Every dance teacher wants engaged students.
Every studio owner wants teachers who can confidently manage a room.
But somewhere along the way, many teachers start believing they have to choose between being fun and being firm.
The truth?
The best teachers do both.
Recently on the Dance Principles United Podcast, Rebecca sat down with her daughter Bebe to unpack what they’ve learned from teaching hundreds of students every week—and some of the lessons might surprise you.
One of the biggest myths in dance education is that children don’t like discipline.
Actually, they do.
What they don’t like is feeling embarrassed, yelled at or constantly criticised.
Children feel safest when they know the expectations.
That’s why every class should have a simple non-negotiable.
For Rebecca and Bebe, it’s easy:
Don’t talk while the teacher is talking.
Simple.
Clear.
Easy to remember.
Consistency is what makes it work. Every single time the expectation isn’t met, the consequence follows. Not because the teacher is angry—but because consistency builds trust.
Students quickly realise the rules don’t change depending on the teacher’s mood.
Consequences aren’t about punishment.
They’re about learning.
A consequence should always be age appropriate, achievable and delivered calmly.
Young children might sit quietly for a minute.
Older students might complete a short physical exercise before rejoining the class.
Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something you can consistently follow through with.
Because the moment teachers don’t follow through, students stop believing the boundaries matter.
This might be the most important lesson in the entire episode.
Behaviour is communication.
When one child constantly interrupts, acts out or struggles to regulate their emotions, it’s easy to label them as difficult.
But often there’s something much deeper going on.
Rebecca shares the story of a student who cried every time another dancer received a special role.
At first, the teaching team assumed she was simply being dramatic.
After speaking with her mum, they learned she was autistic.
That single conversation changed everything.
Instead of frustration, they approached her with understanding.
Over time, that same student became one of the biggest cheerleaders in the studio.
Sometimes the biggest breakthrough starts with a conversation.
New teachers often worry about saying the wrong thing.
So they say very little.
The problem?
Children naturally tune out quiet, hesitant voices.
Confident teaching isn’t about yelling.
It’s about using variety.
Change your tone.
Add excitement.
Emphasise musicality.
Use your voice to match the movement.
Students stay engaged because your energy keeps changing.
Teaching becomes something they experience—not just something they listen to.
Many studio owners hire talented dancers and expect them to become amazing teachers overnight.
Teaching is its own skill.
Bebe shares how she’s mentoring one of their junior teachers.
Rather than standing beside her and correcting every sentence, she lets her teach.
Then afterwards they reflect together.
They celebrate what went well.
They identify one area for improvement.
Then they finish with encouragement.
It’s simple.
It’s supportive.
And it builds confident teachers.
Studio owners need to spend more time observing classes and coaching their staff.
Your teachers can’t improve if no one is helping them grow.
Imagine going to the gym every week.
You work hard.
You sweat.
But nobody tells you you’re getting stronger.
Eventually, you’d probably stop going.
Children are no different.
They need visible progress.
Whether it’s filming routines, recording private lessons, sending practice notes home or celebrating milestones, students stay motivated when they can see how far they’ve come.
Parents notice too.
And parents who see progress are much more likely to stay engaged with your studio.
This one small shift can completely transform your classes.
Instead of saying:
“Point your foot.”
Try saying:
“I love how beautifully you’re stretching that foot.”
The message is almost identical.
But the emotional impact is completely different.
Children naturally repeat behaviours that earn positive attention.
Instead of focusing on what’s wrong, highlight what’s going well.
You’ll often see improvements happen faster than constant correction ever achieves.
Most adults can still remember the worst thing a teacher ever said to them.
That’s powerful.
As dance teachers, we have an incredible opportunity.
Yes, we teach technique.
Yes, we teach performance.
But more importantly, we help shape confidence.
For many students, dance is where they learn resilience, teamwork, courage and self-belief.
That’s a responsibility worth taking seriously.
Every teacher has hard days.
Life happens.
But before you walk into your studio, take a moment.
Leave the stress outside.
Smile.
Talk to your students.
Ask about school.
Compliment their new haircut.
Celebrate their achievements.
Those little conversations build relationships that last for years.
Children work hardest for teachers they genuinely feel connected to.
And that connection often starts long before the music begins.
Great teaching isn’t about perfection.
It’s about consistency.
It’s about caring.
It’s about creating an environment where children feel safe enough to learn, confident enough to try and excited enough to keep coming back.
When teachers get that right, technique improves naturally.
Retention grows.
Parents notice.
And your entire studio culture becomes stronger.
Sometimes the smallest changes create the biggest impact.
