Articles

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 holiday… Read More

Where Did Their Brains Go?

Away With The Lesson Plan!

November 29, 2016

Twenty something years of teaching ballet has taught me plenty of things. As educators in the arts we speak often about how life lessons are learned so well through the arts. What a beautiful thing. I could probably… Read More

Away With The Lesson Plan!

Are Today's Kids Different?

November 11, 2016

You may hear dance teachers say, “Today’s children are different, especially ages five to seven.” Every generation is different in some way, but the basic principles of child development are the same. Kids’ physical, emotional, social, and… Read More

Are Today's Kids Different?

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

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?

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

How to Survive Observation Week

October 14, 2016

Around this time of year, many dance schools are preparing for parent Observation Week. It’s a very special time for the students and their parents, but it can be a time of high stress and… Read More

How to Survive Observation Week

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

Inside the Pre-Ballet Mind: Letter From a Dancer-to-Be

September 2, 2016

It’s “back to school” season on this side of the pond, and like many dance teachers, you’re probably busily gearing up for the year ahead. This is an exciting time for some and a daunting one for others. Your little… Read More

Inside the Pre-Ballet Mind: Letter From a Dancer-to-Be

How Young is Too Young?

August 29, 2016

That 3-year old shouldn’t be spinning pirouettes any time soon. So what should you teach her? What can you do for the dancer-to-be to prepare her for the technical demands of the years to come?Choosing the right age to start… Read More

How Young is Too Young?

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

Why Wait to Teach Ballet Technique?

July 22, 2016

Young ballerinas need strict technique training too, right?Several years ago, I went for an interview for a teaching position at a local dance school. I wanted to expand my horizons and gain experience teaching at as many schools as possible. Read More

Why Wait to Teach Ballet Technique?

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

Posture Expectations for Preschoolers

May 20, 2016

Our young dancers are an energetic and exhilarating challenge. Their little minds and bodies are experiencing so many changes on a daily basis, and their minds are soaking up so much as they grow. Teachers of preschoolers have… Read More

Posture Expectations for Preschoolers

Self-Esteem in the Pre-Ballet Class

May 13, 2016

Self-esteem is an internalizing of who and what you are. Knowing and understanding who we are is essential to the growth process of every individual. Lack of such knowledge or the internalizing of wrong ideas about themselves can cause lasting… Read More

Self-Esteem in the Pre-Ballet Class

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

The Ultimate Survival Guide for Teaching Pre-Ballet

February 19, 2016

I can still vividly remember being interviewed for my first job as a ballet teacher. My director asked if I would be willing to teach “the little ones”. One side of me—the arrogant, naive, “I’m too good to teach little… Read More

The Ultimate Survival Guide for Teaching Pre-Ballet

Music and Memory in Pre-Ballet

February 12, 2016

Choreography for our youngest students can sometimes feel like the hardest choreography we do! The skills of moving in time to music, and of being able to remember the order of steps in a dance develop… Read More

Music and Memory in Pre-Ballet