I remember when I first started taking dance lessons. It was 5 boys, including myself and 10 girls. The teacher had a great time choreographing and teaching because the boys brought a unique energy to the class and to what she could do. Later on when I was taking with Mikki Williams she also had quite a few guys to work with. I know that having a lot of guys for most schools is not a reality. However when you do get them in I think it is very important to train them differently from the girls, not just in the technique but in your whole approach.

When boys sign up for classes most of the time it is a 10 to 1 ratio. It may be that you have 3 or 4 in your entire student count. Dont despair, the boys are out there and more of them have an interest in learning how to dance. Shows like Dancing with the Stars that feature former football greats like Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith and former boxing tough guy Evander Holyfield are showing everyone that dance is athletic and physically challenging. People are starting to understand what we have known all along, and that is that dancing is not for whimps! Dance is hard work and the physical benefits that you will derive from it are immense.

Now we have to show the boys when they enter the class room that they will get a workout that will be physically demanding. I was very involved in sports growing up. I loved dance because I felt there was a real correlation to sports related movement. My parents had me take dance lessons and I really enjoyed it. In high school, sports consumed my time and dance fell by the way side. But by the time I was going to college I decide to give dance 100 percent of my energy. With my parents blessing, for which I am forever grateful, I went into it full time. I was luck enough to have some great teachers who understood the challenges of training guys. Bee Brodergram, Mikki Williams, Charles Kelley and Frank Hatchett are the ones who had the biggest impact on me. One thing is for sure, you do not have to be a guy to teach guys! I know many wonderful teachers of boys who are women.

Here are a few ideas and tips that I believe will help you to get the most out of your male students and once you get them keep them coming back for more!

Set specific goals and create a plan to achieve these goals: Boys love to be charted and monitored. It is in our nature! Have them get a book so they can monitor their progress. For the younger ones make it a game and chart their improvement.

Have a friendly competition: I know that teachers get a bit nervous when you mention competition between students but again, boys enjoy competing just as long as you do it in a fun atmosphere. Make sure that each student gets a chance to excel. One may be good at jumping, one at turning and one may have good flexibility.

Use Power Moves: Boys are rambunctious and have a lot of energy. Use that energy in power moves. Jumps, kicks and strong arm movements. This may sound a bit like karate but you can adapt it to dance. Also all kinds of push ups including handstand push ups are a great way to develop a young boys upper body strength.

Stretching and control: Once you get them warmed up spend a little extra time stretching. Boys in particular need to work on their hip flexors, located in the front of the hips. This area needs to be stretched out as much as possible so that their back leg will not bend in the splits or leaps. The other concern is that boys will want to push their stretch. They will need to understand that they will have to work in a slow and controlled manner. It is also good to give them developpes after a stretch, these will teach them how to safely use their new found stretch and develop more strength in their legs.

Proper class room attire: It is important that boys buy and use a dance belt. It is a support that is a must for male students. If you are not familiar with what it looks like I would recommend that you go to a dance wear store and look at one. This way you can explain why it is important and what it is all about to either the parent or student. I also like for boys to wear something form fitting this way they can see how their bodies work. Leggings or jazz pants with a tank or tight tee shirt works and most boys will not have an issue with wearing those items.

Choreographing for boys: Please do not give your boys female steps or port de bras. Strong moves will enhance your male student retention. I love simple partnering for younger boys who can pose and present the girls. I recommend you to use a theme where you can tell a story. Boys will love to act out a character or play act.

Costuming for boys: This is another tricky topic. I am afraid to say that I do not like most boys costumes that are featured in costume books. I am not a big fan of lycra or shiny fabrics for boys. If it is necessary for the type of dance try turning the lycra inside out before having it sewn so that the dull side is on the outside. Guys need to look and feel like guys on stage. Try using black and other color dress slacks, it is a good idea to sew the pockets so you dont get that gap in the side of the pants with a shirt or some tight fitting top.

Having boys attend your studio is an asset. Making sure you keep them and challenge them on a day to day basis is important. Understanding their role in the world of dance will help them with their identity.