Rhee Gold

Be a Dancer

People have asked me why I chose to be a dancer. I did not choose. I was chosen to be a dancer and with that, you live all your life. ~Martha Graham

One Moment

All that is important is this one moment in movement. Make the moment important, vital, and worth living. Do not let it slip away unnoticed and unused. ~Martha Graham

If we wholeheartedly believe in what we want to create and are willing to dedicate the time and energy needed to see it through, I believe that all of us can accomplish almost anything we desire. ~Rhee Gold

No-Gossip Zone

If I had my way I would declare the dance world a no-gossip zone. ~Rhee Gold

Good Things

I’ve come to a point in my life where I am so focused on what I want to accomplish that I try to be with people who are upbeat, encouraging, and spend life appreciating the good things that happen. ~Rhee Gold

Forever

Once dance grabs hold of your soul, it hangs on forever! ~Rhee Gold

Believe They Can

Great dance teachers are those who create an atmosphere that stimulates the student’s minds, bodies, and souls in such a way that they believe they can achieve anything they aspire to. ~Rhee Gold

Rhee Responds to a Parent Question

Dear Rhee, Recently I saw that you answer readers’ questions. I’m hoping that you’ll have an answer for me. I have a 7-year-old daughter who has developed tap-dancing skills way beyond what her classmates can do. The other kids in her class have to keep repeating what they learned in previous classes, and my daughter…

“Better-ness”

If you really do it better, you don’t need to tell everyone. They’ve already heard it from those who have experienced your “better-ness.” ~Rhee Gold

Find the Real Win in Competition

by Rhee Gold As we begin a new competition season, let’s remember that our goal should be to instill in our students a passion for performing rather than merely the desire to win awards. The satisfaction of an excellent performance is all the inspiration we and our students need to work harder and continue improving.…

Gregg Russell Teaching Tips: Slides & Warm-Up

Teaching tap slides can be trickier than you think. Most students like to lift their heels off the ground and straighten their legs when they slide; however, doing this makes it harder to control the slide and maximize its length. Three rules to guide them: feet flat (helps maintain balance); plié (makes sliding on a challenging surface like marley easier); and weight evenly distributed (helps with connecting the slide to the next step).

Leaps and Bounds Above the Other 4-Year-Olds

by Rhee Gold Hi Rhee, I am a dance teacher/studio owner, and I have come across the most persistent parents I have ever met in all my years of teaching dance (20-plus)—or school, for that matter. (I taught kindergarten for 12 years.) These parents have a daughter who turned 4 last spring. They are angry…

Special Needs Teaching Advice

by Tricia Gomez Finding the Just-Right Challenge We’ve all experienced walking into a dance class as a student and finding it beyond our understanding or abilities. Maybe the teacher teaches too fast, uses unfamiliar terminology, or asks you to do something that requires more flexibility than you have. Or you’re excited to take a workshop—only…

Dance Teachers Are Special People

How long has it been since you caught your reflection in the mirror and thought about how happy you are just to be you?

You Are You

Don’t look at other teachers or studio owners and believe that you would be happy if you had what they have. It’s not true! Be happy because you are you. ~Rhee Gold

Your Commitment

No worries, someone may attempt to duplicate your concept, but they can’t duplicate your personality or your commitment. Stay focused on what you must do. ~Rhee Gold

Opportunity to Discover

In every circumstance there is a lesson to be learned; sometimes it is the opportunity to discover who and what we should never be. ~Rhee Gold

Every Minute

Time is a gift, what we do with it is our choice. Being part of the gossip about the teacher or school up the street isn’t helping us progress. Every minute, hour, or day focused on them is a minute, hour, or day that we are not dedicated to our own success. ~Rhee Gold

Some Kids

Some kids are at the dance studio all day. Some kids are hanging out all day. Some parents spend hours driving their kids to everything dance. Some parents spend hours driving around looking for their kids. Some parents spend their hard-earned money on dance classes, shoes, costumes, etc. for their children. Some parents are spending…

Learning and Evolving

We will always be mediocre if we don’t expose ourselves to others who may be better or different than we are. Growing, learning, and evolving is what the dance life is all about. ~Rhee Gold

Don’t Make Exceptions

When a mom or a student challenges your policies, don’t make exceptions even if it means that you lose the student. You have created a philosophy for how you want to run your school. You set up policies that help you and everyone else live up to the philosophy. Believe in who you are and…

Pure Joy

The music, the movement, the pure joy radiating from the soul; that is dance. ~Rhee Gold

Genius Choreography

Create choreographic works where the audience cannot determine the difference between the strongest and the not as strong dancers because of your genius choreography. ~Rhee Gold

Too Busy

Success doesn’t happen as a result of bringing someone else down. It comes to those who are too busy to think about what others are up to. ~Rhee Gold

Number of Souls

Great dance is not about the awards won. Great dance is when an audience is moved. If you happen to win an award along the way; well good for you. BUT, true success is based on the number of souls you touch with your passion for the art of dance. ~Rhee Gold

Lose Yourself

When you head into that classroom, know that you have the chance to lose yourself in the music, the movement and the knowledge that you are passing on your passion for dance to the next generation. ~Rhee Gold

If You Hear

If you hear someone speak negatively about their friend or family; think about what they might say about you before you jump on their bandwagon. ~Rhee Gold

Sunny Side

In order to get to the sunny side of life, we need to be less frightened of the gray. I think that’s where all the surprises are! ~Rhee Gold

True Calling

Later we realize that the roadblock was just the distraction that we needed to accomplish our true calling. ~Rhee Gold

Dance is a Passion

Dance is a passion, not a competition. ~Rhee Gold

It’s Not About The Tricks

Dance is not about the number of pirouettes or other “tricks” that you can do. Instead it’s about the opportunity to move an audience as you express the emotions of life through the art of dance. A simple walk or a port de bras coming from the soul is all it takes. ~Rhee Gold

Appreciate the Critique

Listen to each correction given, whether it’s directed to you or another dancer. A correction is an honor; it shows you how much a teacher cares about your progress as a dancer. Always say thank you when a teacher or choreographer offers you contructive critisism. Nothing can stop those students who apply themselves in every…

Positive Life Skills

DANCE! It helps the next generation to be more confident and appreciative of discipline, hard work, dedication and many other positive life skills. Let’s make it so the kids don’t have to worry about pleasing the adults in their lives by being the best. Let’s simply allow them to experience the joy that is dance.…

Passion for Dance

I have always believed that it’s possible to instill a passion for the art of dance in every child, regardless of the level of dance achieved. ~Rhee Gold

Pat Yourself on the Back

Dance teachers . . . know that you followed your dream and that it’s OK to pat yourself on the back! ~Rhee Gold

Passion, Compassion

Teach every class with passion. Treat every student with compassion. ~Rhee Gold

It’s the Day After a Long Competition

by Rhee Gold It’s the day after a long competition. Maybe your dancers did excellent, and maybe they didn’t? Either way, don’t make that what matters most post-competition. Ask your dancers, “What was your favorite piece from another school?” Share with them something you liked about someone else’s work. Ask them, “What do you feel…

Nice Hobby

It makes me laugh when I hear a non-dance person say that teaching dance is a nice hobby. I think to myself that this person couldn’t handle the responsibility or sacrifice that our so-called hobby requires. ~Rhee Gold

The Guts to Be a Pioneer

SUCCESS? It’s not recreating what someone else does because you believe that you can do it better. It’s about having the guts to be a pioneer with something that is totally YOU! ~Rhee Gold

Perfect Life Experience

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 smarter, better, braver,…

The Dancers’ Truth

There is nothing better than to express the emotions of life through the art of dance. ~Rhee Gold

Discipline and Dance

Discipline and dance go hand in hand; students who understand discipline are usually the most successful dancers. ~Rhee Gold

It Takes Time

Dance is an individual art form and children need to be allowed to achieve at a pace that’s comfortable. ~Rhee Gold

No Fear

Have no fear. That curve in the road just might be the best thing that happened to you. Confidently dance down the unexpected path to where you need to be, it’s probably a very “cool” place. ~Rhee Gold

Instinct Over Ego

If they weren’t loyal to the last person; what makes us believe that they will be loyal to us? Instinct over ego, always. ~Rhee Gold

We Are Each Unique

by Rhee Gold As dance studio owners, let us recognize that each of us and our businesses are unique in personality, history and what we have to offer our communities. We encourage teachers to always continue their own education to ensure that they offer their students the best possible “dance experience.” With that said, let…

Opinion: Better Behavior = Better Conventions

by Erik Saradpon As the popularity of dance has increased, so too has dance convention attendance. As an educator, I’m fortunate to experience conventions from both sides: I take my students to conventions frequently, and I also teach at conventions. But I’ve noticed some convention behavior that needs to be addressed. I want convention teachers,…

Teacher Talk: Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent-Teacher Conferences Q: I’ve always been very open and available to discuss a student’s progress when parents have concerns, and during optional end-of-year conversations. But I have some mothers who request parent conferences every couple of months. I have to spend time not only holding these conferences, but collecting pertinent info from multiple teachers. Should…

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