Summer Ballet Technique Maintenance: How to Prevent the Dreaded September Slump

Springtime is my favorite time of year to teach—all the hard work that everyone has put in month after month has built up to amazing accomplishments. It's so fun to help students recognize and celebrate their growth!

But I also know that many of my students will lose some of their progress over the summer. It's not my favorite reality. The summer slump is real, but there are definitely things we can encourage our students to do to make it a gentle slope rather than feeling like a free fall.

The Science Behind the Slump When dancers take extended breaks from regular training, their bodies naturally respond in predictable ways: muscle memory needs refreshing, body awareness gets fuzzy, and physical changes occur (especially in growing dancers). I saw this firsthand with Olivia, one of my dedicated 12-year-olds. After working all year to gain control of her hyper-mobility, she returned in September with her posture all over the place again. Her frustration was heartbreaking—and simple maintenance conditioning could have helped.

A Strategic Approach That Actually Works Instead of just telling students to "practice over summer" (which rarely works!), effective maintenance requires clear guidance and practical tools. The key is focusing on what really matters: stability and flexibility are the name of the game.

My approach includes setting clear, doable expectations that vary by level, providing practical tools families can actually use, and changing how we frame summer practice. It's not a total vacation from dance—becoming a dancer is a process, and summer is part of that process.

The Foundation: Flexibility Maintenance Maintaining flexibility in key muscle groups prevents the dramatic regression that creates September frustration. I've developed a comprehensive stretching approach that addresses the specific areas dancers need to maintain while still enjoying their summer break. Ready to Transform Your September Returns? Download my free Summer Stretching Guide and give your dancers the gift of maintaining their progress while still enjoying their break! This guide provides the flexibility foundation that prevents technique regression and creates confident September returns.

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This thoughtful approach to summer maintenance prevents technique regression and creates confident returns. My curricula provide the complete frameworks that address year-round development.

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