My first two years of teaching I taught completely by myself. Although this is a perfectly reasonable thing to do, once you have had an assistant in class you will never want to go back.
Assistant teachers are usually, but not always, students at the dance studio. Assistants typically help with supervising bathroom visits, handing out newsletters, props and stickers, demonstrating exercises and choreography, assist in changing student’s shoes, taking the roll, starting & stopping music and lining up dancers. During recitals or concerts assistants can line up the dancers and give a little TLC to anxious dancers.
How do you choose your assistants?
Some teachers recruit straight out of class based on the student’s qualities and skills. I have heard of prospective candidates being asked to write an essay on why they would make a good assistant. Students may be chosen based on their attendance and dedication to dance. The best dancers don’t necessarily make the best assistants. Do try to choose someone with a liberal dose of common sense – it goes a long way in the classroom. A love of being with young children also helps. A few requirements that will assist in making the best choice are asking the students to sign an assistant’s contract, completing a trial period and undertaking training by the studio.
Training
Assistants should attend a meeting at which duties and responsibilities are discussed. A group meeting before every class, explaining what will happen in the lesson and what will be required of the assistants is useful. That way, you're not expecting them to jump in and guess what's going on. Make an effort to explain what you expect the assistant to do as each lesson progresses. New assistants can be very apprehensive and things an experienced teacher does automatically must be explained-for example, standing at the front of the room and mirroring the students' movements. When I leave the room, I always say, 'The following things must be done...,'. With time, good assistants should be able to offer assistance to a struggling child without being prompted by the teacher. But until then, training is an ongoing process.
At the studio, requirements can include conforming to the school's dress code, helping with vacuuming and other chores and following rules of proper etiquette: smiling, keeping a positive attitude, being polite and respectful to parents, and never arguing with an instructor.
To pay or not to pay
Many studios do not pay their assistants but reward them in some other manner. This may be in the form of lessons, costume deductions or free merchandise. Payment in monetary terms is usually minimal or even as much as a McDonalds pay scheme. I have used a monetary pay system and the alternative system of discounting their dance fees. Both systems have worked well. There are, of course, other benefits to assisting: it looks good on a resume, they learn the discipline of holding down a job and they learn first hand the trials and tribulations of dance teaching.
A good dance assistant is really worth the investment in training them well. The benefit for the studio is that they will understand the aims of not only the studio but the senior teacher as well. Hopefully the outcome will be that you get through more material in class and therefore the benefits roll over to the younger students.
Good Luck!
TDT
Showing posts with label dance teaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dance teaching. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
MAKE A MOVE INTO TEACHING
The Age (Australia)
Saturday January 19, 2008
Yvonne Nicolas
CHANNEL Seven's Dancing with the Stars program has ignited greater interest in careers for dance teachers. According to Bianca Tonizzo, dance instructor from Ooh La La Dance (Cambridge College), Dancing with the Stars has re-educated people about ballroom dancing.
"Most people's perception of ballroom dancing is wrong. They think it is only slow line dancing for the older generation but quite clearly this is not the case. It is very energetic - a great way to lose weight, have fun and meet people."
Located above Melbourne Central, the dance school teaches a range of people from the corporate sector to university students. Ballarat and Clarendon College also incorporates dance in its curriculum. An open-entry school, there is strong demand for places from local, national and overseas applicants. It teaches dance from primary school level up to and including VCE Dance.
Performing arts head Steven Belcher, says the college attracts students who are serious about pursuing pathways in the performing arts, dance, drama, classical or contemporary music.
"We cater to student interests and skill levels and include both contemporary and classical styles. Students develop their understanding and appreciation of dance as an art form that includes training in technical and physical skills.
"They are taught to build a personal movement vocabulary encompassing a diverse range of body actions - perform choreographed dances in a range of styles and employ choreographic and analytical principles to create and perform their own dance works."
To teach dance at schools in Victoria, teachers need to have a Victorian Institute of Teaching registration. "However, there are many fine dance instructors without that classification having completed certificate courses, diplomas or bachelor degrees in dance who have much to pass onto the next generation of dancers," Mr Belcher says.
He says dance instructors need to be good at their craft, know their subject matter and be able to demonstrate, communicate and inspire. "They challenge their students and make learning fun while using appropriate teaching methods that include use of clear learning goals, accurate monitoring and assessment. And, they give continuous feedback."
A dance teacher must have passion for dance as well as knowledge, adds Ms Tonizzo. "They need passion to teach and to be able to make things simple so people can understand - in particular when teaching at an individual level to provide students with the necessary support."
She says once they have qualified to teach dance they can perform for events, open their own dance studio or even work on shows such as Dancing with the Stars. "Or they can choreograph musicals, provide artistic direction, or co-ordinate events in addition to teaching dance," Mr Belcher says.
Mr Belcher says dance has a strong following among all ages and both sexes.
Teachers at Ooh La La Dance provide lessons in ballet, hip-hop, funk, street Latin, tango, dance sport, social ballroom and Latin. Ms Tonizzo says people enrol to learn to dance "but they also attend to improve their confidence".
According to Mr Belcher, earnings depend on the number of years spent teaching. "However, we are in the process of instituting a system whereby professional teachers are recognised beyond the number of years teaching." -- YVONNE NICOLAS
Saturday January 19, 2008
Yvonne Nicolas
CHANNEL Seven's Dancing with the Stars program has ignited greater interest in careers for dance teachers. According to Bianca Tonizzo, dance instructor from Ooh La La Dance (Cambridge College), Dancing with the Stars has re-educated people about ballroom dancing.
"Most people's perception of ballroom dancing is wrong. They think it is only slow line dancing for the older generation but quite clearly this is not the case. It is very energetic - a great way to lose weight, have fun and meet people."
Located above Melbourne Central, the dance school teaches a range of people from the corporate sector to university students. Ballarat and Clarendon College also incorporates dance in its curriculum. An open-entry school, there is strong demand for places from local, national and overseas applicants. It teaches dance from primary school level up to and including VCE Dance.
Performing arts head Steven Belcher, says the college attracts students who are serious about pursuing pathways in the performing arts, dance, drama, classical or contemporary music.
"We cater to student interests and skill levels and include both contemporary and classical styles. Students develop their understanding and appreciation of dance as an art form that includes training in technical and physical skills.
"They are taught to build a personal movement vocabulary encompassing a diverse range of body actions - perform choreographed dances in a range of styles and employ choreographic and analytical principles to create and perform their own dance works."
To teach dance at schools in Victoria, teachers need to have a Victorian Institute of Teaching registration. "However, there are many fine dance instructors without that classification having completed certificate courses, diplomas or bachelor degrees in dance who have much to pass onto the next generation of dancers," Mr Belcher says.
He says dance instructors need to be good at their craft, know their subject matter and be able to demonstrate, communicate and inspire. "They challenge their students and make learning fun while using appropriate teaching methods that include use of clear learning goals, accurate monitoring and assessment. And, they give continuous feedback."
A dance teacher must have passion for dance as well as knowledge, adds Ms Tonizzo. "They need passion to teach and to be able to make things simple so people can understand - in particular when teaching at an individual level to provide students with the necessary support."
She says once they have qualified to teach dance they can perform for events, open their own dance studio or even work on shows such as Dancing with the Stars. "Or they can choreograph musicals, provide artistic direction, or co-ordinate events in addition to teaching dance," Mr Belcher says.
Mr Belcher says dance has a strong following among all ages and both sexes.
Teachers at Ooh La La Dance provide lessons in ballet, hip-hop, funk, street Latin, tango, dance sport, social ballroom and Latin. Ms Tonizzo says people enrol to learn to dance "but they also attend to improve their confidence".
According to Mr Belcher, earnings depend on the number of years spent teaching. "However, we are in the process of instituting a system whereby professional teachers are recognised beyond the number of years teaching." -- YVONNE NICOLAS
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