03/29/2026
Hi my fellow dancers and teachers!
One day I'll be ready to be super fast on making/editing and posting a video that answers questions I see on other FB groups...but in the meantime, I thought I'd share about the question and answer I gave since a bit of a written answer is better than none at all and there is a good chance you may be having a similar challenge to the original poster.
Here is the Post from the Dance Teacher/Choreographer Network:
Looking for suggestions!
My routines have great spacing when they are in studio rehearsal.
However, once they get on stage, particularly my younger students, lose sense of special awareness and ensuring they are executing their formations.
They’re novice/intermediate.
Would love suggestions, tips and tricks to work on preventing this.
Hi Julia, I have a slightly different take on the traditional advice that is often given. I have been teaching dance for 40 years and also have certifications in additional areas focusing on using movement for brain integration. An integrated brain, means that all our various skills are online and available. And that would include spatial awareness and depth perception. For example, we need both eyes to be working together (what’s called teaming) in order for our depth perception to be accurate. And each eye is processed by the opposite brain hemisphere. Imagine trying to space your dance movements effectively with an eye patch on!! It would be very tough even if you’re trying hard AND looking for markers on the stage.
In essence, it is quite possible that for both learning and performing your dancers are wearing an eye patch: meaning their brain is not integrated and even with all the great teaching strategies it is simply never going to fully work. Sounds like you are feeling this frustration right now.
This lack of brain integration in your students can be from even the stress of living a life with screens or having been at school all day with academic and social pressures, which even young students are feeling.
The solution is movement based so it is perfect for dance teachers and I believe all dance teachers should be adding to our responsibilities to actually help our dancers to thrive in all areas of life, because of the movement that we offer them. Likely no one else is going to, so it falls to us; not as a burden, but as something very exciting too share!
I have a few resources you can check out. There is a youtube video about brain integration and there is also a course with a whole host of backstage movements you can do to ensure that they are in an integrated brain state. And, of course, you teach those movements in class, so that what they are learning is able to truly imprint and be remembered for performance.
I guarantee it will make a massive difference for both learning and performing. I hope you check out the resources and of course, reach out with any more questions you may have.
Here is the link for the course:
The essential course for leading edge educators is here! Truly help dancers to perform on stage with confidence and fully available skills.
