Why You Should Do Dance Assessments?

If you’ve checked out my book Beyond Moves, Combos and Choreography, you know that I am a fan of dance assessments. If you don’t know why you should do dance assessments, read on! Studies show that people and organization that utilize assessments have many advantages:   * Improved performance (results) * Improved learning (insight) * [...]

Hey, Teachers! Don’t Be Stingy.

I recently attended a non-dance class where the teacher was obviously avoiding direct questions to keep from giving away “trade secrets.” Now I ask you, why would you teach a belly dance class when you have no intention of sharing what the students need to be the best that they can be? I just don’t [...]

Don’t Work Harder Than Your Students

Enthusiastic teachers often want their students to succeed so much that they end up working harder than the students do. Although this may feel like helping, this actually inhibits growth because it doesn’t allow the student to learn how to think, make mistakes, work out solutions, and develop creativity. Not sure if you are one [...]

Teaching to Seasoned Dancers of Other Styles

Belly dance is definitely its own thing. We wear costuming to class. We giggle. We play with make-up and only go to class once a week. I’ve taken Latin, Polynesian and ballet and those classes were just not like that. So, it can be challenging for a teacher to have dancers from other styles in [...]

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

My thoughts about moving on is that if you are asking the question, it deserves a fair look. It probably means that you are not getting what you need. That doesn’t mean that you have a bad teacher. It doesn’t mean that your time wasn’t worthwhile. It doesn’t mean that it has to end badly. [...]

Should You Join A Belly Dance Troupe?

When I started taking belly dance lessons, the possibility of joining my instructor’s troupe was raised before I could even do basic moves. It was just taken as a given that I would some day be a part of it. When I moved on to my next instructor, it was the same assumption. But is [...]

Dance Class Etiquette

Dance is meant to be social and fun, but above all, it is a place of learning. By observing a few rules, the educational experience can be heightened for everyone. * Unless you have a compelling reason to have your cell phone on (such as an ill child or parent in the hospital), turn off [...]

Take Workshops With the Old Masters

I came up in belly dance during a time when there weren’t as many opportunities as there are now. There weren’t as many styles, venues, costumes, music choices, festivals, or students. While it’s easy to see how having more is a good thing, there is a downside to it. The older masters tend to be [...]

Students Thrive in the Environment that Suits Them

The question of, “What makes a good teacher?” has often been asked. There is the obvious criteria of knowing the subject matter, being able to convey information to your students, willingness to share knowledge, and inspiring the student to learn. But the relationship of teacher and student is a special one that requires something more [...]

If You Are Not the Teacher, Don’t “Teach”

I am back in the role of dance student. I am taking a partner’s dancing class and had the worst time last night because of guys who just wouldn’t shut up! Each one has a different background. Some just started. Some have been dancing a while, but still don’t have a good grasp of it. [...]