Dance Teacher Pro Podcast

Summer is coming, so does it seem like you shouldn't be worried? It's okay. The transition into summer for dance teachers is more than just more sunshine. You are finishing up your season, want the best end of your for your students, and are entering a summer that is likely a different routine than the academic year. It is very reasonable to have some worry and anxiety this time of year, so in thi...

Have you prepared your students for recital - beyond the dance? In this episode we will go over 7 topics you can discuss with your students to get them ready for recital.  As teachers, we can take for granted all the things we know about what goes into performing. So take a moment and review some details, especially for your newbies. They will be more confident coming to recital and be more succes...

Now that your dance is done, do you need new ways to keep running it over and over? Need a new idea?  In this episode, I share my top 5 fun ways to have the students rehearse the dance. It is important to find ways to keep them rehearsing, but also keeping them engaged.  Take one or all of these ideas to make running your dances more fun for your students, and you!

FINAL CALL for recital choregraphy clean up! We are doing a 5 part series so that each week you will have a quick list to review your recital dances. And you won't need to do any huge changes, but you may find a simple tweak can have a big impact on your recital dance. Each episode will give you a framework to at your choreography through the lens of the dance elements of BODY, ACTION, SPACE, TIME...

Want a fresh way of looking at your recital choreography? We are doing a 5 part series so that each week you will have a quick list to review your recital dances. And you won't need to do any huge changes, but you may find a simple tweak can have a big impact on your recital dance. Each episode will give you a framework to at your choreography through the lens of the dance elements of BODY, ACTION...

Does your recital dance REALLY utilize the space? What if a simple change could really add some dynamics to your recital dance? We are doing a 5 part series so that each week you will have a quick list to review your recital dances. And you won't need to do any huge changes, but you may find a simple tweak can have a big impact on your recital dance. Each episode will give you a framework to at yo...

Wish someone could come in and watch your recital choreography and give you some suggestions? Well, I can't to to your class, but I can give you a checklist so you can do it for yourself:) We are doing a 5 part series so that each week you will have a quick list to review your recital dances. And you won't need to do any huge changes, but you may find a simple tweak can have a big impact on your r...

Looking for a simple checklist to make sure your recital dance is the best it can be? Well, here you go! We are doing a 5 part series so that each week you will have a quick list to review your recital dances. And you won't need to do any huge changes, but you may find a simple tweak can have a big impact on your recital dance. Each episode will give you a framework to at your choreography through...

I have observed many dance teachers in my career, and there is something that stands out as a direct correlation to how effective a teacher is in a class. If a dance teacher is both proactive and reactive when they're teaching, they have successful classes. Period.  If we assume that the teachers are connecting genuinely with their students, know how to dance, can break down some steps, and know h...

Got a student that struggles to find or stay on beat? It happens. In today's episode we will chat about what you can incorporate in your class to help those students develop their sense of beat. It takes intention and patience, but we can help our students embody the music and find rhythm. Today we talk about ideas for students who are older and struggling. We can do a whole other episode on how t...

I was recently asked, "How do you know how many dance classes you should teach so you don't overwork yourself?"  What a great question! Today has some advise and parameters to think about.  And I'm going to start off with some very unfortunate, but very real news about your teaching journey. But don't worry, it gets better! Let's ntalk about prep time; being honest with your body, mind, and schedu...

Are you looking for a few ways to help your students pick up your recital choreography a little bit cleaner? A little bit quicker? Today we are going to go over a couple of ways for you to do that.  You already do a lot of great things to help your students, but hopefully you can find a new tool to add. Whether it's how you are teaching, how you give them repeition, or how you are asking them ques...

Are you looking for some easy ways to spice up your classes to keep your students more engaged? In this episode, I'll share 9 ways you can keep your classes exciting that are easy! If you did one each of the nine weeks, that's over two months worth of keeping your dancer's on their toes. AND.... Here is the download even more ideas. So exciting!  Get the Download

You likely know that people learn different styles of learning, but you might be wondering how can you reach all of those different learning in your dance class?  In today's episode, let's dive into what the different learning styles are and how you can bring them into our dance classes. You will get ideas to incorporate so you know you are doing your best to reach all your students.    For today'...

Hey there, Dance Teacher. Do you ever wonder, HOW DO I TEACH THIS STEP? Because there are so many different ways to approach that question, in todays episode we are going to ask a bunch of questions to help us find multiple ways to teach the step. And let's start off with just acknowledging there's a difference between "How do I teach this step?" And "What ways can I teach this step?"  Because whe...

Hey there dance teacher. So have you ever wondered, "Like I teach dance, but how are they actually learning it? Like what's going on there? And is there a method to that and what's happening?" Well, it turns out there are definitely methods to motor skill acquisition. And typically we talk about that in the sports world or in the human development world, but we tend not to talk about it too much i...

One students joins one class, a student drops in another class. It can be so frustrating! Yet it is often just a reality we can't escape. In today's episode, I share 3 mindsets to adapt when our class rolls fluctuate. Also, I'll go over some ideas to consider to address your choreography when students add or drop last minute. You are not alone in this usually irritating situation, but a mindset an...

Where do you stand, dance teacher? Literally! Considering where we stand while we teach can help us gain student focus, give you a fresh look, and shake up your class. In today's short episode, you will get ideas to think about in your next class that's just about where you stand. 

Oh My Goodness, Dance Teacher! i just watched Ariana Grande's new music video and went back to watch a Paula Abdul music video, and I am pumped up! These ladies brought fresh to me how we can use inspiration from other artists to make our own work. Plus, they are both ON FIRE! Give this podcast a listen and watch the videos and let me know if you agree with me. 

Not really feeling good, but not sick enough to call in for a sub? Been there! In today's podcast, let's make our own sub plans for those days when we want a sub but still show up. I have 10 ideas to share with you, some that you can do on the fly, a few that need a bit of prep. Your future dance teacher self will thank you for having a game plan in place for your meh day. Enjoy your classes.

Recital dances don't choreograph themselves. Sometimes, choreography just flows out of us, but sometimes we need new ideas and inspiration. In today's episode, I share the places I go to in order to keep my recital choreography fresh (and I have been doing this for a while). You will know where to look to find new and creative ideas to include in your recital dances no matter what age, style, or l...

Recital Choreography season is upon us! In today's episode I share 5 parts of my process for creating successful recital choreography quickly. Listen to this before you start your choreography process because I promise it will help you save time, be creative, and make memorable recital dances. These ideas will also help remedy choreography block. Enjoy!

As a dance teacher, you are a caring and consistent person in your students' lives. And that may mean there will come a time (if it hasn't already) that a student will share personal information with you. There is a lot of nuance and gray area when it comes to boundaries between dance teachers and their students, and it can feel overwhelming. This can be tricky to navigate, but hopefully some of t...

I have a little gift for you dance teachers! Here are some affirmations for you to remind yourself throughout your journey. While I go thorugh phases of using affirmations, I do think they are a powerful tool for our mindset and help us reach our potential. Enjoy the holiday season!

Ever wonder if your students will ever remember your dance? You're not alone! In this episode, I share 5 ideas on how to encourage choreography retention. There may be no silver bullet for every class on this, but if you use some of these ideas it can only get better:) Enjoy your class!