Most of what you are about to read has come from one of my primary instructors and mentors, Ms. Skippy Blair. Much of it has been borrowed from the article “Thoughts for Dance Teachers” published in 1991. Still other comments are my own, an eternal student.

“People, who cannot learn, have not been taught.”

“Decisions based on education and discovery equal ten times the value of decisions based on personal preference and/or what someone said.”

“Successful dance teachers recognize that when a class diminishes in size and attendance that something is wrong with the teaching.”

“A successful dance teacher understands the needs of their students and provides what they need as well as what they want.”

“A successful dance instructor judges his/her competency not by how well they dance but how well their students dance.”

“Successful dance teachers keep their finger on the pulse of their craft by staying up to date through continuing education.” To stand still is to move backwards. Nothing is the same as it was five years ago, dance is not an exception.

“Education develops understanding and the ability to communicate. Language is the fundamental form of communication. Keeping an ear open to new terminology and new trends keeps all of us on the cutting edge.” It is my dream and the goal of SEZ to have Hand Dance as much of the cultural development of our young people as Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Modern dance and learning a musical instrument.

“Being able to train students beyond your own capacity is the true test of a teacher of any art form.” Limiting your exposure as a teacher and consequently limiting your students growth simply limits the growth of Hand Dance in the long run and potentially increases the likelihood of us losing once again one of our cultural art forms. If we lose it again it just may not come back.

In closing, I would like very much to hear from you and to get your reaction to these thoughts, positive and negative. Please take a minute and post your comments below.

We at Smooth & Ez love to hear from our students – past, present and future!  Please feel free to add your comments below.