Tips For Teaching Preschool Tap And Ballet Combo Class

Preschool tap and ballet combo classes can be some of the most challenging, yet rewarding classes to teach. While it might not be apparent to an outsider, every activity and exercise is rooted in building coordination, rhythm, flexibility, and strength. It can be overwhelming to know where to start planning lessons and structuring your class, so I have prepared a few tips and tricks for teaching these preschool combo classes.

Quick note: Combining two genres into one class has pros and cons. This age struggles to pay attention to one style of dance for a full hour, so switching half way helps keep them engaged for the last part of class. On the other hand, you might have a maximum of 30 minutes to work on each style every week… which we all know is not enough time to dive deep into either ballet nor tap. For the first six-eight months of class, I split the time evenly between the two styles. Then as we approach recital, I dedicate more time to the style of dance we are performing at recital.

How to Structure Each Preschool Combo Class

Tip #1: Divide time accordingly and over plan! You need to maximize every minute of class in order to see progress in both dance styles. I also like to over plan, coming in with a few extra activities/ideas inhand, in case the class is running through things faster than I anticipated. Preschoolers sitting around waiting can quickly lead to chaos. Write down your lesson plan and come prepared!

Tip #2: Create a playlist that coordinates with each planned activitiy/exercise, and reorder it to follow the sequence of your lesson plan. The top of the playlist should be your music for warming up, then center, etc. You will be shocked how much time you will save in class not having to skip through songs and find the right track.

Tip #3: Think ahead about the recital to guide your planning. Ask your directors how combo classes are handled at recital, will they be dancing both genres, or just one style? Do you get to pick? This might impact how much time you spend on each style every week.

Tip #4: Incorporate fun, playful activities into the class! Obviously technique is still the most important thing, but at this age they need the recreational aspect to really pay attention and most importantly, enjoy dancing and return each week. Mix in fun breaks either at the end of class, before they change shoes, or both.

There is a way to make dance fun without dedicating 15 minutes to freeze dance and free play. Incorporate storytelling, use themes, think like a preschool teacher!

Here is how I would structure a 60 minute preschool ballet/tap combo class:

Start with tap!
First 5 Minutes: Students arrive, sit on their dot, and you help them put on their shoes
5 Minutes: Tap Warmup: Standup on your dot, tap warmup with music. Practice clapping to the beat of the song & basic tap warmup (see below)
10 Minutes: Center Tap Work (including new skill breakdown)
5-7 Minutes: Across the Floor Tap Work
3-5 Minutes: Change into Ballet shoes
5 Minutes: Stretch straddle, pike, cobra, etc.
10 Minutes: Ballet Center Floor Work (plies, tendus, etc + new skill breakdown)
10 Minutes: Ballet Across the Floor Work
Last 3-5 Minutes: Fun Activity!

As it gets closer to recital, you might need to adjust your time to cater more to the style they will be dancing

Changing Shoes 101

(Yes this does require an entire section. If you know, you know)

Putting on tap shoes can take up 10 minutes alone in these classes, especially if you don’t have assistants. I strongly recommend doing tap for the first half of class, then switch to ballet because they can put on those shoes faster and by themselves.

Have the students enter the room barefoot, with tap & ballet shoes in their bag, and sit on their dot. As each student arrives, go and help them put on their tap shoes, then put their bag away/in the cubbies. You can have the other students sit in butterfly stretch as they wait. Doing this as they arrive will save time as you aren’t putting on everyone’s shoes at the same time. Also, I don’t let them enter the room in their tap shoes because the outside floors are slippery, and I don’t want them wearing tap shoes in the parking lot.

When it comes time to change into ballet shoes, have them all sit on their dot and bring their dance bag to them one at a time. Things get chaotic and shoes get lost quickly when they are all crowding around the same spot to change shoes.

Tips Regarding Tap Shoes:

Tell parents to write their dancer’s initials in sharpie on the inside of their shoe!
Recommend parents buy the tap shoes that have a snap or velcro belt. Not ties unless they can already tie their shoes by themselves. Trust me this will save you 10 minutes each class