I woke up the other morning to a text from one of my dance parents. It had a link to a blog article and thanking me for making dance "decent". So, I opened the link, Why I Pulled My Daughters Out of Ballet , and started to read. It reminded me of the many conversations about appropriate dress/costumes, dance moves, and general body image I have had with parents and dancers over the years. It was a good article about teaching our children to stand up for themselves and not doing things that make us feel uncomfortable, even if told to by an adult. It was also a reminder for dance educators and parents to not only listen to your children but to not encourage sexualizing them. I felt proud of myself for a minute. I stress over the music to make sure it isn't too old or too young. I analyse the costumes for each student and body type. I do not allow certain dance steps to be done, because they are, in my opinion, only appropria...
I hope to help you out as you navigate the world of dance. Whether you are a parent, dancer, or teacher, I want help you think about and prepare for your year. With 20 years of teaching, plus all the years of dancing, I hope to share my experiences and help you along the way.