By Julie Diana Hench | Dance Teacher Magazine
“When teaching young dancers and beginners, Lorin Mathis suggests using the proper names of steps repeatedly. ‘I try to keep ideas and concepts simple so that their minds make an immediate correlation between movement or positions and the appropriate terminology,’ says Mathis, faculty member at the University of Arizona’s dance department and artistic associate director for Kaatsbaan summer programs. He will then reiterate the concept throughout class, pointing out connections from earlier combinations. ‘Once they begin to grasp the concept, you can build on it. But repetition and simplicity are vital for beginners to build a solid foundation.’ ”
(article excerpt)