Dance to Learn® Podcast | The Preschool Dance Teacher's Podcast Jessica Strong

A dance parent unenrolled her child after our instructor read a book in dance class. How can I best educate my dance families on the importance of incorporating books with dance class? 

Special Guest Once Upon a Dance
Once Upon a Dance offers movement, breath, joy, connection, and imagination through stories.
Their catalog of 25 interactive dance books highlights positive messages and role models throughout four main series:
 Dance-It-Out! stories combine whimsical tales with movement and subtle life lessons (spans ages 4-9)
Dancing Shapes peeks at a professional ballerina's journey, teaches ballet, and explores detail and form (spans ages 6-11)
Ballet Inspiration and Choreography Concepts deep dives into technique, tips, and insight for aspiring dancers (ages 8-12)
Prop-Based Dance Stories for Classroom and Anytime Fun debuts in 2023 to encourage scarf and parachute play.
Visit DanceStories.com to learn about the mother-daughter duo, book details, charity partners—all royalties donated through 2030, or parent/teacher resources. Follow @Once_UponADance for upcoming sneak peaks, dance photos, and the latest on their goofy cats.
About the Authors
Teacher Terrel arrived in Seattle after a Peace Corps stint teaching English and dance. Complementing decades of dance instruction, Terrel worked in early childhood education and for non-profits supporting kids. She was recognized by her local City Council for "embodying the spirit of partnership and commitment to children in our community" for her work with young dancers. Her daughter realized her dreams and is a full-fledged professional ballerina.
How to Connect with Once Upon a Dance:
Website: https://www.dacnestories.com
Website: https://OnceUponADance.com
Website: https://CreativeMovementStories.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/once_uponadance/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OnceUponADanceViralDancing
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/OnceUponADance   
Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/onceuponadance
Topics covered today: 
How to use Books successfully in a Dance Class. Setting Expectations and Educating Families on what they can expect from your classes before registering. The benefits of utilizing Children's Literature in Dance ClassShow Notes:
Florrie Flamingo
Podcast Episode: Season 3 E6 My Author Journey! Creating Florrie Flamingo® and Friends
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My students will only dance if they hold my hand, it's causing disruptions in class.
How can I best structure a shorter 6-8 week dance session so all my students can feel challenged and nurtured. 

Special Guest Maria Hanely
A passionate advocate for early childhood dance education, Maria Hanley specializes in teaching ages 0 months to 6 years. She has left NYC to teach dancers in the greater Cleveland area. Currently, Maria is teaching early childhood classes at The Mandel JCC, Hudson Conservatory of Ballet, and virtual classes with BOLD Arts!
Maria has designed and implemented creative ballet programs for the young families and after school division at the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan and the Mandel JCC in Cleveland, OH. Maria has taught a variety of creative dance and infant/toddler programs throughout New York City and Cleveland, including The Mark Morris Dance Group, Dancewave Center and 92Y Parenting Center, The Beck Center, Cleveland City Dance, Solon Chabad Preschool, Park Preschool, JDN preschool, and Ganon Gil.
Maria authors the blog Maria’s Movers (www.mariasmovers.com) where she shares creative ideas and strategies for teaching young dancers. The blog unites a community of teachers who are inspiring our youngest dance artists every day. Maria holds a Master’s degree in Dance Education from New York University and a Bachelor’s degree in dance from Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. Maria served on the Dance/NYC Junior Committee for 2 years and presented at the 2012 Dance USA Conference. She also presents at the Dance Teacher Summit in New York City!
Additionally, in 2020 Maria started a dance and movement subscription box service called Move & Bloom.
How to Connect with Maria:
https://mariasmovers.com/
https://www.instagram.com/mariasmovers

Topics covered today: 
Working through disruptive behaviors in a positive way.How to restructure activities to limit anxiety in dancers. How to structure shorter 6 week dance sessions for success. Meeting the needs of all students in a shorter dance session.Show Notes:
Separation Anxiety Webinar
Separation Anxiety in the Dance Studio
Dance to Learn® Podcast Season 4 Episode 9: Separation Anxiety 
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Ask Jessica - Your questions/challenges/problems may be addressed on air! 
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How can you teach class without a theme? Should you teach dance without a theme? How do you prioritize your class flow to ensure nothing important is missed? How can you structure a large class to ensure no child is missed?

Special Guest Corey Lozier
Corey Lozier is a dance teacher, studio owner, and dance education resource creator who specializes in tap dance for early childhood. Corey pulls from her hands-on experience with her students in the classroom and from her time in the professional dance world to create her resources and lesson plans. Corey is passionate about the benefits of imagination and rhythm-based dance on students of all ages, and she loves sharing her ideas. 
How to Connect with Corey:
https://www.dancedancehooray.com
https://instagram.com/dancedancehooray
https://www.facebook.com/dancedancehooray

Topics covered today: 
Why themes are important in a preschool dance class. What should you prioritize in your class flow? How can ensure that you get to all the important items?How can you ensure all students are prioritized in a large class?What is the best way to to teach choreography to a large group? Tap music, skills, and more! Show Notes:
Dance to Learn® Membership
Dance Dance Hooray Tap Membership
Dance Dance Hooray Tap Dance Lesson Plans
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Should students be in charge of preschool dance classes? I will cover this topic and more with special guest Erin Burd as we answer some problems, struggles and questions from dance teachers and studio owners!

Special Guest Erin Burd:
Erin Burd, is a Dance Studio Strategist, Author and Speaker. She started Birdy’s Kids In Motion in 2009 and grew her mobile dance company to serve 3 counties in California. Erin is passionate about paying it forward and launched Erin Burd Coaching, and now Dance Studio Empire where she has taught thousands of studio owners and educators to launch and grow their businesses and create their own unique visions of success. 
How to Connect with Erin:
www.ErinBurd.com
https://www.facebook.com/dancestudioempire

Topics covered today: 
Strategies to prevent parents from dropping their child after the first class if they don't participate.How should a Parent and Me Dance class be structured for Success? Student Teachers - should they be teaching preschool classes?Thank you to our Season 6 Sponsor: dance dance hooray!
At dance dance HOORAY, we believe in the power of imagination and creativity and how, when harnessed with developmentally appropriate skills and concepts, it can help our students to soar!  We're passionate about creating learning scenarios and teacher tools that build on the great technique and knowledge you already provide for your students, while saving you time, opening up new avenues of learning, and giving you peace of mind and confidence too. With dance games, tap lesson plans, & dance camp and birthday parties bundles, dance dance HOORAY has got you covered!
https://www.dancedancehooray.com/#/
https://www.dancedancehooray.com/tap-dance-central.html#/
https://www.dancedancehooray.com/store/c9/Featured_Products.html#/

Show Notes:
Mommy and Me Curriculum: https://learn.dancetolearnuniversity.com/bundles/curriculum-mommy-teddy-bear-and-me
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Welcome to Season 6 of the Dance to Learn Podcast - The Preschool Dance Teacher’s Podcast! I’m your Host Jessica Strong!
I am so excited for this season, because I’m introducing a new format! This season is all about YOU! I am answering your questions, providing help and guidance with your biggest struggles in the studio setting and I’m inviting Industry Leaders as guests to discuss your biggest challenges and provide you with guidance, support and resources to help you in your journey as a Dance Educator! 
Season 6 Premieres on our new day and time - Thursday November 9th with my featured guest Erin Burd! You won’t want to miss it! Tune on Apple and Spotify podcasts. 
If you have a question, problem or challenge that you would like addressed on air, visit our website: thepreschooldanceteacherspodcast.com and click “Ask Jessica” and I may feature your question on an upcoming episode! 
Happy Dancing! 



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In today's Podcast Episode, I wanted to talk about one of the key takeaways from last week's podcast interview with Allison Mell from Tots and Target. Did you know that the CDC recently removed crawling as a developmental milestone? As a dance teacher, this is really concerning! Crawling provides so many benefits to young children, not just in the physical sense but also for their brain and sensory development! What can we do as dance teachers to help students who may have skipped the crawling phase, or performed a-typical crawling patterns without being corrected. Listen to today's episode for some ideas! 

Listen to last week's interview with Allison Mell from Tots on Target Here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/862741/10301254

Follow Tots on Target: 
Website: https://totsontarget.com/
Community: https://community.totsontarget.com/
Instagram: @totsontarget
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TotsOnTarget
Babies on the Move Course: https://totsontarget.com/infant-course/

To be a Guest on the Podcast or for Advertising Inquiries, please email info@dancetolearn.co 

The Dance to Learn Podcast airs every Wednesday at 9:00am MT on Apple, Spotify and YouTube. Leave a 5 star review of the Podcast and you’re review may be read on air for your chance to receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card. 

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About Us: Jessica Strong is the founder and Creative Director of Dance to Learn, LLC. Dance to Learn offers the Dance to Learn Curriculum, an educational dance curriculum. Our Preschool Dance Curriculum is focused on teaching the dance concepts in a fun and creative way. The Dance to Learn University offers resources for Dance Teachers, Preschool Dance Teachers, Early Childhood Education Teachers, Dance Studio Owners and anyone looking to teach educational dance classes designed to reach the whole child. 

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