The Dance Teacher's Secret Weapon: Expectancy November 6, 2014 It’s been one of those weeks. We all know them—toward the end of the first term, dance teachers often experience their first bouts of student burnout. Everything was great when we first started the semester, but now the students have already… Read More The Dance Teacher's Secret Weapon: Expectancy
Preparing Little Feet for Pointe October 13, 2014 I have an eight year-old student who loves to do tricks. She’s been dancing for two years, but this is my first year as her teacher. By the second class of the semester, she had already shown me—twice—how she can “stand… Read More Preparing Little Feet for Pointe
Why "Changing It Up" May Not Always Be Best October 6, 2014 One might think that the best way to keep a group of active, eager and talkative 9 year-olds’ attention would be to make things different each week of ballet class. That way they stay engaged and interested. Ruth Brinkerhoff’s “… Read More Why "Changing It Up" May Not Always Be Best
Preparing for Recital September 29, 2014 Believe it or not, the time is fast approaching for teachers to begin thinking about what they’d like their classes to do in their year-end performance. Don’t believe me? Just ask any director of any school anywhere and they’re probably… Read More Preparing for Recital
Ballet Began In Italy September 25, 2014 Say what?!Yes, indeed. Some people think that, because ballet terms are in French, that France must have been the origin of ballet. Of course, we ballet teachers know this, but remember, some of our students do not know that the… Read More Ballet Began In Italy
Plan for Success September 23, 2014 Never underestimate the power of planning ahead. Being a teacher means you must be 100% present with each class that you teach so that your students receive the best possible instruction with each passing week. In my early years,… Read More Plan for Success
The One Thing I Wish I Knew September 19, 2014 I attended ballet class on a regular basis from the age of 6 through 18 and no one ever really explained it to me. If someone had, I’m pretty sure my dance career would have been very different. I struggled… Read More The One Thing I Wish I Knew
Weight Placement en Pointe September 19, 2014 When I explained this concept to my Pointe students, they were blown away! Some of them are taking pointe for the first time this year, but others have been on pointe for three years now and have never been told… Read More Weight Placement en Pointe
Ballet Student Personalities: "The Sponge" September 18, 2014 She’s your every dream come true. She’s “The Sponge.” There is one particular student that I think of when I use this term. She is not perfect. She is not there yet. But, my,… Read More Ballet Student Personalities: "The Sponge"
Ballet Student Personalities: "The Puppy Dog" September 18, 2014 Have you ever corrected a student and received an emotional breakdown in response? If you haven’t yet, you most likely will at some point. Children, just like adults, carry around quite a bit of baggage, and… Read More Ballet Student Personalities: "The Puppy Dog"
Ballet Student Personalities: "The Apathetic One" September 18, 2014 Why the long face? Though some of us would like to believe that we are bringing up the next generation of flawless ballerinas, the fact remains that they will not all love to dance, and… Read More Ballet Student Personalities: "The Apathetic One"
Ballet Student Personalities: "Who, Me?" September 18, 2014 Deer in the headlights, anyone? It seems she cannot comprehend why you would ever correct her in the first place. “What could I have possibly done wrong?” These “Who, Me?” students are the children who may not… Read More Ballet Student Personalities: "Who, Me?"
Ballet Student Personalities: "Not Listening" September 18, 2014 Even as the words are coming out of your mouth, you can see all the signs that her mind is trailing off in some other direction. The student that simply will not stay engaged with the lesson is particularly puzzling (and patience-testing). Read More Ballet Student Personalities: "Not Listening"
Ballet Student Personalities: The "Know-It-All" September 18, 2014 The Know-It-All This is the student that looks at you with the “what information could you possibly have for me that I don’t already know?” look. No matter how many times you may look… Read More Ballet Student Personalities: The "Know-It-All"