What is it like to flip back and forth between dancer and teacher?

This week one of my students asked me "What is it like to go between being a dancer and a teacher?"  

Good question

The first part of my day I am a dancer. I do my best to learn choreography, please my director, and be the best dancer I can be. Then after rehearsals are done, I hop into my car and drive to my teaching job. In a matter of hours I go from being the one being told what to do, to the one leading my students. It has been a very unique insight into both sides of the work environment

There have been a few times recently where I have said something to a student in a strict tone, and after I said it I realized that the same thing was said to me prior in the week. This has made me very aware of the reasons why directors can be hard sometimes.

I know that when I am my hardest it is because I expect so much from my students. I know that they can deliver and I want them to succeed. I push them to be their best and I only have their best interest at heart. The days where I am not delivering as a dancer and I get "in trouble," I need to remember that the director want the piece to be a success. So I say this to myself and my students.

"The next time you feel upset because you were told you can do better, remember that you are being told this because the person in charge knows you can."