Being a teacher is one of the best side jobs a dancer can have. But oddly enough, I never thought that I’d want to teach, or that I would make a good teacher.
Although I’ve had plenty of dance training, my teaching experience has been sporadic prior to this year. I was a student mentor in high school for my dance program, and I subbed a few times. I have had plenty of experience working with kids, ranging from babysitting to being a summer dance camp counselor. But previous teaching experiences had made me feel unsure about my qualifications and my ability to be an effective teacher.
That is, until I took my most recent job as the ballet and pointe teacher at Mrs. Jenkins’ Dance Academy in Columbia, South Carolina.
I came to the job after talking to a friend about how I really needed a little extra money. He taught at this studio, and mentioned that the director was looking for a ballet and pointe teacher that could bring something new to the studio and the dancers. He put me in touch with Mrs. Jenkins, and she explained to me what her program was about, and what she was looking for in a teacher.
Fortunately for me, I got the job and took up 3 classes at MJDA, teaching ballet and early pointe classes.
Never, ever, could I have imagined how much this teaching job would influence me.
I only had 4 months at this amazing studio, and I sincerely wish that I’d found them sooner. Mrs. Jenkins, the dancers, the other teachers, and the families at MJDA all made me feel at home. They showed me that I was qualified to teach, and that I could genuinely enjoy teaching. They graciously welcomed me into their loving family, supported me, and showed me so much kindness.
Even though I was supposed to be the teacher, I found myself learning every time I went to work. The dancers taught me – probably inadvertently – that there were so many ways to motivate students. They reaffirmed the fact that each student really is an individual with individual needs. I was fortunate enough to teach relatively small classes, and this enabled me to understand my students a little better and take more of a personal approach. Of course I didn’t always get it right, and there were days where I felt frustrated with myself and my ability to teach. But there were more days where I walked away feeling good about the knowledge I’d given to my students. In only 4 months I saw changes in the dancers I didn’t think I could initiate.
The dancers at MJDA were hard workers and beautiful dancers before I came to the studio, but I am so grateful, and so proud to have been a part of their further growth.
The resilience, dedication, and thirst for knowledge that I saw in my dancers re-inspired me to keep dancing, and keep pushing, every single day. Of course I wanted to keep dancing for myself and my own dreams, but I found that they had become my new motivator. I wanted to show them that anyone can follow their dreams, as long as they’re willing to put in the work.
I am indebted to Mrs. Jenkins and MJDA, not only because they took a chance on me and employed me at a time when my bank account and my resume really needed it, but also because they helped re-ignite the fire inside of me that keeps me dancing and keeps me fighting. The dance world can be a vicious place full of let-downs, harsh realities, and intense competition. But it is also a world of possibilities. You can be yourself at your rawest form, or you can become someone you never thought you could be.
I will miss my MJDA family so very much, but I will always carry a piece of them in my heart, no matter where I go.
I hope that all of my beautiful dancers, and all of the beautiful dancers I know, continue to follow their dreams. It will take a lot of hard work and dedication, but the sky is the limit. And if you’re thinking about teaching, try it! Not only is it a great employment opportunity, but it can be a great way to rediscover your passion and help inspire young artists.
