Transition into Classroom Management Success

chain links

Transitions make all the difference in managing your class of young dancers. Use these creative ideas to get kids from one part of the room to another, or from one activity to the next while maintaining the focus and flow of the class and providing more ways to learn and explore.

Help! My Child Doesn’t Listen to the Dance Teacher!

Is a preschooler too young to be expected to listen? What can I do if my child isn’t following directions in dance class? Is this a developmental phase? Your questions answered in part one of two articles.

Backstage Bliss: 11 Guidelines for Students in a Dance Recital

Recitals can be hectic and stressful for those trying to make the day/evening go off without a hitch. Adhering to these rules helps a performance run smoothly for you and the others around you.

Appraising the Value of Praise

is there such a thing as too much praise? How can one instill confidence without creating a dependence on external approval?

How to Conduct Oneself as a Professional – Part II

This is a continuation of Part I of How to Conduct Yourself as a Professional which dealt with leadership, positive attitude, and work ethic. Generosity When I think of someone that displays ultimate professionalism, I see a person who is generous with their gifts, generous with their time, and generous in spirit.  This person is [...]

How to Conduct Oneself as a Professional – Part I

What does it mean to conduct oneself as a professional? Someone that is consummate professional in their career and in their life is essentially a strong leader.  Years ago I was the drum major for my high school band (Yes, I know my geek quotient just went up but I wear it proudly).  In preparation [...]

The Back-to-School Teach-a-thon is here!!

Negativity

frown

The mindset plays a very serious role in how we dance. Negative self-talk is damaging and has a way of oozing out to the people around you, actually affecting the performance of others. For instance, a little joke, a negative or sarcastic comment about your dancing can lead to another dancer feeling worse about any [...]

A Dancer’s Guide: Tips for College (Part II)

Tips for College Part I dealt with what to expect in technique classes and performance rehearsals, as well as some tips for success in these areas. In continuation of the series, I will highlight two aspects of dance in higher education with which many incoming students have little experience. Improvisation Improvisation may be an entirely [...]

Bullying in Dance Class

What does a bully look like? We tend to picture a bully as a big, tough, boy that picks on those smaller or younger than himself. However, there has been a lot of discussion lately within educational circles about bullying and we are slowly learning that bullies come in many forms. Although dance can foster [...]