Articles

Curriculum In the Works

November 14, 2014

Good evening, friends. Just wanted to put a quick message out there to those of you who are awaiting the release of Ruth Brinkerhoff’s ballet curriculum in PDF form . . . It’s coming! The late… Read More

Curriculum In the Works

No-Stress Performance Prep

November 10, 2014

In my last blog post, (The Dance Teacher’s Secret Weapon) I gave out the secret that every dance teacher should grab a hold of and use the moment any students begin to show signs of burnout or boredom. Having… Read More

No-Stress Performance Prep

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

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

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

Point Your Toes vs. Point Your Foot

September 20, 2014

It may not be such a good idea to use the phrase “point your toes” in pre-ballet class. How many of us have encouraged our little ones to “point your toes”, and we still don’t see the results we desire?… Read More

Point Your Toes vs. Point Your Foot

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

The Triangle of the Foot

September 19, 2014

“Don’t roll your feet! Keep your arches lifted!” I’ve received the correction myself, but I’ve not been able to find a good way to explain it to my younger, beginner/intermediate students. Ruth Brinkerhoff’s “Pointe 1: An Introduction to… Read More

The Triangle of the Foot

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"

For All You First Timers Out There

September 17, 2014

Welcome to Ballet Source! I am honored and privileged to be providing ballet teachers all across the continent with resources to assist them in bringing classical ballet to our young students. This site is dedicated to the education, training and… Read More

For All You First Timers Out There