Rhee Gold's DanceLife Blog

By Dance Teachers for Dance Teachers

As all that we are about, the DanceLife Blog is another opportunity to support and inspire dance teachers and studio owners. You'll discover business ideas, self-care advice, awesome classroom tips, along with some witty stories . . . by dance teachers for dance teachers!

Herring, Amanda

Amanda Herring LOVES her job! She is passionate about sharing the love of dance while inspiring and encouraging everyone who walks through her door. She loves BIG and has a heart for new dancers joining a class for the first time. She takes pride in offering stellar service to dance...

Simpson, Pam

Pam Simpson is the founder, president, and driving force behind Forte Arts Center, which was established in Morris, Illinois in 1993. In addition to building her business from a small, one room studio to a large, multi-location organization that offers dance, tumbling and cheer programs as well as private music...

Trench, Andrea

Andrea Trench is dedicated to helping dance teachers create and deliver content that is research-based and developmentally appropriate for children under the age of 6. Her primary focus is classroom management, conceptual teaching, and foundational movement skill development in early childhood dance education. In addition, Andrea uses her 12 years...

DanceLife Blog & Vlog

Preschool Classroom Success: Space Markers

Andrea Trench, early childhood educator and owner of Discover Dance, knows that when working with our littles in the classroom, the flow of the class and the physical flow of the students is key to success. She shares about an effective strategy she has used: space markers.

Love Your Body

Pam Simpson, owner of Forte Arts Center in Morris, IL is in her 30th season and has had the privilege of working with many great students. Today, she tackles the important topic of positive body image for young dancers and how we, as dance educators, can encourage and support this both in and out of the classroom.

To Downsize, Or Not To Downsize?

Amanda Herring understands that change is hard, but is often necessary or inevitable. Amanda shares her insights on how dance educators should approach the idea of downsizing. Amanda Herring is the owner of Center Stage Dance in Hernando, MS.

Private Lesson Success Tips

Pam Simpson, owner of Forte Arts Center in Morris, IL is in her 30th season and recently has seen that having students retain and remember what they learn becomes more and more difficult. She shares some tips for all dance educators to help students be more successful in their private lessons.

10 Resting Activities for your Early Childhood Dance Classes

In her latest vlog, Andrea Trench, early-childhood dance education specialist, shares some great activities that help to promote a restful and quiet spirit in your little dancers. This gives them to time to think and better understand themselves and what is going on around them when doing movement.

Making Changes Confidently

Amanda Herring, of Center Stage Dance in Hernando, MS, understands that change is hard, but is often necessary or inevitable. Amanda shares her insights on how dance educators can be confident and flexible when faced with change.

Preschool Classroom Success: Obstacle Courses

Andrea Trench, early childhood educator and owner of Discover Dance, is a master at developing strategies to engage students and get them back “on track” in class. In this latest blog entry, Andrea discusses the use of obstacle courses to educate, engage and develop skills.

A Plan Can Save the Day

Pam Simpson, owner of Forte Arts Center in Morris, IL is in her 30th season and every year requires strategizing and planning. Pam shares so helpful tips for dance educators to use to get the week ahead in order and enter into the studio and classroom with confidence!

The Venn Diagram Life

I often joke that I live within a Venn Diagram. As studio owners, we can perhaps break our lives into three, round circles – Work, Housekeeping, Family & Leisure. Of the three areas illustrated in the diagram, I can successfully manage two. The third one? Well…that circle goes flat. I can be in great shape…

Preschool Classroom Success: Meeting the Needs of the Developing Child

Andrea Trench, early childhood educator and owner of Discover Dance, knows the impact dance teachers have on the development of young minds and hearts. She shares Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and how this can and should be applied to your classroom this year to have young and happy developing dancers!

6 Ways to Keep Your Students Engaged

Pam Simpson, owner of Forte Arts Center in Morris, IL is beginning her 30th dance season! She shares those years of experience by offering six ways in which we can keep our students engaged, not only for a class, but for the whole year, as they feel recognized and confident.

Classroom Success: Catch & Reel Tools

Andrea Trench, early-childhood dance education specialist, knows the challenge of getting and keeping our little ones’ attention in the classroom. She shares two tips to make it happen!