Reflections as a New Year Approaches

After almost three decades of teaching dance, I find myself reflecting more than usual, maybe because the New Year’s getting close and this time of year always makes people think about where they’ve been and where they’re going.

Twenty eight years in the studio have shaped every part of my life. The way I move, the way I teach, the way I connect with dancers of all ages, and the way I understand creativity and community all came from a lifetime inside those walls. I never expected to be teaching this long, and I definitely didn’t expect to be entering another New Year still growing and learning alongside my dancers.

Something about the New Year makes everything feel a little more meaningful. The dance season has its own rhythm, but this moment on the calendar naturally brings a pause. A breath. A chance to look around and ask what still feels right, what still brings joy, and what might need to change.

This reflection isn’t dramatic and it isn’t a goodbye. It’s simply a real moment of honesty that many longtime dance teachers will recognize. The industry changes. Our bodies change. The energy in the room changes. And even after so many years, teachers keep evolving too.

This reflection is for anyone who’s lived half their life in a studio, anyone who’s choreographed late into the night, anyone who’s taught dancers who eventually grew up and lived full lives of their own, and anyone who feels the pull of a new season or a new year. It’s emotional and messy and rewarding, and even after twenty eight years, I’m still figuring it out.

How Teaching Dance Feels After Nearly Three Decades

I’m in my 28th year of teaching dance, and lately the thought of retiring pops into my head more than it used to. It’s not because I don’t love what I do because I absolutely do. Teaching and choreographing have been huge parts of my life for almost three decades.

But I’d be lying if I said it hasn’t started to feel a little different as I get older. Sometimes I feel like the old teacher in the room. I’m now 43, and relating to the kids isn’t always as easy as it once was.

Thankfully, my 14 year old daughter keeps me young. She keeps me updated on trends, slang, styles, and whatever new dance drama’s going on.

Teaching her is one of the biggest reasons I’m torn about the idea of retiring. I cherish our time in the studio, the chats in the car on the way home, and the connection dance gives us. I don’t ever want to lose that.

The Creative Process and What It Really Looks Like

I struggle from time to time to find music and honestly, I struggle to produce choreography here and there too. But what dance teacher doesn’t. I always make it work and for that, I’m thankful.

We all want to put the best possible choreography onstage for our dancers. With years of teaching and so much experience behind me, I’ve grown confident in my own style.

I’ve stopped caring about whether my dances win. I just want to be proud of what I create.

If I love the piece and I know I put my heart into it, that’s enough. And so far, that mindset’s brought me a lot of success and a lot of peace.

The Classes That Bring Joy at Every Age

I teach kids, teens, and adults, and each age brings something different to my week. My adult class every Thursday is like a reset button for my entire life. No matter how stressful things get, I walk into that room and I laugh.

We joke, we move, and we dance for the pure joy of it. It reminds me not to take everything so seriously. I’ve had some of the same adult dancers since the beginning of my teaching career, and over the years, some of my old competitive students have joined that class too. Some of the dancers I’ve known since I was a kid myself.

Now they’ve all become lifers. That group’s special in a way that’s hard to describe. They keep me grounded and remind me why I started teaching in the first place.

Expectations That Shape the Classroom

I run my classes with certain expectations. I expect respect, and I give it back. I want open eyes and open ears. Listen when I teach. Be present. Work hard. Challenge yourself.

Enjoy the journey. I love a good chat session, but I don’t tolerate chaos. I want my dancers to leave class feeling happy and fulfilled.

Growing Through Every Stage of Teaching

Over the years, I’ve been the cool young teacher, the dance mom teacher, and now the seasoned teacher with years of experience behind me. Each version of me taught something valuable.

And honestly, even with a New Year around the corner, I feel like I’m still growing and still figuring out who I am as an educator.

Imagining What the Next Chapter Might Look Like

As I start to imagine the next chapter of my teaching career, I’m filled with so much gratitude. Maybe that chapter’s two years long, or maybe it’s ten. I’ve had the chance to build relationships that truly mean something to me. I’ve had a creative outlet for my entire adult life.

I’ve created work that’s subjective and personal and sometimes vulnerable, and I had the privilege of sharing that with dancers who trusted me.

There’s something about nearing the end of a calendar year that makes all of this feel even more real. It brings up questions about what’s next, but it also brings a quiet appreciation for everything that came before.

The Joy of Watching Dancers Grow Up

One of the best parts of getting older in this industry has been watching my former students grow up. They graduate, get married, have babies, start businesses, and build full lives. I love seeing who they become, and I hope they remember dance fondly. I hope they remember me fondly too.

I love watching my daughter grow up in life, and in dance. I don’t know where dance will take her. Maybe she’ll make it a lifelong career like I did. Maybe she’ll walk away from it after high school graduation. Whatever she chooses, I’m excited to walk beside her, cheering her on as her mom and dance teacher.

Learning to Give Myself Grace

I know I didn’t always get it right. I started teaching as a teenager. I was growing up at the same time my students were. I made mistakes. I had off years.

I’m sure I rubbed people the wrong way sometimes. I hope most of their memories are good ones, but I also know I need to give myself grace. I was learning too.

Looking Ahead With Gratitude as a New Year Begins

As the New Year approaches, I feel myself entering it with the same feeling dance has always given me. A mix of excitement, nerves, gratitude, and a willingness to begin again.

28 years of teaching dance is something I never take for granted. When I think about the thousands of classes, the late nights in the studio, the competitions, the rehearsals, the last minute music edits, the emotional moments, and the dancers who trusted me, I feel nothing but appreciation.

The dance world’s changed and I’ve changed with it. A New Year always brings questions about what the next chapter might look like, but I don’t feel fear. I feel curiosity.

Most of all, this year and every year, I hope I was a positive part of my dancers stories. I know every single one of them has been a big part of mine.

Teaching dance has been one of the greatest privileges of my life, and as long as I’m meant to be in the studio, I’ll keep showing up with gratitude, honesty, and love for the art that’s carried me through every season of my life and into every New Year.

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Dance Teacher Reflections After 28 Years Teaching