National Thank A Dance Teacher Day

Gelsey Kirkland teaching at the Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet. Photo by Kyle Froman, courtesy of Dance Teacher.

If you could thank one dance teacher in your life, who would it be?

Let him or her know tomorrow, Tuesday, December 1 for National Dance Education Organization’s “Thank A Dance Teacher Day,” a social media giving campaign. Last year’s campaign saw nationwide participation, and NDEO has upped its goal to $5,000 this year. Display your appreciation on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with an “unselfie”: a picture of yourself holding a sign that gives your mentor a shout out with the hashtags #ndeothanks and #ThankADanceTeacher. Or, post a video with your words of gratitude and your best dance moves. To spread the love, tag your friends and challenge them to nominate their own inspiring teachers. Then, donate to NDEO’s Thank A Dance Teacher Day Fund for every teacher you’ve thanked. Proceeds go towards teacher scholarships, research, publications and other initiatives that strengthen our art form by empowering its educators.

The holiday season, which kicks off with the gratitude of Thanksgiving and closes with New Year’s optimism, is synonymous with giving. For dancers, it’s also synonymous with Nutcracker, and it’s the perfect time to thank our teachers—from the faculty who spend their evenings herding mini mice and bon-bons to devoted Sugar Plum and Cavalier coaches. Though tomorrow’s Thank A Dance Teacher Day will go viral, the campaign goes through December 31.

Find more information and detailed instructions on social media posting here.

Thank A Dance Teacher Day “unselfie.” Photo courtesy of National Dance Education Organization.

For more news on all things ballet, don’t miss a single issue.
For more news on all things ballet, don’t miss a single issue.