Now that the season is in full swing you will probably find that you have some classes with students of varying levels. This is always a challenge not only for the teachers but also for the students.

Let's face it! Not everyone who is in a more intermediate or advanced level is at the same standard. Some students may be limited with their flexibility. Others may not be good at turning. And some just don't have aesthetically appealing movement. The issue for every studio owner is to try to figure out how to keep students and their parents happy. Keep in mind students and their parents want to know that they are progressing. In their eyes progressing is advancing… to the next level!

We have all been guilty of advancing students before their time. We do it because we believe that if we challenge the student they will improve at an accelerated rate. We also want to try and appease our customers as long as the student in question is in the conversation to be considered possibly ready to be moved up to another level. We would never advance a student who is not anywhere near where they need to be as that would be detrimental to them.

The issue for you, the teacher, is how to teach a class that is fun, challenging and safe for mixed levels of ability. Something to remember is the old Vidal Sassoon saying "If they don't look good, you don't look good!" This can be a real challenge when it comes to choreographing a routine especially if it is a number you are going to compete with. I believe that you should always choreograph to the middle of the road. If you have something that you would like to do that not everyone is capable of, you could always have a section where just certain students do that part of the choreography. I understand this can also be a challenge because some students will believe they can do that part, even though they really can't do it and they will feel a bit left out because they were not chosen. The best thing to do is to have everyone keep working on it and they can always understudy that part of the routine. If nothing else they will improve by practicing that part of the technique needed.

Tips to help you teach mixed level classes:

1. To improve the overall flexibility of the class give them this split exercise. After warming up (on their own) go into a split on the right and hold it for 30 seconds. Then reverse. After 7 full day of doing this every day one time a day the next week they will increase the time to 1 minute. Then after 7 full days increase the hold time to 1 minute and 30 seconds. They keep increasing the time by 30 seconds every week. I can tell you that this has worked like magic for us over the years. It is a safe and effect way for students to improve their splits and in turn that will improve their leaps, extensions and kicks!

2. Improving their spotting technique will help all students but especially those who are having issues with pirouettes. Show me a student that is struggling with their turns I will bet you that the issue begins with their spotting technique. Even though this is a basic exercise I do it even with my advanced students to reinforce how spotting works. Have the students face the mirror and jump in place 4 times then do 4 quarter air turns to the right. Making sure that they look to a spot so that the head gets there first. Then they do 4 more jumps in place then do 4 half air turns to the right facing the back then front then back and front again. The last part is more advanced and hard to do. Again repeat the 4 jumps in place. Now they will do 4 three quarter air turns to the right. It is a fun and effective exercise.

3. Developing expressive Port de Bras is a big key to getting everyone looking alike. Take time to work on how the arms move from the back and how to get the torso moving in sync with their arms. I like to do this standing in place because now the students can focus on the upper body and arms and not worry about what their feet are doing. I also recommend that in mixed level classes you teach the footwork first then add any arm, head or body movement. This way you can really break down what you want the style to look like

Spending time on these three factors can help level out the class where you feel not everyone is equal. The other factor is to keep the ones who excel interested! You may even challenge them more by having them do a more advanced version of a certain step. You can even have them assist you in class. Let's face it, while there will be some jealousy, the students know when one or two students really are good. The other students should be encouraged to celebrate the other student's gifts. Then you can create an atmosphere where each student can enjoy watching their peers and cheering on the milestones that each student will achieve.