One important technique dance instructors employ while providing instruction is reinforcement. Reinforcement, i.e., overt approval of desired skills, behaviors, and attitudes, can be used to increase self-confidence and motivation and to develop technical and physical skills. The goal and result of effective reinforcement is to increase the likelihood that a desired skill will be repeated [...]

Concentration is perhaps the single most misunderstood psychological factor in dance. In fact, in a recent conversation, an elite dancer indicated that she improved her concentration by staring at the second-hand of a watch for an extended period of time. Though she may think she did, most of the theory and research to date suggests [...]

Perhaps the single most important skill that dance teachers must develop in order to be good instructors is their ability to convey information effectively. During instruction, technical development is only as good as the quality of the information feedback that is provided by the teacher. As a result, consideration should be given to several areas [...]

Some call it desire. Others call it being hungry. We call it is the Starring Attitude. The Starring Attitude is what separates the best from the best of the rest, the soloist from the company member, the true star from the flash-in-the-pan. We know what the Starring Attitude can do, but what exactly is it? [...]

Burn-out is a condition that has been recognized in the business and sports world for many years. Considerable time and effort has been spent understanding the causes and effects of burn-out. However, only recently has burn-out been addressed in the performing arts. The significance of and concern over burn-out among dancers has received increasing attention [...]

Perhaps the most mysterious and frustrating experience that dancers must face is the occurrence of a slump. Dancers seem to fall into slumps with no apparent cause and come out of them for equally unclear reasons. Also, there has been no consensus on what causes them or how to cure them. Now, though, SlumpBusting provides [...]

Dance teachers are often overworked and underpaid. Considerable attention is paid to difficulties that are experienced by dancers. However, little consideration is given to similar problems that dance teachers must face. Many people simply do not realize that dance teachers are people too. It is important for the mental, emotional, and physical health of teachers [...]

The interpersonal dance teaching style is the foundation upon which all specific teaching skills, whether technical, physical, or mental, are built. Interpersonal teaching style (ITS) is defined as the manner in which dance teachers present themselves to and communicate with their dancers. How they look, how they carry themselves, how they communicate both verbally and [...]

A primary responsibility of dance teachers is technical instruction. However, this task does not simply involve demonstrating a particular technical skill, then having the dancers perform it. Rather, instruction is a complex interaction of physical, motor, psychological, and communication skills that occur between the dance teacher and dancers. As a result of this complexity, the [...]

A source of stress and frustration for the dance teacher is often parents. This is disturbing because teachers and parents are the two groups who have the greatest impact on the young dancer. Clearly, if they are at odds, it is the dancer who will suffer. The goal then is to move teachers and parents [...]