AUSSIE DANCE TEACHERS – Make sure you’re at Dance Teacher Web Live on July 26-29 at the beautiful Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas. Enjoy over 90 movement classes and business seminars all designed to send you home with more knowledge and inspiration to help you exceed all of your goals. What happens in Vegas brings you results at home! For all the details go to www.danceteacherconferenceexpo.com

By Rain Francis.

In 2014, all children will be entitled to study dance as a subject as part of The Australian Curriculum: The Arts: Dance. In order to prepare teachers to teach dance in their classrooms, Ausdance Victoria is offering a teaching series called “Dr. Dance.”

Developed by Dr. Katrina Rank, “Dr. Dance” will run as a pilot program in selected Victorian schools in 2013, and aims to provide generalist primary school teachers with the skills needed to teach dance to primary school students. Dance Informa’s Rain Francis spoke to Dr. Rank and her colleague, VET Coordinator Kate Kaleb, about The Australian Curriculum: The Arts.

This is exciting news. What do you think it will mean for dance, and for children? 

Dr. Katrina Rank
My interest in the curriculum is for its creative and critical potential and in the ways it engages the whole student, kinaesthetically, kinetically, spatially, visually, inter and intra-personally. The Australian Curriculum: The Arts has a strong focus on students learning about dance by creating movement through improvisation and developing dances through choreographic processes, learning and consolidating dance skills and learning about performance by observing performances, presenting to others and reflecting on their dance experiences.

Kate Kaleb
One of the exciting aspects of the national curriculum is that children and young people are expected to be taught and to achieve fundamental motor skills. The development of physical skills is now recognised as being as important as cognitive and social skills. Fundamental motor skills are expected to be developed though dance and physical education, with key skills building progressively at each level of the curriculum. The dance-specific aspects of the curriculum are geared towards creating and responding to dance, which means there may be more opportunities for dance artists to work in schools as choreographers, teachers and performers.

Will the curriculum be taught in all Australian primary schools?

Dr. Katrina Rank
The Australian Curriculum states that all children are entitled to study dance. That’s quite a statement. All Australian students now have the opportunity to study dance through a curriculum that is consistent across states. However, it will not be compulsory. There are no hours set for dance.

Kate Kaleb
The national curriculum covers primary and lower secondary, up to Year 10. Each state will implement the national curriculum in it’s own way. Victoria has been quick to embrace the national curriculum. Other states may or may not be in the process of embedding it.

How has the “Dr. Dance” series been developed?

Dr. Katrina Rank
The “Dr. Dance” series is a training and professional support program for generalist primary school teachers who have an interest in teaching the new dance curriculum in their school. It is designed for people who have a strong enthusiasm and love of dance. They do not have to be experienced practitioners, but some dance experience, in any style, is best.

I have developed the program to cover basic dance theory, anatomy and childhood development, safe dance practice, foundation skills and how to teach them progressively, and basic choreographic skills. The program content is important, but so too is teachers’ availability. At present we’re looking to deliver the “Dr. Dance” series over seven two-hour sessions. I anticipate that teachers will want to extend their engagement and continue for another series of seven weeks.

What sort of dance will be taught in schools?

Dr. Katrina Rank
It will vary according to school and resources (mainly what teachers can offer), but I must stress that the curriculum is not going to be met if students only learn set dances, technique or motor skills. A major focus is learning through making and experiencing. If a child goes to art class and only ever learns how to cut and paste paper flowers, or painting by numbers, we would not accept that they were receiving a great art education. We would expect that the child expresses his or her own ideas and represents a worldview or perspective.

Kate Kaleb
A wide range of dance styles and dance philosophies will find a home in the classroom. What happens in an individual school will depend on the skills of the teachers and on the network of dance professionals they are able to access, as well as the needs of their student cohort. For instance, cultural dance is a great way for students to learn about other countries and for students from migrant backgrounds to develop their cultural identity. Hip-hop is great for developing physical skills and creativity (in coming up with your own moves), allowing students of all skill levels to be included. All dance styles can be used to tell stories and express emotions. The great thing about dance in a school setting is that all students can be included, whether they think of themselves as dancers or not.

Will teachers receive ongoing support from dance professionals?

Dr. Katrina Rank
We always encourage teachers to become Ausdance members, as through us they hear about many other wonderful opportunities provided by the dance profession. Ausdance Victoria is always finding new ways to support teachers and to develop resources that are fresh, innovative, useful and affordable. Over the past two years Ausdance Victoria has been working with other associations to produce digital and paper-based resources for teachers.

I am currently writing a book that guides generalist teachers through the major aspects of dance in the curriculum: preparing for a dance program, the body as the instrument of dance, the Elements of Dance, loads of practical activities and choreographic ideas for Foundation to Band 6. I also provide feedback to ACARA (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority) on behalf of dance teachers. Whenever possible I make a call out for responses that I then collate, compare and feed back into the system.

If you are a teacher and are interested in finding out more about the “Dr. Dance” series, or have any questions, email education.vic@ausdance.org.au or call (03) 9689 2055.

Photo: Ausdance Victoria Industry Day. Photo by Claire Bradley.

The Success Blueprint for the Dance Studio Owner

By Deborah Searle.

If there’s ever been a book that will take you to the next level when running your dance studio, It’s Your Turn! The Success Blueprint for the Dance Studio Owner is it.

In It’s Your Turn the dynamic team of Steve Sirico, Angela D’Valda Sirico and Robert Landau take you on a journey of self-discovery to explore how you can achieve success both in your business and personal life. Steve and Angela are well established authorities when it comes to all things that have to do with owning and operating a dance studio. Their DanceTeacherWeb.com membership website and yearly dance teacher conference attract hundreds within the dance industry.

“After twenty one years, we wanted to share our insight, philosophies and methods that have helped us in running a successful dance studio,” said Steve Sirico. “We felt there was a need for a book that not only provided practical tips but also much needed encouragement and inspiration for the busy studio owner. We want studio owners to feel that they are not alone but rather part of a large and successful dance teacher community,” followed Angela D’Valda Sirico.

Some of the many topics covered within the book’s pages are: finding the motivation and balance you need to get through your day, how to deal with difficult staff and customers, how to best market your studio, and how to be organized, making every task a success.

“Speaking from personal experience, I know how important and empowering it is to have answers to many of the questions we face on a daily basis. We designed the book so that readers would have ideas from three different people, so that they can see that there isn’t always just one way to resolve issues or to move forward and be successful,” explained Angela.

And although not a studio owner himself, Robert Landu provides key insights into successful business management in It’s Your Turn. Robert is an international motivational speaker and positive results expert that has worked with countless businesses to successfully take their operations to the next level.

“It’s one thing to have a picture of how one wants things to run, but it’s another bringing that picture to life”, says Robert. “We realized that there really wasn’t a book out there that addressed all aspects of what it is to operate a studio, particularly in these challenging times. The book is a perfect balance of practical and motivational advice. It’s a quick but informative read and the facts are laid out in an easy-to-digest manner.”

As studio owners, your time is already stretched, but why not spend a little time learning how to best run your studio? It could save you a lot of time and heartache in the long run, and bring you much joy in the process.

“I believe the number one mistake that studio owners make is not fully realizing that THEY are the business and that everything they do or don’t do has a direct influence on staff, faculty, parents and students. It is just then a matter of using that influence in a positive and informed way”, shares Angela.

And helpful, inspiring information is where it’s at. “Dance studio owners and teachers so often feel isolated. It’s Your Turn will not only give practical information that they constantly need, but also the motivation to expect more from their lives both in business and on the personal side”, adds Angela. “This book will help the studio owner in all areas of running the business, finding the fine balance of running a business while maintaining artistic integrity”, explains Steve. “It’s a much needed tool kit to help the studio owner achieve their ultimate success.”

It’s Your Turn! The Success Blueprint for the Dance Studio Owner is now available on www.raisethebarreconsulting.com . It can make a great tool book for yourself or a helpful Christmas gift for the studio owner in your life.

Dance Teacher Web presents a great series of exercises to develop core strength featuring Jessica Rizzo. Every month Dance Teacher Web presents new work in it’s members area. Make the move to join the number one dance resource for teachers worldwide. Providing tips, tools and tactics to gain, train and retain better students! www.danceteacherweb.com

Jessica Rizzo is a native New Yorker and grad student in NYUs dance education masters program. She is also a cum laude graduate with her BFA in dance performance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst 5 College Dance Program. Since then, Jess, a Chancellors Talent Award Scholarship alumni has been fortunate to have graced stages all over the world.

By Steve Sirico of Dance Teacher Web.

In this special 2 part series we will explore tips to running a successful studio. Think about your business and how these tips apply to what you are doing. Even if you are doing what I recommend, try to think in terms of how you might switch up your approach for even greater success.

Keep in contact with your current customers.
This means emails, newsletters, surveys, customer events and anything else you can think of. The reality is that everyone is busy and you are low on their radar. If you lose contact, then you risk losing business. Most people stop coming to a business because they think you don’t even know they exist. And don’t worry about being a pest. Just keep giving them useful information and special offers that they will love to receive.

Keep marketing to your current customers.
Most businesses focus on attracting new clients and marketing to them. But think about this: If you are doing business with a company you like, you are more apt to buy more of the same. A lot more! When you have devoted clients, you can ask them to give you testimonials so you can then promote what they love about you.

Create WOW moments for your customers.
Make plans to have special events that are both publicised and unannounced at your school.  Think of ways to surprise your students and their families. Ideas include highlighting a special student of the month, free giveaways for students who work hard, special projects where everyone wins something, and just random acts of kindness. They will make you the talk of the town.

Get your staff and faculty to buy into your philosophy…or sever the relationship.
Donald Trump likes to say “hire slowly but fire quickly”. Most people do the opposite. They hire on a gut reaction and then try to hold on when things go south. If you are having an issue with any faculty member or staff member it is best to try to resolve the issue immediately! If no solution is at hand then use that apprentice line—“You’re fired!”

Build your preschool program.
If you build it they will come. Make a special brochure or schedule exclusively for them. The more time offered the bigger your program will get. Try doing a special show that is short and informal with just these younger students—both enjoyable and easy on the families and their time.

Build programs for each niche.
Beyond preschool, offer programs for all ages and special areas that include athletes, kids who are singers and actors, recreational, competition teams, dance teams and even adults. Now the key is to find ways to market to each group exclusively.  “Find a need, fill a need”—if you do, you will always have plenty of business.

Don’t let the parents run the ship.
Parents will love to give you their two cents about all kinds of things: Who should be teaching, what they should be teaching, during which hours they should be teaching. And it doesn’t stop there. Listen to your customers, but do not waiver from your company vision. Your parents will take over if you let them and then you will have a hard time regaining control. It’s your business, you are in charge. Make sure they know that and they won’t over step the boundary.