Teaching dance to teens today can be a real challenge! In some communities where there are not a lot of choices for teens it is probably easier simply because there are not so many distractions. In areas where the teens have abundant choices it becomes harder because there are just too many distractions. Disengagement is not usually something that is easy to recognize right away because most teens are not very communicative about their feelings. They may be suffering but you cannot recognize it because they are able to smile and appear to be fine. There are some definite signs to help you recognize when your student is feeling disengaged and becomes paralyzed mentally.

1. If you see that a student becomes very lethargic in class or that their energy level is lower than normal or their focus is just not where you need it to be. This may be due to the student just feeling unwell on any given day but if they consistently exhibit signs of lethargy it is time to ask questions.

2. The "I don't care attitude". When a student always stands in a back corner during class or has a defiant attitude when you give a correction. If a student never fixes their corrections and just shrugs their shoulders at you, they are probably disengaged.

3. If you notice that a student is always by themselves or never partakes in any of the discussions or question and answer times in class it is probably a good sign that you need to try to engage them in the conversation.

4. When a student refuses to perform and use their facial expressions when they dance it could be that they are just shy but if you see that they are exhibiting any of the other signs or if they are unwilling to try and find their passion and creativity when they dance or to experiment with new styles and steps it may be that they are just insecure or they may be exhibiting another sign of disengagement.

5. If you find that one of your more serious dancers is increasingly late or absent from their required classes it could be that they are struggling not only with dance but with school and just life in general.

The most important thing that you can do when you see any of these signs from a student is to talk with them and open the lines of communication. It is all about being able to connect with them and in doing so turn that light switch on for them so that they can rediscover what made them love dance in the first place. We all struggle with these types of feelings at different times but with teens everything is magnified and then they get to the point where they just don't know how to get themselves out of it. This is where you can step in to help them find the right path.

When you meet with the student try to keep it casual and if you can get them to laugh at something right off the bat it will help them to relax and will help you to be able to get them to talk. If you ask them a question and they look down or there is an awkward silence this usually indicates that they are disengaged and that they are obviously struggling with whatever is causing it. I have found that at times like this the student needs to be reassured that the conversation is completely confidential and that is strictly between you and them. Probably the most important thing to do is to listen to what they have to say and then it is also important to hear what they are not saying, reading between the lines so to speak! Finding out what is important to the student is very helpful because by hearing it from them you will be able to make a plan both for them and for you to move forward with the student feeling engaged and excited about their dance classes. You will probably not see a big change happen overnight but if there is positive movement forward it will be a big improvement. Often teens just want to be heard and to feel that they have something important to contribute; the problem is that in many cases they do not know how to go about letting the world know and as a result they become withdrawn and disengaged.

The more we can help our students to think in the way that is going to be most beneficial for them, the better we can prepare them to have a successful life. If we can show our students that despite the fact that the world is becoming a shallow place to live in if they are able to recognize their passion and creativity the happier they will become. If they are then able to understand that by disciplining themselves to work hard at it and get the results they are looking for the more fulfilled they will become both as dancers and people.

It is definitely worth taking the time to look behind the façade that an unresponsive teen may be showing. So often they just don't know how to go about changing things so they just keep on doing the things that can be so aggravating to a teacher. With your knowledge and help and expertise you can change a student from being totally disengaged to one who is excited and a joy to teach. Not only will your kindness affect them while you are teaching them but it will also follow them for the rest of their lives.