Hello dancers and welcome to another From the Top blog post! I’m so glad to have you all back here for another week and if this is your first time here, then welcome! Today’s post is for all of the dance teachers out there. As a dance teacher myself, I absolutely adore pouring the knowledge that I have acquired in my training into the next generation of dancers! It’s so exciting to be able to create choreography for your class, watch the choreography come to life and see your students’ grow! However, sometimes we can be so busy and occupied with growing the next generation; we may have the tendency forget about ourselves.
Throughout my training as a performer, my ultimate goal was to become a teacher and choreographer. Once I achieved that goal, I became so focused on my students and my duties as a choreographer that I forgot all about one dancer in particular: Myself. Once I noticed that I wasn’t giving myself the same attention that I used to give myself back in my days of being a performer, I made up in my mind that no matter how busy I become as a teacher, I will always take time to focus on my own growth, my own goals and all the things that I would still like to do better, as well as maintain all of the achievements that I have made throughout my training. So, with that being said, today I’m going to share with you all some of the ways I have been able to focus on myself while juggling my teaching responsibilities and if you’re a teacher with the same determination, maybe these tips can help you as well!
Tip #1
Be A Teacher and A Student
This is a simple tip that makes the biggest difference. Whether it be in a studio or even a virtual class on YouTube, staying in class in some way, shape, or form is a fantastic way to maintain (and improve) all the skill sets that you’ve worked so hard for over the years. By participating in a class that is, you know, not your own; not only does it keep you on top of your game but it’s almost like a fun, little vacation because you’re on the other side of the class again. It’s a break that is much needed for any teacher!
Tip #2
For The Love of Everything, Keep Stretching!
I’m sure you know all too well how much getting into the habit of stretching is impressed upon you while you’re a student and even though you may have awesome flexibility now, keeping up a stretching routine is still super important as a teacher! By stretching at home, you can stay on top of your flexibility, which is something that is very important for me personally. Now, do you have to stretch everyday like you used to back in the day? Seeing as you’re probably far busier now with all of your other obligations, not really. However, by stretching a few times a week, you’ll be able to maintain your flexibility and still have those killer moves!
Tip #3
Be A Little Selfish
As teachers and choreographers, we are always very busy creating pieces to teach to our pupils, but I actually like to be a little selfish at times and create choreo just for me! I have pages of choreography that have never seen the light of day…yet, that is. Doing this is actually very therapeutic for me because it gives me time to practice new techniques and dive into a new height of creativity that I have never gone to before. I’m then able to take these new ideas from my personal choreography and add them into pieces for my classes. I find this to be a great way to grow, not only as a dancer, but also as a choreographer as well!
Even though teaching is fun, it’s always important to nurture yourself as a dancer and performer. We’ve all worked very hard to get where we are today, so don’t be afraid to be just a tad bit selfish and spend a little time focusing on you! I hope you enjoyed today’s blog post and if you haven’t already, join the fun and follow us on Instagram @fromthetopdb to be one of the first to know when a new post goes live!
Keep Dancing
-Lexi
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