Those Who Can… Do AND Teach!
Dear Readers:
Just days before leaving for Buffalo, New York to attend the NDEO (National Dance Education Organization) Conference as a recipient of the Outstanding Dance Educator of the Year Award, I happened across a wonderful quote that really stuck with me throughout the conference time. The quote read, "Those who can, do and those who believe that others can, teach." As I looked around the conference rooms, workshop studios and the social gatherings at the hundreds of dance educators that had come together for this conference, this quote was clearly illustrated for me. I smiled with pride at being a part of this group of very committed dance educators. These amazing people, these teachers from around the United States and abroad, still "can;" and "do," and "teach."
I am certain that I have mentioned in these very pages the moment at which I declared to my studio teacher (at her notion that I might grow up to be a dance teacher), "Over my dead body!" How offensive that was! How very degrading to her as a teacher when so much of what I know today about relating my art to others is based on her gift to me. It was not that I meant any disrespect to her profession, but simply that I knew that I could never and would never teach.
So, how did I arrive in the position to accept such a prestigious award from such a prestigious organization in the midst of such incredible people? I am, and have been for 26 years, a dance educator. Of course, I consider myself more as "an educator of people through the medium of dance," but nevertheless I am a "dance teacher." Dance is the tool that I employ in facilitating the experiences of others in the process of developing and building life enriching skills. Quite simply, I am a teacher; that is my gift and my teacher recognized that in me! Her intuitiveness about me is just one more indication of what a gifted teacher she was for me and is today for so many generations of dancers since my years with her.
On the night I received my award, I glanced around the room in amazement at the numbers of dance educators who believe, as I do, passionately in the educational necessity of dance and movement studies for all people. I thought to myself, these people could have been anywhere this weekend; working at their studio or dance institution, at a dance competition, boating, gardening, spending time with family and so on. But we were all there together because we believe in the power of dance and the importance of developing ourselves as learners and educators in our field and related fields. And as a whole we believe in the power of the "process" as working hand in hand or sometimes superceding, the "product."
I believe that it may be this "process vs. product" teaching approach that is the conflict that keeps our numbers at this conference in the hundreds, when it should be in the thousands of dance educators that meet annually to share ideas, learn from each other and embrace professional development opportunities and challenges. Teaching to the "product" certainly has its advantages for some and for the elitists of the past; it has existed as a norm in the teaching approaches of dance teachers/masters from specific disciplines. Every aspect of dance education certainly has its place, but the role of dance in America is changing as we become more aware of and more inclusive of the role of dance in the physical, mental, social and emotional development of all persons, not just those who show promise or have the facility for dance technique.
Teaching to process-based outcomes rather than product-based outcomes will not only open the doors for more students to experience dance, but it is, in the long run certain to more effectively yield an honest and fruitful quality product. As a dance educator, you must be prepared that your quality product will be the amazing human being that has grown under your tutelage through the art of dance and will be a happy and productive member of society in whatever field he or she chooses because of the wealth of life lessons learned and nurtured through the moving arts experiences. And yes, some of them will dance professionally and they, too, will teach, and write and support and embrace dance.
When you teach to the process and not the product, when the product does become the dancer, it will be a good fit and far more beautiful than if it had been imposed on an unwilling heart. Educate the person! Educate the body! Educate the heart and soul! Let the product evolve from the process and you will be satisfied that you have done your job as a dance educator in the 21st century.
Note: Please visit www.ndeo.org and www.nrde.org for information on how to become more involved as a professional dance educator on the national level or feel free to contact me and I will point you in the right direction!
Kathryn Austin, R.D.E. can be reached at kaustin2@cfl.rr.com or by snail mail at PO BOX 771518, Winter Garden, FL 34777.