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.Welcome back! In our last blog article on the topic, we began to look at the breakdown of a great center-warm up for your preteen musical theatre dancers which will start to prepare them for across the floor, center combinations …
Teachers are human. We are indeed the ones our dancers look to for training, motivation, discipline, artistic inspiration and guidance, but indeed at the end of the day we are human. We are not immune to creative blocks, bad days, …
Improvisation is still one of those areas of dance which mystifies some studio dance teachers and terrifies dance students (mainly older students.) Most of the time you'll get an, "I love improv" or an "I hate improv" from the crowd …
It's always inspirational as choreographers to walk into rehearsal and feel confident you have dancers who are both technically and artistically mature enough to handle the material you are about to give them. What excites us more is having those …
In recent years, the term "master teacher" has taken on an identity of itself. This self-dubbed label by many dance teachers has surfaced in a way where it seems everyone is a master of their craft; some without the goods …
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 …
Choosing to incorporate improvisation and/or choreography composition into your program is undoubtedly a great addition to enhance the dimension of a dancer's educational training. Whether you tack it on at the end of modern class or devote a whole class …
If you're looking for a fun, creative way to get your little ones understanding the incorporation of action words and emotions within movement, this exercise is for you! I devised this a few years back and have had great success …
As a long time competition adjudicator and teacher who has set endless solos for dancers, the debate over competing multiple solos often comes up every year. With students and parents alike, sometimes the notion is to showcase their talents in …
Do you ever dare to step out of the box and try something new and exciting with your students; perhaps veer off the beaten path? As teachers who teach multiple classes year in and year out, we too can carry …
As dance teachers we spend countless hours researching music, coming up with creative concepts, figuring out movement, formations and transitions and get excited to set new pieces with our dancers. So what happens when your enthusiasm for a new piece …
Teachers, that time of year is quickly approaching when studio schedules are being finalized and directors are rounding out their faculty for the new season. If you are lining up some interviews yourself for some new teaching gigs, I'd like …
Conditioning programs for dancers should be an essential part of any training program. Along with regular technique classes, "cross training" efforts will help provide increased cardiovascular, strength, flexibility and endurance benefits. It will also increase core strength and muscle tone …
Having just returned from this year's 2015 Dance Teacher Web Live Conference and successful class session on "Lesson Planning for _Dance in the K-12_," I'd like to contribute some more information regarding many of the attendees' passionate questions on _assessment …
Have you ever wanted to just get _"really real"_ with your students? I mean **_"really real?"_** Not in a way that's going to ruin their self-esteem or deter them from their accomplishments or anything, but tell them what's up in …
As a dance teacher, think about the aforementioned quote this week for a second. Think about all your years of training and the "norm" which makes up a technique class. Think about the format, the environment, the habits in which …
