American Ballet Theatre (ABT) is one of ballet’s largest names in the United States and the world. This past summer I had the incredible opportunity to attend ABT’s Teacher Training Program for their acclaimed National Training Curriculum. I spent nine glorious days in their massive, windowed studios in Manhattan, taking class four stories over the bustling streets of Broadway, in the very same ballet studios where legends of the ballet world had ridden up the hand-cranked elevator, walked those narrow halls, danced on those sprung-floors. Suffice to say, I felt like a kid in a candy shop.

That being said, I wasn’t there just to ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ at Misty Copeland’s signed pointe shoes (though I did do that regardless). The real purpose of those nine days of lectures, assignments, seminars, ballet classes, and exams was to soak up as much of ABT’s logic and law as I could, and return to Pennsylvania as a better, stronger, wiser, and certified ballet teacher. As the week progressed, and I spent many hours fervently jotting notes and pouring over textbooks, I became more and more aware of the gentle nudging of the Holy Spirit, asking me to notice the similarities between a good ballet teacher and the Good Shepherd. The instruction I was receiving on how to be a good leader in the classroom paralleled the ways God leads and teaches us.

In each level of ABT’s Curriculum, the emotional and physical development of the student’s brain was paramount in designing a class that suited their needs. The first level discussed was the lowest in terms of both age and skill, which ABT calls Pre-Primary. These students, around ages 3-5, are complete beginners in the realm of ballet. Everything had to be taught, even the ‘simple’ movements we take for granted, like skipping or moving individual fingers. And yet, I was reminded of Luke 18:17, in which Jesus says,

“Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

The way these children, who know nothing, learn about and interact with the kingdom of God, Jesus says, is our model for how to approach life. So, then, how do little children receive? How are they best instructed? ABT’s The Healthy Dancer describes the development of children ages 1-5 like this:

“Children at this stage of development tend to mimic the adult world, so the main teaching tool for this age group is imitation… they need to be able to watch and imitate their teachers.” (p.52)

According to science’s understanding of children’s brains, they learn best through mimicry. If we, as ballet teachers, want them to tendu, we demonstrate a tendu to them. If we want them to spin, we spin, and they mimic us. Their unique ability to copy and emulate what they see correlates directly to their growth and development, and makes them stronger dancers in the long term.

In Ephesians 5:1-2, Paul says, “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” God leads by giving us an example to mimic: Jesus. We are to emulate our Good Teacher, exactly the same way as the little children do. 

My teachers at ABT also stressed the importance of leading by example not just in deed, but also in spirit. We, as ballet teachers, cannot cut corners, or demonstrate anything apathetically, because our students will do the same. It isn’t just our actions that young students will mimic, but also our energy, our form, and our passion that will provide them a model of how to behave. 

This is exactly how God leads: by providing the perfect example of Christ, who came to Earth and led a perfect life. Jesus cut no corners; He did nothing halfway, but instead, He lived a life of love and passion and righteous behavior in order to give us the perfect example to mimic. 

In fact, even before the time of Jesus, we can see God going before his people, providing the example, preparing the way. He prepared a Promised Land for his people, an example of his ultimate promised land of Heaven. He brought pillars of smoke by day and fire by night to go before the Israelites’ steps in the wilderness. When it came time for those Israelites to enter the Promised Land, Moses assured Joshua by saying, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

You can never go somewhere where God is not already ahead of you. You will never find God unprepared or apathetic. When we were children, we were content to keep our eyes on the teacher. In all my years of teaching, I’ve never had a four year old ask me why I want them to skip across the room, but I have had many ask if I will skip with them so that we can do it together. This is all God asks of us: to approach where He leads the way children do, not by worrying about what it’s all leading to, but by walking with Him and mimicking how He moves.