The Instructor's Dance Floor

This is an extremely interesting video from Ted Ed, which explains the physics of doing fouetté turns on pointe! I highly recommend showing this video to your dancers. There are extremely important elements in which reinforce their training with actual facts, like why your spot and your relevé are important.

Is there a secret message to make all your dancers turn like Sophia Lucia? Sorry, I don't think so. However, reminders that build muscle memory are the key to having consistently strong turners. Below are bullet points to remind your dancers of every class as to what to think of while turning. One of my favorite tactics is asking my class what they need to think about while they are turning. My dancers will raise their hands and we won't stop until all of the bullet points have been checked off. High relevé Straight supporting knee High passé Shoulders down (out) Strong spot (spot your own eyeballs or a point in the room) Strong arms (like holding oranges under your armpits) Utilizing your closing arm In second turns, turning out both your supporting leg and your working leg Closing into a high, strong croisé and not swinging your leg Leading with your heel and not gripping your turnout muscles Not dropping your heel too hard in second turns or fouettes Pulling

As dancers and dance teachers, it is extremely important to be aware of the difference between good and bad pain. Genuine pain is different than soreness, and if you are able to detect this, you can pinpoint potential injuries before they occur. Dancers are tough, and at a certain level we like to push through pain and soreness. However, if it is a threat to your career, it is important to recognize it is time to sit out. The article below provides some good pointers that gauge whether it is time to rally or not. http://www.dancespirit.com/deciphering-between-good-pains-and-bad-pains-and-how-to-prevent-further-aggravation-2487676033.html

Dance classes can be an extremely rewarding  extra-curricular  recreational activity. However, in many classes it is evident that many dancers do not have the energy or the discipline to focus as much as they need to in order to truly accomplish their goals.  Many parents and students are paying for dance classes with an end goal in mind for their children and themselves. Some intend to make a high school or college team, some intend to simply improve on their skills from last year, some wish to win competitions. Therefore, giving these students an average dance education will not suffice. As influencers and  educators , we should should set ourselves apart with a higher standard. So the question is, how can we motivate the more...  uninterested  of our students.  Research has demonstrated that offering rewards to children can improve their concentration, performance, and behavior in a classroom setting.  Teachers can reward their students with positive reinforcement.

Audition season is almost among us and whether your students are yearning to audition for a high school dance team, a collegiate program, a company, or a professional opportunity, the thought of putting yourself on the line for rejection can be daunting. We want to make our dancers as prepared as possible, and this article from Dance Teacher Magazine provides some really great tips on how to make your students more confident and comfortable getting out there in front of those judges. 

While attending Velocity Nationals in 2014, a workshop was provided for the individuals at Nationals with a director or instructor pass. This workshop was taught by Shannon Mather. With more than a plethora of experience and a resume as long as an encyclopedia, Shannon Mather is more than qualified to speak to dance instructors and share her experiences and knowledge. One go-to that many of us use after sliding through our middle splits during warm-up is the "frog" stretch. By laying on your belly, slapping your feet together behind you, and letting gravity do the work on your feet (like pictured above), many of us may think that we are stretching out hips. However, as Shannon Mather noted, this stretch is actually just twisting your knees into an unnatural turned in position.  However, the correct way to do this stretch is to ensure your students' knees are in 90 degree angles. With their feet right below their knees, they will sink their hips as low as possi

Welcome to The Instructor's Dance Floor! I am excited to connect with other dance teachers, coaches, and instructors who are also passionate about making a difference in the lives of dancers. Go to About Me  to learn a little more about my experience as a dance instructor. Be sure to subscribe at the top of the page!

The secret to properly training your dancers? Dancing. It is no secret that dance is a highly athletic sport which requires immense stamina and training. This is an interesting article which highlights the importance of understanding that training outside of the genre of dance is not necessary. Because dancing is sufficient exercise for dancers, other types of workouts can actually put your athletes at risk for injuring themselves. http://www.dancemagazine.com/dance-is-the-best-exercise-2465757322.html