Pointes and Perspective #8 Mind Your Manners!

Let's get right into today's discussion,

  “Mind Your Manners”

  Introducing Etiquette in Preschool Dance Class
Where I will share some tips on encouraging students to behave respectfully in class.
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I received a lot of messages after last month's Pointes and Perspective, “A Class Act” was released, in reference to classroom etiquette. Many responded that, YES, they want to incorporate etiquette at the preschool level, but wanted more information on HOW!
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When we begin to format our Preschool Dance Curriculum, most of us jump right to a list of the basic steps we will introduce our students to. However, the primary accomplishment of this level will be classroom etiquette.

At the School of American Ballet’s Pre Preparatory level, they make it very clear that students must “...learn characteristics essential to success in ballet, including respect for teachers and classmates, self control, persistence and patience.” And furthermore, that they must “...demonstrate a sufficient level of interest, focus, and concentration to advance to the next level of training.”
If the only thing you accomplish in your preschool dance class is a classroom of students who can wait turns quietly, follow instructions and be respectful to their classmates and teachers… Mission accomplished!!

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To begin, you must teach your students to respect their teacher. If you have ever listened to Doug Bopst speak of discipline, he reminds you that the root of discipline is disciple which means pupil, or student. So keep in mind as you lovingly discipline your students, that you are teaching, inspiring and leading them. Teach them to look at you, and listen while you are speaking. If you are a subscriber to the Baa Baa Ballet Preschool Dance Curriculum, it includes a tip video with creative ways to “zip those lips”. The “eyes on me” request works well. My students always love stories, so I often remind them of the time my teacher, Dorothy Lister at The Joffrey Ballet School had to strictly remind me not to lean on the barre, and to pay attention! I exaggerate how, from then on, I paid attention, and NEVER leaned on the barre again! Sometimes, a simple, “Who is talking while I am!?” works wonders. I can’t help but giggle when they immediately quiet down and look at each other - including the guilty party!
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Students must also be taught to respect their classmates. This is quite simple, however you must be consistent and persistent. EVERY time a student is about to take their turn, whether during axial movements in your circle, or working locomotor movements across the floor, if there are any students not sitting or waiting as instructed, I calmly tell the student whose turn it is, “I’m sorry, Elena, wait one moment, let Maya sit down and give you her full attention. I don’t want her to miss your turn!” And we wait.
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Teaching self control can actually be fun. We all know that preschool students are a bunch of little fidgets! But day one, I explain that we will one day be on stage, and that we will prepare for this all year. So we must hold our starting position as if the curtain is opening. We can’t touch our hair or costume, and we can’t itch, scratch, or fidget. We will do our exercise, or dance, and then hold our end position until the curtain is closed! Aaaaah! Now you may itch!
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Teach resilience and persistence. We all get the “Debbie Downers'' in class. The students who always have a hangnail, or their shoes are uncomfortable, or they bumped into someone on the school yard today and their left leg doesn’t function now! Don’t allow these repeat offender’s daily pity parties to monopolize your and your students' time. Dance students need to learn that we must persist and carry on, through down days and scraped knees and through difficult exercises. This is where story time can come into play again. I tell my students stories of how strong dancers are, and how they work through sore muscles and blisters. I teach them how dance is a wonderful distraction from life outside the studio door. If I had a bad day, walking into the dance studio and leaving my bad day outside for an hour is soothing, and always leaves me happier. I empower the students, reminding them that working through the sore calf muscles of 16 eleves, makes them stronger. And as we mentioned in Pointes and Perspective #7, using your older students as examples always works, since your young students look up to them. Tell them a story about how Lizzie wanted to be recommended for pointe shoes, so she did 128 eleves every night before bed!
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Lastly, teach patience. There are always 5 students with hands raised in the air between exercises, which then multiplies into 9! I would never get through class if I answered them all. I am a broken record, stating, “I am not taking any questions or comments right now. I’d love to hear your stories after class in the lobby.” They will have to practice patience. While waiting turns to go across the floor, I will only choose students who are sitting, respectfully watching their classmates to go next. This is teaching them to again, respect their classmates, and, to be patient.
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It is never too early to teach etiquette. Your classes will run smoothly when students behave in a way that is productive to the overall progress of the class. So teach your preschool dance students to Mind Your Manners!