Our Nutcracker and end-of-year performance season is officially here! And while it’s magical and wonderful, it’s also a crazy, stressful time for us dance teachers. 

Chances are you’re still not done wrapping up your holiday shopping for yourself, your students, colleagues or dance lovers in your life. But don’t worry—we’ve got you covered with over a dozen holiday gift ideas that are sure to suit your budget range. 

We’re also rounding up a delightful list of children’s dance books published this year. Most are written by dancers themselves, which makes the stories even more fascinating for young readers. You’ll also find dance education books that you could use in an upcoming course, as a holiday gift for a colleague or staff member, or as an additional resource for your studio.

Because you and your dancers might be spending so much time with Clara and her candy-land fantasies this time of year, our Dance History column spotlights Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)—the composer who created The Nutcracker and redefined classical music. Here’s a fun fact: Did you know that he had a terrible fear of mice, which could have inspired the climactic battle music he wrote in Act I? You’ll find plenty more facts and resources in Tchaikovsky’s profile that will delight your students. 

Apart from our holiday-themed content, you’ll also find technique and artistry tips to further your teaching practice. This month, we’re discussing visualization—specifically how drawing on a sensory or visual experience can help dancers understand movement quality while an image connected to anatomy can bolster technical knowledge. We’re also sharing tactics that will help with training students for solo versus group performances.

We hope you’ve enjoyed DT+’s resources as much as we’ve loved being a part of your incredible teaching journey. Thank you for being a part of our DT+ community this year. We wish you a happy and healthy holiday season and we look forward to continuing to serve you in 2024. 

With all best wishes,
Reanne Rodrigues
[email protected]