Is Your Curriculum Complete?
What", you think, "does that question mean?" "Of course my curriculum is complete! I offer all disciplines of dance taught by qualified instructors". Well, I am sure you do, but I want to probe deeper into your studio curriculum. Go along with me and start by asking yourself the following questions.
Are you short changing your students? Are you really giving them everything you can when they are at your Studio? Are you totally aware of this wonderful captive "audience of sponges" that is hungry for knowledge as well as caring? I think many of us are not quite fully conscious of what amazing values, in addition to dance education, we have to offer. And what better place to instill some of this, than in their "first, fourth or fifth dancing school" where they have such a good time when they come to class?
There are so many avenues one can take to try and answer all these queries. But for now, I am going to start on First Avenue and talk about what, in addition to dance, we can offer our students from day one. I always ask my students, "Who cares how great of a dancer you are if you are not a nice person inside and out"? I want to start at the beginning and deal with respect, manners and every day common courtesies. How, you ask, does this fit in with teaching dance? Well let's explore that question and see if we find THE answer...or for that matter...any answer.
As in almost everything I teach, I start early providing the students with more information than just dance. I start small and build on the tiniest piece of data I imparted to them the first week. Then as they mature and continue on for years in weekly classes or become members of our competitive company they are ready to handle all sorts of varied situations that might arise. And, as we all know... as with everything we teach, repetition is the key to success.
I want all students from the youngest ones at 3 years of age to the oldest teens in class, to be kind and supportive of each other in class and to be social and have interaction with other adults in the studio in addition to their Teacher. We do not live in a cocoon society...so let the butterfly experience all the frills of life as soon as she can, but in the proper way. I want the students to know and respect each other as well as all the Studio Staff, so I make sure they have that opportunity from day one.
In the beginning of the year in all levels and all ages, I ask the teachers to work in circles with the younger ones and pairs, buddies or small groups with the older ones. In this approach, no one feels left out. Right away, they learn to work as a team and help one another. The teacher also learns very quickly who the "leaders and the stragglers" are. This will help him or her when giving the dancers their places in class. The student support structure is now in place, keeping it in working order is the challenge you as the teacher will have for years to come. Let's move on to some additional basics.
If you have a Studio Secretary...use her more than at the Front Desk. It works great for me when she takes attendance in each class. She goes into the classroom, says a friendly "Good Morning or Afternoon" and the students are taught to respond in the same way. When their name is called, they raise their hand and also verbally say "here or present". Sure it may take a few times, along with some prompting, for the little ones to respond, but they eventually do and are very proud of their accomplishment when it happens. This simple interaction allows the Desk Staff to learn all the students by name and face and it allows the students to know the other Studio Staff that are there for them, when and if they need help. I want the students to feel secure in dealing with all the adult staff in the studio other than their teacher. Even if your teachers takes their own class rolls, have them do it verbally and not just by sight. It is a great time for interaction with the group.
At the end of every class, there is a reverence. Our students from ages 3 through 7 years have composition notebooks that they bring each week to class. They are taught to put them up, by themselves, in a specific spot at the Front Desk when they first come into the studio building. Once the class starts, the desk staff puts stickers or stamps in the books and brings them into the classroom when they take the roll. At the end of their classes the dancers get their dance bag and stand "on their number". The teacher curtseys and says "Good Afternoon Kute Kiddies, or whatever the "Stage Name" of that class is. The students respond in a group with a verbal "Good Afternoon Miss Jennifer" and a curtsey. Then when their own name is called, they come up to the teacher to receive their book and MUST say "Thank You" before the teacher will release the book into their hand. They return to their place to wait and when all is complete they exit the classroom in a nice line to the Reception Room where their smiling faces are proud to show their smiling parents the sticker they received for doing their best. Just this simple exercise alone contains a multitude of classroom discipline and manners that they will use every day for the rest of their lives.
A reverence is part of every class, regardless of the age or discipline being taught. I instruct my Faculty to make sure they say "Thank You and Good Bye" is some way. It can be as effortless as the Jazz teacher applauding the dancers and saying "nice job" and the dancers reciprocating with the same gesture. Or it can be as complex as the teacher giving a 32 count reverence in Ballet Class and then having the dancers come up to her one by one and curtsey before they leave the room. Even in my Tap classes....I would have the dancers line up at one end of the room and do Buffalos, Pullbacks, Flaps or Flap Ball Change across the floor towards the door as I stood there and said "Great Work Today" on their way out. As long as it is done with admiration and respect on both sides...it works for me. It reminds me of that Mutual Admiration Society song! Dance is a discipline, so why not include teaching discipline while we are teaching them to dance? Do you agree?
A simple, but most appreciated gesture done by my Staff at holiday time and at the end of the year, makes a lasting impression on the students. I ask the staff to write to the students who graciously gave them a present. I feel that if you do not have the time to acknowledge the gift, then do not take the time to accept it. The parents tell me that their child is so pleased when he or she receives a note, whether hand written or done on the computer, from their Teacher. It makes them feel special...and that thrills me! Am I a stickler for manners? I guess you might say so. Do I go a bit overboard with what some think is an "old fashioned" position? Some people might think so, but I don't. In today's world and in my book, it is never too late to say "I am sorry" or "Thank You". "Manners make the Man "... the Woman ...and the Child!
When at the studio, I feel the students are mine and in my care while on my turf. I would never be so presumptuous to advise or tell a parent how to train their child when they are at home. And because the parents know I respect them and their decisions, they in turn do not interfere with their child's training when they are at my studio. We treat our students, as well as parents, with utmost courtesy and respect and because of that, we are fortunate to get the same respect in return. I want the students to feel nurtured and good about themselves while they are at the studio. I take every opportunity I can to teach them while they are in the building.
I have always used the "back door approach" with these miniscule lessons. I really do not want them to recognize they are learning something, as they might tune me out, so I do it very subtly, but I do it every time they are there. If you talk...they will listen; if they listen ...they will learn; if they learn it now...they will remember it for years to come. Although I have never been a student of the Bible, I just now learned, thru a friend of mine, that I have employed a teaching philosophy for the past 50 years based on a bible verse. The verse says..."Teach a child in the way that he should go and when he grows up he shall never depart from it". I had no idea, that the values I have based my teaching philosophy on for all these many years had such a sound beginning.
Although I know that life in general is now more low key and casual, I still have some grammar principles that I promote on a daily basis. I despise the word "yea" and just by saying a simple "Excuse me?" to the child when they use it, they quickly learn to change the "yea" to a "yes". When I call a child's name, I expect them to answer with a "yes" and not a "what?" They all know that when I say "Excuse me?" they need to correct their grammar in someway. It works like a charm from the youngest to the oldest. So easy... but very effective.
I insist at all times that the Staff refer to and address all the students as "Ladies, Students or Dancers" and not "OK Gang" or "Hey you kids" or "All you Guys". I make sure my Teachers know they are not permitted to yell or scream in class. How you act as a teacher, is how the students will react to you. If you act like their "Pal or Buddy" and not their Teacher, then you will never get the respect you as a teacher deserve. If you nicely - with a smile, and consistently - with patience, demand respect, you will soon get nice respect without the demand.
Neither staff nor students use first names when speaking with other staff or parents. Every adult is addressed as Miss, Mr. or Mrs. We are professional teachers and should have the same position as the children's school teacher when dealing with our students and their parents. If a child learns all this now, then further down the road, when they go out into the world for a college or job interview, they will know how to speak and address the person with confidence and respect.
With family time being so scarce these days, our children need to be guided by all those who care for them. It is not an easy world to survive in, in any profession they choose, Most of our students go on to college and into the "real world" holding down responsible and professional positions. Even though they are special students to us and special children to their families, they are not special when they enter the real world. They are just one of many who are going after the same position in a show or company or in an office. They must learn to accept what fate may bring ...good or bad. In other words....no spoiled brats allowed...nor will they survive!
Our students should know that we are preparing them now for years to come. Isn't it better that they learn about these topics in the studio atmosphere of care and concern? I sure think so. Do you think they would do better if they were thrown to the wolves to learn what it takes to survive out there in years to come? I don't. That is why I encourage my students to absorb more than dance during the studio years that they are with us.
Try including the basic issues mentioned in your daily curriculum. I think you will be pleased with the immediate results. They lend themselves to training good students, classmates, schoolmates, college roommates and future adults. I honestly feel it is important to teach respect and common courtesies, I think they are valuable lessons for your dancers to encounter. I have no problem mixing physical and philosophical doctrines. If presented properly, they blend great. If you felt you absorbed some good hints from this article, perhaps you will turn to the Competition Chat Room and read "Are Your Competitors Completely Trained?" It has some additional information you might enjoy as well. Our children and students are our most valuable commodity. They are entitled to the best lessons we have to offer them. We are short changing them if we just teach dance and leave the rest to chance.