The creativity and originality of a teacher can be instrumental in winning a competition or doing a great performance at a recital. They need to build a connection between the music, the dance steps and costumes while making sure all of the dancers can perform their specific sections with stage presence that makes it look enjoyable and without effort.
I have had several teachers since I started dance, Miss Michele my first dance teacher, was very strict and taught us a lot. We went on to perform in our recital that year and brought the house down, so I am told. I was only five years old at the time. I had Miss Michele again when I was ten years old and she was just as strict as I remembered. She was a talented teacher who got results, but she was almost down right mean. She would make girls in class cry and then ask them why they were crying. One has to think, isn’t this supposed to have some fun associated with it? After that year I decided that my relationship with Miss Michele and that dance studio would end.
Miss Karin was my second dance teacher and the owner of the studio where Miss Michele taught. She was a talented teacher who had a much more laid back approach to dance. She was more of a free spirit when it came to dance class but by the time we had our recital we were spot on. Miss Karin’s classes were very small and after a few years it wasn’t challenging any longer and if I want to work on getting better I would have to take classes at my other dance studio.
I actually danced at two studios for a few years. At my other dance studio, I took a hip hop class when I was eight years old and loved it. When I was nine I took hip hop again and a jazz class with the same instruction. I was still young at the time, so my mom would sit and wait for me in the lobby. She would usually talk to some of the other moms waiting for their kids too. I really don’t remember why, but I was scared to death of my dance teacher, so scared that I would actually cry if I was fast enough I would run to the bathroom and cry there so she wouldn’t see me. I don’t think she ever understood how much I was afraid of her. Funny, she is still my teacher today and she has taught me so much and yes I am still afraid of her at times but no, I don’t cry. She is tough on us and has high expectations. She does not give out a “Good Job” compliment unless she REALLY means it and they are few and far between.
I have had several ballet teachers over the years in addition to Miss Michele and they are all different. Some are laid back like Miss Karin and others are more formal and like to teach studio etiquette not just how to dance. If you are late for class, you should knock and wait for a reply and then apologize for being late. Most girls think it’s ok to just walk into a class. Ballet teachers also stressed the important of dance attire and hair. Dance attire includes a leotard, tights – usually pink or black (when you are older) and a dance skirt if you chose to wear one. The hair must be in a secured bun, not a pony tail and definitely is not to be worn down.
Last year, I had my first male dance teacher for a hip-hop class. He was a great dancer himself and really made the class fun for us. While we enjoyed his class every week by recital time it was obvious that we did not spend enough time preparing. This was not a company team and I did it with some friends of mine for fun.
Teachers are an important element to any learning and dance is no exception. Some are strict while others are easy going; both can be demanding they just have a different approach. All want you to do your best and try to give you the skills to do so.
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| This is my teacher Miss Andrea. |
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