Recognition of this same problem in my own students was one of the primary reasons I started my own dance blog. I wanted to try to share the knowledge which I fortunately accessed as a student with other teachers and students.

There are gaping holes in our passing-on of the legacy of dance, its creators and pioneers. Because, for the majority of public and private schools, dance education is not in the mix (heck, general arts education is barely hanging on in many schools), it is left to private studios and nonprofits (utilizing limited funding) to educate young people in ALL aspects of dance (not just physical training). Many teachers, themselves, have not been given the gift of a broader dance education and need the reasons, resources, and tools to do so.

I appreciate that tv shows have created a certain awareness of dance, but now what do we do with that awareness? My wish is to someday see true study of dance (and the arts in general) as part of our public education system, as well as in our dance schools. (Why must students wait until college to receive an education that will allow them to engage with and be exposed to art?) Until then, I'd love to see more dance studio teachers bringing at least a taste of the wider world of dance into their classroom - it is possible!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this!