Have you ever wondered why your students seem to plateau at a certain age/level, or why you find yourself giving the same corrections OVER and OVER and seeing the same technical issues continue? Could it be that you're pushing students through the basics a little too quickly in an effort to race on to "fancier" or more "exciting" steps? On today's episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Kathryn Bisland about how and why she takes the time to break down the basics, preparing recreational students to handle more technically advanced steps without losing proper form and technique in ballet, jazz, and tap.
Check out Kathryn's Skool Dance Teacher Community Here, where you can preview her syllabus for free, purchase in full, and earn commission on referrals!
Visit Kathryn's Website Here
View Kathryn's Youtube channel, "Dance With Miss Kathryn" Here
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Today we're joined by the fabulous Angela Elgani to talk all things commercial dance! To give you a brief overview of Angela's resume, she is a dance producer, educator, mentor, and adjudicator, who's danced with artists including Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Pink, Will Smith, Mya, Eve, The Pussy Cat Dolls, Backstreet Boys, N' Sync, Little Kim, George Michael, Beyonce, Destiny's Child, Monica, Gwen Stefanie, Stevie Wonder, Heavy D, and Kid Rock, as well as in the movies You Got Served and Step Up Revolution. Angela has a heart for helping dancers grow succeed in the commercial dance industry, and creating welcoming spaces and "good vibes" for anyone and everyone who wants to dance!
Find Angela's Personal Website, with links to her socials and other websites, here.
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We have the incredible treat of TWO esteemed guests on today's episode - Erica Hornthal and Rae Luskin! After seeking out Erica's Dance/Movement Therapy services to get connected with her own body, Rae is sharing her story of how dance therapy has helped her, and Erica weighs in on the process of helping clients embody their emotions, and how dance teachers should- and shouldn't! - integrate therapeutic practices in their classrooms.
Erica's Website (With Links to Her Socials)
Rae's Website (With Links to Her Socials)
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As a dance teacher, do you throw information at your students and wonder why that same correction you keep giving isn't sticking, or do you work collaboratively with your dancers to unlock the wisdom of their individual bodies? Mariah-Jane Thies, also known as "The Radiant Dance Teacher," is on a mission to help dance teachers and students integrate the wisdom of the body into their dance practice, allowing for greater artistry, deeper understanding of technique, and less risk of injury.
Use code Radiant25 Here to get 25% off any of Mariah-Jane's courses as a listener of The Casual Dance Teacher's Podcast!
You can join The Radiant Dance Teacher Facebook Group Here
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Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook Here - Now through December 1st, you can sign up for "The Twelve Texts of Christmas" exclusively through the Facebook Group and receive daily holiday-themed dance class activities, song suggestions, and more via text from December 1st-12th
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Today's episode combines dance lessons with life lessons, and don't they so often go together?! While I don't feel equiped to speak specifically about West African Dance technique on this platform, I do think that the lessons I learned during my time studying in West Africa are worth sharing with dance educators of all styles and methodologies. Here are just 4 of my biggest takeaways from studying West African Dance, and how they've helped me become a better dance teacher.
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Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook Here - Now through December 1st, you can sign up for "The Twelve Texts of Christmas" exclusively through the Facebook Group and receive daily holiday-themed dance class activities, song suggestions, and more via text from December 1st-12th
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The dance world is extremely inconsistent when it comes to assessing growth and providing feedback to students in a comprehensive and constructive way. Following our "Part 1" episode with Danielle Aliotta, today's episode focuses on Chelsea Weidmann's experience with providing assessments and feedback within competitive and pre-professional dance studios. Our discussion also turned to questions of ethics and equity in how (and/or if!) feedback has been provided in these types of programs, how teachers are compensated for their time in providing feedback, and much more!
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The dance world is extremely inconsistent when it comes to assessing growth and providing feedback to students in a comprehensive and constructive way. Today, I have Danielle Aliotta on the show to share her experience as both a public school and dance studio educator, where she focuses on setting goals based on students' baseline abilities, and assessing and sharing feedback based on consistent growth. If you are looking for ways to assess students equitably in any setting, this one's for you!
Follow all that Danielle does on Instagram Here
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Happy Halloween! To celebrate the season, we're throwing it back to some of my favorite fall-themed dance class activities and games from season one. As an added bonus for you long-time listeners, I've added some brand-new game ideas to the end of the episode! Enjoy!
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For the next couple weeks, I'm going to help you work through any aspect of choreography that might have you feeling "stuck." In this episode, I share how I apply the concepts of various choreographic devices to formations and transitions onstage to ensure that the staging, spacing, and flow of the piece feels authentic to the movement and thematic material that you're working with.
You can listen to the Season 1 Choreography Month Series starting Here.
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For the next couple weeks, I'm going to help you work through any aspect of choreography that might have you feeling "stuck." In this episode, I discuss a number of choreographic devices, and how you can use these devices to come up with TONS of fresh movement material using steps or combinations that you've already used in class or previous choreography.
You can listen to the Season 1 Choreography Month Series starting Here.
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For the next couple weeks, I'm going to help you work through any aspect of choreography that might have you feeling "stuck." In this episode, I provide some different examples of ways that you can choose a theme for your dance, and allow that theme to then help you come up with the music, movement, staging, etc for a piece.
You can listen to the Season 1 Choreography Month Series starting Here.
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Are your students comfortable improvising, or do they freeze up at the mention of it? In today's episode, I had the opportunity to talk to dancer/choreographer/dance educator/coach (etc!) Angela Gallo about her own experience utilizing improvisation in her creative process, as well as recommendations for the use of improvisation in the dance classroom, preparing our students to improvise in an audition setting, and more!
Learn more about Angela's dance company, Sapphire Moon Dance Company, Here
Learn more about Angela's travel and wellness company, Hemisphere Dancer Wellness and Travel, Here
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I am a firm believer in having as many tools on hand as possible for days when you need to quickly re-engage students, bring the class together, and/or reenforce a concept you're working on in a new way. Today's episode is full of ideas for physical games that you can buy and keep on hand to easily achieve these goals without the work of DIY-ing or prepping materials in advance.
All games mentioned in today's episode that are still available on the market are linked below. Pop's Culture Shoppe is my local game store (owned by my parents!), so I've linked any available through them here - they ship internationally! For those not available through them, I've provided Amazon links, but encourage you to check with your local game store first!
Seek-a-Boo
Move & Groove is unfortunately discontinued, but the same company makes a very similar toddler-oriented dice-roll game called Roll & Play that you can get here
Prima Ballerina is also unfortunately discontinued, but you could diy-it by printing pictures of dancers, cutting them in half, and laminating the pieces.
Heads Talk, Tails Walk
Floor is Lava Game Amazon Link
Dance Charades Amazon Link
Twister
Balance Beam/Stepping Stone Set Amazon Link
Don't Sweat it Amazon Link
After the show, I found this giant foam "exercize die," that I thought would be a good addition
Here is a set of blank foam dice with dry erase sides for infinite re-use!
Listen to the "Props and Tools" Episode Here
Listen to the "No Prep Dance-Class Games for All Ages Episode Here
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It's arguably impossible to become a dance teacher without first identifying as a dancer, but what happens when you feel that that identity no longer suits you? Is it fair to identify as a dance teacher if you no longer dance regularly outside of the classroom? What if you're not regularly teaching classes - can you still call yourself a dance teacher? We cover all this and more in today's episode with "The Dancing Mind Coach" Stephanie Case!
You can find Stephanie's new book Here
You can learn more about Stephanie and all of her offerings Here
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I don't care what style/age group/program/level/genre of dance you teach...I'd bet there's been some time in your teaching career that you "gamified" your teaching in some way. Yes, games can be a fun "filler," but I also think we shouldn't undermine the value of teaching through games, even for older/more experienced dancers! Here are a couple of the simplest games I've used in dance class that take absolutely zero preparation so you can incorporate them any time and place!
Listen to the "Props and Tools" Episode Here
You can find game/activity ideas for specific seasons/holidays Here (for fall) and Here (for winter)
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As an experienced casual dance teacher, what have I learned to ALWAYS keep in my bag to be prepared for class every week? Find out on today's episode!
Listen to the "Props and Tools" Episode Here
Listen to the "What's in My Dance Bag - Recital Edition" Episode Here
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Are you a current dance fitness instructor, or thinking of teaching dance fitness classes or offering them at your studio as an added revenue stream? If so, today's episode is for you! I sat down with Mariana Santos, founder of Brazily Fitness, to talk about creating a unique dance fitness brand, building confidence through dance, working with a wide range of skill levels within a class, and what it takes to choreograph and memorize up to 20 dances per class!!!
Check out the Brazily Fitness Website Here
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In today's episode, I'm putting together some bits and pieces of what I learned throughout last season - both in the classroom and on the podcast! - to help you structure a season plan that will build your dancers' skills and athleticism so that they peak for performance time!
Listen to the "Curriculum Building" Episode Here
Listen to the "Jumps Training with Coach Kristin Stam" Episode Here
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As much as we hate to acknowledge it, all of us have probably given some thought to what we'd do if an emergency situation of some sort were to arise in our dance classroom. Sadly, many of us have had to deal with these situations first-hand. That's why I was really thrilled to have the opportunity to speak with Andy Roszak JD, MPA, EMT-Paramedic, Founder & Chief Executive Officer for the Institute for Childhood Preparedness, Chief of Preparedness, Health and Environment for the Region II Head Start Association, adjunct professor in the school of community and environmental health at Old Dominion University, former Senior Director of Emergency Preparedness at Child Care Aware of America, former Senior Public Health Advisor for the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Emergency Care Coordination Center, former Senior Director of Environmental Health, Pandemic Preparedness and Catastrophic Response at the National Association of County and City Health Officials, and former Health Policy Fellow for the United States Senate Budget and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committees during the 110th and 111th Congress (yes, that part in italics is just a few of his titles and accolades!!) about implementing simple plans and procedures in our dance classrooms to ensure the safety of our students, and anyone who sets foot in our dance spaces.
TW - this episode contains discussion of natural disasters, active shooter scenarios, and mentions of violence, and death.
You can find all of Andy's available books, trainings, resources, etc Here
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As frequently requested, here is a quick run-down of some of my favorite ice-breaker activities to get students of all ages familiar and comfortable with each other - and you - in the first few weeks of a new class season.
You can listen to the episode on name games Here
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