To be a K–12 dance teacher is to be a master of time management, multitasking, and adaptability. Often teaching hundreds of students of all ages and skill levels every week for sometimes less than an hour at most, it’s a juggling act as you need to figure out what to fit into a 45-to-50-minute class. […]
Heading back to the studio or classroom after a fun, frolicking summer can feel exciting and challenging. To give you the confidence you need to start the school year off strong, we’re hosting our next DT+ Teacher Talk, “Dealing With Parent Concerns at the Beginning of the School Year and Beyond,” with Chasta Hamilton, dance […]
The new school year is here, and, for many dance schools, that means a new batch of young dancers. The first class is often the most important, because you not only have to set the tone for the year, but you also have to learn names and get to know your students. But breaking the […]
Dance teachers can sometimes be treated a bit like DJs. “People always want fresh music from you,” says teaching artist Bailey Randolph. She feels pressure to always keep an ear out for new songs—and she’s happy to oblige. Whether she’s watching TV, riding on the subway, or just walking down the street, the Shazam app […]
In Aiano Nakagawa’s creative-dance class at Acorn Woodland Child Development Center in Oakland, California, a student wanted to run really fast instead of exploring shapes as planned. Nakagawa didn’t dismiss or correct the desire. Instead, she yelled, “Yeah! And can you try a sharp shape at the end?” Another time, teachers were asking students not […]
Q: How do you approach a K–12 class when one of your students has a disability? A: Growing up watching my deaf sister get left out of conversations made me sensitive to ensuring everyone in my classroom feels included. If you have a student who is disabled, you’ll need to put in a little extra […]
Q: I’m having such a love-hate relationship with mirrors right now. They can be distracting, as well as cause emotional distress for my students. At the same time, they’re a really useful tool. I know some teachers remove theirs altogether. Is this something you recommend? A: I too have mixed feelings about having a mirror […]
Teachers from coast to coast are pushing students to move outside the constraints of popular music. There is a consensus that the earlier you introduce varied musical forms, the more adept and adaptable a dancer’s musicality will be. New York–based jazz scholar and teacher Melanie George notices that many students’ relationships to music can be […]
Q: How do you approach conflict between students in your class? I don’t accept bullying of any kind, but I also don’t want to draw unnecessary attention to something and detract from the rest of class. A: When conflict arises, my first response is always to pause and get both sides of the story as […]
Though she loved choreographing, the high school student showcase wasn’t quite enough for Julie Deleger, a recent graduate of The College Preparatory School in Oakland, California. The answer for her was an independent-study project during her last semester there. “Choreography is so personal that sometimes you need to take more or less time with it,” […]