Almost three years ago, when I first realized I was pregnant, many questions ran through my head. Among them, “How will pregnancy affect my dancing and teaching?” I wondered about modifications I’d have to make as I moved. I worried that aspects of the pregnancy (like morning sickness) might interfere with my duties in the classroom. I hoped that I’d be able to keep up with my rigorous schedule. And, like all moms, I wanted to provide a secure and safe environment for my child so that he or she would have the best chance for healthy development.
And, like many young moms, I turned to the internet (and to books… lots and lots of books) for the answers! Here is what these resources, others (like my doctor), and my experiences taught me. I hope, if you currently have the same questions and concerns that it will be a help to you!
Will I have to stop dancing or teaching?
Though you may be confronted with a few naysayers or complete strangers eager to tell you the horrors experienced by their friend’s sister’s cousin’s daughter’s dance teacher, most doctors will tell you that if you are experiencing a healthy, normal pregnancy, you should be able to safely continue doing what you were doing prior to conception. The key is to listen and respond to your body’s signals, communicate the requirements of your work to your doctor, discuss any problems or issues that arise, and be sensible, erring on the side of caution when it comes to possible dangers (like turning, partnering, jumping, etc). Of course, it helps to know what the potential risks and concerns are so that you can avoid them. This Q&A response from BabyCenter.com offers a brief overview of some of the changes your body goes through in pregnancy.
These are some simple modifications you can make during dance class that will reduce the risk of injury to you and your baby.
- Don’t push yourself to exhaustion or overexertion. Use this time to improve your verbal communication skills when it comes to teaching.
- Mark or modify your jumps.
- Avoid high-speed or quick-changing movement as it will become easier to pull or injure muscles and ligaments as the pregnancy progresses.
- Avoid situations in which you risk getting bumped into or in which you might fall (turning, pointe work, partnering, and contact work are potentially risky).
- Drink lots of water and carry snacks with you (if you don’t already).
- It’s a good idea not to spend a lot of time on your back, particularly later in pregnancy.
- Avoid positions that compress the abdomen.
- Avoid inverted positions (like handstands).
- Be prepared to need a hand occasionally – this may be in the form of a student assistant, a substitute teacher, a willing parent, or other family members.
Further reading:
- Two’s Company — Dance Teacher Magazine
- Pregnancy Tips — Dancing Smart
- The Pregnant Dancer — The Examiner
- Dancing Pregnant — The Dance Primer
And if you’re contemplating starting a dance class for pregnant women, read Dancing for Two from Dancer Universe.
My experience
I became pregnant in the fall and continued to teach through recital performances in the spring, by which time I had entered the beginning of my third trimester. I continued to do mostly everything I had done before I became pregnant. I got up and down off the floor with my 3 and 4-year-olds. I demonstrated exercises for my older classes (though later in the pregnancy I did a lot more indicating than full-out demonstrating). I enjoyed sweating it out with my adult jazz classes, though I did find that I became short of breath more easily. I continued with small jumps (occasional, or non-repetitive jumps that is) for a while but easily recognized when I had to give that up. I did less turning because eventually I sensed my balance was not in the same place I’d left it!
My morning sickness was more like an all day nauseous feeling, during which I had no appetite. But it lasted only about six weeks (which of course seemed eternal at the time). This aspect of pregnancy (and many others) is different for everyone. In fact, you will find your own ways to deal with the discomforts of pregnancy and you will likely find that the people around you (other teachers, studio owners, parents, and your students) are immensely forgiving. Rarely will anyone fault you for those moments when you need to run to the restroom, when you need to sit down, or even if circumstances beyond your control sideline you for a while.
Overall, my pregnancy was an easy one. Teaching and dancing, I believe, helped with this. It kept me mobile and relieved the soreness and stiffness that sleeping in the same position all night caused. My first trimester was tiring, during my second trimester I had tons of energy though some things were more challenging because of my changing shape, and during my third I was more annoyed than anything as my ankles swelled like water balloons (didn’t they know I had three recital weekends to get through?). I was HUGE in my final eight weeks of pregnancy (my son was nine-and-a-half pounds… yes, you read that correctly) and I was spared teaching during that time by sheer coincidence.
Though some days it took extra effort to feel motivated, though sometimes I felt uncomfortable or tired, though occasionally dancing was the last thing I wanted to do, I was more often than not excited and happy to experience the many changes and sensations that pregnancy brings while continuing to dance. My tired, swollen feet were a reason to treat myself to a soothing bath. My round, growing belly was affectionately patted and kissed by my youngest students who seemed as excited as I was about the baby to come. And I got to share with my unborn son my sense and experience of music, motion, and rhythm on a daily basis.
Have you taught through pregnancy?
Share your experiences to help prepare other expectant dancing moms.
Can you offer other health tips?
What about teaching soon after delivery?
(I have no personal experience with this… that’s how this blog came to be!)
Are you expecting? Feel free to ask questions!
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Nichelle Suzanne is a writer specializing in dance and online content. She is also a dance instructor with over 20 years experience teaching in dance studios, community programs, and colleges. She began Dance Advantage in 2008, equipped with a passion for movement education and an intuitive sense that a blog could bring dancers together. As a Houston-based dance writer, Nichelle covers dance performance for Dance Source Houston, Arts+Culture Texas, and other publications. She is a leader in social media within the dance community and has presented on blogging for dance organizations, including Dance/USA. Nichelle provides web consulting and writing services for dancers, dance schools and studios, and those beyond the dance world. Read Nichelle’s posts.
Thanks so much for posting this information, Nichelle! This is a great article. I danced (although I did not teach, much harder) while pregnant with my son until I was 8 months along. I maintain that this helped him in his early love for dance now, he’s always wiggling to music. I just never danced out of my body’s ability, didn’t jump or take any unnecessary risks. In fact, my dance teacher said that my dancing actually improved during my pregnancy! Cheers!
Hi!
Thanks for the article, it was really helpful. I have just found out that I am pregnant as I have very irregular (almost non existant) periods, and I think I am about 6 weeks. We don’t want to tell anyone until 12 weeks, so do you have any tips for how I can get away with just marking jumps etc? I’m starting a new job as well as continuing with running my school, and I really don’t want to give the impression of being a lazy teacher, whilst also not wanting to have to justify myself to a bunch of teenagers before my own parents even know that I am expecting!! I also do not want to put my baby at risk-we thought I was infertile and only got married last month so this is the biggest miracle and I want to do everything to make sure baby is safe…
It’s also interesting to note that I got pregnant during the two month summer vacation, so my body is very out of touch with dancing (I feel that giving my body a break from exercise may also be what made it want to become pregnant) and so I am scared to jump back in to the start of term with all the bouncing around etc. I can’t even get a doctors appointment at the moment so I really am confused about everything!!
Hello europeteacher and congratulations! I know this can be an uncertain time.
Early on in my pregnancy, I continued jumping without much worry. Though during morning sickness there were days that jumping wasn’t terribly enjoyable. It was well into the pregnancy I felt in my body that jumping was a strain on some of the pelvic muscles and tendons that supported my growing belly. I can understand your hesitancy to jump though, given your irregular periods and having not been examined yet by a doctor.
Since you mention that you are teaching teens, full-out demonstration might be avoided simply by challenging your students to absorb a combination from the given terminology alone. There are reasons other than your pregnancy for doing this. It is good mental exercise for your students and encourages their use and understanding of dance vocabulary. This works well for ballet especially (it’s easy to say “4 sauté in first, 4 in second, 4 changement, entrechat quatre, for example and challenge them to get it right without watching).
However, students in all dance forms sometimes rely way too much on their eyes – not all choreographers or teachers they encounter will demonstrate full out and it is good preparation to practice using their ears and imaginations to comprehend and retain choreography. Present the material in a way that shows you want to challenge them to hear and understand what you mean when you say “I want your first leap to look and feel like it is floating on a cushion of air and your second leap to look like a firecracker just went off in the core of your body and exploded through your toes and fingertips.” Because the point isn’t necessarily for them to look like you doing the leap, but encouraging them to convey the quality of the leap – what it looks and feels like – in their own body. If they are beginners, this is also a good opportunity to describe the mechanics of a leap – watch them closely as they do it and tell them (rather than show them) what exactly they need to do to improve it.
If you are not used to teaching this way, it may take a little extra preparation to decide how you will get what you want from them without full-out demonstration. However, if you do this I don’t think anyone will consider you a lazy teacher.
I hope that helps. Best of luck to you! Try to relax and enjoy this special time – this is important to you and your baby’s health as well!
Thank you for this article! I have recently found out we are expecting! Like you, I plan to continue to teach through the spring (will be freshly in 3rd trimester by showtime as well!). My mom is also my boss and teacher so it is very much a family business. I was planning on waiting to tell the family together but as our Nutcracker is approaching (I am cast as a doll and in the fight scene- ironically, two others are pregs as well- something is definitely in the water!), and a child in one of my classes came in with fifths disease yesterday, I am leaning more towards telling her ASAP! My older sister works with us too and I am not ready for her to find out since she is VERY sensitive about others getting pregnant before her, even though she isnt even trying- I really think she’ll cry and not talk to me for a while. It may be hard to tell my mom first and still try to hide it from the other family but I feel it’s best for the babe and I. I’m still so torn as to what I should do!
I was also wondering since this is an older post, what did you do after the baby was born? I am due early-mid July and our classes start back late august. I was thinking of strapping the baby to me for the first few weeks?
Thank you!
Hi Lindsey, congratulations! I am now on my second baby – my daughter was just born in August. However, with both my son and my daughter, I have not had to manage the return to teaching. With my son, we moved to a new city when I was 8 months pregnant and I used the opportunity to take a hiatus from teaching (it was during this time away that Dance Advantage was born!). Since then I have not taught full-time. So I can’t speak first-hand but many teachers and studio owners and professional dancers have had babies and returned to teaching right away.
Wearing the baby may work out really well but it often just depends on your baby. My daughter loves to be worn. My son hated it. You might try something versatile like a Maya wrap so that you can adjust the position to what suits you and the baby. In addition, you may want to have an assistant that can not only step in when the baby needs attention but take over for the night if needed… and/or have someone handy that can watch or take the baby in those moments when you need to keep teaching but the baby has other ideas. Also, it may not be a bad idea to find your assistant for the spring. By the end of your pregnancy, you may really appreciate being able to sit and teach from the sidelines and that person has more time to observe how you run your classes.
Best of luck to you!! Let me know how how it goes.
Thanks so much for all the information! I had so many questions about teaching dance while pregnant as this is my first pregnancy I didn’t know who to ask. This has been helpful since I am a studio owner and I teach classes everyday I needed to know how much is too much and what is safe to be doing in my first trimester. I wasn’t sure about the jumping and I had heard that crunches and abdominal work is not suggested either. I was also curious as to how soon to come back after the baby is born but I realize it depends on the individual and everyone is different. I think I’ll be trying strapping the baby to me too as I return to teach! Sounds like fun and I am sure my students will love it!
I have been reading all the comments above which has really helped! My husband and I got married last year and I am a dance teacher and run my own school. Obviously we have talked about the baby subject….teaching whilst being pregnant doesnt bother or worry me and neither does having a little baby as we get the precious time of spending daytime together before heading to teaching on the evening (and Dad takes over!) However, I worry about when our child is ill, or need it’s mum – all dance teachers now how difficult it is to find cover teachers last minute or handle complaints of cancelling classes or becoming an unreliable teacher due to a baby! And also, what happens when they start school? They are there all day and when home time arrives, Mum is at work! By the time Mum gets home from teaching, its bed time for child…. How have dance teachers handled this issue? At the moment, I dont see a way around this and ensuring you bringing up your child correctly and being there when s/he needs you. I also dont want to give up my school as I have put blood, sweat and tears into building up a successful studio.
Some advice would be hugely appreciated at this very confusing and emotional time of my life!
Thank you.
Hi Gena,
Just a quick response to let you know that these are really great questions that I’m afraid I can’t answer first-hand. The truth is that if I had gone back to teaching full time after I had children, there would be no Dance Advantage! I do know many friends and subscribers and employers who’ve managed it though! And you are not the first to raise questions like this. I’ve covered a bit about returning to a performance career as a mother but you’ve given me the kick in the pants I needed to produce an article specifically for teachers and studio owners. Because I’m a mom of two now, and the youngest is still a newborn, getting an article from idea stage to the published page is not a speedy process. BUT, I will begin gathering raw answers for you personally and send them before a full article reaches the blog.
Best wishes – I’ll be in touch!
Im also a dance teacher a direct a color guard team and a dance team at a highschool marching band. I teach ballet basics, jazz and modern plus the use of props to the color guard suchs as flags. During the first and second trimester i did absoloutly everything even splits but now im at my 3 trimester and is getting harder by the minute. My feet get swollen like two big hams my back hurts and im constanly tired. Rigth now im in the begining of summer camp with a total of 40 sutents and its a masive challenge for me. I find my self sitting down at times with the team captain up front following my ordes and demostrating for me. And of course we have a BIG presentation for wich i have to build 5 diferent rutines and teach them! So yess i have a big challenge ahead of me!
I am pregnant 5 months and have been dance ballet since I was five years, this is my third kid and valley teacher wants to take me off point. But I feel balanced and fine I don’t think its fair also I will be doing a show 8 months pregnant and my ballet teach want to take out of the point number after I bought the costume. I know what my body is able to do and I do not think it should be up to her need some advice