You might not think the average dance teacher has much in common with a used car salesman, but as someone who worked in both sales and dance education for nearly a decade, I'm here to tell you that they do! Throughout my sales career, I learned a lot of little "tricks of the trade" that translated into great tools to help my dance students receive and retain instructions and corrections better in class! And I don't gatekeep, so here they are!

Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook Here
Follow me on Reddit Here
Follow our Instagram account Here
Please Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify!

Most dance teachers do it for their passion and love of the art of dance - which is great! But that can also lend itself to getting stuck in situations that don't necessarily align with our personal and/or professional goals. Using the SWOT analysis method, dance teachers (as well as studio owners, coaches, choreographers, business owners of any kind, etc...) can discern the areas of their current teaching/job situation that serve them well, and those where they should be seeking additional opportunities for growth.

You can find my custom SWOT Analysis worksheet designed just for dance teachers FREE in The Casual Dance Teacher's Network Facebook group Here

Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com
Follow me on Reddit Here
Follow our Instagram account Here
Please Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify!

What better way to kick off 2026 than with part 2 of my fabulous conversation with Jess Grippo, exploring the many ways that dance educators can explore and unleash their own creativity?! Let's make this year one where we feel creatively fulfilled and able to express ourselves in ways we didn't have the creative vocabulary to before. Jess has so many great tips - as well as fantastic supplementary resources, which you can find below - to help us reach those creative goals.

Note: This is Part 2 of my conversation with Jess, you can listen to part 1 having been published on August 1st, 2025. You can listen to part 1 Here

Jess' Website: www.jessgrippo.com

Jess' Free "Dance Alone, Together" Series: www.jessgrippo.com/13day-free-series

Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook Here
Follow me on Reddit Here
Follow our Instagram account Here
Please Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify! <3

Have you ever wondered why your students seem to plateau at a certain age/level, or why you find yourself giving the same corrections OVER and OVER and seeing the same technical issues continue? Could it be that you're pushing students through the basics a little too quickly in an effort to race on to "fancier" or more "exciting" steps? On today's episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Kathryn Bisland about how and why she takes the time to break down the basics, preparing recreational students to handle more technically advanced steps without losing proper form and technique in ballet, jazz, and tap.

Check out Kathryn's Skool Dance Teacher Community Here, where you can preview her syllabus for free, purchase in full, and earn commission on referrals!
Visit Kathryn's Website Here
View Kathryn's Youtube channel, "Dance With Miss Kathryn" Here

Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook Here
Follow me on Reddit Here
Follow our Instagram account Here
Please Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify!

Today we're joined by the fabulous Angela Elgani to talk all things commercial dance! To give you a brief overview of Angela's resume, she is a dance producer, educator, mentor, and adjudicator, who's danced with artists including Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Pink, Will Smith, Mya, Eve, The Pussy Cat Dolls, Backstreet Boys, N' Sync, Little Kim, George Michael, Beyonce, Destiny's Child, Monica, Gwen Stefanie, Stevie Wonder, Heavy D, and Kid Rock, as well as in the movies You Got Served and Step Up Revolution. Angela has a heart for helping dancers grow succeed in the commercial dance industry, and creating welcoming spaces and "good vibes" for anyone and everyone who wants to dance!

Find Angela's Personal Website, with links to her socials and other websites, here.

Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook Here
Follow me on Reddit Here
Follow our Instagram account Here
Please Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify!

We have the incredible treat of TWO esteemed guests on today's episode - Erica Hornthal and Rae Luskin! After seeking out Erica's Dance/Movement Therapy services to get connected with her own body, Rae is sharing her story of how dance therapy has helped her, and Erica weighs in on the process of helping clients embody their emotions, and how dance teachers should- and shouldn't! - integrate therapeutic practices in their classrooms.

Erica's Website (With Links to Her Socials)
Rae's Website (With Links to Her Socials)

Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook Here
Follow me on Reddit Here
Follow our Instagram account Here
Please Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify!

As a dance teacher, do you throw information at your students and wonder why that same correction you keep giving isn't sticking, or do you work collaboratively with your dancers to unlock the wisdom of their individual bodies? Mariah-Jane Thies, also known as "The Radiant Dance Teacher," is on a mission to help dance teachers and students integrate the wisdom of the body into their dance practice, allowing for greater artistry, deeper understanding of technique, and less risk of injury.

Use code Radiant25 Here to get 25% off any of Mariah-Jane's courses as a listener of The Casual Dance Teacher's Podcast!
You can join The Radiant Dance Teacher Facebook Group Here

Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook Here - Now through December 1st, you can sign up for "The Twelve Texts of Christmas" exclusively through the Facebook Group and receive daily holiday-themed dance class activities, song suggestions, and more via text from December 1st-12th
Follow me on Reddit Here
Follow our Instagram account Here
Please Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify!

Today's episode combines dance lessons with life lessons, and don't they so often go together?! While I don't feel equiped to speak specifically about West African Dance technique on this platform, I do think that the lessons I learned during my time studying in West Africa are worth sharing with dance educators of all styles and methodologies. Here are just 4 of my biggest takeaways from studying West African Dance, and how they've helped me become a better dance teacher.

Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com
Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook Here - Now through December 1st, you can sign up for "The Twelve Texts of Christmas" exclusively through the Facebook Group and receive daily holiday-themed dance class activities, song suggestions, and more via text from December 1st-12th
Follow me on Reddit Here
Follow our Instagram account Here
Please Leave Us a Review on Apple/Spotify!