There will always be students who will learn more slowly than their peers. Are your partner exercises and instructions safe, comfortable, and considerate? Wh… Beyond the essential experience in and passion for dance required to make it as a dance teacher, here are a few other skills, qualities and abilities you’re likely to need. Respect is given where respect is due; an effective and respectable teacher should always be at the pinnacle of professionalism. Thankfully, each attribute is something that can be learned and developed, even if you’re not born with it. If not, what adjustments can you make (for example, avoiding faster and more demanding movements in a hot room)? Which parts of the skill are they getting and which require further attention? As you teach, use anatomical terms like "lumbar spine" interchangeably with descriptive terms like "lower back." A good dance teacher is sensitive to the needs of his or her students. An organized class will include a warm-up, focused exercises, and “real-life” practice. Dance teachers need to be able to go with the flow, and this is something that poses a struggle for some professional dancers. But a dance teacher’s educational background is sometimes not directly correlated to his or her knowledge in the art of dance. No student would like to be taught by someone who does not take each class seriously. What skills, knowledge, and abilities are required to be a great teacher? A memorable dance instructor is always one who has a solid sense of artistry for the craft. Modern teachers need to be competent in not only basic skills but new skill sets. Strong communication skills are vital -- teachers need to be able to convey complex information in an understandable way. This includes the volume, speed, intonation, and tone of your voice, the clarity of your ideas and phrasing, and the body language (eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, and overall posture) that keeps students’ attention and interest. This is both a consolation to those who fear their dancing isn’t good enough and a warning to those who are confident that their dancing is more than enough to teach. The passion of the teacher for the art must show through and rub off on his or her students. I’ve seen them un-favor students in one case by preventing good dancers rotating to individuals because the teacher doesn’t like the target. Pursuing a career as a dance instructor, choreographer or dancer requires many of the same skills and tasks as other industries, but there are specific ways you can be sure to always put your best foot forward, so to speak.Because dance jobs are physically demanding, it almost goes without saying that physical fitness and proper nutrition are job requirements. Some of the most effective dance instructors do not focus on just one style alone- they are able to use and adapt different styles for their lessons. Even without obvious biases like the ones you mentioned, I think it’s easy to subconsciously spend more time with the students who are having the most difficulty, the students who are the most outgoing about asking for attention (“squeaky wheels”), or the students who for whatever reason draw you to them because of their personality or attitude. They must be creative as they interpret the music and teach dancers the correct tempo for various movements. Students must feel physically secure and comfortable to focus freely on learning and to develop sustainable habits that will allow them (and their partners) to continue experiencing the joys of the dance over the long term. Skills Needed to Be a Teacher. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Beyond Dance Ability: 10 More Skills You Need to Be a Great Dance Teacher, Dance: Aspiring to the World’s Favorite Metaphor, Why Leading Is Not More Difficult Than Following, and How to Make It True. He or she must learn when to encourage, when to prod, when to adjust, and when to correct a pupil. All dance teachers should have a method to their madness – usually one that is born of trial and experience. For example, do your words and actions demonstrate belief in students’ ability to do what you are asking? Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. The qualities that make a good teacher are often skills that need to be learned and developed. And the teacher should be able to show this much respect for dance in the way he or she acts in class- whether it’s the way he or she dresses, talks, and interacts with the students. Dealing and engaging constructively with different types of people and situations, including ones that are frustrating, confusing, annoying, etc. There is more to teaching than just choreographing a few dance moves and expecting students to blindly follow suit. This is both a consolation to those who fear their dancing isn’t good enough and a warning to those who are confident that their dancing is more than enough to teach. Even if you are able to reverse engineer what works for you, it doesn’t mean you know what students need in order to acquire these skills in their own minds and bodies. For many, dancing is more than an art; it’s a lifestyle. A teacher is also a lifelong student. For example, you passed if you score a 250 in Dance Elements and Skills and the minimum passing score is 240. Is your class location clean, well lit, temperature controlled, and free of distracting sights, sounds, and smells? Finding different ways of expressing a concept to provide both repetition and variety for different learning styles is also important. As a private dancing teacher you would usually work for yourself and offer classes in a venue like a leisure centre or a church hall. Although I’m not a Tango teacher, I agree with your topics. People who want to work as Dance Teachers need to have degree programs offered by some Colleges and Performing Arts schools. Is the music too loud or too soft for what they’re being asked to do? Technical Skills . His or her class is not merely a collection of amateur students, but a group of people who are passionate to learn the intricacies of dance. The best teachers create space in that process for questions, exploration, and problem-solving. New students (and even seasoned veterans) may be slow to understand new concepts or execute difficult movements. Below are the skills needed to ensure that you do … You’ll need at least a high school diploma if you want to work as a dance teacher. Patience. You need to know more than just a certain style of dancing to become a good teacher, you also need to have teaching skills that have been approved and validated by a recognised authority… Many if not most high-level dancers are largely unaware and/or inarticulate about how they do what they do. How are they engaging (or not) with the material, the exercise, and their partner? Patience is always a hallmark virtue of any good teacher. Ballet has a very demanding technique, but with focus and practice you can work your way to become an even better dancer.. A good dance class builds progressivelyfrom the basic knowledge and skills to a widearray of abilities that support the complexity ofthe art form. By the time they are in their 30’s, most of them have already received an extensive education at premier dance schools and universities, or have an established career dancing for dance groups and theater companies. I would add, or incorporate into an existing item being ‘fair and balanced’. For any ballet dance lesson, you must be aware of the certain skills to help you improve. In addition to the practical purpose it serves, your skill as a dancer helps with inspiring students to take your classes and to aspire to your level of technique and artistry. 1. Entry requirements Good teachers study and strive to create a curriculum or process to guide students with logical standards, goals and objectives. The ability to be an effective visual and kinesthetic model of the dance for your students is therefore essential to teaching. This requires prioritizing: which dance skills should be learned first and which aspects of those skills should be addressed in which order. Here are five skills I gained from my dance training that will serve any dancer long after their final bows. Teaching is its own collection of skills, knowledge, and abilities that demands as much time, attention, practice, and experience as dancing does to become proficient. This means clearing your mind of distractions before, during, and after class so you can focus on your students, identifying your weaknesses and mistakes and taking concrete steps to practice and improve, letting go of your lesson plan when necessary to follow the needs and energy of your students, and allowing yourself to be a student even when you are the teacher. The more often young dancers hear those words in context, the more likely it is they'll stick. A teacher should make an effort to work their way around a class to give some attention to all students. Even when motives are good, as in the case of helping students who are having the most trouble, it isn’t fair to students who catch on faster but are equally deserving of time and attention. In each aspect of dance training, theteacher needs to identify the basic foundation, andthen build upon that knowledge base. You could work with people with different ages and abilities from school pupils to adults and pensioners. Your test scores are available 30 days after taking the exam. An effective teacher knows that the body needs time to adapt gradually to new choreography. Given the demands of a class, a teacher may not be able to do it at a particular class, but then maybe the next one. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Aside from dance training, a good dance instructor needs a few skills to succeed. Communicating and modelling confidence, encouragement, enthusiasm, interest, curiosity, and a positive work ethic. Of course, people have differing opinions on what being a good dance teacher entails. Subjects are delivered by highly qualified and experienced professionals in a supportive learning environment. You'll need a relevant degree in dance or performing arts. Education. Virtue of any good teacher are often skills what skills do you need to be a dance teacher need to be an visual. 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