Guest Post: Confessions of a Busy Dance Mom

The following guest post was first published as a Dance Studio Owner Tip of the Week. I loved it so much that I asked Suzanne Gerety if I could share it with my readers and she graciously agreed. Teachers and studio owners can get pertinent tips, thoughts, and ideas like this one in your inbox each week by signing up for the free newsletter at DanceStudioOwner.com.

Do you have one of ‘those’ moms at your studio?

You know, the one who doesn’t read the notices about payments due, rehearsal schedules, or performance times?

Or do you have one who drags their feet and doesn’t sign up until the last minute?

What about the mom who calls you all the time, emails constantly or has a million questions?

You might have more than one at your studio!

Communicating with parents is one of the most frequently reported challenges and problems that dance teachers and studio owners face when it comes to running a successful business.

Guess what? I am one of those moms!

I’m probably a great example of some of the moms at your studio I suppose, who can barely find the time to get the lunches packed and get to school on time. Let alone read the many papers and emails and notices that come home on a regular basis.

Here’s just a few reasons why:

• My 3 year old daughter recently refused to go to dance class in anything except her fleeced footed PJ’s and absolutely freaks out at the idea of me putting her hair in a ponytail.
• My minivan is what I call my ‘mobile office’. Some days it seems like I get in and out of my van to drop-off, pick-up, drop-off, run errands, pick-up about 20 times.
• I get invited to dozens of events by email: pampered chef parties, scrapbooking events, birthday parties, girls nights out, volunteer days at my kids school, parent committees, the list is endless. If I can RSVP to half, I’m doing well.
• My dining room table on most days serves as a place to fold laundry.
• I run from work to soccer practice then to music class. We have school and dance class and work again. Then it’s over to the studio, back to my home office, and school again. My google calendar looks like a puzzle of appointments!

It’s no wonder that communicating with parents is a top concern and complaint of dance teachers and studio owners!

Can you relate? There’s good news here…

Teachers and Studio Owners, increase your success in effectively communicating with parents by keeping them engaged and involved through a variety of modes of communication.

1. If there is an important date or deadline that I should know about please deliver that communication to me in a variety of ways, more than one time.
   • Post announcements in the studio, announce it after class, post it on the studio website, email me. I need more than one reminder and it’s not that I don’t care, it’s that sometimes I just cannot record that date into my calendar at that moment or the form could be lost among many others.
   • Thank you for going out of your way to let us know about important dates and deadlines.
2. Ask me what I can do to help. Seriously.
   • Believe it or not, even in the midst of the chaos with a couple of kids most moms want to be involved and help out.
   • Do you need a parent volunteer at the show?
   • Need someone to steam costumes or maybe email moms I know to let them know spots are still open in dance class on Tuesday mornings? If you don’t ask, I think you have it all handled, by all means ask. If I can’t help this time around, I’ll make sure next time.
3. I’m looking to the internet first, you should be too.
   • With my busy life, one thing has made my life easier: the internet. I like to register my kids for their activities at off hours, I check my email from my smart phone, I Google everything and I’m communicating with my friends and work colleagues on social media.
   • Thanks for keeping your website up to date, posting important news, and keeping in touch online. It really helps me know what is going on at the studio. Even better, I like to let my friends know and I’m happy to share it with them.

Lastly, and MOST importantly: Thank YOU

I am one of ‘those’ moms who may not say it often enough, or perhaps even at all.

Thank you. All I want for my child is to see them succeed and be happy. Thanks for making dance class fun for my kids. I appreciate the time and thoughtfulness you show with your enthusiasm and praise.

Dance class is a highlight of the week for my child. You create that moment each and every week.

From all those moms and parents out there that may not say it, thank you for all that you do to keep the joy and magic of dance alive in the world.

Suzanne Gerety is not only the very busy mom of two young children but is the owner of On Pointe Media LLC, the parent company of DanceStudioOwner, is the daughter of Kathy Blake, and Vice President of Kathy Blake Dance Studios.

As the co-founder of DanceStudioOwner.com, she empowers studio owners to grow their business with the tools and technology that help them work smarter, not harder. In addition to a degree in Psychology and Child Development, Suzanne has training and experience in communication and leadership from one of the world’s foremost personal development companies. She is responsible for the marketing, publicity, and event planning of her husband’s professional speaking career. Plus she oversees the project management for Whaleback Publishing, their niche publishing business.

Look for Suzanne at the 2010 Dance Teacher Summit in NYC this summer where she will be a presenter!

Back to School — Props and Classroom Aids

Dance classes (and the experience of your students) can be enhanced with the use of props and classroom aids. Hopefully in this list of products you will discover new ideas or places to shop for items.

A portion of the links below are affiliate links. You can recognize these links as they are marked in PURPLE, whereas other links are in the usual DA red. You can learn more about my affiliations and why I participate here. Thanks in advance if you choose to support Dance Advantage by purchasing items via these links.

Also below, there are links and tips for homemade props as well as other products that I find unique and interesting. Products marked with a star are products which I own or have received for review.

Improvisation

Nylon Juggling Scarves (pk/12)

Great for movement explorations (fast vs. slow; sharp vs. smooth; free vs. bound), balancing, or body part activities. Dancing with this simple prop can sometimes bring an inhibited dancer out of their shell. You could also make your own using chiffon fabric (I’ve been told nylon tricot, which does not fray, or polychiffon, which will need hemming or fray glue, are best — tulle which is cheap just doesn’t move well).

Spectrum™ Ribbon Wands 36″ long (pk/6)

Ribbon wands can be useful for improvisation and choreography. Not necessarily an every-week activity but a fun treat! You can also get a six-pack of Multi Colored Ribbon Wands (each wand has 2 colors of ribbon instead of one color) from the same company as above. If you’re feeling industrious, here are some excellent instructions for making your own. Or, for if you are in a pinch you could use crepe paper (minus a wand is okay). It is inexpensive and the kids can take it home (tip: with little ones who might try tasting the paper, get light colors or white).

Visual Aids

Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words. Growing up, my dance instructor had hand-drawn images on the wall describing alignment/posture and movement concepts. Fortunately, she was a quite capable artist. There are, however, a few ready-made resources out there for those who have not the time or ability to decorate their studio walls with visuals.

Markers

Spectrum™ Poly Markers, 9″ Circles

For children’s classes, having some sort of space or spot marker is essential! S&S Worldwide has some really cool markers that could be used in a variety of imaginative ways. There are stars, feet, hands, arrows – straight, curved, a little funky. Or, get their Super Spot Marker Easy Pack.

Once again, there are creative homemade alternatives. PE Central suggests mouse pads or silicone pot holders (they also have some other ingenious ideas for movement activities – I like their ribbon wrist band idea). For spots, I’ve used the rubber foam waffle/mesh material used for shelf lining – you can sometimes find pre-cut placemats in this material. You could also try carpet squares/remnants.

Spectrum™ Half Cones (Set/6)

Cones come in handy for leaping activities (including leaping courses), for marking boundaries, to line up behind, and to dance around. Different sizes or colors can be used for different things. Use your imagination! Around the holidays, my cones become decorated trees and we bound over them like reindeer. The link above is for half cones but here is a link for 12″ cones.

Putting it Together

Creative Yoga Games for Kids

This colorful set of 48 cards is a beautifully designed resource for teachers that want to incorporate the challenge and long-term benefits of yoga into their dance classroom. “Flash cards” for yoga and pilates are not new. However creator, Edna Reinhardt from Over the Moon Yoga & Dance Studio in Victoria, Australia, has created a unique educational kit, pulling the best from both yoga and creative dance practices to allow children to explore and create movement. The cards are big and bright with pictures of adorable children doing the described poses. Four of the cards offer activities to try, but Reinhardt has also packed a wealth of information and games into the accompanying booklet. She blends creative movement ideas with yoga in ways I never would have considered, yet they make a perfect pairing. If you have experience with teaching creative dance, you’ll be off and running with these cards, easily expanding their usefulness. However, parents and kids could also use these cards independently or in other social settings (pre-school, day care, parties, etc.)

Inflatable Dice

These dice would bring a level of fun to creating chance choreography, choosing words and improv suggestions. With the write-on and erase feature the sky is the limit.

If you’re not into inflatables, DanceDice.com offers ten sets of dice – Ballet, Jazz, and Tap in beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, and one Creative Dance set. I’ve featured them before in my Holiday gift list.

Stretchy Stuff

Materials like jersey, lycra, and even ordinary elastic, are useful when working on energy qualities in movement. Simple loops of these fabrics can encourage experimentation with bound flow, sustained force, and strong movements (fast or slow). There are lots of possibilities. Even therapy bands can have dual purpose.

Octaband was created by dance/movement therapist, Donna Newman-Bluestein. Part, parachute and part stretch band, it could be used in a variety of ways in your classes, and an especially useful prop for classes with infants/toddlers or children with special needs. There’s a lovely story behind Donna’s creation of this object which you can read at the website. The video is a short clip of the Octaband in action.

Body Socks are another elastic experience that can help develop an awareness of timing (without visual cues) and are fun to improvise or choreography shapes and design. Need some inspiration? Check out the video at left, a work created by Alwin Nikolais in 1953. With a whole lotta lycra you can create your own body sock. However dance therapy companies like Dye-namic Movement are selling these and other stretchy products. And, I found LaceandFabric.com which sells lycra body socks at an incredibly reasonable price.

And More

There are so many props you can incorporate into your classroom, from musical instruments, to hoops, to beanbags. I encourage you to think outside the box and come up with some of your own creative uses for even the most ordinary of items. Props such as the ones above can enrich the focus of your classroom, taking it beyond pretend play and games to true educational movement experiences.

12 Tips for Teaching Tots

I recently had some wonderful email correspondence with a young woman who is assisting her dance teacher in classes for young children ages 5-6. This is her first experience with teaching and she had questions and concerns about the short attention spans and behavioral issues typical of this age group. Throughout our conversations I found myself offering lots of tips on ways to engage and interact with the children. Many of the items on this list come directly from this dialog and I hope that whether you are an assistant or a professional you will find these tips useful in your classes.

1. Add layers to the movement — When teaching basic dance skills, repetition is important. Keep skill practice interesting, though, by layering your instruction with imagery and occasions to pretend that will also enhance their understanding. In port de bras you can ask children to pretend that the wind is blowing their arms out (for demi second), or encourage them to become pancakes and “flip” as they practice three-step turns. Bringing their attention to a special quality within the movement can improve their focus as well. For example, encourage them to “eat up the space” with large movement in leaps, make their whole body sharp like a knife during marches, or point out the level changes in jumps/sauté and have them try to make their highest level higher each time.

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2. Keep the class moving — A common mistake in teaching classes with young children is to spend too much time on a single activity. For students under six, five minutes on any one thing is usually the maximum. Generally, I try not to spend longer than 10 or 15 minutes in any one formation or on any one portion of the class (in a circle, across the floor, standing in lines, etc.). Children are easily distracted and their attention wanes quickly. Always plan more activities than you have time to include. If you see that you are “losing them,” do the kids and yourself a favor by wrapping it up and moving on to the next activity.

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3. Light up the room — Young kids enrolled in a dance class are there to have fun. It is not yet truly satisfying to “work hard” at something even if they think it will please you. If it doesn’t feel like playing, they’re far more likely to be inattentive. Therefore, it is imperative that your energy level be high throughout the class, that you vary the tone of your voice, and that you aren’t afraid to be a bit goofy or over-the-top. You should be the most interesting thing in the room! [Bonus tip on vocal volume: I sometimes like to whisper when students are getting too noisy because it adds an element of surprise and because they have to quiet down to hear me.]

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4. Participate and model behavior – With older children it is sometimes necessary to limit your demonstration or participation in the actual moving/dancing portions of class. Young children, however, take all of their cues from you. If you are asking them to pretend they are in a dark forest as they creep around the room, then you must be in that forest with them at least part of the time. If you want them to perform with 100 percent of their energy, then you have to give 150 percent. Modeling behavior is also important for showing children how to behave. Ask the students what is the proper way to sit or stand while waiting on their spot or number, then show them, and then have them practice it with you.

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5. Offer “Dancer’s Choice” — The freedom to choose is empowering, particularly for children who are learning to become independent in their thoughts and decisions. Try to include a chance for your dancers to make a choice at least once in each lesson. However, be careful about offering unlimited possibilities. Children do best when they have an “either/or” alternative. This can be as simple as occasionally allowing children to choose if they’d like a blue spot or a red spot to stand upon (just make sure when offering these types of choices, you have enough of each so that no child gets “stuck” with something). Every so often allow the class to vote for doing échappé or balancé for this lesson, practicing the other next week. You can also offer opportunities for children to make decisions in their movement. For instance they may choose between dancing sharply or smoothly (quickly/slowly, happily/sadly) around the room. They may choose to make a round shape or an angled shape (balanced/off-balanced, big/small) when they finish their exercise across the floor. [In fact, this ability to choose is what makes creative dance a powerful introduction to movement and dance for children (and, in fact, all people).]


Photo by Marjon Kruik

6. Enlist and recruit a misbehaving child- – A chronically misbehaving child can be like a little thorn in your side. If you’re familiar with the advice to keep your enemies closer than your friends, this tip is similar. Instead of constantly reprimanding the child, enlist his/her help in some way. Ask her to be your helper when handing out props, or recruit him to make the check marks in the attendance roster. Sometimes your faith in the student as you offer them this responsibility is all the incentive they need to behave better. If you can identify the portions of class which are most difficult for this student (during recital practice, across the floor, etc.), these may be your best opportunities for recruitment.

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7. Avoid making promises you can’t keep (line leader problem-solving) — Children are a lot like elephants – they never forget! Therefore, I’ve found it best not to make too many promises that I can’t (or won’t remember) to keep. When there is turmoil over who gets to be line leader, it may seem a grand solution to promise a child that “next week” they’ll be the leader. The problem is that you’ll rarely remember that appeasing promise. Instead the victim of your faulty memory will remind you after you’ve already broken your promise and then more promises will need to be made. Some teachers use a detailed chart or system for choosing line leaders. My solution may not be perfect but I typically choose (at will) a line leader during the warm-up circle. When the decision is made long before the moment of actual leading, it seems to lessen the disappointment of not being chosen. I make it clear in our classroom rules/procedures that this is a privilege they can lose due to poor behavior. Should this occur, they must choose the new line leader that will take their place. I try to be fair, but my selection process is typically rather arbitrary. When met with discontent, I reply kindly but firmly “I know it is disappointing not to be chosen this time but you’ll get a turn another day!” (Notice I didn’t say “next time.”)

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8. Offer positive feedback at every opportunity — Children respond well to positive feedback. Continually be on the look out for things that are being done well. This gives the class a chance to model the appropriate behavior. If the majority of the class is messing around, look for that one child who is doing SOMETHING (anything) right and single them out rather than reprimanding the whole class. You’ll definitely get more mileage out of saying something positive (“beautiful arms, Suzie” “that’s a high jump, Becca!”) than overstating negatives. Try to be specific. “Good job” doesn’t have much power all on its own so really keep your eyes open for specific things that are being done properly.

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9. Limit negative attention – A child will eventually stop responding to his/her name if it is said over and over in a negative way. In fact, if a student receives negative responses a lot at home they may already be well-practiced at the skill of “tuning you out.” Interestingly, you may need to hone your own skills in this area because it is often better to ignore bad or distracting behavior (if no one is getting hurt) than to draw attention to it. Negative words like “No,” “Stop,” and “Don’t” should be used sparingly — usually only when there is risk of danger or injury. For some children, negative attention is preferable to no attention at all, in other words, they will look for ways of getting your attention if you don’t first give it in a positive manner (as mentioned above).

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10. Say what you want to see, even if you don’t really see it – For instance, let’s say no one is pointing their toes. Instead of saying “Point your toes!” say “Thank you for pointing your toes!” or “I see beautiful, pointed toes!” and you may be surprised that suddenly the children all point their toes (even if they wouldn’t have if you had specifically asked or told them to). Use the same method for all kinds of behaviors, including waiting quietly, keeping hands to oneself, quickly changing shoes, etc. [This tip transformed my teaching. The concept may seem obvious, or perhaps just a silly matter of semantics, but it is powerful. I can't take credit for the "Say and see" wording or concept, however. It comes from one of my favorite resources, Creative Dance for All Ages by Anne Green Gilbert. In fact, many of her ideas have worked their way into my teaching and are likely to show up elsewhere within this list.]

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Photo by Dianna Mullet

11. Assign objectives that heighten anticipation — Repetition and routine are extremely important in a class for children, however, if the same skills are done the same way each week, the children are bound to get bored. Even if you work on the same skills each week,  you can still give the kids creative objective that will increase their anticipation toward participating, As in layering, these “assignments” are easy to change from week to week. For instance, if you practice gallops across the floor, tell the class they must gallop a special desert to their friend on the other side. When taking turns, ask each child what kind of desert they are offering. Next week, perhaps they’ll take a special balloon to the other side. Just make sure you inform the class of what you’re going to ask and what you expect of them before the exercise. Something to the effect of, “Now we’re going to do brush walks. When it is your turn, I’m going to ask you your favorite color. Keep it a secret until it’s your turn! After you tell me, you can do your walks across the floor and pretend to paint that color with your feet.” This method gives the children something to look forward to and think about as they wait for their turn.

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12. Use distraction and redirection — When children begin to get bored , are tired of waiting, or are seeking attention they often complain, ask to do something else (like visit the restroom or get water), or fidget. During moments in which it is important to finish an exercise or task, refocusing your students’ attention, or distracting them is key. If a student is hounding you for a water break during arabesques be clear and firm that “Right now we’re dancing.” Then, in an energetic tone, swoop in with something that will refocus their attention like, “In fact, I’m pretending to be a beautiful bird while I do my arabesque! What kind of bird are you?” Waiting for a turn can be difficult, sometimes just having something to hold while standing by can be calming for a child who is forced to sit tight. When asking large classes to take turns crossing the floor, I have offered the next children in line something sensory like scarves (or a stuffed animal) to hold until it is their turn, at which time they pass the object to the person behind them who is waiting. In a class which has an especially hard time waiting, each child could keep a scarf and you could suggest different ways of using it as they practice a skill.

BONUS TIP!!!

Keep a few things in your “back pocket” — It can be hard even for experienced teachers to phrase things in the clearest way possible, make up creative suggestions or distractions on the spot, or switch gears when needed. Therefore, think about the skills you practice in class and come up with a few images for each that you can whip out at appropriate moments. Try to anticipate problems or situations that may arise and rehearse your manner of giving instructions just as you would rehearse the combination that you are giving the class. Always have a few “crowd pleasers” handy to gather scattered attentions or revive a spiritless mood. Keep these things in your “back pocket” so that they are there when you need them.

In Conclusion

Working with young children can be extremely challenging and I have found that classes for dancers under six or seven require the most preparation, the most energy, and the most patience. The young lady with whom I discussed some of these principles described her surprise at this by stating, “I had this big idea of how the kids would act and how the class would be, and this is more hard work than what I thought.” She is very right that it is a lot of hard work. However, when one learns to effectively manage a classroom of tots, the process is also very rewarding and a lot of fun. Improving skills for working with preschool children is not a magic trick. It comes down to thoughtful practice and assessment of what works and what does not. Watching a child enjoying dance and getting excited about movement — now that’s magical!

Tell me what you think of these 12 tips! Other teachers reading the blog will welcome your thoughts, and so will I!

Everyone Starts Somewhere

Just ran across this video from New York City Ballet’s YouTube channel and felt it serves as a reminder for all the students out there that everyone starts somewhere.  I hope you find it inspiring.

Dance of Independence

As children prepare for preschool and begin to participate in more structured activities, dance class may be the first time some are separated from their parents.  Parents of these young children may be unfamiliar with the procedures of a dance class or operations within a particular studio.  These parents, whether they have had experience with dance in their youth, as an adult, or not at all, will each have their own expectations for their child, the class, and the teacher.

Jumping In

For a child new to dance, his/her initial days and weeks can be quite daunting.  This is particularly true for a very young student who has yet to even attend formal schooling.  The new environment and unfamiliar faces can be frightening at first.  While some children jump right in with both feet, many children take a more cautious approach, using the first few classes to watch or participate minimally. It is important to reassure this student and his/her parents that taking time to warm-up in a new situation is quite normal.  In fact, children may take several weeks to feel comfortable in a class.  Much can still be absorbed and learned through this observation, therefore, pushing or forcing the child is not necessary.  Gentle encouragement may help shy or frightened children adjust but most will participate when they are ready because often, no matter how intimidated, few kids will endure missing out on the fun for very long. Read more

Creative Dance for Children and Beyond

Creative Dance for Children

A creative dance class designed for children will help them prepare for a future in dance and other physical activities. In class, dancers are provided with the opportunity to use their imagination, creativity, and self expression while developing skills that are the building blocks of all movement and dance activities. They learn good listening skills, proper classroom etiquette, and how to move safely with other children, as well as learning respect and tolerance for others. Young children enrolled in creative dance learn and practice basic motor skills (locomotor and nonlocomotor movements) and use a variety of music and props which enhance self-awareness, control and coordination. These experiences are offered with consistent structure and provide many opportunities for mastering skills. This creates a sense of predictability as well as a safe place for the younger child to learn cooperation, increase self-esteem, and attain a sense of accomplishment.

Early childhood educators encourage preschool and kindergarten programs that are designed for the mind of a young child because it has been found that most children under 7 or 8 are not ready to be taught focused subjects while sitting behind a desk for long periods. Dance is no different. To benefit from the intense focus and concentration of a ballet class which is very structured and contains extended periods at the barre, it requires a physical and mental maturity not available to most younger children. Children under 7 or 8 are typically neither interested in nor ready for this kind of learning. Creative dance is perfectly suited to offer preparation of the mind and body for a younger student, gradually helping them to learn self-control and increase their ability to focus. This prepares them for the rigors of technique class, just as preschool readies students for reading and math.

What is the difference between pre-ballet and creative dance?

Traditionally, pre-ballet is a class that introduces dancers of about six to nine years of age to the ballet class format (barre, centre, traveling), movements, and techniques (including turnout). It prepares these young students for more intense and detailed ballet instruction. Many schools that teach “pre-ballet” to children younger than 5 or 6 are combining a large helping of creative dance (or something else) with very basic basic ballet instruction like feet and arm positions. This is because ultimately children younger than five or six are not capable of standing still long enough to learn true ballet technique and do not have the muscular control to safely perform most ballet movements. Some dance studios may label preschool classes as “pre-ballet” or “creative dance,” however some classes have little to do with either. These may skim the surface of both disciplines, providing follow-the-leader games, pretend play, and sing-along songs that have little “meat” when it comes to learning the concepts of movement or moving. While these movement experiences are not without value – participants do learn classroom etiquette, following directions, and other skills – they offer little meaningful preparation for dance technique or for expressing oneself through movement.

While dance for young children should certainly be playful and fun, any program for this age group should be taught by teachers with experience and be specifically designed to match the needs of dancers who are in crucial stages of brain and motor development. Too often, this is backward in dance studios and the youngest children are taught by inexperienced instructors (sometimes teenage students) with no thought as to what is developmentally appropriate. In my experience, children enjoy exploration and the freedom to make choices. Most would prefer not to stand in a line and practice the same movements over and over. In creative dance, children are guided in the creation of choreography which is developed as a result of decisions and choices they’ve made during exploration of movement, and they are encouraged to discover rather than mimic. If I were choosing a program for my own young child, I would look for a school that offers a quality creative dance program through the age of six or seven and, if possible, beyond.

Is Creative Dance Just For Kids?

No, the concepts of creative dance are appropriate for any age or level of dancer and will enrich the education of dancers no matter what style or technique they study. This is because, through creative dance, dancers young and old are introduced to the basic elements of dance, including proper alignment, patterns, tempo, levels, rhythm, and spacial awareness. Activities frequently offer problem solving opportunities which increase in intricacy as the student grows and develops. The dancer is given multiple options about how, what and where he/she will dance. Creative dance students are given opportunities to utilize these decision making skills in improvisation and to create short or long pieces of choreography. Improvisation encourages the dancer to think on their feet, react to others, and expand their movement vocabulary. Choreography requires the ability to remember and predict a sequence or pattern of movements (skills essential to understanding mathematics, science and reading). Performances, both informal (within the class) and formal, help the dancer become more comfortable in front of large groups. In creative dance, students learn to appreciate their own individuality. As they observe and participate in class they witness that every dance and every dancer is special and unique, which builds confidence and self-esteem. Dancers also learn to work independently and in a group, and that perseverance and dedication lead to success. The skills developed in creative dance are all essential in life and in dance, convincing me that creative dance would be a beneficial (if not vital) portion of any dance curriculum for all age groups.

Learn More About Creative Dance and Teaching Improvisation

Websites:

Creative Dance Center – the school and program developed by creative dance leader and pioneer, Anne Green Gilbert.

International Association for Creative Dance – an organization built around the vision and techniques of Barbara Mettler.

Books and Video:

Creative Dance for All Ages: A Conceptual Approach

Teaching Creative Dance

First Steps in Teaching Creative Dance to Children

Choreography: A Basic Approach Using Improvisation

Dance Improvisations

Teaching Dance Improvisation – DVDs and videos by Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company

Fostering Artistry in Young or Beginning Dancers

I came across a new blog, Design Dance, that coincided with something I’ve recently been thinking about. The blog is for a dance school in Chicago that has a mission to offer classes that not only teach technique but also create an environment that encourages the young artist. Let me just quote a bit from their first post:

After 7 years of being a dance educator and seeing what goes on in studios, I’ve begun to make some guesses as to why this [a drastic shift in focus from dance as hobby/exercise/competition to dance as art form at the age of 18] exists. It’s possible that the reason dance is rarely viewed as an art-form for children the way other art-forms are is quite possibly because the dancers are rarely asked to be artists until they are adults. A painting class for children would never teach a class without asking the young artists to express themselves through painting, so why is it that dancers are not asked to make their art form personal and creative until they are adults?

This was a “Yes!” moment for me and in my comment on the blog, I explained why… Read more

Finding Quality Dance Instruction – Deal-Breakers

When researching dance schools or studios, there are certain things I consider, instruction deal-makers. Here I will investigate the possibly more controversial deal-breakers:

• An instructor is consistently condescending and sarcastic, frequently uses put-downs or yelling to get results, or is insensitive to safety and health/weight issues.
• Classes appear out of control – little ones have no order, rules or expectations and older ones chatter, lean on the barre, etc.
• Classes are too long for small children (more than 45 minutes is too long for preschoolers) and too short for older dancers. (An ideal class length for ballet in particular is an hour-and-a-half. For dancers over 12 or who are preparing for pointe work, classes should be no less than an hour-and-a quarter.)
• Pointe work is offered to students who take less than 3 hours of ballet per week and dancers are not assessed for pointe readiness. Three hours is the absolute minimum, and should include those in pointe prep classes who are not yet wearing pointe shoes. Hours, days, weeks, and years spent doing ballet have no true bearing on if someone should or should not be doing pointe, however. The quality of the training itself is essential and great care must be taken to assess each individual’s core, turnout, and foot strength to determine if they can begin pointe work. (Lisa Howell offers some wonderful resources for students, teachers, and parents for determining pointe readiness.)  Ask to observe a pointe class. If the dancers look unstable and precarious when away from the barre, it is not simply because pointe work is hard – more likely, their training thus far in ballet has not been sufficient for working at this level. A truly quality establishment will not place dancers en pointe before they are ready, or at all if they cannot provide an appropriate course of instruction to safely prepare their ballet students. Dance studios in the U.S. (I can’t vouch for other countries) feel pressure to make pointe available to those who want it, even if it is not in their students’ best interest. Sometimes otherwise good schools succumb to this pressure. I encourage you to evaluate or re-evaluate if a pointe program is really right for you or your school. Only those considering a professional career truly need extend their work in ballet to pointe and, if you are considering a professional career, then you need instruction that will get you there.
• A class consists of nothing but drilling or repeating “tricks” (turns, jumps, leaps, etc.). This is only conceivable outside and in addition to a normal, thoughtfully planned technique class.
• The teacher uses improper terminology for movements with children older than 7 or 8. Even in preschool or creative dance classes, children can be taught the correct term. Imagery can, and absolutely should be applied for these young dancers, however I see no need to completely replace the vocabulary used by older dancers.
• Classes spend more than half the class on choreography and/or spend more than half the year preparing for recital dances. If this amount of time is required, the dances are too hard for the students. And it is probably too hard because the dancers have not been given a consistent opportunity to improve their skills and technique. Rehearsal for competition choreography should take place outside of regular technique classes. Some would argue that even recital choreography should be done outside of class. I personally feel, however, that if the choreography is representative of what the class has been doing (the purpose of a recital), composition of the dance need not be overly invasive and can take place during the last 15 or 20 minutes of class which would normally be spent learning combinations or variations.
• Owners of the school are not upfront about additional costs. Many schools charge extraneous fees for costume purchasing (on top of what you pay for the costume), recital fees, competition fees, required purchase of dancewear from their own store, etc. Make sure that it is clearly presented what you are expected to pay, tuition included, and don’t be afraid to ask exactly what the money goes toward. Some studios use such fees (or a portion of them) to keep the school afloat during summer months and to keep tuition low. Know what will be expected of you so that you have the opportunity to decide if these are fees you’re willing to pay. Although this trend is increasing, not all schools require such fees. Look into this before a sense of obligation to yourself or your child forces you to pay more than you had intended.
• Students display a myriad of injuries. Some injuries do occur when dancers are pushing themselves as athletes. However, it is a red flag when a large number of students are dealing with injury, especially at a recreational studio. Usually, these students are either not being trained properly in technique or are consistently attempting skills that are beyond their technical ability. I have seen this often at competitive schools that are recreational in nature. In order to keep up and win medals they work and drill “tricks” that only advanced dancers should attempt. Sadly, these students may be awarded despite poor technique at a competition and encouraged in this behavior (remember the nature of many competitions is that judges must choose the best from those competing). No matter the type of school, the occurrence of multiple students with chronic or serious injuries is a clear sign that something is missing or not as it should be within the training.

There are some things that deserve mention that I have not yet listed. These are what I consider middle ground – not ideal, but in certain circumstances not deal-breakers either. I will list these in my next post.

What are some deal-breakers for you? Have you or do you attend a school where these things take place? Tell me about your experiences.