In recent years, the dance world has grown and changed “in really cool ways,” says India Harville, the founder and executive director of disability justice performing arts organization Embraced Body. “We’re seeing more BIPOC dancers, and fat dancers, and queer dancers, and Disabled dancers.” What’s still missing, according to Harville, is the acknowledgment that many […] The post How We Move Offers a New Kind of Intensive Designed for Disabled and Multiply Marginalized Artists appeared first on Dance Teacher ..read more

We all know the saying “Time is money.” Throughout my career as an educator, my services have expanded from sharing knowledge at the front of the studio to include choreographer, coach, administrator, and more. In the past, I charged different rates for these activities based on factors that felt somewhat random. Though, as I have […] The post Why I Charge One Hourly Teaching Rate appeared first on Dance Teacher ..read more

Dance teacher Shanae Sainsbury recalls staying up late, surrounded by towering piles of handwritten notes at her coffee table during evaluation season. With each student being evaluated on more than 50 elements—and upwards of 80 students—that’s what it looked like every evening for weeks. Yet, despite the time and care poured into each evaluation, the […] The post Meet Ellever, Studio Software Built for the Teacher, Focused on the Student appeared first on Dance Teacher ..read more

Choreographer, dancer, and teacher Donald McKayle established a strong foothold for dancers of color by creating work that commented on social injustices, challenged racial norms, and conveyed the Black experience. As a member of the politically active dance collective New Dance Group in the late 1940s, he developed an emotionally rich choreographic style inspired by […] The post Celebrating Donald McKayle: His Choreography Shed Light On Social Injustice appeared first on Dance Teacher ..read more

Last week at our DT+ Teacher Talk, I had the honor of being joined by not one but three very special guests—Dionne Figgins, artistic director of Ballet Tech; Bianca Zumbo Caryl, head coach of the Arizona State University dance team; and Nile H. Russell, director of education for the American Dance Festival—to discuss what audition […] The post Letter From the Editor: New Audition Advice Video, Dance Educator Voices, and More! appeared first on Dance Teacher ..read more

When I first started at the University of Michigan, I didn’t know what to expect. Madame Penny Godboldo’s class on Dunham technique gave me a sense of groundedness and home. Before class would start, Madame Penny would look her students in the eyes to see where their energy was, then direct the class in a […] The post What My Teacher Taught Me: Brooke Taylor on Her Influential Dance Educators appeared first on Dance Teacher ..read more

Watch this hour-long conversation to get deeper insights into key characteristics audition panelists are looking for, tips for preparing students beyond performance ability, and advice on managing emotions when your students don’t receive their desired results. Guest speakers Nile H. Russell, director of education for the American Dance Festival; Dionne Figgins, artistic director of Ballet […] The post Watch DT+ Teacher Talk: “What Audition Panels Are Looking For” appeared first on Dance Teacher ..read more

At the height of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, a group of professional dancers who’d grown up training together in Atlanta joined forces to talk about how to support young Black dancers in their hometown. Those conversations eventually led to the formation of The Black Artists Dance Collective, whose founding members—Shonica Gooden, Jamal […] The post Black Artists Dance Collective’s Summer Program Gives Back to the Atlanta Community appeared first on Dance Teacher ..read more

The resilient spirit of hula has survived a history of adversity. The art was banned from public performance in 1830 by Queen Regent Ka‘ahumanu after being influenced by Christian missionaries who deemed the dance to be pagan. It was revived again during the reign of King David La‘amea Kalākaua, who advocated for a renewed sense […] The post How Vicky Holt Takamine Uplifts Native Hawaiian Culture and History Through Hula appeared first on Dance Teacher ..read more

Watch this hour-long conversation with experienced somatic dance practitioners Adele Nickel and Ami Shulman to learn how somatic practices can bolster your students’ mind–body connection, deepen their self-awareness, and elevate their learning experiences. Nickel and Shulman also present useful somatic-based movement exercises that can be implemented in dance class. Resources To access Nickel’s research on […] The post Watch DT+ Teacher Talk: “Incorporating Somatic Practices in Dance Classes” appeared first on Dance Teacher ..read more