Tips for Eliminating Boredom and Frustration in Mixed-Level Classes
by Brianna Randall
1. Use live music, even if it’s only one or two musicians for a portion of the class, to increase students’ energy and excitement.
2. Present steps in “blocks” that can be combined to form more challenging combinations. Begin with simple foot patterns, slowly adding more complicated arm, torso, head and hip movements.
3. Bring beginners to the front of the room when teaching routines because they may prefer to hide behind advanced students. They will benefit from having no one “better” in front of them while learning new movements.
4. Encourage students to close their eyes or turn away from the mirrors to help them relax and move freely to the beat.
5. Greet students by name when possible, and allow five minutes for everyone in the class to introduce themselves to each other and become comfortable with those dancing around them.
5. Dancing in a circle or with partners facing each other creates a lively and friendly atmosphere among students instead of an antagonistic one.
6. Smile! And dance with the students instead of standing separately in a corner or in the front.
