The Casual Dance Teacher's Podcast (Maia Mahosky)
Explorez tous les épisodes de The Casual Dance Teacher's Podcast
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jan 2025 | Building on Technique While Teaching Choreography | 00:16:52 | |
It's that time of year...the pressure's on to teach recital choreography, and so often that means "sacrificing" the class time previously spent on technique and conditioning. Naturally, we have to continue working technique and conditioning in order for the choreography to look its best at recital time...sometimes, that can mean running the choreography over and over again. But other times, additional measures are required to get your dancers performance-ready, and it can be easy to forget those when we feel the "choreography crunch!" Here are a few of the ways that I continue to incorporate technique practice, core concept awareness, conditioning, and general performance preparedness into my lessons throughout the second half of the dance season while setting choreography on my students. Other episodes referenced in this episode: Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com | |||
| 07 Jun 2024 | Curriculum Building - How I Lesson-Plan for the Whole Season Before it Even Starts! | 00:24:01 | |
Join me in the casual dance teacher's network on Facebook to continue the conversation! Theme music by GB Mystical | |||
| 23 Aug 2024 | Choreography Month Week 4: Teaching the Choreography | 00:17:45 | |
It's Choreography Month! All month long, I'll be sharing ideas and information on the process of choreography - from coming up with an original concept to teaching your students the steps! | |||
| 01 Nov 2024 | Applied Behavior Analysis Practices for Dance Teachers | 00:19:32 | |
Today's episode is a follow-up on episode number 22 with guest Isaac Iskra. After reflecting upon that conversation, I decided (on a last-minute whim that forced me to record and edit this episode in record time!) that I had some follow-up thoughts on my own experience that I wanted to share. Here is the link to guest episode with Isaac Iskra regarding his experience as an autistic dancer and choreographer. | |||
| 06 Sep 2024 | Back to Class - Activities and Tips to Learn Students' Names Fast! | 00:16:31 | |
Hello and welcome from one of the WORST name-learners out there! I have struggled with remembering students names since I first started teaching, but over the last decade, I've slowly developed a few techniques and activities that help even me learn students' names quickly and remember them after the first week or two of classes. Here are my thoughts...head over to the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook to connect and share your input! | |||
| 10 Jan 2025 | Fundamentals of Tap with Christine Denny | 00:30:34 | |
Whether or not you teach tap dance specifically, you're in for a treat with this episode with the fabulous Christine Denny! Denny is a renowned tap teacher, choreographer, and performer with a career spanning over 25 years and covering virtually every facet of the dance world. Learn about the intricacies of tap dance and what makes teaching tap unique, as well as some of the practical applications of Christine's approach that can be used across a wide variety of dance styles, and more! Visit Christine's website to learn more about her programs and syllabus here. Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com | |||
| 09 Aug 2024 | Choreography Month Week 2: Coming up with Original Movement | 00:19:41 | |
It's Choreography Month! All month long, I'll be sharing ideas and information on the process of choreography - from coming up with an original concept to teaching your students the steps! | |||
| 26 Jul 2024 | "The Mary Poppins of Dance" - Ideas to Make Classes More Engaging Using Props and Tools | 00:21:35 | |
The opportunities to use props, tools, games, and physical objects of all kinds in dance class to engage and motivate your students are endless! In today's episode, Maia shares just a few of her tried-and-true ideas - broken up into three different age categories to help you engage and inspire your students of all ages! Head over to the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook to connect and share your input! | |||
| 28 Feb 2025 | Crafting Creative Solos with Jason Pickett | 00:34:13 | |
Dancer, educator, choreographer (and more) Jason Pickett, who you may better know as @heyitspickett on social media, is here to talk us through his process for creating innovative and meaningful solos for dance students. I personally find solos so challenging to choreograph because I can't lean on the use of different formations and/or layering of bodies doing different movements, so I was delighted at the opportunity to talk to a true pro on the topic - and I may have been personally attacked along the way, but it was SO SO worth it! 😅 Learn More About "No Starving Artists" Here | |||
| 04 Apr 2025 | Tips for Teaching Mixed-Age Dance Classes | 00:20:10 | |
The great debate - should you organize your dance class levels by age, or by technical level? Today's episode isn't really about defending one side or the other on this one, but I'm sharing my insight on the strengths of breaking up classes by skill level, even if that means including a wide range of ages within a class, followed by some tips for training dancers within a mixed-age classroom, where age discrepancy can come with its own set of challenges. Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com | |||
| 10 May 2024 | Trailer - Get to Know the Casual Dance Teacher's Podcast | 00:05:05 | |
What is the Casual Dance Teacher's Podcast, and why is it here? | |||
| 11 Oct 2024 | Consent-Informed Dance Education with Nicole Perry | 00:27:51 | |
Nicole Perry is an intimacy director, intimacy coordinator, and dance choreographer who's worked in film, theater, and dance to empower and educate performers on understanding and working with their personal boundaries. Join me as I get the very basics on what consent in the dance classroom is all about, and then delve into what a consent-informed approach to dance education looks like from a practical standpoint, and why we NEED to talk about it! Discount Code for Nicole's Teaching Resources: DTPOD on Momentumstage.org | |||
| 18 Oct 2024 | Body and Mind Self-Care for Dance Teachers with Rachel Jenks | 00:38:26 | |
Today Rachel Jenks, aka "The Booty-Kicking Ballerina," shares her story of completely running her body into the ground in pursuit of her dream career as a professional ballet dancer, followed by her long journey of recovery, starting with mental healing, which eventually led her to physical healing as well. Rachel also shares plenty of practical tips for how we as dance teachers can "partner with our bodies" both mentally and physically to be the best dance teachers we can be without pushing ourselves to dance through pain! Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com | |||
| 13 Dec 2024 | When am I Supposed to Lesson Plan?! | 00:14:35 | |
So by now we've established that we SHOULD have at least a general curriculum and lesson plans for each of the dance classes that we teach...but as busy dance teachers, when are we supposed to sit down and come up with these plans? There's no one-size-fits-all answer to this, but I have a few tips and tricks for how to make the most of your time to squeeze in adequate lesson planning time consistently each and every week, ensuring that you feel prepared for each class, and your students get the most out of their class time with you! Theme Music by GB Mystical: gbmystical.com | |||
| 27 Sep 2024 | Teaching Culturally Sensitive Hip-Hop with Neo Lynch | 00:28:01 | |
If you teach Hip-Hop, or are planning to teach Hip-Hop at any point in the future, you NEED to listen to this amazing crash-course from today's special guest, Neo Lynch! Neo breaks down her own background in Hip-Hop and understanding the differences in styles across geographic regions, and how she incorporates the rich history and culture of hip-hop into her teaching while still keeping classes engaging and fun! Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com | |||
| 31 Jan 2025 | How to Fill that Awkward Transition Time Between Classes | 00:27:37 | |
I know I can't be the only teacher that just dreads that awkward transition time when you're dismissing one class and the next is waiting to begin! How will I dismiss everyone safely, take attendance, switch my playlist, answer questions, check my notes, and grab a drink of water without the next class descending into chaos?! Well, I might not have all the answers, but I certainly have a few activities and ideas that have helped me fend off the madness of class transition time over the past few years, so I'm sharing them with you today! Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com | |||
| 12 Jul 2024 | Preparing Recreational Students for a Collegiate Dance Program with Laura Ward Moran | 00:22:11 | |
Laura Ward Moran is an experienced dance educator, business owner, and founder of the college preparatory dance program at The John Carroll School in Bel Air, MD. In this episode, Laura shares insights on how all dance teachers can prepare their students - however "casual" they may be - for post-high-school dance experiences, education, and careers! In addition to the valuable advice shared in this episode, Laura offers life coaching and dance and fitness mentoring services through her business, Unparalleled Pursuits. Join us in the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook to discuss the episode! | |||
| 21 Feb 2025 | Fostering a Healthy Dance Business with Alison Foster Jones | 00:36:34 | |
Today I'm breaking my own "we don't need business advice; we're casual dance teachers" rule by having dance studio owner and business coach Alison Foster-Jones on the show to share her story and tips on growing a studio from 5 students in a rec. room to hundreds of students across multiple studio locations! Alison has such a great message of leveraging passion and positivity for business success that can be applied to any business venture, from owning a studio, to negotiating freelance contracts, even to maintaining control and structure in the classroom as a teacher; so while one of the primary focuses of our conversation today is on building a successful dance business, there's really something for everyone in this one! Join Alison's "Passion & Profit" Program Here | |||
| 20 Dec 2024 | "Diversify" - Building a Dance Career that Fuels You with Ian Howe | 00:27:36 | |
The word of the day is "Diversify!" Hear from Choreographer, Studio Owner, Competition Adjudicator, Teacher, Photographer, Performer...basically ALL THE THINGS...Ian Howe as he discusses how he leveraged the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic to build a dance career that fuels his passion and "scratches all the itches," and his advice on how you can follow suit! Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com | |||
| 14 Mar 2025 | Choreography Cleaning Games and Activities You Might Not Have Tried Yet! | 00:17:39 | |
Next up in our "recital prep" unit on the podcast are some of my favorite ways to get recital dances clean without boring your students (too much 🙂). What's your favorite? Let me know in The Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook! Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com | |||
| 14 Feb 2025 | Valentine's Day Special: Love Notes to The Art of Teaching Dance | 00:18:28 | |
Love is in the air! <3 In honor of Valentine's day, today I'm reading listener-submitted notes on why YOU love teaching dance! Cozy up with your Valentine's treat of choice and join me in celebrating our collective love for the art of teaching dance together! Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com | |||
| 30 Aug 2024 | Choreography Month Week 5: Elements of Artistry with Chelsea Weidmann | 00:26:25 | |
It's Choreography Month! All month long, I'll be sharing ideas and information on the process of choreography - from coming up with an original concept to teaching your students the steps! | |||
| 15 Nov 2024 | Trick Steps - Do We Even Need Them?! | 00:14:51 | |
Ugh, trick steps; I love to hate 'em! As casual dance teachers, should we be teaching our students trick steps? Do they have a place in EVERY style of dance? Can we create a curriculum that focuses on fundamentals and classical training while still incorporating "tricks?" Join me as I rant - I mean discuss - the wild world of teaching trick steps as a casual dance teacher. Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook! | |||
| 19 Jul 2024 | Preventing and Managing Injuries in Dance Class with Erika Mayall | 00:21:49 | |
Erika Mayall is a dance physiotherapist and the host of The Dance Physio Podcast. I was delighted to have the opportunity to speak with her about how to prevent injuries in our students, teach through injuries in the classroom, encourage healthy warm-up practices, and more! Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com | |||
| 20 Sep 2024 | Dance Education as Ministry with Maria Daniel | 00:28:37 | |
Multi-Award-Winning choreographer, educator, author, lawyer and mentor Maria Daniel joins us today to talk about her program iDance Ministry, "Project BrOKen," and how she leveraged her gift for dance into acclaimed programs that teach, heal, and inspire individuals who may be struggling with physical, mental, or cultural barriers, or just need a safe space to express themselves through dance! Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com | |||
| 07 Feb 2025 | Dance Photography 101 with Ian Howe | 00:28:17 | |
Ian Howe is Back! And today we're talking dance photography! The burning question on my mind - what made the man with 500 jobs decide to start a dance photography business on top of all that? Then we get into some more practical questions like: What are the basics needed to do your own dance photography? How to pose dancers quickly and efficiently for recital photos without them all looking the same? What factors should we look for in lighting, posing, and editing when hiring a dance photographer? All this, accompanied by the soothing sound of Ian's Australian bird friends who crashed our recording session - what more could you ask for?! :) Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com | |||
| 27 Dec 2024 | 2024 Recap - My Top Takeaways and Tidbits! | 00:23:45 | |
Wow - what a year! Since launching in June, I've learned SO MUCH from my amazing line-up of distinguished guests, and from connecting with listeners and fellow "Casual Dance Teachers" through our Casual Dance Teacher's Network Facebook page and Casual Dance Teacher's Podcast Instagram account! To recap this phenomenal year, here's a casual and low-key recap of my personal favorite lessons learned so far this year! *As noted in the episode, you will notice a slightly distorted sound quality on this one; my holiday gift to myself was just letting this one slide so I can work on much more streamlined and beautiful-sounding episodes for you in the new year :)* Theme Music by GB Mystical: gbmystical.com | |||
| 24 Oct 2024 | An Autistic Perspective on Choreography and Dance Education with Isaac Iskra | 00:24:34 | |
In today's episode, Isaac Iskra, founder of Nefelaba Dance Theater, shares his experience in developing his craft as a dancer and choreographer with Autism. In addition to walking us through his own journey both in pursuing a dance career and gaining a formal autism diagnosis in his twenties, Isaac shares his thoughts and advice on providing accommodations for neurodivergent dance students and audience members, pursuing a career as an artist, and supporting autistic creators. Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com | |||
| 24 Jan 2025 | Mental Training for Dancers with April Lorenzi | 00:23:45 | |
Ok, so if you read the title, you won't have to guess what the "Secret Dance Technique" is, as I suggest in the intro to this episode - it's MENTAL technique! April Lorenzi literally wrote the book on it, so she's here to share some her tried-and-true tips for helping your students (and yourself) enhance their confidence, resilience, memory - and, in turn, their dancing!! Learn more and Get April's Book Here! Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com | |||
| 21 Mar 2025 | What's in My Dance Bag? Recital Edition | 00:17:21 | |
Wrapping up our "recital prep" unit on the podcast, I thought it would be fun to share a breakdown of everything I make sure to have with me in my dance bag during tech week! As a mega-planner, I feel like I'm pretty thorough, covering everything from snacks to spare bobby pins - so give it a listen to make sure you're fully stocked and prepared going into your own recital week! Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com | |||
| 13 Sep 2024 | “Dancetok” and Navigating Teaching in the Social Media Era with Alicia Mae Holloway | 00:23:44 | |
After 16 episodes, most of you know that I have a tendency to hate on TikTok, Dance Influencers, and Social Media in general, so buckle up for this one! On today's episode, I had the immense privilege of interviewing Alicia Mae Holloway, former Dance Theatre of Harlem and Suzanne Farrell Ballet dancer, who also happens to be a model, influencer, and former realty tv show contestant with over 500,000 TikTok followers and a social media reach in the tens of millions! Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com | |||
| 14 Jun 2024 | Refresh Your Classroom Playlists - Choosing Music for Dance Classes | 00:16:24 | |
While most of us love music, sometimes choosing music for our dance classes can be daunting! In this episode, I share my tips for curating and organizing playlists for a variety of styles of dance with music that's age appropriate, varied, and engaging for both you and your students! Join me in The Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook to contribute your own ideas! | |||
| 03 Jan 2025 | Designing a Genuinely Inclusive Dance Program with Veronica Vasquez Garcia | 00:29:02 | |
Veronica Vasquez Garcia is the creator of Moves Made 4 Me, a developmental movement program that combines life skills with dance, as well as the founder of Elevate Collective Solutions, a consulting business that helps organizations implement inclusive practices, and JMM Dance Co, a nonprofit dedicated to raising mental health awareness through SEL programs. While we couldn't possibly cover the vast breadth of her work in this field, I was thrilled to spend some time picking Veronica's brain about how she developed her curriculum program specifically for individuals with disabilities, and how anyone in the field of dance education can be more inclusive to these students, not necessarily by allowing them to join their pre-existing classes, but by implementing programs that will genuinely serve them. Get more information on the Moves Made 4 Me program here, or reach out to Veronica directly via info@elevatecollectivesolutions.com Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com | |||
| 02 Aug 2024 | Choreography Month Week 1: Choosing a Theme and Music | 00:16:13 | |
It's Choreography Month! All month long, I'll be sharing ideas and information on the process of choreography - from coming up with an original concept to teaching your students the steps! | |||
| 07 Mar 2025 | The Casual Dance Teacher's Recital Prep Checklist | 00:24:52 | |
We're kicking off a new "recital prep" unit on the podcast with today's episode taking you line by line through my mental checklist of items I need to cover with my students to make sure both I and they are fully prepared going into tech week! This includes lighting and sound cues, entrance and exit logistics, hair, makeup, and costume requirements, rehearsal and recital etiquette and more! Did I miss anything? Let me know in The Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook! Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com | |||
| 29 Nov 2024 | Ho-Ho-Holiday Activities for Dance Class! | 00:22:50 | |
It's the most wonderful time of the year! Time for season's greetings, holiday cheer, and students (and teachers!) who are already mentally checked out and ready for a break from dance classes! 😆 I've got you covered! Here are plenty of simple and fun ways to incorporate the holiday theme into your dance classes while still keeping students working on key concepts and engaging with the material! No Pinterest dance teachers here - these are all simple and super easy to implement on the fly! For more dance class activities, check out these two previous episodes: Join the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook! | |||
| 28 Jun 2024 | Pirouettes - When and How Are We Teaching our Casual Dancers? | 00:24:14 | |
Pirouettes - Let's Talk About It! Pirouettes, or turns in general, seem to be at the forefront of dance media, but are they really THAT big a part of what we do? Join me as I explore the relevance of pirouettes in casual dance training, as well as just a couple of my personal methods for teaching this skill. Let's keep the conversation going in the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook! | |||
| 08 Nov 2024 | Competition Prep for Recreational Dancers with Olivia Lou | 00:31:18 | |
Olivia Lou is a dance educator and competition adjudicator here to tell us how to prepare any and all students to attend a dance competition - regardless of their level of training or the number of hours a week they spend in the studio. We talk about the pros and cons of competitive dance, how to mentally and physically prepare students for the experience, and what makes a piece stand out in a competitive setting...plus a first for me - threatening to fight one of my podcast guests over an opinion on competition choreography! 😂 Enjoy! Theme Music by GBMystical! www.gbmystical.com | |||
| 21 Jun 2024 | Dance/Movement Therapy Practices for the Casual Dance Teacher with Genevieve Fuller | 00:18:02 | |
Genevieve Fuller joins us in this episode to share some practical tips and exercises that can be implemented in any dance classroom to ease stress, facilitate mental and emotional well-being, and equip students with the tools and skills to use movement and body-based practices to regulate their own mental health outside the classroom. | |||
| 07 Jun 2024 | Jumps Training with Coach Kristin Stam | 00:16:11 | |
Kristin Stam is a track and field coach at Bloomsburg University, specializing in jumping events. She also just so happens to be my sister :) In this episode, we get her professional insight on how to maximize dancers' physical performance throughout the season, plus some practical tips and drills to get stronger, higher jumps from our dancers! | |||
| 11 Apr 2025 | Teaching Adult Beginner Dance Students with Lindsey Dinneen | 00:27:42 | |
Are you interested in offering dance programming for adult dancers either picking up dance for the first time or continuing their education after time away from dance? Do you currently offer adult programming but feel that it's not quite working or you have questions and challenges to work through to improve your teaching? Lindsey Dinneen is here today sharing TONS of knowledge around how to approach teaching adult beginners. Lindsey started her very own continuing education dance program for adults at a local community college, and grew it from 2 beginner classes to multiple levels of of classes across multiple styles of dance! She now offers business consulting for dance professionals and organizations. Connect with Lindsey Here | |||
| 04 Oct 2024 | Fall Fun! Halloween and Fall-Themed Ideas for Dance Classes. | 00:16:09 | |
Say it with me...WE LOVE A THEME! Here are a few of my favorite Halloween and fall-themed activities to implement all month long for fun and engaging classes (without slacking on instructional value)! Head over to the Casual Dance Teacher's Network on Facebook to connect and share your input! | |||
| 06 Dec 2024 | Don't Sell Yourself Short - Dance Business Coaching with Audra Queen | 00:33:57 | |
There are a LOT of dance teachers and coaches out there, but most specialize in coaching technique, steps/skills, consistency...few specialize in coaching artistry specifically! Amie Bush does just that with her company, Artistry Dance Coaching, and today she's treating us to an inside scoop on what she looks for from an artistry perspective as both a competition judge and coach, and how she helps dancers develop these skills! Check out this episode with Isaac Iskra regarding his journey as an autistic dancer! | |||
| 28 Mar 2025 | Teaching Dance Through Meaningful Gestures with Anabella Lenzu | 00:31:56 | |
You can have all the drills, exercises, and teacher "hacks" in the world, but if there's not meaning and intention behind everything you and your students are doing in the dance classroom, what's it all for?! Acclaimed dancer, choreographer, scholar & educator Anabella Lenzu joins us to explain her philosophy and theory of dance education, and how she helps students understand that their body is an instrument for expression. Get Anabella's book and learn more about her work Here | |||
| 05 Jul 2024 | How Megan Williams Created a Dance Program Tailored to Military Families | 00:23:38 | |
Megan Williams is the director of the Youth Instructional Dance Program at Fort Campbell, KY - a program exclusively for children of active duty and retired military families. Her unique experience in this role is not only fascinating to learn about, but also comes with a lot of lessons that can be applied by dance educators in all kinds of programs! Learn how Megan cultivates a life-long love of dance through a program where the average student moves every one to two years! Megan also shares insight about the military guidelines under which she operates, navigating cultural and communication differences with students, and supporting her students in their transitions to new studios. | |||
| 16 Aug 2024 | Choreography Month Week 3: Formations and Spacing | 00:18:55 | |
It's Choreography Month! All month long, I'll be sharing ideas and information on the process of choreography - from coming up with an original concept to teaching your students the steps! | |||
| 18 Apr 2025 | Deciphering Dance Media with Danielle Guillermo | 00:32:46 | |
How can I stay up-to-date on the latest dance news without falling down a social media rabbit-hole? How can I convey current dance events to my dance students without taking up all our class time? What trends are happening in the world of dance, and the way that we consume dance media? In this episode, I delve into all of these questions and much more with Dance News Daily founder Danielle Guillermo! Check out Dance News Daily Here | |||
| 22 Nov 2024 | Coaching Artistry in Dance with Amie Bush | 00:22:34 | |
There are a LOT of dance teachers and coaches out there, but most specialize in coaching technique, steps/skills, consistency...few specialize in coaching artistry specifically! Amie Bush does just that with her company, Artistry Dance Coaching, and today she's treating us to an inside scoop on what she looks for from an artistry perspective as both a competition judge and coach, and how she helps dancers develop these skills! For more resources regarding artistry, check out this episode with Chelsea Weidmann! | |||