Learn dance. Get better. Start teaching.
That's the usual trend. It almost seems that teaching a class is the next step in the natural progression of a dancer.
Well, it's NOT.
Teaching dance is not a resume filler nor is it a requirement to be a good dancer. Teaching requires a separate skill set that is augmented by your skills as a dancer.
The responsibility of being a teacher should be held sacred; you are responsible for imparting knowledge that may inspire generations, or you may end up crippling the art form.
If you have the passion to teach, you want to contribute to the culture and its people, preserving knowledge and pushing boundaries. You do it for others and for the artform, NOT for yourself. NOT because it makes you feel like a more important person or having a status.
And you should most most most not definitely do it for the money. If you need money, there are a thousand other ways to achieve that.
Failure to realise this results in a scene where young teachers are undercutting the market, random names popping out of nowhere and disappearing equally as fast. People burning themselves out because they are not doing what they want. And worst of all, teachers who do not even realise they do not actually want to be teachers.
If you really have the passion to teach, you would, even if it was for free. You will then find ways to get paid doing that.
Find the INTENTION of teaching, not the ATTENTION.1
So nows nows the next BIG question:
How do I know if I'm good enough to teach?
Everyone has to start from somewhere right?
Yes, that's true, great teachers are not created overnight, they too have to go through a learning and discovery process to solidify their understanding of their craft and pedagogy.
The thing is, you don't have to be good, you just need to have the drive to want to teach BETTER. You spend your time thinking of ways to teach concepts and philosophies. You constantly try to elevate your choreography and give meaning to people coming to experience it. You spend more time on improving others than yourself. You are committed to being a teacher, not a dancer first.
Studios, please support your new teachers with advice and guidance on how to teach. New teachers please get advice and help to work on improving your pedagogy!
Now, what if I don't want to be a teacher but I still want to contribute? Then SHARE.
Sharing is giving opinions, ideas and instructions in a non intrusive manner. Anyone can share anything, whether good or bad. It just takes a lot more filtering and understanding to be able to tell what's a good share and a negative one.
Teaching VS Sharing:
When you teach you are telling someone to do something
When you share you are telling someone that they can do something
When you teach you are responsible for their growth
When you share it doesn't matter if they grow or not
When you teach you have a long term plan
When you share, you focus on single topics
Try to find the differences and learn to understand your priorities.
Dancer. Performer. Choreographer. Teacher.
These are all different responsibilities and paths. Know what you want, if not, do some soul searching. You need the answer to that more than just doing it.
With that, let's create a community with people doing the things they are passionate about, and in the right priorities.
For all aspiring and passionate teachers out there, thank you for all your contributions and inspiration.
If you are new to teaching, may the years give you wisdom and experience. For the seasoned and veterans, keep yourself rooted yet current.
Go forth and teach..... Or.... Just DANCE
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