Passionate students, cooperative parents, healthy dancers, fees paid on time…There is so much to be grateful for—not just this month, but all year round. At Dance Teacher, we’re grateful that you’re a part of our close-knit teaching community, and we’re thrilled to offer you a continuous flow of resources to advance your teaching journey. 

This month, we tackle a timely, tricky topic: inflation. How have widespread rising costs impacted the dance education industry? We’re speaking with several studio business owners to find out how they are dealing with increasing costume prices, rental equipment and space fees, and, of course, tuition costs—all while striving to best serve their students and communities.

End-of-year performances are around the corner, and most of the time the focus tends to be on our students. But what about some of our fellow dance educators who are living the double life of being a teacher as well as a performer, shuffling between the studio and the stage not just this time of year, but all year round? Two teachers/performers offer their insights.

Our Technique & Artistry focus this month is on teaching students to dance barefoot. For dancers who are used to performing in shoes—tap, jazz, pointe, or ballroom—adjusting to dancing barefoot can bring up new questions, sensations, and ideas. An approach that takes preparation, injury prevention, and somatic cueing into account can help smooth this transition.

In our Lesson Plan column, Maria Torres (one of the 2023 Dance Magazine Award honorees) teaches the foundational rhythms of Latin jazz. And in our Music column, dancer and choreographer Jason Williams shares how he turns musical inspiration into movement and enriches his students’ musicality. You can also tune in to the special Spotify playlist of songs he’s choreographed to.

Ashley Brown, director of the Martha Graham School, is our Office Hours spotlight this month. Dancing with the Stars pro Britt Stewart talks about how she’s giving back to the BIPOC community through her nonprofit, Share the Movement. Jennifer Kreichman, the new Steps on Broadway Academy director, tells us about her exciting role. And Twyla Tharp dancer George Sanders shares why Daniel Catanach has been the biggest influence in his career.

Enjoy!

With gratitude,
Reanne Rodrigues
[email protected]