Ms. Popino is a dance teacher at Iselin Middle School she has been teaching since 2022. It will be her 5th year teaching this awesome dance class and dance company. She is very passionate about her dancing and she is a nice, loving, and creative dance teacher.
Panther Press: Who inspired you to be a dance teacher?
Ms. Gillian Popino: I would say all my great dance teachers made want to give
back the love of dance. I grew up in more of a private setting, not every kid had access to dance.
Panther Press:Oh that’s great!! What are some challenges faced as a dance teacher?
Popino: I think my biggest challenge specifically here at IMS sometimes is not having the most eager students that want to participate.
Panther Press : How do you motivate students?
Popino: Definitely by being super encouraging when we make mistakes. That’s always a great thing right? We need to make mistakes in order to learn so I feel like the biggest thing I can encourage students to do is try to fail and then try to succeed.
Panther Press: How long have you been a dance teacher?
Ms. Popino: I have been teaching dance in this district since fall of 2022. This is my 5th year and I started as an assistant teacher at my own dance studio when I was 12 so I feel like teaching has always been a part of my dance journey.
Panther Press: That’s nice! What inspired you to teach?
Ms. Popino: Wanting to give back and wanting to inspire to have more people moving and expressing themselves.
Panther Press: What do you enjoy the most about being a dance teacher?
Ms. Popino: I enjoy watching a student that has never danced before discover it and enjoy it and then keep dancing.
Panther Press: Have you taught a competitive dance team and if you did do you like it better?
Ms. Popino: I have never taught a competitive studio dance class.
Panther Press: What’s your greatest achievement as a dance teacher:
Ms. Popino: I will say my greatest achievement is putting on the shows at IMS. That feels like we really get to see the growth.
Panther Press: That’s nice! What are some goals you have as a dance teacher?
Ms. Popino: My biggest goal is to have a student choreograph a show.
Panther Press: That’s cool! What are some strengths and weaknesses you have as a dance teacher?
Ms. Popino: I think my biggest strength is my kindness and my enthusiasm and I think my weakness is sometimes my patience is thin.
Panther Press: Thanks for your time!
Ms. Popino: You’re welcome.
