Taylor Made by Faith
A Lesson I Learned as a Young Dancer One of the first things that confused me as a young dancer wasn’t pirouettes, fouettés, or even petit allegro. It was… directions. I’ll never forget standing in a large studio while a choreographer called out, “Spot corner 1!” I froze. Corner 1? Where was that? I glanced …
Last summer, I shared an article about how to make the most of your summer teaching schedule as a dance educator. If you missed it, you can read it here: How to Make the Most Out of Your Summer Teaching Schedule. My core belief hasn’t changed. I still think summer should be a time to …
When you think of teaching ballet terminology, you might picture students lined up at the barre, carefully repeating each word after the teacher. But in a summer dance camp setting, there’s room to mix things up. One of my favorite ways to reinforce ballet terms while keeping students engaged and moving is with a Ballet …
When I first started teaching dance, I quickly realized how often students learn steps before they ever learn where those steps come from. I’ve made it a personal mission to weave history into my classes, not just because it enriches the experience, but because it connects dancers to a lineage much greater than themselves. Tap …
Every summer, I look forward to dance camp. It’s a chance to step outside the usual studio structure and get creative. This year, I’m especially excited because I’m teaching dance history, not just steps and choreography, but the stories behind the movement. I want our campers, ages 6 to 11, to leave with more than …
I Didn’t Know My Voice Was a Superpower I didn’t fully understand the power of using your voice as a dance teacher until I began working in the public school system. Standing in front of twenty-five wiggly kindergarteners at 8:15 in the morning will teach you a thing or two about classroom management, fast. Over …
I love all things dance. From technique classes to choreography to performance, I’ve always felt at home in a studio. But over the past year, I’ve started diving deeper into the field behind the movement, what makes dancers perform at their best, stay injury-free, and train smarter. That curiosity led me to dance science. And …
When I first introduced Boomwhackers to my kindergarten dance class, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’d seen them used in music rooms and professional development workshops, but this was a room full of 5-year-olds who could barely keep their shoes on, let alone follow a rhythmic pattern. But something magical happened when we began …
There’s something so special about the way a room full of elementary school students transforms when the music starts. One moment they’re squirming on their spots, and the next they’re leaping, twirling, and expressing feelings they didn’t have words for. Early in my teaching career, I realized that if I wanted to help my students …
When I taught in the school system, cross-curricular lessons were some of my favorite lessons to teach. They allowed me to bridge the gap between movement and academics in a way that helped all students, especially kinesthetic learners grasp new concepts with excitement and confidence. My favorite lesson of all time was the Chicka Chicka …
