Because great teachers don’t just teach…
They Learn. They Refine. They Grow.
For for the Dance Educator who cares.
Who wants stronger systems without losing heart. Who wants better structure without losing creativity and who wants to feel inspired again.
You love to teach dance and care deeply about your students.
But lately, something feels heavier than it should.
Your littles feel chaotic.
The teens feel disengaged.
And you're planning week-to-week instead of with clarity.
You're leaving your class(es) exhausted instead of energized.
It’s not that you don’t love teaching.
It’s that no one is pouring into you.
Sometimes it isn’t teaching that needs to change.
It's how we teach, and the support around us.
A Thoughtfully Designed Day for Dance Educators
Above the Barre is a one-day professional development experience created to help dance educators teach with confidence, clarity, and purpose.
It's an intentional, in-person gathering of educators who care deeply about their craft and want to elevate it.
What the Day Holds...
The morning begins where most classrooms struggle, the foundations. Stephanie Campbell and Melissa Rose bring over fifty years (gulp) of combined experience teaching littles.
We’ll explore teaching littles with clarity and structure, building foundations that truly stick, and creating classes that feel calm, purposeful, and engaging. You’ll walk away with practical tools for managing energy, setting expectations early, and creating an environment where even your youngest dancers can thrive with confidence.
From there, we move into curriculum design and year-long planning with guest expert Greta Lewis. An educator in both the public school system and the dance classroom, she brings a rare blend of structure and creativity to her work. She’ll share practical strategies for keeping your classes on track while maintaining flexibility and flow throughout the season.
Greta will show us how to transform what often feels overwhelming into a streamlined, repeatable system, one that saves you hours of mental energy and creates clarity not just for you, but for your entire team.
Next, you’ll gain practical, in-class strength and injury prevention tools you can implement immediately from Dr. Kaitlin Haider and her team. You’ll learn what is developmentally appropriate at each age, how to integrate conditioning seamlessly into your class structure, and how small, consistent five-minute add-ins can dramatically impact long-term dancer health.
These aren’t overwhelming add-ons or complicated protocols. They’re thoughtful, efficient strategies designed to protect growing bodies, prevent common injuries, and elevate the overall quality of your training. Dr. Kaitlin will be adding even more value, safety, and confidence to your classes.
After lunch...
We’ll reimagine ballet for the modern classroom, including how to engage the dancer who doesn’t “love ballet.”
Angela Manella-Hoffman will be sharing her wisdom about working with students of all abilities. She has extensive experience as a studio owner and dance educator and can speak confidently about engaging and teaching to students at every ability. You'll leave feeling empowered to teach everyone who dances into your class.
Because every dancer deserves to feel seen and supported.
And we’ll close with clinical insight: common dance injuries, red flags, when to refer out, and how to confidently navigate hip, low back, and growth-related concerns.
The day ends not in exhaustion, but in connection. We'll continue the conversations over mocktails, charcuterie, and conversation.
Because let's be real, the best ideas happen at the after party.
Your Investment
Your registration includes the full day of workshops, lunch, happy hour, and thoughtfully curated take-home resources. This experience is intentionally intimate and collaborative.
Not overwhelming. Not performative. Not surface-level.
Just real tools for real dance educators.
Join Us Above the Barre.
Come learn. Come move. Come connect.