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When we head into competition season we are usually engulfed in setting pieces, rehearsing, ordering costumes and perfecting every last detail so that it is show ready. We spend countless months coming up with concepts for our dances, organizing schedules …
With every year I teach, the more and more I realize how important it is for the fundamental building blocks of technique to be taught. It’s not the tricks or the flashy turns or the “advanced” lessons that are most …
As Thanksgiving and the holidays approach us, it is a great time to sit and reflect on all the things in life that matter most. In a world of uncertainty, getting up everyday to breathe the air we breathe and …
When lesson planning for any class, there are infinite avenues a teacher can take to teach the genre effectively. Jazz itself, in nature, is one of those idioms where teaching the technique correctly should also be compounded with other important …
Dance Teachers, at some point in your teaching career you will come across dancers with special needs; whether it is associated with Autism, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, social-behavioral or emotional issues, physical limitations, etc. These children are coming to dance class …
What do you do when you have a student who’s extremely talented, naturally gifted and a brilliant performer but their attitude outshines the aforementioned? How do you handle the lack of respect, the inappropriate comments to peers, the insults to …
Below is a sampling of my beginner, center musical theatre warmup. It’s always important to remember to include a solid technical warmup as well as stylistic, cardiovascular and performance elements into your class. This will create a well-rounded foundation and …
Teachers, we all recognize that core strength is essential to any strong, technically sound dancer. While we aim to teach our students to always move from the inside out vs. from the extremities (i.e. arms, legs, etc.,) getting started to …
It’s that time again, signing up new dancers, thinking of the incredible year to come and now… what are we going to do!? What performances will the troupe do?! What themes or shows will the company dance to this year? …
I’m not sure when or how marking in class became a thing. During my generation, this was an act one never contemplated, whether in class or rehearsals. Everything was expected to be done full out, with feeling. Every. Single. Time. …
When we set numbers we need to give further thought as to how clean they are. How the musicality is sitting with dancers. How crisp the unison and transitions are, etc. While coming up with clever concepts and original choreography …
As teachers and choreographers, our students look to us as the beacon of creativity. Particularly at the start of a new year, dancers await the delivery of new pieces, concepts, movement and music. It is a very exciting time of …
Dance studios and teachers all across the world are sometimes in a position of facing challenging student behavior and disposition. This often occurs around the pre-adolescent or adolescent age when personalities are strongly taking shape and perhaps other interests begin …
When I was training, any correction was a gift. I had teachers who’d take hold of me and fix me, turn me out, poke me, stretch me, mold me, move me and use tactile correction in whichever way necessary to …
As we are jumping into a brand new year, start the season off right with faculty by having information, schedules and deadlines ready for them! Get everyone on the same page to work together towards a successful and fulfilling year! …
Dancers today are faced with a whole generation of fellow versatile, talented technicians. These peers will be their competition, their colleagues and future artists they’ll collaborate with and cross paths with as their dance career flourishes. As teachers who are …
