Issue No.1 • August 2026
Welcome In!
Hi everyone,
If we've met in class, hello again. If we haven't, I'm Belle.
Over the past month, I've had the privilege of stepping into a new role at Common Ground. Many of you know my mom, April. She built this studio from the ground up with a vision of creating an adult dance space where people could learn without intimidation and find genuine community along the way. I hope to honor that vision while continuing to build on it.
I've been dancing for nearly a decade, but what fascinates me most isn't perfect technique—it's understanding why our bodies move the way they do. That's the curiosity behind so much of what we teach at Common Ground.
Whether you've been with us since opening day or your first class is still ahead of you, I'm so glad you're here.
This Month at Common Ground
Bring a Friend Month (August)
One of the best ways our community grows is through the people already dancing with us.
Throughout August, members can invite one friend to class completely free.
If you'd like to participate, simply reply to this email, and I'll send you your personal one-time discount code to share with your guest.
Schedule Changes Coming in September
As we continue growing, we're making a few adjustments to the weekly schedule.
Tuesday Evenings
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Common Ground Method (CGM) 6:30 pm
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Contemporary Level 2 7:30 pm
Thursday Evenings
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Common Ground Method (CGM) 6:30 PM
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Contemporary Floorwork 7:30 PM
I’ll send a reminder during our next newsletter in September, but I wanted to give everyone a heads-up in advance.
Question Everything
Is stretching really about your muscles?
One of the biggest misconceptions in dance is that flexibility is simply a matter of "tight muscles."
In reality, your nervous system plays a much bigger role than most people realize.
If your brain doesn't feel safe allowing your body into a new range of motion, it'll often create resistance. This is not because your muscles physically can't go farther; it’s often because your nervous system isn't ready to let you.
That changes how we think about flexibility entirely.
Instead of forcing our bodies into deeper stretches, we can focus on building trust, control, and consistency over time.
If you'd like to dive deeper, I wrote an entire article on this topic:
It's Not Your Muscles Holding You Back—It's Your Nervous System
Behind the Class: CGM
If you've looked at our schedule and wondered what exactly CGM is... I got you.
The Common Ground Method was created to bridge a gap many adult dancers experience, and it's something my mom and I were deeply passionate about.
Instead of choosing between dance class, mobility work, strength training, and recovery, CGM brings them together into one intentional class.
Each session follows a structure:
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Warm-up
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Mobility, strength & endurance
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Dance phrase
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Deep stretch
Every section builds on the one before it, helping you understand why you're doing each exercise, not just how.
If you've ever felt intimidated by the name or weren't sure whether it was "for you," we hope you'll give it a try.
You can read the full breakdown here: Inside the CGM Method: A Breakdown of Our Favorite Class
The Community Corner
One of the projects quietly unfolding behind the scenes has been "Won't Fly," a contemporary piece mom had been creating on a group of us since May.
Rehearsals have looked a little different than we originally imagined. Life—and health—shifted our timeline more than once. Through all of that, this incredible group of dancers has continued showing up with patience, flexibility, and so much heart.
I want to give a huge thank you to everyone who's stayed committed. We're almost there.
Soon we'll be filming the piece, which also means you'll get to see one of the very first dance films created at Common Ground. We can't wait to share it with all of you.
Onwards,
Isabelle
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