Why Dance Bare-footed?
I often get asked why I teach with bare feet (which I do for the majority of my classes). And it's a good question - many dance styles such as ballet and tap require specific footwear. However, for creative and…
National Fitness Day Dance
It's the first time I've come across National Fitness Day - it sounds great! On this Friday (26th September) there will be a huge celebration of physical activity, with many exercise venues hosting events for free. See nationalfitnessday.com for more…
Exploring World War 1 in Dance
The 4th of August this year (2014) marked the centenary of the start of WW1 and I know many schools will be exploring this topic during the Autumn term. And even if you're not, some of the dance suggestions below…
10 tips to ‘JumpStart’ your dance teaching!
Happy new (academic) year! To welcome in the new term, here are 10 tips to get you going / refresh your dance teaching... 1. Choose music that feels 'current' but avoid songs that the children will sing along to or…
Reasons to Dance: Brain Food
Taking part in physical activity doesn’t just have a positive impact on your physical health and your well-being. It can actually improve your intelligence. A study in North Carolina focused on raising the activity levels in children and discovered that…
Reasons to Dance: Dr Seuss
"Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh the thinks you can think up if only you try" Dr Seuss As a mother of two little people (4 year old daughter and 18 month old…
Reasons to Dance: ‘Scientifically’ fit
“... [dance] can speed up your heart rate, it can enliven your being, it can change your life.” Richard Alston [1] Anyone who has taken part in a dance class will be able to attest to the fact that…
Reasons to Dance: “Because I’m Happy…”
Today at 4pm Sir Ken Robinson will urge “devote equal time to dance and maths” in The Educators, a new series on BBC Radio 4. And (of course) I whole-heartedly agree! There is a real buzz about dance at the…
Developing a Dance Lesson Plan
How do you make a topic into a dance class? When I plan, I first brainstorm the theme I want to explore. To develop my ideas into dance material, I then select 2 or 3 movement objectives that link with…