Welcome to our 111th Episode!111 Angel Number, yes! And the guest I have on Dance Teacher Pep Talk today is literally perfect for this episode!I had the beautiful opportunity to sit down with Shannon Love, somatic yoga instructor and author of, Somatic Exercises Made Simple.I feel that many of you have maybe heard the terms “somatics,” or “holistic dance,” or “whole dancer,” but what does all of that actually mean?Shannon shares her vast knowledge of Somatic work as well as how it applies to the dance world, because at the end of the day, we are all wanting to be better teachers and to create a better environment for our dancers, and in my opinion, Somatic work can play a huge part in that. It can also play a huge role in how we show up ourselves!We discuss . . . *Why Somatics?*5D Wellness and the Whole Dancer Approach*3 Scenarios with Somatic Exercises that can help to regulate in that given moment.Shannon’s conversation was incredible, and her book is fascinating. I highly recommend it even for your own personal practice. It changed so much of how I viewed my days.Please make sure to follow Shannon on her Instagram and grab the e-copy or hardcopy of her book over on Amazon!IG: @shannloveeAmazon Link: Somatic Exercises Made SimpleI want to thank you all so much for your support & listens.Please make sure to share today's episode with a friend or colleague and don't forget to hit the Follow button on your podcast platform of choice to be notified of all the newest Dance Teacher Pep Talk episodes that launch.If interested, head on over to Dance Teacher Pep Talk Patreon where all of our free meditations and resources are now available for you.Have a beautiful week!With love, Amanda

Hi DTPT Friends!In today's episode, I share a journaling exercise that I do with my students and one that can be adapted to any way with whatever prompts you choose to give to it.It is 3-2-1 journaling.In today, we are going to look back on our year and think of:3 Amazing Moments2 Challenging & Difficult Moments1 Proud MomentSometimes in the day to day, we don't feel the shifts and changes, but I can guarantee that the dance teacher you are today is different than the dance teacher you were on day 1 of this year, and why? Because you have grown!We grow just like our students.And this exercise always helps me to see that, and I hope that it helps you too!I hope you all enjoy today's episode, and don't forget to follow on the platform of your choice so that you're up to date with all the latest episodes.IG: @danceteacherpeptalkMake sure to check out ⁠my Patreon Page⁠ where all of my content is currently free! The paid membership is currently put on hold with the hopes of returning with fresh ideas for this Fall.Also for those looking for general pep talks to support your Monday through Friday, check out ⁠Evolve Love⁠!IG: _evolveloveThank you all so much for your love & support!Amanda

Hi DTPT Friends!In today's episode, I share my Part 4: Choreography Inspiration Ideas.I figured at this time of the year, many of us are making plans for the new year, the new season. Sometimes with that, we get really stuck in our headspace about what next best creation we are wanting to set. Sometimes this builds a lot of pressure. Sometimes we are just searching everywhere and in anything so that we can think of the next best thing. But one place we can look for inspiration, is actually a lot closer than you may think.I hope you all enjoy today's episode, and don't forget to follow on the platform of your choice so that you're up to date with all the latest episodes.IG: @danceteacherpeptalkMake sure to check out my Patreon Page where I have monthly resources for dance teachers (both free & paid memberships available) with anything from meditation to journaling to guided stories for the children's classroom.May has content that celebrates anywhere from May Day to National Tap Dance Day, to preparing students for recital, and more!A look ahead—instead of individual Summer months of resources, I will be doing a different set-up for my Summer resources, more info on that coming soon!Also for those looking for general pep talks to support your Monday through Friday, check out Evolve Love!IG: _evolveloveOther Choreography Inspiration Episodes Choreography Inspiration Part 1Choreography Inspiration Part 2Choreography Inspiration Part 3Thank you all so much for your love & support!Amanda

Hi DTPT Friends!In today's episode, like every year for my birthday, I share the reflections that I have had leaving 36 and welcoming in 37.There were some BIG lessons in this year, and I can honestly say, I am so proud of that. I am so proud of where I am today and of who I am, and I can't wait you to hear all that I have to share about the lessons that stuck out to me as the big 5 in this year around the sun!I hope you all enjoy today's episode, and don't forget to follow on the platform of your choice so that you're up to date with all the latest episodes.IG: @danceteacherpeptalkMake sure to check out ⁠⁠my Patreon Page⁠⁠ where I have monthly resources for dance teachers (both free & paid memberships available) with anything from meditation to journaling to guided stories for the children's classroom.May has content that celebrates anywhere from May Day to National Tap Dance Day, to preparing students for recital, and more!A look ahead—instead of individual Summer months of resources, I will be doing a different set-up for my Summer resources, more info on that coming soon!Also for those looking for general pep talks to support your Monday through Friday, check out ⁠⁠Evolve Love⁠⁠!IG: _evolveloveThank you all so much for your love & support!Amanda

Hi DTPT Friends!In today's episode, I talk about one of my favorite activities for young children's classes--guided movement stories!Not only are they fun, but they help with practicing skills & movement important to the class we are in, guide dancers with imagery, and prepare dancers for the art of performing!We discuss:*Creating a scene*Locomotor and nonlocomotor movement*Adding emotion*and more!This is a wonderful episode to listen to while preparing your pieces for recital.And if you are looking for more, check out my Patreon where I share monthly guided children's stories for the dance classroom.I hope you all enjoy today's episode, and don't forget to follow on the platform of your choice so that you're up to date with all the latest episodes.IG: @danceteacherpeptalkMake sure to check out ⁠my Patreon Page⁠ where I have monthly resources for dance teachers (both free & paid memberships available) with anything from meditation to journaling to guided stories for the children's classroom.May has content that celebrates anywhere from May Day to National Tap Dance Day, to preparing students for recital, and more!A look ahead—instead of individual Summer months of resources, I will be doing a different set-up for my Summer resources, more info on that coming soon!Also for those looking for general pep talks to support your Monday through Friday, check out ⁠Evolve Love⁠!IG: _evolveloveThank you all so much for your love & support!Amanda

Welcome back to DTPT!I am so grateful you are here and in today’s episode we are discussing:*Genuine emotion & performance practice*Acting tips & tasks for all genres of dance*Emotion in our faces and emotion in our bodies*Musicality & emotion in music *and more!I am so inspired by what we do as choreographers and wanted to include some of my best tips on how to get our dancers invested in the vision and story you are wanting to share.This is a wonderful episode to listen to while cleaning your recital pieces and for preparing your pieces for Nationals events.I hope you all enjoy today's episode, and don't forget to follow on the platform of your choice so that you're up to date with all the latest episodes.IG: @danceteacherpeptalkMake sure to check out my Patreon Page where I have monthly resources for dance teachers (both free & paid memberships available) with anything from meditation to journaling to guided stories for the children's classroom.April has content that includes celebrations for Spring, Earth Day, National Dance Week, and more!A look ahead—instead of individual Summer months of resources, I will be doing one Summer Bundle of resources and content. Also for those looking for general pep talks to support your Monday through Friday, check out Evolve Love!IG: _evolveloveThank you all so much for your love & support!Amanda

Hey there!Today's episode is a special one and it is because today we are celebrating YOU . . . ChoreographersDance TeachersFront Desk StaffMarketing TeamsStudio Ownersbecause truly, I don't think we give ourselves enough credit.What we do is so beautiful, so special, so rare, and I wanted to take time in today to recognize that. We should be so proud for all that we do! It is magic what we do.I hope you all enjoy today's episode, and don't forget to follow on the platform of your choice so that you're up to date with all the latest episodes.IG: @danceteacherpeptalkMake sure to check out ⁠⁠my Patreon Page⁠⁠ where I have monthly resources for dance teachers (both free & paid memberships available) with anything from meditation to journaling to guided stories for the children's classroom.April has content that includes celebrations for Spring, Earth Day, National Dance Week, and more!Also for those looking for general pep talks to support your Monday through Friday, check out Evolve Love!IG: _evolveloveThank you all so much for your love & support!Amanda

Happy Thursday everyone!I recently came down with a Spring cold and along with that came a major halt for myself. Calling out sick from work, not being able to record for the projects that I run, and just my body screaming to me to take a pause was a wake-up call. I struggled so much with calling out of work, though I was so supported in the decision, and it really got me thinking, is this a dance teacher thing? An American thing? An east coast thing?Why is it so hard for me to say, "I need to call out sick?"This inspired and prompted today's entire episode and today we discuss:*Knowing and honoring your body's need for rest*The difficulty with taking a sick night as a dance teacher*Hustle culture*Diving into how we glorify commitment, dedication, and hard work, and shifting the attention to praising when a dancer takes the time if they needIf we are always pushing and powering through when our bodies are saying no, we are also modeling that for our students. How can we help our students have a healthier understanding of hearing their body's needs?Yes attendance is SO important, especially this time of year, but today's episode opens up some more ideas and thoughts that I hope help to inspire and shift our mindsets with how we can best support ourselves & our dancers.I hope you all enjoy today's episode, and don't forget to follow on the platform of your choice so that you're up to date with all the latest episodes.IG: @danceteacherpeptalkMake sure to check out ⁠my Patreon Page⁠ where I have monthly resources for dance teachers (both free & paid memberships available) with anything from meditation to journaling to guided stories for the children's classroom.April has content that includes celebrations for Spring, Earth Day, National Dance Week, and more!Also for those looking for general pep talks to support your Monday through Friday, check out Evolve Love!IG: _evolveloveThank you all so much for your love & support!Amanda

Happy Spring everyone!Something I find so interesting about dance teaching is just as one season begins, we are already looking and planing for the next!So many of us at this time are preparing and launching our Summer Program information, and even making our Fall Dance Schedules, so I wanted to share some ideas and input about what can help to make Summer Dance even more special.As a dancer, I have such fond memories of childhood Summer Dance, and as a teacher I love the spark and energy that it brings me because I find myself thinking outside of the box more where we have a shorter window of times to work with our students in this season. I hope you all enjoy today's episode, and don't forget to follow on the platform of your choice so that you're up to date with all the latest episodes.IG: @danceteacherpeptalkMake sure to check out my Patreon Page where I have monthly resources for dance teachers (both free & paid memberships available) with anything from meditation to journaling to guided stories for the children's classroom.Thank you all so much for your love & support!Amanda

In today's episode, I share some of my biggest go-tos for handling tough situations such as . . . *Classes not listening or not staying focused*Absences during choreography*When we lose our cool*And more!I share the major question I ask myself that helps me to find my true core essence and true core values as a teacher.Within these tough situations, by sticking to my core essence, I am able to step into difficulties calmly but also with an expectation that is clear for myself and for the dancers.Trust & respect are not a one way street in the dance classroom; it must be mutual, and today, I share how I am feeling on all of that!Thank you so much for your support & listens!If you have topic requests, please send them over via DM to @dancteacherpeptalk on Instagram so that I can best support you here on the show!Also if interested, head on over to ⁠Dance Teacher Pep Talk Patreon ⁠for a month's worth of FREE resources this March in celebration of our 100th episode launching this month.With love,Amanda