Planning Ahead: What Ballet Teachers Should Be Thinking About for Summer
As recital season approaches, most ballet teachers are fully in it, with rehearsals, costume details, and running choreography on repeat.
And while summer planning might be sitting somewhere in the back of your mind…it’s probably not something you have the time or energy to fully dive into right now.
That’s okay.
Summer planning doesn’t have to mean building everything from scratch today. Sometimes it’s just about having a direction, so when things slow down, you’re not starting from zero.
Here are a few simple things to consider now, without adding more to your plate.
🩰
What do your dancers actually need right now?
Instead of thinking: “What should I teach this summer?”
Try asking: “What do my dancers need more of?”
After a full season, the answers are usually clear:
Turns that need more consistency
Extensions that need more strength and control
Musicality and movement quality
Retaining combos quicker
You don’t need a full plan yet, just start noticing patterns. Those patterns will naturally guide your summer classes.
Consider a simple focus (not a full curriculum)
Summer doesn’t have to feel like another full season.
In fact, many teachers find it more effective to choose a focus instead:
A pirouette-focused workshop week
A strength + extension series
A turns and jumps intensive
A technique refresher for returning dancers
Having a focus makes planning easier later and gives you and your dancers a clear goal.
Keep class structure familiar (and efficient)
One thing that often gets overlooked in summer planning is this:
Dancers don’t need everything to be new. In fact, as we all know, it can be a time for new students to explore new classes. So, to keep your current students engaged and your new students get a glimpse of what they can get year-round - keep the combos familiar. It will:
Build confidence
Allow for deeper improvement
Reduce overwhelm
These are the things that help dancers actually progress—especially in a
shorter summer session.
Think about energy—not just content
After recital season, both teachers and dancers are coming off a very full schedule.
So instead of asking: “What else can I add?”
It can be helpful to ask: “What will feel refreshing?”
That might look like:
Slightly shorter combinations
More relaxed class pacing
Moments of creativity or musical exploration
Less pressure, more clarity
Regular summer classes can be a space to reset and enjoy. Leave the intensive in the summer intensives.
Give yourself permission to keep it simple
This is probably the most important one.
You don’t need to have every class, every combination, and every week planned right now.
A simple outline is enough:
What level you’re teaching
What your general focus is
A few ideas you want to revisit
That’s it!
✨ Final Thoughts
Right now, your focus is on finishing the year strong.
👍Supporting your dancers
👍Keeping them confident
👍Getting them to the stage feeling prepared and proud.
Summer planning can wait but a little intention now goes a long way later.
But if you’re starting to think ahead, I’d love to know:
👉 What is one thing your dancers could really benefit from working on this summer?
Over the next couple of months, I’ll be sharing more ideas for summer class planning, workshop-style lessons, and ready-to-use class structures—so you don’t have to start from scratch.
