How do I deal with a difficult or mean teacher? This is a question we hear regularly and we believe this is a very important question for us to answer. Here are two things you should consider in your dealings with a “mean teacher.”
1. Don’t confuse a demanding teacher with an abusive one!
One way to determine if your teacher is demanding or abusive is to listen to their criticisms and determine if they were designed to hurt your feelings or teach you something. This can be difficult for some students to discover, especially younger students. If you are a young ballet dancer, the first thing we advise you to do is to include your parents in this decision. Sometimes your teacher will tell you something that is hard to hear or accept. However, if you can determine that what they are saying was meant to encourage you towards success, then they are most likely telling you something you need to hear.
Let’s use an example to show the difference between a nurturing/demanding teacher and a mean teacher.
Nurturing Teacher: “You didn’t turn out on the Pas de Chat. Try it again. This time using your muscles. I know you can do better.”
Mean Teacher: “That was terrible! You are completely turned in. Look at Susie, she turned out! She’s younger than you and she can do the step! You never do it correctly. You’ll never make it if you dance like that!”
It is clear in this example that one teacher is expecting more out of you and the other is just tearing you down. It might be hard to hear that you didn’t turn out, but that doesn’t mean the comment was intended to hurt you. The biggest giveaway is that the mean teacher is making a judgment of the student rather than encouraging the success of the step. Dancers at all levels, actively seek out corrections to make them better. A great teacher can be demanding but will never use words meant to tear down a dancer, especially not in front of other students! It is vital that ballet dancers seek out teachers that are willing to correct them in a way that encourages growth.
2. Recognizing When It’s Time To Switch Teachers
This is a difficult decision and should never be made hastily. Parents and students should have regular conversations about their teachers and weigh the pros and cons of continuing under their leadership. Here are a few questions parents and dancers can ask themselves during their decision-making process.
Is my teacher inspiring?
Does my teacher try to get the best out of me?
Is my teacher meeting my needs as a dancer?
Is my teacher degrading towards me or just demanding?
Do I feel empowered or torn down?
Do I TRUST my teacher?
This last question may be the most important. Trust is difficult to build and easy to lose. Being a teacher is a big responsibility and should be treated as such. It is possible that a parent may just need to address the teacher with their concerns. However, if you feel the teacher isn’t meeting the needs of your dancer or they are continually tearing down your student, maybe it’s time for a change. At Veyette Virtual Ballet School we seek to encourage and nurture our students while demanding their highest potential. If you would like to learn more about how we can help your ballet dancer or just need guidance on selecting a great teacher, please reach out to us by clicking the button below.