Shannon Dooling-Cain is a dancer, choreographer, writer, and dance educator based in Arizona, with roots in the Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. metro areas. She specializes in ballet, modern dance, contemporary dance, jazz, dance history, improvisation, and creative movement for all ages and skill levels. Her choreography has been featured in venues throughout New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Phoenix, AZ. On her blog, she provides resources for dance teachers including curriculum ideas, lesson plans, dance activities, choreography ideas, and reflections on the intersection of dance, art, society, feminism, and motherhood. She is available to teach dance workshops, create and set choreography for students and professionals, and provide consulting to dance studios, K-12 programs, individual artists, and small companies.
Confession time: I absolutely LOVE introducing new students to dance. I am the teacher that eagerly signs up to teach the beginner dance classes. There is something magical about welcoming a new dancer into the studio, helping them learn the basics of technique and artistry, and instilling in them lifelong love of dance. For this … More 5 Strategies for “Bring A Friend” Dance Classes
“Making Dance Now” is an occasional blog series profiling choreographers and small dance companies to explore the challenges and rewards of creating, producing, and presenting choreography in today’s culture and economy. It’s my hope that this series will spark a dialogue about the importance of dance-making today, and how we can better support choreographers. Errant … More Making Dance Now: Errant Movement
We’ve all been there … Ms. Shannon? My (stomach, big toe, left elbow, eyebrow, etc.) hurts so bad I can’t even move right now! Or … I fell off my bike two days ago and banged up my knee and my mom says I can’t dance until I go to the doctor for my appointment next … More Injured? Under the Weather? What to Do When Your Dance Students Need to Sit Out
This is the second in a guest blog series by Jonathan Cain, Chartered Financial Consult®, cellist, engineer, and (if I may add) husband extraordinaire! The goal of this series is to provide basic information on taxes for independent artists, such as performers, dance teachers, and choreographers, to answer some common questions about income, expenses, and … More Tax Basics for Independent Artists, Part 2: Business Expenses
Thanksgiving is, hands down, my favorite holiday. Yummy food, time with family, no pressure to find the perfect costume or gift … what’s not to love? But Thanksgiving has never been an easy holiday for me to celebrate in the dance classes I teach. Wedged between the Halloween madness and Christmas craze, there isn’t a … More 3 Thanksgiving Dance Activities to Encourage Gratitude
This is the first in a guest blog series by Jonathan Cain, Chartered Financial Consult(R), cellist, engineer, and (if I may add) husband extraordinaire! The goal of this series is to provide basic information on taxes for independent artists, such as performers, dance teachers, and choreographers, to answer some common questions about income, expenses, and … More Tax Basics for Independent Artists, Part 1: Income
Like many in the dance world, I was appalled by Good Morning America’s recent coverage of Prince George and the fact that he takes ballet classes. I was sad for George and all the little boys who might feel ashamed because someone says that what they love to do is “girly.” I felt anger that … More 5 Ways to Make Your Dance Studio More Gender-Inclusive
A quote from Phylicia Rashad has been on my mind for some time now: “Before a child talks, they sing. Before they write, they draw. As soon as they stand, they dance. Art is fundamental to human expression.” I see this quote in action every day raising my son. He’s almost two now, and I’m constantly … More Letting Kids Be Kids in The Dance Studio
Hello, Sweet Summer! With the official start of the summer season last week, it’s my hope that all of my dance teacher colleagues are getting ready to enjoy at least something of a break – or at least a change of pace for the summer months! If you are in the #doneclub and ready to … More Summertime Self-Care Strategies for Dance Teachers
Summer is a fantastic time to for students to engage in the serious study of dance technique. Camps, intensives, and workshops allow students extended time to refine their dance skills, study new dance styles, dive into the nuances of creating or learning choreography, and work on conditioning and flexibility. However, it is important to balance … More 5 Fantastically Fun Dance Games for Summer
