Breaking Norms in Dance: Creating a Culture of Encouragement

Chalk and Coffee

In this episode of Chalk and Coffee, I sit down with Leslie Kuny, a professional dance teacher, choreographer, adjudicator, and dance studio owner with over 20 years of experience working with and mentoring kids. Leslie shares how her love for education and dance led her to create a unique teaching approach that prioritises meaningful, lasting connections with her students.

She talks about rejecting outdated norms of shame and guilt in dance education and how she has instead built successful, competitive artists through honesty, joy, laughter, and encouragement. Leslie also opens up about her human-first teaching philosophy, which centres on trust, humour, and genuine connection to help young dancers thrive on and off the stage.

This is an inspiring conversation about how the arts can empower and transform young lives. Whether you’re an educator, a parent, or simply passionate about creative expression, you’ll walk away with fresh ideas and inspiration for fostering connection and growth in the next generation.

Get in touch with Leslie

Leslie’s Website

Absolute Motion Website

Leslie Instagram

Absolute Motion Studio Instagram

Be a Guest

I love hearing people’s stories and would love to have you as a guest. If you would like to share your story and feature in an episode, please complete an expression of interest form.

Supporting Others

Here at Chalk and Coffee, we are all about supporting each other as parents, teachers, and anyone else who wants to help children thrive. One way I am trying to do that is by supporting new and early-career teachers.

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