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 I’m
A Teacher, I’m A Learner
By Rhee
Gold
"Those who educate children well are more to be honored than
parents, for these only gave life, those the art of living
well." —Aristotle
If there’s
anything that I’ve learned throughout my teaching life, it’s
that to be an effective teacher, I have to strive to be a
constant student. There are always new advancements in
technique, new and better methods of educating young people,
lesser-used skills to refresh, and current style trends to
discover. “Continuing education” is phrase you hear a lot, and
there’s a good reason for that – it’s crucial to success. One
key place to start is with the dance teacher organizations,
who may offer one or both of the following:
Certification
There are
many organizations that offer certification in various styles
of dance. The core subjects offered by the majority are
ballet, jazz, tap, modern, creative movement or preschool
work, and acrobatics. Certification exams vary; written, oral,
and/or actual movement demonstration may be required.
Syllabi for
each of the core subjects you wish to become certified in are
available through most organizations. The syllabus is often
filled with material, techniques, and curriculum that will not
only prepare you for the exams, but will enhance your
classrooms for years to come.
Teacher
Training Schools, Conferences, Conventions, and Workshops
It is
critical to realize that studying for the exam and then
passing it cannot be the end of a teacher’s training. Look for
organizations and associations that offer continuing education
opportunities to help you keep up-to-date with the latest
techniques and styles.
Once you’ve
taken your exams, be sure to attend the conferences,
conventions, and workshops offered by the organizations. Most
will offer master classes for both teachers and students. Some
organizations offer Teacher Training Schools for those who
wish to train in the organizations’ syllabi formats and to
learn “how to teach.”
Some of
the national organizations offering certification and/or exams
include:
Cecchetti
Council of America [www.cecchetti.org]
Chicago
National Association of Dance Masters [www.cnadm.com]
Dance
Educators of America [www.deadance.com]
Dance
Masters of America [www.dma-national.org]
Southern
Association of Dance Masters [www.sadm.org]
The Dance
Teachers’ Club of Boston [Email:
iammisseleanor@yahoo.com]
Please
note: the above list is only a partial list of organizations.
There are many local organizations and association throughout
the U.S. and Canada. For a sampling of continuing education
opportunities this summer, see our Summer Inspiration
listings that follow.
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