The Casual Dance Teacher's Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

After 16 episodes, most of you know that I have a tendency to hate on TikTok, Dance Influencers, and Social Media in general, so buckle up for this one!  On today's episode, I had the immense privilege of interviewing Alicia Mae Holloway, former Dance Theatre of Harlem and Suzanne Farrell Ballet dancer, who also happens to be a model, influencer, and former realty tv show contestant with over 500,000 TikTok followers and a social media reach in the tens of millions! 
Alicia dished on the pros and cons of using social media for both education and promotion, what's REALLY important when it comes to training young ballet dancers, and a little helping of piping hot "Bachelor" tea for me, the shameless fan!  Enjoy!

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Hello and welcome from one of the WORST name-learners out there!  I have struggled with remembering students names since I first started teaching, but over the last decade, I've slowly developed a few techniques and activities that help even me learn students' names quickly and remember them after the first week or two of classes.  Here are my thoughts...head over to the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook to connect and share your input!
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Megan Williams is the director of the Youth Instructional Dance Program at Fort Campbell, KY - a program exclusively for children of active duty and retired military families.  Her unique experience in this role is not only fascinating to learn about, but also comes with a lot of lessons that can be applied by dance educators in all kinds of programs!  Learn how Megan cultivates a life-long love of dance through a program where the average student moves every one to two years!  Megan also shares insight about the military guidelines under which she operates, navigating cultural and communication differences with students, and supporting her students in their transitions to new studios. 
Join us to discuss in the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook! 
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Pirouettes - Let's Talk About It!  Pirouettes, or turns in general, seem to be at the forefront of dance media, but are they really THAT big a part of what we do?  Join me as I explore the relevance of pirouettes in casual dance training, as well as just a couple of my personal methods for teaching this skill.  Let's keep the conversation going in the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook!
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Genevieve Fuller joins us in this episode to share some practical tips and exercises that can be implemented in any dance classroom to ease stress, facilitate mental and emotional well-being, and equip students with the tools and skills to use movement and body-based practices to regulate their own mental health outside the classroom.
Genevieve is a board-certified dance/movement therapist (BC-DMT) and licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) in Massachusetts, and owns her own therapy practice using dance/movement therapy informed EMDR with adults who have experienced trauma or other lived experiences that are having a negative impact on their life.  You can connect with Genevieve and/or learn more about her practice at www.genevievefuller.com.

While most of us love music, sometimes choosing music for our dance classes can be daunting!  In this episode, I share my tips for curating and organizing playlists for a variety of styles of dance with music that's age appropriate, varied, and engaging for both you and your students!  Join me in The Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook to contribute your own ideas!

Join me in the casual dance teacher's network on Facebook to continue the conversation!
We're kicking things off with Maia's step-by-step guide on how to map out your curriculum for the entire dance season!  I've developed this curriculum-planning process over the past several years, and I'm hoping it helps you kick off a new dance season feeling organized and empowered to be the best dance teacher you can be!

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Kristin Stam is a track and field coach at Bloomsburg University, specializing in jumping events.  She also just so happens to be my sister :) In this episode, we get her professional insight on how to maximize dancers' physical performance throughout the season, plus some practical tips and drills to get stronger, higher jumps from our dancers!

What is the Casual Dance Teacher's Podcast, and why is it here? 
Join me in the casual dance teacher's network on Facebook!

It's Choreography Month!  All month long, I'll be sharing ideas and information on the process of choreography - from coming up with an original concept to teaching your students the steps!  
Today I had the joy of chatting with Chelsea Weidmann - i.e. GeekyBallerina - about her system for identifying and teaching elements of artistry in dance class.  How does this tie in with neck massage, cultural education, neurodiversity, and tricking people into teaching you how to teach...?!  You'll just have to listen to find out!
Join me in the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook to share your feedback and ideas!
Theme Music by GBMystical: gbmystical.com