Articles

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

Reverence—Just Do It

February 25, 2019

Ever taught a class or in a studio where the students haven’t been exposed to reverence? When you attempt to do that portion of class they react in a most awkward way. When they realize you expect them to applaud—oh… Read More

Reverence—Just Do It

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

Emotional Needs Within The Ballet Classroom

November 12, 2018

Ballet dancers are artists and art reflects humanity. Therefore, ballet dancers must be highly in tune with their own humanity in order for their art to resonate. Most people drawn to pursuing the arts experience feelings in a profoundly deep… Read More

Emotional Needs Within The Ballet Classroom

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

Spacing Little Dancers on Stage

April 23, 2018

Spacing can be a true disaster on stage. For anyone. I remember very specifically one moment in my professional career where I ran into another dancer. Literally, just smacked right into her. Yes, my director let me know how unhappy… Read More

Spacing Little Dancers on Stage

Ten Parts of Performing for Little Dancers

April 16, 2018

There is so much more to a successful performance than what happens on stage. There is the before and the after. But often times these parts get overlooked or completely forgotten in younger classes. With the pressure to get everyone… Read More

Ten Parts of Performing for Little Dancers

Getting the Stage Shy Dancers On Stage

April 3, 2018

I much prefer the term “stage shy” as opposed to “stage fright”. It feels less scary, which in turn can help the actual fear be less scary. I would use “stage anxious” but anxious is not a word little kids… Read More

Getting the Stage Shy Dancers On Stage

Three Performance Goals for Little Dancers

March 26, 2018

Putting the youngest dancers on stage can be frightening. We never really know what is going to happen once they get out there. We can prepare them to the best of our ability and even send an assistant out there… Read More

Three Performance Goals for Little Dancers

Performance Choreography for Tiny Dancers

March 20, 2018

From the well seasoned ballet teacher to the novice, and everyone in between, putting together a performance piece for the youngest dancers can be tricky. Set The Expectations . . . For Yourself Choreographing for 3-6 year olds can feel… Read More

Performance Choreography for Tiny Dancers

5 Ways to Ensure Safe Stretching

November 20, 2017

First, a little story . . . I was teaching a group of students who were new to me. I had them on their backs doing a stretch that would help them feel where their external rotators exist. While the… Read More

5 Ways to Ensure Safe Stretching

What About the Bathroom?

September 11, 2017

It’s a thing, isn’t it? The bathroom. Everyone always having to go to the bathroom. Well, maybe not with kids older than eight or nine. But the younger ones? Seems every time I turn around someone is saying they need… Read More

What About the Bathroom?

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

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

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

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

Turning Recitals Into Education

March 30, 2017

Ballet recitals aren’t going away. I get that. I know when I was a young dancer I looked forward to recital with all kinds of anticipation. It was perfectly exciting. And without that experience I would not have known the… Read More

Turning Recitals Into Education

Dealing With Attitudes

February 25, 2017

We have all been there. Every single one of us. The arch enemy of the ballet teacher excludes no one. When this imposter rears its head in the studio we are immediately entrenched in a battle. A battle we will… Read More

Dealing With Attitudes

Where to Put All the Tiny Humans

January 13, 2017

I once taught a class of three year olds who I called my Sparkly Marbles. They were very proud of their title and often referred to themselves as Miss Robyn’s Sparkly Marbles. One class a dancer asked, “Miss Robyn, why… Read More

Where to Put All the Tiny Humans

Play and Ballet

December 30, 2016

There is an alert on my phone that goes off each Friday at 11:50am. The alert reads as such:  “PreBallet 12:00-1:15” If that alert reflected my reality, however, it would read: “TIME TO PLAY!!!  (and teach ballet)  12:00-1:15” Anyone who has… Read More

Play and Ballet

Teaching Ballet Really Isn't About Ballet At All

December 23, 2016

When I was five years old I decided I wanted to be a teacher. My kindergarten teacher was my hero and if I could do what she did then I figured I could possibly be a hero to… Read More

Teaching Ballet Really Isn't About Ballet At All

My Personal Secrets for Teaching Littles

December 16, 2016

Allow me to paint a picture in your mind… I am sixteen years old. I have had plenty of experience as a teacher’s assistant in ballet class. It is now my turn to take a class on my own… Read More

My Personal Secrets for Teaching Littles

How Much Should We Expect?

December 5, 2016

What a loaded question. In all things. Right? From our hair products to our relationships, and everything in between, we walk through life with expectations needing to be fulfilled. In my personal life I have found conflicts arise… Read More

How Much Should We Expect?

Where Did Their Brains Go?

December 1, 2016

Thanksgiving is over, winter break is on its way. There is so much excitement in the air. The buzz of the holidays brims everywhere. The most wonderful time of the year! Right? We’ve all been there. The chaos of the… Read More

Where Did Their Brains Go?