Basic foot care is an important part of a dancer's preparation. Not only can taking proper care of your feet help you prevent injuries, but you can also improve your dance skill level. Wear Properly Fitted Shoes & Padding In order to ensure a proper fit, you’ll want to be certain you have a professional fit your pointe shoes. (Your dance instructor should be able to point you in the … [Read More...] about Happy Feet for Dancers: Basic Foot Care
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Weighing the Advantages and Disadvantages of Dance Competitions, Part 3
Dedicated dance instructors want their students to experience the highest quality education possible in the art of dance. How exactly to go about achieving that goal varies from instructor to instructor. Whether or not to engage students in competitions, how often they should compete, and at what level they should begin competition are all matters … [Read More...] about Weighing the Advantages and Disadvantages of Dance Competitions, Part 3
Teaching Life Skills: Resilience, Part 2
Among many life skills your students can learn in your gym, resilience (see Part 1) is definitely among the most significant. Children start facing challenges early in life, and they need to learn to respond in a way that’s healthy. Every time they respond to even small daily challenges with resilience, they strengthen that life skill, helping them … [Read More...] about Teaching Life Skills: Resilience, Part 2
Transform Your Holiday Dance Recital From Predictable to Profitable, Part 1
If you run a dance studio, chances are that you’re always looking for creative new ways to make your business a success. One of the best potential profit-generating events you could host may catch you by surprise. It’s not a special fundraiser you’ve never thought of before that will take tons of extra preparation. It’s something you’re most likely … [Read More...] about Transform Your Holiday Dance Recital From Predictable to Profitable, Part 1
Weighing the Advantages and Disadvantages of Dance Competitions, Part 2
We’ve already considered how competitive dance can help students develop positive peer relationships as well as become more focused and driven in their approach (see Part 1). In this article, we’ll consider some of the other benefits that dance competitions have to offer students who engage in them. These include networking, maturing in their … [Read More...] about Weighing the Advantages and Disadvantages of Dance Competitions, Part 2
Dance Kinesiology 102
Every dancer should have a basic understanding of how his or her body moves. The study of muscular movement is called Kinesiology. When it comes to Dance Kinesiology, the first topic to master is that of Muscular Contractions; we looked at the two basic types of contractions in Dance Kinesiology 101. The goal of Dance Kinesiology is to allow the … [Read More...] about Dance Kinesiology 102
Teaching Life Skills: Resilience, Part 1
The little people who enter your gym aren’t simply potential future gymnasts; more importantly, they’re future adults and contributors to society. And the skills they need in order to grow into that important role can be developed now in your gym. We’re not talking primarily about the physical skills you’ll be teaching your students, here — … [Read More...] about Teaching Life Skills: Resilience, Part 1
Weighing the Advantages and Disadvantages of Dance Competitions, Part 1
In the realm of dance instruction, there are two different primary schools of thought when it comes to the topic of dance competitions. Some instructors, parents, and students are enthusiastic supporters of competitive dance. Others are adamantly against the practice. So who’s right and who’s wrong? There’s no simple answer to that question. … [Read More...] about Weighing the Advantages and Disadvantages of Dance Competitions, Part 1
Dance Studio Tips: Keeping Staff Members Happy, Part 2
Your dance studio will run so much more smoothly when you hire quality staff members and keep them happy! Not only will you as the director have fewer headaches associated with the fallout of high turnover rates — including hiring and training new staff members on a regular basis — but you’ll also appreciate the kind of positive environment and … [Read More...] about Dance Studio Tips: Keeping Staff Members Happy, Part 2
Dance Competition Planning: The Importance of a Post-Season Review
Dance competition season has its perks, but it’s also quite demanding! As ready as you may be to stop thinking about competition until next year, you’ll be better prepared next time competition season rolls around if you take a little time now to evaluate this season and do a little pre-planning for next year. You’ll want to elicit thoughts from … [Read More...] about Dance Competition Planning: The Importance of a Post-Season Review
Teaching Life Skills: Resilience, Part 3
Many of today’s parents are afraid to allow their children to fail; but if kids never fail, they won’t be equipped to face difficulties later in life. They won’t have the opportunity to learn resilience (see Parts 1 & 2). Your instructors need to realize that they’ll be swimming upstream in a culture where many adults are afraid to let kids … [Read More...] about Teaching Life Skills: Resilience, Part 3
Dance Kinesiology 101
A dancer’s body is her most important asset, and without her muscles properly working, she can never master her craft. When a dancer understands how her muscles work, she’ll be better able to confidently execute moves and combinations. Because of that, dance students all need a basic understanding of kinesiology, the study of human movement. Any … [Read More...] about Dance Kinesiology 101