The pre-school dance level can be an amazingly wonderful age to teach. Dancers between the ages of three and five years old are brand new to the world and to dance, so these tiny dancers come with boat loads of energy, creativity, and a sparkle of mischief and whimsy in their little eyes! The truth is, however, this isn’t a job for the faint of heart, and it can be really (I mean REALLY) hard. These little ones can literally run circles around you, and before you know it – they’ll have you feeling like you’ve just taken a few trips on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride! Teachers who tackle this age bracket should know that when you’re faced with a room full of high-energy kiddos aged 3-5 years old, clear expectations, repetition/routine, and FUN are all vital for a successful year of dance to happen. So, “what are my five keys?” you’re wondering? Well, let’s get into it….
Here are my five keys for helping your beginning dancers (and their parents!) fall in love with dance while keeping command of the classroom!
1. Ground RULES
Rules are meant to be broken!!! No, I’m just kidding… Rules keep everyone safe, learning, and having fun. Rules in general are implemented into all facets of our lives, so why shouldn’t we have them in our dance classes? Parents and dancers (yes, even young ones) should walk into the dance season knowing the boundaries and expectations set for them. Now, I’m not saying that you need to come out of the gate like the dance police, but having a set of ground rules, for your students and their parents, will easily allow your students to grow, respect you, and dance their hearts out as your weeks together move forward. Setting the group up for success from the first day by sharing your expectations with them from Day 1 makes it much easier for everyone to meet them from one week to the next.
2. MUSIC!
I am lucky enough to have live accompaniment in my pre-ballet classes, but for those of you who do not have that luxury to assist you in your dance classes, a strong playlist is instrumental (haha, see what I did there?) to the success of your pre-dance level classes. Well – any dance class really – but, selecting music that works together with your lesson plans and structure of your class in a way where you don’t need to take time away from the class to switch is monumental!
*Extra tip*
In recent years, I went ahead and purchased an Apple Watch, which is synced up to my phone and Spotify. Not having to leave my class unattended to change the music was a huge game changer!
3. Use Your Voice
Never underestimate the power you have in controlling your classroom with just your voice! Even a slight change in tone can bring your tiny ones into focus. If you find that your young ones are hard to bring back to attention or focus, I would suggest that you *NOT* start off by instinctually yelling! (Not that I haven’t done that … A LOT, HA!) Instead, try using your inflection and a slight change in demeanor to help bring your dancers back when they have lost their focus. Sometimes, a moment of silence speaks volumes over fighting the crowd to raise your voice.
*Extra tip*
I always have an instrument – like a bell, or Tambourine – to help rattle attention, or I will ask my Pianist to play a cord. Additionally, I have a “follow along” song or “special activity song” lined up, incase my voice is not enough to capture my young ones’ attention.
4. Imagination & Props
I relentlessly say that the goal for the first years of dance is to enchant and make the children fall in love with the art of movement. Now, of course learning terminology and the beginnings of technique are super important, but what better way to help the dancers fall in love with dance than exploring their imaginations and creativity?! Explore different ways to tell stories and connect movements to shapes and objects. The possibilities are endless when you yourself put YOUR mind to it. This is where the props come in as well! These too can be your best friend if your class is derailing quickly. Props are most certainly fun, engaging, and help with fine and gross motor skills – and they help with the imagery and can be a great refocusing tool, too!
*Extra Tip*
Some of my go-to favorites are: Scarves for clouds or wind and braided yarn to make shapes, magic wands, and hula hoops!
5. Transitions, Transitions, Transitions!
As much as props help to refocus your tiny dancers’ energy and attention, one of my most key factors in a successful pre-dance level class is having a lot of transitional material! Keep in mind, these dancers are young – with just as young of an attention span. Being able to incorporate different elements into your class that you’re able to change out quickly and repeat weekly is key. This will help the dancers learn the structure and flow of class while you continue to keep their busy minds engaged. I almost always start my pre-schoolers on the floor with a welcome and stretch and then we work our way to standing before we dance across the floor and explore our prop, story, or “special activity ” as I like to call it.
There are so very many different tips, tricks, and ways to approach a Pre-Dance level class; and even still, year after year, I am developing my own techniques more and more. My students teach me daily, just as much as I teach them. My hope is that some of the tools listed above help YOU in your pursuit of teaching young ones how to dance!
PROfounDANCE
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