Six Choreographic Guidelines for Threes November 16, 2014 It surprised me this year how much of a struggle it is to choreograph for three and four year olds! Doesn’t seem like a huge task; after all, they’re only preschoolers! They’ve hardly scratched the surface of ballet technique, what… Read More Six Choreographic Guidelines for Threes
No-Stress Performance Prep November 10, 2014 In my last blog post, (The Dance Teacher’s Secret Weapon) I gave out the secret that every dance teacher should grab a hold of and use the moment any students begin to show signs of burnout or boredom. Having… Read More No-Stress Performance Prep
The Dance Teacher's Secret Weapon: Expectancy November 6, 2014 It’s been one of those weeks. We all know them—toward the end of the first term, dance teachers often experience their first bouts of student burnout. Everything was great when we first started the semester, but now the students have already… Read More The Dance Teacher's Secret Weapon: Expectancy
Preparing Little Feet for Pointe October 13, 2014 I have an eight year-old student who loves to do tricks. She’s been dancing for two years, but this is my first year as her teacher. By the second class of the semester, she had already shown me—twice—how she can “stand… Read More Preparing Little Feet for Pointe
Why "Changing It Up" May Not Always Be Best October 6, 2014 One might think that the best way to keep a group of active, eager and talkative 9 year-olds’ attention would be to make things different each week of ballet class. That way they stay engaged and interested. Ruth Brinkerhoff’s “… Read More Why "Changing It Up" May Not Always Be Best
Preparing for Recital September 29, 2014 Believe it or not, the time is fast approaching for teachers to begin thinking about what they’d like their classes to do in their year-end performance. Don’t believe me? Just ask any director of any school anywhere and they’re probably… Read More Preparing for Recital
Ballet Began In Italy September 25, 2014 Say what?!Yes, indeed. Some people think that, because ballet terms are in French, that France must have been the origin of ballet. Of course, we ballet teachers know this, but remember, some of our students do not know that the… Read More Ballet Began In Italy
Plan for Success September 23, 2014 Never underestimate the power of planning ahead. Being a teacher means you must be 100% present with each class that you teach so that your students receive the best possible instruction with each passing week. In my early years,… Read More Plan for Success
Point Your Toes vs. Point Your Foot September 20, 2014 It may not be such a good idea to use the phrase “point your toes” in pre-ballet class. How many of us have encouraged our little ones to “point your toes”, and we still don’t see the results we desire?… Read More Point Your Toes vs. Point Your Foot
The One Thing I Wish I Knew September 19, 2014 I attended ballet class on a regular basis from the age of 6 through 18 and no one ever really explained it to me. If someone had, I’m pretty sure my dance career would have been very different. I struggled… Read More The One Thing I Wish I Knew
Why the Rush? September 18, 2014 There is a prevalent acceptance in ballet studios these days of a sadly dangerous belief. I most definitely do not understand it, and I wish there were some way to gather all the moms, teachers, and studio owners together… Read More Why the Rush?
