DANCE CLINIC
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Sho’sDanceClinic
Sho offers a range of dance teacher training
and development including preparation for
professional dance teaching qualifi cations.
Distance learning, video assessment and
telephone tutorials are available. 1-2-1’s and group
sessions can be booked in UK and worldwide.
Preparation for Performance Coaching is
available for dancers and teachers. Sho has an
extensive professional background in dance,
Fail to prepare, prepare
choreography, exercise and health education and
to fail goes the saying.
can be contacted at
The Deco Partnership on
Sho agrees.
01323 638833
email:
sho@decodanz.co.uk or
www.decodanz.co.uk
TeachingPreparation
There have always been some teachers who for the dancers in this situation is when their
stand in front of their Line dance class with patience is rewarded with them being taught
step sheet in hand, trying to decipher the some incorrect steps, movements or counts.
dance they are supposed to be teaching. Often this is realised just after everyone has
Thankfully until recently this has not been got the hang of what they have been taught
the norm. The majority of teachers have been when the teacher says something like, `oh
preparing their teaching material in advance. no, sorry everyone but I don’t think that
By doing so they have already ironed out any middle bit is quite right’. Then there is much
tricky bits prior to the class and they can fi dgeting of feet and mumbling as the teacher,
concentrate on giving their dancers accurate now under even more pressure, stands staring
instruction. What is worrying at the moment at the step sheet, willing the steps and counts
is the rise in reports of teachers apparently to fall into place and make sense. If he or she
not doing their advanced preparation and is lucky then all of a sudden everything clicks
using what should be teaching time to try to into place and what seemed a tricky piece
work out the script. From speaking to people of choreography or timing becomes clear.
it appears that at least some of these teachers However, it can also be that luck is not with
are blaming the amount of new dances being the teacher and despite staring and staring
released on their inability to prepare work in at the sheet the dance does not become
advance. Whatever the reason for failure to any clearer. When this happens the dancers you are going to teach cannot reasonably be
prepare teaching material in advance, it is a may have to wait until the following week to blamed on the quantity of dances around.
worrying trend that needs to be addressed. fi nd out what the correct section is. Or as After all, the teacher is responsible for the
Preparation is a fundamental part of teaching sometimes happens, the dance is shelved, content and structure of the class. And as so
and as such cannot be ignored. Before I go on never to be taught again by the teacher. many dances are accessible on video now it is
I just want to be clear that I am not referring much easier for teachers (and their dancers)
to, for example, double checking with the If Line dance teachers do not prepare their to check out dances before even reading the
script if the teacher has a momentarily lapse material in advance then how can they step sheet. Being prepared is in some ways
of memory whilst teaching a prepared dance possibly know that the content of the dance like taking the stress out of teaching. Instead
- we can all experience these as we get older, they are trying to work out from the script of standing in front of the class wishing you
oh yes I know just what that is like. is suitable for the group of dancers in the could understand the steps on the sheet you
class? At the very least, surely dancers can relax in the knowledge that you know
Tr ying to work out steps and dances under paying for a class are entitled to expect that what you are going to teach and focus on
pressure can lead to all sorts of problems. their teacher has prepared the dance they providing a quality teaching experience for
Probably one of the most frustrating issues are going to teach? Failing to prepare what your dancers.
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Shos Dance OCT 1 29/8/08, 1:19:40 pm
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