On Teaching

There are two ways to teach: We either teach our students a system in which they will always seek our guidance, or we can teach a context in which they will have the confidence to find the way on their own.

Much gets talked about pedagogy in the dance world. It is good to continually work to teach the children correctly. But there should quickly be other pursuits. Namely, working towards allowing the children to discern their own way. With the correct foundation, they will be rooted in values and tradition appropriately, and given to expression and experimentation rightly.

Without good pedagogy learners will never grow into heutagogy (learner-guided learning). But eliminating all pedagogy for the sake of promoting heutagogy is an equally foolish path, leaving learners unrooted. Better to give the children what they need and support them as they grow into life-long learners, finding the way on their own.