Dance Teachers and Psychology

[pygmalion]

Okay, so what do you think is the relationship between dance teachers and psychologists? I've heard many a dance teacher talk about how it's their job to understand students and to fulfill their unexpressed expectations. That sounds like the job of a licensed counselor to me, the understanding part, anyway.

In your opinion, how much psychology does a dance teacher have to do, in order to keep students happy, motivated and coming back?

 

[squirrel]

I have never thought about it... I guess that since this is a public relations job, dance teachers have to be good at it... I doubt they help you express your inner soul... they just give you the tools... you yourself are doing all the work.

 

[Genesius Redux]

That gets pushed as a kind of business strategy, and also many dance teachers I know constantly roll their eyes about how their students come in looking for many other things besides strict dance instruction.

But as for serious counselling. The great majority of dancers I know lack the training and even the breadth of experience to do that. There's nothing wrong with being an understanding friend, and certainly being at least aware of and sensitive to other areas of a student's life than strictly dancing. But counselling should be left to counsellors.

 

[Purr]

I agree, counseling is best left to professionals.

 

[pygmalion]

That gets pushed as a kind of business strategy, and also many dance teachers I know constantly roll their eyes about how their students come in looking for many other things besides strict dance instruction.

Yup. One of my former teachers used to call it "the X factor," the motivator, other than desire to learn dance, that made people seek dance instruction. And yes, that was at a studio that used psychology as a sales technique. Pretty slimy, I think. :?

I think dance teachers do have to understand their students' motivations in order to maximize their learning. But there's a far cry between that and counseling.

 

[d nice]

I don't think anyone is really putting forward the idea that instructors are psychologists and should be attempting to diagnose and treat psychological problems...

On that same hand a great instructor can tell what a student needs to improve their dancing which isn't always what they want, has a good feel for what form of instruction and attention they need to get the desired results. I've suggessted counceling to more than one student of mine. There are some markers that can be seen in how someone deals with physical contact and, mirrors, body movement and the like that show some psychological issues that should really be addressed. All three have thanked me afterwards.

There is a reason dance/movement therapy is an accepted and practiced form of psycho-therapy.

But a dance teachers JOB IMNSHO is to teach dance, notreally anything beyond that, nor should it be.