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Keeping engaged students at the end of the year

Every year I get asked the same questions.  What's next year's theme?  May I use [insert song title] for my solo next year?  What team am I on next year?  May I do [insert dance style] for my solo?  Will I be on team next year?  And every year I respond with the same answers.  Let's finish this year before we talk about next year.  Or talk to me in August.  I know they are excited about the future, and I want them to be.  But, I also need them to stay focused on the present: end of competition season and recital.  And that is the struggle, staying focused on the present.  The start of the year is easy.  Everyone is excited and learning new things and routines.  After winter break, I focus so much on running routines and making sure everything is the best it can be, that I can forget why we are there, because we love to dance.

 Fun days
After a big competition have a fun day for part of practice.  We focus so much on the routines and getting ready to perform, that we forget to just relax and be proud of what they have learned and accomplished.  Not sure you can give up the practice time?  Do an end of the year party or bring in a special treat for a break time or end of practice.

 Teacher days
Have some of the older students teach parts of their solos or a combination from a workshop to the younger kids.  Have the younger ones teach the older ones.  Bridging the ages only makes for a stronger team.  Plus, if you can teach it, you can do it.

 "No" routine days
As the dancers are more confident in their routines, go back to the technique.  Run the routine once at the beginning and once at the end, the rest of the time learn new steps.  It gets very boring to do the same thing over and over week after week.

 Go over their goals
I often have the students set goals towards the beginning of the year.  I allow one goal about winning an award because I want them to focus on how to get there.  Goals are usually about mastering (or at least getting better at) a difficult step, behavior and attitudes in class, confidence in a routine or class, etc.  Post the goals on the wall so the students can be reminded of them.  Do something fun or special when they achieve them.  When the students are struggling to stay focused, go over them and make new ones for the remainder of the year.

 I will admit, I am not always the best at these.  I get busy with the end of the year and just trying to finish without completely loosing my mind that I overlook the small things that can help keep that dancer engaged for a few more weeks.  My hope is, if we start thinking about the end of the year now, we will keep them engaged longer.  So what do you do when your students are just ready to get the year done?  Feel free to share your ideas on keeping the end of the year just as engaged and exciting as the start of the year.
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