Dance Teacher Pep Talk

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

Welcome to our 101st episode!I am so very grateful for today's conversation for so many reasons and I am so glad that I get to share it with you all.I had the beautiful opportunity to sit down with Maia Mahosky of The Casual Dance Teacher's Podcast and discuss a difficult, but very real life topic and that is, taking a step away from the studio.There are so many reasons in life why we may need to take a step back and as Maia shares her personal story, she also shares encouragement for the growth that this time has given her and for realizing that sometimes the thinking about how it will be when leaving or the uncertainty around it, is actually the hardest part.With many things in life, if you feel a gut instinct, it is usually telling you something. Some of these things we don't want to face, but sometimes when we do, there is beauty & a new chapter beyond what we are able to see at that given time. Maia is just truly so lovely to talk with and I am so glad we get to share this conversation with you.Please make sure to follow Maia on the following platforms and listen to her incredible podcast episodes with The Casual Dance Teacher's Podcast.IG: @thecasualdanceteacherspodcastFacebook Group: The Casual Dance Teacher's NetworkI 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 for a month's worth of FREE resources this March in celebration of our 100th episode launching last week.Have a beautiful week!With love, Amanda

Wow! It is our 100th episode!First of all, I want to thank you all so very much for being here. I am truly grateful for you, this space, the growth we have shared together, and I am so excited for what is to come.In honor of celebrating the 100th episode, I spoke from my heart about thinking on how we can best celebrate our students and also how we can send them out into the world knowing and understanding how they can celebrate for themselves.Let's be real--once we are adults, we aren't getting the trophies, and the good jobs, and the wow that was amazing, for every project and item we do. So where does that pride and validation come from? It comes from us! It comes from us realizing, wow, we did that. And in order for our students to understand how to find that, I feel it is so important to model, practice, and exercise that concept together.It starts with us!I don't want my students to turn 36 and finally start understanding it. My hope is that when they graduate, they walk on knowing that they can be proud of their accomplishments without outside validation--that what matters most comes from within.In honor of the 100th episode, I have made my whole March Meditation Collection on my Dance Teacher Pep Talk Patreon FREE!There are some beautiful resources this month including . . .Spring Awaken: energy to start your day and your classNourish Yourself: checking in how we best nourish our bodies, minds, soulsBarre/Wall Body Scan: alignment centering to prepare for our classA Walk In The Park: a guided meditative improv story for young students to explore, act, and work in their imaginationsWorld Dance Metta: a Loving-Kindness inspired meditation to extend our energy to ourselves, our peers, our studio, and the world of danceHow Are You Ready To Bloom?: a mini podcast episode honoring the growth you achieved over this winter to now share in the bloom of your performanceI hope you enjoy!Thank you all again with all my heart!Love, AmandaIG: @danceteacherpeptalk

I am beyond excited that in celebrating our NUMBER 1 most listened to episode . . . Episode 27: Nutrition, Body Image, and How We Can Do Better in the Dance World with Kelsey Rigopoulos, RDN LDNthat I got to bring Kelsey back on the show!This was truly an amazing conversation. Whether you are a dancer, dance parent, parent in general, or someone wanting to get a beautifully supportive take on nutrition, this is the episode for you.In today's episode, Kelsey shared her take on current trends such as Electrolytes, Energy Drinks, Protein Supplements, and more. We also discussed nutrition for performance and competition weekends as well as language that we can use around food to make for the most encouraging environments.I am so lucky to have Kelsey as a friend and so grateful that she gets to share her knowledge with all of you, because she is amazing!Where we can find Kelsey . . . https://kelseyrigopoulosrdn.com/IG: @kelseyrigopoulosrdnThank you all so much for your listens!Please check us out on Patreon and IG . . .Our March Meditations are incredible--join the membership now!Dance Teacher Pep Talk Patreon@dancerteacherpeptalkWith love, Amanda

In today's episode, we recap our 2nd most listened to episode:Episode 3 Preparing The Tone/Preparing The Space And when I re-listened to it, I felt all of the information was SO important that I just had to share it again.So here it is along with some important announcements--the relaunch of Episode 3!Episode 3 was originally a part of our "Back to Dance" series that I started the podcast off with, but this is a tried & true, come back to again and again episode.I hope these ideas will help you to take a look at how you begin your class experience from how to we set-up the space, to how we welcome our students in. I want to thank you all for your support and listens!Make sure to follow us on IG @danceteacherpeptalk and on our new Patreon page where you can find all the details about the Meditation Collection that you can use in your classroom or for your personal use today!The February Collection is truly amazing! For those of you with competition students, the February Freebie is a must listen to as a pre-performance practice that my dancers absolutely love!⁠⁠⁠⁠Dance Teacher Pep Talk Patreon⁠Also, make sure to check-in next week for an AMAZING SURPRISE!

In today's episode, we recap our 3rd most listened to episode:Episode 2: Setting Your Mind & Soul Up For SuccessLike last week's episode, this is one of the core essentials of Dance Teacher Pep Talk and this was one of my favorite episodes!It was originally a part of our "Back to Dance" series that I started the podcast off with, but this is a tried & true, come back to again and again episode.A lot has changed for me since first recording Episode 2 so I was very excited to bring some fresh information to today's episode with how I prepare for my days and nights as a dance teacher.Truly, it starts with us!Our classes are a reflection of the energy that we put into ourselves and this episode is a great reminder of that.I hope these ideas will help you to take a look at how you prepare your mind & soul up for success before heading into the studio.I want to thank you all for your support and listens!Make sure to follow us on IG @danceteacherpeptalk and on our new Patreon page where you can find all the details about the Meditation Collection that you can use in your classroom or for your personal use today!The February Collection is truly amazing! For those of you with competition students, the February Freebie is a must listen to as a pre-performance practice that my dancers absolutely love!⁠⁠⁠Dance Teacher Pep Talk Patreon⁠

In today's episode, we recap our 4th most listened to episode:Episode 4: Syllabus Building & Lesson PlanningThis is truly what I would consider one of the Core Four to listen to from the Dance Teacher Pep Talk podcast.It was originally a part of our "Back to Dance" series that I started the podcast off with, but this is a tried & true, come back to again and again episode.In my reflection, I brought some fresh takes about how I approached my syllabus and lesson planning after being in the dance teaching world for almost 20 years now. I spoke on how I go about making a syllabus feel fresh and not stale. I talked about how I worked on approaching things differently in this dance year. I hope these ideas will help bring a freshness to you as you work through your syllabus and map out your lessons in this season.I want to thank you all for your support and listens!Make sure to follow us on IG @danceteacherpeptalk and on our new Patreon page where you can find all the details about the Meditation Collection that you can use in your classroom or for your personal use today!⁠⁠Dance Teacher Pep Talk Patreon⁠

In today's episode, we recap our 5th most listened to episode:Episode 37: Guiding Dancers with Open Energy & Heart--A Conversation with Tara IacobucciThis is a must listen!Tara's episode is such a beautiful one--from the topics that she brings up to the passion that comes through in how she shares . . . this was truly a monumental episode for me on Dance Teacher Pep Talk.In today's episode, I recap on what Tara taught me from our conversation and also reflected on changes and shifts of how I viewed teaching & choreography because of our discussion.If you are looking for a breath of fresh air to your teaching and your philosophy, give this episode and episode 37 a listen.You can also find podcast episodes with Tara on:Making The Impact PodcastTwo Dance Moms Podcast I want to thank you all for your support and listens!Make sure to follow us on IG @danceteacherpeptalk and on our new Patreon page where you can find all the details about the Meditation Collection that you can use in your classroom or for your personal use today!⁠Dance Teacher Pep Talk Patreon⁠

In today's episode, we recap our 6th most listened to episode:Episode 55: Finding Success in the Dance Studio & in Life with Stephanie KempIf you haven't listened to that one--please do!!Stephanie Kemp is not only a successful dance studio owner/teacher/choreographer, but (and I'm sure her students can say this too) a complete motivator and a total force! I learned so much from my conversation with Stephanie and I share some of the biggest takeaways I had in this new episode. Whether you are a studio owner or not, I feel there is so much that Stephanie teaches us in the original episode about how to live life fully and how to live in love and with love always.If you would like to purchase her book, you can find it here:Success Is Just The Beginning: 6 Timeless Lessons to Achieve More in Business, Love, and LegacyI want to thank you all for your support and listens!Make sure to follow us on IG @danceteacherpeptalk and on our new Patreon page where you can find all the details about the Meditation Collection that you can use in your classroom or for your personal use today!Dance Teacher Pep Talk Patreon

In today's episode, we recap our 7th most listened to episode, "Live It, Love It, Leave It" with Kiera LettsI absolutely loved revisiting this episode to be reminded of the energy, enthusiasm, and more that Kiera shared with us. We touch upon everything from energy, to cleaning & technique, to preparation, and to of course, encouraging. You can also listen to her here on Making The Impact Podcast:Levels at Dance CompetitionsA reminder to follow @danceteacherpeptalk for inspiration and @_evolvelove for encouraging pep talks for all.Our January meditation package is launching soon! You won't want to miss out on this!Thank you all for your support & listens,<3 Amanda

I am so so excited to now be offering meditations for the dancer, dance teacher, dance parent, creative, and more on the brand new:Dance Teacher Pep Talk Patreon PageI share all the details in this episode, but there will be free and paid options for you to enjoy!My hope is to build on the membership platform even further by offering newsletters, tips and tools, and more beyond the meditations, but for me as a dancer and human, meditation has been life changing, and I am ready to share all about that with you.Thank you all for being here!Please let me know if you have any questions by sending me a DM @danceteacherpeptalk on Instagram

In today's episode, we highlight our 8th most listened to episode, Episode 1, the Introduction to DTPT!How perfectly aligned to fall on the first week back of a new year!If you are new to the podcast, welcome! This is the perfect episode to hear about the mission of Dance Teacher Pep Talk and where I see it going. If you are a loyal listener, thank you for your support and listens! This podcast episode celebrates how far we have come and how far we are going.I am beyond excited for 2026 with you all.This is truly going to be a groundbreaking year for Dance Teacher Pep Talk, I can feel it!To start, I am going to be offering monthly meditation packages for you to use! This is for dancers, for dance parents looking to help their dancer, for dance teachers to use for themselves, for dance teachers to use in their classrooms--truly for anyone wanting to receive the benefit of monthly themed meditations.More information is coming really soon, but make sure to follow @danceteacherpeptalk on Instagram for all of the details.This episode mentioned the following links in the show notes--Episode 1: Intro to Dance Teacher Pep TalkEpisode 13: My Burnout StoryThank you all so much for being here!I cannot wait for this year with you all!IG: @danceteacherpeptalkAre you looking for general pep talks and daily thoughts that don't pertain specifically to the dance world? Check out my new IG page where I share pep talks and questions to ponder for anyone looking for some love in their day.IG: @_evolveloveWith love, Amanda

In today's episode I recap our 9th most listened to episode and our 2025 #1 most played episode, the Part 1 of my Choreography Inspiration series!If you haven't listened to Part 1 or Part 2 yet, please check them out here...Part 1https://open.spotify.com/episode/6efPkWYLrTXdSGQmUa5Brl?si=aa5199e7c1e54c2dPart 2https://open.spotify.com/episode/6few9MT8giiEgk7PRpmGE2?si=096bffbabf414ed5In today's episode, I share more tips and inspiration to help me push through choreographic ruts, topic brainstorming, and more!I will be taking a holiday break until after the New Year and I hope that all of you have a wonderful holiday!See you in 2026 where we continue to recap the top 10 most listened to topics on DTPT as we gear up for our 100th episode!Thank you all for your listens and support! <3 Amanda@danceteacherpeptalk

In today's episode, I have begun my recap of the Top 10 most listened to episodes of DTPT as we get closer to Episode 100!Today I am sharing fresh thoughts on our #10 most listened to episode, Flashback Childhood Memories! This is such a fun one to recap, but today's episode gets pretty serious and I have included an exercise within it to help you reflect back on your youngest years in dancing and how this is important in our current role as dance teachers. If you haven't listened to Episode 5: Flashback Childhood Memories, check it out here:https://open.spotify.com/episode/4fcrRmbl98LRJmLkzIHl4A?si=9f43bab31fdb4febI am so excited to continue reviewing and refreshing the topics of our Top 10!Thank you all so very much for your support & listens!IG: @danceteacherpeptalk

After looking at my Spotify Wrapped for Creators, I was truly blown away and so very appreciative of the listens and support from all of you! I reflect on that in today's episode and the Wrapped Stats also inspired today's episode, being that one of the most listened to episodes of 2025 for DTPT was about Choreography Inspiration.In today's episode I detail a class exercise that can be used in any genre, for any age, or in rehearsal if you'd like to get us working more on the spot with our choreography and to find inspiration in the season around us.I am always absolutely amazed what comes out of this exercise for myself and for my students and I'm excited to hear how it works out for you!As always, thank you thank you for your listens and support!It means the world to me!<3 AmandaIG @danceteacherpeptalk

My goal in today's episode is to give you a pep talk reminding you of your greatness, because just by being YOU, you are bringing GREATNESS into your classroom space!And also, being the Thanksgiving season, I am so GRATEFUL for you--your support, your listens, your involvement in this Dance Teacher Pep Talk platform.Thank you all and have a beautiful rest of your week!

This episode may seem like a little past the window to be discussing trends I noticed during the 2025 season when some of us are already out hitting the stage with our 2026 material, but I felt called to share this!I myself am in a place where I am beginning to finish up choreography for the 2026 season and it had me reflecting on things I noticed from last year and wondering what is to come in this season!The beauty of what we do is that no season is the same and it is so hard to know what to expect in a new season until you are there. I for one am so excited to see what will be in this new season ahead!Thank you all for your listens and support!What trends did you love from 2025? What trends are you hoping to not see again?Check in over @danceteacherpeptalk on IG.<3 Amanda

Happy November!For many of us we are officially two months into our season, and this is a great time to reflect on . . . *How far we have come*Where we are stuck/progress is not being made*Where we need to look at things differently*And where we are headingWith holidays and Nutcracker and competition seasons fast approaching, I find these next two months can be so worthwhile and beneficial (even when doing fun seasonal/holiday activities) to get our students on track to achieving all that it is we set out to teach them. Here is to a great November everyone!IG @danceteacherpeptalkThank you all so much for your support & listens!

As much as we don't want this to happen, there will be days when we will not feel like teaching. This could be a short window of time . . . it could last a whole week . . . it could even be a whole "season," but it happens and it is okay!As artists, we are so passionate about what we do, and we put so much into our craft that there are times when our energy is just not going to be prepared to live up to the standards that we set for ourselves.Today's episode includes the tips and tricks I use on days where my energy isn't where I want it to be for the dance classroom. I love what I do, but even as a dancer, there were days I didn't want to go to class. The majority of the time when I have felt this way, as soon as I get into the motions at the studio, I start to feel better, even a little, and it is my hope that in addition to that for you that these tips and tricks will help you to find your rhythm for your night/week/season ahead as well!Thank you so much for your support & listens!IG: @danceteacherpeptalk<3 Amanda

In today’s episode, I share about an exercise that I did in my jazz classes this week that went way deeper than I ever could have thought.What started as improv turned into a lesson in confidence, in finding who we are regardless of what song is playing or what dance classes we are in. It was an enlightening moment for myself as a teacher and a proud moment for me to see it all unfold. I just knew it had to be shared here with you all!I hope you enjoy and feel inspired by today’s episode!Make sure to check out @danceteacherpeptalk on IG because on Friday I’m sharing the category rounds and music suggestions that I used to build up excitement during the Halloween season! Thank you all for your support and listens!

In today's conversation, I had the opportunity to learn from Chelsea Weidmann, "The Geeky Ballerina," about the years of research she has done on developing ways that we can teach artistry within our technique classes. Something that really caught me on her website was her realization of watching a beautiful technician with lifeless energy on the stage. Everything was correct, but something was missing. To me, the passion, the drive, the energy, the soul--that is the artistry, and I was so excited to learn from Chelsea on all of the time she has put into researching this and creating her own curriculum, writing her own book, and more!From body carriage, to breath, to musicality, and more, this episode is jam-packed with information.Tune in to see how artistry can further enhance your dancers' training today!Ways to find Chelsea's work:Website https://www.geekyballerina.com/IG: @geekyballerinaTikTok: @geekyballerinaBook: "Artistry Inside Ballet Technique Volume I" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJX4WXL1?ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_G97X1CZFA84ADY4ECBEA&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_G97X1CZFA84ADY4ECBEA&social_share=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_G97X1CZFA84ADY4ECBEA&skipTwisterOG=1Blog: https://www.geekyballerina.com/blogCurriculum: https://www.geekyballerina.com/curriculumEmail: [email protected] sure to head to her website to sign up for her newsletter where she shares twice a month with actionable items you can implement in your class today!Thank you all so much for your support & listens!<3 AmandaIG: @danceteacherpeptalk

Are you in need of a slight change to your warm-ups at this time of year? Then look no further--station circuits might very well be the answer for you!This is a concept that can work with any dance genre, any age group, and any level of skills ability. It could be as general as a simple warm-up to as specific as skills refinement using functional strength and alignment work--and more! The ideas are endless.I hope today's episode inspired you for new ideas in your dance classroom.Thank you all for your support and listens!IG: @danceteacherpeptalk

Today's episode came to me in a spark of inspiration and wasn't even the episode I planned on doing in the first place! But I went with it!Part of my non-negotiables this season is listening more to my inner voice, my intuition, and trusting it--trusting it in my day to day, trusting it in my teaching, in my choreography, etc. and in today's episode I share about that.I also talk about how and where I have been feeling more inspired in this new season of autumn.For me finding the magic of the season and sharing in that is so important in my personal life, but also in my teaching. It connects me more to the present, and it connects me more to joy, and I find it does the same for my students.Things that benefit you as a teacher in turn benefit your students as well.I hope you find inspiration in today's episode and I thank you all for your listens and support!IG: @danceteacherpeptalk

I held off on trying ChatGPT for a very long time, for lots of reasons, but just for fun this season while planning my new year of classes I thought, why not? Let's give it a try!In today's episode I share some basic ways that I used ChatGPT while lesson planning and give my opinion of the good and not so good of using this tool.My final result (which I knew prior to doing this) was that a dance teacher will and can never be replaced by an AI tool. We truly are the HEART and more when it comes to teaching this beautiful art form that is dance. However, for myself, using tools to help along the way, in the long and short run, I know will only make me a better dance teacher and a more aware dance teacher.If there are ways that you use ChatGPT in your dance teaching and planning, I'd love to hear over on Instagram! Make sure to follow and share over on @danceteacherpeptalk.Thank you so much for your support & listens!Have a great week of dancing!

Happy back to dance to all!Even though the start of a new dance year is filled with excitement and fresh outlooks, there are still moments we might get in our heads too deeply and if you answer yes to any of these questions . . . Are you feeling overwhelmed?Are you feeling pressure?Are you feeling a sense of imposter syndrome?Are you finding yourself comparing the lesson plans, the competition pieces, etc. from last year to this year, or from another person to you?. . . then this is the episode for YOU! This episode serves as a reminder of the beauty in the process, the joy and the why of how we started this incredible dance teacher journey in the first place.This is an episode to come back to time and time again when you find yourself putting the pressure on.We've got this, teachers! Here is to a great new year!IG: @danceteacherpeptalkThank you all for your support and listens!<3 Amanda

Are you gearing up for back to dance and feeling overwhelmed about how you will fit it all in? How will you accomplish all the things and still manage to take care of all you need to in your home and personal life?This is the episode for YOU!In today's episode I share 3 Ways that we can set ourselves up to create more ease, and therefore more flow and organization, for the beginning of our new season.From home cleaning tips, to playlist creating tips for the dance classroom, I hope this episode will help you to feel more prepared and ready to take it all on.Wishing you all a beautiful start to your dance season!IG: @danceteacherpeptalkThank you all for your love & support!Amanda

In today's episode, I discuss something that I feel is an imperative part of our dance teaching in today's day and age and that is, Mindfulness. Mindfulness is the awareness of the present moment. To some that may seem very natural to find, however for many (especially those caught in our phones for a lot of the day), have a difficult time with this. Mindfulness can help your dancers attentiveness and focus within your classroom and I share all the tips on how to do this in today's episode!It doesn't always have to be meditation and discussions on feelings, though I feel that can be wonderful in the class setting, but for today I go into other types of Mindful Tips! No matter the age you teach, or the genre of dance you teach, this episode will have helpful ideas for you to bring into your classroom today!I hope you enjoy and find some inspiration in today's topic.Thank you all for your support and listens!IG: @danceteacherpeptalk<3 Amanda

In today's episode, I talk all about my feelings around Summer Dance as a teacher--the excitement, the nervousness, and more!I recently saw a quote that totally reframed my mind around teaching in new spaces and with new faces and I knew I just had to share it here on the podcast. Along with this, I share some of my favorite tips for planning for your Summer Dance classes as well!Don't forget to follow over on IG @danceteacherpeptalk where I have shared a July calendar that you can download with daily motivation, tips, and ideas to help you go through your month with something special set up on each day for you.Let's get inspired and dance and teach with confidence and pride knowing all that it is that we are able to bring in for our students this season!"By showing up as you are, and sharing who you are, you are great."--A quote from a piece I choreographed this 2025 season. No one offers what you can offer, and what we all offer in this dance world is a special piece of the puzzle that is guiding and motivating these young new dancers in our world!Thank you all for your support and listens <3

In today's Part 2, I am sharing some of my favorite Pilates exercises to help correct common dancer corrections/critiques to help make a breakthrough in one's training!Do you have Nationals coming up? Looking to refine your technique in Summer Dance? My hope is that this episode will help guide you into new places of awareness in your movement to not only breakthrough a correction, but to retain it for years to come!When we correct, it isn't enough to just say the correction, we must explain it, show, and find the how of it and for me, Pilates has been so helpful to then have the student take it to the next level of the correction by embodying it, and embedding it within the muscle memory.I hope today's tips are helpful! Make sure to check out Part 1 if you have not yet! https://open.spotify.com/episode/5PItYC6l29lKR7hGmRq3m3?si=36221de955014f56Thank you all for your support & listens!IG: @danceteacherpeptalkMake sure to follow to be able to receive the free July Calendar resource mentioned in today's episode!

In today's Part 1, I am sharing some of my favorite Pilates exercises to help correct common dancer corrections/critiques to help make a breakthrough in one's training!Do you have Nationals coming up? Looking to refine your technique in Summer Dance? My hope is that this episode will help guide you into new places of awareness in your movement to not only breakthrough a correction, but to retain it for years to come!When we correct, it isn't enough to just say the correction, we must explain it, show, and find the how of it and for me, Pilates has been so helpful to then have the student take it to the next level of the correction by embodying it, and embedding it within the muscle memory.I hope today's tips are helpful! Make sure to check out Part 2 coming soon! Thank you all for your support & listens!IG: @danceteacherpeptalkMake sure to follow to be able to receive the free July Calendar resource mentioned in today's episode!

We have so many tasks in a given week as dance teachers: class planning, music searching, emailing, choreography prep, just to name a few!What if we could map out our week in a way that would help us to complete all of those tasks in flow and with the best energy suited for the task(s) at hand?Today's episode is all about that!Did you know that each day of the week has a ruling planet? And that each ruling planet has specific energy, concepts, and themes present on a given day? By understanding which planet rules each day, and therefore which energy rules each day, we can better map out our week for optimal success.Now whether you believe in this or not is up to you, but if you are stuck on auto-pilot or feeling like you are just going through the motions in your day to day, approaching your week with a new outlook might be just what you need to pull you out of a rut!This is a different one for the podcast so I hope that you enjoy and find inspiration from it!If you do, send me a message over on IG--I'd love to hear from you!Thank you all for your support and listens! <3IG: @danceteacherpeptalk

I love reflecting on my year at my birthday and I love sharing the lessons, concepts, and themes that have come up in that year!Last year's 7 Notices at 35 had some beautiful lessons and I wanted to continue the trend with this year's 6 Lessons at 36.These lessons can be applied to your life whether you are a dance teacher or not, though I put the dance teacher spin on it!Awareness, motivation, inspiration, and more are all present in this episode!Dive in and begin reflecting on what lessons have come up for you in your year <3Thank you all for your support and listens!IG: @danceteacherpeptalk

A phrase that I find so beautiful is "being in practice of" when it comes to how you view the things you do in your life. I have heard it in the fitness world, the yoga world, in the spiritual context, in a professional context, and more but truly to me the phrase has always sparked something in me.When driving into the studio, I had an important reminder come to me and wanted to share it here in today's mini episode.Tune in to start developing your thoughts around, how are you "in practice" as a dance teacher? What is important to you and is a part of your "practice" in this life?I hope you enjoy today's episode and thank you so much for your support and listens! <3IG: @danceteacherpeptalk

Happy Spring everyone! Today's episode holds some of the thoughts and feelings I have been holding most this current Spring season. For so many of us, Spring is the 3/4 mark of our season--we are working towards finishing this year, but Spring as a season marks a time of fresh starts, new beginnings, and renewal. How can we better work with this energy in our classes? Just because we have hit this time of our season does not mean that the learning should stop. Yes, recital choreography may be a focus for us right now, but if that is all we are focusing on at this time of year, we are missing out on a huge chunk of time that our dancers could receive so much during. There is learning that can be done in and around the choreography--it doesn't mean we need to make more time that we don't have, we just need to find the ways to be most effective with the time we do have.*Warm-Up Ideas*Class Content Ideas*Class Strategy Ideas*Music RemindersLately, I have been following more of my instinct when it comes to teaching and a lot of that includes doing things differently and what I've noticed is that it is not only beneficial to me, but it has been greatly beneficial to my dancers too who so often are in the loop of school, dance, sleep, repeat!What inspiration are you feeling during this season? How are you being inspired to push instead of settle when it comes to closing out your year?Make sure to follow @danceteacherpeptalk on IG for more thoughts and ideas to use in your weeks!Thank you all for your love and support <3

Does your dance teacher/judge/dancer mind not calm down at the end of the day easily? Do you feel remaining energy after a night of teaching, a day of judging, a day of dancing? Is it hard to get settled and relax?For me, the rush of adrenaline, the spark of inspiration, the physical effects of movement on my body, all of these items sometimes make it hard for me to wind down at the end of the day. And when sleep and rest is necessary, I knew I needed to figure out a solution so that the next day I could be well rested.In today's episode, I share about those practices that have helped me. Whether you are anticipating the alarm clock going off for a day of competition or you need to calm down after a stimulating day of teaching, this episode is for you!Follow us on Instagram @danceteacherpeptalkThank you so much for your listens and support!Mentioned in the episode . . . Sleep Stories for Kidshttps://open.spotify.com/playlist/66Np1EGOCdMxlgZUq3p1hk?si=0d926e9092714d12

In the spirit of Valentine's Day coming up, I thought it would be so fun to do a lighthearted episode on the things I am currently loving!From clothing recommendations, to items you use in your day, to important reminders for this season, I hope today's episode inspires you to begin thinking about the things that you love and also how to add more things that you love into your day to make it that much more magical!This episode is great for anyone--not just dance teachers!What are you currently loving in your days?Thank you so much for your support and listens <3

Today's episode is an affirmation practice specifically catered to dancers, creators, dance teachers, etc. I believe so strongly in the power of words and the things that we say to ourselves. Whether we are going through an amazing moment or a tough moment, I hope these affirmations help to bring you back into focus and to remember your power and your presence as a dancer. I tell a brief background story in the beginning of today's episode but if you are hoping to jump right into the practice start this episode at 5:40 Thank you all so much for your support and listens <3 I hope you have a beautiful day ahead!

Today's episode is one I have been wanting to share for awhile now, but felt I needed more time as I am currently 4 months postpartum from my second birth experience. Questions I see on Dance Teacher forums a lot are, "what should I expect returning after maternity leave," "what items do I need for baby to make my transition back to the studio smooth," etc. I wanted to address some of these questions and include my own experiences in an episode to help those navigating this time of life. The number one takeaway though is, you will not have any one else's experiences, and no one else will have yours. You know your baby better than anyone, and you know your body better than anyone. This is such a beautiful time, a challenging and beautiful time, but I hope today's episode will help you to find ease in this transition, and to feel valid in all of the feelings you are feeling. Tune in to hear my recommendations for return to work, items needed for baby and you, coping strategies for when you do not feel ready to return, and more! Looking for more tips to include in your Dance Teaching life? Check out @danceteacherpeptalk on Instagram! Thank you all for your listens and support <3

Today’s episode touches upon an enrichment idea that greatly benefits our dancers not only in the dance world, but in the world in general. Today we are talking about helping dancers to find and use their voice! These suggested activities and concepts are beneficial to the stage and beyond.  After years of shyness, and feeling comfortable in the “quiet” dance setting, I felt confident to grow out of my shell and present myself, who I was, and what I wanted to say with ease and certainty with the help of the guidance and love of my teachers. Because of this, I knew it was important for me to carry a space for this in my teaching.   From title interview class suggestions, to college essay writing, to interview tips, there are so many ways we can help our dancers to feel confident and genuine in using their authentic voice. I hope today’s ideas opened up some new thoughts where you can help your students to grow even beyond the dance learning they are doing. Thank you all for your listens and support <3

Looking for some fresh new takes on technique tips for turning, specifically jazz pirouette? This episode highlights some of the ideas, images, and functional exercises that I have seen the greatest results and “aha” moments for with my students. By pulling from my background knowledge with Pilates, Physics, and Geometry, I have put together some fun ideas that you can use in your classroom today! Being the mid-way point of the year for many of us, it is a great time to take a new or different look at approaching the skills we have been working so hard to build since the beginning of the year. Do you enjoy these Technique Tip style episodes? If so, DM me on Instagram @danceteacherpeptalk so I know to make more just like this! Thank you so much for your support and listens <3

Happy 2025! I am so excited for this new year of Dance Teacher Pep Talk podcast with you all <3 Today's episode is about the intentions and promises we set for ourselves at this time of the year and how they can enrich and enhance our dance classrooms. Sometimes it is the things that we do for ourselves in our personal lives that make the biggest changes and improvements in our teaching and what we bring to the classroom. Want some ideas for simplifying when it comes to setting up a framework to teach from? Check out Episode 3 on Syllabus Building: https://open.spotify.com/episode/23zCNVV9IfqNLMkbznI2tI?si=9f0b69d3829f45ac Needing a boost in your day to give back to your mental health? Take a listen to Episode 6- A Pep Talk for Low Motivation Days: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6nRQtgWpV3xQufNb3xY8PQ?si=42460815717b43e1 Interested in doing it scared but feeling unsure? Episode 23 on self-doubt and breakthroughs might be a good place to start: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0mTI4us9MHZ7lFof1yu2rP?si=4f0aa7823a3049fe Wanting to enhance your knowledge with some reading? Episode 26 shares 5 books I recommend to propel your dance teaching: https://open.spotify.com/episode/78wF9cHTO04zg368JvVKNX?si=ea354f28cc4940fc I hope you all enjoy today's episode and I am so looking forward to this year with you all! Make sure to follow @danceteacherpeptalk on Instagram for more ideas and resources.

In today's Part Two to Episode 61: Savor The Season, I am giving tangible tips to try and implement today to encourage slowing down during this beautiful time of year. We a lot of the time live in a world that is "go go go" and the concept that you need to hustle in order to achieve where you want to be, but for our students that can be a lot of pressure! It is a lot of pressure on us! So today's episode tackles the idea of how can we model slowing down, how can we show the value of slowing down, and what does that look like in our classes. From focusing on breath, to looking at how we schedule, this episode shares so many ideas that have worked for me. I hope you all enjoy and have a beautiful holiday season. I'll be back after the New Year! In the meantime, check out @danceteacherpeptalk on Instagram for more ideas. Thank you all for your love and support <3

In today's episode, I share some thoughts around modeling and sharing the importance of slowing down and savoring the moments, especially during the holiday season. During the holidays, we still have work, school, the same responsibilities as always but on top of it we are adding this extra layer of "to-do's" with the holidays such as activities, decorating, and more! And it is not just us as teachers who feel this, but our students too. Instead of allowing the busy times of the holiday to create stress and overwhelm, let's take time to model, celebrate, and share with our students how it is okay to slow down and to work our class agenda in different ways at this time. Check back soon for an episode coming soon with more useable tips on ways to savor the season! Listen back to Episode 30: December Magic for some special ideas you can implement in your class today. https://open.spotify.com/episode/6yssS5djuGxwNXHfdGC3zj?si=cb575569114d4e9b The Bonus Episode on Commercial Choreography is also a fun one to try as something different in your classes this time of year. https://open.spotify.com/episode/4j2Y13kcwMG0Q3Dbhe7uwE?si=1a806449dd454e1f Make sure to follow us on @danceteacherpeptalk Instagram where I have shared by favorite Jazz and Contemporary Holiday & Winter Playlists. Thank you all for your listens and supports!

Disclaimer: Today's episode is a reminder of finding appreciation in different stages/phases of life and time. I just wanted to note that it does not address that times can be difficult/challenging and that it is okay when we feel we want to be done with and out of those challenging times quickly. In today's episode, I wanted to jump back into the podcast really quickly to share some insights that I have been thinking on during this postpartum stage and how I feel it can apply to our dance world. This time of year can be very busy with holidays and Nutcracker performances and finishing competition dances, etc. and we can lose sight when in the chaos. Today's episode encourages us to stop and find the enjoyment in each step along the way versus wishing and pushing to get through to the end of it. I hope all is well with you all and I look forward to jumping on again in the near future when I am able! As always, thank you so much for your support and listens <3 Instagram @danceteacherpeptalk

Wow!! 1 year of Dance Teacher Pep Talk podcast! I am so beaming with joy at all that this podcast has become and will continue to become and I thank all of you for your listens & support & more through this incredible year! This episode serves as a recap of this wild year, but also goes into a deep dive on the topic of purpose as the podcast was primarily started during a huge part of my search for purpose. I share my realizations, learnings, and more in the hopes that they will help those of you who are on your purpose journey and to let you know all steps along the way are so seen, so valid, and so important--even when you feel like things are not happening fast enough for you. I also share a MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT at the end of today's episode <3 Thank you all so much for this amazing year and I look forward to sharing, speaking on, learning, and more with you in Dance Teacher Pep Talk seasons to come!