We all know the importance of continuing education in any field and the same is true for dance teachers. Though plies & pas de bourees may date back to the 1400′s, dance continues to evolve and so does our teaching. However, education for a dance teacher is not just about movement. Our students are not just working hard to grow as artists. They are working hard at academics as well as maturing into young adults. So our education must complement their hard work- to be comprehensive guides to the dance world, we also educate ourselves in different ways.
Last week, several of our faculty met with Dr. Laura Weisberg at the Duke Clinics to talk about how to best provide a caring environment for raising happy, positive students. Dr. Weiberg specializes in Medical Psychology and it was a mutually informative experience. We talked about campaigning for health, healthy environments, nutritionists, open forums for parents and more. We discussed how or whether to approach parents when we notice changes in a student’s behavior. And we learned about other schools like the National Ballet of Canada and what they have done to address support services in a ballet school (http://www.humanehealthcare.com/Article.asp?art_id=289). We had a great afternoon and felt more focused than ever on Cary Ballet’s philosophy. Have you ever read it?
We believe that in building the students self-esteem, we will not only enable them to take chances and reach higher goals, but we can help build strong confident people who will excel in everyday life. We never encourage competition; but insist that our students respect and praise each other. When dancers give so much of themselves, doing what they love, it is comforting and meaningful to know that we are all among friends. Our goal is to utilize our experience and instincts to make a positive difference; never sacrificing our standards. We welcome enthusiastic families who would like to experience and benefit from the traditions of fine training in a nurturing environment.
Notes: Other schools which offer support services include…
“Schools of the Pacific Northwest Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, and Royal Winnipeg have professionals on the premises, and at the Joffrey, Washington, Houston, and Miami City Ballet schools, students with problems are referred to outside nutritionists or therapists. Seven psychological consultants and three therapists are on staff at Juilliard to provide care for students in need.” Dance Magazine / Oct, 1997
