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

Looking Back to Empower Your Future

Being a dance educator and entrepreneur requires continual creativity, but sometimes we don’t feel so “creative.” Yet, the one who often is most able to ignite our creativity is actually ourselves! Ann Bettonvil shares how with a little journaling and time, we can see how our own ideas and planning can lead to sparks of new creativity. Ann is co-director of The Studio in Brampton, ON.

Enhance Creativity & Engagement w/ Movement Cards

The necessity of engagement at the preschool age is real! Andrea Trench shares how incorporating guided explorations into our classes is a fantastic way to boost engagement, enhance creativity, and build artistry. Andrea is an expert in early childhood education and owner of Discover Dance.

Reframing Your Role as an Employer

Ginger Haithcox offers a challenge to studio owners: put the same level of care into your staff that you put into your beloved students. Doing this may require reframing how we view leadership and act as a leader. Ginger is the Executive Director of Modern Motion in Somerset, NJ, which she started in 2005.

Help Your Students Reach Their Goals

Pam Simpson loves to empower her students! She shares some helpful tips and ideas on how dance teacher can both support and partner with students in their journey to feel confident and successful. Pam is the owner of Forte Arts Center in Morris, IL and is celebrating her 30th season.

Preschool Emergency Sub Plan

The struggle to find curriculum to teach your preschool classes when a sub is needed, sometimes in a pinch, is rather common, but it doesn’t need to be as stressful. Andrea Trench shares some tips to help with this and provides guidance on the Alphabeat program… problem solved! Andrea is an expert in early childhood education and owner of Discover Dance.

Facing Fertility Concerns While Running a Studio

Ginger Haithcox knows the joys and challenges of being a dance teacher and studio owner and shares her own journey of preparing for and having a family while balancing the demands of business and work. Her insight and honesty will inspire! Ginger is the Executive Director of Modern Motion in Somerset, NJ which she started in 2005.

Planning for Recital Rooutines

Pam Simpson is excited for recital preparation! But, with this excitement, comes the need to be well prepared. Pam shares some helpful planning tips that will make your choregraphing go more smoothly and help you feel confident and ready! Pam is the owner of Forte Arts Center in Morris, IL and is celebrating her 30th season.

Preschool Classroom Success: Reminders for a Challenging Class

Teaching dance to our littles brings many smiles and joys, but sometimes there are classes that are just extra challenging and even difficult. Andrea Trench shares insight on what we need to keep and mind and can do in the classroom to meet these challenges. Andrea is an expert in early childhood education and owner of Discover Dance.

Are You Charting the Course?

Pam Simpson shares about the importance of “charting the course” in our professional and personal lives. To lead and educate others, we too must be looking forward, and she shares way we can do so with confidence and positivity. Pam is the owner of Forte Arts Center in Morris, IL and is celebrating her 30th season.

Embracing Vulnerability

Stacey Morgan, studio owner and successful dance entrepreneur, has been in a leadership role for much of her adult life and her experiences have helped her be a better leader, educator and person. Stacey shares about vulnerability and how as dance educators, we are not always called to have the answers to everything, but be good learners ourselves.

Preschool Classroom Success: Educating Caregivers

Andrea Trench, early childhood educator and owner of Discover Dance, knows that for dance education to be successful it is a collaborative effort and requires the understanding and support of the families of young dancers almost as much as the dancers themselves. She shares some ways we can positively educate the caregivers of our little dancers.

Set & Reach Your Goals in the New Year

Pam Simpson, owner of Forte Arts Center in Morris, IL is in her 30th season and over that time has mastered the art of goal setting. Pam shares some tips on how to not only identify and set goals, but how you can put systems in place to help you achieve them in the new year.