The Spirit of a Dancer, The Soul of a Teacher

 

Dance is the one thing that has remained consistent in my life since the age of 4.  There have been ups and downs and it was not until I was 15 years old when my own dancer teacher commented, “You were meant to be a teacher”, that I really committed to the idea of teaching. 

As a 15-year-old, who loved to be in class, hearing someone I trusted tell me that I should teach, left me with mixed feelings.  Initially, I felt like I was being told that I was not good enough to be a “Dancer”, which was a hard pill to swallow.  After some thought and some time spent in a teaching role, I now know she was telling me that I have something to offer. 

Teaching is a role that felt very natural to me, but what I have learned over 20 years of teaching in the studio is that a great dancer does not always make a great teacher. For me, I was a committed student in the classroom but did not thrive in performance opportunities.  I enjoyed being on stage, but it was the technical side of dance in the studio that really inspired me and where I excelled. When I say this to my students now, they are often surprised as this is usually the opposite for many dancers.  

The accolades and thrill of being on stage is a major motivator, but it just was not for me.  Because of this love for technique and “figuring things out” I have found myself committed to helping young, upcoming dancers find and understand just how amazing their dancing bodies can be.

Over my years of teaching, I have committed to many courses, certifications, and trainings, but the best training I could receive is from the dancers themselves.  Each individual personality, desire to grow and ability in a class creates a unique puzzle that from class to class and year to year will never be repeated.  Teaching dance is an amazing honor and I do not take the job lightly.  I am committed to creating a positive impact in the classroom and providing my own recipe of “fierce love” to challenge, support and help mold great dancers and powerful humans. 

As we deal with the repercussions of COVID and the various shutdowns that our industry has had to deal with, our students are missing out on one of the biggest motivators for dancing.  Aside from the social and physical aspect of dance, we are missing out on our opportunity to compete, perform and express ourselves on stage. I want to take this time to remind students and families that we are still here and working hard to continue to maintain the community connection that has become so important over the past year.  Challenges make us stronger and I am committed to seeing this through and look forward to the time when I will be able to see my dancers and teammates in person again.  Know that while you are at home, you are thought of often, and I am sending positive vibes and lots of “fierce love” your way.  

This past Fall I was lucky enough to participate in a Mental Skills Teacher Training course presented by Lauren Ritchie.  As a part of the course, she encouraged us to write our own teaching manifesto (adapted from Brene Brown) and share it with our dance community.  Here is mine…

Teaching Manifesto

Above all else, I want you to know…

I see you and value you as an important piece to our classroom, community, and the world. You are powerful and I see your potential and will always be here to support it.  I am here for you in dance and beyond.  I am proud of your accomplishments every day and I am your biggest advocate for growth.

I want you to engage with the world from a place of…

Confidence, worthiness, and strength. You deserve it all!

By doing this, you will learn…

You are capable of anything and you belong here.  The ups and downs that you face in the studio are lessons that you can take with you throughout your life.  Your ability to persevere and show resilience is something that you will carry with you always.

Together we will practice…

How to fall and get back up, how to celebrate our successes and assess our areas of growth.  We will laugh and try not to take ourselves too seriously and remember that we will focus on the things we can control, not what is outside of our control.

 

We will share…

Time, energy, and a sense of safety and belonging.  I will be honest with you in hopes that you will be honest with me.  The space we share is something that I hold sacred and I believe we are lucky to share the time together.  

By watching me make mistakes, you will learn…

We are all human and we can change and adapt. Perfection is not the goal; progress is the goal.  I make a lot of mistakes and so should you, learning is life-long and whatever path you take is the right one for you and I am happy to be a part of it.

I want you to know that…

You are important to me and the time we spend together in class brings me joy.  Not every day is perfect and of course some are better than others, but your time and energy is not something I take for granted. 

 

I want you to feel…

Free! Free from the stresses of the outside world when we are together.  You are safe, supported and in a place where you can make mistakes, take risks, and try new things.  The space we share is free from judgement and unwarranted ridicule.  I want you to understand the difference between judgement and learning. Our dance space is a place where you will be challenged and celebrated for your accomplishments. 

In our class time together, we will create a space of…

Creativity, Hard work, Progress, Fun, Laughter, Realness, Challenge & Support

We will always have permission to…

Have a bad day, ask questions, wonder, need more time, share, and celebrate. We are here to make sense of things and move forward. We are here to dance, but it is so much more.

As your educator, I promise…

To show up for you every day and to support you through your journey. I will never stop trying to make you laugh (even when you roll your eyes at me), challenging you, helping you overcome obstacles and meet your goals.  You always have a friend in me, someone that you can count on for support, motivation, and advice when you need it.

 

Written by Suzanne Demers

Instructor- Elements Dance Co.

 

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