The phrase “all singing, all dancing” can sometimes be seen as a backhanded compliment when it comes to lessons.
It might be used to describe overly complicated classes featuring, perhaps, a teacher dressed as Miss Havisham or a simulation of a First World War battlefield, in an attempt to seize the holy grail of “pupil engagement”.
Rarely, however, does such well-meaning ambition lead to a teacher literally dancing.
News: Dancing maths teacher goes viral
Related: Twerkgate: Are camera phones the end of teacher fun?
WATCH: The school where social dance became cool
But in the case of one US school teacher, his dance moves in the classroom have made him a viral internet sensation.
Dance builds relationships, says teacher
Craig Smith, a middle-school teacher from Kentucky, has been dubbed “TikTok famous” by his pupils, after clips of him dancing on the video-sharing platform went viral.
In the videos, Mr Smith can be seen dancing to hip-hop classics such as Jump Around, as well as newer releases. He told CNN that he uses dance to build a relationship with pupils.
“Asking the students to come and understand my world is OK, but I need to meet them where they are,” he said.
“I need to figure out what they are interested in, what it is they are doing, and if I show interest in that, that just helps the relationship and helps me get through to them, personally and in the classroom.”
