It’s hard to believe that winter and the holidays are upon us again! While we might be feeling a little overwhelmed with shopping, cooking, decorating, and the other demands of the season, our students find this a most magical time. Holidays … school breaks … the first snowfall … it’s pretty much a kid’s dream! … More 3 Wonderfully Whimsical Winter Activities for Your Dance Class
Is anyone else feeling the mid-semester slump right now? Classes have been in session for a few weeks, or a few months, depending on what part of the country you’re in. The novelty is wearing off and the exhaustion is setting in. Winter break seems light years away and many of us are deep into … More 3 Frighteningly Fun Halloween Activities for Your Dance Class
This particular blog series – “My Top 5 Skills Your Students Should Know” – was inspired by a question posed in a dance teachers’ group on Facebook a while back: What are the 5 skills that you think are most important for your students to learn? As I’ve written in the past, I initially struggled … More My Top 5 Creative and Performance Skills Your Students Should Strive For
The arrival of September officially marks the arrival of the back to school season. The start of a “new year” affords us the opportunity to create brand new communities in our classrooms and studios. So often, we are tempted to immediately jump into technique and choreography, but taking time for team-building exercises and community building … More My Favorite Introduction Games
As we approach the start of another dance season, many of us are spending time polishing our lesson plans, perfecting our playlists, developing assessment tools, and brainstorming recital and concert ideas. But the “clean slate” of the new season also affords us – and our students – time to break old bad habits and start great … More Four Habits to Start in the First Six Weeks of the Dance Season
This is the third and final entry in a series of posts on teaching ballet in a way that leads to more empowered students. What is an empowered dancer? In my opinion, students who are empowered are: Self-aware and self-reliant (physically, cognitively, and emotionally) Confident and able to make their own decisions Adaptable and open … More Empowering Our Ballet Students, Part 3
Most people might be reaching for their Pumpkin Spice Lattes right about now, but dancers know that it’s already Nutcracker time! Love it or hate it, the seasonal favorite is here again, with tiny tots and professional dancers alike heading into the rehearsal studio to perfect their performances as party guests, snowflakes, candy canes, and … More Visions of Sugar Plums: Using a Nutcracker Workshop to Teach About Ballet
This is the second in a series of blog posts considering the ways we can teach ballet in a way that leads to greater student empowerment. What is an empowered dancer? In my opinion, students who are empowered are: Self-aware and self-reliant (physically, cognitively, and emotionally) Confident and able to make their own decisions Adaptable … More Empowering Our Ballet Students, Part 2
This is the first in a series of posts on building empowered dancers in the ballet studio. What is an empowered dancer? In my opinion, students who are empowered are: Self-aware and self-reliant (physically, cognitively, and emotionally) Confident and able to make their own decisions Adaptable and open to new ideas Knowledgeable about their own … More Empowering Our Ballet Students, Part 1
In 2012, I had the opportunity to I had a chance to present my research on a new method of teaching ballet to “recreational” dance students at the National Dance Education Organization’s National Conference. For the purpose of my study, the term recreational was used to describe a group of my students, age 6-10, who took … More Play in Ballet? Yes Way!
