By now, all of our lovely dancers are back to school and have been back to dance classes for a few weeks. Parents and kids are settling back into the routines of another exciting school year and dance year.
Back-to-school is a busy time for teachers, too! Dance teachers are no exception. If you’ve ever wondered what dance teachers do outside of the studio, wonder no more.
Music is amazing.
It can express emotions that words alone cannot. Music is joyful, loud, soft, melancholy, fast, slow, and limitless. As dance teachers, we take care to curate our playlists to match the interests of our students.
We spend time thinking about the age group of our dancers, their likes and dislikes, and what kinds of songs will get them up and moving.
Being a YPAD certified studio, we are vigilant in choosing music that is developmentally and age-appropriate for our dancers.
Choreography is the dance teachers’ word for making up dances.
Our dance routines, warm-ups, and across-the-floor sequences start to take shape long before we enter the studio. Many of us choreograph in our kitchens, basements, or even in our mind’s eye if we hear a catchy song in the car while driving.
Choreography is an ongoing process that never ends. That’s why we love being dance teachers! We always have the opportunity to come up with something new and exciting for our dancers.
As teachers, we reflect.
When our classes are over, we think about what went well and what we could change for the next class. As we get to know our students, we tailor our instruction to them.
We brainstorm and try to find ways to reach every child in ways they understand. We don’t stop thinking about our kids when we step out of the studio. They are part of our hearts!
We always say that these first few weeks of dance are all about getting to know each other. Dancers begin to form relationships with teachers and peers, and teachers begin to get a feel for each of their classes and their unique skills. We are excited for another great year of working hard, having fun, and shining bright at Liberty Dance Center!
