Deep Dives, Not Overwhelm: Expert Teaching Insights

Teaching proper ballet posture can feel like walking a tightrope. Push too hard, and students become self-conscious. Don't address it enough, and poor habits become permanent. Here's how to introduce body alignment systematically without creating classroom stress . . .

After 25+ years of teaching, I've learned that beautiful arabesque isn't something you suddenly achieve in center work—it's the natural result of systematic preparation that begins the moment students walk into your studio. Here's the complete warm-up progression that makes arabesque feel inevitable rather than impossible.

Walk into any ballet class and you'll see students attempting arabesque with collapsed lower backs and wobbly supporting legs. Teachers spend countless hours trying to fix these issues, but here's the truth—by the time students reach center work, it's too late. The real solution starts at the barre with tendu.

Your students have the strength and understand the mechanics, yet their pirouettes remain inconsistent. The missing piece isn't more repetition—it's intentional artistry training. When dancers control their eye-line during balances, their pirouettes naturally improve through enhanced spatial awareness and focus.

That frustrating 'clunk' in your students' rond de jambe? It's happening because they're playing connect-the-dots with ballet positions instead of moving smoothly through space. Here's how embracing 'the ugly place' transforms choppy ronds de jambe into flowing, effortless circles.

When students struggle with plié, it's rarely just about 'not bending enough.' Discover how to address misconceptions about hip, ankle, and knee coordination that create choppy, tense pliés.

Developing ballet turnout is a delicate balance. Push too hard and dancers get hurt; don't challenge enough and they never reach potential. Here are the systematic signs that guide safe turnout development.

"Straighten your legs" seems simple, but proper ballet leg extension requires VMO muscle activation that most teachers never address. Here's the developmental approach that actually works.

Passing through fifth position in rond de jambe might seem helpful, but it's actually undermining your students' turnout development. Here's the center line approach that builds real strength.

When do students change feet in changement? This foundational jump has three valid teaching approaches. Here's when to use each method and why studio consistency matters more than picking the "right" one.

"Point your toes!" isn't helping your dancers. They need to point feet AND ankles. Here are 6 simple exercises that strengthen, stretch, and improve foot articulation in ballet students.

Stop fixing sickled feet first! This systematic ballet corrections order prevents re-teaching and builds proper alignment faster. Learn the pelvis-to-ankles method that works.

Is chassé different from gallop? Should it land in demi-plié or fondu? Here's why having a clear, consistent chassé method across your studio matters more than finding the "right" technique.

I don't think there's a magic trick that will automatically get every student to maintain turnout in piqué turns. It's just attention to det

Discover why focusing on core strength before extreme turnout creates stronger, injury-free dancers. Learn the systematic approach that builds sustainable technique while protecting young bodies from common ballet injuries.

Teaching frappé from flexed foot, wrapped cou-de-pied, or pointed position? All are correct, but consistency matters. Learn progressive approaches to frappé foot positions, from Elementary flexed feet through Advanced pointed variations, and why systematic progression builds stronger technique.

Confused about teaching frappé? Some schools brush the ground, others start from cou-de-pied - both create excellent dancers. Learn the pros and cons of each method, how they connect to pointe preparation, and why school-wide consistency matters more than which approach you choose.

Confused about why ballet calls everything 'battement' when it means 'beating'? I was too until I discovered this game-changing definition: the legs aren't beating against anything - they're showing the musical beat. Learn how this revelation transforms teaching from tendu through advanced batterie, plus practical metronome exercises to help students master rhythm and movement connection.

After years of guest teaching, I've discovered one correction that transforms posture, releases tension, and improves turnout all at once. 'Imagine your hip bones as balloons and let them float upwards towards your ribcage' - this research-backed technique from Lulu Sweigard's 9 Lines of Movement replaces force with gentle effectiveness. Learn why this simple cue works better than traditional 'grip and hold' corrections.

Think plié is just bending your knees? This common oversimplification is causing the gripping, shallow pliés, and hip flexor pain you see in your students. Discover why plié actually involves three joints working as a team, plus practical teaching strategies to transform your students' most fundamental movement into beautiful, tension-free ballet technique."