Bestseller on Amazon!

The Dance Advantage

Dance Beyond Steps: Nurturing Tomorrow’s Creative, Resilient Minds

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Bestselling Authors

Justin & Ineke
Co-founders of Ndigo

Justin Yep & Ineke Vandevyvere

Justin and Ineke, award-winning dance pedagogues and founders of Ndigo, have been inspiring young dancers since 2009. Over the years, they have guided thousands of students, with some progressing to prestigious institutions. Fueled by their passion for the transformative power of dance, they have poured their expertise and personal stories into this book, an inspiring guide to building creativity and resilience that extends far beyond the dance studio.

Watch as your child:

✓ Finds joy in learning and creating
✓ Develop creative, problem-solving skills
✓ Grows in confidence and self-awareness
✓ Find purpose and direction for the futures
✓ Reduce screen dependancy and social anxiety

About The Book

After 15 years of guiding young dancers and their families, we noticed patterns in what helps children truly thrive. This book is about using movement to teach children life skills that will help them in the real world.

Whether your child dances, plays sports, or simply loves to move, these principles apply universally. This guide is for parents, grandparents, and educators who want to give children the tools to navigate life with confidence and creativity.

Challenges While Writing

Problem number one. Pushing past imposter syndrome. Who would want to read this book? Who’d give a damn about what we had to say? Yet, we had hands on experience. Parents would consult us periodically, asking for advice, guidance and solutions. So we thought why not distill the information in a book. Plus we wanted to document this part of our journey.

Secondly, meeting deadlines was a struggle. For instance, we finished the first draft in an Airbnb in London while our son was auditioning for The Royal Ballet School. The second draft came together just as a new season was starting at Ndigo.

The timing (you could say) was never perfect. We wrote in the mornings, at night, while traveling on a plane or train. Really, anywhere we could find the time, while life kept moving forward.

Writing this book has shown us how small, consistent steps can come together to create something meaningful.

Through our research, we have gained a better understanding of the power of dance, not just as an art form, but as a tool for building deep neural connections and fostering growth at every stage of life.

Writing and directing share many similarities. Whether it’s a book or a show, it all begins with defining the framework. We outlined the 10 chapters, much like planning the structure of a performance. Each chapter then became a mix of stories, research, and several sub-themes.

In both cases, the creative process involves connecting the dots to create a cohesive and impactful story.

A bit messy, but so worth it.

Een vrouw in een bloemenrok en een wit topje staat naast een man in een licht denim shirt en een witte broek. Ze leunen tegen een bakstenen muur en lachen naar de camera. De vrouw heeft haar arm om de schouder van de man. De setting lijkt buiten met gras zichtbaar bij de muur.
Een persoon met lang zwart haar en een bril, gekleed in een zwart mouwloos topje, houdt een boek omhoog met de titel "The Dance Advantage". De achtergrond is effen en lichtgekleurd, en de persoon lacht lichtjes en kijkt recht in de camera.

“I wish I had The Dance Advantage in my
hand when I first stepped onto a dance
floor. I wish my parents had read it when
I was a child. This isn’t another parenting
book.”

Jee-Eun Petitqueux
Ballet Pedagogue, Royal Ballet School Antwerp

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