Teachers
as Students
Finding
the Courage to Further Your Dance Education
Because we teach dance, we have a responsibility to keep our own knowledge
current. We must continue to educate ourselves on the latest safe teaching
practices,
the most up-to-date dance styles, and certainly the latest market trends.
Yet while
there are some dance educators for whom teaching is the realization of a
long-held
dream and a carefully planned career path, many of us just kind of fell
into teaching
and thus often have a fear of further education.
But just being a well trained dancer with a passion for your art may not be
enough. I
believe it is the duty of all teachers to be the very best they can be.
This requires a
commitment to furthering our knowledge.
The task can be a very scary one to tackle because we must first admit that
there is a
lot we don't know. By seeking further education, we are asking for help in
our
profession -- a step that can make us feel very vulnerable. Suddenly we
are not the
ones giving corrections, but the ones getting them. Still, the rewards are
well worth
the effort. Before long, you will begin to feel more in control of your
teaching career.
You'll be able to take your newfound knowledge and implement it immediately
in
your classes. You'll take pride in the responsible position you have
chosen. And you
can include your newly acquired credentials on your resume, and in
advertising and
school brochures.
So how to get started? There are many avenues. The specifics are too
numerous to
mention here, but I'll give you categories to explore plus some examples.
Teachers'
Conferences
Depending on where you live, you should be able to find summer conferences
as well
as those that run during winter breaks. Here in Australia, the Australian
Dance
Council -- better known as Ausdance Inc. -- is a comprehensive source of
up-coming
conferences, workshops and forums. Membership in Ausdance is only $40AU
annually. In the United States, Dance Masters of America and
Dance
Educators of
America are two of the most popular conferences. Other excellent ones
advertise in
dance publications.
Master
Classes and Seminars
Many of the world's great teachers host events during which they pass on
their
knowledge and unique theories. DanceArt.com's own Finis Jhung gives
seminars at
the Broadway Dance Center in NYC which are attended by people from around
the
globe. The legendary David Howard gives master classes at
Ballet Academy
East in
NYC. Claude Bessy of the Paris Opera Ballet also offers teachers'
seminars. Again,
check dance publications for ads. Also try search engines on the Web.
Workshops
For a Particular Syllabus or Curriculum
Are you interested in the Royal Academy of Dancing (RAD) syllabus? Or the
Cecchetti curriculum? How about the Vaganova method? When you're looking
for a
job, being certified to teach a certain style can be a plus. Stay alert to
ads in dance
publications and in newspapers.
Colleges
and Universities
Dance in higher education has exploded in recent decades. For example, the
Teacher's College of Columbia University in New York offers a dance
education
major. The same is true at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where
America's
first college dance department was founded in 1917 by Margaret H'Doubler.
Scores
of other major institutions offer similar degree programs. In Australia,
the population
is so scattered that it is often too expensive for teachers to travel to
the eastern
states where most of the workshops and forums occur. As a result, a Dance
Teaching Course by External Study has commenced at the Queensland
University of Technology.
Internet
ListServs
There are Internet mail groups that provide an anonymous platform for you
to ask
your questions and get your answers. Of course, the replies you receive are
also from
anonymous people and you may be inundated with conflicting information from
these
unofficial teachers of dance. However, if you have a real fear of breaking
into
education, I highly recommend these e-mail groups as a starting point. One
of the
most welcoming lists is the Dance Ballet Mailing List at http://www.danceart.com/dblist. This list is not restricted to discussions
about ballet. It covers any topic having to do with dance. The group
currently
enjoys some very experienced teachers, choreographers and lecturers as
active members. Other dance mailing lists can be found at http://url.co.nz/arts/dancemail.html
Dance
Web Sites
There are also web sites -- like the wonderful one this column is a part of
-- which
offer articles by professionals along with chat rooms and
message boards
which let
you interact with experts you might never encounter anywhere but
cyberspace. Check
out the web ring on this site.
BOOKS AND VIDEOS
Steep yourself in the many print resources that are out there, and stock a
good video
library. This, like your virtual travels around the Web, is an excellent
way to stay up
to date at minimal cost and without ever leaving home.
Once you have begun the adventure of learning all you can about your
profession,
you'll wonder what you were waiting for. And as you continue your journey,
remember that there is no such thing as a silly question. The more you
ask, the more
you'll learn -- and the greater your self-esteem will be. Of course, the
best part is that
your wonderful students will ultimately benefit from your newfound
knowledge and
confidence.
After all, we are all students of dance!
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