Pre-Ballet lesson plan – free download

I was chatting with one of my former students Sarah, the other day and she was telling me that she had just been employed to teach Pre-Ballet classes.  Sympathetically, I listened as she told me a now-familiar tale.  Sarah told me how excited she had been for the first class and how much planning and preparation she had done and then…. how TERRIBLY the whole thing had gone.  She had experienced the whole enchilada, crying children, children running wildly around the room, the tiny dancers not being able to follow what Sarah was trying to teach them…she was frazzled, upset and had no idea what to do! My student Sarah is a beautiful dancer and had assisted me for many years with school-aged classes.  BUT as any Pre-Ballet teacher will tell you, Preschool dance classes are a WHOLE different kettle of fish.  It can at times seem like it has more in common with herding kittens than teaching dance.

How can a Pre-Ballet lesson plan help?

Sure it can be hectic but, it absolutely doesn’t have to be that way.  With a well-designed Pre-Ballet lesson plan, everything is possible. I sent Sarah a link to the Preschool Ballet Blueprint along with a copy of the Mini Pre-Ballet lesson plan available to download below. Wishing her luck, I told her I’d give her a call after her next class.  The Sarah I spoke to that next week was thrilled and excited at how well it had all gone.  Give a girl the right Pre-Ballet lesson plan and she can conquer the world!   A solid Pre-Ballet lesson plan, showing what to teach, and most importantly how to teach is a game changer!

Pre-Ballet – the fundamentals

Teaching Pre-Ballet is totally different from teaching school-age classes, but there are some fundamentals.  These are absolutely KEY to ensuring that your Pre-Ballet classes are not only calm, organized, and enjoyable but also pedagogically sound.  Simple things such as:

• Studio organisation
• How students enter the room
• The use of place markers
• How to implement class phases
• Which props to use
• What to teach, when, and how.

These are the hallmarks of an effective Pre-Ballet lesson plan. To get started, try out his min Pre-Ballet class plan which is designed as a basic first class and will give you a good overview of how to structure your class.  If you are ready you can check out the full Preschool Ballet Blueprint over here.

You may also like these Pre-Ballet articles

5 tools every Preschool Dance Teacher Needs

5 tips for a successful Preschool Ballet Class

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

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.

Dancing through lockdown 2020 – a guide to helping dancers through lockdown and the impact it has had on young dancers.

Lockdown 2020 has had a profound impact on young dancers around the world.  Many young dancers spend hours at their dance studios every week and they become not just a place of learning but a home away from home.  The vibe of being in a studio, of working as a team, and of dancing with friends is a feeling like no other.  Students attend dance studios for so many reasons.  Some look to make a career, others find a social outlet through dance, many enjoy the process of perfecting an art form, many love the thrill of performing and others find solace and a safe space within their dance studio.  Adapting to remote learning has been challenging for dance teachers and students alike. Without the energy in the studio, without the connection and with no clear goals to work towards such as performances or exams, many students have found themselves disconnected from an integral part of their being.  A dance year has a rhythm, learning new skills, learning routines, working towards exams, competition season, performance season, there is a comfort in that rhythm and that predictability.  As we continue to navigate lockdown and post lockdown in the studio, it is important to consider methods for helping dancers through lockdown. I have just come off 8 months of teaching on Zoom and over that time, a few things became very clear.

• A student’s motivation to dance plays a huge role in how well they cope with online learning.  Obviously, no student is motivated by only one factor, it is a combination of things that an individual loves about dance.  However, broadly speaking, students who are more extrinsically motivated, for example, by being in the studio, by being with their friends, and those that are motivated by displaying their dancing to others, whether that be having other students watch and admire them in the studio or in competitions, struggle on Zoom.  Without the camaraderie and the feedback and the feeling of performing, dance became a very different prospect. By contrast, those that are more highly motivated by intrinsic factors such as perfecting their art and by trying to become a better dancer, thrive on Zoom.
• Space to dance also plays a huge role.  Some students can avail themselves of empty rooms with plenty of equipment at their disposal whilst others have to make do with a kitchen bench and their little brother watching television next to them.  In the studio, every student can enjoy the space and facilities, at home it is a very different matter.  If motivation is waning, not having the space to dance can really start to impact.
• Attitude to Zoom.  I think we can all agree that the first time we logged onto Zoom, after getting past the thrill of seeing our students again, we all felt a mixture of disappointment, stress, and anxiety at our new teaching tool,  The way we as teachers feel about Zoom can have a huge impact on the way our students receive our lessons.  There are several great tips for getting the most out of Zoom classes here but the main message is to look for what can be achieved and focus on that.  Rather than looking at Zoom classes as a regular class that is now held online, it is an absolute game-changer when you start to view Zoom as a different way of teaching.  Whilst some aspects of dance class are difficult or impossible to achieve on Zoom there are many many things that can be achieved.  By focussing on this, the entire experience is totally different. And the good news, after 8 months I got back to the studio and I could absolutely see what we had achieved on Zoom.  Every student had improved.  I could see them applying corrections we had worked on in our Zoom class and some aspects of their technique had improved immensely.  After all those pirouettes in challenging locations, the kids could turn like tops!

In terms of helping dancers through lockdown, there are many, many resources that you can use on Zoom over in the store.  Why not spend a class working on growth mindset or goal setting, it offers not only a welcome change of pace but also introduces valuable life skills.  Meanwhile, please enjoy this worksheet to help your students process their time on Zoom.  Whether they are back in the studio or still learning remotely, talking about motivation, about how they feel about not being in the studio and looking for the lessons and positives they can take from their time away from the studio is incredibly powerful.  Just enter your email address below.  This sheet is from the Success Mindset journal for students which you can purchase here.  The teacher version is available here.

You can find more great Zoom resources here.

Halloween Preschool Dance class plan & coloring pages

Halloween is such a fun time for dance class – so many great spooky songs to use and all sorts of great dance activities to enjoy.  Make sure you are all set for your Halloween Preschool Dance classes with the mini class plan which focuses on fine and gross motor skills, directions, sequencing, levels, tempo, and of course, imaginative play.  And as a special treat please also enjoy these Halloween Dance coloring pages.

This Halloween Preschool Dance class plan is based on the Preschool Ballet Blueprint, a downloadable class plan currently being used worldwide to deliver fun, popular, well-organized Preschool dance programs. You can learn more about the Blueprint here and grab the full range of Seasonal Preschool Ballet coloring pages for girls and boys here. In the meantime, grab your free downloadable Halloween Preschool Dance Class plan and coloring page by entering 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.

Ballet Theory resource pack for junior students

A comprehensive ballet knowledge starts with a solid foundation.  Exposing our ballet students to ballet theory knowledge is an integral part of any ballet education.  The My First Theory pack is perfect for introducing your younger ballet students, aged 6 plus to ballet theory.  The information, exercises, and activities are all pedagogically sound and appropriate for younger students.  The Ballet Theory resource pack contains

• Positions of the feet – tracing and counting exercises
• Famous Ballets – the Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Sleeping Beauty.  Each unit study consists of a synopsis, a crossword, a featured ballet step, and an activity such as coloring, spot the difference, mazes, and more.
• Ballet terms – a range of coloring pages and tracing exercises covering the meanings of basic ballet terms
• Class phases – an introduction to the phases of a ballet class, barre, center practice, adage, pirouette, and allegro.

The junior ballet theory resource pack contains over 30 pages of downloadable ballet theory exercises which have been developed over many years and have consistently proven to be popular and engaging for young students.  The ballet theory exercises are applicable to any ballet method and are designed to complement any syllabus.  As the theory pack is downloadable, once you have purchased you may replicate the material as many times as you like.  You may choose to print the sheets out or share them online.  The resources are also great for using on Zoom. You can find out more about the My first ballet theory pack by clicking here.

If you are looking for Ballet Theory resources for older students check out the Ballet Theory Mega Activity Pack and for more Ballet Teacher resources including coloring pages and activity packs click here.

Free Preschool Ballet class plan – Penguin-themed.

These free Preschool class plans are perfect for adding a bit of variety to your Preschool Ballet Program.  All the themes and exercises are tried and tested and are not only pedagogically sound but are designed to delight and enchant your students.  The exercises included incorporate gross and fine motor skills, levels, speed, directions, and imaginative play.  Take your young ballerinas on a journey into the Antarctic where they will explore a range of penguin-inspired movements and themes.

The free Preschool Ballet class plan includes a playlist, a coloring sheet and 5 choreographed exercises where students will waddle and march, slide and glide, jump into the water and flap their flippers.  Everything is done for you so you can be confident that it will work.  This class plan is appropriate for Zoom and for in-studio learning.

Songs and activities include

1. 5 little penguins -a plié exercise which incorporates fine motor skills and involves counting and sequencing.
2. Did you ever see a Penguin? – a tendu exercise which works with gross motor skills and imaginative play
3. Walk like a Penguin – This exercise is guaranteed to produce giggles.  It incorporates directions, sequences and imaginative play
4. Penguins are marching – this is a fantastic rhythmical exercise that incorporates articulation and balance.
5. Doin’ the Penguin – a tired and true favorite and one that my tiny ballerinas ask for EVERY single week!!!

This free Preschool Ballet class plan is based on the bestselling Preschool Ballet Blueprint, the much-loved downloadable Preschool Ballet Curriculum.  The Blueprint has been tried and tested, tweaked, and enhanced so that all the work is done for you.  You can rest assured that you are delivering a quality Preschool Ballet program that children and parents alike LOVE.  The Blueprint is designed to actually prepare students for formal ballet training so the when your Preschool Ballerinas join your school-aged class they hit the ground running.  This is priceless when it comes to ensuring the development of your studio.  Students trained with the Blueprint start their training 12-18 months ahead of their peers and the difference keeps on building.  If you want a team of superstar minis, start them off right and watch them fly!!  You can find out more about the Preschool  Ballet Blueprint here and download your free Preschool Ballet class plan by entering your email below.

If you are looking for more free seasonal preschool ballet class plans and other Preschool Ballet resources click here.