Hillsboro Dance Center

Sometimes dancers need to be reminded of what they can do. Eight-year-old Sienna half-heartedly attempted a single pirouette. Although I had explained the mechanics of the turn, I could see that she was not really trying because she didn’t imagine she could be successful. How could I capture her confidence? Then I remembered something about her. “Aren’t you the one who can do an aerial?” I asked, acting like I had only heard rumors. Sienna’s demeanor changed as she nodded her

Today I learned a lesson about communicating expectations for class behavior. What seems obvious to an adult dance teacher is not obvious to every child. I learned that if I can put words around the exact behavior I want to change, the child may respond by trying to accomplish the change I am seeking. Leah, ten years old, worked hard and loved to dance. I thought she was ready to move to a higher level, but first I had to get her behavior in line with that of an advanced clas

If you are looking for a sendoff ritual, I highly recommend ending your classes with one of the Three Hs: a high five, handshake, or hug. I encourage my teen dancers to thank me after class. I appreciate having this time to congratulate them on a job well done, to give personal encouragement about their goals, and to let them know that I care. I wanted the same opportunity with my younger dancers, but they rarely approached me after class—mostly because they didn’t remember t

I had a breakthrough moment during my first year teaching jazz that led me to come up with 10 strategies to increase dancers’ expressiveness. Developing an expressive physical voice and the self-confidence to use it will make your students better dancers and more confident people. Coaxing dancers to convey emotion and intent with their bodies as well as their faces can be difficult. One of my students in my first year of teaching consistently danced with beautiful technique b

During an across-the-floor exercise in a jazz class one day, I realized that all the students (7- to 9-year-olds) were leaping with their upper bodies slanting forward. One of the dancers was angling so far forward that her upper body was actually touching her front leg. I explained the correction, but the dancers repeated the combination with little improvement. Clearly, it was time to get creative. I stopped the music and said, “Girls, the upper body is supposed to be strai

Working in an environment of gratitude, appreciation, and support is key to avoiding burnout. As a dance teacher/studio owner, I...