OUCH! Injury as a dance teacher - Ice packs and Jack Daniels

Whilst I am happy to throw myself to the floor, effortlessly rolling out of it and coming to standing with ease and grace, it does come with the odd health and safety issue these days....
Eh hem... I would still like to think that the above description is still me, but if I were to be honest, nowadays, I probably resemble a newborn foal trying to get to its feet for the first time.

The athleticism, the approach, the strength and the ability are still there but my mind thinks I am still in training at college, so there is no air of caution. This could be why I hobbled out of my classes at the end of this week, thinking to myself, perhaps I need to take on a more observational teacher role?

I had to approach my teaching from a different angle and change many of the lessons I had planned.
How do you cope with being injured or with last minute changes to your lesson plans?

Sometimes changes may occur mid lesson, when it is clear the students are not in he mood for what is on the agenda for that class. Rolling with the mood and pulling on your improv talents, experience and natural resources is actually quite fun, sometimes they are the best classes!!

When injury struck, I turned to my pilates, the Dance UK website where there is a fantastic book, 'Your Body Your Risk' edited by Scilla Dyke, plus many other useful fact sheets to read, to encourage dancers to take good care of themselves. I also enjoy reading the books by Dr Eric Franklin, especially 'Dynamic Alignment Through Imagery'.

Well, in answer to my own question, I think I will continue to throw myself around until the day comes when my students have to scrape me off the floor! Then out comes the chair and big stick.

Now, pass me the ice pack....its going in my Jack Daniels.

From small acorns.....

I'm starting to get excited at the prospect of how much fun managing Dance Bank is going to be. 

There are so many roads to travel and avenues to go down, perhaps I should be using less driving terminology and talk in pathways and stage directions?! Anyway, we haven't even launched and we have made some very exciting contacts and i can't get over just how generous all you dancers and teachers are.  Ask and ye shall receive...or something like that.

Dance Bank is proud to support fellow teachers and choreographers. We hope you find all you will need in the one place! If not, then email us and we will do our best to source it for you. We filmed some nice contemporary pieces yesterday along with some adult tap and senior jazz.

Help us to spread the word by telling your dance teacher friends, choreographers and performers so we can have a bumper website for all your teacher needs!! Find us on Facebook and on Twitter

Dance Bank will be a home for the emerging talent, over flowing energy and creativity that is so apparent in the dance arena today.....and we especially liked using the new dances app for the iPhone.  Check it out.