The Casual Dance Teacher's Podcast

As a dance teacher, do you throw information at your students and wonder why that same correction you keep giving isn't sticking, or do you work collaboratively with your dancers to unlock the wisdom of their individual bodies?  Mariah-Jane Thies, also known as "The Radiant Dance Teacher," is on a mission to help dance teachers and students integrate the wisdom of the body into their dance practice, allowing for greater artistry, deeper understanding of technique, and less risk of injury. 

Use code Radiant25 Here to get 25% off any of Mariah-Jane's courses as a listener of The Casual Da...

Today's episode combines dance lessons with life lessons, and don't they so often go together?!  While I don't feel equiped to speak specifically about West African Dance technique on this platform, I do think that the lessons I learned during my time studying in West Africa are worth sharing with dance educators of all styles and methodologies.  Here are just 4 of my biggest takeaways from studying West African Dance, and how they've helped me become a better dance teacher.

Theme Music by GBMystical!  www.gbmystical.com
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook Here - Now...

The dance world is extremely inconsistent when it comes to assessing growth and providing feedback to students in a comprehensive and constructive way.  Following our "Part 1" episode with Danielle Aliotta, today's episode focuses on Chelsea Weidmann's experience with providing assessments and feedback within competitive and pre-professional dance studios.  Our discussion also turned to questions of ethics and equity in how (and/or if!) feedback has been provided in these types of programs, how teachers are compensated for their time in providing feedback, and much more!

Theme Music by GBMystical!  www.gbmystical.com
Join the Casual Dance Tea...

The dance world is extremely inconsistent when it comes to assessing growth and providing feedback to students in a comprehensive and constructive way.  Today, I have Danielle Aliotta on the show to share her experience as both a public school and dance studio educator, where she focuses on setting goals based on students' baseline abilities, and assessing and sharing feedback based on consistent growth.  If you are looking for ways to assess students equitably in any setting, this one's for you!

Follow all that Danielle does on Instagram Here

Theme Music by GBMystical!  www.gbmystical.com...

Happy Halloween!  To celebrate the season, we're throwing it back to some of my favorite fall-themed dance class activities and games from season one.  As an added bonus for you long-time listeners, I've added some brand-new game ideas to the end of the episode!  Enjoy!

Theme Music by GBMystical!  www.gbmystical.com
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook Here
Follow me on Reddit Here
Follow our Instagram account Here
Please Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify!

For the next couple weeks, I'm going to help you work through any aspect of choreography that might have you feeling "stuck."  In this episode, I share how I apply the concepts of various choreographic devices to formations and transitions onstage to ensure that the staging, spacing, and flow of the piece feels authentic to the movement and thematic material that you're working with.

You can listen to the Season 1 Choreography Month Series starting Here.

Theme Music by GBMystical!  www.gbmystical.com
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook Here
Follow me on...

For the next couple weeks, I'm going to help you work through any aspect of choreography that might have you feeling "stuck."  In this episode, I discuss a number of choreographic devices, and how you can use these devices to come up with TONS of fresh movement material using steps or combinations that you've already used in class or previous choreography.

You can listen to the Season 1 Choreography Month Series starting Here.

Theme Music by GBMystical!  www.gbmystical.com
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook Here
Follow me on Reddit Here

For the next couple weeks, I'm going to help you work through any aspect of choreography that might have you feeling "stuck."  In this episode, I provide some different examples of ways that you can choose a theme for your dance, and allow that theme to then help you come up with the music, movement, staging, etc for a piece. 

You can listen to the Season 1 Choreography Month Series starting Here.

Theme Music by GBMystical!  www.gbmystical.com
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook Here
Follow me on Reddit Here
Fol...

Are your students comfortable improvising, or do they freeze up at the mention of it?  In today's episode, I had the opportunity to talk to dancer/choreographer/dance educator/coach (etc!) Angela Gallo about her own experience utilizing improvisation in her creative process, as well as recommendations for the use of improvisation in the dance classroom, preparing our students to improvise in an audition setting, and more!

Learn more about Angela's dance company, Sapphire Moon Dance Company, Here
Learn more about Angela's travel and wellness company, Hemisphere Dancer Wellness and Travel, Here

Theme M...

I am a firm believer in having as many tools on hand as possible for days when you need to quickly re-engage students, bring the class together, and/or reenforce a concept you're working on in a new way.  Today's episode is full of ideas for physical games that you can buy and keep on hand to easily achieve these goals without the work of DIY-ing or prepping materials in advance.

All games mentioned in today's episode that are still available on the market are linked below.  Pop's Culture Shoppe is my local game store (owned by my...

It's arguably impossible to become a dance teacher without first identifying as a dancer, but what happens when you feel that that identity no longer suits you?  Is it fair to identify as a dance teacher if you no longer dance regularly outside of the classroom?  What if you're not regularly teaching classes - can you still call yourself a dance teacher?  We cover all this and more in today's episode with "The Dancing Mind Coach" Stephanie Case!

You can find Stephanie's new book Here
You can learn more about Stephanie and all of her offerings Her...

 I don't care what style/age group/program/level/genre of dance you teach...I'd bet there's been some time in your teaching career that you "gamified" your teaching in some way.  Yes, games can be a fun "filler," but I also think we shouldn't undermine the value of teaching through games, even for older/more experienced dancers!  Here are a couple of the simplest games I've used in dance class that take absolutely zero preparation so you can incorporate them any time and place!

Listen to the "Props and Tools" Episode Here
You can find gam...

As an experienced casual dance teacher, what have I learned to ALWAYS keep in my bag to be prepared for class every week?  Find out on today's episode!

Listen to the "Props and Tools" Episode Here
Listen to the "What's in My Dance Bag - Recital Edition" Episode Here

Theme Music by GBMystical!  www.gbmystical.com
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook Here
Follow me on Reddit Here
Follow our Instagram account Here
Please Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify!

Are you a current dance fitness instructor, or thinking of teaching dance fitness classes or offering them at your studio as an added revenue stream? If so, today's episode is for you!  I sat down with Mariana Santos, founder of Brazily Fitness, to talk about creating a unique dance fitness brand, building confidence through dance, working with a wide range of skill levels within a class, and what it takes to choreograph and memorize up to 20 dances per class!!!

Check out the Brazily Fitness Website Here

Theme Music by GBMystical!  www.gbmystical.com
Jo...

In today's episode, I'm putting together some bits and pieces of what I learned throughout last season - both in the classroom and on the podcast! - to help you structure a season plan that will build your dancers' skills and athleticism so that they peak for performance time! 

Listen to the "Curriculum Building" Episode Here
Listen to the "Jumps Training with Coach Kristin Stam" Episode Here

Theme Music by GBMystical!  www.gbmystical.com
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook Here
Follow me on Reddit Here
Follow our Instagram ac...

As much as we hate to acknowledge it, all of us have probably given some thought to what we'd do if an emergency situation of some sort were to arise in our dance classroom. Sadly, many of us have had to deal with these situations first-hand.  That's why I was really thrilled to have the opportunity to speak with Andy Roszak JD, MPA, EMT-Paramedic, Founder & Chief Executive Officer for the Institute for Childhood Preparedness, Chief of Preparedness, Health and Environment for the Region II Head Start Association, adjunct professor in the school of community and environmental health at Old D...

As frequently requested, here is a quick run-down of some of my favorite ice-breaker activities to get students of all ages familiar and comfortable with each other - and you - in the first few weeks of a new class season. 

You can listen to the episode on name games Here

Theme Music by GBMystical!  www.gbmystical.com
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook Here
Follow me on Reddit Here
Follow our Instagram account Here
Please Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify!

Ahhh, here we are at the start of season two!  Time to dive back in - but wait?!  I have some personal news to share with you!  Listen to a quick life update to catch you up to speed on where I'm coming from with this new season, and the direction(s) the show may (or may not) take moving forward!  Who knows at this point?!  Not me!  Enjoy :)

View this episode in Video Form Here

You can listen to the conversation with Audra Queen that I reference in the episode Here

Theme Music...

Well friends, I told you we'd be taking some time this season to delve into identity and personal development this season, and I didn't waste any time getting to it!  I had the honor of sitting down with Jess Grippo to talk about her practice of Creativity Coaching, and even get a little mini-session just for me!  In this episode, you'll learn about Jess' background and what led her to start coaching creativity, among her many other creative/professional outlets.  We then delve into my personal situation and Jess' tips to help me explore my own creativity outside the con...

In today's special bonus episode of The Casual Dance Teacher's Podcast, I chat with decorated choreographer Tiffany Rea-Fisher about her work as a choreographer for Classical Theatre of Harlem, including (but not limited to!) how the process of choreographing for theatrical productions differs from concert dance, how Tiffany's background as a competitive dancer shaped her career, the traits she looks for in dancers auditioning for theatrical productions vs. for her company, and a little teaser about the work she's created for the upcoming season of her modern dance company, Emerge125, premiering May 29th! 
Get more information and tickets f...

Oh my goodness, it's the end of season one of the Casual Dance Teacher's Podcast! We're wrapping up with a quick recap of the amazing highlights of season one, how you can keep up with The Casual Dance Teacher's Network during our brief hiatus, and what's to come! Big thanks for a great first season, and see you in season two!

Theme Music by GBMystical!  www.gbmystical.com
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook Here
Follow me on Reddit Here
Follow our Instagram account Here
Please Leave Us a Review on A...

How can I stay up-to-date on the latest dance news without falling down a social media rabbit-hole?  How can I convey current dance events to my dance students without taking up all our class time?  What trends are happening in the world of dance, and the way that we consume dance media?  In this episode, I delve into all of these questions and much more with Dance News Daily founder Danielle Guillermo!

Check out Dance News Daily Here
Theme Music by GBMystical!  www.gbmystical.com
Recorded Via Squadcast
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on F...

Are you interested in offering dance programming for adult dancers either picking up dance for the first time or continuing their education after time away from dance?  Do you currently offer adult programming but feel that it's not quite working or you have questions and challenges to work through to improve your teaching?  Lindsey Dinneen is here today sharing TONS of knowledge around how to approach teaching adult beginners.  Lindsey started her very own continuing education dance program for adults at a local community college, and grew it from 2 beginner classes to multiple levels of of classes across multiple sty...

The great debate - should you organize your dance class levels by age, or by technical level?  Today's episode isn't really about defending one side or the other on this one, but I'm sharing my insight on the strengths of breaking up classes by skill level, even if that means including a wide range of ages within a class, followed by some tips for training dancers within a mixed-age classroom, where age discrepancy can come with its own set of challenges.

Theme Music by GBMystical!  www.gbmystical.com
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook He...

You can have all the drills, exercises, and teacher "hacks" in the world, but if there's not meaning and intention behind everything you and your students are doing in the dance classroom, what's it all for?!  Acclaimed dancer, choreographer, scholar & educator Anabella Lenzu joins us to explain her philosophy and theory of dance education, and how she helps students understand that their body is an instrument for expression.

Get Anabella's book and learn more about her work Here
Theme Music by GBMystical!  www.gbmystical.com
Recorded Via Squadcast
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on...

Wrapping up our "recital prep" unit on the podcast, I thought it would be fun to share a breakdown of everything I make sure to have with me in my dance bag during tech week!  As a mega-planner, I feel like I'm pretty thorough, covering everything from snacks to spare bobby pins - so give it a listen to make sure you're fully stocked and prepared going into your own recital week!

Theme Music by GBMystical!  www.gbmystical.com
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook Here
Follow me on Reddit Here
Follow me...

Next up in our "recital prep" unit on the podcast are some of my favorite ways to get recital dances clean without boring your students (too much 🙂).  What's your favorite?  Let me know in The Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook!

Theme Music by GBMystical!  www.gbmystical.com
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook Here
Follow me on Reddit Here
Follow me on Instagram Here
Please Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify!

We're kicking off a new "recital prep" unit on the podcast with today's episode taking you line by line through my mental checklist of items I need to cover with my students to make sure both I and they are fully prepared going into tech week!  This includes lighting and sound cues, entrance and exit logistics, hair, makeup, and costume requirements, rehearsal and recital etiquette and more!  Did I miss anything?  Let me know in The Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook!

Theme Music by GBMystical!  www.gbmystical.com
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Face...

Dancer, educator, choreographer (and more) Jason Pickett, who you may better know as @heyitspickett on social media, is here to talk us through his process for creating innovative and meaningful solos for dance students.  I personally find solos so challenging to choreograph because I can't lean on the use of different formations and/or layering of bodies doing different movements, so I was delighted at the opportunity to talk to a true pro on the topic - and I may have been personally attacked along the way, but it was SO SO worth it! 😅

Learn More About "No S...

Today I'm breaking my own "we don't need business advice; we're casual dance teachers" rule by having dance studio owner and business coach Alison Foster-Jones on the show to share her story and tips on growing a studio from 5 students in a rec. room to hundreds of students across multiple studio locations!  Alison has such a great message of leveraging passion and positivity for business success that can be applied to any business venture, from owning a studio, to negotiating freelance contracts, even to maintaining control and structure in the classroom as a teacher; so while one of the p...

Love is in the air!

Ian Howe is Back!  And today we're talking dance photography!  The burning question on my mind - what made the man with 500 jobs decide to start a dance photography business on top of all that?  Then we get into some more practical questions like:  What are the basics needed to do your own dance photography?  How to pose dancers quickly and efficiently for recital photos without them all looking the same?  What factors should we look for in lighting, posing, and editing when hiring a dance photographer?  All this, accompanied by the soothing sound of Ian's Australian bird friends who cra...

I know I can't be the only teacher that just dreads that awkward transition time when you're dismissing one class and the next is waiting to begin!  How will I dismiss everyone safely, take attendance, switch my playlist, answer questions, check my notes, and grab a drink of water without the next class descending into chaos?! Well, I might not have all the answers, but I certainly have a few activities and ideas that have helped me fend off the madness of class transition time over the past few years, so I'm sharing them with you today!

T...

Ok, so if you read the title, you won't have to guess what the "Secret Dance Technique" is, as I suggest in the intro to this episode - it's MENTAL technique!  April Lorenzi literally wrote the book on it, so she's here to share some her tried-and-true tips for helping your students (and yourself) enhance their confidence, resilience, memory - and, in turn, their dancing!!  

Learn more and Get April's Book Here!

Theme Music by GBMystical!  www.gbmystical.com
Recorded Via Squadcast
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook Here
Follow our...

It's that time of year...the pressure's on to teach recital choreography, and so often that means "sacrificing" the class time previously spent on technique and conditioning.  Naturally, we have to continue working technique and conditioning in order for the choreography to look its best at recital time...sometimes, that can mean running the choreography over and over again.  But other times, additional measures are required to get your dancers performance-ready, and it can be easy to forget those when we feel the "choreography crunch!"  Here are a few of the ways that I continue to incorporate technique practice, cor...

Whether or not you teach tap dance specifically, you're in for a treat with this episode with the fabulous Christine Denny!  Denny is a renowned tap teacher, choreographer, and performer with a career spanning over 25 years and covering virtually every facet of the dance world.  Learn about the intricacies of tap dance and what makes teaching tap unique, as well as some of the practical applications of Christine's approach that can be used across a wide variety of dance styles, and more!

Visit Christine's website to learn more about her programs and syllabus here.
Register for Ch...

Veronica Vasquez Garcia is the creator of Moves Made 4 Me, a developmental movement program that combines life skills with dance, as well as the founder of Elevate Collective Solutions, a consulting business that helps organizations implement inclusive practices, and JMM Dance Co, a nonprofit dedicated to raising mental health awareness through SEL programs.  While we couldn't possibly cover the vast breadth of her work in this field, I was thrilled to spend some time picking Veronica's brain about how she developed her curriculum program specifically for individuals with disabilities, and how anyone in the field of dance education can b...

Wow - what a year!  Since launching in June, I've learned SO MUCH from my amazing line-up of distinguished guests, and from connecting with listeners and fellow "Casual Dance Teachers" through our Casual Dance Teacher's Network Facebook page and Casual Dance Teacher's Podcast Instagram account!  To recap this phenomenal year, here's a casual and low-key recap of my personal favorite lessons learned so far this year!

*As noted in the episode, you will notice a slightly distorted sound quality on this one; my holiday gift to myself was just letting this one slide so I can work on...

The word of the day is "Diversify!"  Hear from Choreographer, Studio Owner, Competition Adjudicator, Teacher, Photographer, Performer...basically ALL THE THINGS...Ian Howe as he discusses how he leveraged the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic to build a dance career that fuels his passion and "scratches all the itches," and his advice on how you can follow suit!   

Theme Music by GBMystical!  www.gbmystical.com
Recorded Via Squadcast
Learn more about Ian Howe and his many projects here: www.ianhowedancer.com