Articles

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

The 7 Basic Principles of Classical Ballet

April 10, 2015

The Rules of Classical Dance were first set down definitively by John Weaver in 1723. Each generation has had its great teachers of ballet who have added insights and details to these rules and principles. These principles are essential for… Read More

The 7 Basic Principles of Classical Ballet

Training Your Dance Assistant

March 6, 2015

Teachers have gone back and forth on this issue forever: Is it a good idea to use a teacher’s assistant in class? Some are like I was and would prefer that the teacher be the sole authority in… Read More

Training Your Dance Assistant

The Twelve Week Rule

February 21, 2015

One of the hardest things a pointe teacher faces is the fear that their students may injure themselves. This, of course, is the last thing we want for our students. Too often the students are pushed too hard too soon, and… Read More

The Twelve Week Rule

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

Choreographic Advice for Teachers

January 23, 2015

“Never let an opportunity go without adding your enlightening [movement] to further the cause of the loftiest, oldest, most profound of the arts and, in so doing, I sincerely believe that you will be… Read More

Choreographic Advice for Teachers

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

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

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… 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… Read More

Plan for Success

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

Why the Rush?

September 18, 2014

There is a prevalent acceptance in ballet studios these days of a sadly dangerous belief. I most definitely do not understand it, and I wish there were some way to gather all the moms, teachers, and studio owners together… Read More

Why the Rush?

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"