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5 Ways to Use Play in the Dance Studio
Why should you use play as a teaching method in the dance studio? Incorporating play as a…
21 Ways to Manage Distracting Behaviors in Dance Classes
What are distracting behaviors in the dance studio? Distracting behaviors can happen in any…
Dance technique tip: Lengthen, don’t hold
Welcome to the Dance Technique Tip Blog Series Welcome to another post in my Dance Technique Tips blog series! This series features short and simple tips to help dancers improve their dance technique. These tips are based on my experience as a performer,…
How to Give Dance Students More Effective Feedback
The challenge of giving students feedback on their dancing During my conversation with Joe Nickel and Michelle Tolson as a guest on JAM: Joe and Michelle’s Dance Podcast, the topic turned to how to give feedback to our dance students. Many dance teachers…
How to Teach Social Skills in Dance Class
Social skills are the skills we use everyday as we interact with the people around us, and our vital for success and happiness. They help use have positive interactions with those we encounter through the day, develop strong friendships, and maintain appropriate relationships with peers and authority figures. When we have strong social skills, we are able to effectively resolve conflicts, speak up for ourselves when necessary, and demonstrate empathy for others. In this blog post, I’ll share six easy ways to teach social skills in your dance classes, as well as make the case for WHY these skills are so important! You’ll find fun activities that will improve your dancers’ social skills – and possibly solve some common behavioral issues as well!
Dance Improvisation Tips and Activities for Advanced Dancers
It is increasingly important for dancers of all levels and dance styles to be skilled in dance improvisation, as it has exploded in popularity throughout the dance industry in recent years. Dancers – especially advanced students who want to have a professional career – need to be comfortable with improvisation. This blog post features tips for teaching improvisation to advanced dancers, and dance improvisation exercises to use with them in class.
Recommended Reading: Books on Choreography and Creative Practice
In this blog post, I’ve compiled a list of books on choreography, dance composition, and creative process that you can use as a resource in your own creative process or with your students. These books make great additions to your library if you are a dance composition student, novice choreographer, or experienced choreographer looking to shake up their creative practice.
Dance Improvisation Tips & Activities for Beginning Dancers
This blog post features tips and strategies for teaching dance improvisation to beginning dancers who are new to improv. Discover why you should teach improvisation to beginning dancers, challenges that beginning improvisers face, and dance improvisation exercises to use with beginning students.
9 Choreography Adventures Inspired by Summer
Take advantage of the creative spark that season can ignite by trying out these summer-themed #ChoreographyAdventures – short and simple choreography prompts that encourage choreographers and dance teachers to reignite their creativity through regular choreographic practice.
How to Use “Gamification” in Your Dance Classes
Gamification is a tool used in marketing and education. It can also be used in the dance studio, to help students learn and improve their skills through play. In fact, it is likely that you have incorporated gamification into your dance classes without even realizing it! Many dance teachers gamify their classes by using simple activities meant to encourage a bit of healthy and fun competition among dancers. This blog post covers different ways to use gamification as a learning tool in your dance classes.
The Holistic Approach to Using Play in the Dance Studio
In this blog post, you’ll learn all about play in the dance studio: what it is, the benefits of incorporating play and dance games into your classes, strategies for using play and dance games in your classes, and what NOT to do when incorporating play in the dance studio.
Easy and Fun Dance Class Activities for the End of the Year
The end of the dance season is a perfect time to introduce some playful dance activities and games into your dance classes. In this blog post, you’ll find dance class games, designed for students age 7 and up, to help you celebrate the end of the year. They include dance games to review what was learned, seasonal dance games for spring and summer, prompts for dance improvisation and student choreography, dance history activities, and more! Help your students celebrate a great dance season, and get excited to register again next year, with these dance class games.
How to Overcome Choreography Block
This blog post features seven strategies to help choreographers overcome choreography block. Choreography block can look or feel different to everyone, but may include feeling stuck in your creative process, uninspired to choreograph, burned out, or more. These strategies can be used by choreographers of most dance genres, working in any dance environment, overcome choreographer’s block and reignite their creativity.
Embracing Creative Rest in the Dance Studio
Creative rest can help dance industry professionals reconnect with their bodies, relieve stress and tension, rejuvenate their teaching and creative practices, and reignite their passion for the art of dance. This blog post details what creative rest is and how it can be used in the dance studio. It also provides two creative rest activities that you can use in your own personal practice or with your dance students.
5 Ways to Become a Better Dance Performer
If you would like to become a better dance performer, it is important to develop your skills in four aspects of dance performance: musicality, character development, connection, and expression. This blog post include strategies that will help you improve your skills in each of these areas, allowing you to become a better dance performer. Follow these tips to become the best dance performer you can be!
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