CON: don’t develop their own dance style
A student’s dance style takes a while to perfect as it’s unique to them only. As they grow and gain experience in the industry, they learn from others and aren’t prone to copying one dance style (unless advised to when learning a style like Fosse). Although, students can subconsciously replicate movements which prevents them from developing their own style if that mirror gets in the way. By encouraging students to attend workshops and classes run by a myriad of teachers, they won’t just replicate your style, instead it’ll broaden their horizons.
As far as training tools go, mirrors can be an excellent aid for students studying dance, but just like all training tools, there can be disadvantages to mirrors if they’re not used conscientiously. To reduce the possibility of students becoming dependent on them, try splitting your class in two groups to face each other and rehearse. This will challenge students to use their muscle memory and feel prompted by their peers dancing across from them. Remember that the key to a troupe that performs as a collective is how well they know each other, so you’ll be surprised at how confidently a group performs without mirrors when they build that sense of trust outside of dance as well. Weeks prior to that dance exam, turn the students around to face a wall instead of the mirror. This will assist students in being able to memorise the choreography with it embedded in their body. They will then be able to automatically differentiate things like a sickled and pointed foot by how it feels, not by how it looks. In addition to this, asking students to correct their technique can teach them to identify and adjust positions as opposed to getting in the habit of mirroring them. To counteract the hazards of staring at yourself in the mirror, encourage a healthy perspective on body image by being intentional about your language when referring to students bodies. Our bodies are quite incredible, so by placing emphasis on what they can do and not what they look like, you can celebrate the uniqueness of all body types.
Sources:
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: A Dance Teacher’s Perspective
Article by Lara Divitcos
Photography by Elly Ford
