Articles

Thoughts on Musicality

November 7, 2016

Ah. . . music.  It holds some kind of special magic. Want to liven up a party? Put on some music. Want to relax? Put on some music. Want to feel motivated at the gym? Put on some… Read More

Thoughts on Musicality

Introducing the Ballet Barre

November 7, 2016

For our youngest dancers, the barre should be kept a mystery. Little girls rush into their first ballet class and all they want to do is hold on to that barre. It’s a fun part of being a ballerina, but… Read More

Introducing the Ballet Barre

Maximize Learning Retention

October 21, 2016

If students are not retaining the new skills we teach them, it could be because we as teachers are not honoring their natural flow of learning. Learning new skills follows a logical pattern, and we have to address the “why” and… Read More

Maximize Learning Retention

Determine Their Intermediate Pointe Readiness

October 7, 2016

When teaching beginning pointe, or when teaching any form of dance, you’ll observe early on that every student will progress at a different pace. Some will catch on quickly, practice strengthening exercises at home, seek more information or opportunities… Read More

Determine Their Intermediate Pointe Readiness

How Learning Happens

September 9, 2016

Ever felt frustrated in class because you feel like your students are just not getting what you’re trying so hard to teach them? You explain the concepts to them every single class and still don’t see evidence of that information… Read More

How Learning Happens

Teaching the Accelerated Child

August 12, 2016

How can we, as dance teachers, best serve those young students in our classrooms who we notice have some great potential to be more in the ballet world? Sometimes we see that they are progressing well, but we don’t know… Read More

Teaching the Accelerated Child

Find the Causes of Their Actions

August 4, 2016

All Behavior is Learned Out of the clear blue, your student throws a tantrum. Another student sulks shyly and avoids eye contact. What do you do? Understand that all behaviors result from an underlying cause. Come to class armed with… Read More

Find the Causes of Their Actions

The First Weeks of Pointe Class

July 30, 2016

Many teachers will be ushering their students into the first few weeks of pointe training this upcoming season. For many students, it is a very exciting time of choosing the right shoes, preparing their feet for the challenges ahead, sewing… Read More

The First Weeks of Pointe Class

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

Basic Principles for Older Beginners

May 6, 2016

I taught a very interesting new class this year. The group was ages 12 and up, and they were all beginners. I haven’t taught this kind of group in about 4 years, so I had to review some of the… Read More

Basic Principles for Older Beginners

The Five Families of Jumps

April 25, 2016

Ballet consists of movement families. Once a student has learned some of the basic forms of jumps, they can begin to explore all of the different ways we jump in ballet. Use this guide to teach your intermediate to advanced… Read More

The Five Families of Jumps

Increase Your Effectiveness in Skills Training

April 13, 2016

When do you feel the most satisfaction after teaching a class? When just few of the students have been able to master the material presented at that lesson? Or, when the entire class has succeeded in learning to… Read More

Increase Your Effectiveness in Skills Training

Power Struggles in Middle Childhood

February 27, 2016

Middle childhood can be quite a frightening life phase! Not only for the student, but also for the teacher of this age group. It is a time of much change for the 9-11 year old. He or she is just… Read More

Power Struggles in Middle Childhood

What Can I Do To Change Their Behavior?

February 5, 2016

Psychologists tell us that behaviors do not continue unless they are reinforced. Reinforcement is a constant reality—if the teacher smiles, nods, even looks at a student during an exercise, that is positive reinforcement. We can direct the reinforcement, plan it when… Read More

What Can I Do To Change Their Behavior?

Why is it so Hard to Keep the Circle the Same Size?

January 29, 2016

Choreography for recital season has begun, and teachers all over the world are beginning to plan the specific steps, formations, costumes and music. I’d like to share this tidbit from Ruth Brinkerhoff‘s curriculum books concerning… Read More

Why is it so Hard to Keep the Circle the Same Size?

Correcting Errors in Muscle Use

January 22, 2016

The careful, attentive ballet teacher should always pick up on the students who do not have correct alignment or do not have correct muscle use. The errors found should be addressed with the student for as… Read More

Correcting Errors in Muscle Use

Avoiding Injury with Correct Muscle Use

January 16, 2016

Ballet teachers all over the world would agree that one of the biggest, most serious problems dancers face is injury from incorrect placement, sometimes due to the lack of knowledge of proper alignment and muscle use in ballet. While some… Read More

Avoiding Injury with Correct Muscle Use

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

Preventing Injuries

December 18, 2015

An article by BBC News has recently been circulating regarding the high risk of undetected injury in ballet students if they have been taught by an unqualified teacher. This article speaks volumes because… Read More

Preventing Injuries

Body Placement for Ballet Students

December 4, 2015

Once your students have passed through the pre-ballet program, you can begin to work with them on a classical ballet posture and body placement. Remember the importance of taking time, and not rushing on the basic principles of vocabulary and… Read More

Body Placement for Ballet Students

Using Ballet Terminology and Musicality in Class

November 21, 2015

It gets to me every time. When I begin in September with a group of students who say, “I’ve been dancing all my life” and yet, at the age of 11, cannot dance to the rhythm of the… Read More

Using Ballet Terminology and Musicality in Class

Working Toward Excellence in Classical Ballet

November 9, 2015

Once your students have graduated from the early levels of ballet training and move into a more classically directed ballet education, there are many principles to begin to implement in their classes. The small things create the difference… Read More

Working Toward Excellence in Classical Ballet

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

Planning Your Intermediate Pointe Class

October 30, 2015

The first two years of pointe work should be very carefully limited and controlled. Too much too soon has proven to be detrimental in pointe class. As with any class, there is a simple formula teachers can use to plan… Read More

Planning Your Intermediate Pointe Class

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