Teachers have an amazing amount of influence on their students whether it is at a regular school or an artistic one. Dance Teachers know how much our students love to be noticed. Students hang on to our every word and how they interpret them can sometimes be a mystery. Very often a student’s perception of what a dance teacher is actually saying to them is totally different to the way we intended. That is why it is so important to make sure that we are clear in our attitude, our mannerisms and our choice of words. Even having said that, it is still within the realm of possibility that a comment can be misinterpreted by a student and then it is up to us to correct the interpretation so that the understanding of what we are trying to get over to them is clear.
A simple word of encouragement to a student can not only make a difference to them on that particular day but could possibly affect them for the rest of their lives. A simple negative put down could just affect them for that day but could also stay with them for a lot of years. Each student needs to be taught to expect success with the understanding that by making the right choices and by developing good work habits they can achieve anything. Of course, in our dance classes we have to give our students corrections but it will make a huge difference to the student if they feel that the correction is given in a kind and positive way. I know that sometimes that can be pretty difficult, especially if a child is making the same mistake over and over again and shows no signs of fixing anything but in those moments I like to try to find out what is happening with the student that is making them unable to fix anything or respond in a positive way. Very often it is because the student has a lack of confidence in what they are doing and feels overwhelmed. I have found that the best way to get around this problem is to sit down with them and show them how to make a plan to start fixing their technique. Perhaps they can work on it for 5 minutes each day or maybe 10 minutes three times a week. Most students will respond in a very positive way if they see that you have taken the time to sit down with them to help them find a way to improve. Just the right word at the right moment can plant a seed in their minds and who knows how far that one idea can take them?
As dance teachers, our influence on our students starts from the minute they walk into the dance studio. Our mood will set the tone for the rest of the day’s classes. If my energy level is high they will feel empowered and engaged, if I am down or distracted they will feel like lead balloons to teach and if I demonstrate to them that I am tired their energy level will also be very low. The way I look at it, every class I teach is a performance and it is up to me to be completely convincing in my role as a positive, upbeat teacher. Do I always feel that way? Of course not but each year that I teach I am able to master a little better the art of believing that I am feeling good even at those times when I really am not having my best day. It’s a balancing act! The truth of the matter is that the more I make myself feel energized the vibes that I send out to my students will come back to me and give me any energy that I am lacking. One hand helps the other so to speak.
We have the power to enable all of our students to become better at dancing than they are currently. Obviously it is in different degrees. A beginner student will improve at a much quicker pace if they start to believe that they can actually move and connect the steps. It doesn’t really matter if they are unable to master all of the technique at first that will come later they just need to be told that something they are doing is good. I am not a believer in the 'feel good' reward system of giving every child a trophy for something that is mediocre or less but I do know that if you can just find one thing that a beginner dancer is improving in and not only point it out to the student but also to their peers, that will go a long way in building their confidence. I have had students come to take a class at our studio and have absolutely cringed at the thought of them being in a number on stage only to discover some months later that they have actually learned something, become more confident and don’t look at all bad. I have also had a number of dancers who started out that way who have become really excellent dancers after studying for years. These students would never have realized their potential if they had not been given encouragement from their teachers .More advanced students often need the same help and direction as they can also be insecure and unable to plan or manage their time to make corrections to their technique. If you can show them the way to be organized it will make it a lot more stress free for both you and your students and will get them functioning in a positive way for the rest of their lives. When they are older they will truly thank you for those valuable life lessons.
The tone of your voice makes a big difference too. I have known dance teachers who have actually benefitted and become much better dance teachers after going to a voice coach or therapist to understand how to place their speaking voice correctly. After all, we do an awful lot of talking! If your voice sounds harsh or overbearing that can intimidate a student or if your voice is weak and utters your instructions in an unconvincing manner and has no authority, that also is going to be detrimental to you as a dance teacher and also for your students. Really dancing and acting have so much in common.
