Dance Teacher Blog: Summer Intensives for Dancers

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Dance Teacher Blog 
Summer Intensives for Dance
By Brandy Curry

I may be a bit too excited about Summer Intensives for young dancers ages 8-18.  However, I have a valid reason.  I loved attending Dance Summer Camps, Summer Intensives and Dance Competition and Conventions when I was growing up.  I met so many great dancers, and stayed in contact with these dancers as we were entering different phases of our careers from college, to touring, to training.  I loved meeting dancers from Michigan and Ohio.  (Seriously, there were so many dancers from those two states.)

Living in Los Angeles my students are exposed to so many amazing intensives from Joffrey West to Debbie Allen Dance Academy.  But what makes these intensives so worthwhile are the faculty, and the students whom travel from all over the United States (and, Europe).  I love that my students come back in the fall with stories, and incredible experiences.  Some of the dance intensives below require a dance audition, but most are open classes.

SUMMER DANCE INTENSIVES LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 2013
(Check the School's websites for Summer 2013 dates)

The (Alvin) Ailey School 
Brockus Conservatory of Dance and Musical Theater
California Dance Theater
Cecchetti USA
City Ballet of Los Angeles
Debbie Allen Dance Academy
Edge Performing Arts Center 
Idyllwild Arts Summer Program
International Dance Academy
Joffrey School of Ballet-LA (Joffrey West)
Liv'Art Dance 
Los Angeles Ballet Academy
Millennium Dance Complex 
Westside School of Ballet

Out-of-state parents you can plan an incredible summer vacation around your dancer's summer intensive.  Map out the surrounding area and use Travel websites and plan a vacation your family will talk about for years to come.  

Dance Teacher Blog: Rubrics for Dance Teachers

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Dance Teacher Blog
Rubrics for Dance Teachers
By Brandy Curry

Remaining objective when grading dance performance is tricky business. You must give an equal opportunity for those dancers not as advanced as other dancers. However, your quiz or assessment must be fair and give students enough feedback so that they may improve whether they are a beginning dancer or an advanced dancer.

I use rubrics for grades K-12, and for all of my quizzes, tests, and of course final examinations.  I even use a rubric for short quizzes on choreography memorization.  I think that participation and memorization are the most important criteria for grading dance.  When my students are are Grades K-3 I adjust the importance of the criteria to attention and follows instructions.  Figure out what your end result is?  Do you want them to improve on vocabulary and terminology, is participation and cooperation your need for assessment?  I enlarge my rubric to 8 x 11 paper or poster size 11x17 and show my students the rubric prior to the test.  When I'm giving a final examination I post it in the classroom a day or two prior to their examination.

RESOURCES FOR RUBRICS
RubiStar 
Teacher Planet

Here is an example of a Rubric you can find at RubiStar.com 

Dance Teacher Blog: Teaching Performance & Theater Etiquette

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Dance Teacher Blog
Teaching Performance & Theater Étiquette

Kodak Theatre Los Angeles

Teaching the basics about theater étiquette is so important for any performing arts student.  This also makes for an excellent lesson and topic of discussion for Junior High and High School students.  I take about a week to teach Theater Étiquette and give a fun quiz at the end.  I always say, "If any of you walk into a professional theater I want them to know you are well trained."

This coincides with the lesson on dance étiquette, room étiquette, and dance basics.  Performance is an intricate part of dance in K-12 education.  In California it shows up in our Dance Content Standards:
Visit: http://www.cde.ca.gov

2.0 CREATIVE EXPRESSION
Creating, Performing, and Participating in Dance

Students apply choreographic principles, processes, and skills to create and communi­cate meaning through the improvisation, composition, and performance of dance.

CONTEXT OF THE LESSON

1. Explore the rehearsal process
2. Discuss rehearsal habits, rules, étiquette
3. Help students discover their own good, habits, rules and étiquette
4. Tell stories about your own theater experience
5. Teach perspective;  the Directors perspective, the audiences', the Stage Managers
6. Go over roles: Director, Stage Manager, Choreographer, Production Manager, Technichians
7. Remind students they are part of a cast, or an ensemble
8. Costume étiquette: Always hang it up yourself!

A great book to share with your advanced students, or Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12 is Dance Performance From Rehearsal to Opening Night by Kristin Kessel.  It has great topics on theater étiquette that will help guide and prepare your dancers for the big day!  

 "It is important to be present at every scheduled rehearsal.  Each one is an opportunity for you to learn and participate, and is the next step towards a fabulous show.  You are part of a team that can only succeed if each member contributes equally.  If dancers are missing from rehearsals, how will the show improve before the recital?"  

~Kristin Kessel Dance Performance From Rehearsal to Opening Night

Break a leg!

Dance Teacher Blog: Lesson Plans for Dance Teachers

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Dance Teacher Blog: Lesson Plans for Dance Teachers
By Brandy Curry

Weekly Lesson Plan Template
TeacherPlanet.com

My first two years of teaching dance in K-12 education I skated by without writing a lesson plan.  I know, I know!  I preach creating lesson plans, either weekly or daily.  I personally do the following:

1. Yearly Lessons (Pacing Plan) either in content format or calendar format
2. Monthly Lesson in calendar format
3. Weekly Lesson Plan using a template from TeacherPlanet.com (SEE PHOTO)
4. I prepare a daily lesson plan for substitute teachers, evaluations, or if I need a more cohesive plan

Creating a lesson plan has saved me time in organizing my classroom as well as organizing my music, costumes and props if needed, etc.  Sometimes these meticulous lessons turn into exquisite choreography pieces.  One of my lesson plans for my Kindergarten Creative Movement class turned into a fun activity that I turned into choreography for our Spring Showcase.  

Brandy's Sample Lesson Plan for iPad

LESSON PLAN WEBSITES FOR EDUCATORS
TeacherPlanet.com
LessonPlans4Teachers.com

TECHNOLOGY & LESSON PLANNING
I have recently taken my lesson plans to the next level with
exciting bells and whistles by creating everything on my iPad.  (The template shown is for my iPad.)  I connect my iPad to our television or Smart Board and my students can now read what the activity or lesson will be for that day.   I also use Keynote which is Apple's version of PowerPoint and I make Digital Flashcards.  (SEE PHOTO BELOW)

Brandy's Digital Flashcard

Dance Teacher Blog: Finding the Right Books for Your Dance Classroom

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Dance Teacher Blog
Finding the Right Books for Your Dance Classroom

My Dance Books

I love dance books!  I love any book about any type of dance.  It's one of my "dancers tricks."  I always felt it kept me in the artistic world a lot longer than my more agile, more talented peers.  That's hard to admit, but my love of books from an early age, helped create longevity in my dance career.  Instead of burning out by age 18, I was refreshed and renewed.  I tried yoga because of an article I read in Dancer Magazine when I fifteen.  I read a beautiful biography on Nijinsky, A Diary of Vaslav Nijinsky,  when I graduated college that opened my eyes to my own form and style of dancing.  (Nijinsky: A Life of Genius and Madness  by Richard Buckle is also an excellent book!)

Whether the book is a dance book geared towards elementary aged students or a young teen, you can create lessons, stories, dance history assignments all around the pages of a book.  In a recent article in The Horn Book Magazine Jill Homan Randall writes: 


"Books about dance can articulate the language of the art form, providing definitions and correct terminology to help children really understand what dance is all about.  They can also help paint an accurate picture of life as a dancer by showing the hard work and day-to-day experiences of people who practice the art."-Jill Homan Randall January 2013

Read more about Jill Homan Randall and her list of "Good Dance Books" on her Blog

I have a little dance library in my studio that may inspire a barre combination in my ballet classes or a picture book that may help me teach lines, and shapes to my creative movement dancers.  My 6th grade Contemporary class is learning about Bill T. Jones, Pilobolus and Martha Graham.  I have pictures, you tube videos, and books for my lesson.  It's nice to have that voice that is not your own teach your students something new about dance.  I also hear from my school's librarian how my dance students often select dance books for their non-fiction book reports.  A 5th grade student doing a report on Martha Graham's Appalachian Spring is pretty impressive.

MY FAVORITE DANCE BOOKS FOR TEACHING
Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet Gail Grant
Modern Dance Wendy Garofoli
Basic Principles of Classical Ballet Antatole Chujoy
The Pointe Book Second Edition Janice Barringer & Sarah Schlesinger
Teaching Beginning Ballet Technique Gayle Kassing & Danielle M. Jay

MY FAVORITE DANCE BOOKS FOR MY STUDENTS AGES 5-18
DANCE Bill T. Jones & Susan Kuklin
DANCE From Ballet to Breakin'- Lorrie Mack
Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan
Ballet of the Elephants Leda Schubert
The Ballet Book Darcy Bussell in association with The Royal Ballet School
Tales from the Ballet Louis Untermeyer
Dance Performance From Rehearsal to Opening Night Kristin Kessel
Let's Dance! George Ancona


No matter the age of your dance students they can all learn something about dance that isn't just about learning a new technique.  Perhaps it's opening their imagination to create a piece of choreography, or it helps them define a piece of movement.

 "A good book about dance inspires children through words and images.  It opens up the world of dance training, backstage experiences, performing, and celebrating through movement.  Together with words and pictures we will stretch, jump, turn and leap.  A good book about dance shares the magic and joy of the art form in all of it's roles in cultures throughout the world." Jill Homan Randall What Makes a Good Book About Dance?

Dance Teacher Blog: What is K-12 Dance?

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Dance Teacher Blog: What is K-12 Dance?
By Brandy Curry

The ballet cast of Tchaikovsky's Ballet Sleeping Beauty1890 

I get asked all the time why I teach in education versus teaching at a private dance studio or why I choose to teach children instead of working with professionals.  The answer is simple: I'm not just teaching the choreography, dance tricks, and advanced technique, I'm teaching a 200 year old tradition to students whom may not otherwise get exposed to it.  Be it ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop or modern, teaching dance in education solidifies our great dance world.

José Limón was taught how to dance in my school district LAUSD.  Do I think I can make the next José Limón?  Of course I do! Why not?

"The gap between a private dance studio and K-12 Dance in school is narrowing.  Many private dance studios and professional dance companies are building enrichment arts and education programs that hold master classes in K-12 schools.  Instead of Arts programs dissolving, they are evolving and giving K-12 schools a reason to have dance as an academic and performing art class in their schools!  There is now a tangible forum and a necessity for dance in schools."~ Brandy Curry 2009


DANCE ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS 2013
Debbie Allen Dance Academy
Limon4Kids
Silverlake Contemporary Ballet
Performing Arts Workshop Los Angeles
Creative Kids Los Angeles
Beyond the Bell
Star Education

One of my favorite things about teaching dance in a K-12 school is the focus on one particular element of dance that may be used in the form of an assessment, quiz, or test.  Instead of teaching pique turns, I get to focus on the academic and intelligence of learning how to turn, learning where the foot and head are placed, etc.  Teaching Dance History is a fundamental part of dance in K-12 education.  There are great textbooks out there that help set the tone of dance in an academic setting.  At first, I was skeptical about teaching a piece of choreography, and then giving a quiz on it it.  Seemed impossible.  (I will talk about Dance Rubrics later in this blog.  In the meantime visit: http://rubistar.4teachers.org) Once I developed an optimal rubric, I watched my dancers improve, and their grades climb to high marks.

A proper rubric is very similar to private dance studios giving examinations to their students in the Royal Academy of Dance R.A.D syllabus, Imperial Ballet Syllabus, or Cecchetti USA syllabus. Making dance an academic in K-12 education is keeping dance in forefront of the performing arts.  While there are great music, and great drama teachers in K-12 education, dance teachers have the advantage of being part of the physical education curriculum and the performing arts curriculum.

Dance Teacher Blog: Netflix for Educators

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Dance Teacher Blog: Netflix for Educators 
By Brandy Curry 

I know that working in a public K-12 or an independent K-12 school is tricky when it comes to showing dance on film.  Most of the content is not suitable for children, and the sensuality and tone of the film is often misunderstood by teenagers.  Every summer I surf Netflix to find age-appropriate movies.  I plan on showing at least three (3) You Tube clips of dance and two (2) short films or movies as part of the Dance History component with are CA State Dance Content Standards.

I love Netflix
I love PBSkids.org
I love You Tube

These sites are great tv/film resources for educators.  We don't always have time to show a 2 hour film, but in Netflix you can put the movie in your instant cue and when you're ready to show it, hit play and fast forward to the dance sequence.  I only personally only show Rated-G content, and if I am going to show a movie that is PG-13, my students are 13 and older.  I send an email home to parents with an attached permission slip.  (Rated-R movies are simply out of the question, and always inappropriate.)  I use a different Netflix account for my classes than I do at home.  This allows me to organize the movies and short films in my instant cue and see what Netflix suggests for me.  Recently my class watched Ballets Russes on Netflix which was an exciting timeline of ballet history.

I subscribe to several different channels of ballet companies on You Tube.  I watch their videos and then play them for my dancers Grades 2nd-6th.  One clip we keep visiting on You Tube is of the Royal Ballet:

Sleeping Beauty Ballet Waltz - Royal Ballet

Royal Ballet at Covent Garden

Dance Teacher Blog: Music for K-12 Dance

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Dance Teacher Blog: Music for K-12 Dance
By Brandy Curry

When the music changes, so does the dance. - African proverb

Music shapes the flow, mood, and energy of my dance class.  Be it a movement class, ballet class, or modern class.  Classical music is the music I hear in my head when choreographing and that's why ballet is my favorite style of dance to teach.  I have found in recent years of teaching dance in education that sometimes I'm the one that introduces classical music or jazz music to my students.  After all these years I have finally uploaded all of my CD's to my iTunes.  I use iCloud for backup and storage. iCloud also keeps my music library up to date on all of my devices. Visit: iCloud.com and login with your Apple ID!

Here is a list of great Artists I have used teaching K-12 Dance in school.  

BY GRADE

Putumayo Animal Playground

Grades K-2nd

Putumayo for Kids

Lynn Stanford Classical Music

Enchanted Soundtrack

Kidz Bop 

Disneymania

Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang

Johnny Only

Scott Killian Classical Kids

Grades 3rd-5th

Putumayo for Kids

Lisa Harris Classical Music 

High School Musical Soundtrack

Cheetah Girls Soundtrack 

Kidz Bop

Radio Disney 

Disneymania 

Aly & AJ

Taylor Swift

Shake it Up (Disney)

Wreck it Ralph Soundtrack

Selena Gomez Courtesy of Disney Music

Grades 6-8

Introduce pop and jazz music. Check lyrics of pop music before you play in your class. 

Carly Rae Jepsen 

Aly & AJ

Selena Gomez

Justin Bieber

Taylor Swift

Coco Jones

Bridgit Mender

Corinne Bailey Rae

Grades 9-12

Continue Pop Music, but feature an assessment unit on Jazz Music (Visit: PBS Kids)

Charlie Parker

Miles Davis

Billie Holiday

Movie Soundtracks w. Instrumental music

Adele

Coldplay

Steven Cravis

Imogen Heap

Frou Frou

Don Caron Classical Music

Lisa Harris Classical Music

Miro Magliore (Contemporary & Modern)

Michael Roberts (Contemporary & Modern)

Dance Teacher Blog: Austerity vs Energy

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Dance Teacher Blog: Austerity vs Energy
By Brandy Curry

Debbie Allen in FAME Courtesy of Wikimedia

Put your rulers, spoons, popsicle sticks, pencils, and cane away! The generation of using objects in the dance classroom to "rear fear" is fading away.  My ballet teacher was as strict as she was beautiful.  Always polite, but oh-so stern.  I never knew how I faired in her class until she asked me to join the youth ballet company.  I was overwhelmed and shocked and excited, but a sense of panic set in that I would fail her.  I never saw her smile and I grew impatient with it.  Some might say I lacked the seriousness in my youth that compliments the austerities of a ballet teacher.  I think I just wanted to know she was pleased at my accomplishments.  Yes, I agree her attitude made me the dancer I am today, but it was my high-energetic jazz teacher whom kept me coming back and gave me the confidence to continue to dance.

The first few weeks are crucial in setting up classroom normals and expectations.  I have found a way to present myself as a stern and optimistic ballet teacher in order to achieve great technique from my dancers.  (Although, I occasionally use spoons, and popsicle sticks to demonstrate proper turnout...I'll blog about that later)

MY CLASSROOM NORMALS & EXPECTATIONS

• List rules visibly in the classroom (Make a poster or have your students make a poster for extra credit)
• List consequences clearly on your syllabi(us)
• Make a contract for both your parents and students
• List expectations of dress code on your syllabi(us)
• Stick to your syllabi(us) and pacing plan(s)...and brag about it to other faculty! Knowing a performing arts teacher is serious about discipline shows a united front with Administration.
• Smile, laugh, and tell cheesy dance jokes every once in a while! Be human! I have laughed with my students, cried with my students over dance films, it makes them want to dance forever.
• Show them your rubric for assessments, quizzes and tests.  Prove to them that you expect them to get an "A" on an assessment and that you have confidence in them
• Make general class corrections, and one-on-one corrections
• Teach with passion, energy, and as though they are all pre-professional dancers.  Respect the best and the not so best dancer.  Give them all a chance to share their artistry.
• DANCE WITH THEM!!

Dance Teacher Blog: The Right College for Your Dancers

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Dance Teacher Blog: The Right College for Your Dancers
By Brandy Curry

When I became the Department Chair of Dance in 2011 at a performing arts school in Los Angeles one of my responsibilities was to help guide 12th grade dancers into the audition process of dance major university and college programs.  I flew to New York over Spring Break to seek out the small colleges first, and visit the prestigious NYU.  I knew I could get my students into the California schools having gone through the audition process myself but I wanted to see Pace University and Marymount Manhattan up close and personal.   I contacted each of the school's Admissions Department and scheduled a tour as an educator, not as a student.  You get essential information from the Admissions office if you schedule your tour as an educator.  I came back from my trip with an entirely new perspective on how to get my dance students ready for college auditions.

2013 DANCE COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES: My favorites!

Most programs require an audition or video audition submission
(In alphabetical order)

1. Boston Conservatory
2. California State University: Long Beach
3. Chapman University
4. Cornish College of the Arts
5. Fordham University: The Ailey School
6. Goucher University
7. Julliard School
8. Marymount Manhattan
9. NYU Tisch Performing Arts: Dance
10. Oklahoma City University
11. Pace University 
12. Point Park University
13. Texas Christian University
14. University of Arizona
15. University of California: Irvine (UCI)
16. University of California: Los Angeles (UCLA)
17. University of North Carolina School of the Arts
18. University of Oklahoma
19. University of Texas: Austin
20. University of The Arts

Marymount Manhattan Dancers in their 2012 Spring Repertoire

Dance Media LLC publishes a yearly college guidebook titled Dance Magazine College Guide.  (Copy/Paste into your browser: http://www.dancemagazine.com/thecollegeguide) Check it out online at Dance Magazine or Dance Spirit Magazine. 

Dance Magazine College Guide 2012-2013

Dance Teacher Blog: Costumes for Your Piece

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Dance Teacher Blog: Costumes for Your Piece
By Brandy Curry

I taught a costume design class at a performing arts high school in Los Angeles and I still had trouble deciding on the right costumes for my piece.  I sketch, and doodle, and sew, and still have trouble choosing the right costume that will compliment my choreography.  I love flipping through catalogs and surfing online, I recently used Discount Dance for basic tutus and leotards and jazzed up the look with silk flowers, and rhinestones.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT COSTUME

• Ask your dancers about the piece; my students responses often inspire the "look"
• Does the music convey mood, emotion? Do certain colors convey those moods?
• Tight budget may mean you take an old tutu and add rhinestones.  Or just have dancers wear their class leotards and purchase dance pants, skirts, or tutus.  Add a hairpiece and voila!   
• The style of dance should be conveyed in the costume...i.e., tutus for ballet!
• If your K-12 school has purchased the costumes 

Costumes can be expensive but I have used these Dance Costumers for years and haven't gone over budget.

AFFORDABLE COSTUME COMPANIES 

• Discount Dance
• Art Stone Costumes
• A Wish Come True
• Revolution Dancewear
• Marcea

I recently had one of my classes wear their class leotard, and I purchased new hairpieces and had snowflakes sewn on the tutus.  Total cost was less than $50.

Dance Teacher Blog: Teaching Dance vs A Career in Dance

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Dance Teacher Blog: Teaching Dance vs A Career in Dance

By Brandy Curry 

So...you think you can teach...dance?  Yes, we've all heard the saying, "Those that can't...teach!"  Um...while that may apply to a very, very, small few...Have you ever been to Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood, CA?  Yes, that place where legends TEACH DANCE! I wouldn't go uttering those words "that they can't," around the hallway at Edge.  The faculty at Edge teach their classes and maintain a booming career in the industry.  Dancers can dance forever, and learn another trade in the industry from producing, directing, to choreographing and even dabbling in fashion and costume design.  All the dancers I moved out to LA with in 2001 are still forming their craft.  In a recent article in Dance Spirit Magazine, cover girl Mia Michaels said about her career path:

“Be open to where life takes you. Follow your instincts.” Mia Michaels

Mia Michaels courtesy of WikiMedia Commons

While all dance teachers make a decision to teach full time and no longer pursue their career full time, the decision is not the same for every dancer.  When I made the decision to teach full time, another door opened...CHOREOGRAPHER!  I began to keep a journal and write down ideas of full length ballets, plays, musicals, even music videos.  I was taking my dance training and molding my ideas on young dancers.  It was exciting...it is still exciting!

Some K-12 schools and private dance studios have strict policies about substitute teaching when you are out on auditions, but working as a dance teacher means you have a set schedule to go out on auditions.  Todays technology allows you to coordinate your classes, and make it out to your auditions.  A word of caution: Never miss a class if you say you'll be there to teach it.   Be on time for your classes, and if you book a dance job call your supervisor immediately so they can replace you.  Your students will be overjoyed that you booked a job, and keeping on good terms with the school or studio means you can come back as a Guest Teacher.

Dance Teacher Blog: Creating an Original Ballet

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Dance Teacher Blog: Creating an Original Ballet
By Brandy Curry

Creating new content for K-12 dance classes in schools is often difficult if you don't have a budget for shows, recitals, performances or concerts.  I worked at a performing arts high school in Los Angeles and was given a small budget to put on a Winter Ballet.  Being in Los Angeles there are over 50 dance studios that put on The Nutcracker so putting on a Nutcracker was out of the question.

I did some research on my favorite ballet companies, Pacific Northwest Ballet, American Ballet Theater, San Francisco Ballet, Boston Ballet, and the English National Ballet.  I looked at their repertory for choreography ideas.  Teaching K-12 ballet is very different than teaching at a private studio; from budgets, to costumes, to commitment.  The K-12 parents are not expecting a dance department to put on a full length ballet.  I emailed the other performing arts faculty and even the english faculty for some ideas.  They all agreed that one of my favorite books, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, would make an excellent ballet!

Christopher Wheeldon had just premiered Alice in Wonderland with the English National Ballet to amazing reviews.  So I watched youtube clips, ordered the DVD, and began writing a script with lighting cues, budget ideas, and choreography notes.

I worked with our Theater Tech class for sets and lights ideas.  I hired a production manager, and divided a few of the scenes with my dance faculty.  Alice in Wonderland premiered on January 27th at the NOHO Arts Center in North Hollywood, CA.

Alice in Wonderland, Artistic Director & Choreographer: Brandy Curry 

We ran for two weeks, and sold out all of our shows.  There was a cast of over 90 dance students ranging from basic level ballet- advanced pointe work.  The dance students were some of the most articulate pantomime and character dancers whom made the ballet come to life.  It wasn't the performance that made it memorable for the dancers, it was the notion that a high school could put on a full length ballet.

Brandy Curry, and two Alice in Wonderland dancers

Dance Teacher Blog: What to wear?

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Dance Teacher Blog: What to wear?
By Brandy Curry 

I used to sort through my closet every morning trying to find the right outfit to convey dance teacher and working professional.  The school I taught at didn't think that wearing a leotard was a proper way of dressing for a High School.  Whenever I taught classes at a private dance studio I wore a leotard and jazz pants, or a leotard, tights and a ballet skirt.  I could not figure out how to dress professional, as the school suggested, and wear comfortable clothes I could move in.  So I went shopping to the following places.  I spent a total of $350 and now my wardrobe is professional, comfortable, and durable.

"DANCE TEACHER FRIENDLY" FASHION GUIDE

1. JCrew has great cardigans, wrap sweaters, and blazers.  Gives up to 15% off to educators; show your school ID card.
2. Banana Republic also has great cardigans and blazers.  I like their blouses, and easy pull over dresses.  Gives up to 15% off to educators; show your school ID card
3. Discount Dance is where I get all of my dance shoes, tights, and leotards.  They give great discounts to Dance Teachers and they have their own rewards program.  See DANCE TEACHER PROGRAM (Read more about their Dance Teacher Program in this post) Ballet and pointe shoes can be expensive so I love that Dance Teachers receive 10% off of purchases.
4. Lulu Lemon has high quality yoga, running, biking and dance wear.  Very fashion forward and the leggings are a must have.  (Read the care instructions carefully and follow!) 
5. Lucy is a great place to get workout gear and wear.  I like their hoodies, and soft fabric yoga tees that look great under a blazer.  Great yoga pants for jazz class or in between wear.
6. Gap Body is not available in every mall, and sometimes larger Gap stores carry their yoga and dance wear items.  They have the best sports bras, tank tops, socks.  And it's all machine washable fabrics.  

KEY WARDROBE PIECES FOR DANCE TEACHERS

1. Lulu Lemon Wunder Under Pant (Wow!)
2. Black, or Dark colored wrap sweaters
3. Tights: Black are a must & Pink if you want to dress like your students
4. Nike or Tennis shoes for in between classes ( I run or walk on my breaks)
5. Blazers
6. Cardigans
7. Pull over dress, pull over jumper, or wrap dress
8. Leg warmers (They're just fun to wear!!)
9. Well-fitted hoodie or warm-up jacket
10. Yoga pants
11. Great socks
12. Dance shoes! I love the Bloch Adult Wave Sneaker $51.00 (Style No: S0523) from Discount Dance

DISCOUNT DANCE: ABOUT THE DANCE TEACHER PROGRAM 2013

• Enjoy up to 10% discount on purchases
• Free shipping on orders over $100*
• Collect $1 cash back for every 2 points
• 15% off on exclusive Double Platinum, Natalie and Dance Department items.
• Special pricing on Theatricals footwear and tights

Dance teachers need to wear high-performance fabrics that don't break the bank or show sweat stains or hold odor.  Yet, we need to wear nice clothes that fit, and aren't the old college sweatpants we used to take class in...IF you are a Hip Hop teacher you should dress like a hip hop teacher.  However, sweatpants shouldn't be allowed on a ballet teacher, unless of course they say, "American Ballet Theater" down the leg.  Visit the ABT Gift Shop! 

The Wunder Under Pant: LuLu Lemon