So I've been telling the girls that one of these days I am going to bring a bag of chocolate kisses and when they perform, or use their epaulement, I would just leave a kiss for them. What a great incentive! Chocolate for performing! These are teenagers after all... Great idea right? Not really!
Last night I brought 2 bags of chocolate kisses (and starburst for those who don't eat chocolate). It kinda backfired on me. I hated it! There were 14 dancers there last night (by the way, my FAVORITE size of class!), so it was so hard for me to catch every good thing happening. Then when the music would end, I had missed several girls with chocolate and I felt so GUILTY!!!! I found myself looking around the room comparing the girls piles of kisses...making sure it was fair.
Miss Connie has implied to me on several occasions that her classes are more discipline than any other in the studio...but I really beg to differ. First of all, I don't go around comparing all of our classes, but I don't find that discipline is an issue in any of my classes. Often times I think maybe I need to dish out more compliments (see my posting in January :)).
But after last night I am starting to wonder! I was so preoccupied with not offending or upsetting any one dancer, I wasn't focused on helping them the best way I know how. I guess I just need to toughen up!
What do you think?
Smile and Pointe your toes!
Jenni
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
A Life In Balance? Not yet.
So life has been a bit crazy lately. Like most women/moms in the US I have about 10 too many balls in the air right now. My saving grace at this point is ballet class. It's constant. It's always there. It makes sense to me and at the mid point of my day, it brings me back to sanity. Really, it's a mediation for me...a way to quiet my roudy mind. And although it works, I have come to realize that maybe I need to explore other forms...like yoga or something similar. This is an idea I came to while reading "Eat, Pray, Love". No surprise to most who have read it I am sure. It brought to light the lack of balance in my everyday life.
On Tuesday, I was watching the girls in my level 3/4 class do adagio when I realized an interesting connection. There are several dancers who doing very well with quieting their penches and other steps that require balance. There is no real connection between them that I can tell as to why it is those particular girls....except one thing. They are all cast in Alysia Klein's "Flickering I Roam" with our Performance Dance Team. In this piece they are required to literally stand on their heads or be upside down in a stall for probably 25% of the time. (roughly 30 - 45 sec). I am constantly amazed at their ability to concentrate under pressure. These are the same young ladies who can be incredibly silly and unfocused at times.... :) (they are 14 afterall). But you know, when you are on your head, there's a lot more to loose if you fall over...so you HAVE to focus.
As I realized this, many layers started to unfold in my mind. I have recently decided that yoga might be a good idea for me in dealing with my life and quieting my own mind. I also realized that when I learn about yoga, that concepts with yoga will most likely enhance not only my personal life, but me as a teacher. If I can learn to quiet my mind, I can help my students to focus their own minds. And WAIT!...don't they stand on their heads in yoga and meditation?!?!
This thought of course makes me giggle....as I think of all of us ballerinas...on our heads. We actually tried it for a few minutes, but some of the girls were surprisingly resistent.
So, it's off to yoga class I go to learn about quiet balance. I hope it's quiet anyway....those girls and my brain are loud!
Smile and Pointe your Toes!
Jenni
On Tuesday, I was watching the girls in my level 3/4 class do adagio when I realized an interesting connection. There are several dancers who doing very well with quieting their penches and other steps that require balance. There is no real connection between them that I can tell as to why it is those particular girls....except one thing. They are all cast in Alysia Klein's "Flickering I Roam" with our Performance Dance Team. In this piece they are required to literally stand on their heads or be upside down in a stall for probably 25% of the time. (roughly 30 - 45 sec). I am constantly amazed at their ability to concentrate under pressure. These are the same young ladies who can be incredibly silly and unfocused at times.... :) (they are 14 afterall). But you know, when you are on your head, there's a lot more to loose if you fall over...so you HAVE to focus.
As I realized this, many layers started to unfold in my mind. I have recently decided that yoga might be a good idea for me in dealing with my life and quieting my own mind. I also realized that when I learn about yoga, that concepts with yoga will most likely enhance not only my personal life, but me as a teacher. If I can learn to quiet my mind, I can help my students to focus their own minds. And WAIT!...don't they stand on their heads in yoga and meditation?!?!
This thought of course makes me giggle....as I think of all of us ballerinas...on our heads. We actually tried it for a few minutes, but some of the girls were surprisingly resistent.
So, it's off to yoga class I go to learn about quiet balance. I hope it's quiet anyway....those girls and my brain are loud!
Smile and Pointe your Toes!
Jenni
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Accentuate the Positive!
This morning I had the best class EVER! It's a tiny class of tiny dancers, one of which doesn't say much, so it's pretty quiet. The other two are the sweetest little things, both of whom constantly tell me that I am doing a good job, and the quiet one (Cassidy) smiles in agreement. When I demonstrate their next exercise Ava often tells me, "Good job Miss Jenni!". Today I was helping another dancer and she even praised my ability to help her friend. Ruby exclaimed during our tap warm up "Your the best dance teacher EVER!". She repeated it when she thought I didn't hear her the first time. What a great day! I woke up this morning with a spliting headache and tired from joining life again after a vacation. By 9:45am I was feeling I could take on the world. Now that is a great return for my investment and for the record...it's why I teach.
It's days like today that remind me how important it is to focus on the positive. Now there is huge parallel (and it's pretty obvious) between this concept as a teacher, and this concept in life, but for now, for the purposes of this blog, I'll state it in terms of teaching ballet. You can connect the dots however you see best for you! :)
As a ballet (or dance) teacher, it's easy to forget about what the dancers are doing right. My job is to point out what needs to be corrected. And I am sure my students will tell you I am very good at doing that. Once I get started, it's hard to slow down. "Fix this, turn out that....lift up" I could go on for hours....and sometimes I do. Today my insightful 3-year-old students reminded me to take time to give compliments...and make sure I am heard.
I know from experience that you get more flies with honey. When I call the class to attention, I loudy state, " I like the way that ________" is ready to go!" (of course I fill in the blank with the name of whoever is quiet at the time - I have been known to insert my own name here) It works like a charm. Every dancer, no matter what age, wants to be the one to get praise...especially when the entire class can hear.
I do have a few young dancers who do not respond at all to correction. They do respond to praise. Believe it or not, sometimes it is hard to give. The problem is that you can't make it up. Kids know when they deserve praise and when not. If you praise them when they are not working at their best, you loose credibility. So, you find something that is right. And trust me...we all (teachers included) have days where nothing warrants praise! But the result is always wonderful. You see their chest puff up, and they stand a bit taller and point their feet more just to get a little more praise.
Yesterday was a particularly hard class with my upper level. I felt they weren't trying. Most of the things going wrong were concepts we just talked about on Monday. I felt like saying..."Come ON!". I am sure I didn't say much that was positive. So, in the way that it often does, the universe reminded my of what I already know...
Accentuate the Positive!
(sorry girls! I'll try that next time!)
Smile and Pointe Your Toes!
Jenni
It's days like today that remind me how important it is to focus on the positive. Now there is huge parallel (and it's pretty obvious) between this concept as a teacher, and this concept in life, but for now, for the purposes of this blog, I'll state it in terms of teaching ballet. You can connect the dots however you see best for you! :)
As a ballet (or dance) teacher, it's easy to forget about what the dancers are doing right. My job is to point out what needs to be corrected. And I am sure my students will tell you I am very good at doing that. Once I get started, it's hard to slow down. "Fix this, turn out that....lift up" I could go on for hours....and sometimes I do. Today my insightful 3-year-old students reminded me to take time to give compliments...and make sure I am heard.
I know from experience that you get more flies with honey. When I call the class to attention, I loudy state, " I like the way that ________" is ready to go!" (of course I fill in the blank with the name of whoever is quiet at the time - I have been known to insert my own name here) It works like a charm. Every dancer, no matter what age, wants to be the one to get praise...especially when the entire class can hear.
I do have a few young dancers who do not respond at all to correction. They do respond to praise. Believe it or not, sometimes it is hard to give. The problem is that you can't make it up. Kids know when they deserve praise and when not. If you praise them when they are not working at their best, you loose credibility. So, you find something that is right. And trust me...we all (teachers included) have days where nothing warrants praise! But the result is always wonderful. You see their chest puff up, and they stand a bit taller and point their feet more just to get a little more praise.
Yesterday was a particularly hard class with my upper level. I felt they weren't trying. Most of the things going wrong were concepts we just talked about on Monday. I felt like saying..."Come ON!". I am sure I didn't say much that was positive. So, in the way that it often does, the universe reminded my of what I already know...
Accentuate the Positive!
(sorry girls! I'll try that next time!)
Smile and Pointe Your Toes!
Jenni
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