Have you seen our brand-new features on DanceTeacher+ yet? 

With our new Lesson Plan column, we’re bringing you step-by-step instructions for teaching a wide range of movement concepts and combinations from experienced master teachers in various styles including ballet, tap, hip hop, modern and more. We’ve also launched our member-exclusive DT+ Teacher Talks—live Zoom discussions with guest experts from the dance education field. 

Register now for the first session, taking place on Monday, August 8, at 12pm EDT, where we’ll be discussing how to use the right language for corrections with Charla Genn—a New York City-based coach and dance rehabilitation specialist who teaches company class for Dance Theatre of Harlem, American Ballet Theatre and Ballet Hispánico. In this hour-long discussion, you’ll have the opportunity to reflect on your use of corrections and learn how you can make your studio or classroom a positive environment that’s conducive to learning.

In other exciting news, the 2022 Dance Teacher Awards are only two weeks away! Join the community to celebrate this year’s honorees. The event also features an inspiring conversation with Francesca Harper, artistic director of Ailey II. RSVP now with code DT+25off for 25% off your ceremony and cocktail reception ticket, which will fund the MOVE|NYC| Dance Teacher Scholarship. I can’t wait to see you there!

In the meantime, we have plenty of exciting new stories in store for you this month. 

Undergarments: We’re going undercover to bring you undergarment options for students who prefer to wear underwear beneath their dancewear. Although the no-underwear trend for dancers has become common, and visible underwear might not be an aesthetically pleasing look, where does that leave students who are uncomfortable with the idea or are menstruating? 

Rewarding kindness: What sort of recognition do you give students who show empathy to a peer who is struggling in class? Or appreciation for the student who volunteers to stay late and help us clean up? We’re offering tried-and-tested ideas that you can incorporate in class to reward and inspire students of all ages who exhibit kindness, compassion and generosity.

Technique & Artistry with Ronnie Favors: The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater rehearsal director shares professional advice for teaching long, extended lines. For Favors, it’s not about how long a dancer’s legs are, or how much flexibility they have. It’s about students finding the best version of their line, which will in turn allow them to dance at their fullest.

Playlist with Lauren Fadeley Veyette: The academy principal at Kansas City Ballet School and coordinator at Youth America Grand Prix (and former New York City Ballet and Miami City Ballet dancer) shares how dance teachers can help their students discover their own musicality to let their personality shine through.

Dance History on Asadata Dafora: This month we celebrate the trailblazing dancer, musician and choreographer responsible for bringing West African cultural dances to concert stages in the West from the 1930s to ’50s.

Core support: Later this month, we’ll offer tips to help your dancers activate their core muscles. You’ll learn the ins and outs of core biomechanics and receive strengthening and conditioning exercises that you can incorporate in class.

Back-to-school season: Between fall registrations and class placements, this time of year can feel overwhelming for both you and your students who have to balance academic coursework with their busy dance schedules. We’re offering you tips on how you can ease your students’ back-to-school transitions and support a healthy studio enviroment. 

Higher ed: We’re also sharing tips for how you can transition back to being a student—either after or during a teaching career—and highlighting the differences between an MA and MFA and why you might choose one degree over the other. 

Finding balance: You’ll also hear from five school directors about how they’re taking charge of their leadership skills to manage the weight of running large-scale dance education organizations while attempting to maintain personal time for themselves and their families.

I hope you enjoy our new features and stories on DanceTeacher+ this month. I’d love to hear what you think, so please drop me a line at [email protected].

With excitement,
Reanne Rodrigues