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8 Tips for Teaching Dance

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I’ve had a lot of failures in the dance classroom.  There have been some days when I go home and wonder, “How much longer are parents going to keep paying for me to teach them…THAT?”.  Or, “Wow, we did not learn anything today.”  If you’re a teacher, you know what I’m talking about!  Ha, if you’re a parent, you know what I’m talking about!  So, my lessons are never pinterest perfect.  But, I’ve got a few tips I’ve learned along the way.

tips for teaching dance

 

  • Say when before what.

Describe when students will do something before describing what they will be doing.  For example, when the music starts, skip to a new place in the room and freeze in a curved shape.  Other cues may include: when I say go, when I count to three, when your partner freezes, when I point to this picture, etc.

  • Allow a little chaos.

As I have taught lessons where student creativity is central to the class, I have watched several teachers become worried that their students are incorrectly interpreting the creative prompts.  However, every student should have his or her own ideas to express during the creative process.  When twenty-five different ideas are being expressed, it can feel a little chaotic.  The creative process is not the same for everyone, so let there be a little chaos!

  • Challenge students.

So, they haven’t mastered the tendu yet (translation: point your foot).  That doesn’t mean we can’t do grande battements (translation: big kicks)!  (Who, in fact, has ever mastered a tendu???  Even Misty Copeland (principal dancer with American Ballet Theater) takes technique class!)  Elementary school students often surprise me with their dancing abilities.   Just as in every subject, we must expect the best from students.  Therefore, it is important to constantly challenge students to improve what they are doing.  Ask questions like: Can you make your dance bigger?  Can you show your movement more clearly?  How can you make that movement more creative?

  • Constantly add other elements of dance.

Though a dance lesson may focus on creation of shapes, challenge students to use different body parts, energy qualities, levels, pathways, or timing.  For example, shake your elbow while you skip.  Now, turn your leap.  Move in a curved pathway as quickly as you can.  Perform the sequence as slowly as you can.  Continue to add more layers on to an activity once they master its basic form.

  • Live in the moment.

When teaching a dance class, I sometimes forget to pay attention to what is going on around me because I am so focused on what activity is coming next.  Instead, live in the moment with the students.  Try to experience what they are experiencing and help them find new ways to explore and discover.  As in all teaching, if you are aware of your students needs, you will be better able to teach them.

  • Dance WITH the students.

I just can’t emphasize this enough.  Whenever I move with the students, their commitment to the movement increases.  Instead of giving instruction then watching the students complete the task, participate with them.  Move throughout the classroom instead of always standing in the front.  Especially in creative activities, students often do not need a demonstration; they just want the teacher to participate.

  • Be clear and concise.

As I explain activities, sometimes I find myself taking too much time in explanation and answering several questions before the activity starts.  Instead, explain the activity as simply as possible.  While students are moving, add on extra layers of difficulty or additional movement problems.  Giving direction while the students are moving saves time and maintains student engagement.  So, “When I turn on the music, go running.”  Then, while they are running add, “Run backwards!  Now run backwards in a circle.  Do 4 more backwards runs in a circle, then stop!”

  • Make rules for dance and remind students of them every time they come to dance.

I have often found that when students come to a dance class, they believe that all the rules of their classroom no longer apply.  It is important to establish rules at the beginning of each class.  Helpful rules can include: stay one foot away from all furniture and walls; when we dance we speak with our bodies, not our mouths; when the music stops, you stop; do not run into each other; etc.   Then say the rules.  Every. Single. Class.

The Snowy Day

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I don’t know about where you live, but here in Tennessee, we’ve had a LOT of snow lately.  Too much, in my opinion.  In fact, when I see snow on the ground, I prefer to do something like this:0125160722

 

Unfortunately, my kids like to do something like this:

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So, for the children’s sake, I think it’s time to pull out an old friend: The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.

 

This book is the BEST for teaching pathways!  I love to follow the footprints in the story and then follow footprints on the ground in our classroom.  Here’s how I do class with this book:

Welcome to Class and Warm Up:

  1. Who can show me how snow falls? Does it fall heavy and hard?  Or soft and light?  When I turn on the music, I want to see lots of dancers like falling snow.  Can you fall quickly and slowly?  How can you move very lightly and quietly like snow?  Snow is not loud.
  2. What else happens when there is snow? Is it warm?  Or is it cold?  And what happens when water gets really, really cold?  It turns into ice!  It freezes!  When I turn on the music, walk around the room lightly on your toes, like a very, very light snowflake, but when the music stops, freeze in an interesting shape!  If shapes are not very interesting, remind the children that every snowflake is different.  Therefore, all the shapes should be unique and interesting.

 

STORYTIME!  

Read beginning of story through “…pointing in, like that:”

  1. Look at the foot prints in the snow. Every time he walked, he made a foot print. Look how his feet point in and out.  Everyone stand up.  Try turning your toes in and out.  Can you walk like Peter with your feet pointed in and out?  Are you leaving in and out footprints behind you?  Can you turn around and walk backwards in and out?  What about sideways?

 

Continue reading the next page through “…that made a new track”

  1. What does the word “drag” mean? Usually it means heavy and slow. Can you drag your feet?  When I beat my drum (clap my hands, shake maracas, turn on music, etc.), show me how you can drag your feet very heavy.  What else can you drag?  Can you drag an arm, a leg, an elbow?  Remember that dragging is heavy and slow.

[Read more…]

Workout of the Week – Leg Day (SQUATS!!!)

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Workout of the week squats and legs day

I was asked for a legs day…so here you go!  Do the whole set 2x through.  It should take you roughly 45-55 minutes.  Whenever you see the word “squats”, you can choose your own squat variation (listed in the right hand column).  Enjoy!2-16-16

 

Walking Lunges: With or without weight (held in your hands or a bar across your shoulders), step your right foot far forward into a lunge.  Left knee should be close to touching the ground and right shin should be vertical (perpendicular to the ground).  Repeat with the left foot (video here).

Spiderman Push-ups: Starting in high plank, or the top of a push-up, bend your arms to do a push-up.  While your arms are bending, bring your right knee out to the side and close to your right elbow.  Push your arms back straight and bring the foot back to starting position.  Repeat on the left (video here).

Man Makers: Holding a dumbbell in each hand, do one push-up, then a renegade row with your right arm, then your left arm.  Jump your feet in toward your hands and lift the dumbbells right above your shoulders.  From that squat, straight the legs to standing and overhead press the weights above your head (video here).

Lawn Mowers: You can do these with a resistance band, kettle bell, or dumbbell.  (video here)

Flutter Kicks:  Laying on your back, lift the legs slightly off the floor (6-8 inches).  Kick one leg and then the other, but keep the kicks very small.  Legs stay off of the ground the whole time (video here).

 

Squat Variations:

Goblet Squats: Perform a squat while holding a weight in two hands in front of your chest, as if the weight was a goblet you were about to drink from (video here).

Front Loaded Squats:  Perform a squat with a barbell held in front of your chest, in line with your collar bone.

Back Loaded Squats: Perform a squat with a barbell along the back of your shoulders.

Squat Jumps:  Perform a squat, then when you straighten your legs, jump into the air.  As you land, bend your knees fully into your squat (video here).

Over the Bench Squat: With right foot on a bench top and left foot on the floor, perform one squat.  Then step or jump the left foot onto the bench and place your right foot on the floor.  Do one squat.  Switch sides every squat (video here).

Pistol Squats: Standing on your left leg and holding your right leg out in front of you, squat as far down as you can on your left leg, then stand back up, holding the right leg up the whole time.  Do 10 repetitions on each side.  This is a very difficult move!  One of my favorite variations is to squat over a bench and let my bottom touch the bench at the bottom of my squat.  That way I can squat lower than usual without falling down!  (video here)

Squat with a High Pull:Holding your weight in front of you between two hands and allow your arms to hang.  Perform one squat, then pull the weight up along your body to your chest.  Lower and repeat (video here).

Have fun!

Workout of the Week – Spell Your Name

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This week’s Workout of the Week is just plain fun!  Not a lot of competition and no time limit.  When you’re done, you’re done.  All you have to do is spell your whole name (first middle last) and do the exercise associated with each letter!  We’re shooting for 15-25 letters which should take you 30-45 minutes to complete.  If you need to repeat your first name or take out your middle name to make it fit within those guidelines, do it!  Grab the printable here.

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A – Kettlebell Swings: You can use a heavier dumbbell for these if you don’t have a kettlebell.  Just make sure you can hold the dumbbell with one hand on each end.  Video here.

B – Mountain Climbers: Start in plank or push-up position.  Bring right knee in towards the chest.  Put the right foot back in plank position.  Repeat with the left knee.  Video here.

C – Jump ropes: Jump rope 75 times.  Or, just little jumps side to side if you don’t have a jump rope.

D – Gate Swings: As my brother put it, “These are like jumping jacks with no arms.  Except, when you jump out, you squat.”  Starting with your feet together, jump out to a squat (in 2nd position for you ballerinas :), then jump back to feet together.

E – Pushups: Knees or toes.  Arms wide or narrow.  Pick your poison. 😉  Here’s a video if you need some extra inspiration!

F – Pull ups: Hanging from a bar, pull yourself up until your chin is level with the bar, then lower back down.  You can modify by jumping to give yourself a headstart.  Or, using a bench or an exercise band for leverage.  OR, if you don’t have a bar, do a narrow, triceps push-up by putting your hands directly under your shoulders and keeping your elbows next to you waistline as you push-up.

G – Renegade Rows: Starting in push-up position with a dumbbell for each hand, hold one dumbbell in your right hand and pull the weight up to your shoulder, shooting your elbow straight up toward the ceiling.  Put the weight down and repeat with your left hand (video here).

H – Pistol Squats: Standing on your left leg and holding your right leg out in front of you, squat as far down as you can on your left leg, then stand back up, holding the right leg up the whole time.  Do 10 repetitions on each side.  This is a very difficult move!  One of my favorite variations is to squat over a bench and let my bottom touch the bench at the bottom of my squat.  That way I can squat lower than usual without falling down!  (video here)

I – Triceps Dips: Place your hands on a stair or bench and feet on the floor.  Bending the elbows to the back, dip your hips down and up, keeping your feet far out in front of you (video here).

J – Pushups: (See letter E)

K – Tuck jumps: Standing with feet right under your hips, jump up bringing the knees up close to your belly button.  (video here).

L – Hammer Curls: These are bicep curls with palms facing in toward the body at the lowest point.  The end of the weight should tap the shoulder at the top (video here).

M – Burpees: Back to middle school gym class we go!  Start standing.  Squat down to touch the floor with your hands.  Jump your feet out to high plank (push-up position).  Do one push-up.  Bring the feet back to a squat right next to your hands.  Jump straight up lifting the arms above your head.  Repeat 12 times!  To make it easier, you can take out either the push-up, the jump, or both.  You can also step out to plank from the squat instead of jump (video here).

N – Lunge Walks: With or without weight (held in your hands or a bar across your shoulders), step your right foot far forward into a lunge.  Left knee should be close to touching the ground and right shin should be vertical (perpendicular to the ground).  Repeat with the left foot (video here).

O – Plyo Lunges: Stand in a lunge with one foot front and other foot behind.  Jump up and switch legs in the air to land in a lunge with the opposite foot front (video here).

P – Pistol Squats: (See letter H)

Q – Glute Bridge: Lay on your back and put your feet up on a stair, bench, couch, etc.  Press your hips up high, then lay them back down.  You can add a weight (held on your lower abdomen) to make it harder.  Increase intensity by holding one leg up in the air while performing the exercise.  Here’s a video!

R – Goblet Squats: Perform a squat while holding a weight in two hands in front of your chest, as if the weight was a goblet you were about to drink from (video here).

S – Russian Twists: Sitting on the floor, lift your legs off of the floor.  Leave the knees bent about 90 degrees.  Lean back slightly and twist the torso from side to side.  Hold a weight, medicine ball, frozen ham, etc. to increase intensity (video here).

T – Renegade Rows: (See letter G)

U – 1 minute Wall Sit: Leaning against a solid wall, bend the knees so that your upper leg is parallel to the floor.  Hold this position for 1-minute.

V – 2 minute Plank: Hold plank position (hands under your shoulders, feet less than 12 inches apart, spine straight) for 2 minutes.

W – Mountain Climbers: (See letter B)

X – Squat jumps: Standing on both feet, squat, then jump straight up.  Repeat (video here).

Y – Plank jacks: Hold high plank (or push-up position) and jump your feet out into a wide straddle, then back close together.

Z – Burpees: (See letter Z)