Even the best teachers on earth need a refresh. They need new ideas once in a while, they need to feel inspired all over again, they need a different outlook sometimes, and they need to find a community to share and learn from. When dance teachers feel inspired and confident, then they can reach their full potential and, in turn, help their students and the studio’s community all step into their own possibility. Now that is a huge gift.
Luckily, there is a place where dance teachers can unite, share and inspire this summer. Dance Teacher Summit (DTS) is back after several years and will be held in New York City this August 8-11! DTS is the perfect place for teachers and studio owners to interact with brilliant mentors and industry leaders and icons, and to dedicate a few days this summer to being mentored so that they can return to their own students as better educators and coaches.
“That’s the one thing that I just love about something like the Dance Teacher Summit – all these dance teachers coming together, passionate about what they do, hungry for new information, and really being there for themselves ultimately first, so that we can refill our cups to give back to the students,” says choreographer and educator Stacey Tookey, who will be on faculty at this year’s DTS and has been for many years.
“Especially if you’ve been teaching for a long time,” adds Denise Wall, artistic director of Denise Wall’s Dance Energy, “you have to change every five to seven years.”
Wall notes that teachers sometimes need to re-evaluate what and how they’re teaching, especially if they think they could be getting better results from their students than they are. At her classes at DTS, Wall hopes dance teachers learn, “No matter how they feel about themselves, everyone can be a great teacher. If what you’re teaching is not working, and you think maybe this might work, then try it out and see. Go against the grain. Create your own things. Don’t be afraid of that. That’s why it’s a living art.”
Perhaps that’s something dance teachers are not told enough. They teach how they were taught, or how they think they should teach, but not how they intuitively think could actually help their students improve and understand how their body fits into the dance vocabulary.
“It’s so important to be able to hear new knowledge, be able to move in different ways, and think in different ways,” adds Tookey.
And, “a dancer is only as good as the information they have to work with. And that’s where great educators make a difference,” says director and choreographer Liz Imperio, who will also be on faculty at DTS. “Because the kids that are naturally talented are obviously going to be noticed. But that doesn’t compose the majority of any one studio. How do you get a kid that doesn’t quite have a straight back to deal with scoliosis? There’s a variety of things that a kid is going to be challenged with, but a great educator can actually help a child override their challenge to go from a struggle to a success. To me, mentoring teachers to be able to think a little bit more outside the box than what we think is necessary is what can truly make the difference for the future of where dance can go.”
Perhaps this summer, as dance teachers take a deep dive into all the resources and insight that DTS has to offer, they can keep in mind that there is so much possibility out there – not just for themselves as educators, but also for students and even the dance parents. And DTS can open your eyes up to all of the possibilities Anything can be possible when you’ve taken the time to be equipped, empowered and inspired by going to a program like DTS.
Imperio, who says that one of her DTS classes will be focused on dealing with parent management and dance parents, explains that dance parents are a big part of the “puzzle piece” of a successful studio, thriving students and a happy dance community. “If the puzzle is the child, we all have a piece that creates this picture of the child itself,” Imperio notes. “And how whole, how complete is that picture going to be? We all have a part to play in that. Parents especially need to understand how they are part of what either keeps their child’s passion fueled or how easy it is for them to snuff it out. I want to help studio directors and teachers understand how to work with parents. I think we get very used to the idea of venting parents, or complaining parents, but we have to be able to see the possibility of them. When we understand how to get parents to work with us, then we have more people on the same team, which means the student dancer has a stronger support system.”
There is so much to offer at DTS, and so much that dance teachers and studio owners can take away with them. This year will feature Business Boost geared toward studio owners and office managers, where topics will include marketing, finance and customer retention. Meanwhile, dance teachers can participate in L.E.A.D. (Leadership, Education, Artistry and Development), an add-on that will dive into strategies for enhancing teachers’ curriculum in their classes. These versatile strategies and theories can apply to all levels and styles, and from private dance studios to K-12 public schools.
And of course, participants at DTS will be able to browse the famous Exhibit Hall, with vendors for costumes, performance opportunities, dancewear, computer programs, curriculum, technique development tools and more.
On Sunday, August 10, the fun and inspiring A.C.E. Awards will take place. This choreography competition will highlight movement of every style including tap, jazz, ballet, modern and musical theater. A star-studded panel of judges will be on site to award the top three finalists the funding needed to bring their full-length dance vision to life.
There is infinite possibility in the offerings at DTS and how those seminars and classes can equip dance educators and studio owners, as well as the next generation of dancers.
“I want to see the legacy of dance continue thriving, expanding, growing,” Imperio says. “As far as I’m concerned, if the whole world could dance, we’d be living in a whole better world.”
So, book your trip now to DTS this summer, and allow the fabulous faculty to feed your brain and your soul. “You don’t understand – I’m so excited!” Wall exclaims. “I can’t tell you how much I love teaching teachers.”
Dance Teacher Summit will be held August 8-11, in NYC. For more information and to register, visit danceteachersummit.com.
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