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Motivating the non-competitive dancers

Original message posted by "crob71"   02-12-2008

How do you motivate the noncompetitive dancers in your classes to really embrace proper dance technique? Most every teacher I know dreams of an ideal class where EVERY student is hardworking, dedicated, technically strong and outgoing in their performance. Realistically, this rarely happens. Many students are serious about their dancing, but most students are there for a fun environment, dance basics and some exercise. How as a teacher to you motivate those kids? How as a teacher do you balance your own style to keep it fresh and fun yet getting across as much of the fundamentals that you can?

Reply posted by "dancegirl88"   02-13-2008

You'll always get that small group of people who are there because their mother was a dancer, but if your school has a good range of classes it should be easy to fit them into a class that suits their ability.

Of course they'll want to be with their friends though which always causes problems.

You don't want to kill their enthusiasm by saying that they're not good enough but you don't want to hold everyone else back either. 2 options, you could offer individual tutoring to improve their basics or suggest an alternative class where they can get the fun and fitness benefits without holding everyone else back.

You're better off doing it early too as it always messes with your lineups when they drop out a few weeks before the recital because they realize their not ready.

This can be tough. Good luck.

Reply posted by "Mountaindance"   08-26-2008

As an instructor of various levels of ability it is your job to meet the student where they are coming from and not where we would like them to be. Out of the thousands of students we have all taught, how many of them ever continue.....they don't remember the technique but they do remember a kind word or encouragement, they also remember that they as a human being were worth far more in the eyes of their dance teacher than dance talent. Just a thought. I did have talent and did see the difference in how I was treated and others that were not as talented. It was when I went back to school and became a preschool teacher that i recognized not all that was learned in the traditional studio environment was healthy.

Reply posted by "happydancer44"   05-19-2009

I think you are always going to have those that are in class to learn and those who are just there to be social, but if you are teaching them values like teamwork, kindness, sharing etc they will carry those with them whether or not they are dancing. Don't forget that event if they leave your studio they may come back! I see former students around town all the time because I live in a small town. They always come up and hug me and many have come back for a season or 2 because they remember how well they liked what they learned. I think it's never been just about dance. However there will always be a few who feel passionate about dance just like you do. Those are rare jewels!