Things Dance Teachers Say… and What We Really Mean

After more than 35 years of teaching dance, I’ve realised that there are certain phrases every dance teacher seems to say again and again. Some of them probably make our students laugh. Some they have heard hundreds of times and some, I’m sure, they could finish for us before we’ve even said them! But behind many of those familiar phrases is something much more meaningful.

When I say, “Let’s try that again,” what I really mean is, I know you can do this and I’m not giving up on you.

When I say “listen to the music,” I mean exactly that. The music isn’t just something playing in the background while we dance. It’s part of the story. It gives us the rhythm, the mood, the energy and quite often, the emotion.

And then there’s “stretch your feet!” I’m fairly certain I’ve said those words thousands of times over the years! But I say them because I know how much difference those little details can make and because I genuinely believe that one day it will suddenly click.

“One more time” is another favourite and if we’re being completely honest, one more time very rarely means just once!

Sometimes I’ll say “use your face” or “show me that you’re enjoying it.” What I really want is for our students to understand that performing isn’t just about getting the steps right. It’s about communicating, expressing yourself and allowing the audience to see something of you.

Then there’s “watch your spacing.”

That might sound like a small technical correction, but it’s actually teaching something much bigger. When you dance as part of a group, you learn that you’re not working alone. You have to be aware of the people around you, do your part and understand that everyone contributes to the finished performance.

Some of the most important things we say in a dance class have nothing to do with dance at all.

“Be kind”

Because being a talented dancer is wonderful, but being a kind, supportive and thoughtful person matters so much more.

“Stand tall.”

Of course, I might be correcting someone’s posture, but I’m also hoping they learn to carry themselves through life with confidence and self-belief.

And then there’s the phrase that probably means the most of all:

“I’m proud of you.”

When a dance teacher says those words, we really mean them because teaching dance has never been just about teaching steps. Yes, we teach technique, positions, choreography, musicality, flexibility and performance skills. We prepare children for exams and performances and we encourage them to challenge themselves and keep improving. But alongside all of that, we are teaching children how to concentrate, how to listen, how to accept correction, how to work as part of a team and, perhaps most importantly, how to try again when something doesn’t go right the first time.

We teach them that it’s okay not to be perfect, that making a mistake is how you learn. That sometimes you have to work hard at something before you can see the results and that there is an enormous sense of achievement in finally doing something that once felt impossible.

Of course, there’s music, costumes, performances, friendships and laughter but underneath all of that is something much bigger.

At Highstone, I’ve always believed that dance should be about more than simply learning steps. It should be a place where children can develop confidence, independence, resilience and friendships, while also learning to appreciate the joy of performing.

Not every child will dream of becoming a professional dancer and that’s absolutely fine.

Some will go on to dance for many years. Some will discover a passion for performing. Others may eventually leave dance behind, but take with them the confidence, discipline and life skills they developed along the way and that, to me, is what makes teaching children so rewarding.

Every child is different. They all learn at their own pace, have different strengths and face different challenges. Our job as teachers is to recognise that, encourage them and give them opportunities to discover what they are capable of.

Because sometimes the child who is nervous about dancing in front of others becomes the one who eventually dances on stage with confidence.

Sometimes the child who struggles to remember the choreography is the one who keeps coming back and eventually gets it.

And sometimes, that wonderful moment when everything finally comes together - the music, the movement, the confidence and the smile - the moment when a child realises, “I can do this.”

Those are the moments we teach for.

Those are the moments that make all the corrections, the repetitions and the countless “one more times” worthwhile.

Because at Highstone, we don’t just want to teach children how to dance, we want to give every child the opportunity to grow, to feel confident and most importantly, to have the chance to shine.

The Highstone Team