My goal in today's episode is to give you a pep talk reminding you of your greatness, because just by being YOU, you are bringing GREATNESS into your classroom space!
And also, being the Thanksgiving season, I am so GRATEFUL for you--your support, your listens, your involvement in this Dance Teacher Pep Talk platform.
Thank you all and have a beautiful rest of your week!
This episode may seem like a little past the window to be discussing trends I noticed during the 2025 season when some of us are already out hitting the stage with our 2026 material, but I felt called to share this!
I myself am in a place where I am beginning to finish up choreography for the 2026 season and it had me reflecting on things I noticed from last year and wondering what is to come in this season!
The beauty of what we do is that no season is the same and it is so hard to know what to expect in a new season until you are there. I for one am so excited to see what will be in this new season ahead!
Thank you all for your listens and support!
What trends did you love from 2025? What trends are you hoping to not see again?
Check in over @danceteacherpeptalk on IG.
<3 Amanda
Happy November!
For many of us we are officially two months into our season, and this is a great time to reflect on . . .
*How far we have come
*Where we are stuck/progress is not being made
*Where we need to look at things differently
*And where we are heading
With holidays and Nutcracker and competition seasons fast approaching, I find these next two months can be so worthwhile and beneficial (even when doing fun seasonal/holiday activities) to get our students on track to achieving all that it is we set out to teach them.
Here is to a great November everyone!
IG @danceteacherpeptalk
Thank you all so much for your support & listens!
As much as we don't want this to happen, there will be days when we will not feel like teaching. This could be a short window of time . . . it could last a whole week . . . it could even be a whole "season," but it happens and it is okay!
As artists, we are so passionate about what we do, and we put so much into our craft that there are times when our energy is just not going to be prepared to live up to the standards that we set for ourselves.
Today's episode includes the tips and tricks I use on days where my energy isn't where I want it to be for the dance classroom. I love what I do, but even as a dancer, there were days I didn't want to go to class. The majority of the time when I have felt this way, as soon as I get into the motions at the studio, I start to feel better, even a little, and it is my hope that in addition to that for you that these tips and tricks will help you to find your rhythm for your night/week/season ahead as well!
Thank you so much for your support & listens!
IG: @danceteacherpeptalk
<3 Amanda
In today’s episode, I share about an exercise that I did in my jazz classes this week that went way deeper than I ever could have thought.
What started as improv turned into a lesson in confidence, in finding who we are regardless of what song is playing or what dance classes we are in.
It was an enlightening moment for myself as a teacher and a proud moment for me to see it all unfold. I just knew it had to be shared here with you all!
I hope you enjoy and feel inspired by today’s episode!
Make sure to check out @danceteacherpeptalk on IG because on Friday I’m sharing the category rounds and music suggestions that I used to build up excitement during the Halloween season!
Thank you all for your support and listens!
In today's conversation, I had the opportunity to learn from Chelsea Weidmann, "The Geeky Ballerina," about the years of research she has done on developing ways that we can teach artistry within our technique classes.
Something that really caught me on her website was her realization of watching a beautiful technician with lifeless energy on the stage. Everything was correct, but something was missing.
To me, the passion, the drive, the energy, the soul--that is the artistry, and I was so excited to learn from Chelsea on all of the time she has put into researching this and creating her own curriculum, writing her own book, and more!
From body carriage, to breath, to musicality, and more, this episode is jam-packed with information.
Tune in to see how artistry can further enhance your dancers' training today!
Ways to find Chelsea's work:
Website https://www.geekyballerina.com/
IG: @geekyballerina
TikTok: @geekyballerina
Book: "Artistry Inside Ballet Technique Volume I" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJX4WXL1?ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_G97X1CZFA84ADY4ECBEA&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_G97X1CZFA84ADY4ECBEA&social_share=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_G97X1CZFA84ADY4ECBEA&skipTwisterOG=1
Blog: https://www.geekyballerina.com/blog
Curriculum: https://www.geekyballerina.com/curriculum
Email: chelsea@geekyballerina.com
Make sure to head to her website to sign up for her newsletter where she shares twice a month with actionable items you can implement in your class today!
Thank you all so much for your support & listens!
<3 Amanda
IG: @danceteacherpeptalk
Are you in need of a slight change to your warm-ups at this time of year? Then look no further--station circuits might very well be the answer for you!
This is a concept that can work with any dance genre, any age group, and any level of skills ability. It could be as general as a simple warm-up to as specific as skills refinement using functional strength and alignment work--and more! The ideas are endless.
I hope today's episode inspired you for new ideas in your dance classroom.
Thank you all for your support and listens!
IG: @danceteacherpeptalk
Today's episode came to me in a spark of inspiration and wasn't even the episode I planned on doing in the first place! But I went with it!
Part of my non-negotiables this season is listening more to my inner voice, my intuition, and trusting it--trusting it in my day to day, trusting it in my teaching, in my choreography, etc. and in today's episode I share about that.
I also talk about how and where I have been feeling more inspired in this new season of autumn.
For me finding the magic of the season and sharing in that is so important in my personal life, but also in my teaching. It connects me more to the present, and it connects me more to joy, and I find it does the same for my students.
Things that benefit you as a teacher in turn benefit your students as well.
I hope you find inspiration in today's episode and I thank you all for your listens and support!
IG: @danceteacherpeptalk
I held off on trying ChatGPT for a very long time, for lots of reasons, but just for fun this season while planning my new year of classes I thought, why not? Let's give it a try!
In today's episode I share some basic ways that I used ChatGPT while lesson planning and give my opinion of the good and not so good of using this tool.
My final result (which I knew prior to doing this) was that a dance teacher will and can never be replaced by an AI tool. We truly are the HEART and more when it comes to teaching this beautiful art form that is dance. However, for myself, using tools to help along the way, in the long and short run, I know will only make me a better dance teacher and a more aware dance teacher.
If there are ways that you use ChatGPT in your dance teaching and planning, I'd love to hear over on Instagram! Make sure to follow and share over on @danceteacherpeptalk.
Thank you so much for your support & listens!
Have a great week of dancing!
Happy back to dance to all!
Even though the start of a new dance year is filled with excitement and fresh outlooks, there are still moments we might get in our heads too deeply and if you answer yes to any of these questions . . .
Are you feeling overwhelmed?
Are you feeling pressure?
Are you feeling a sense of imposter syndrome?
Are you finding yourself comparing the lesson plans, the competition pieces, etc. from last year to this year, or from another person to you?
. . . then this is the episode for YOU! This episode serves as a reminder of the beauty in the process, the joy and the why of how we started this incredible dance teacher journey in the first place.
This is an episode to come back to time and time again when you find yourself putting the pressure on.
We've got this, teachers! Here is to a great new year!
IG: @danceteacherpeptalk
Thank you all for your support and listens!
<3 Amanda
Are you gearing up for back to dance and feeling overwhelmed about how you will fit it all in? How will you accomplish all the things and still manage to take care of all you need to in your home and personal life?
This is the episode for YOU!
In today's episode I share 3 Ways that we can set ourselves up to create more ease, and therefore more flow and organization, for the beginning of our new season.
From home cleaning tips, to playlist creating tips for the dance classroom, I hope this episode will help you to feel more prepared and ready to take it all on.
Wishing you all a beautiful start to your dance season!
IG: @danceteacherpeptalk
Thank you all for your love & support!
Amanda
In today's episode, I discuss something that I feel is an imperative part of our dance teaching in today's day and age and that is, Mindfulness. Mindfulness is the awareness of the present moment. To some that may seem very natural to find, however for many (especially those caught in our phones for a lot of the day), have a difficult time with this.
Mindfulness can help your dancers attentiveness and focus within your classroom and I share all the tips on how to do this in today's episode!
It doesn't always have to be meditation and discussions on feelings, though I feel that can be wonderful in the class setting, but for today I go into other types of Mindful Tips! No matter the age you teach, or the genre of dance you teach, this episode will have helpful ideas for you to bring into your classroom today!
I hope you enjoy and find some inspiration in today's topic.
Thank you all for your support and listens!
IG: @danceteacherpeptalk
<3 Amanda
In today's episode, I talk all about my feelings around Summer Dance as a teacher--the excitement, the nervousness, and more!
I recently saw a quote that totally reframed my mind around teaching in new spaces and with new faces and I knew I just had to share it here on the podcast.
Along with this, I share some of my favorite tips for planning for your Summer Dance classes as well!
Don't forget to follow over on IG @danceteacherpeptalk where I have shared a July calendar that you can download with daily motivation, tips, and ideas to help you go through your month with something special set up on each day for you.
Let's get inspired and dance and teach with confidence and pride knowing all that it is that we are able to bring in for our students this season!
"By showing up as you are, and sharing who you are, you are great."--A quote from a piece I choreographed this 2025 season.
No one offers what you can offer, and what we all offer in this dance world is a special piece of the puzzle that is guiding and motivating these young new dancers in our world!
Thank you all for your support and listens <3
In today's Part 2, I am sharing some of my favorite Pilates exercises to help correct common dancer corrections/critiques to help make a breakthrough in one's training!
Do you have Nationals coming up? Looking to refine your technique in Summer Dance? My hope is that this episode will help guide you into new places of awareness in your movement to not only breakthrough a correction, but to retain it for years to come!
When we correct, it isn't enough to just say the correction, we must explain it, show, and find the how of it and for me, Pilates has been so helpful to then have the student take it to the next level of the correction by embodying it, and embedding it within the muscle memory.
I hope today's tips are helpful! Make sure to check out Part 1 if you have not yet!
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5PItYC6l29lKR7hGmRq3m3?si=36221de955014f56
Thank you all for your support & listens!
IG: @danceteacherpeptalk
Make sure to follow to be able to receive the free July Calendar resource mentioned in today's episode!
In today's Part 1, I am sharing some of my favorite Pilates exercises to help correct common dancer corrections/critiques to help make a breakthrough in one's training!
Do you have Nationals coming up? Looking to refine your technique in Summer Dance? My hope is that this episode will help guide you into new places of awareness in your movement to not only breakthrough a correction, but to retain it for years to come!
When we correct, it isn't enough to just say the correction, we must explain it, show, and find the how of it and for me, Pilates has been so helpful to then have the student take it to the next level of the correction by embodying it, and embedding it within the muscle memory.
I hope today's tips are helpful! Make sure to check out Part 2 coming soon!
Thank you all for your support & listens!
IG: @danceteacherpeptalk
Make sure to follow to be able to receive the free July Calendar resource mentioned in today's episode!
We have so many tasks in a given week as dance teachers: class planning, music searching, emailing, choreography prep, just to name a few!
What if we could map out our week in a way that would help us to complete all of those tasks in flow and with the best energy suited for the task(s) at hand?
Today's episode is all about that!
Did you know that each day of the week has a ruling planet? And that each ruling planet has specific energy, concepts, and themes present on a given day? By understanding which planet rules each day, and therefore which energy rules each day, we can better map out our week for optimal success.
Now whether you believe in this or not is up to you, but if you are stuck on auto-pilot or feeling like you are just going through the motions in your day to day, approaching your week with a new outlook might be just what you need to pull you out of a rut!
This is a different one for the podcast so I hope that you enjoy and find inspiration from it!
If you do, send me a message over on IG--I'd love to hear from you!
Thank you all for your support and listens! <3
IG: @danceteacherpeptalk
I love reflecting on my year at my birthday and I love sharing the lessons, concepts, and themes that have come up in that year!
Last year's 7 Notices at 35 had some beautiful lessons and I wanted to continue the trend with this year's 6 Lessons at 36.
These lessons can be applied to your life whether you are a dance teacher or not, though I put the dance teacher spin on it!
Awareness, motivation, inspiration, and more are all present in this episode!
Dive in and begin reflecting on what lessons have come up for you in your year <3
Thank you all for your support and listens!
IG: @danceteacherpeptalk
A phrase that I find so beautiful is "being in practice of" when it comes to how you view the things you do in your life. I have heard it in the fitness world, the yoga world, in the spiritual context, in a professional context, and more but truly to me the phrase has always sparked something in me.
When driving into the studio, I had an important reminder come to me and wanted to share it here in today's mini episode.
Tune in to start developing your thoughts around, how are you "in practice" as a dance teacher? What is important to you and is a part of your "practice" in this life?
I hope you enjoy today's episode and thank you so much for your support and listens! <3
IG: @danceteacherpeptalk
Happy Spring everyone!
Today's episode holds some of the thoughts and feelings I have been holding most this current Spring season.
For so many of us, Spring is the 3/4 mark of our season--we are working towards finishing this year, but Spring as a season marks a time of fresh starts, new beginnings, and renewal. How can we better work with this energy in our classes?
Just because we have hit this time of our season does not mean that the learning should stop. Yes, recital choreography may be a focus for us right now, but if that is all we are focusing on at this time of year, we are missing out on a huge chunk of time that our dancers could receive so much during. There is learning that can be done in and around the choreography--it doesn't mean we need to make more time that we don't have, we just need to find the ways to be most effective with the time we do have.
*Warm-Up Ideas
*Class Content Ideas
*Class Strategy Ideas
*Music Reminders
Lately, I have been following more of my instinct when it comes to teaching and a lot of that includes doing things differently and what I've noticed is that it is not only beneficial to me, but it has been greatly beneficial to my dancers too who so often are in the loop of school, dance, sleep, repeat!
What inspiration are you feeling during this season? How are you being inspired to push instead of settle when it comes to closing out your year?
Make sure to follow @danceteacherpeptalk on IG for more thoughts and ideas to use in your weeks!
Thank you all for your love and support <3
Does your dance teacher/judge/dancer mind not calm down at the end of the day easily? Do you feel remaining energy after a night of teaching, a day of judging, a day of dancing? Is it hard to get settled and relax?
For me, the rush of adrenaline, the spark of inspiration, the physical effects of movement on my body, all of these items sometimes make it hard for me to wind down at the end of the day. And when sleep and rest is necessary, I knew I needed to figure out a solution so that the next day I could be well rested.
In today's episode, I share about those practices that have helped me. Whether you are anticipating the alarm clock going off for a day of competition or you need to calm down after a stimulating day of teaching, this episode is for you!
Follow us on Instagram @danceteacherpeptalk
Thank you so much for your listens and support!
Mentioned in the episode . . .
Sleep Stories for Kids
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/66Np1EGOCdMxlgZUq3p1hk?si=0d926e9092714d12