If you teach an adult ballet class you are probably already aware of how rewarding it can be. Adult students are typically serious about doing well and try very hard to improve. While this is great–as the instructor, it is up to you to remind them of how much fun dance can be as well. Try to keep things fresh so that your students maintain their enthusiasum and love of dance.

Here are a few ideas you can incorporate into the adult ballet class that can be helpful in that regard:

• Periodically have a class where each student can pick something that they would like to work on in the centre. It can be helpful to announce this at the beginning of class to give them time to think about what they’d like to do.
• Mix in some music from the big ballets here and there. Nothing is quite as inspirational as moving across the floor to a piece from Swan Lake or Giselle.
• Pair them up. Rather than having students do their combinations alone across the floor, have them go in twos. This changes things up a little bit and can help break the ice between people in class–especially if there is someone new.