The Next Generation

Becoming a professional ballerina is one thing, but teaching dancers how to become one is a whole other ordeal. I have had plenty of teachers who were nothing short of beautiful ballerinas with very successful careers, but sometimes, when they have moved from the performance stage to the standard classroom of students, something gets lost in the translation. A well versed and well educated teacher is vital in order for that teacher's student's prosperity. If I am taking a technique class, I need a teacher who can recognize my body type and understand how it works. I need a teacher with a plethora of metaphors, similes, and descriptively painted pictures to relate to my body. I need a teacher with the skill level that I am pursuing for myself, someone who is as good as I want to be.

How do we, as the next generation of dancers to perform and teach, learn to teach good ballet, proper ballet? I can think back to all of my old teachers and think of methods I do and do not like, or things that have and have not worked for me for a start, but where do I go from there? I know I can't simply teach myself how. I haven't always been interested in teaching, but the older I get, the more I find myself thinking about the possibility of doing so. Is this something that you learn how to do by taking many different classes under many different teachers with varied teaching techniques, or can this be taught in a classroom like atmosphere? I'm really interested in learning how to excel in this category. I want to be able to push and inspire my students in a atmosphere conducive to learning. I want to work hard for them so they will be willing to work hard for me in return.

I'm glad that Jessica mentioned that our generation has to be able to teach good ballet, and teach it the right way. So Jessica, want to give us our first official lesson in how to do so?