My mentor once told a story about a family who had learned about Focus in dance class and then went home and the parent was able to say “You’re running all over the house right now with multi-focus. It’s time to leave so I need you to have single focus and put your shoes on.” And the kid got it. Brilliant.
Now, I’ll admit this is not the only time I’ve struggled with directions of some sort. But I do wonder, if my dance education had been more concept-based when I was younger, if I would’ve strengthened that directional muscle in a way that would’ve served me inside and outside of the dance studio for the rest of my life.
The concept of DIRECTION is important in dance - and life - for orienting your body and your movement to the space you’re in.
Years ago, I was scrolling through Facebook and saw a post from a parent asking for recommendations for dance classes for her 3 year old. “But”, she said, “not one of those classes where they just ask them to pretend to be butterflies. I don’t want to pay for that. She can do that at home.”
Now, I’m the first to admit that not all dance classes are created equal. But this comment got me fired up. Asking 3 year olds to pretend to be butterflies… or any other animal for that matter… is one of the BEST ways to teach kids about their bodies, dance, and the world around them.
Their smiles were genuine, their dancing was filled with pure delight, and the energy of their movement was contagious. Years ago I had a class of 5-7 year olds make a dance about Autumn. It was new for me, letting students have so much control over the choreographic process and I wasn’t sure what would happen. Over the course of a few weeks we came up with ideas together and I helped to put those ideas in sequence.
