Posts by Rhee Gold
Greener Than You Think
Your grass is greener than you think. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreAnatomy Lesson
by Natalie Harber I was teaching a musical-theater camp over the summer and one day I took two of the younger students to the bathroom. Both girls are 4 years old, and they left their stall doors open in order to engage me in conversation. One of the girls decided that she needed to educate…
Read MoreGreatest Profession
Dance is one of the first art forms known to humankind. As teachers we are the conservators who preserve the history, and we have the chance to add our knowledge to take the art form to new heights. We pass that torch to the next generation who will in turn pass it on to the…
Read MoreCollective Success
Imagine the collective success our dance community would experience if we all stayed focused on being the best we can be. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreLooking for the Good
by Rhee Gold Lately I have been heard a lot of discussion about what’s wrong with dance education, especially in regard to appropriate choreography, costume, music and the sexualization of dance. And I too see a problem . . . BUT, I want to share with you the good that is happening. There are schools,…
Read MoreDance Truth
Dance Truth . . . No two students will progress at the same rate, even if they experience the exact same training. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreReady for Change
I’ve figured out that the business side of my dance school is more than I can take. When I read your magazine, I learn about teachers who are in the same place I am, but their issues seem to be different. It’s not listening to crabby parents that bothers me; I do well with them. And it doesn’t have to do with not making a living, because I have done very well. The hard part for me is having to deal with my employees.
Read MoreDance is a Gift
Dance People . . . Our passion for our art is often hard to describe to people who do not dance. I see it like this; it’s the bliss that pours out of our souls when we are lost in the movement and the music. It’s the innate understanding that the human body and the…
Read MoreBe Who You Are
BE who you are. DANCE who you are. TEACH who you are. STAND for who you are. That’s how you became a “dance person” in the first place. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreStick-To-It-Ness
I’ve discovered a trend. It’s a growing disconnect between what’s said and what’s done. The frustration that arises among teachers and school owners stems from students and parents who feel that they don’t have to abide by the policies or rules set forth by their dance school, that they, or their situations, are exceptions to the rules
Read MoreAppreciate the Little Dancer
Appreciate the little dancer who is learning her first plie’, as much as you do the one who can do five pirouettes. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreLet a Financial Whiz Handle the Numbers
Most studio owners are passionate about dance and teaching, not accounting or financial planning. “The dance side” of the studio, as we are wont to say, is what we love, and live for. “The business side,” however, is what we grudgingly plod through because it allows us to do what we love. From daily accounts receivable and accounts payable, to monthly account reconciliations, to marketing, to data entry, to preparing annual tax returns—the business side requires diligent attention if we want our studios to succeed.
Read MoreA Rite of Passage
The recital—that annual staple of the dance school—conjures images of childhood and Americana for many. It’s a rite of passage for thousands of youngsters, a chance to shine in front of family and friends that they anticipate with nervous excitement. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreMove Without Fear
Dance full-out, stretch further, become more focused on your technique, and give your all to every teacher. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreImagine the Collective Success
As a teenager, I remember overhearing a group of dance teachers at a dance convention get all fired up about the recent rumor they had heard about another dance teacher (who was not there, of course).
Read MoreKnowledge
Life is crazy sometimes, but if you stop for a moment to reflect on how far you’ve come and what you’ve accomplished, then you end up with the strength to tackle the craziness that life has to offer. After a while you realize that it is, in fact, the craziness that gives you the knowledge…
Read MoreGreat Choreography
TEACHERS: Great choreography isn’t about emulating the latest trend or the award you may win. Greatness is present in the choreographer who has the ability to make every dancer look good (and feel confident) regardless of the skill level of the students. You accomplish this by creating works in which the audience can’t tell the difference between the strongest and the “not as strong” students because of your genius choreography. Have a great day–Rhee
Read MoreLegacy
Teaching Dance…Our legacy isn’t going to be the number of pirouettes our students execute; it’s going to be the passion for the art of dance that we instill in their souls. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreLook Around
Look around for the doors that have opened around you, which you might have been afraid to dance through, and just go for it. No fears, no hesitation. Just follow your instinct. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreDon’t Judge
by Rhee Gold It is important to realize that students’ lack of interest might have nothing to do with the teacher or the material. They could be dealing with life issues such as divorce, conflicts in the home, problems with friends, or abusive situations. Whatever the circumstance, dance can allow students to forget their personal…
Read MorePassion Isn’t Limited
Make it your goal to instill a passion for the art of dance in every child . . . what’s really cool about this objective is that the passion isn’t limited to those who can do five pirouettes, it’s something that a once-a-week student can accomplish, too. That’s what teaching dance is all about! ~Rhee…
Read MoreFun Fact: Hugh Jackman
Fun facts for teachers and students
Read MoreThere She Is
There she is . . . that sweet, 4-year-old in a leotard with a huge smile on her face who loves everything about you. Your dream has come true. How cool is that?! ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreYou Should Hear
GOSSIP – Forget about it – you should hear what they say about me! ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreClassroom Wisdom: Ballet Challenge
by April Mosher Once a year my 6- to 10-year-old ballet students play a game I call “Ballet Challenge.” For a week or two before the challenge, we review proper terminology and correct execution of steps. During warm-ups we go over terms like chassé, bourrée, etc. On game day, I come prepared with flash cards. The…
Read MoreWe Make a Difference
We can make a difference in the lives of each young person who dances through our classroom. How cool is that?! ~Rhee Gold
Read More3 Teachers Talk “Competition Costs”
Taking students to competitions is an expensive endeavor. Explaining the costs involved to parents is important, and ensuring that parents follow through on their financial commitments can be difficult. Three studio owners devised plans for making the interactions surrounding competition costs as painless as possible, and they might work for you too.
Read MoreSurprise
Some people surprise you and others never do. I think I like those who surprised me a little bit more. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreStay Focused
Figure out what it is that YOU want, stay focused and forget about what others are up to. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreBlessings
by Rhee Gold As adults (parents and teachers) we know that our blessings are not the awards that our children win at dance competitions (or any other activity). Our blessings are children with healthy bodies who have a passion for the art of dance. It leads them on an awesome journey that will make them…
Read MoreOur Own Reflection
If we perceive something negative about another, it’s a good idea not to speak about it until we have determined that we are not criticizing our own reflection. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreBread, Milk and Dance
I have been a dance teacher for more than 40 years and have run a dance studio for 35 years. But when I was a little girl, growing up first in the Harlem projects, then in the Bronx, I could never have imagined such a life for myself.
Read MoreParent Role
As a parent, you play an important role in supporting your student financially, but your emotional support is of equal—and perhaps even greater—value. Encourage your child to be the best that he or she can be regardless of what others may achieve. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreNo Time
There is no time for gossip if you are truly focused on what you want or need to accomplish. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreRecipe: Negative Word of Mouth Souffle
A never-fail recipe from Netty Rocker – (and one we hope you will NOT try!!)
Cook time: In some cases this recipe will cook quickly or it could take years.
Read MoreOur Legacy
Teaching dance . . . Our legacy isn’t going to be the number of pirouettes our students execute; it’s going to be the passion for the art of dance that we instill in their souls. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreThree Steps to a Scheduled Season
by Teri Mangiaratti Presenting families with a full season schedule at registration makes a fantastic first impression. Putting all of your season’s dates on a calendar now will help dancers’ families and your staff plan their year, and they will absolutely appreciate it. So pour yourself a cup of coffee, print out a calendar, and…
Read MoreRespect Those Who Share Our Passion
It is about more than the steps that we teach; we set the example . . . Let’s not discuss rumors or gossip with our students or their parents regarding other schools. If we speak negatively about our peers outside or inside of the school we are not setting the right example; nor does it…
Read MoreRight Now
Dream BIG, for sure. But, never forget how cool it is to be where you are right now. Enjoy the journey. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreImprov Freeze Dance
by Holly Derville-Teer One day I had 15 minutes to spare at the end of a beginner jazz class for 7- to 11-year-olds. “What am I going to do for 15 minutes?” I thought. Then I remembered my days teaching 5- to 6-year-olds and it hit me: freeze dance! I needed to create an older…
Read MoreUnshakable Confidence
I believe that our soul tells each of us what our contributions to this world can and should be. The key then becomes an unshakable confidence in what we know is right for us. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreYoung People
Dance Teacher Friends, Remember that it isn’t always about the movement or steps that you teach that matter most. It’s more about being a positive role model who mentors, leads and teaches young people to be the best that they can be in dance and in life. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreCompetition is a Part of What We Do
Let us not forget that competition is a part of what we do, but not all we do. In most schools it is the preschool and recreational dancers who are our financial backbone. For them learning their first “shuffle” or “pas de bourrée” is happiness. As teachers we need to know that dance brings joy…
Read MoreGrateful for the Change
by Rhee Gold I have always believed that the absolute in life is change. Embracing it, rather than dreading it, can change everything. Yes, there may be heartache when we lose someone; yes, it can be scary to open a new door; yes, sometimes we are perfectly happy with where we are at and we…
Read MoreBest Defense
I think confidence is the best defense against the emotional stuff. Keep on dancing; stay focused on what you need to do and enjoy the journey. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreFun Fact: The White House
Fun facts for teachers and students
Read MoreBuild Up A Child
It’s easier to build up a child than to repair an adult. Your words and actions have power in your child’s life. Use them wisely. ~Unknown Author
Read MoreMinds, Bodies, and Souls
Our goal is to educate the minds, bodies, and souls of our students, teaching them the skills needed for a successful life, whether or not they stay involved in dance. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreWho is Fierce?
They don’t perform grand leaps, not one fouetté turn nor a single pirouette, and there’s no flash at all. Yet you watch them with your mouth open, while that head-to-toe body chill takes over your full being for a few moments as you settle into the greatness before your eyes.
Read MoreHappy People
Happy people attract other happy people. Negative people, well you know the rest of the story. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreToo Much Information
by Jill Keating You know how when little kids get talking they always enter the “more than I need to know” zone? When I was pregnant and teaching 3- and 4-year-olds, there were always plenty of questions from them. I tried to answer in a delicate and appropriate way. One little girl said, “My mom can’t have babies…
Read MoreInner Peace
Inner peace is the new success, and inner peace comes from total acceptance of who you are and what you believe in. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreI Made a Huge Mistake
Hi Rhee, I made a huge mistake and I’m not sure how to get myself out of it. Two years ago I lost the studio manager who had been with me from the time I started my school, 13 years ago. She was a delight to work with and I considered her my partner in…
Read MoreFrom One Soul to the Next
The dance teacher passes on something very special; it’s a passion that dances from one soul to the next. And once it’s there, it’s there for life. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreEnjoy the Journey
Rhee Gold answers the question, “What would you say if you could send every dance teacher a text?” Be inspired to tackle your day!
Read MoreSpeaking Truth
It is hard to tell a student she is not ready for the next level of study—even harder if I know the student will see that her peers are advancing. But I simply will not promote a student when she is not ready. That would be unethical on my part and dangerous for the student.
Read MoreCommitment = Success
Dance Teachers Let us appreciate our chance to influence future generations to be awesome people who understand that commitment = success. The world needs more of us and them. And yes we do teach dance too. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreNot Who They Used To Be
by Rhee Gold Almost every dance teacher who has been at it for a while says, “The kids today are not who they used to be.” They may be different, but I am beginning to understand why. Our kids live in a world where they arrive at school or the movie theater looking for the…
Read MoreCar You Drive
Yes, things could always be better, but stop right now to look at the roof over your head, the car you drive, that computer you are looking at, and everything else that you see around you. All of it is a result of your hard work. PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK, then get back to…
Read MoreRemain Focused
Almost everything is a choice. Choose your distractions wisely, so you can remain focused on what you need to do. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreMental Rehearsals
by Debra Danese After teaching my students new choreography, I end the class or rehearsal by saying, “Don’t forget to review before we meet again.” However, in the next class I often need to reteach the movement rather than reviewing and adding on. To the students’ explanation that they don’t have time to practice because…
Read MoreReal Choreographers
Real choreographers don’t need the best dancers. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreLet the Fear Go
by Rhee Gold Henry Ford once said, “If there is one thing which I would banish from the earth it is fear.” Some people believe that fear is experienced only in dramatic or scary situations, but in reality it can linger in the subconscious, creating a constant state of inhibition. Fear holds us back from…
Read MoreProfessional Teacher–Student Relationship
Any teacher’s success is based on a professional teacher-student relationship. Young teachers who hang out with their students can diminish the respect they need to be effective teachers and role models. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreOrganized
You don’t have to be organized, you must appear to be organized. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreIt Started with Breath
by Bill Evans Our modern-dance ancestors started with breath. For Martha Graham, it was called “contraction and release”; for Doris Humphrey, “fall and recovery”; for Rudolf Laban, “growing and shrinking.” As you enter the studio, notice your own breath to help you become centered. Draw your students’ attention to their breath to help them become…
Read MoreNo Guilt
Believe it or not, it is OK for the studio owner to make a profit without feeling guilt. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreHusband Shares Dream
I am one of the lucky dance teachers with a husband who supports what I do. He has dinner waiting on the table when I come home and he takes on as much responsibility with our three children as I do . . . Together we have been saving for three years to come up with a down payment for a piece of land that we know is a fantastic location for the dance school of our dreams.
Read MoreApplause
Long before the current generation started dancing for awards, generations of young dancers performed for something quite simple: applause. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreLifelong Goal
Pat yourself on the back and be totally grateful for the fact that you have achieved your lifelong goal to teach dance. Not everyone has that chance or the commitment that it takes and you did (do)! How cool is that?! ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreDealing With Doubt
by Suzanne Martin, PT, DPT Make a positive impression by nurturing a strong self-image Successful teaching demands that the instructor take command of her material and her classroom with authority. This can be tough, especially when you’re just launching a teaching career. Think about when you first started teaching. Did you come roaring out of…
Read MoreI’m What They Have
The teens that we’re working with today are not the same as they were twenty-years-ago. Rhee talks about the reality of maintaining classroom enthusiasm in the “new world.”
Read MoreWe Have Lived It
Whether we teach at a university or local community center, in a small town or big city school, we share a certain instinctive understanding. It’s the difference that our art makes in life—our own and others’ —because we have all lived it. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreAwesome Life!
The music, the movement, the passion, the joy on the kids faces . . . I’m thinking that teaching dance is an awesome life! ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreWe Have Come a Long Way, Baby
After months of attending conferences and giving speeches across the United States and Canada, I’ve discovered that there is always more to appreciate about our dance education community.
We are witnessing a time in dance history when many school owners have become smart small business owners who offer quality dance education to every child—and they are being rewarded with financial success. For dance teachers, there have never been more opportunities to teach, not only at these schools but also in a new field that has evolved, in which master teachers travel throughout North America to teach and choreograph at small-town studios. And everywhere they go, they inspire young people to pursue their dance dreams.
Read MoreChoreography: You’re an Artistic Genius
“You’re an artistic genius! How do you come up with an idea like that?” “Motivated to be different” is the motto of the teacher who choreographed the piece that everyone is raving about. She’s the one who doesn’t want to be like anyone else or follow the current trends in choreography.
Read MoreThat Child Who Hides
That child who hides in the back line of your class needs a teacher who knows that teaching is to help the child gain the courage to dance her way to the front line. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreMaking Peace With the Mirror
by Sandi Duncan It’s a new day of classes and you’re ready to share what you know and love. You’ve chosen your music, created your combos, and put on your workout attire. You enter the empty dance space, set up your music, and glance in the mirror. “Whoa! Wait, is that me?” you wonder. “Have…
Read MoreThe Right To Make a Living
Often, we’re comfortable within the classroom but we tend to feel a little “on-edge” when it comes to collecting tuition or other fees owed by our clientele. Some school owners don’t want to create “waves” that could result in losing a student.
Read MoreNever Worked a Day in My Life
The ageless Georgia Deane Young will motivate you to appreciate your career choice, for sure!
Read MoreFun Fact: American Ballet Theatre
Dance knowledge for teachers & students ? The world of professional ballet is often stressful. Which stress-busting items are American Ballet Theatre dancers allowed to bring with them to the studio every day? a. Adult coloring books b. A personal masseuse c. Pillows and blankets for mid-afternoon naps d. Their dogs Answer d. Their dogs…
Read MoreMaking the Choice
Rhee Gold explains the we control our reaction to the negative people or situations in our lives. The choice is yours.
Read MoreBeyond Their Years
Understand that it’s natural for some parents, especially those who have preschoolers, to think that their children have abilities way beyond their years. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreMy Heart
My heart, my soul, my everything. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreDirect Result
What someone else has or does is a direct result of where their life experience has taken them; you cannot recreate it. Your life experience is unique and all your own, leading YOU to where YOU need to be. Don’t let envy become the roadblock to your success. ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreLuminous Manifestation
The dancer’s body is simply the luminous manifestation of the soul. Isadora Duncan
Read MoreBodies Never Lie
The truest expression of a people is in its dances and its music. Bodies never lie. ~Agnes de Mille
Read MoreDon’t Compete With Anyone
If you think you can do better, then do better. Don’t compete with anyone; just yourself. ~Bob Fosse
Read MoreThe Dance is a Poem
The dance is a poem of which each movement is a word. ~Mata Hari
Read MoreBe Strong, Be Fearless
Be strong, be fearless, be beautiful. And believe that anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you. ~Misty Copeland
Read MoreHappy, Fully Happy
That’s what I love about dance. It makes you happy, fully happy. ~Debbie Reynolds
Read MoreMore Inner Peace
Less Judgment = More Inner Peace ~Rhee Gold
Read MoreBarre Boredom
by Casey Davenport Are your ballet babes bored with barre? One typical Friday afternoon I watched as the 6-, 7-, and 8-year-old petit rats in my Ballet 1 class spent their precious barre time focusing on all the fundamentals that will serve their future dance goals—fidgeting, lip-synching the latest pop tune, and posing for imaginary…
Read MoreThe Sequin Eating Boy
In my years as a teacher and studio owner, I have produced more than 27 year-end recitals and at least 16 full-length story ballets. If I have learned anything about the production part of the dance business, it is that it requires two important attributes: the ability to compromise and the ability to enjoy the humor in the things that can—and always will—go wrong.
Read MoreThe Case of the Disappearing Students
Through my research with dance school owners, I’ve discovered that it is not uncommon for their businesses to have up to a 30 percent turnover of students from year to year. Looking deeper, I discovered that a large number of that 30 percent are recreational and preschool-age students—which means that not only are school owners losing students; they’re losing the very children who are the financial lifeblood of the school. When those numbers dwindle, the future looks a bit gloomy.
Read MoreWhat We Gain By Losing
Although I discourage using the word “lose,” it’s the best way to make my point. Some of the smartest and brightest people got that way from losing many of their battles. We learn from the losing process or by not getting what we want. It’s how we improve ourselves.
Read MoreLook For the Little You
When I do my seminars, I always ask, “How many of you were the best dancer in your class?” In groups as large as 500, only one or two people raise their hands, and sometimes no one does.
Read MoreWho Owns the Choreography?
She intends on still bringing these dances to competition . . . has said she will give me full credit. But, I feel the choreography is mine,
Read MoreFinding Refuge In Dance
Each week her dance teacher makes a snide remark that duplicates the atmosphere she has at home. She becomes even more intimidated, thinking that her dance teacher doesn’t like her. Even worse, she tells herself, “I stink at dance, too!” Before long she drops out of dance. Why go to dancing school to be berated when you can get that at home?
Read MoreRegistration Will Only Be As Good As Your Last Recital
“Your fall registration will only be as good as your last recital!” These words were often repeated by my mother, who believed that the quality of a recital had much to do with a school’s success. I think of those words every time the topic of recitals comes up at my seminars.
Read More