Teach Young Students to Count Music February 18, 2019 I am an advocate of instilling musicality in students, no matter the age or skill level. It is an integral part of ballet, therefore it deserves a place in training from the very start.But I don’t deny teaching young… Read More Teach Young Students to Count Music
Creating Fearless Turners February 11, 2019 What is going to happen? When I push up to relevé for this pirouette, will I actually stay standing? Will I flail about? Will I make the finish? Will I look ridiculous?The Unknown is full of fright. For some students,… Read More Creating Fearless Turners
Safer and Higher Jumping October 29, 2018 Everyone wants to jump higher and no one wants to get hurt. But I know I am not the only one who encounters students flailing themselves into the air with nary a care about how they get there and how… Read More Safer and Higher Jumping
Create the Illusion of Flight October 22, 2018 To say grand allegro was challenging for me would be an enormous understatement. I felt stuck in the ground. . . and I looked stuck.I did eventually work it out, though. Forcing myself to take men’s class played a role… Read More Create the Illusion of Flight
How I Mix Up Port de Bras for My Students October 15, 2018 BalancéTemps de FlecheSaut de ChatChassé EntournantTombé Pas de BourréeJust a few steps for which many dancers have a default port de bras. There are many steps that would make it on this list.Maybe at one school all the dancers extend… Read More How I Mix Up Port de Bras for My Students
Six Ways to Slay Petit Allegro October 8, 2018 The thrill of petit allegro is intense. The adrenaline pushing through the body as it slices and dices the air cannot be matched. When done well, petit allegro leaves the audience wondering what they even just witnessed while simultaneously aching… Read More Six Ways to Slay Petit Allegro
Train the Eyes October 1, 2018 Eyes up. Eyes down. Eyes gazing all around.The smallest details can make the largest impact, and that could not be more true than when it comes to the eyes. Piqué arabesque with the eyes remaining level and you have an… Read More Train the Eyes
Hands and Fingers for Little Dancers July 15, 2018 Hands and fingers do ballet, too!Teaching little ones to recognize that all parts of their body should be included in ballet is important because it helps build their awareness of space, movement, and details. All things we want our more… Read More Hands and Fingers for Little Dancers
Teaching Waltz Turn July 3, 2017 When I was 11 years old, I had my first encounter with waltz turns. I can look back at the situation and laugh now, but in the moment it was terrifying and slightly traumatizing. I won’t go into the story… Read More Teaching Waltz Turn
Three Main Rules for Jumping June 26, 2017 For little dancers:RULE #1: You must bend your knees before and after the jump.RULE #2: You must stretch your legs and feet in the air.RULE #3: You must hold your body still while jumping.These are the three rules I teach… Read More Three Main Rules for Jumping
The Order of Learning Ballet June 21, 2017 Order is beautiful to me. While I tend to live rather chaotically, I do ache for order. I believe this is one reason I was so drawn to ballet. The structure provided a solid framework for my creativity, and the… Read More The Order of Learning Ballet
Building Smart Dancers April 9, 2017 What good is knowing how to do 17 pirouettes if you don’t know when to do 17 pirouettes?What good is being able to extend your leg far behind your head if you don’t understand the nuances behind lovely extension?What good… Read More Building Smart Dancers
Why Natural Movement? October 28, 2016 Historically, ballet styling and technique developed slowly from that of folk dances and court dances. Ballet styling was added to those dances by adult dancers, whose basic movement and coordination skills were complete and in place. Children were… Read More Why Natural Movement?
Helping the Undercoordinated Students July 16, 2016 Coordination can be taken for granted by students who have progressed naturally and successfully through its phases. Others have had a tough go, and as dance teachers, we see the evidence of that struggle. It can be almost embarrassing for… Read More Helping the Undercoordinated Students
Sensory Development for Purposeful Movement January 10, 2016 Coordination can be one of the hardest concepts for students to learn, especially when their foundation for purposeful movement may not have been laid correctly. Children progress through a natural process of coordination development that can sometimes be ignored when… Read More Sensory Development for Purposeful Movement
How Teachers Help Their Students Improve Coordination November 2, 2015 Dance teachers have been on track more than any other group in providing for coordination to happen. Our deep understanding of movement and development encourages the correct progression of coordination at the proper stages of growth. Ballet teachers have been… Read More How Teachers Help Their Students Improve Coordination
The Pyramid of Coordination October 9, 2015 There is a wonderful, intricate and observable progression of coordination grafted into every human being. At the earliest age, only a few months old, we can see how the brain begins to connect with the other members of… Read More The Pyramid of Coordination
Developing Coordinated Dancers September 20, 2015 Coordination is not one of those principles dance teachers want to overlook. If left unchecked, our students could grow up without the proper coordination skills they need to progress accordingly as dancers. Ruth Brinkerhoff devoted an entire teacher manual,… Read More Developing Coordinated Dancers
What is Coordination? September 19, 2015 Without a thorough understanding of the principles of coordination, it is difficult for dance teachers to know what to expect and how to encourage the proper development of natural coordination. It is definitely a vital building block, fundamental… Read More What is Coordination?
Use of Feet and Turnout in Pre-Ballet August 1, 2015 Forcing too much turnout in young children is not only unsafe, it is also unnecessary. Their bodies allow for a gradual progression with a projected 90º turnout achieved by the age of 7 or 8. As they get older, teachers… Read More Use of Feet and Turnout in Pre-Ballet
The Power of Teaching Progressions July 10, 2015 From the earliest of classes, the young ballet student is building the skills they will need to learn more advanced steps later. As a young three year-old, the students learn to stand with their feet in parallel, point their toes… Read More The Power of Teaching Progressions
The 3 Stages of Coordination February 13, 2015 Ballet skills are built upon the base of natural skills that has been developed within the person. This is why extensive experience with fundamental movement skills is important for a ballet class of young children. It is surprising… Read More The 3 Stages of Coordination
Don't Be A Skipper, Teach Them To Skip! February 7, 2015 Skipping requires balance, symmetry in muscle use, self-esteem and some natural coordination. It is often used as an indicator of ‘readiness to learn’ academic subjects. It is expected that children in a dance class will learn to skip. Read More Don't Be A Skipper, Teach Them To Skip!