04. Relationship Building | The value of getting to know your dancers

There is a special bond that gets developed between good dance teachers and their dancers. There has to be mutual teacher-student respect, combined with a leadership or mentorship role, a level of care and compassion, trust, and of course, professionalism. But that doesn’t mean you don’t need to get to know your dancers and build solid relationships with them.

When you take the time to build relationships with your dancers, getting to know them and letting them get to know you, your teaching and your dancer’s learning, will skyrocket. You learn to teach in ways your dancers better respond to, and as the teacher-dancer relationship strengthens, you also strengthen your communication, productivity, and overall performance. Open, honest communication helps you teach authentically, improve accountability, and enhance your classes for all your performers.

The role of dance teacher is a special one and when handled with respect and care, dance teachers can help positively impact the lives of their dancers, one dance step at a time, from the stage and beyond.