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One defining quality dance training offers is honing a person’s ability to react to situations in real time. Whether salvaging an onstage mishap, hiding an error from the audience, or making quick decisions about survival when tragedy strikes, a dancer’s training informs them how to pivot quickly both onstage and in life. This was exactly the scenario for Daoyuan Chen, artistic director and founder of N&D Ballet, when he suffered a devastating ankle injury during The Nutcracker three months after joining Boston Ballet in 2012. “I didn’t expect my performance career to end at 22 years old,” says Chen. “I […]

When the casting sheet goes up, there’s one role that few students are excited to see their names next to: understudy. “We cast understudies all the time. And every time, there will be some kind of disappointment,” says Malu Rivera-Peoples, founder of Westlake School for the Performing Arts in California.  Getting asked to understudy not only makes students feel like a last-choice pick, but it can also be a uniquely challenging task to wrap their heads around. “Being an understudy is definitely more difficult than being a second or a third cast because, psychologically, you don’t have any idea if […]

To be a K–12 dance teacher is to be a master of time management, multitasking, and adaptability. Often teaching hundreds of students of all ages and skill levels every week for sometimes less than an hour at most, it’s a juggling act as you need to figure out what to fit into a 45-to-50-minute class. Should creative movement and improvisation be the priority? Or should students learn choreography? And what about technique?  Here are 9 tips for structuring a dance class for K–12 general-education students that strikes just the right balance. 1. Get to know your students. Unlike a studio, […]

Nilava drew parallels between dance and life while Prachi’s performance was inspired by Warli paintings at Kanakavalli’s ‘Rasa Margazhi Edit’ in Chennai

Bharatanatyam dancer Rajashree Warrier returns to Coimbatore after 15 years with a recital and abhinaya workshops at Dhanwantari Temple Auditorium

At their 2024 December Season performance, they presented Prakrti to Para, a seamless 95-minute show

In 1974, after moving from Brazil to New York City to work as a ballet dancer, I entered Irmgard Bartenieff’s Laban Movement Studies Program looking for innovative ways to approach choreography. I studied and worked closely with her from 1974 to 1977, becoming one of the first Certified Movement Analysts, and then went back to Brazil. But every year I returned to NYC to study privately with Irmgard. I helped her organize numerous texts for her book, and updated her on the progress of the Laban/Bartenieff work in Brazil. Her greatest influence on my life and work relates to the […]

What key characteristics do panelists look for in auditions? How can dance educators prepare students beyond performance ability? And what’s the best way for students to manage their emotions when they don’t receive their desired results?  Register now for our next DT+ Teacher Talk, “What Dance Audition Panels Are Looking For,” on Thursday, January 23, at 12 pm EST to find out answers to all these questions and more.  In this live hour-long Zoom discussion, Dance Teacher’s editorial director, Reanne Rodrigues, will be joined by Dionne Figgins, artistic director of Ballet Tech; Bianca Zumbo Caryl, head coach of the Arizona State […]

Injury is an unfortunate reality of the dance world and one that your students will likely face during their careers. But however painful, these moments can also be an important source of growth and learning.  As a dance teacher, you are in a unique position to help your students shape their relationship to injury. Taking an intentional approach will lay the groundwork for young dancers to respond to this challenge in a positive and productive way, enhancing their knowledge of their craft and facilitating a deeper appreciation for their bodies.  Facilitate Open Communication In order to create a positive culture […]