Adult ballet students come from all kinds of different places—and they attend your class for all kinds of different reasons. Understanding who your student is and what they want is key in making sure you give the kind of feedback that will resonate with them and help them get what they need out of your […]
Going upside down can be scary. It’s spatially bewildering, and young students who have spent their lives upright often lack the strength required to feel confident putting their weight on their hands. But, don’t fret! There are safe and pleasant ways to build the muscle and the might for dynamite inversions. #1 – Strengthen and […]
I love this level. I see it as the true origin of a student’s dance journey. Intermediate students have bought in, caught the fever, chosen to move beyond inquiry about dance to investment in dance. They are yearning to advance past their beginner training and label. As teachers, we begin to set more stringent expectations […]
Q: Whether online or through word of mouth, I’m constantly hearing dance teachers tear down other teachers who think differently than they do. How do I keep my self-esteem high when our internet culture seems to promote this—and better yet, how do I teach my students to do the same? A: I agree that there […]
Reviewing a simple recording of your voice when you’re teaching can help you hear how you sound to your students. Taking the time to play back your instructions, corrections and compliments throughout class will help you find any weak spots as well as recognize some of your strengths. It’s a great technique to help you […]
By the end of January, most of the country is a frozen tundra, the pieces you have been perfecting for months feel stale and your dancers are in a slump. It’s time for a morale booster, people! Never fear, we’ve got you covered with three different things you can do to help you and your […]
Naomi Glass, teacher at Pacific Northwest Ballet School, knows firsthand the advantages and challenges of hypermobility. As a young dancer, she was told to keep her hyperextended knees in a straight position far from her full range of motion. “It felt too bent to me,” she says. “But once I was able to access my […]
Igal Perry’s students can finish a ballet grand allegro, hop into a Limón technique class and end the day voguing. The founder of New York City’s Peridance Capezio Center, Perry is a ballet teacher, but his goal is to mold versatile dancers prepared to work with any choreographer. “If a dancer is trained in one […]