Posts Tagged ‘2 Tips for Teachers’

By Mignon Furman

Tip 1
Repetition, repetition, repetition—the only way to perfect a ballet movement is to do it over and over. Think of concert pianists who practice for hours to perfect only their fingering. Then think of dancers who have to perfect feet, legs, head, upper body, arms. How can you make this constant repetition enjoyable and meaningful for young dancers?

The trick is to do the same movement in different ways. Changing the timing, the placement of the head or arms, or the direction of the step adds interest and new challenges to the familiar.

Tip 2
Boredom is the greatest sin in teaching. A teacher who is infected with boredom spreads it to her students. Do not let burnout burn you up. Motivate yourself and prepare your class well. Act enthusiastic and smile a lot. Attend a teachers’ course to be refreshed and inspired to instill the joy of dance in your students. Remember, it was that joy that made you choose to become a teacher.

By Mignon Furman

In traveling to many cities on my audition tour, I have become more aware than ever of many young dancers’ inability to turn well. Look for more tips on improving this aspect of technique next month.

Tip 1
The first thing dancers must understand is that to turn, one must be able to balance. Therefore at the end of barre exercises, teachers should introduce the concept of balance through the understanding of weight placement. Have the children practice rising onto demi-pointe with all toes evenly placed on the floor, hips over fully stretched knees, shoulders over hips, and the weight forward over the balls of the feet.

Tip 2
Practicing the use of the head and eyes in spotting is important. Have students shuffle around quickly, keeping the feet together with legs parallel, or skip around. Introducing turning steps at a fairly young age helps students grasp the feeling of turning. Changement, soubresaut, and échappé are a few steps that can be turned; young children can accomplish quarter- and half-turns.