|
 The
Rewards of Teaching
Dance Studio Life readers describe why they love teaching
dance
FOSTERING CREATIVITY
I love seeing students creating dances, helping them to find
that inner voice. —Abigail Agresta-Stratton, West Islip
High School Bay Shore, NY
I
am rewarded by preschool students who have no fear of being
creative. I love to see them move with such freedom. And their
outfits brighten my day! —Jana Morris, Small Fry Dance Club
Dublin, CA
SEEING KIDS GROW AND CHANGE
To see young dancers grow into fine adults, whether they
pursue a dance career or not, is the best reward. Children
learn not only the discipline for ballet but for life; they
learn how to be organized, manage a schedule, and have goals.
Plus, the discipline of ballet makes them culturally educated
people. —Vladimir Issaev, Vladimir Issaev School of
Classical Ballet Miami, FL
Seeing the transformation from ugly duckling to swan! And by
that I do not mean simply physical beauty, but the change from
those first awkward attempts to graceful execution. Knowing
that I had some influence in a student’s development as a
dancer and a well-rounded, poised person is an honor.
—Doreen Wackerfuss, The DanceXpress School of Dance, Arlington
Heights, IL
SHARING PASSION FOR DANCE
Passing on a passion. Passing on values, morals, and technique
all wrapped in fun makes you remember you are not just
a dance teacher. —Tarilyn Hall, Tarilyn’s Dance Studio
Omaha, NE
Knowing that many of our students will be instilled with a
lasting love of dance, physical activity, or the arts in
general and that we helped foster that. —Heidi Sontag,
NewDance Rye Brook, NY
Being able to share my passion for dance while doing a job I
love is the greatest! I also get a huge kick out of watching
someone’s face light up when they finally get a certain step.
It sounds simple, but the simple things in life are most
rewarding. —Amy DeFeudis, Dance Designs, Inc. Hyannis, MA
The best part of being a dance teacher is being able to impart
my love and passion for dance into others. I sometimes feel
like they should not be paying me—I should be paying them. It
is worth so much to watch their precious little faces full of
joy and wonder as they learn and dance! —Julie Bridges,
Agape Christian Dance Academy Beaumont, TX
INFLUENCING LIVES
Finding out years later that I have impacted a student’s life
in a positive and profound way. Two students have told me that
they were on seriously dangerous paths in life and that I made
the difference. —Doreen R. Freeman
Making a difference in young children’s lives. For one
student, I was her harbor from her eating disorder; for
another, I was the reason she went on in dance when others
told her that her body was not right. She landed at Alvin
Ailey! —Suzanne Goodman, Easley Dance Conservatory Easley,
SC
I think I have helped create citizens who are self-reliant,
determined, have a good work ethic and high self-esteem,
understand the importance of self-expression, and appreciate
individuality. A parent of a plump 7-year-old told me, “My
daughter has been teased in school since kindergarten. This is
the only place where she is not judged by how she looks, but
by what she can accomplish.” That’s what makes it worthwhile.
—Stephanie Steinmeyer, Hawthorn Dance and Gymnastics
Versailles, MO
The knowledge that children are forever changed for having
pursued an art form. They will see life differently, and more
richly. —Nancy Whyte, Nancy Whyte School of Ballet
Bellingham, WA
The privilege of making a difference in someone’s life. It is
a choice to make a difference, to leave your opinions aside
and to touch and inspire, share and teach without inhibition
for the good of each student. Watching that process is a gift
to be cherished. —Julie Smith, Strut Your Stuff North
Bellmore, NY
Touching the lives of the students. My proudest moments are
with the students to whom dance does not come easily or who
have a poor self-image. It makes my job worthwhile when I can
make students feel good about themselves and their potential
to learn. One of my greatest accomplishments was with a
student who came to me when I first opened. She was ready to
quit because she had never been encouraged. That was seven
years ago, and now she is attending Dean College as a dance
major. Stories like this make what I do a joy and an
accomplishment. —Claudia Dickson, Reflections Dance Academy
Selden, NY
When your students thrive. Great teachers [are revealed] not
through themselves, but through the quality, determination,
knowledge, technique, responsibility, stage presence, and
professionalism of their students. —Anthony LoCascio,
dance4students.com San Jose, CA
SEEING IMPROVEMENT
Seeing students turn the corner to the next level. When they
close their eyes and really feel what they are doing, I
believe they truly understand what it means to be a performer.
—Monique Ryan, Dance Theatre of Huntsville Huntsville, AL
Seeing kids develop and improve, and motivating and inspiring
them to get the most they can out of dance training. If we do
not motivate them, they will not likely want to continue dance
and that’s really sad. —Laurel Ashbee-Rodgers, Expressions
Dance Centre Ltd Whitby, ON, Canada
Watching my students grow in skills, confidence, and
personality. It is such a thrill to see them go beyond my
expectations. —Carla Wilson, Northwest Missouri Academy of
Dance Cameron, MO
HUGS AND MORE
Seeing the progress of your students, getting a hug from them
at the end of class, and receiving a picture they drew of
themselves dancing with you. —Kristina Pospeshil,
Kristina’s Studio of Dance Buffalo Grove, IL
The hugs from the little ones at the end of class. Those
happen daily and certainly improve my day. But the rewards you
have to wait for, like watching a student struggle with a step
and then master it, warm the heart as well. —April Mosher,
MaryAnn Studio of Dance Springfield, MA
Seeing children grow both as dancers and as people, and when
they give you a hug and say they love you and want to be a
dance teacher some day. —Kathy Smith, Rising Stars School
of Baton, Tumbling, and Dance, Beloit, WI
The kid who hugs you after class and her eyes are glowing with
a love for dance. I love knowing that I made a kid so happy
and proud while educating her at the same time. —Katrina
Rhodes Wallace, Kennett School of Performing Arts, Kennett, MO
SUCCESS
Watching the students who didn’t think they could do it walk
away with a smile! —Cheryl Cusick, Narragansett P/A/C
Narragansett, RI
Watching students make new discoveries and feeling the joy
pour out them; seeing their esteem crescendo as they achieve
something special. —Dorie Duvall, Dance Arts Conservatory
Wellington, FL
The joy of watching a face light up when the routine “clicks”
and the student is dancing like a pro after so much hard work.
And teaching little ones and seeing the fruit of your hard
work years later when they are so confident and graceful.
—Natalie Toner, The Dance Company Johannesburg, Gauteng, South
Africa
The success of a student, whether it’s the preschooler who
finally stops crying in every class, the 7-year-old who takes
their first dance exam, or the beginner teen who moves out of
rec classes after a ton of hard work. It is helping each
dancer to be more than they were when they walked in, watching
confidence (in all aspects of life) and a healthy body image
grow, seeing friendships that will last forever develop.
—Tara Wildeman, Ambition Performing Arts Inc. Calgary, AB,
Canada
LONG-TERM PAYBACK
Seeing very shy students come out of their shells and a
student make it into a professional dance company. But most
important are those students who return as adults to tell you
what a difference you and dance made in their lives.
—Isabelle Cook, Isabelle’s Dance Time Veradale, WA
The relationships with the dancers. I see how we have affected
many dancers and families and how they have affected us. We
are now teaching great-grandchildren of some of the students
my grandmother taught in the 1930s and ’40s. I am an only
child and I consider them my extended family. —Shena
Cameron-Prihoda, Cameron School of Dance Greenfield Park, QC,
Canada
When your students are constantly writing you back, after 25
years, telling you what an impact you had on their lives. I
never considered myself just a dance teacher. I learned
long ago from a great guru of mine that I was an educator,
teaching people how to think, changing the quality of
peoples’ lives. —Marianne Herzog-Bazin, Haitian-American
Academy of Ballet & Arts, Coral Springs, FL
It happens years after the kids leave, when I see the values
and the fun they had and the light in their eyes when they
talk about their years with me and dance. —Cathy Roe, Cathy
Roe Productions, Santa Fe, NM
When a student who has graduated comes by during their college
break, it makes you realize the impact you had on their
lives—and they on yours. —Gina Chiavelli, Pinewood School
of Dance Stormville, NY
VALIDATION
Knowing that no matter how tough life may seem, there is
always some little dancer who believes in you and loves you.
One parent told me that her daughter said that I am the real
Cinderella. It made me laugh and remember how I always looked
up to my dance teachers. —Gina Wiley, The Dancer By Gina,
Delphos, OH
The admiration and love I feel from my students and the gift
of dance that they seem to cherish and want to pass on to
others as I have to them. —Tori Melby, Dancer’s Workshop,
Sanford, NC
FULFILLING DREAMS
I find great joy in teaching my adult students, most of whom
wanted to take dance as children. They are finally achieving
their dreams. They tell me that because of my dance classes
they are losing weight, feeling great about themselves, and
keeping their minds sharp. —Holly Dawson, Footlights School
of Dance Inc. Springfield, IL
A SAFE HAVEN
Knowing that the studio is a safe place for kids to socialize
and create lifetime memories makes me feel like a proud parent
hundreds of times over. Dancing keeps them out of trouble and
gives them something to look forward to. Maybe academically a
student doesn’t do well, but dancing is what they ace! —Kim
Falvey, Branchville Dance Centre Inc., Lafayette, NJ
When Olivia, a pleasantly plump little ballerina of mine,
dances around the room with a piece of chi_ on and says, “Ms.
Leigh Anne, I love coming here because I feel so beautiful,”
it makes everything right in the world! —Leigh Anne Lawson,
Lawson Dance Studio, Logan, OH
The greatest reward is not only seeing my students excel but
also being a part of their lives in their formative years. I
feel that my studio provides a safe, nurturing, happy refuge.
I have done my share of counseling and was glad I could be
there when needed. —Lisa Dallas, Dance Productions
Unlimited, Arnold, MO
Seeing your students grow up and refer to you as their second
mother and the studio as their second home. Also the letters
from parents thanking me for having such a positive impact on
their child. —Beverly Smithey, Stage I Dance Academy, Inc.
Greenwood, IN
DOING WHAT THEY LOVE
Loving my work, loving the children—and most of the parents.
—Lisa O’Sullivan, The Spirit of Dance Marietta, GA
Getting to dance for a living and being with kids all day
long! —Lori Pryor, Dance Foundations Columbia, MD
BEING AN INSPIRATION
Becoming such a huge inspiration in a child’s life. Giving
them the gifts of discipline, self-confidence, passion for an
art form. Having numerous students write papers for school on
me being their hero or greatest inspiration—it doesn’t get
much better than that! —Melissa Lloyd, North Andover School
of Dance North Andover, MA
THE LIGHT BULB OR “AHA!” MOMENT
Seeing that “light bulb” come on for a struggling student.
They work and work, and when they finally get it you see joy,
accomplishment, and most of all, a peace that runs through
them. —N. Jeanine Baxter, Catch a Star Performing Arts
Center Seymour, IN
My biggest reward is the baby steps. I truly enjoy the process
and seeing the “light bulb” moments in the classroom. I have
many students who have gone on to professional careers in
dance, and although I’m very proud of them, my biggest rewards
remain in the classroom! —Tracy Davenport, Performing Arts
Centre Inc. St. Charles, MO
I cherish the moment when I see that light bulb finally go on
in a child who has been struggling and they look up at me and
say, “I did it!” There is nothing better. —Jennifer Shiplet,
Dance Arts Center, LL Albuquerque, NM
PASSING ON A LEGACY
The idea that for years, the same information has been passed
down and I know I am one link in that important chain. Also, I
love the feeling that I am inspiring others. —Rachel
Roberts, Momentum Dance Tulsa, OK F
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