Articles

Ballet Positions Giveaway

September 9, 2015

As we launch into the 2016-2017 year of classes, The Ballet Source would like to provide teachers with a few FREE resources. The first four levels of the Ballet Arts for Young Children Curriculum use these feet… Read More

Ballet Positions Giveaway

Organizing and Running a "Happy Class"

July 27, 2015

Children need structure. This is especially true in the pre-ballet years, as they prepare for a more disciplined class. The less “free time” they have in the class period, the better. They should know exactly what they’re supposed to… Read More

Organizing and Running a "Happy Class"

Understand Your Students' Growth Process

April 17, 2015

The little bodies of children between the ages of 7 and 10 are going through a lot of physical changes. As teachers, we need to understand and respect the body’s need for certain parameters when it comes to teaching ballet… Read More

Understand Your Students' Growth Process

6 Classroom "Attention-Getters" to Watch Out For

March 29, 2015

Every dance studio is different with its own set of rules and expectations, but one thing remains the same throughout: children will be children. No matter where I teach, I find that there are certain little tricks… Read More

6 Classroom "Attention-Getters" to Watch Out For

How To Talk Effectively With Children

March 13, 2015

Young children, especially children ages 3 to 5, do not understand the spoken word as well as we think they do! They have a large vocabulary of words and phrases, but the exact meanings are not always clear to them. In… Read More

How To Talk Effectively With Children

Don't Be A Skipper, Teach Them To Skip!

February 7, 2015

Skipping requires balance, symmetry in muscle use, self-esteem and some natural coordination. It is often used as an indicator of ‘readiness to learn’ academic subjects. It is expected that children in a dance class will learn to skip. Read More

Don't Be A Skipper, Teach Them To Skip!

Pacing of Ballet Classwork

January 31, 2015

I remember the very first time I taught a pre-ballet class by myself. It was a group of crazy, beautiful, energetic 5 and 6 year-olds. They looked at me with expectation and excitement and I looked right back with sheer… Read More

Pacing of Ballet Classwork

Is My Student Ready for Pointe?

January 13, 2015

This is such a big and important question. It is one of hardest questions ballet teachers face. We don’t want to put them on pointe too early because they can really injure themselves. So, when is the right time to start with… Read More

Is My Student Ready for Pointe?

Planning Your Lessons

January 6, 2015

Let’s face it: we don’t have time to do detailed planning for every class. Class just isn’t the same if you walk in without a lesson plan. The students don’t get as much out of the time you have… Read More

Planning Your Lessons

Release Day 2015

January 3, 2015

It’s finally here! The release of the first ever digital ballet curriculum and lesson plans!… Read More

Release Day 2015

5 Principles of Classical Ballet for Young Children

December 19, 2014

Even at the earliest age, ballet students are absorbing the classical principles we instill in them. From as early as age 3, there are fundamental movement and artistic elements that can be cultivated in order to shape how that student learns and… Read More

5 Principles of Classical Ballet for Young Children

Teaching Pre-Ballet is a Challenge!

December 2, 2014

It is a challenge for creative teachers to keep the ballet and other choreographic movements within the abilities of young dancers! It is worth your time and effort to do so. The end result will be better dancers in your… Read More

Teaching Pre-Ballet is a Challenge!

Six Choreographic Guidelines for Threes

November 16, 2014

It surprised me this year how much of a struggle it is to choreograph for three and four year olds! Doesn’t seem like a huge task; after all, they’re only preschoolers! They’ve hardly scratched the surface of ballet technique, what… Read More

Six Choreographic Guidelines for Threes

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

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… Read More

Ballet Began In Italy

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… 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: 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"