A website for dancers, dance teachers and others interested in dance
As a dance professional, managing your online presence is part of the overall picture when it comes to marketing yourself. There are many ways to do this–you can have your own website, or you can develop a presence on sites that focus on dance. Today we asked a representative from Betterfly to talk with 4dancers readers about their site and how it can serve those who work in the dance community… [Read more…]
The National Eating Disorders Association [NEDA] has launched a new educational toolkit that could be extremely helpful to those who instruct dance. Although it is primarily geared toward athletic departments, athletic programs and gyms, any dance instructor can benefit from having a good knowledge of eating disorders.
This resource has information from nutritionists, coaches and even from Kate Thomas, Director of The School at Steps Dance School.
Information covered includes:
+ The facts about eating disorders
+ Help with identifying those affected by eating disorders
+ A guide to possible treatments
There are many terrific tools you can use to improve your teaching ability–no matter where you teach. Here are a few that you can employ:
When I first started teaching, I had a lot to learn. I developed quite a bit on my own, but the things I learned from others were priceless in terms of moving me forward as a professional. Every single one of us can improve, and all it takes is the willingness to listen to the feedback you receive–and perhaps make a few changes in the way you do things here and there.
Here’s a quick teaching tip to include in your class when appropriate…
Dance teachers often advise students to breathe when they stretch instead of holding their breath–but they don’t always explain why. If your students are old enough to understand more advanced concepts, tell them that holding your breath increases your blood pressure.
This isn’t a healthy habit to get into, and if they understand the “why” of it all, they may be more likely to make the change.
The National Dance Teachers Association in the UK is the national voice for dance education in the United Kingdom. Members include lecturers, dance teachers, advisors and other dance professionals, and the group serves as a network for dance teachers in schools. The NDTA has a wide reach, and they hold an annual conference. There is also a network of regional representatives who serve the organisation.