Teaching Tip: The Two-Minute Rule

If you are just beginning to teach young children, you may want to keep in mind what I like to call the “two-minute rule”. Little ones tend to bore easily, so besides presenting an energetic demeanor, you can also make sure they pay attention by limiting each exercise to about two minutes or so (give or take).

This means some advance planning. If you have a 40 minute class and teach in two-minute segments, that means a lot of different activities! Still, you can use the same ones over again each week–just make sure that you add a new one from time to time to change things up a little bit.

If you are stuck for new ideas, take a peek at this piece I wrote some time ago for Dance Teacher on how to use games to teach a dance class for young students. It should give you some tools you can use. 

Anyone else have any tips? Feel free to share them here–it’s nice when we can all help each other out!

The Ballerina Gallery

The Ballerina Gallery is a really interesting site that features a great collection of photos and information about famous ladies in dance. Names here range from Tanaquil Le Clercq to Patricia McBride, and there is a lot here to browse through.

The author of the site also has a section titled, “memorabilia” where she shares some of her collection with viewers. There are some great pieces here, including a signed photograph of Maya Plisetskaya and a signed copy of a Margot Fonteyn Autobiography.

I really enjoyed browsing around on this Website, and I hope you will too!

Melbourne Dancewear

If you live near the central east coast of Florida, be sure to check out Melbourne Dancewear. This store has been serving the dance community since 1983, and they have a good selection of dancewear, as well as a helpful staff. While you are in Melbourne, take some time to enjoy the downtown area–there are a nice selection of stores and restaurants. (Try Island Pasta Company or Meg O’Malleys for a nice lunch, and stop in Indian River Soap for a little aromatherapy.)

Dance Jobs: Chicago

(This is a courtesy post for a dance job. I have no information other than what is here.)

Who: Jump Smokers (music).

What: Jump Smokers are auditioning for hip hop dancers for the B96 Jingle Bash at the Allstate Arena on December 12th. The performance will take place in front of over 20,000 people.

Where: Lou Conte Dance Studio (Hubbard Street Dance Company), 1147 W. Jackson Ave. Chicago, IL 60607. Phone: 312-850-9766 or 312-850-9766.

When: 5pm

Bring a Headshot and Resume if you have one.

History Of Pointe Shoes

Have you ever wondered about the history of pointe shoes?

It is interesting to see how they evolved into what we use today. Modern pointe shoes are a very far cry from what they were many years ago. It’s fascinating to think about what they will be like in the future…

When I was actively dancing, I used lamb’s wool to wrap my toes when I first started out on pointe. I found it to be miserable–it shifted around like mad, and wadded up in all the wrong places inside my shoe. As soon as my feet toughened up I switched to paper towel. A rather unorthodox substance, but it worked well for me. Some dancers I know used nothing, or toe pads…

Dance Industry Report: New York

Kiner Enterprises Inc. is a dance teacher staffing agency, and they recently published their dance teacher industry report–highlighting things such as dance teacher wages and the average number of classes taught per day.

This report covers New York City and the Metropolitan Area, and it is a good resource to help teachers see what others in the field are making these days. Definitely worth a look.

Dance Jobs: Dance/Choreographer, Instructor

Looking for a job in higher ed? Try applying at Southeast Missouri State University for a position as a Dance/Choreographer, Instructor. This is a non-tenure track position in the Department of Theatre and Dance, and the position is available as of August 2010.

Teaching Tip: Stretching

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.

Bunions 101

First of all, the disclaimer–I’m no doctor, I am not a nurse–don’t take anything I say as medical advice. This is for informational purposes only. That said, this is about bunions. If you are a female dancer who has done pointe work for any length of time, you know what I’m talking about. Not all dancers get bunions, but many do–and they can be painful. If you want to learn more about them….start by visiting the Calgary Foot Clinic (photo is from them as well) for a good primer.

Dance Jobs: Teach At The Joffrey

If you are a well-qualified dance teacher looking for a very good job, the Joffrey is hiring for The Academy of Dance–the official school of the Joffrey Ballet. This is a great opportunity for those who have what it takes. They are also hiring a development intern.