The Preschool Dance Teacher's Podcast
The Preschool Dance Teacher’s Podcast by Dance to Learn® is your go-to Podcast for all things related to teaching dance in the foundational years. Hosted by Jessica Strong—dance educator, curriculum creator, and founder of the Whole Child Dance Method™—this podcast is designed specifically for teachers working with preschool and recreational dancers ages 2–6.
Each week, Jessica shares insightful tips, classroom-tested strategies, and creative solutions to help you navigate the unique challenges of early childhood dance education. From behavior management and lesson planning to prop play and curriculum design, no topic is off-limits. Through listener-submitted questions, special guest interviews, and behind-the-scenes perspectives from the Dance to Learn® Community, this podcast provides the tools and support you need to thrive in the classroom and grow your preschool dance program with confidence.
Whether you're a seasoned educator or brand new to the preschool dance world, the Preschool Dance Teacher’s Podcast offers meaningful advice, uplifting encouragement, and a strong sense of community.
Want to be featured on the show? Join us in the Preschool Dance Teacher’s Forum on Facebook and take part in our weekly #askthepod and #podtalk conversations!
Let’s build better classes, more confident teachers, and magical first dance experiences—together.
Be Featured on the Podcast!
First Class Checklist: 10 Dance Teacher Essentials (Part 2)
Welcome back to the Dance to Learn® Podcast — the Preschool Dance Teacher’s Podcast with your host, Jessica Strong! This week, we’re wrapping up our special two-part series with the final 5 of 10 essential preparations every dance teacher should make before starting a new season.
If you're ready to kick off your classes with confidence and connection, this episode is for you. These final steps cover everything from choosing the right music and props to engaging families, planning for flexibility, and supporting students with separation anxiety.
🩰 In This Episode, You’ll Learn How To:
- Curate the perfect movement-centered playlist
- Enhance learning through multi-sensory props
- Engage families to improve student retention
- Stay flexible and responsive to class dynamics
- Ease separation anxiety with comfort strategies and Parent & Me classes
🎉 Challenge Alert!
Join the Back to Dance Teacher Challenge — a 30-day, drip-format experience designed to help you prepare your classroom, welcome new families, and start the season strong. Includes bonus resources like printable class visuals, nurture email templates, and more! Starts July 1st — link in the show notes!
First Class Checklist: 10 Dance Teacher Essentials (Part 1)
Welcome to the Dance to Learn® Podcast — the Preschool Dance Teacher’s Podcast! In this episode, host Jessica Strong kicks off a special 2-part series breaking down the 10 Essential Preparations Every Dance Teacher Should Make before their first class of a new season. Whether you're a studio owner or preschool dance teacher, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you enter your season feeling confident, prepared, and excited.
This week, Jessica shares the first 5 essential preparations, from lesson planning to transitions — all rooted in the Dance to Learn® Whole-Child, Conceptualized-Thematic approach. This episode also kicks off the Back to Dance Teacher Challenge, happening exclusively in the Dance to Learn® Community beginning July 1st!
🩰 In This Episode You’ll Learn:
How to plan your preschool dance class using dance concepts and themes
Why predictable routines reduce anxiety and help children feel safe
How to create a sensory-enriched environment that supports all learning styles
Proactive classroom management strategies to avoid behavior challenges
Tips to master transitions and keep energy and focus flowing throughout class
🎉 Challenge Alert!
Join the Back to Dance Teacher Challenge — a 30-day, drip-format experience designed to help you prepare your classroom, welcome new families, and start the season strong. Includes bonus resources like printable class visuals, nurture email templates, and more! Starts July 1st — link in the show notes!
Should I allow children who are not Potty Trained to enroll in my Summer Camp?
In this episode of the Preschool Dance Teacher’s Podcast by Dance to Learn®, host Jessica Strong dives into a timely and often tricky topic: should dance studios allow children who are not potty trained to attend summer camps? Inspired by multiple posts in her Facebook feed, Jessica shares her approach to handling these common parent concerns with empathy, clarity, and professionalism.
She discusses the legal limitations that prevent most dance studios from offering diapering services, the importance of communicating those limitations thoughtfully, and why turning families away isn’t always the best solution. You’ll hear real-life examples of accommodations that worked, how to reduce class disruptions caused by accidents, and why it’s better to include than exclude—when done responsibly.
Best Practices for Finding Quality Preschool Dance Teachers
In this episode of the Dance to Learn® Podcast—the Preschool Dance Teacher’s Podcast—host Jessica Strong introduces the show’s brand-new format, which centers around real questions and stories from the dance teaching community. This week’s episode features a listener question from Kristina C: “Where do you find good preschool dance teachers?” Jessica shares her firsthand experience hiring teachers for her mobile dance program and offers practical strategies to help studio owners and directors find the right candidates for preschool and recreational dance classes.
Listeners will hear community-sourced tips, including how to write effective job descriptions, where to post listings, and how to connect with local colleges and dance programs. Jessica emphasizes the importance of hiring intentionally, targeting the right talent pool, and being upfront about the position to avoid high turnover. She also shares her success using platforms like Facebook community groups, the Nextdoor app, and in-person job fairs at local colleges.
Mythbusting Misconceptions about Thematic Teaching in Dance
Welcome back to the Dance to Learn® Podcast — the Preschool Dance Teacher’s Podcast hosted by Jessica Strong! In this episode, Jessica dives into one of her favorite topics: themes — and busts five of the most common myths about thematic learning in early childhood dance.
Discover why themes aren’t fluff, but powerful tools for brain development, child-centered engagement, and meaningful connection. Learn how the Dance to Learn® Curriculum uses themes to support whole-child learning through real-world experiences, movement, and play.
Dance Teachers...#askthepod
Hello Dance EdVenturists! Welcome back to the Dance to Learn Podcast! The Preschool Dance Teacher’s Podcast! I’m your Host Jessica Strong, and I want to say thank you to our Season 6 Sponsor Dance Dance Hooray! Today’s episode is a short introduction to this Season Reboot which kicks off next Friday 5/23! I wanted to share my goal with the Podcast and the best way you can submit your listener questions and be featured on the show!
First, my goal with the Podcast is to hear from real voices active in the dance community. You - the real teachers and studio owners living this life every day! I get frustrated hearing the same voices in the industry, and want to give you a chance to shine. I also want to help dance teachers feel more confident in the classroom, by addressing your questions, problems you're experiencing and frustrations you may have in the studio. You’ll not only hear from me, you’ll get advice from your peers, who have probably experienced the same things and can provide tried and true help and advice.
How can you get your questions answered? First you will want to join us in the Preschool Dance Teacher’s Forum! This is a private dance community hosted on Facebook and sponsored by Dance to Learn! Inside the Forum you will find a weekly Ask the Pod Post. What is Ask the Pod - this is a weekly post in the Preschool Dance Teacher’s Forum where you can ask your questions to receive help and feedback from myself and others. Originally I was opening Ask the Pod on Mondays and closing the Pod on Tuesdays, however, I want to give you more time to submit your questions. So I’m switching Ask the Pod to start on Friday and we will close it on Monday evening.
Dance Teacher Life Update
I'm excited to announce the Reboot of Season 6 of the Dance to Learn® Podcast after a little pause for some life updates!
The reboot will be focused on YOU! The Dance to Learn® Podcast is FOR dance teachers BY dance teachers so we are creating #askthepod and #podtalk
In this episode, I share a short dance teacher life update and the reason for the pause of the podcast!
Get more from the Podcast!
