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Teaching dance is an incredibly satisfying job — you get to watch your students embrace movement while discovering new things about themselves. When teaching young children to dance, it's all about getting imaginative and keeping the class moving. For older kids and adults, you can focus more on technique and cultivating individual dance styles. No matter what their age is, it's important to create a safe and supportive environment for dancers. [1]
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Expert Source
Lorena Bravo, MA
Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor
Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.
Steps
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Take charge of your class during your very first encounter. First impressions are important, and you want yours to portray you as confident, energetic, and in-control of the class. Don’t be shy or speak too softly when first meeting your students. Show them that while you're the leader, you respect them and want to have fun. [2] X Research source
- Speak in a confident tone and set class expectations and boundaries during the very first class. You could even ask the class to help you create 3 rules or guidelines to follow during every dance class.
- Encourage your students to seek you out if they're having problems or just want to talk.
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Understand each individual's dance skill level. You might be teaching students who have danced their entire lives or students who have never stepped foot into a dance class. [3] X Expert Source Yolanda Thomas
Dance Instructor Expert Interview. 15 November 2019. No matter what their skill level is, you should be able to explain new things to them in a way that they’ll understand. Use terminology that they know and be patient with them. [4] X Research source- If you don't know what level each of your students is on, take the time at the start of the class to ask each of them. You can also send out a survey before the class starts to find out more information about their dance backgrounds.
- If you have more advanced students in a class with beginners or intermediate-level students, you can either teach the whole class more advanced terms and steps, or you can go around the classroom occasionally to give individualized instructions to more advanced dancers.
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Appeal to all different types of learners. Whether your students are visual, mathematical, auditory, or kinesthetic learners, you need to be able to teach them in a way that they’ll understand. Explain what you’re doing verbally when physically showing a new step or routine, and make sure you allow the students plenty of time to practice it themselves. [5] X Research source
- If you have a learner who understands mathematical terms best, try to give the precise degree of a turn or the exact number of steps. Put an emphasis on counting to the beat.
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Create a safe environment for your students. While dance can be freeing and exciting, it can also make you feel exposed and self-conscious. Work on creating an environment where everyone in your class feels safe and able to be themselves. [6] X Expert Source Lorena Bravo, MA
Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor Expert Interview. 19 May 2020. It’s important to challenge your students, but don’t push them too far out of their comfort zones.- If a student doesn't want to perform a step in front of the group, or they aren't comfortable holding someone else's hand in a routine, don't force them to do something they're not comfortable with.
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Talk less and move more. While you’re going to need to talk to explain things, you should keep your talking to a minimum. Try really hard to explain things clearly and succinctly so that you’re not rambling on. A dance class focuses less on lecturing and more on physically moving around as the form of learning. [7] X Research source
- When you are talking, make sure you clearly enunciate your words and are talking loud enough for everyone to hear you.
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Respect students' different social, economic, and cultural backgrounds. You may have students who are very open to dancing and are excited, or others who haven’t been exposed to dance and are very nervous. There’s also the factor of personal space — some students might not be comfortable with close contact of another person, such as in couple dancing or doing a lift. Keep everyone’s backgrounds in mind when teaching, and don’t push them to do something they’re not comfortable with. [8] X Research source
- You don't need to know all the details of someone's background. Simply make sure that you're being aware — this means watch for any signs that your students are uncomfortable with something, and tell them often to come to you if they have problems or concerns.
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Repeat new steps as often as possible. One of the best ways dancers learn is through repetition. Give them opportunities to practice repeating a new step or routine over and over again until they feel confident in it or figure out what they’re doing wrong. [9] X Research source
- You can let them practice individually, put them into groups, or split the dancers in half and have one half practice the step or routine while the other half watches.
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Use your music to help you teach. Music is a super important part of dance. Try to teach a new routine to the tempo of the song you’ll be dancing to, even when the music isn’t playing. If you teach a routine at a slower pace than the music, your students are going to have a hard time keeping up when you turn the song on. [10] X Research source
- Always pick out your music ahead of time, and keep it age-appropriate.
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Allow yourself to be humorous or good-natured. A dance teacher doesn’t need to be strict or intense all the time. Try to throw some humor into the class to make everyone feel more comfortable, or even create a laid back vibe to help form a warm and supportive environment. [11] X Research source
- Be comfortable with making mistakes, and even be alright with making fun of yourself. If your students see you brushing off your mistakes, they’ll be more likely to do the same.
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Create a detailed plan, but be prepared to improvise the whole time. Creating an interesting and engaging lesson plan for children is very important for running a successful dance class, but kids can be very unpredictable. Have an idea of how you’d like the class to go, including lots of backup ideas. There’s a fair chance something won’t go as planned, and you’ll need to know how to improvise. [12] X Research source
- Always plan more activities than you have time for. This way, if one activity isn’t working out or you need a different way of bring up their energy level, you can jump right to your next activity without worrying about running out of ideas.
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Establish a routine. Children will respond well to a routine — they like to have an idea of what’s going to happen so that they have things to look forward to and are able to focus better. Create a routine that you stick to each dance class, and try to repeat it in the same order each time. [13] X Research source
- Your routine can be as simple as leading them through a wiggle warm-up, teaching them a new dance term or move, and then playing a game.
- Of course, there are going to be times when you stray from the routine, but more-or-less sticking to a schedule will help keep your class under control.
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Model the behavior you want the kids to copy. Children are always looking for someone to take the cues from, so use this to your advantage. Instead of just telling them what they should be doing, do it with them. If you want them to sit quietly on their spot, you sit quietly on your spot first. By modeling the behavior you’re looking for, kids will be much more likely to listen and understand. [14] X Research source
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Keep the class moving. Young children have a very short attention span, and you’ll lose them once they become bored. Try not to spend more than 15 minutes on one activity, and transition quickly from one thing to the next. [15] X Research source
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Use creative imagery to help kids understand movement. Instead of just saying “Stretch out your legs,” try telling the children to “paint the floor with their toes.” Using imagery to create a picture in their minds of how the movement should look will help them with their dance skills while also stimulating their imagination. [16] X Research source
- Children love to play pretend, so use this to your advantage in a dance class. Telling kids to run across the room “to catch the Big Bad Wolf” or reach their arms up “to hold a cloud” will make the class more fun for everyone.
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Offer positive feedback as much as possible. Dancing can be an intimidating thing for many people, including young children. Try to encourage your students at every opportunity, offering them words of praise or positive feedback when they’re doing well. [17] X Expert Source Lorena Bravo, MA
Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor Expert Interview. 19 May 2020. Building confidence in young dancers is important, and offering them constant smiles and encouragement is a great way to do this. [18] X Research source- You can use words of praise to correct children as well, saying things like “I love all of those pointed toes!” when you want them to point their toes.
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Keep your movements and your voice energized. If you seem tired and uninterested in dancing, the kids are going to start feeling the same. Keep your energy level high and use an excited tone of voice. Make your excitement contagious — the children will pick up on your energy and get excited to dance too. [19] X Research source
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Use the whole space to dance. Kids tend to get antsy when they're stuck in one spot for too long. Use the entire dance space that you have available. Let them dance across the room, huddle up in a corner, or face the mirror. Just keep changing it up. [20] X Research source
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Embrace their unique dance skills. If you start teaching young children with the goal of making them into perfect dancers with precise moves and techniques, you’re going to be disappointed. Kids aren’t going to do routines or steps perfectly. The most important thing for you to teach them is to love expressing themselves through dancing, and to embrace movement of all sorts. [21] X Research source
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Stretch or warm up at the start of each class. [22] X Expert Source Yolanda Thomas
Dance Instructor Expert Interview. 15 November 2019. As you get older, it’s important to take care of your muscles when moving around. Start off each class with a warm-up activity or simple stretches. This will get everyone physically and mentally relaxed and ready to focus on new steps or routines. [23] X Research source- Spend 5-10 minutes warming up.
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Break down a dance routine thoroughly when teaching it. Don’t go quickly through new dance moves, assuming your students will pick up on them. Break it down step by step, moving your body slowly so that they can see exactly what’s happening. [24] X Expert Source Yolanda Thomas
Dance Instructor Expert Interview. 15 November 2019. Explain what you’re doing verbally as well, and pause a few moments after you’ve finished explaining so that the instructions sink in. [25] X Research source -
Provide precise instructions as often as possible. When teaching a new concept, give your students exact details. Tell them the number of steps, the specific degree of a turn, or exactly where their hands should be. You may feel like you’re going overboard with the specifics, but one detail can really help a student understand something they had been missing. [26] X Research source
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Explain movement beyond just footwork. While footwork is a very important part of dance, there are many other aspects to teach. Work with teens and adults on achieving great posture, energy levels, appropriate facial expressions, and hand movement while dancing. [27] X Research source
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Watch teens and adults to see what they’re struggling with. When students are trying a routine or new step themselves, watch them practice it. By being able to spot where someone is having difficulty with a turn or which new step is causing frustration, you’ll be able to address and help solve problems students might be having. [28] X Research source
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Provide them with extra resources for learning to dance. Think about creating a handout with key terms or steps that you taught the class one day, or send them the music file so they can practice the choreography to the right song. You might even consider recording yourself doing the dance routine so that you can email it to them to watch. [29] X Research source
- Since many times you’ll be chopping up or only using part of a song when you’re choreographing, it’s especially helpful to give this edited version of a song to your students.
- If you’ve created a detailed syllabus or lesson plan, consider posting it online or sending it in an email so that your students have access to it.
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Encourage them to learn from other dancers. Reading dance reviews and watching dancers perform, either in person or on a screen, can be incredibly helpful to students. Encourage them to attend performances, read critiques, and watch videos of other dancers to learn from their movement. [30] X Research source
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Embrace a dancer’s set style, if applicable. If you find yourself teaching a dancer who has been dancing for many years, they’ve most likely developed their own personal style of dancing. It can be tempting to try to make them dance exactly how you do, but this isn’t very achievable. Instead, embrace their unique style and work with them to teach them new techniques and movements that can enhance their own. [31] X Research source
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Communicating with Students
Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do you teach beginners?Lorena Bravo is a Dance Instructor and the Founder of Bravo Dancing Ballroom Academy based in Los Angeles, California. Specializing in ballroom dancing for both American Smooth and International Standard Divisions, Lorena has over 20 years of professional dance experience. Along with running Bravo Dancing, Lorena has served on the faculty of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and is currently on the faculty at Chapman University’s dance department. She is also the head ballroom coach for the University of Southern California (USC) Ballroom and Latin Dance Team. Lorena holds a BA in Psychology and an MA in Bilingual Education from USC and is certified in Associate American Smooth by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.Make it clear that mistakes are normal and important when learning to dance — you could even say that you hope they will make mistakes, helping to alleviate some of their nerves.
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QuestionWhat can I do to be a better dance instructor?Yolanda Thomas is a Hip Hop Dance Instructor based in Los Angeles, California and Sydney, Australia. Yolanda has taught hip hop at the Sydney Dance Company and is a two-time winner of the LA Music Award for singing and songwriting. She has won Choreographer of the Year by GROOVE, an Australian hip hop dance competition and was hired by Google to choreograph their Sydney Mardi Gras float.Stay patient with your students and teach things slowly so they learn how to do moves safely.
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Tips
- Try to have your lesson plan memorized — you don't want to have to keep whipping it out in the middle of class.Thanks
- After you finish teaching a class, take detailed notes about what you taught them, what went well, and what you would change.Thanks
- Take time to watch other dance teachers lead their class. You can learn a lot of new techniques and activities by observing other experienced teachers.Thanks
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References
- ↑ Lorena Bravo, MA. Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor. Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.
- ↑ https://socialdance.stanford.edu/Syllabi/teaching_tips.htm
- ↑ Yolanda Thomas. Dance Instructor. Expert Interview. 15 November 2019.
- ↑ https://www.tututix.com/dance-teacher-training-4-common-mistakes-new-instructors-make/
- ↑ https://socialdance.stanford.edu/Syllabi/teaching_tips.htm
- ↑ Lorena Bravo, MA. Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor. Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.
- ↑ https://www.tututix.com/dance-teacher-training-4-common-mistakes-new-instructors-make/
- ↑ http://ausdance.org.au/articles/details/effective-dance-teaching-methods
- ↑ https://www.tututix.com/dance-teacher-training-4-common-mistakes-new-instructors-make/
- ↑ https://socialdance.stanford.edu/Syllabi/teaching_tips.htm
- ↑ https://socialdance.stanford.edu/Syllabi/teaching_tips.htm
- ↑ https://365dances.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/how-to-teach-dance-to-children-10-helpful-hints/
- ↑ http://www.danceadvantage.net/12-tips-for-teaching-tots/
- ↑ http://www.danceadvantage.net/12-tips-for-teaching-tots/
- ↑ http://www.danceadvantage.net/12-tips-for-teaching-tots/
- ↑ http://www.danceadvantage.net/12-tips-for-teaching-tots/
- ↑ Lorena Bravo, MA. Professional Dance Instructor & Competitor. Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.
- ↑ http://www.danceadvantage.net/12-tips-for-teaching-tots/
- ↑ http://www.danceadvantage.net/12-tips-for-teaching-tots/
- ↑ https://365dances.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/how-to-teach-dance-to-children-10-helpful-hints/
- ↑ https://365dances.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/how-to-teach-dance-to-children-10-helpful-hints/
- ↑ Yolanda Thomas. Dance Instructor. Expert Interview. 15 November 2019.
- ↑ https://socialdance.stanford.edu/Syllabi/teaching_tips.htm
- ↑ Yolanda Thomas. Dance Instructor. Expert Interview. 15 November 2019.
- ↑ https://socialdance.stanford.edu/Syllabi/teaching_tips.htm
- ↑ https://socialdance.stanford.edu/Syllabi/teaching_tips.htm
- ↑ https://socialdance.stanford.edu/Syllabi/teaching_tips.htm
- ↑ https://socialdance.stanford.edu/Syllabi/teaching_tips.htm
- ↑ https://socialdance.stanford.edu/Syllabi/teaching_tips.htm
- ↑ http://ausdance.org.au/articles/details/effective-dance-teaching-methods
- ↑ https://socialdance.stanford.edu/Syllabi/teaching_tips.htm
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