Articles

Zoom Basics for Teaching Ballet Online

March 25, 2020

We are living in unprecedented times as dance teachers, parents, and human beings on this earth. Not only is there a mostly-unknown virus spreading in our countries and the resulting fear and isolation, but we, as professionals are having to… Read More

Zoom Basics for Teaching Ballet Online

Cue Phrases

April 8, 2019

Cue phrases can be both helpful and fun for teachers and students.  I remember one piece I choreographed on my advanced dancers. They were having difficulties with this circular formation and somehow I related it to a “pit of despair”. Read More

Cue Phrases

Use Their Stories As Class Material

March 11, 2019

Keeping little ones engaged in ballet class can be tricky. We want to teach them all the things and we know they want to learn all the things, but gosh—their attention spans sometimes do not wish to cooperate! It is… Read More

Use Their Stories As Class Material

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… Read More

Teach Young Students to Count Music

How I Mix Up Port de Bras for My Students

October 15, 2018

BalancéTemps de FlecheSaut de ChatChassé EntournantTombé Pas de Bourrée Just 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… Read More

How I Mix Up Port de Bras for My Students

Hands and Fingers Make All the Difference

August 25, 2018

The advanced dancer looks for ways to set themselves apart from the rest. How can they make their pirouette look different from the dancer standing next to them? What quality can they inject into their petit allegro that will glue… Read More

Hands and Fingers Make All the Difference

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… Read More

Hands and Fingers for Little Dancers

Four Tips For Building Reversing Skills

December 11, 2017

I willingly admit to being a reverse junkie. If there was time enough, I would have my students reverse everything. I find the puzzle of reversing enthralling and always come away from it feeling a little more the wiser for… Read More

Four Tips For Building Reversing Skills

Mixing Up Port de Bras

November 27, 2017

NOTE: This is geared specifically for teachers of more advanced students. Lower leveled students do require consistency with port de bras so they can remain focused primarily on technique. Once technique is established with any given step, then the world… Read More

Mixing Up Port de Bras

A Choreography Project

November 13, 2017

Looking for a productive way to switch up the pace of class? Perhaps your students are interested in choreography and you want a simple way to introduce them to basic composition concepts? Maybe your students need some assistance being a… Read More

A Choreography Project

A Fun Vocabulary Test

October 9, 2017

Ballet vocabulary. We want our students to have it. To understand how to speak the language. To be informed dancers. So we do any of the following things: Randomly ask them what any given ballet word means.Consistently reinforce the definitions… Read More

A Fun Vocabulary Test

Separation Anxiety

August 28, 2017

I am a mom of three kids. But when I began my ballet teaching career I was not a mom of three kids. I was not a mom at all. I was basically a kid who knew nothing and did… Read More

Separation Anxiety

The Rut War

August 7, 2017

It is no news flash that ballet class is at high risk of falling into a rut. We speak about creating a structure that develops discipline and focus, but we all know that very structure can be the demise of… Read More

The Rut War

Lessons in Ballet History

July 20, 2017

I am thoroughly convinced there is never enough time in ballet class to teach everything we wish to teach. One year, I taught a three hour ballet class once a week to advanced dancers who were already taking many other… Read More

Lessons in Ballet History

The Beginnings of Frappé

July 14, 2017

Frappé is, and always has been, one of my favorite steps to do. The sharp attack and speed of the step drew me in from the start. Teaching frappé has not, however, been my favorite. It felt a bit on… Read More

The Beginnings of Frappé

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

Choosing Which Correction To Give

June 29, 2017

I had a teacher oh so many years ago who was helping me learn how to teach. She observed me giving class one day and afterwards we had a little chat: “So, Robyn. Well done. However, I noticed you didn’t… Read More

Choosing Which Correction To Give

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… 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

Screaming About Demi Pointe

June 5, 2017

Pull your heels up, dancers!” “More! Give me more with your feet!” “Where is your demi pointe? I can’t see it!” If there was ever a thing that makes me sound like a broken record it would… Read More

Screaming About Demi Pointe

Teaching the 8 Body Positions

May 25, 2017

No build up necessary. We all know how vital it is that our students grasp the concepts of croisé, écarté, effacé, and en face. The aesthetic of ballet is based in large part on these positions. Regardless of the labels… Read More

Teaching the 8 Body Positions

Knobby Knees and Hyperextension

May 19, 2017

(Note: This article is written with the young dancer, beginning around age 5, in mind.) “Let’s all stand in First Position.” All students begin to move into position. “Wonderful!  Be sure your heels are touching.” All students move their… Read More

Knobby Knees and Hyperextension

Golden Rules for Barre Work

May 12, 2017

It is common knowledge that barre work is the foundation for ballet.  Inevitably, where a dancer shows weakness at the barre, it will be magnified tenfold when they move to the centre. The essentials put in place through barre work… Read More

Golden Rules for Barre Work

Take It To The Floor

May 9, 2017

I had a teacher who would say to my class, “Dears, you look simply awful. Take it to the floor.” She would deliver this line to us after we had finished an exercise or a combination that was not… Read More

Take It To The Floor

Exposing Students to Excellent Ballet

April 24, 2017

My dance training began when I was nine years old. A year later I saw a professional ballet dancer for the first time. It changed everything for me. In my eyes, this ballerina was perfection. I had no idea such… Read More

Exposing Students to Excellent Ballet