Dance can be tailored for many different ages groups and abilities, by using more accessible music and easier to learn steps. But sometimes groups can get bored of the week in week out monotony of learning steps and routine, or in some cases never really seem that interested in choreography. This is especially true of… Continue reading Teaching Tips: Dance Based Games
Category: RA Dance Blog
One Move At A Time: Leg Holds
The leg hold is a challenging move that I usually only begin to try with senior dancers. There are components that make up this move that can be tricky for younger dancers to pick up. That being said strong dancers of any age can grasp this move with a little practise. The components that make… Continue reading One Move At A Time: Leg Holds
Teaching Tips: How to Inspire Children to Dance
By no means am I, yet, an expert on this topic. I'm creating this post mainly as an exploration for myself and a reminder to try many of these ideas. As you teach you become aware that not everyone is motivated to learn, and as the teacher it is your job to help inspire them… Continue reading Teaching Tips: How to Inspire Children to Dance
Reflecting on Dance Events: IDTA London Seminar 2018
Last weekend I had the pleasure of attended my first IDTA London Seminar. This is a little gathering of teachers of all styles, to talk about different elements of the syllabus and take part in workshops. Both sides of the IDTA were there, both Ballroom and Theatre. Whilst my qualification resides in the Ballroom branch,… Continue reading Reflecting on Dance Events: IDTA London Seminar 2018
Improvement Series: Why do human consider that they can’t dance?
Dance can be seen in many ways throughout the world. From club dancing to rain dancing, as well as performance based dance like, ballet or waltz. Each style is unique and different, possessing different movement patterns and moves to accomplish. But as you delve deeper into some styles you become more aware of how simple… Continue reading Improvement Series: Why do human consider that they can’t dance?
One Move At A Time: Chaine Turns
Follow my blog with Bloglovin Traditionally a ballet step, the chaine turn can be one type of turn that children begin to try at a very young age. Constant spinning as they travel along pretending to be a tornado or spinning top will create something that looks like a chaine turn. Many children will probably… Continue reading One Move At A Time: Chaine Turns
Things We Don’t Tell Students: Flexibility
I've been teaching students for nearly 3 years now and throughout that time I've noticed there's a few things as a teacher I leave out when talking to my students. I'm not, yet, a full-time dance teacher but am still in regular contact with students 4 nights a week. These trends may only be within… Continue reading Things We Don’t Tell Students: Flexibility
Choreography: How to find that first idea.
Choreographers are all inspired by different things. Even if they base their routines on the same stimuli/idea, the finished piece are most likely going to look very different. This is because everyone works in a different way, our imaginations can help us find different uses and ways of using ideas. These interpretations can be based… Continue reading Choreography: How to find that first idea.
One Move at a Time: Tap Step
So much of the time as dancers we get caught up in doing the hardest steps we can think of, or putting in more tricks like leaps and turns to fill out are routines. In doing this it is easy to forget the basics and disregard steps we learnt as a beginner, but many of… Continue reading One Move at a Time: Tap Step
Improvement Series: Utilising heart-rate monitoring in dance training.
Heart rate monitoring as become increasingly available to consumers as the years have gone by. 16 years ago, Runner's World claimed that the two reasons to use heart-rate monitoring are to train and race at the right pace for ourselves. Years later and this is still one of the main selling points of heart-rate monitors… Continue reading Improvement Series: Utilising heart-rate monitoring in dance training.
