Preschool Dance Movement Cards

Preschool Dance Movement Cards are a fabulous addition to your Preschool Dance classes.  There are so many different ways you can use them and they are a great, low-cost way to add a touch of seasonal flavor to your classes. Depending on how you use them, you may like to print out your movement cards and laminate them or you can even just use them on your phone or Ipad.  This is great, as it means you always have an extra trick up your sleeve.

Preschool Dance Movement Cards – how to use.

1. Guess the card – this activity is always a HUGE hit with my classes.  Start by looking at each of the cards you will be using and practicing the movement as you go. If you are doing a themed class, this is a great time to reinforce your theme.  Then, turn the cards over, ‘shut your eyes’ and draw a card showing it to the class.  When you open your eyes, you have to guess what the movement is. Guaranteed Giggles Galore!
2. Simon Says – Using the cards as a twist on Simon Says is great for a little brain break activity
3. Freeze Game – yes there is more to Preschool Dance than then Freeze Game but it IS very versatile. Using your Preschool Dance Movement Cards as part of the Freeze Game is a fantastic way to bring your theme into your lesson plan.
4. Dance sequences – Lay the cards out in a specific order and each time you clap it is time to swap to a different movement.  For your older classes experiment with turning the cards over after you have examined them and see how many movements the class can remember.  Keep in mind that in Preschool working memory is limited so give lots of clues and keep it fun.
5. Make a circuit – Lay the cards out in a circuit like the one shown below. Vary the locomotion and perform the movement on the card as you reach each station.

Preschool Dance Movement Cards are a great way to add some variety to your Preschool Dance classes.  They are a wonderful way to incorporate themes into your classes and to reinforce concepts.  To download your free Spring and Fall-themed Preschool Dance Movement Cards just enter your email below.

These Preschool Dance Movement Cards are based on the bestselling downloadable Preschool Ballet Curriculum – the Preschool Ballet Blueprint.  The Blueprint saves you hours upon hours of work giving you a click-and-go guide of what to teach when and how. Trusted by studios worldwide, the Preschool Ballet Blueprint gives you the confidence that their first steps in dance will be the right ones.

Please enjoy this free Mother’s Day Coloring sheet to enjoy with your young dancers.  Just enter your email below

If you are looking for more activities for your Preschool and School-aged dancers check out some of our activity packs below

How to achieve dance goals

If you ask any competitive dancer they will be able to tell you at least ten things they think they could improve.  Dancers are good like that.  At a young age, they have a remarkable grasp of what they are good at and where there are areas for improvement. However, saying that you need to improve something and actually having the tools to make that happen are two very different things.  Learning how to achieve dance goals is a specific skill. Just like any other skill it needs to be learned, applied, and scaffolded.

Why are SMART goals important?

There is a brilliant and comprehensive Goal setting for Dancers pack available over in the Resources for dance teachers store, but if you are looking for something to get started with, please enjoy the free Goal Setting for Dancers printable below.  It shows dancers how to achieve dance goals, demonstrating each step from the brainstorming process right through to setting specific goals for each week.  It is based on the principle of SMART goals, that is, goals need to be Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Based.  

SMART goals and dance

For dancers, this means that saying something vague like “I want to be more flexible’ is unlikely to lead to success.  This Goal setting for dancers printable encourages dancers to be much more specific with their goals.  A more specific goal might be something like, “I want to get my left leg splits.”  From there, it is important to set a deadline.  No goal was ever achieved just by wishing it.  We all know that there is nothing like a deadline to increase motivation and when it comes to how to achieve dance goals, the situation is no different.  If you know that you have set yourself a goal to achieve in 4 weeks, you are much less likely to miss a practice session.

To get started on guided Goal setting for Dancers and learn how to achieve dance goals, please download this free printable by entering your email below. If you are ready to take the next step and start accessing the kinds of performance psychology that Olympians like Michael Phelps used to perform at elite levels, check out the Success Mindset Pack for dancers.

If you are interested in learning more about Growth Mindset and Dance, check out these articles

How to succeed at dance competitions

Dancer Success and Growth Mindset

Dancing with a growth mindset, how to set dance goals

Who else wants a done for you Preschool Easter Dance class plan?

Easter is nearly here and time is running out to design and advertise special Easter-themed classes.  Relax!  That’s where our click and go class plans and activity packs come in.  Just take a few moments to download and you are good to go. The Preschool Easter Dance Class Plan includes playlist, coloring and activity sheets, fully choreographed exercises plus circuits, games, and activities.  All you have to do is download and teach.  These tried and tested class plans are based on the bestselling Preschool Ballet Blueprint, the downloadable Preschool curriculum that is currently being used worldwide to deliver super popular preschool Programs. 

The Preschool Easter Dance Class Plan includes a range of sequenced exercises from warm-up through stretching, basic ballet steps, and locomotion exercises all with a fun Easter theme.  Take your students on a fun-filled adventure where they will go on an Easter egg hunt, take part in an Easter Hat parade, experiment with rhythms, levels, speeds, directions, and work on fine and gross motor skills, jumping, hopping, skipping.  Watch them hop like a bunny, roll like an egg and pose like a flower.

The Preschool Easter Dance Class Plan takes care of marketing with a selection of social media graphics done for you plus an informative flyer that you can send to parents.  This not only helps cement the concepts covered in class but also builds parental engagement and trust.  Parents who love your program will spread the word! After the class give your students the coloring pages and activity sheets to further enhance their experience.  You can post samples of their work during the week or hang them up around the studio. Join the thousands of schools already enjoying these affordable and easy-to-use class plans designed in conjunction with qualified ballet teachers and childhood development professionals. 

This dance class plan is part of the Ballet Blueprint series, designed to give you the skills and knowledge to deliver a quality, pedagogically sound Preschool Dance program without huge outlays.  Regular preschool teachers don’t reinvent the wheel every time they step into a class.  They have set class plans that are well structured and predictable.  The Ballet Blueprint series is based on this concept and has been tried, tested, and tweaked so you can deliver your Preschool dance classes without chaos or stress.

Move beyond follow-along action songs and the freeze game to a curriculum that follows childhood development principles, is age-appropriate and is designed so that their first steps are the right ones.  You can learn more about the Blueprint series here and grab your Preschool Easter Dance Class Plan right here.

Unicorn Preschool Ballet class plan

Is there a Preschool Ballet student not obsessed with Unicorns? Unicorns are the Zeitgeist of our time but Unicorn themed songs for Preschoolers are a little harder to come by.  Never fear your Unicorn Preschool Ballet class plan is here! And if you teach 5-6-year-olds there is a version for them too.  This Unicorn Preschool Ballet class plan is based on the Ballet Blueprint series, the best-selling downloadable ballet curriculum which is currently used worldwide as a best practice pre-ballet curriculum.  It has been designed, tested, and tweaked so that you can download and hit the dance floor running.  Created with a firm foundation in fostering correct ballet technique around childhood development principles you can be confident that your Preschool program is pedagogically sound and that students will graduate primed to move into formal ballet training.  Studios rise and fall on their Preschool program and tapping into this revenue stream puts your studio on strong foundations.  However, finding a Preschool program that ticks all the boxes, that can be used by multiple instructors but which doesn’t cost a bomb or require expensive membership fees can be challenging.  The Ballet Blueprint series is tried and tested and a simple no-fuss option to build a quality Preschool Dance program that you can be proud of and rely on to actually prepare your youngest dancers for their formal training. If you want a class of superstar minis you need to get started early.

Vivian Brent  (Encore Performing Arts) – I was badly burned by a big name Preschool franchise.  I wish I’d just purchased this to start with.  It has everything I need.  I can provide each of my instructors with a copy and I can be confident  that my Preschool program will be well organised, uniform and something that the children really enjoy and benefit from.

Like all the Resources for Dance Teachers mini-class plans, the Unicorn Preschool Ballet class plan comes with a playlist, fully choreographed exercises that focus on fine and gross motor skill development, directions, levels, speed, and bucketloads of imaginative play.  The class plan also comes with a coloring page.  As a special bonus, there is also a Beginners Ballet version for your younger students aged 5-7.

You can learn more about the Ballet Blueprint series here and find more mini-class plans here and a whole range of fabulous coloring pages and ballet activities here.

To download your free Unicorn Preschool Ballet class plan with a bonus 5-7-year-old version just enter your email below.

St Patricks’ Day Preschool dance class plan

No more scrambling to find last-minute activities for St Patrick’s day – your pot of gold is right here!   Simply download and enjoy this free St Patrick’s Day Preschool Dance class plan complete with playlist, fully choreographed exercises, activities, place markers, and boy and girl St Patrick’s Day coloring pages.  This mini-class plan has everything you need to provide a fun St Patrick’s day themed dance class.  The exercises focus on levels, speed, tempo, sequencing, fine and gross motor skills, and bucket loads of FUN.  This Preschool Dance class plan is based on the best-selling downloadable ballet curriculum, the Ballet Blueprint series which takes you from Mommy & Me through Preschool and onto Beginners Ballet.  The  Blueprint is currently being used worldwide to deliver quality ballet instruction.  With extensive playlists,  clear class phases, and a fully choreographed syllabus, the Blueprint gives you everything you need to download and go.  It has been designed and tested to be pedagogically sound and works around milestones of childhood development so you can be assured that your program will enhance cognitive, physical, and social development.  The Blueprint also offers comprehensive strategies for behavioral expectations giving you the tools to deal with everything from separation anxiety to fostering a love of dance.  We all know how difficult it is to undo bad early training and with a focus on developing strong technique, the Blueprint ensures their first steps are the right ones.  Students trained wth the Blueprint commence formal training 18 months years ahead of their peers and it is an advantage that continues right through their training.   You can find out more about the Blueprint here.

The Blueprint has revolutionized my studio.  I finally have a well organised and popular Preschool Program that feeds seamlessly into my school aged program.  The difference in my junior school is amazing and I’m excited to see this new generation of students progress through the studio.  -Annie Moore (Ballet Director, Starz Academy)

To download your free St Patrick’s Day Preschool dance class plan, just enter your email below.

If you are looking for more resources for dance teaching, check out our Ballet Activity packs, Ballet Theory packs and Growth Mindset resources.

Dance class observation worksheet

We all know the drill, dancers need to sit out but we’d still like them to be doing something to enhance their learning.  Telling them to observe the class is fine but what is even better is ensuring that they still walk (or hobble) away as the case may be with some sort of learning experience under their belt.  This dance class observation worksheet helps turn those times when dancers have to sit out into valuable learning experiences.  In fact, it actually helps turn a negative into a positive. Sitting out and taking the time to really watch and learn from the class can really help give dancers a different perspective on a dance class.  It gives them a chance to think about their corrections, to process what other dancers are doing that looks good, and encourages them to think about how they might be able to incorporate all of this into their own dancing.  And if you are ever dealing with a serial sitter outer, this worksheet can really help turn this around or at the very least make sure that there is at least some learning and reflection going on.  

The Dance class observation worksheet is based on growth mindset theory.  In summary, growth mindset theory is based on the research of Carol Dweck. In Dweck’s research, she gave a group of children a basic IQ test. Half were praised for their good results by being told that they must be very smart, while the other half were praised because they must have tried very hard.  The group was then offered a second test.  They were told they could do the same test again or a harder one.  The group that was praised for their ability mostly chose the same test whilst the group that was praised for their effort chose the harder test. Furthermore, when given a third test of the same standard as the first, the ability group actually did worse than the effort group. The ability group, believed their success was due to something innate, something that they had no control over and therefore didn’t want to try something harder as they were afraid it would prove that they weren’t smart. The second group equated their success with effort and were therefore willing to try harder things as they were not afraid of failure and believed, that with effort, they could succeed at harder tasks    Dweck finds that individuals that believe that success comes from innate ability to operate with a fixed mindset whereas those that believe that success is based on hard work, learning, training, and doggedness are said to have a growth mindset.  Fixed-mindset individuals dread failure because it is a negative statement on their abilities, while growth mindset individuals don’t mind or fear failure as much because they realize their performance can be improved and learning comes from failure. This obviously has huge implications for dance.  As dance teachers we want our students to operate with a growth mindset, to want to try new, harder things without being afraid to fail.  Unfortunately, the dance world often tends to reward and praise students for the facility.  How often have you heard people talking about beautiful feet, dancers being praised for their natural flexibility, or being described as a natural turner.  This fixed mindset view of dancers can have huge repercussions for a dancer’s attitude to dance and their willingness to put in the effort and push themselves beyond their comfort zone.  If you would like to learn more about the growth mindset for dancers there are several packs that you can use to work through these concepts with your students. A word of warning though, once your studio starts to implement a growth mindset, the results are phenomenal, so get ready for your dancers to fly! Check out the Success Mindset and Goal Setting bundle here and the Correction pack for dancers here. The latest dancer correction pack which results in a huge shift in attitude and application of corrections is available here.

Feelings about and the ability to apply corrections is a huge part of growth mindset theory, so please enjoy this dance class observation worksheet with your dancers.

10 tips for great Zoom dance classes

Learn to love teaching dance on Zoom – what 8 months on Zoom have taught me

During 2020, I have conducted the majority of my dance classes on Zoom – we went into Lockdown and our dance schools closed in March.  At the time of writing it is early November and we are ‘due’ to go back to the studio in a limited capacity next week but Zoom will still be part of our lives for a while longer.  The first day I ever taught on Zoom I wanted to cry.  “This is no way to teach,” I thought!  I absolutely HATED it.  The energy and interaction that powers the studio environment were gone.  I hated seeing my students as tiny muted squares.  I felt like Zoom was just something to suffer through for a few weeks and that there was no hope of actually achieving anything from these online classes.  As the weeks turned into months, and it became very clear that Zoom was not in fact the big, bad evil that was keeping me from my students but in fact my only lifeline to them.  Slowly, I began to adapt to this strange new way of teaching.  I had an extra advantage in that I listened to my own daughter being taught ballet on Zoom for 6 hours a day.  Between my own experiences and listening into other teacher’s classes I ended up with a very firm idea of what works, what doesn’t, and what we as dance teachers need to do to not just adapt but indeed thrive on Zoom.

First things first, Zoom teaching will never replace in-studio teaching.  However, if 2020 has taught us anything it is that we need to learn to adapt. Zoom dance classes are not the same as in-studio classes and accepting this and trying to focus on what can be achieved on Zoom makes a huge difference. Just let that sit for a moment.  Step one in Zoom dance class success is to accept that Zoom classes are not just a replication of in-studio classes.  You need to approach them differently, look for what can be achieved, and focus on achieving that.  So what have I learned after 8 long months (and counting) on Zoom…..

1. Set expectations: This is one area where Zoom classes and in-studio classes are similar. When I first started teaching on Zoom, I, like many teachers focussed on having fun, on getting the students comfortable with this new medium. That was March.  Kids are beyond used to online learning now.  We no longer have to worry about that.  Of course, there is time for fun, but just as in the studio, nothing is possible without expectations and structure.  Set the ground rules and stick to them.  For me, my main rules were that students should not approach their device unless they had to adjust something.  Unless it is watching time, students should stand still and listen. No lounging on couches or using the chat function to ping their friends.
2. Cut down on demonstration wherever possible:  When you start on Zoom, make your number one priority setting a routine. If you have exam work to work on, great! If not, choose a selection of exercises that you can repeat weekly.  Of course, you can add to these but having a portion of the class where you don’t have to demonstrate is game-changing.  Demonstrating on Zoom is not like demonstrating in class.  In class, you can demonstrate AND watch but on Zoom it is really difficult to make sure your whole body is in the shot, deal with music, keep the interest of the class, and peer at tiny squares all at the same time.  It is draining!  However, once you can sit down in front of your computer and look at your students you can get on with the business of teaching. You can interact, you can use your personality to help the class along. You can give correction, you can give encouragement.  The whole tone of the class changes.  Another option is to have an older demonstrating student in the lesson. You can spotlight the student so other class members can watch them whilst you get on with the teaching.  For older students, if you have some students who are more confident with the choreography or syllabus work you can suggest to the students that they pin certain students so as they have someone to watch.  All of these free you up to teach more effectively.
3. Choose what you teach: There are many things we can’t do on Zoom.  Hello, grand allegro or across-the-floor combinations! However, there are many things that do work. Stretching and strengthening on Zoom is ideal.  It doesn’t take much room and students often have various tools at their disposal (yoga blocks, stretch bands, etc) and there are all sorts of ways everyday household furniture can be used for stretch and strengthen.  Because you can’t do certain parts of your normal class, it does mean that you, therefore, have more time to hone in on other areas.  You might choose to do a whole class on feet and ankle flex and strengthening, or a class on hip flexibility or on extensions.  When we are going full tilt in the studio, working towards exams, performances, etc, these kinds of classes aren’t always possible.  Embrace the opportunity to work on some areas you might not always have time to when you are in the studio.
4. Imagery, imagery, imagery: Not being in the same room means that you have to rely so much more on the words you use to impart correct dance technique to students. Pay attention to your use of imagery.  Think about what you are teaching that day and brainstorm some imagery to help your students understand how you would like a certain step to look,  Imagery can be further enhanced by the use of props (see below)
5. Use props: One of the huge advantages I found in teaching from home was that I had all sorts of props on hand. Instead of talking about a sparkly diamond on their heel, I could show them a big sparkly plastic jewel.  I grabbed icy lollies from my freezer to demonstrate what a relevé should look like, I used my artist’s model jointed figure to demonstrate placement, pieces of spaghetti, pieces of elastic, nothing in my house was safe during class.  The kids could come up to the screen and have a look at my props which gave a nice flow to the class and also really helped impart what I was trying to teach them. For Preschool and young school-age classes, the chance to introduce magic into the class was wonderful.  I could pretend my Cinderella Princess figurine had given me a high heel shoe that would lead us onto our tippy-toe walks.
6. Use spotlight: The spotlight feature on Zoom is a wonderful motivational tool.  The pride and excitement the students show when they are chosen to demonstrate a step on spotlight seems even greater than in the studio, particularly when mum or dad is in the next room. Spotlight is not only great for the students chosen but also a fantastic learning tool for other students to see what you are expecting of them.  As always when rewarding students in this way, be very aware of how many times students are chosen to demonstrate and reward effort over ability. You might find this article on giving praise to dancers within a Growth Mindset framework useful.
7. Use chat and share screen: The chat feature is a great feature of Zoom.  Unmuting can be arduous.  However, with the Private chat feature, you can ask students a question and they can answer publicly or privately.  For example, if you wanted to ask a little ballet theory question, having students answer using the Private Chat feature gives all students a chance to answer.  The chat is also great for worksheets, escape room type challenges, and more.  Share screen is great (well except for the fact that it takes about a thousand clicks and swipes to get there but once you have it working, it has so many uses.  You can share worksheets, you can share photos, you can do quizzes, and have the students answer using chat.
8. Use groups:  Just as in the studio, having students perform their work in smaller groups whilst other students watch has all the advantages of doing so in the studio.  It creates a nice rhythm in the class, it gives you a better chance to see students and it works as a learning experience for those watching
9. Private lessons work:  Private lessons on ZOOM are GREAT, in particular lessons focussing on technique and strengthening and conditioning.  Working one on one you can set goals, you can hone in on areas of flexibility or technique, and work on them with a level of focus and time that is just not available in a studio setting.  Depending on school commitments it is sometimes possible to hold these during the day.
10. Consider introducing other ideas:   Just like you choose what you teach, Zoom also gives you the opportunity to incorporate other material into your lessons.  The Growth Mindset and Success Mindset and Goal setting worksheet packs are perfect for sharing on Zoom.

You can find more Studio Shutdown resources here or if you would like to download a pack of free resources for teaching online just enter your email below.

Covid Safe Dance coloring pages

Help your students feel comfortable with new studio rules with these free Covid Safe Dance coloring pages featuring boy and girl dancers with face masks.  The pages, promote handwashing and good hygiene in the studio.  These pages are free and you can download them by entering your email below. Once downloaded you can print them out as many times as you would like or share them online.  For those on Zoom, you can find Welcome back to Zoom coloring pages here.

You can find the full range of coloring pages for ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop over in the Resources for Dance Teachers store. These coloring pages are based on the Ballet Blueprint series – a downloadable curriculum which takes dancers from their first steps as a Preschooler through to their first year of formal training. if you want a class of superstar minis then you need to start early and the Blueprint system of training allows you to do this.  With the Blueprint, you can rest assured that you are providing a quality ballet program for your youngest students which will fully prepare them for their formal dance training.  Students trained with the Blueprint start their formal ballet lessons 12-18 months ahead of their peers and it’s an advantage that stays with them, so the rewards for your studio just keep coming as they progress.

To download your Covid Safe Dance coloring pages enter your email below.

Welcome back to dance coloring page

Please enjoy these free welcome back to dance coloring pages.  As some of us will be returning to in person learning and some returning via Zoom, there are  Zoom and non-Zoom boy and girl pages. With restrictions on handing things out in class, you may find it preferable to email the sheets before the first class or just provide the google drive link for your parents to download the sheets as they please.  These are a lovely way to scaffold the return to dance and are always a hit with Preschoolers young school aged dancers.  Just enter your email below to download these free back to dance colouring pages.

These colouring pages are part of the Preschool Ballet Blueprint, the bestselling Preschool ballet curriculum that actually prepares Preschool aged students for formal ballet training. The Blueprint is your guide to providing a quality, well organised and popular Preschool Ballet program.  The Blueprint has been tried and tested over many years and comes complete with fully choreographed syllabus, playlist, guide to promoting good behaviour as well as common faults and how to fix them.  You can learn more about the Preschool Ballet Blueprint here and find a full range of colouring and activity sheets here.