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Tips for delivering a more professional and effective dance class
Improve your teaching methods to raise the learning curve for students.
Here are some powerful ways to teach more efficiently, inspire confidence
and balance the teacher/student relationship. Remember these points
when structuring the content of both your individual sessions and
overall course plan. Keti Sharif |
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 1. Warm up effectively and safely Make sure to spend at least ten minutes warming up major muscle groups and joints. Use larger easy to follow moves, such as step/points footwork. Begin with some leg and footwork because these use the quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteals and calves. To make the warm up more functional, add the arms in co-ordination when the footwork rhythms have become stable and flowing. Avoid strenuous or fast moves. Incorporate several primary stretches for legs, shoulders and back. Save refined moves for later. |
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Count clearly throughout the class As you warm up and execute moves, use timely cues to synch up with the rhythmic phrasing. Count in lots of 4 or 8 and remember to emphasize the number 'one' to highlight the new beat. Balance the amount of time you spend counting by selecting full phrases intermittently and allow time for participants to 'hear' rhythm so they get a sense of the underlying rhythmic structure and how it correlates to footwork. Use your voice more powerfully on the 'one' beat to denote it's importance as the key beat that signals change. Avoid over-counting because the ultimate aim is for students to recognise rhythm shifts in music without constant vocal time-keeping. |
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Develop co-ordination skills in layers Everyone will grasp the concept of co-ordination and timing at their own pace, so always build the step by step layers from the ground up. Begin with footwork, then add co-ordinated arm work, floor patterns and directional change in sequence. We call this 'pyramiding' - which funnily enough has no reference to anything Egyptian in this case, but is the term given to the concept of beginning with a basic format which is added to in layers to build a complete movement using the whole body - integrating limb co-ordination, timing, pattern, spatial awareness and direction. Patience is required with a recognition of varying levels of ability within the class. |
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Focus on technique, refinement and correct execution of moves Continuously correct the student's posture - remind them to maintain strong abdominals, an erect spine, push shoulders back and be aware of good postural alignment. Explain and break down the individual movements in stages; what is experienced in the feet, where does the weight shift and how does the move engage different muscle groups during it's execution. Be clear, use visual cues, audio/sound reference and a kinesthetic (hands-on) approach if necessary. Correct any mistakes quickly before they become habitual. People appreciate being corrected and steered on course, as it improves their overall technique and confidence. |
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Develop sequences and routines Show students how different moves fit together and explain the transition stages - how the flow from one move to the next occurs. Be specific and demonstrate in slow motion or half speed for clarity. Step through the move showing exact foot placement and make sure to correct everyone as they demonstrate the transitions. Building on these technicalities, culminate complete routines that fit into phrases of pre-selected music. Routines and sequences should consist of several clear moves joining to form a complete, tidy sequence. |
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Work with the music and rhythm Explain both rhythmic and melodic elements and how the rhythm is the base structure and the melody is open to interpretation. Demonstrate the nuance of musicality in dance by playing different musical pieces and get the students to listen and identify the various instruments. Describe and show how the music is interpreted within the body - eg: drums/hips, violin/shoulders, accordian/chest, flute/arms. Give students time to listen to appropriate instrumental pieces that you have pre-selecetd and let them explore the instinctive music-body relationship during class. This develops their skills for musical interpretation. |
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Balance choreography and improvisation Teach both prepared choreography and creative improvisation. Use choreography for structure and maintain its constancy, ie: avoid changing the set choreography on impulse. An unchanging format will strengthen the student's understanding of flow and symmetry. Work with improvisation to enhance creative expression and tune the participant's ear to the music and their instinctive physical and emotive response to it. Choreographies that allow for periods of structured and improvised dance are the best as they are balanced to integrate both the participant's technical skills and creativity ability. |
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Set challenges and monitor development
of student's skills Set challenges where the memory must be used - sequences and structural patterns are ideal as they must bring co-ordination and timing faculties into the dancer's repertoire. These skills are concrete and can be referenced at any time the dancer identifies the same rhythm or a similar musical piece. It becomes a staple that once learnt, will become a multi-purpose skill. For the participant's growing confidence, allow time for creative expression without restraints as this facilitates individual response and faith in their own ability to translate any music. |
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Mentoring not mothering Stay focused as a trainer, maintaining your role as mentor who is there to support, teach and correct the student as they learn. Encouragement and positivity is essential, but avoid becoming an emotional support for the participant who needs to work on personal issues. It can be draining and taxing for you as a teacher if you allow yourself to fall into this role of counselor. Clear boundaries from the start will ensure these often touchy personal situations don't arise in the first place. Your energy as a teacher is best invested into helping your student become a confident and knowledgeable dancer, therefore your clarity ultimately inspires their confidence and presents you as a capable role model. |
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10.
Develop your teaching style to support YOUR vision |
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