How to Set Up Your Virtual Ballet Classroom March 25, 2020 Teaching online is a hurdle we are all facing right now as dance teachers. It’s something that comes naturally to some, but most of us are in a whole new world. I’d like to offer support to all of you;… Read More How to Set Up Your Virtual Ballet Classroom
Scheduling Online Dance Classes with Zoom March 25, 2020 It’s a challenge we’re all facing in these recent weeks: how do we organize the madness that is our dance class schedule? In no way am I going to pretend that I can simply provide a solution that will work… Read More Scheduling Online Dance Classes with Zoom
Cue Phrases April 8, 2019 Cue phrases can be both helpful and fun for teachers and students. I remember one piece I choreographed on my advanced dancers. They were having difficulties with this circular formation and somehow I related it to a “pit of despair”. Read More Cue Phrases
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 not… 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 young… Read More Teach Young Students to Count Music
Creating Fearless Turners February 11, 2019 What is going to happen? When I push up to relevé for this pirouette, will I actually stay standing? Will I flail about? Will I make the finish? Will I look ridiculous?The Unknown is full of fright. For some students,… Read More Creating Fearless Turners
Teaching Them to Ask Smart Questions January 14, 2019 We all know there are plenty of unneeded questions. Of course, we want to encourage our students to ask any question they have, but really . . . sometimes the questions they ask are just plain dumb. My favorite one… Read More Teaching Them to Ask Smart Questions
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
Addressing Fear in Pointe Work November 12, 2018 We all know how exciting it is to tell a student they are ready for pointe. But we also know the journey ahead in pointe work is fraught with obstacles and fears one absolutely must overcome if they are to… Read More Addressing Fear in Pointe Work
Safer and Higher Jumping October 29, 2018 Everyone wants to jump higher and no one wants to get hurt. But I know I am not the only one who encounters students flailing themselves into the air with nary a care about how they get there and how… Read More Safer and Higher Jumping
Create the Illusion of Flight October 22, 2018 To say grand allegro was challenging for me would be an enormous understatement. I felt stuck in the ground. . . and I looked stuck.I did eventually work it out, though. Forcing myself to take men’s class played a role… Read More Create the Illusion of Flight
How I Mix Up Port de Bras for My Students October 15, 2018 BalancéTemps de FlecheSaut de ChatChassé EntournantTombé Pas de BourréeJust a few steps for which many dancers have a default port de bras. There are many steps that would make it on this list.Maybe at one school all the dancers extend… Read More How I Mix Up Port de Bras for My Students
Six Ways to Slay Petit Allegro October 8, 2018 The thrill of petit allegro is intense. The adrenaline pushing through the body as it slices and dices the air cannot be matched. When done well, petit allegro leaves the audience wondering what they even just witnessed while simultaneously aching… Read More Six Ways to Slay Petit Allegro
Train the Eyes October 1, 2018 Eyes up. Eyes down. Eyes gazing all around.The smallest details can make the largest impact, and that could not be more true than when it comes to the eyes. Piqué arabesque with the eyes remaining level and you have an… Read More Train the Eyes
Hands and Fingers Make All the Difference August 25, 2018 The advanced dancer looks for ways to set themselves apart from the rest. How can they make their pirouette look different from the dancer standing next to them? What quality can they inject into their petit allegro that will glue… Read More Hands and Fingers Make All the Difference
Questioning Hands and Fingers August 20, 2018 The intermediate dancer has a ton to think about. Not only in ballet, but in life. These kids are carrying so much stress around with them. Between school, friend drama, and nightmarish hormones, it is no wonder they come into… Read More Questioning Hands and Fingers
Using Barre to Train Hands and Fingers August 12, 2018 Training dancers from the start to be aware of their hands and fingers can make an enormous difference as they advance through the levels. But this small detail is easily overlooked because there is one other item we must teach… Read More Using Barre to Train Hands and Fingers
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 more… 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 19, 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 YourselfChoreographing for 3-6 year olds can feel a bit… Read More Performance Choreography for Tiny Dancers
Introduction to Pointe February 19, 2018 Once a dancer has completed pre-pointe training, there is a transitional class needed before full pointe training can begin. This is an introduction (or orientation) to pointe work. I find a good many teachers skip this. Either they are… Read More Introduction to Pointe