Without any students a teacher is not a teacher, however students without a teacher means no creation of dancers. Dancers - in most instances - are nurtured from a very young age, so their first few years of being taught dance are crucial. Teachers are passionate about their craft and often pass this passion onto their students, encouraging them to become teachers or dancers themselves.
It is important that a dance teacher truly loves what they do - the opposite is glaringly obvious in which they are disengaged from their students and do not have their best interests at heart. Beyond sharing dance with students, great dance teachers take pride in their teaching and find new ways to approach tricky elements in class, dedicated to providing the highest quality experience to students. Through dance classes teachers are able to lead a process of discovery in their own class community, communicating with each student individually.
It is easy to forget that teachers were once students themselves, before they undertook teacher training. A teacher that has forgotten what it felt like to love absorbing everything about a dance class cannot fully convey that experience for their students. Keeping their experiences of learning alive are important for teachers to consequently support their students and be sensitive to the needs of each dance student, regardless of ability. Each student learns and works differently so teachers should respond to that accordingly.
Dance teachers should encourage your progress, as well as recognising when progress has been made. Making constructive corrections to help students understand the correct way of doing something is important in class, however much improvement can also be seen in students when they have been supported and motivated in their endeavours. Inspiring students is something a dance teacher should keep constant, as well as respecting each student's needs - its a tough job!
Image credited to ;Flavio~ Flickr account
