April school vacation has come and gone. As I woke up this morning, I realized that it’s back to reality for me. Then it struck me, do I really feel so much like I’m in a bubble on these weeks without dance? As a dance teacher, I also work as a waitress to make up for the days I am not teaching, so I still have work. Essentially it only gives me 2 full days off, and my Saturday mornings off. Does being away from dance really knock me off my game that much?
I find that it’s often hard to get back into the groove when I have time off. Dance gives me structure to work with, so I tend to plan out my weeks around lesson-planning and working around my teaching schedule. When I don’t have that, I either have to be on top of my game with self-discipline, or I lose a week easily. That happened this April school vacation. I made lots of fun plans, and wound up not realizing until, well, NOW that I didn’t keep on top of things as well as I should have.
Mentally I need to make sure that I am prepared. It’s often worse for my students to get back into the groove. They went from having these busy hectic lives with school, dance, social lives, after school activities, etc, to having a week off. I know for a fact that many of them wind up sleeping in, take lazy days on the couch, hang out with friends when they do feel like doing something, and don’t really stay active. On the opposite end, some of the students go on vacations where their schedules are packed in with sightseeing and eating out. So either way, the kids come back tired, unadjusted, and not on their games.
It’s particularly difficult with April school vacation. This year, and with many years past, the competitive students at the studio I work at will be jumping into a week of preparation for a regional competition. It’s also about to become crunch-time for the recreational students- recitals are only a few weeks away! Now is the time to start “The Elimination Game”, practicing in smaller groups, and doing their dances away from the mirror. The emphasis is on cleaning, and smiling big for all their friends and families! While it makes it easier on my lesson plans, it makes it harder for the kids to focus when they return.
So how does one bounce back after a week of fun? For me, it’s all about the mentality. Organizing my thoughts into one single place, and making sure that I am prepared for anything is key. Also reinstating my typical morning routine helps. Cup of coffee, a little online work, watch some tv, prep for classes, and eventually get ready! I will head in early to make sure that my music is set, and I will most likely stretch a bit so that my body doesn’t completely rebel as I demonstrate moves!
Personally, I will be spending this morning getting my head back to teaching mode. My students are all at school, and I can imagine most of them yawning through their first few classes, as I’m sure many of them will be yawning later tonight in my classes as well! It also does not help that it is raining out! However, I am truly looking forward to seeing all my wonderful students, and hearing about all the incredible adventures they had over vacation!
How was your vacation? Do you often find yourself struggling to get back into a disciplined mode after time off?
Monday, April 23, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Staying Healthy
I know I always say I’ll keep up with this blog, and then life gets busy again. Ah well, the point is that I’m here now, and I have a topic on hand to discuss!
Recently it seems that everyone around me is getting sick. At the dance studio, we had cases of strep throat and mono going around. My sister recently came down with flu-like symptoms, and I even had a small case of laryngitis about a month ago. The problem is that with all these sicknesses going around a dance studio, how do you avoid getting sick? And if you do get sick, how do you know when to dance, and when to sit out or stay home?
When I was seventeen, I attended a competition where I wasn’t feeling great in the morning. I could barely choke down my apple that I had for breakfast, and all I wanted to do was sleep. I had the chills, and my body was screaming for me to slow down. I knew I had teammates that I did not want to let down, though. I was also raised in a family where my mother would ask me if I was throwing up or profusely bleeding, and if I said no, off I went to whatever activity I was supposed to be doing, whether it was school, or dance, or what have you.
I accomplished about 12 different dances over the course of that day. We had a group number early in the morning, and then my duo was the very last number to go on. I knew by the time I went on for my duo that I was just about done. I should not have been walking onto that stage, but I sucked it up, found it deep within me, and danced my heart out. My mother still jokes to this day that I looked like I was turning a shade of green, and my hands were dangling at certain points when they should have been still. I didn’t think I would make it after I got offstage. I had dancers running around me to line up for awards. I was running to the bathroom by then. I also wound up staying home for 3 or 4 days from school- the most I had missed since elementary school.
I’m glad that I did it. As dancers, we need to have those moments where we sacrifice for our art. Yes, I was only a high schooler, but the discipline and rigidity of the art is instilled so early on for many of us. It’s taught me that I can’t call out of work for a minor cold, or a bad headache, and that has earned me a lot of respect with many of my bosses.
The most important part of getting sick, though, is knowing when it is okay to push yourself, and when it is not. At the studio I currently work for, we impress upon the dancers to know themselves and their bodies well enough to understand what they need. If they are so sick that they could pass it on to others, or wouldn’t be able to stay awake and observe- then stay home. If you just don’t overall feel well, and it would be better if you didn’t dance, then come to dance, but still observe and take in corrections. If you have a headache, well, take some aspirin, drink some water, and show up to work!
Avoiding getting sick is the tough part. Sometimes you can’t help it. Between barres in studios that don’t always get cleaned in between classes, and with older students rolling around doing floor work, there are multiple surfaces that can be affected. One wrong move and suddenly a student can be infected with any type of sickness.
I always tend to follow the basic rules- wash your hands when you can, avoid touching your mouth or eyes when you know you’ve been around sick children, eat right, sleep enough hours, and stay in tune to what your body is telling you. If it’s telling you that you need more sleep, find a way to get it. I know particularly with middle school and high school age students, this can be difficult. Between their hours of school, their hours of dancing, their hours of other activities, as well as trying to find family time and social lives, it can often be easier to get a few hours of sleep before going all out. Eating right, as well, can be difficult at those ages. Unless their parents or guardians are very aware of their eating habits, they often don’t get the nutrients that they need. Vitamin D is so important to the immune system, and with the apparent obesity problem in the United States, not everyone is getting the vital nourishment in which they need.
As a teacher, I am always trying to figure out what my students need on a personal level, whether that involves corrections in class, or telling them that if they feel like they’re going to pass out they really should sit down and drink some water. I care about every one of my students, not just as an instructor but also as someone who is looking out for their best interest. It doesn’t benefit anyone if a student is crying because their stomach hurts, or if they are passing out on the floor while observing class. Not only does it interrupt the class, but it also has a lingering effect on the other students. I’ve noticed that even in a class of students where not everyone is best friends, if one student gets sick, they all ask if the student is okay, or they’ll check up on them the next week. While it can be negative aspect for the class in terms of focus, it’s really special to be able to watch that camaraderie amongst them. It’s one of the many reasons I love teaching.
So I hope everyone stays safe and healthy through the rest of the dance season. I know for many of us we are seeing the finish lines ahead with upcoming recitals and such! I wish everyone good luck, even though I truly hope to be back on here in the next few days with more rambling musings!
Recently it seems that everyone around me is getting sick. At the dance studio, we had cases of strep throat and mono going around. My sister recently came down with flu-like symptoms, and I even had a small case of laryngitis about a month ago. The problem is that with all these sicknesses going around a dance studio, how do you avoid getting sick? And if you do get sick, how do you know when to dance, and when to sit out or stay home?
When I was seventeen, I attended a competition where I wasn’t feeling great in the morning. I could barely choke down my apple that I had for breakfast, and all I wanted to do was sleep. I had the chills, and my body was screaming for me to slow down. I knew I had teammates that I did not want to let down, though. I was also raised in a family where my mother would ask me if I was throwing up or profusely bleeding, and if I said no, off I went to whatever activity I was supposed to be doing, whether it was school, or dance, or what have you.
I accomplished about 12 different dances over the course of that day. We had a group number early in the morning, and then my duo was the very last number to go on. I knew by the time I went on for my duo that I was just about done. I should not have been walking onto that stage, but I sucked it up, found it deep within me, and danced my heart out. My mother still jokes to this day that I looked like I was turning a shade of green, and my hands were dangling at certain points when they should have been still. I didn’t think I would make it after I got offstage. I had dancers running around me to line up for awards. I was running to the bathroom by then. I also wound up staying home for 3 or 4 days from school- the most I had missed since elementary school.
I’m glad that I did it. As dancers, we need to have those moments where we sacrifice for our art. Yes, I was only a high schooler, but the discipline and rigidity of the art is instilled so early on for many of us. It’s taught me that I can’t call out of work for a minor cold, or a bad headache, and that has earned me a lot of respect with many of my bosses.
The most important part of getting sick, though, is knowing when it is okay to push yourself, and when it is not. At the studio I currently work for, we impress upon the dancers to know themselves and their bodies well enough to understand what they need. If they are so sick that they could pass it on to others, or wouldn’t be able to stay awake and observe- then stay home. If you just don’t overall feel well, and it would be better if you didn’t dance, then come to dance, but still observe and take in corrections. If you have a headache, well, take some aspirin, drink some water, and show up to work!
Avoiding getting sick is the tough part. Sometimes you can’t help it. Between barres in studios that don’t always get cleaned in between classes, and with older students rolling around doing floor work, there are multiple surfaces that can be affected. One wrong move and suddenly a student can be infected with any type of sickness.
I always tend to follow the basic rules- wash your hands when you can, avoid touching your mouth or eyes when you know you’ve been around sick children, eat right, sleep enough hours, and stay in tune to what your body is telling you. If it’s telling you that you need more sleep, find a way to get it. I know particularly with middle school and high school age students, this can be difficult. Between their hours of school, their hours of dancing, their hours of other activities, as well as trying to find family time and social lives, it can often be easier to get a few hours of sleep before going all out. Eating right, as well, can be difficult at those ages. Unless their parents or guardians are very aware of their eating habits, they often don’t get the nutrients that they need. Vitamin D is so important to the immune system, and with the apparent obesity problem in the United States, not everyone is getting the vital nourishment in which they need.
As a teacher, I am always trying to figure out what my students need on a personal level, whether that involves corrections in class, or telling them that if they feel like they’re going to pass out they really should sit down and drink some water. I care about every one of my students, not just as an instructor but also as someone who is looking out for their best interest. It doesn’t benefit anyone if a student is crying because their stomach hurts, or if they are passing out on the floor while observing class. Not only does it interrupt the class, but it also has a lingering effect on the other students. I’ve noticed that even in a class of students where not everyone is best friends, if one student gets sick, they all ask if the student is okay, or they’ll check up on them the next week. While it can be negative aspect for the class in terms of focus, it’s really special to be able to watch that camaraderie amongst them. It’s one of the many reasons I love teaching.
So I hope everyone stays safe and healthy through the rest of the dance season. I know for many of us we are seeing the finish lines ahead with upcoming recitals and such! I wish everyone good luck, even though I truly hope to be back on here in the next few days with more rambling musings!
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