How does a teacher get a student to participate in a dance class? Students will not gain an appreciation for what they learn if it is forced upon them. In my first residency class yesterday, a student named Brew standing front and center of the line-up would not involve herself in the Tahitian dance basics I was demonstrating. Maybe she was not taking part in my lesson because she thought it was stupid. I was disappointed but could not let it distract me from teaching the rest of my class of 40 students. I felt like I had no choice but to leave her behind. Maybe I should have told her to sit down if she was not going to participate.
As I continued teaching, students would laugh and giggle making me feel insecure. "They don't like my dancing," i thought to myself and became offended. Therefore, I asked them, "Why are you all laughing? Does this dancing look funny or feel funny?" They replied, "both!" I realized that these 9th grade girls felt awkward learning a new dance form that involves rotating their hips. (For me, which I want my girls to recognize, is that Polynesian dance can be a big form of empowerment for young women, but we'll get into that later... )
Towards the end of class I alternated the front line to the back, then the second line after five minutes has passed, and so on. I observed when Brew had moved to the back line that she started to dance some of the moves. I should have alternated the lines earlier in the course of the class for the reason that students who felt uncomfortable dancing in front of their peers could feel at ease doing the movements out of view. Now, my obstacle will be making sure that these students who feel more comfortable dancing in the back continue to participate.
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