Teaching Dance

The cannons don't thunder there's nothin' to plunder I'm an over forty victim of fate; arriving too late Arriving too late. ~ Jimmy Buffett lyrics from A Pirate Looks At Forty photo courtesy of aging booth A few weeks ago I celebrated my fortieth birthday over dinner with my long-time friend Sam and his family. Sam and I met when I was twenty, and to tell you the truth, I don’t feel Sam and I are all that different from then. I don’t share Buffett’s assertion of being a victim of fate. Granted, my body tells me differently. The soreness I feel in the morning after a full day of rehearsals, the absolute necessity to warm-up before rehearsal to keep my back from protesting, and my progressively graying hair on the sides of my head (remember the editor in old Spider Man comics) all testify to the fact that my body is moving on whether my mind and heart realize it or not. However, my impression of what forty would feel like back when I was a teen bears no resemblanc...

Daylight lingers long--sultry summer sun an early moon roosted high watches, waits for sun’s egress yet, she lingers on Charlotte sits on the porch, rocking in a simple chair of solid maple, rocking forward, creaking back rocking forward, creaking back in a faded sundress that hangs loose at her hips, clings limply to sunken shoulders Stray, wild strands from ginger hair, lightened by age, bunched and plopped atop her head, tickle and cool her neck, rocking forward, creaking back on weakened floor boards, a wrap-around porch with cracked paint railings and splintered steps Horseflies buzz in air thick with dandelion seeds, hay, manure, Charlotte rocking forward, creaking back snaps heads and tails from green beans, snap, snap, drop, toss nimble fingers, gently old quickly jerk, break off ends, release crisp, green aroma, snap, snap, drop, toss Sometimes takes one raw bean in her mouth, tastes its leafy, earthy sweetness, its fuzzy coat and seeping cent...

I had an interview with a reporter today about the Teacher Training Workshop (among other things). Besides the obvious benefit of going over every lesson and vocabulary in the syllabus, the workshop had some great moments when we covered teacher specific concepts. We discussed the 6 Classes Method, Teaching Multiple Perspectives, and covered a handful of Teaching Tools from a handbook I am currently researching and writing. The 6 Classes Method is included in the Support Manual from my Jazz Dance Technique & Syllabus and provides teaches a helpful tool for keeping consistency in their lessons and provides the opportunity to look at any single lesson in great depth (without becoming stale or monotonous...hopefully). Teaching Multiple Perspectives is a dance teacher specific approach to the material I will be presenting at the National Dance Education Organization’s annual conference in Minneapolis this October. In a nutshell, it looks at the variety of perspectives or mindset...

Day Three of the Teacher Training Workshop went well. Since we were working on levels 5 and 6--the most advanced, it was great having the younger teachers to help illustrate some of the more physically challenging elements (thanks Lianne and Alex!). Loved trading ideas and information with Genevieve (hope you have a safe trip home—oh, I am going to take your suggestion about the DVD’s). I got a kick out of seeing a self-professed non-jazz dancer totally rock the latin hips and Cuban walk (work it Irene). And, Melissa’s bubbly energy brought such humor, joy and insight to the classes (thank you). In the evening, Melissa and I did a photo shoot for Ridgefield Magazine . Donned in outfits from local stores (mine from Hutton's --I got to wear a hat!--and Melissa's from Parker East Dry Goods ), we had a good time goofing off and feeling awkward in front of the camera. It’s funny how as dancers we seem naturally more comfortable moving than we do posing. I ended the night on a...

Day Two of the Teacher Training Workshop was even better than Day One . While being much more sore than I was after the first day, I am also much more inspired and excited about working and sharing with these teaching-artists. We are an extremely varied group and that makes for such a dynamic and interesting mix. Tomorrow is our last day and I am looking forward to it but know I will miss the discussions, laughter and camaraderie when it is over.