THE POWER OF POSITIVITY

It may seem like common knowledge and something that is a given; surrounding ourselves only with people who lift us up and want to be see us succeed and fly high. But, that is not always the case and we …

TWO SIMPLE EXERCISES TO ENHANCE A STRONG BACK AND PORT DE B…

We all come across dance students that lack the strength and flexibility to sustain a proper port de bras position. Whether it be the non-engagement of the shoulders and back, not pulling up, the drooping elbows or the sole initiation …

Beginner Modern Lesson Plan

You’ve asked and we’re here to help! This month I’m sharing a sampling of my beginner modern lesson plan for those of you that are interested in adding modern technique to your curriculum. Remember, this is a template to get …

THE ADVANTAGES OF DANCING FULL-OUT

If you were like me, you danced everything full-out - all the time, every time. There was never a glimmer of a thought about marking something unless the teacher instructed it was OK to do so. Even then, you rarely …

Here's What to Do When Good Students Go Bad!

You walk into the studio feeling happy and excited to teach because you know that this class has some really good students who are going to be eager and ready to listen to every word that comes out of your …

Teaching Vocabulary To Your Students

Most of our students take classes with us because they love to dance, they enjoy the camaraderie that is possible with their fellow dancers and they just want to move! A large majority of them never look at a Ballet …

Believing In Yourself as A Leader!

Leadership is a skill – some people have it naturally but no matter what it always has to be worked on. First of all you need to choose how you want to lead. Write down your top 5 values and …

Priority Early Registration

Tips to get your current customers to register before your summer break!

There Is No Failure, Only Feedback!

I love this quote from Robert Allen because it really is true that failure is simply someone's interpretation of what you are doing and doesn't necessarily bear any resemblance to the truth. We are all scared of failure but when …

Advertising Ideas on a Small Budget

Your Yearly Business Goal Planner

Yes, we have said good-bye to another year! This is a great time of year to focus on what you would like to have happen in both your business and personal lives for this year and beyond. Steve and I …

AGE-APPROPRIATE PRETEEN MUSICAL THEATRE SONG IDEAS

Last week we looked at how we can make a preteen musical theatre curriculum age appropriate, relevant and relatable. We discussed the many ways in which to provide the dancer (regardless of the level,) the entire experience towards complete comprehension. …

5 STRATEGIES TO STAND OUT IN A COMPETITIVE MARKET

Dance Studios are a dime a dozen. Right? In some places you can see one every couple of miles. I’m sure you’ve thought to yourself in passing, what makes this one better than that one? What makes mine the standout …

MAKING PRETEEN MUSICAL THEATRE RELATABLE AND APPROPIRATE

There are many components to teaching musical theatre effectively; technically, stylistically, historically and conceptually. This is especially true when introducing it to the preteen demographic. This genre is a real love of mine and where my heart is at, so …

THREE STRATEGIES TO OPTIMIZE STUDENT LEARNING

Sometimes if we’ve been teaching long enough it is inevitable that we go on autopilot from time to time. Like our students, we can sometimes coast, phase out, be distracted and ride out the already known. We’re human. But, our …

Beginner Musical Theatre Lesson Plan

Here is a beginner 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 get your students introduced …