Dance lesson is where students gather for class to learn new steps in a group setting. Typical classes last for 45 minutes to two hours with the instructor guiding the students through the steps they will be learning.
Students often have different abilities, ages and fitness levels but they all have the same goal of improving their ability and gaining confidence in dancing. It is the responsibility of the instructor to provide a safe environment for all students to learn. This can be accomplished through creating an encouraging environment and avoiding negative reinforcement.
In addition, instructors can help their students understand that comparing themselves to others is not healthy for their dance experience. This can be done through discussing how the body moves, examining the differences between individual dancers and teaching them to appreciate their own strengths.
For example, if the instructor mentions how they love the John Travolta stride from Saturday Night Fever, they could encourage the students to try this style in their everyday movements. This will help them increase their range of motion and develop a sense of animation in their step.
It is also important for the teacher to discuss beliefs and attitudes regarding what determines a good dancer. If only physical attributes are emphasized, dancers may believe that they have little to contribute to the dance world and feel overwhelmed. Teachers can counter this by fostering an appreciation of other qualities such as performance skills and artistic quality.