I decided to start this blog for a number of reasons. First of all, I am a dance teacher. Teaching pretty much defines my role in life and to add my passion of dance to it is the icing on the cake! I have danced my entire life and began teaching at the early age of 17 for the very same studio I grew up in. For the past ahhhhhem... 9 (I almost choked on my seltzer water) years I have tried to learn the ins and out of the industry, but have found that most of the time, well ALL of the time, dance teachers offer very basic advice to one another. When I mean basic I am strictly referencing technique, advice for music and sometimes some general emotional support, but this is often shadowed by a very condescending snarls or rather opinions. I can't quite figure this out. My only conclusion is based on the the sheer principle of competition. There is no need to compete when we are all out of the common good... with some absolutely wonderful, talented kids thrown in the mix.
Specifically... as dance teachers, we deal with an outrageous amount of BS in our day! Some more than others, but lets face it, any discipline that is featured and highlighted by a performance will have a flair for the dramatics. Sometimes, this BS or rather drama forces some strange, adverse reactions like my most often exclaimed question: "why would anyone do that?". We also deal with the ever nomadic dwellings of "competitions." Most are healthy and encourage learning and growth for students... but when you engage in a world of dance politics, some pretty strange, funny, HOLY COW, LOL moments will occur.
This blog is meant to be completely objective and from a perspective that is and will be somewhat biased. In all fairness, I have to think I am the best GD dance teacher the world has ever seen, or else my students would fail. We wouldn't want that, now would be? I am here to merely blog about my experiences in the dance world. Anyway, I hope ya get it! I want to record the good, the bad and the ugly. Self reflection is one of the best forms of therapy. Who knows? I couldn't help someone along the way. I hope all dance teachers from near and far will get a kick out of my experiences as well as my opinions of the dance world. I don't think I am that far off, but my experiences and opinions are what made me who I am today.
The last thing I want is for anyone to take offense to what I am writing about. This blog isn't meant to be negative and just highlight the bad things going on in my dance world, but to show the positive light my students shine on my life. No names will be used in any posts. Please feel free to comment as everyone is entitled to their own opinion... lord knows I have mine! Question me, for I will question myself!
Happy dancing! Monday starts the New Year!
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