Q. How can I improve my student’s technique?
A. First and foremost, it is important to encourage students to take ballet classes. The structure and discipline in classical dance teaches students the basics of body placement and awareness. No matter what type of dancer the student wants to be, ballet will help them to become more proficient. The only way to improve technique in any type of dance is to train consistently. If a child is only taking one or two classes per week and shows interest in becoming a better dancer you can recommend additional classes that you think would help them to achieve their goals. Dancers who practice on their own are also going to improve at a quicker pace. Helping dancers to develop great work habits is also going to speed up their Improvement. I also find that if I pinpoint a specific area on a dancer that would benefit from extra strengthening, I can then give them exercises that they can do with a resistance band and that in time will help them improve their overall technique.
Q. How can I make my beginner classes more fun?
A. I am often asked this question and I would say that the most important part of teaching any beginner class is to go in to it with a fresh and upbeat attitude. If you are used to teaching more advanced students, you will find that it is definitely a change in mindset that is needed. This can sometimes be a little hard to do in the beginning but once you realize that the expectations have to be different you have won half the battle. I like to give my beginner students a good idea of what technique is going to be needed in order for them to be able to execute combinations of steps. And I gradually add more and more technique. However, what I really like to give them is the feeling that they can move. How do I do that? Each week, I will show them a simple combination of steps that will let them experience movement. So often with beginner students, they become so caught up with their inhibitions and general lack of technique that they just become overwhelmed and unable to execute anything. I also give them visual handouts each week, perhaps showing the correct way to stand or the use of simple port de bras. These handouts always include pictures as it really will help a beginner student if they can visualize what you are trying to get them to do. Let your students experience the feeling of spinning and leaping and I have found that using different props are always beneficial. Scarves are great for spinning and hoops or balls to jump over work well too! Making these classes fun will have your students returning over and over and you never know when you might find a diamond in the rough.
Q. How can I improve my young boy dancer’s upper body strength?
A. Most young boys do not have great upper body strength, but from the age of 8 and up you can start working with them by introducing pushups in their regular classes. Start by just doing one set and then as they increase in strength and years you can add more repetitions. Just make sure that they are in a straight line with tight buttock muscles and legs and that their backs are supported by lifting the lower abdominal muscles to prevent the back from arching. Boys generally love doing this kind of exercise. You can also add some resistance band training for the biceps and triceps (these exercises can be found in the archives under floor barre. ) For boys 8-10 I would advise using the lightest weight of band available.
Q. How can I get my dancers interested in Dance History?
A. This is an important question. I always tell my dancers that you have to look at history in order to be able to move forward successfully. The bottom line is that if you want your students to learn dance history you are going to have to give them a reason to do it and propose fun ways for them to present their findings. I give my dancers different projects throughout the year. Perhaps one month it is for them to make a poster about a famous ballet or modern dancer. Another month, I might ask them to do a paper on a famous jazz dancer and Choreographer like Matt Mattox. I try to get them to do more than just print something off the internet because if they just do that they will end up not knowing anything about that artist. In Matt’s case, I would also tell them to research and bring in a movie that he was in (Seven Brides For Seven Brothers is a good example). I really feel that it is important for dancers to understand the different styles and excitement that these artists brought to the world of dance. Be creative with your ideas and your dancers will respond.
