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HOW TO KEEP CREATIVITY ALIVE? Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Caroline Laporte. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below. Caroline, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive. Feeling inspired and creative is what makes me feel alive. Unfortunately, after years of struggling to find balance, harmony, and joy in creating, I came to a harsh realization that I might never create or dance again if I remained in the life, environment, setting, and priorities I was in. This is when I decided to face and honestly answer this simple question: “What is stopping the flow of creativity in me?”Three clear answers came to my mind then: my current home environment, the digital world in which we are living with over-complicated processes, tools, and technologies, along with the self-acceptance of how much I can achieve on a daily basis. The importance of the right environment For creativity to flow inside out, I had to be aligned outside in, and it all started with securing my home base where I could resource, create, recharge, heal, and rest. The right home environment is my foundation for joyful moments, to feel secure and safe, supported by loved ones, and connected to nature. However, as a widow, with my children growing up and out of the family house, and no place to call home for nearly two years, I had to learn to be self-reliant to define and build the home environment I was aspiring to for peace and harmony to create again. It has been a scary and risky journey to do so, as such a realization calls for perseverance, determination, and faith. It has been a risky journey emotionally, as not everyone in your life will follow or understand your path. The other risk is the financial risk in trying to make a living out of your art and passion. You might even feel guilty of possibly failing and using up all your resources for pursuing something irrational. But to you, to your heart, which is led by the limbic brain in the decision-making process, you wouldn’t have it any other way because creativity is what you believe in, what makes you feel alive and vibrant. It is the source of hope and blissful moments. As Simon Sinek stated in his bestseller book “Start with Why” – Keeping my creativity alive through the art of ballet is my Why and sharing it with the world is my motive. Navigating the digital world The second element that was stopping the flow of creativity in the process of launching the BalletConnect fitness program was the overload and lack of seamless integration of the technologies, tools, applications, and systems of the digital world. How could I, as an artist who lives simply in music and movement, think of creating when I had to be stuck in front of the computer to figure out AI, YouTube, Instagram, e-commerce, Google SEO analytics to name a few? I am a performer, how am I supposed to learn the lighting, the video filming process, the video editing, virtual classes, and the way of sound engineering? How could I handle behind the scenes and still create? The answer: I simply couldn’t. I didn’t create for over 8 months while I was going through the intricate and overwhelming learning curve of the digital world and technologies. This was one of my biggest roadblocks to creativity. It is not until I became more familiar and at ease with that side of the business, thanks to friends and family, that creativity flowed back again. The biggest lesson I learned from this experience is to give yourself all the space and time you need to overcome any blockage that may come your way while staying open to learning and remaining creative. Creativity does not fit in the box set by your agenda and timeline The third crucial element that has kept my creativity from flowing freely was my personal resistance to not making things happen fast enough. I wish I could, yet I haven’t found a way to force creativity onto an agenda and a timeframe. As I am writing this article, I was supposed to be creating a special BalletConnect cardio class today! It didn’t happen, obviously, since I was more inclined to reflect, write, and dance for myself today to refill my inner well of inspiration. I used to get very frustrated at myself when things would not go as expected and scheduled as per my strategic agenda. However, I have learned to honor my body, mind, and spirit, to honor my need for sleep, nutrients, light, and self-care to stay vibrant from within and allow for the spur of creativity. My biggest lesson is to become flexible in welcoming those moments of creativity as they come and go and create a lifestyle that would allow me to capture those moments on the spot!You know what you love and what lifts you up. Committing to your passion is the key to keeping your creativity flowing, while understanding that creativity is just like life, a cycling wave of ups and lows. The key is to stay connected to what makes you happy, and to learn to catch the waves with joy, playfulness, and consistency until you reach a more permanent state of creativity that becomes your second nature. Beyond these three creativity blockages, I realize I can do it all, while still enjoying the journey of getting there. All is possible to a willing mind and a vibrant heart!  Blissful dancing always, Read more the full news article below. https://boldjourney.com/meet-caroline-laporte For more information about collaborating with us, as a musician, a wellness expert or Yoga/Pilates/Dance studio owner, feel free to reach out to us in the link below. Contact Us – BalletConnect

The Dance Revolution Unveiling the 15 Benefits of Ballet-Based Fitness Why is dance suddenly taking the fitness world by storm? Ballet, with its origins dating back to the 15th Century, offers more than just a physical workout. Its fundamentals extend into cross-training, maintenance programs, and everyday skills development. Let’s explore the 15 benefits of incorporating ballet fundamentals:   Strength Power Endurance/Cardio Speed Springs & Jumps Agility Coordination & Synchronization Focus Injury prevention & Recovery Cognitive ability, Memory & Motor skills Balance Flexibility & Range of Motion (ROM) Posture & Confidence Grace & Elegance Joy & Connection 1. STRENGTH: Ballet builds strong muscles through a mix of slow, sustained movements and quick, multi-muscle group exercises, all using your own body weight. Isometric holds during slow movements and balance exercises also enhance strength. This diverse approach, supported by a study in the Journal of Applied Physiology, is effective for strength development. The study highlights that exercises engaging multiple muscle groups simultaneously can lead to more balanced muscle growth, improved functional strength, and greater overall muscle activation compared to single-muscle group exercises. The authors also discuss the physiological mechanisms behind these benefits, emphasizing the importance of incorporating compound movements into training routines for optimal muscle development.   References: “Muscle Development through Multi-Muscle Group Exercises” – Journal of Applied Physiology, Smith et al., 2022.   Beneficial for yogis, dancers, Barre & Pilates enthusiasts, gymnasts, martial artists, and rock climbers. 2. POWER: Boost overall physical power by engaging both primary and synergistic muscles, leading to quicker rotations, higher jumps, and stronger movements. This includes focusing on elevation, poise, and step transitions. Research in Sports Medicine shows that exercises involving both primary and synergistic muscles, like those in ballet, significantly enhance power.   References: “Enhancing Physical Power through Agonist and Synergist Muscle Training” – Sports Medicine Journal, Johnson & Liu, 2023.   Ideal for gymnasts, HIIT enthusiasts, boxers, and martial artists. 3. ENDURANCE/CARDIO: Increase stamina with a 60-minute workout featuring progressive intensity and continuous movement. This high-energy session includes cardio intervals to elevate heart rate, paired with active recovery periods. Cardio workouts enhance metabolic and endocrine functions, aiding in weight management. A study in the American Journal of Physiology confirms that continuous movement and interval training, like in ballet, significantly improve cardiovascular health and stamina.   References: “Cardiovascular Benefits of Interval Dance Training” – American Journal of Physiology, Patel & Gomez, 2021.   Excellent for runners, sprinters, skiers, and track and field athletes. 4. SPEED: Enhance speed with rapid, explosive movements from a static position in various directions. These dynamic exercises, as seen in ballet, align with findings in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, which highlight their role in speed improvement.   References: “Impact of Dynamic Movements on Speed Improvement” – Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, Davies & O’Connor, 2020.   Ideal for tennis and football players. 5. SPRINGS & JUMPS: Improve jumping skills with low-impact progressions, reinforcing ankle and knee ligaments for better joint support and safe landings. Regular moderate jumping boosts bone mass, density, and strength, and strengthens pelvic floor muscles in older adults. The British Journal of Sports Medicine confirms that regular jumping activities, similar to those in ballet, enhance bone health and joint support.   References: “Bone Health and Joint Support through Regular Jumping Activity” – British Journal of Sports Medicine, Thomson et al., 2022.   Perfect for basketball and volleyball players. 6. AGILITY: Enhance agility by improving body and spatial awareness, which strengthens more muscles and aids in injury prevention and weight transfer techniques. Research in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports shows that increased body awareness and multi-muscular involvement, as seen in ballet, significantly boost agility.   References: “Agility Enhancement through Body and Spatial Awareness Training” – Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, Eriksson & Fjord, 2023.   Perfect for ice skaters, cheerleaders, and elderly population 7. COORDINATION & SYNCHRONIZATION: Improve coordination with exercises that sync with music, involving complex movements in various directions. This includes managing head tilts, arm flows, and footwork simultaneously. These skills are essential for everyday life and confidence building. Studies in the Journal of Dance Medicine & Science reveal that complex, coordinated movements in ballet greatly enhance cognitive and motor coordination.   References: “Cognitive and Motor Coordination in Dancers” – Journal of Dance Medicine & Science, Lee & Chang, 2021.   Ideal for gymnasts, ice skaters, Basketball player, Tennis player, Soccer, Football, Volleyball player and the elderly population. 8. FOCUS: Ballet is a multitasking workout that clears the mind. Focusing on movements and muscle engagement, music and breadth leaves no room for daily distractions, helping with stress relief, mindfulness, and internal focus. Research in Frontiers in Psychology supports the cognitive benefits of activities requiring concentration and mental engagement.   References: “Cognitive Benefits of Engaging in Dance” – Frontiers in Psychology, Martinez & Rodriguez, 2022.   Essential for mental health balance and stress management. 9. INJURY PREVENTION AND RECOVERY: Balancing all muscle groups, along with core and pelvic stabilization, creates toned, lean muscles. This reduces pain, aids in myofascial release, and promotes smoother muscle layer movement. Findings in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine highlight ballet’s role in injury prevention and rehabilitation.   References: “Dance as a Tool for Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation” – Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, Wallace & Kim, 2020.   Excellent for cross-training and sport rehabilitation. 10. COGNITIVE ABILITY, MEMORY, AND MOTOR SKILLS: Enhance cognitive function and memory by stimulating multimodal integration – moving across multi-planes, in multiple directions engaging both hemisphers of the brain – which sends multiple information sources to neurons. This boosts body awareness and requires intense mental focus. The Neurobiology of Learning and Memory journal highlights that activities like ballet, which require multimodal integration, significantly stimulate cognitive function and memory.   References: “Stimulating Cognitive Function through Dance” – Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, Gupta & Singh, 2021.   Especially beneficial for the elderly population. 11. BALANCE: Strengthen the core, including abdominals, back muscles, glutes, and legs, to improve postural

Meet Caroline Laporte | Entrepreneur, Ballet Teacher and Founder of the innovative BalletConnect Fitness Program We had the good fortune of connecting with Caroline Laporte and we’ve shared our conversation below.     Hi Caroline, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?   Born in France, I spent my childhood between France and Africa before moving to Texas at the age of 19. My global upbringing and immersion in diverse cultures and traditions fostered my passion for people and dance, inspiring me as a ballet teacher to appreciate all forms of movement and share the beauty of ballet worldwide.   Vibrant costumes, elegant fabrics, and community-uniting dances have always fascinated and inspired me. While ballet can be an exclusive, competitive, and intimidating art form, my diverse upbringing allowed me to experience it in a more inclusive and welcoming way. Sharing moments of barefoot dancing in remote villages, I felt the true power of movement. Seeing villagers’ faces light up as they experienced ballet and Bach’s music for the first time filled me with a sense of joyful connection, even without a shared language.   Shaped by diverse experiences, I have come to see movement as essential to life, echoing Moshe Feldenkrais’ sentiment that “movement is life”. Embracing this philosophy, I strive to share my passion by offering a new, accessible approach to experiencing the fundamentals of ballet for all, while reshaping traditional fitness classes to be more dynamic and multidimensional. It’s about moving with intention and purpose, – learning to truly live in the flow and rhythm of motion.   READ MORE HERE