I love teaching musical theatre. Getting children, who are traditionally dancers, a little out of their comfort zone and having to act, really brings out a different side to them. Ultimately I hope that this makes them better well rounded dancers, able to perform and engage with the audience on another level. As much as… Continue reading Musical Theatre: Go to songs – Part One
We're back for another teaching tip. Recently I've been trying to have a little bit more fun during my dance classes. Between exams and performances, it can be hard to remember that the students love being in an environment with less pressure. In order to do this I've been trying to find/rediscover some dance based… Continue reading General Dance Class Games
I'm relatively new in my profession as a dance teacher and as such am still learning. Always finding a new tip here or there and thinking about the next qualification to gain. On top of this, I love seeing what other teachers are up to and what they're teaching different age ranges. As I get more confident in my own teaching though, I don't want this level of intrigue to stop as I feel it is a very important part of being a dance teacher. Many professions have this elusive thing called CPD, often it's tied in with their jobs as they try to get a higher position in the company, or their job role changes. Dance teaching is no different, however there often isn't the incentive to go out their and do more training.
We all have our own perception of what dizziness actually is. The word itself is used to describe a variety of bodily sensations that many patients cannot accurately relay to those treating them (Sloane, et al., 2001). When using the word dizzy many of us tend to be describing the continued sense of spinning, despite… Continue reading Dance on the Brain: Dizziness
Today I'm expanding the term 'one move' to mean more of a collection of steps that are used as one. This will become clearer when I explain, today's movement is a rhythm turn. A movement that is exactly as it states, you create a rhythm as you turn. The turn is broken into many little… Continue reading One Move At a Time: Rhythm Turns
Dance can help change the brain. This statement seems sweeping and unfounded, and yet it is true. Much like how our life experiences change the brain, dance can also. I've previously written about how dance can help those with Parkinson's, a neurological condition that can also affect the mental health of a patient (Read More… Continue reading Welcoming Well-Being: How Dance can help the brain.
There are a few misconceptions within the society that we live in. Not least that those who are highly active, athletes and dancers to name a few professions, are somehow more virtuous than the rest of us. In 2015 Eric Underwood, then a Royal Ballet soloist, with the help of the Telegraph wanted to change… Continue reading Dance and Smoking
Jumping has long been one of my favourite parts of dance class. Not because I'm good at it, I have a habit of not using my plié as much as I should that I'm trying not to pass on to my student. But just because I enjoy it. Jumping forms the basis of many moves,… Continue reading One Move at a Time: Beats (or more formally entrechat)
Last weekend was a big weekend for dance in the UK. The London Excel Centre held the Move It 2018 event. The event spans over three days and every day is different. There's performances happening in lots of different places, the main stage, the showcase theatre, as well as the freestyle stage and other locations… Continue reading Reflecting on Dance Events: Move It 2018
In January many of the students, at Exe Dance Arts, that I teach took part in an IDTA exam sessions. For most this was their first exam sessions. There were many other teachers that took part in this exam session and I hope everyone's results were great! For me I had students doing both Freestyle… Continue reading RADanceFitness: 2018 January Exams
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