Counting From 1 to 8 for a Living

When anyone asks my occupation, I always say "I count from 1 to 8 for a living." The person will then pause, look at me quizzically for a moment or two, and then, of course, want to know more. This is the perfect moment to share my love of teaching dance. This opportunity arises in some of the most bizarre places - in the grocery store, the beauty salon, the gas station, and most recently, in the bathroom at a restaurant. I've learned to embrace each of these moments, because I never know the impact that will be made on the person that I am speaking with. And what kind of impact that person can have on my business.

What we do is not brain surgery. We're not cutting open someone's head, and digging around in there with a screwdriver. I know of no one who has ever died from doing a pivot turn incorrectly (please email me if you have documented evidence of this happening). Now, don't get me wrong. What we do has definite purpose. As dance teachers, we have the opportunity to truly change a person's life. If I really believed that all I did as a dance teacher was to count from 1 to 8 and teach a person to point their toes, then this would not have been my calling from age 2.

Now, we've all seen those dancers that we just have to watch. The dancers that can draw your attention doing basic steps, the ones that can enrapture a crowd effortlessly. They're not usually the best dancers on the floor, nor are they doing the most complicated patterns. But they are the dancers who truly believe in themselves. This is the part of dancing that is imperative to teach, and it's also the part that most people forget about.

As my students of every age will attest to, I believe in teaching good technique, flawless technique, along with the how's and why's. However, from the very first lesson, I also begin teaching that little something special. Most of my students dance socially, and have no desire to be "world champions" or "professional dancers." However, all of my students are "professional human beings." They have jobs, or go to school, or raise families. My goal as a dance teacher is to inspire self-confidence, poise, and complete assurance, both on the dance floor and off. It's amazing the difference that encouragement and accomplishment can make in someone's life. It's pointing out the little positives, setting attainable goals with students and achieving them, and just reminding them of the tremendous gift their time is to us as teachers.

I am grateful everyday for the incredible privilege of sharing my love of dance. Nothing else gives me pure joy and gratification. And the reason for this? Making sure every student that leaves my class has achieved much more than the ability to count from 1 to 8.

- written for an upcoming NTA Newsletter