What a confident preschool dance teacher actually looks like

Today I want to share a different perspective with you—this one from preschool dance teacher Rachel Ritchie-Moore.

Rachel has nearly 25 years in the dance world and currently serves as the children’s director at her studio. When she began using materials from the Little Dancer Program, what stood out most to her wasn’t just the themes or stories. It was how intentional the classes felt.

“I've absolutely loved the theme and story elements, and I think the students really love them too,” Rachel told us.

For Rachel, the curriculum helped her think about preschool classes differently—not just as movement lessons, but as opportunities to support development, confidence, and classroom habits from the very beginning. Because the program integrates physical development with cognitive growth, she found herself constantly thinking: “What are their bodies doing? What are their brains doing? How can I support both?” That perspective changed how her classes felt.

Rachel realized her preschool dance classes weren’t just teaching ballet. They were teaching children what it means to be a student, how to listen, how to participate, and how to feel confident in a group setting.

She told us the story of one of her students who had never been away from her parents before class. Walking into the studio alone was a huge step, and she did beautifully thanks to Rachel’s teacher training and the ready-made lesson plans.

She also found the planning tools in the program helped her approach each session with clarity: “It felt so intentional. I set a vision for what I want my session to look like.” That’s the goal of a strong preschool program. Not just fun classes, but classes that feel purposeful, well-run, and supportive for both students and teachers.

If you’d like to read more, check out Rachel’s full story here.

Next week, I’ll be sharing how to position your preschool program in a way that most studio owners overlook. It’s hands-down the best for increasing enrollment.

Remember: You're doing an amazing job!

Ashley and the Little Dancer Team