Don’tGiveUp onYourself
While you’re showing your classmates the respect they deserve, be sure to do the same for
you.Being a dancer is hardwork, and it’s not for the faint of heart. Just take a look at howmany tasks we have to do at one time: point feet, pull up, engage core, spot, staywith themusic, change formations…oh yeah, and show some
emotion.Not everyone can dowhatwe do.
With that being said, everyone elsemay not be able to do it, but you
can.Be patientwith yourselfwhen learning a newskill or
combination.Don’t compare yourself to others around you, and try not to get frustrated if it takes you a bit longer tomaster the material. If you showyourself some love, your dance teacher will be inclined to showyou some love too. Your teacherwill be drawn to your effort andwill be happy to support you as contin- ue to grow.
Don’t Forget toThankYour Instructor
I’ve seen dancersmake thismistake all too often, but not because they’re disrespectful. I believe the reasonmany dancers fail to thank the instructor after class is because they simply don’t knowthat they should. Then, if you’ve never heard this before, letme be the first to tell
you.After you’ve done your part to be a gracious dance student by avoiding the first fivemistakes on our list, followit up by verbally thanking your instructor once class has ended.
your instructor some love this season by getting rid of the out- side conversations.
Don’tBeDisrespectful toOtherDancers
Dancers often have bold
personalities.After all,we’re artists. However, having a bold personality doesn’t give us permission to treat others any less thanwe’d like to be treated
ourselves.Do you hog space in front of themirror? Are you impatientwhen others don’t catch on as quickly? Do you bring personalmatters with other dancers into the classroom?When these types of things happen, it creates divisionwithin the class,which impacts the overall energy andmorale.
What does your dance teacher have to dowith any of this? Believe it or not, conflict between dancers can be a real headache for dance teachers.We’re responsible for every dancer’s in-class experience, and issues like these effect the learning environment. They can also quickly escalate to involv- ing parents or administrators,which spell trouble for everyone.
You don’t need to dimthe light on your vibrant personality. Just be a bitmoremindful of howit affects those around
you.Be respectful of the space you’re sharing in class, offer to help oth- erswhomay be struggling as long as it doesn’t disrupt the instructor, and leave any personal issues at the door. Your dance teacherwill love the positivity, and it’llmake his or her job that much sweeter.
DANCE!NORTHTEXAS a publication of the dance council of north texas
Saying “thank you” is an easyway to express your gratitude to your instructor. Inmost cases, people justwant to be acknowl- edged for the energy or resources they’ve invested, and a verbal thankswill do the trick. So once you’ve been dismissed, approach your instructorwith a nice “thank you for class.”He or shewill appreciate the gesture andwill love your professional etiquette.
There you have it—sixmistakes to avoid so that both you and your dance teacher have a great season. If you avoid thesemis- takes and implement the tips instead, your dance teacherwill definitely notice. You’ll be the dedicated, respectful, and driven student that every instructor loves to teach.
Shaté L.Edwards is a choreographer, dance professor, and author residing inDallas, Texas. She educates dancers on howto develop sustainable careers through her blog,
TheWorkingDancer.com
vol. 19 • no. 3
www.thedancecouncil.org August-October 2016 page 13
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