A website for dancers, dance teachers and others interested in dance
If you are a parent of a small child, or a teacher who is looking to incorporate age-appropriate movement into the classroom, this DVD may be for you. Up Down & All Around is a movement and exercise program that was designed by Stacey Pepper Schwartz, a dance professional, and a mom. The video is well-produced and features some fun, live music by Steve Blunt to go along with the exercises. Blunt’s “Macaroni & Cheese” song was one of my favorites… [Read more…]
This job listing is for an Assistant Professor of Dance at Muhlenberg College. The school is less than two hours from Manhattan. The position is for two years as a Visiting Assistant Professor, and it begins in the fall of 2010. A terminal degree is needed, and details on the position and how to apply can be found on the school’s website.
If you are new to ballroom dance, it can be helpful to know how to go about buying your shoes. Here are a few resources that you can check out for tips on getting a good fit:
Showtime Dance Shoes – tips on both fit and caring for the shoes.
About.com – tips for choosing the right style, construction and more.
MIT Ballroom Dance Team – top notch tips on just about everything to do with ballroom dance shoes.
No matter what the dance style, having shoes that fit properly is key to having a good class or performance. Hope these resources help!
Having a teaching assistant can be a great way to ease your class load a bit. Those who could benefit from having a student demonstrate for class include:
+ Older teachers or those with an injury. Instead of doing the movements yourself, you can utilize the student to communicate the movements for you. This is much easier on the body. I do it when I can, but if I keep teaching for much longer, I will need to rely on it more often!
+ Teachers with a heavy class load. A teaching assistant can ease the burden and help keep you from getting fried.
+ Studio owners who have a talented student who is in need. Using a gifted student as a demonstrator means they will get more class time and practice. This can be a good situation for a studio owner that wants to help out a family that cannot afford to pay for multiple classes.
Naturally there are others who can benefit from this type of situation, but the ones above stand out as reasons that I have seen it done. There are a few things you may want to keep in mind if you decide to go this route… [Read more…]
Just wanted to take a moment out of my day to wish all those who read this blog a very Happy Thanksgiving. I am thankful for you! I’ll be taking off until Monday to relax and enjoy the holiday with family and friends. Tune in next week for a ballet class CD review, a DVD review and more!
Hope your holiday is a good one!