The next step on the journey will be to really assemble those legs together at the top of the jump and that will come through maturation and strengthening.

For now I am absolutely delighted with such young dancers connecting their feet through the floor and building strong foundations and great habits for their jumps.

Trust between a dancer and teacher is a truly wonderful thing and I feel like my students this year have really trusted me to accept my methodology that I know will steer them right for many years to come. 👍

#ballet #ballerina #dancers #strengthtraining #balletclass taken in Project Resurgence by @howlyballet

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7 days ago