At the beginning of any season, the energy felt in the air when students return to class can be exciting for all. Dancers realize how much they missed dancing or for those who studied over the summer they are eager to show their newfound strengths and knowledge. For teachers too it is a great feeling to walk into a class where the students are so eager to learn and practically hang on to every word that comes out of your mouth. All and all it is a dance love fest! The problems arise when you are three months into your semester and all of a sudden that energy seems to have dropped to a new low and somehow you become the one individual who seems to be responsible for regenerating that initial excitement.

I have found that by planning ahead it is easier to keep the boredom or general malaise at bay. Generally speaking in our part of the world where our semester runs from September to June, there are certain times of the year when excitement is generated naturally. For example, around holiday times in the fall, competition or other performance times and where applicable, examination times. The question is what can be done during those other times to keep that energy level high and positive? In other parts of the country or indeed the world, different areas start and end their semesters according to the school systems and sometimes the weather pattern. In my experience and I am sure that I am joined by many other dance teachers, I have found that it will definitely benefit me if I give some thought in advance to find ways to stave off those moments of negativity with my students. Not only can I help to make them more positive but I can also help them to be more receptive to what I am teaching them. There is nothing worse than going into a class full of discontented teens and attempting to teach them dance! It is a complete drain on you as a teacher and almost always totally unproductive for your students.

Here are some ideas that I have used to help my students stay positive. I am sure that you will have ideas of your own also and I certainly encourage you to use anything that you can to make teaching your students a fun and rewarding experience.

1)    Give them an opportunity do put together a piece of choreography using each other. I find that this is a great project to give them right after the holidays in January. Everyone is a little bit in slow motion after having those days off and this gives them something to be involved in as well as a way for them to shine in front of you and fellow students. It can be a good motivator. I like to reward them for these projects in small ways but more importantly I like to award them for their work by letting everyone in the studio know about their choreography. If they have done an excellent job we will put the number in an end of the year performance.

2)    Arrange that a particular group will go to a dance performance. If you are near a city where there are theatres or arts centers that offer dance performances during the year that makes it easier. If not, perhaps you can arrange a bus or train trip to take you there. Fundraising can be a way of helping your students to be able to afford a trip and they will definitely feel more invested in the whole experience if they have had to raise funds for it. Our students have done the typical fundraising ideas such as bake sales; car washes etc. and they have managed to raise enough to cover costs. So you are not only giving them the chance to see a performance and gain knowledge and enthusiasm from that but life learning skills to help them in that area too. They will definitely come back to their classes reenergized from their experience and often with new goals.

3)    Dance history projects are a good way to not only encourage the dancers to work together but also to increase their knowledge of all the wonderfully gifted dancers who went before them. I ask them to make posters of a particular famous dance person or persons and I have to say I have been amazed by the creativity and designs that some dancers have used with their posters. From ballerinas that twirl to collages of photos artistically presented. The sense of accomplishment that they feel from producing these projects can keep them energized and excited.

4)    Just watching DVDs from previous years and letting the dancers see for themselves how much they have accomplished both technically and performance wise. Surprise them on a cold, gloomy day by devoting the entire class to watching themselves and how far they have come.

These are just a few ideas to help you mix it up a bit. Remember, keeping your students energized and on the ball is going to make a world of difference to you as their teacher.