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Hold on Tight

Not everyone who dances through our classrooms or schools will agree with why or how we do things. And that’s OK; as long as we have confidence to know that we can’t change or make exceptions simply because someone may disagree. Hold on tight to what you know is right. ~Rhee Gold

Greener Than You Think

Your grass is greener than you think. ~Rhee Gold

Anatomy Lesson

Anatomy 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…

Greatest 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…

Collective Success

Imagine the collective success our dance community would experience if we all stayed focused on being the best we can be. ~Rhee Gold

Looking for the Good

Looking 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,…

Dance Truth

Dance Truth . . . No two students will progress at the same rate, even if they experience the exact same training. ~Rhee Gold

Ready for Change

Ready 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.

Dance 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…

Be 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

Stick-To-It-Ness

Stick 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

Appreciate 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

Let a Financial Whiz Handle the Numbers

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.

A 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

Move Without Fear

Dance full-out, stretch further, become more focused on your technique, and give your all to every teacher. ~Rhee Gold

Imagine the Collective Success

Imagine 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).

Knowledge

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…

Great Choreography

Great 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

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

Look 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

There 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

You Should Hear

GOSSIP – Forget about it – you should hear what they say about me! ~Rhee Gold

Episode 8: Are You Ready for Summer?

Summer can be a difficult time for dance studio owners, or it can be the chance to get creative and involve your community in something special. In this episode, Rhee and Stacey discuss innovative ways to increase enrollment during summer.

We 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

Surprise

Some people surprise you and others never do. I think I like those who surprised me a little bit more. ~Rhee Gold

Episode 7: Talking Tap with Gregg Russell

Gregg Russell has been around the dance studio for most of his life, his mother taught him to dance from a young age. He is a passionate dance educator and teacher. He loves tap and sharing his knowledge of it with other dance teachers.

Stay Focused

Figure out what it is that YOU want, stay focused and forget about what others are up to. ~Rhee Gold

Episode 5: Rhee’s Rant

Rhee has a long history with dance competitions, but there first there are a few things he wants to set straight! Rhee started out going to dance competitions when he was young, went on to run dance competitions and now has a unique insight to this booming industry.

Episode 4: Confidence, the Key to Success

So much of what we do as dance studio owners comes down to the confidence we have; in ourselves, our brand, our staff and our mission. Rhee unpacks the importance of confidence for the success of your business.

Episode 3: What is Your Mission?

Tapping into the real reason behind your choice of career is essential in communicating your purpose to your team, your students and your clients. Join us as we work together to envision your mission for the future.

Episode 1: Rhee Gold – A Little History Lesson

Learn more about Rhee and who he is. Join Rhee and co-host Stacey Morgan, as they discuss tap lessons in the basement, his company, Rhee Gold’s DanceLife, how he established the industry of dance teacher conferences, touring the world and everything in between.

Episode 0: Welcome to the Rhee Gold DanceLife Podcast

If you are a studio owner, dance teacher or just a lover of all things dance, then you will love hearing from Rhee Gold, dance teacher, motivational speaker, and passionate dance business owner.

Blessings

Blessings

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…

Our Own Reflection

Our 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

Parent 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

No Time

There is no time for gossip if you are truly focused on what you want or need to accomplish. ~Rhee Gold

Our 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

Three Steps to a Scheduled Season

Three 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…

Respect 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…

Right Now

Dream BIG, for sure. But, never forget how cool it is to be where you are right now. Enjoy the journey. ~Rhee Gold

Unshakable 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

Young 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

Competition 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…

Best Defense

Best Defense - Rhee Gold

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

Build 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

Minds, 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

Who is Fierce?

Who 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.

Happy People

Happy people attract other happy people. Negative people, well you know the rest of the story. ~Rhee Gold

Inner 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

From 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

Enjoy 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!

Commitment = 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

Not Who They Used To Be

Nor 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…

Car You Drive

Car You Drive - Rhee Gold

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…

Remain Focused

Almost everything is a choice. Choose your distractions wisely, so you can remain focused on what you need to do. ~Rhee Gold

Real Choreographers

Real choreographers don’t need the best dancers. ~Rhee Gold

Let the Fear Go

No Fear

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…

Professional 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

Organized

You don’t have to be organized, you must appear to be organized. ~Rhee Gold

It Started with Breath

It 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…

No Guilt

Believe it or not, it is OK for the studio owner to make a profit without feeling guilt. ~Rhee Gold

Husband Shares Dream

Husband 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.

Applause

Applause - Rhee Gold

Long before the current generation started dancing for awards, generations of young dancers performed for something quite simple: applause. ~Rhee Gold

They Go, They Fly

Hedy Perna, of Perna Dance Center in Hazlet, NJ, shares the positive and supportive attitude studio owners need to take when a student decides not to stay at your school.

Lifelong 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

I’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.”

Awesome Life!

Awesome Life! - Rhee Gold

The music, the movement, the passion, the joy on the kids faces . . . I’m thinking that teaching dance is an awesome life! ~Rhee Gold

We Have Come a Long Way, Baby

We 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.

We Win Everyday

If we make the choice to notice; each day will bring us the best gifts that life has to offer, guaranteed!

Choreography: You’re an Artistic Genius

Choreography 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.

That 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

The Right To Make a Living

The 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.

Never Worked a Day in My Life

The ageless Georgia Deane Young will motivate you to appreciate your career choice, for sure!

The Gift is for Everyone

Rhee Gold reminds all dance teachers that the gift we pass on to our students is a passion that helps build self-confidence in every student.

Making the Choice

Rhee Gold explains the we control our reaction to the negative people or situations in our lives. The choice is yours.

Beyond 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

My Heart

My heart, my soul, my everything. ~Rhee Gold

Direct Result

The Dance is a Poem

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

The Case of the Disappearing Students

The 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.

What We Gain By Losing

What 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.

Look For the Little You

Look 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.

Who Owns the Choreography?

Who 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,

Finding Refuge In Dance

Finding 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?

Registration Will Only Be As Good As Your Last Recital

Fall registration 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.

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

See It Through

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

Find the Real Win in Dance 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

Gregg Russell Teaching Tips

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

Leaps and Bounds Above

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…

Dance Teachers Are Special People

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

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