Being a dance teacher comes with numerous challenges, but one of the most rewarding aspects is witnessing your students blossom into beautiful dancers on stage.
Fun and easy Introduction strategy’s for the classroom
I think it’s super important to make sure your students feel at ease in class first. If a student doesn’t feel comfy in the classroom, they won’t be at ease performing in front of the class. For a dancer, the biggest thing is to entertain, right? If a dancer can’t practice showing emotions, how can they entertain and make the audience feel connected to the story they’re trying to tell? It’s a skill that needs to be worked on in class, but it can be tough for a dancer who isn’t comfy with their classmates.
It’s crucial to create an environment where kids want to be part of the dance scene. There’s gotta be a safe space for young kids to have a blast and let their creativity flow.
That’s where making a safe space comes in. How do we make kids feel at ease? Well, we start with the basics. I kick off my classes with different fun games in the first few weeks. These games are part of the first few weeks to get the kids hyped about dance. It’s also when I see friendships sparking! I totally recommend starting by making the kids comfy with each other.
Getting To Know Your Classmates Games-
“I wish my teacher knew…”
“Getting to know my classmates”
“Ballet Bingo”
“Toilet paper game”
“Getting to know my classmates: Dice game”
Diving deeper into the basics of perfoming
You might be wondering how games can help kids learn how to perform. It’s crucial to help the little ones get comfortable with different emotions. When they’re 6-8, if you can get them to act out happy, sad, angry, surprised, and so on, it sets them up to handle more complex emotions as they grow up in the dance world.
Young kids are more open to playing silly games, putting on shows for their friends, and singing about dance. It’s easier for a teacher to get them involved and comfortable with performing when they’re young. It gets tougher as they get older. If they can’t be vulnerable around their peers or an audience, that’s the difference between a good and a great dancer.
Kids aged 6-8 are really into learning through games, and I’ve found this approach to be effective. I then introduced performing games, which the kids absolutely love. They’d keep asking me for weeks to play them over and over again!
Hitting the stage
The stage is a totally different ball game. It’s common to see a student who’s a star in the studio freeze up on stage. But don’t stress. Use these tricks to help them feel at home on stage-
- Touring the stage and backstage
- explain the lights and music
- let them stretch and do other less stressful activities on the stage
- give them time, let them practice their dance a few times before the big performance
You’re always in for a wild ride with little kids, and that’s totally fine. It’s all about being open to unexpected outcomes. At this age, it’s all about introducing them to the basics of performing and having fun. They can be silly, imaginative, and just enjoy themselves!
Becoming a New Dance Teacher! 
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