“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” -William A. Ward
Indeed! I loved this quote when I read it and I think it is so true. (Although I am not sure about the good vs. superior teacher qualities…think they might be in reverse for dance…)
If you can inspire your students, you are doing something special. But what can you actually do to get this from your heart to theirs?
I think a lot of it has to do with passion and intent. The bored, burnt-out teacher can only manage to tell. A teacher with little experience may have their hands full trying to demonstrate or explain. The master teacher is free to share their joy with students–if they allow themselves…it takes a sort of “letting go” I believe. An ability to be in the moment and feel the love of dance in your own body before you can communicate it clearly to those in your class. Then it flows.
What has a dance teacher done to inspire you? What was it that got it across? I’d love to hear what connected for you…
Well, even from my somewhat limited experiece of having three dance teachers and a some drop-in classes, I think the teachers that inspire have real enthusiasm and love of dance that students can see and feel. When a great teacher demostrates a movement it’s exciting to think that this move is attainable! I feel so motivated like a little kid, “I want to do that!” I also like when teachers share their own visualization for a particular feeling or effect. You do a fantastic job at motivating our adult class otherwise, I don’t think I’d be attempting double pirouettes in my kitchen, tee hee.
Thanks Lisa! 🙂 Hope the pirouettes are going well! We missed you on Mon….
Great post! I try to be exactly this teacher! My dance teacher growing up was the least inspiring person. Even looking back it’s hard to believe. Since I work with such young kids, it’s important to me to inspire them any way I can. Even if they don’t grow up to be dancers I know that I have given them a great foundation. They tell me weekly that they want to be dance teachers just like me (!) and that inspires me to show up and give them the role model they deserve!
Maria–interesting that your teacher wasn’t inspiring…and that you were able to identify that! Kids respond to inspiration with attention! Just through your writing I can tell you bring it to your classroom! And yes–it is important even if they don’t grow up to be dancers…after all…they may be our future audience members! 🙂 Thanks for your comment!
I am an adult dancer and I’m currently taking modern and jazz, 2-3 classes per week (2 every week and sometimes a 3rd, for practice). There is a big difference between 2 of my teachers and the 3rd one, who obviously could not care less about me. One of my teachers really inspires, she knows how to praise her students and make each person feel important – even an old student like me. It’s too bad that I do have one teacher who makes me feel unimportant and awkward, and as a result I feel like I don’t dance as well. I may not be a young dancer with a promising potential professional future, but dance means something to me and so I take it to heart. Every person counts.
Hi Lilly–thanks for the comment. 🙂
I’m sorry that you have an instructor that makes you feel that way. Adult students are wonderful and it’s always a shame to me when one of them feels discouraged in any way–especially when it comes at the hands of a teacher. And you are right–every person counts! Keep your chin up and enjoy the inspiring teachers class…you may even want to consider passing on the other one…