You might get a kick out of this.
Every CRS summer dance session there’s an opportunity for kids to do the Student Choreography Project.
There they get to create their own dance and have it showcased at our Summer Concert.
Few kids think they have the chops to do it.
I usually have to do a lot of perspective-twisting (like arm twisting).
One such case is CRS alumni Ashley Thopiah now at Butler University.
Every summer I had to insist that she create choreography. Every summer she balked. Her dad, always agreed with me and made her do it. (He was always a parent who saw long-term and never caved in. He knew he was there to be a parent.)
Ashley’s choreography got better and better. As a kid.
Now at Butler, guess who has the dance department staff falling down over themselves and drooling?
Ashley.
Not only is she the up and comer dancer for every dance project on stage but she’s the darling of choreography in the department.
She choreographs to any music, any style. Now she appreciates my pushing. As a kid, not so much. That’s okay. I wasn’t there to be her friend. I was there as her coach for the long-term benefit to Ashley. Not for me.
But that’s the point. Today, too many parents quickly cave the second the kid (with no life experience, no long-term goal vision, or no ability to make a valued decision) gets all demand-ee. See my last email about momsie and dadsie.
With Ashley, like my best other student/parent teams, the father agreed that I probably knew what I was talking about and signed her up.
There wasn’t any “oh we’re going to relax this summer” junk-thinking or “I want her to rest” which is code that the parent is overwhelmed, not the kid.
The participation in the choreography gives life skills, creativity development, and entrepreneurial skills. Great opportunity. In my book.
You know how stiff you are waking up, moving, shoveling snow, golfing?
Give your kid an advantage that they can own for life. Once they become stretchy with my method, they stay stretchy. Long term vision for your kid. It’s your chance to put you parenting brain on. Or not.
https://courses.christinerichstudio.com/p/flexible-forever/
Christine Rich
Copyrighted & published by Christine Rich
Christine Rich
Master teacher, coach and author
