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 HereYou can find game/activity ideas for specific seasons/holidays Here (for fall) and Here (for winter) Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.comJoin the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook HereFollow me on Reddit HereFollow our Instagram account HerePlease Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify!
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 HereListen to the "What's in My Dance Bag - Recital Edition" Episode HereTheme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.comJoin the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook HereFollow me on Reddit HereFollow our Instagram account HerePlease Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify!
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 HereTheme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.comJoin the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook HereFollow me on Reddit HereFollow our Instagram account HerePlease Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify!
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 HereListen to the "Jumps Training with Coach Kristin Stam" Episode HereTheme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.comJoin the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook HereFollow me on Reddit HereFollow our Instagram account HerePlease Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify!
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 HereTheme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.comJoin the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook HereFollow me on Reddit HereFollow our Instagram account HerePlease Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify!
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 HereTheme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.comJoin the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook HereFollow me on Reddit HereFollow our Instagram account HerePlease Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify! <3
Ahhh, here we are at the start of season two! Time to dive back in - but wait?! I have some personal news to share with you! Listen to a quick life update to catch you up to speed on where I'm coming from with this new season, and the direction(s) the show may (or may not) take moving forward! Who knows at this point?! Not me! Enjoy :)View this episode in Video Form HereYou can listen to the conversation with Audra Queen that I reference in the episode HereTheme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.comJoin the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook HereFollow me on Reddit HereFollow our Instagram account HerePlease Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify! <3
Well friends, I told you we'd be taking some time this season to delve into identity and personal development this season, and I didn't waste any time getting to it! I had the honor of sitting down with Jess Grippo to talk about her practice of Creativity Coaching, and even get a little mini-session just for me! In this episode, you'll learn about Jess' background and what led her to start coaching creativity, among her many other creative/professional outlets. We then delve into my personal situation and Jess' tips to help me explore my own creativity outside the context of teaching weekly dance classes. Jess' Website: www.jessgrippo.comJess' Free "Dance Alone, Together" Series: www.jessgrippo.com/13day-free-seriesTheme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.comJoin the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook HereFollow me on Reddit HereFollow our Instagram account HerePlease Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify! <3
In today's special bonus episode of The Casual Dance Teacher's Podcast, I chat with decorated choreographer Tiffany Rea-Fisher about her work as a choreographer for Classical Theatre of Harlem, including (but not limited to!) how the process of choreographing for theatrical productions differs from concert dance, how Tiffany's background as a competitive dancer shaped her career, the traits she looks for in dancers auditioning for theatrical productions vs. for her company, and a little teaser about the work she's created for the upcoming season of her modern dance company, Emerge125, premiering May 29th! Get more information and tickets for Emerge125's new season HereLearn more about Classical Theatre of Harlem HerePodcast Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.comRecorded Via SquadcastJoin the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook HereFollow our Instagram account HerePlease Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify! <3
Oh my goodness, it's the end of season one of the Casual Dance Teacher's Podcast! We're wrapping up with a quick recap of the amazing highlights of season one, how you can keep up with The Casual Dance Teacher's Network during our brief hiatus, and what's to come! Big thanks for a great first season, and see you in season two!Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.comJoin the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook HereFollow me on Reddit HereFollow our Instagram account HerePlease Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify! <3
How can I stay up-to-date on the latest dance news without falling down a social media rabbit-hole? How can I convey current dance events to my dance students without taking up all our class time? What trends are happening in the world of dance, and the way that we consume dance media? In this episode, I delve into all of these questions and much more with Dance News Daily founder Danielle Guillermo!Check out Dance News Daily HereTheme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.comRecorded Via SquadcastJoin the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook HereFollow our Instagram account HerePlease Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify! <3
Are you interested in offering dance programming for adult dancers either picking up dance for the first time or continuing their education after time away from dance? Do you currently offer adult programming but feel that it's not quite working or you have questions and challenges to work through to improve your teaching? Lindsey Dinneen is here today sharing TONS of knowledge around how to approach teaching adult beginners. Lindsey started her very own continuing education dance program for adults at a local community college, and grew it from 2 beginner classes to multiple levels of of classes across multiple styles of dance! She now offers business consulting for dance professionals and organizations.Connect with Lindsey HereTheme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.comRecorded Via SquadcastJoin the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook HereFollow our Instagram account HerePlease Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify! <3
The great debate - should you organize your dance class levels by age, or by technical level? Today's episode isn't really about defending one side or the other on this one, but I'm sharing my insight on the strengths of breaking up classes by skill level, even if that means including a wide range of ages within a class, followed by some tips for training dancers within a mixed-age classroom, where age discrepancy can come with its own set of challenges.Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.comJoin the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook HereFollow me on Instagram HerePlease Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify! <3
You can have all the drills, exercises, and teacher "hacks" in the world, but if there's not meaning and intention behind everything you and your students are doing in the dance classroom, what's it all for?! Acclaimed dancer, choreographer, scholar & educator Anabella Lenzu joins us to explain her philosophy and theory of dance education, and how she helps students understand that their body is an instrument for expression.Get Anabella's book and learn more about her work HereTheme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.comRecorded Via SquadcastJoin the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook HereFollow our Instagram account HerePlease Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify! <3
Wrapping up our "recital prep" unit on the podcast, I thought it would be fun to share a breakdown of everything I make sure to have with me in my dance bag during tech week! As a mega-planner, I feel like I'm pretty thorough, covering everything from snacks to spare bobby pins - so give it a listen to make sure you're fully stocked and prepared going into your own recital week!Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.comJoin the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook HereFollow me on Reddit HereFollow me on Instagram HerePlease Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify! <3
Next up in our "recital prep" unit on the podcast are some of my favorite ways to get recital dances clean without boring your students (too much 🙂). What's your favorite? Let me know in The Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook!Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.comJoin the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook HereFollow me on Reddit HereFollow me on Instagram HerePlease Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify! <3
We're kicking off a new "recital prep" unit on the podcast with today's episode taking you line by line through my mental checklist of items I need to cover with my students to make sure both I and they are fully prepared going into tech week! This includes lighting and sound cues, entrance and exit logistics, hair, makeup, and costume requirements, rehearsal and recital etiquette and more! Did I miss anything? Let me know in The Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook!Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.comJoin the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook HereFollow me on Reddit HereFollow me on Instagram HerePlease Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify! <3
Dancer, educator, choreographer (and more) Jason Pickett, who you may better know as @heyitspickett on social media, is here to talk us through his process for creating innovative and meaningful solos for dance students. I personally find solos so challenging to choreograph because I can't lean on the use of different formations and/or layering of bodies doing different movements, so I was delighted at the opportunity to talk to a true pro on the topic - and I may have been personally attacked along the way, but it was SO SO worth it! 😅 Learn More About "No Starving Artists" HereTheme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.comRecorded Via SquadcastJoin the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook HereFollow our Instagram account HerePlease Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify! <3
Today I'm breaking my own "we don't need business advice; we're casual dance teachers" rule by having dance studio owner and business coach Alison Foster-Jones on the show to share her story and tips on growing a studio from 5 students in a rec. room to hundreds of students across multiple studio locations! Alison has such a great message of leveraging passion and positivity for business success that can be applied to any business venture, from owning a studio, to negotiating freelance contracts, even to maintaining control and structure in the classroom as a teacher; so while one of the primary focuses of our conversation today is on building a successful dance business, there's really something for everyone in this one!Join Alison's "Passion & Profit" Program HereJoin Alison's "Inspirational Dance Teacher's" Facebook Group HereTheme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.comRecorded Via SquadcastJoin the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook HereFollow our Instagram account HerePlease Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify! <3
Love is in the air! <3 In honor of Valentine's day, today I'm reading listener-submitted notes on why YOU love teaching dance! Cozy up with your Valentine's treat of choice and join me in celebrating our collective love for the art of teaching dance together! Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.comJoin the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook HereFollow me on Reddit HereFollow me on Instagram HerePlease Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify! <3