Let's Talk Dance Let's Talk Dance
Kathryn,
Thank you for your 'What am I worth?' article. I am right where you described, only I also home-school my six-year-old (which is kind of nice because as you mentioned, I wouldn't see him anyway since I work after 3:30 when he would be getting home from school.) I have a nine month old son, too. Until December I was coaching our gymnastics team as well as the dance teams. I have made the very difficult decision to fold the gymnastics team due to my time constraints, and the fact that the atmosphere at dance contests is far more positive than at USA Gymnastics meets. I felt like the dance competitions were much better for the self-esteem of my students. I talked my competitive gymnasts into becoming an acrobatic team to compete at the same venues as the dance teams. It's working out, and now I have more time for family.
Your article made me realize that I made the right choice. I am also involved in community theatre for their musicals, and the high school dance team. I think my husband was wondering where his wife had gone! My son dances, which gets us together, and he competes. It's nice that he shares my passion for the art. It's been interesting trying to fuse my two lives and two loves. Your article made me realize that I'm not alone, and that I am doing the best that I can. Thanks for making me realize that I am worth all that!
I do have a question. I am in a small town, and understaffed (obviously). What suggestions do you have about hiring parents or younger students? Parents seems like a far cry to me because you just can't "crash course" a dance education, and I'm really picky about staffing. I've read such negative things about having fifteen-year-olds teach the "baby classes," but what else is there to do? Right now I keep a 6-1 student/teacher ratio. Usually I have the fifteen-year-olds help one of our three instructors (including myself) so that I can maybe cram ten students into a class with a good conscience. I'm afraid too many will reduce the learning factor, which I really pride our school on. Any ideas?
Thanks.
Stephanie.
Dear Stephanie:
I am glad you enjoyed the article. I have gotten several responses similar to yours so we "are not alone!" Your dilemma with staffing is not unique either. It is an indication of what a fine teacher you are that you even express such concern over staffing as I can name several studios who do not stress over the qualifications of the individual leading the class. Unfortunately we do not always live in an area that is bustling with qualified dance educ-ators. In fact, few of us do have that luxury so we must rely on other resources if we wish to really serve the needs of our community.
Let me first say that I feel comfortable that you can take your student/teacher ratio up to an 8 to 10 swing as long as you have an assistant in the class with you. This is a very manageable number and will relieve some of your issues. Secondly, you can resource parents who have a movement background or an early childhood education background as long as they are willing to do continual training and as long as you have a pretty set curriculum. So much of being a teacher is having the patience and the ability to transmit the information to the learner. And finally, what I believe is a very effective tool is the training and use of student teachers.
I have many colleagues who do not agree with this concept at all and I respect their opinions but student teachers continue to be an essential element in my studio schedule and course offerings. Qualified and interested students may begin training as young as 9 or 10 by serving as a class aide. By the time they are 12, the student may begin training as an assistant to a regular staff teacher. By the age of 15 or 16, with a set curriculum to follow, our student teachers are very capable of running their own class. By their junior and senior years in high school, they are quite useful to the studio and are respected by the parents and the students. Not to mention, they develop leadership skills that most their age never have the opportunity to employ.
There are some key elements in doing this though. First of all, you must only use and encourage those who show an interest and a natural ability to teach. Forcing a student to teach, regardless of their technical level, is never a guarantee of developing a "student teacher." Secondly, they must be prepared to earn and maintain the respect of the parents. We do not coddle them nor do I do their communicating for them. And lastly, you must not overload them. They are not adults yet although they are very capable of leading one or two classes and maintaining their own dance and school schedules.
Good luck with your school and enjoy your family!
Kathryn Austin has been writing for Dancer for 11 years. She owns the Centre for Dance & the Performing Arts and Geared to Dance in Winter Garden, Florida. She is a certified and licensed instructor of Focus on Healing, The Lebed Method. Austin has a BFA and MA in Dance. You can send questions to Kathryn Austin at kaustin2@cfl.rr.com or at PO BOX 771518, Winter Garden, FL 34777.