r/DanceTeachers

I teach ballet at a competition dance studio, where ballet is not the focus. Very few of these students have ever performed choreography to classical music. I have chosen a relatively simple piece of music to count (Fauré’s Sicilienne), but even the students who know the choreography don’t seem to be listening to the music or dancing to the music. I want to try some things this week to help them connect more with this beautiful piece, so they have more graceful flow as opposed to robotically hitting the steps… and I’m just looking for as many ideas as I can find. TIA.

We had very full dance classes this Spring, which is a great thing! We are trying to figure out how to open up more space for more dancers next year. We will likely add some classes, but only have so much space, so another option is increasing the class sizes. Currently, we have a max class size of 12 for 3-4 year olds and 14 for 5-6 and 7-8 year olds. There is typically one teacher and two high school assistants for a full class. What are your ideal and max class sizes for various ages? Would 14 3-4 year olds be a nightmare? I am hesitant to increase class sizes, but if others find it doable, I might consider it as an option.

I HATE half soles (turners) for lyrical/contemporary but my dancers seem to love them. I’d pretty much rather them wear anything else (socks, barefoot, foot undies) but they’re pretty standard at our studio and also on the dance teams that many of our students dance on. Anyone feel the same?

I completely understand the 3-6 year olds are NOT going to be perfect. Again I get it. However what tips or tricks have you found to get these dancers to be slightly better or better performers? I know I cannot expect them to be amazing but what could I do to help them to be more confident on stage ?

Hi everyone,

I've been a dancer for 8 years now (I'm 13), but people still ask me, "What is contemporary dance?" I just sit there and watch them, trying to come up with a sensible answer. So far, the best definition I've found is:

Contemporary dance is a style of dance that, unlike other styles (like classical or Latin, etc.), isn't so much based on movement form, but rather on a message it wants to convey.

Do you have any ideas?

(Sorry for my bad English, I'm from Italy)

I am both a dance teacher and work in the office for a studio. I have been here for over 5 years and teach the most amount of students. I’ve been very involved in the studio this whole time.

I have the opportunity to move back to my home town (about three hours away) and told my boss this 5 months in advance.

She will not be telling anyone (staff, students, families) that I am leaving until one week before. She has also already told families who have asked about it I am leaving “no she is not”

This is putting me in a weird position of not getting a proper goodbye with my students I have had for years and the program I have built. It also makes it seem as though I am leaving last minute when I gave so much notice.

How do I navigate this? I should be allowed to share this with at least people in my life but it’s been very apparent that no one is allowed to know. These are families and people I have known for years.

Thanks in advance.

Update: I should add the biggest issue I am having is that I am being expected to lie. If someone asks if I am leaving, her saying no and having me also not disclose that information feels like I am being asked to be dishonest.

Hi! Our SO decided that we would hand out invitations to join our competitive to recreational dancers this year. Do you have any advice on how to make the other kids not feel left out?

One class almost everyone is getting invited, and feeling unsure how to broach the situation

TIA!!

What are your favorite ballet studios in the East Valley? We are new to Phoenix and just moved to Queen Creek. I have looked on Google and social media but you know how the internet can be biased. My daughter just turned 8 and has been dancing competitively for years. We came from a well known competition dance studio but she wants to focus all of her attention on ballet now.

I am holding a dance recital on a small stage. They only have a row of lights shining from the front. No lights in back or wings. The last two years they used clear gels on the can lights. Should I use colors and what colors?

Hi all, I’m freaking out and looking for anyone who’s been through this or support. I am telling my director this evening I won’t be returning next year and I am insanely nervous. I love the studio to pieces but will be moving to a new state at the end of the summer partially due to my boyfriend’s job and partially because I want to. I’m terrified of making everyone sad and have to wait all day to get it over with, then I have to teach after and hide it from the kids, I’m so sad but I know it’s the right choice.

Several times in the past few weeks, I don't have just one parent watching their kid, but multiple siblings, both parents, grandparents and random aunts or uncles. It is beyond distracting and they are loud! I also feel like I'm being constantly judged and putting on a show for them. They film me and I don't know what happens after that. I mainly teach at a rec center and some of these classes have been ongoing for about a year but are picking up steam and becoming more popular.

I feel like it's a little late to suddenly say, "no parents" - there are chairs in the studio and a big glass door and I feel like if they waited outside and watched, it'd be more of a distraction with kids constantly running in and out.

I am also worried about losing students if I set a new policy like this because so many parents here are helicopters and frankly, I get paid by the student a dismal $5/head.

I guess I can send out an email with some recommendations, reasons, and best practices but most of them don't read email. I am just seeking advice from people who may have had to handle this before.

Thank you!

So I am very young and I am not getting paid for this job and im more of a assistant teacher. There is this one girl in my oldest class though around 6 or 7, and she mainly speaks Spanish, if you ask her a question she understands most of the time but when we are practicing our dances she will start doing something else. Please help the recitals are coming up and she is also not giving the other girls personal space even when they ask for it, she will also kind of chase them around (which is both of their faults because they are supposed to be sitting by the mirror) pls help.​Thank you! I will be posting a lot on here because me and one of the other teenage students have taken over three of the youngest ballet classes and it gets a little hectic. Also some people have commented about his so I just wanted to mention that this is not a professional dance studio per say it is a community arts center, and also my teacher started working full time here when she was 18, but thank you to everyone with helpful answers!

Im teaching tap this summer, which is unusual for me, and I need shoes. I have an aggressive arch, and really need a rigid sole shoe. (The soles of my split sole shoes have cracked all the way through right behind the toe tap amd split soles enable bad habits in my jello feet.) The studio owner recommended Jason Samuel Smiths, but holy dollar bills, I cannot drop $200 on a teaching shoe! Does anyone have a recommendation for an affordable something?