As a future instructor of classical ballet, I want to strive for precision and cleanliness in my students as well as a deep understanding for the classical canon. I believe it is very important for young blossoming dancers to fully understand the deep and rich history of their art form so that they may apply those traditions and nuances to their performances and their lives. A ballet instructor must be strict but allow creativity to easily flow in the studio. I personally have found that my love for ballet came from instructors who have pushed me but have also given me the freedom to make artistic choices. That trust between student and instructor is so important and is vital for a student’s growth from pupil to professional.
I want my students to be able to absorb combinations and corrections at a quick pace to help them later on when they reach the level of professional. Every student is different and for those who end up learning at a slower pace I will continue to push them the same as the others but with added attention to detail to help them continue to understand the information that is given. Malleability is a very important characteristic to have in a young dancer in this day and age. Many ballets now require dancers to push their bodies’ abilities and this is a characteristic that I would like to instill in each and every one of my dancers. Learning ballet is not just memorization of the classical steps but it is also about being able to add bits and pieces of one’s own personality to give the ballet meaning. In my students I am looking for the drive to be dedicated and hard working. I want them to push themselves and have that hunger for more knowledge and more improvement in themselves. As George Balanchine once said, “I don’t want people who want to dance, I want people who have to dance.”
My hope for my students is that the discipline and structure that they learn in our classes will take them into a professional dancing career as well as also helping them in any other future career that they end up pursuing. The lessons that they learn in my class are sure to be life long and will benefit them in all aspects of their lives. To help my students understand what I am asking of them I will demonstrate the combinations clearly and with proper counts. I will also use very clear anatomical cues and give feedback with clear images to help them understand the movement and what it should feel like in their muscles. It is very important for them to also learn the proper names of the muscle groups so that when they are older they know exactly what they are working as well as how to take care of their muscles if they are tight or if they are in pain. I believe that adding kinesiological terms and lessons to class are important for any modern day dancer.
While giving corrections in my class I will offer group and individual corrections. I think that using tactile feedback is really beneficial for developing children to understand how to properly execute the movement. It’s very important to create a comfortable and cohesive classroom environment so that the children want to ask questions and be able to broaden their knowledge of what is capable in a ballet class. I really value students that want to work after class for a few minutes every day on something that challenged them during class. I believe that working after class will help the students improve on their technique that much quicker and that they will be able to advance to the next technique level much quicker than they normally would without the extra practice. I will work with my students closely to help every single one of them to make sure they have a clear understanding of the information while also being able to develop their own artistry.
The grading process for my class will come with an exam at the end of each year that will have an accumulation of steps that will determine whether or not they are ready for the next technique level. I think this process is really important for a dancers development. Too many times have I seen girls who have been moved up a technique level just because “everyone else is” instead of them being technically prepared. This can be really detrimental for their technique as well as their physical body. For example a certain amount of strength as well as understanding of the steps is required before girls are able to go on pointe. If they do not have these requirements then it can cause injury or an unstable base when it comes to technique in the upcoming years of their training. In addition to teaching proper steps and combinations I will also be teaching classical variations as well as mime to help their understanding of what it means to really be on stage in a classical ballet. Variations are important for both men and women to help build their stamina as well as to help them with their facial expression. It’s important to teach stage projection and how to communicate with their audience. This is part of the classical canon that will be instilled in all of my students and will help them later on in their careers when they are asked to perform anything from classical ballet to neoclassical and even modern dance.
As an instructor I am very excited to learn from my students and be able to improve my teaching style and methods from learning from them. I hope to be able to teach abroad and teach all over the world. My favorite aspect of teaching is inspiring young minds and helping them find their love for dance while also helping them find their true artistry. Because that is what it really means to be a teacher.