Summer is a prime opportunity for dance teachers and studio staff to invest in professional development. This is why so many dance teacher conferences occur during this slower season – educators have time and space to engage in technique training and learn new strategies, they can focus on business topics such as retention and branding, and they have a chance to network with like-minded individuals. At the same time, however, dance conventions have a certain appeal – students can take classes with a wide range of industry professionals, learn choreography in a real-world experience, and leave feeling inspired and motivated. And teachers can learn a great deal by watching their students in this environment as well.
It’s clearly beneficial to attend both conferences and conventions; in fact, the most effective dance educators don’t choose between the two – they leverage both. But who has the time to attend conference after conference and convention after convention?
The DanceOne Summit, happening this August 13-16 in midtown NYC, is the ultimate event for educators for just this reason. It’s a blended approach of conference-style learning and convention-style observing. The event is extremely practical in this regard, and participants at The DanceOne Summit are lucky to have both types of experiences in one place.
Why teacher conferences matter
Tony Bellissimo, Tour Director of 24Seven Dance Conventions and Competitions, says that the biggest takeaway from a teacher conference is that “it’s about us peers coming together to improve our skills in business, organization and teaching tips.”
He adds, “Attending an event as important as DanceOne Summit can truly set the season off with a locked in, focused agenda for the upcoming season. It allows us the chance to share and grow as a community.”
Director/choreographer/dance educator Stacey Tookey, also Founder/Director of The Bridge Movement, points out that attending a teacher conference which focuses on pedagogy, strategy and long-term development is crucial is showing that you are open to new and different perspectives, which will, in turn, enhance your own qualities and ability as an educator.
“I think a teacher who continues to be a student is the most valuable to their students!” Tookey says. “When I am teaching at DanceOne Summit, I try to get into as many lectures and classes as possible to expand my own perspective! It’s all about growing, having a growth mindset and inspiring your dancers by leading by example.”
Why dance conventions matter
Conventions can reveal how students apply skills they’ve learned from you in a real-time, high-pressure environment. Attending a convention is important for dance educators in terms of being able to observe their students and see breakdowns in technique, confidence and adaptability that may not appear in the studio.
“Witnessing how your students take class, how they show up in the space with so many other dancers,” Tookey adds. “Do they rise to the challenge or need to build more confidence? How do they handle praise, deal with challenges? What does their classroom etiquette look like, and how are they able to transfer studio expectations in a much more stimulating environment? This can be such valuable feedback for dance educators as they go back to studio classes which can feel much more safe for dancers so their behavior could be different.”
Bellissimo agrees. “Attending conventions gives teachers and coaches who spend so much time building their dancers a real understanding of key skills: adaptability, audition skills, performance quality, pick-up ability, and showcasing the talents of a good student or artist in development.”
A balanced approach
A balanced, multi-dimensional approach to teaching would be to experience both conference and convention settings. Attending both can potentially produce dancers with stronger technical foundations, improved performance quality, greater confidence and more well-rounded personal development.
“The more information you have in different environments with different industry professionals, the more possibility there is for your dancers to achieve a sense of empowerment, to be well-rounded, confident dancers who are ready for anything,” Tookey says. “Exposure is truly key. Both spaces have such unique offerings that benefit a dancer’s journey.”
DanceOne Summit = An answer to this multi-dimensional process
The DanceOne Summit has an iconic list of presenters this summer, offering insight and inspiration – Tessandra Chavez, Denise Wall, Tiler Peck, Liz Imperio, as well as Tookey and Bellissimo are just to name a few. The event features a packed schedule of movement classes that can be enjoyed by students and become a valuable learning tool to teachers. Past classes have included tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary, musical theater, ballet for babies, story-driven choreography and much more. And of course, business seminars covering such topics as studio management, retention and revenue, social media, website design and more offer educators and studio owners information and tools they can use immediately.
Bellissimo says that The DanceOne Summit is “an opportunity to learn business practices and techniques they haven’t mastered yet or need a refresher on. He is excited to speak about audition prep and delivery at this year’s event.
Tookey, also a mindfulness educator, is looking forward to addressing where high-performance dance training meets psychology, mindfulness and mindset during her workshops this summer. “I will be leading classes that cross over these ideas in an applicable way that will help dancers and dance educators during performance but also help to navigate life’s business and inevitable stress from the fast pace of it all,” she explains.
“I absolutely love The DanceOne Summit because of the sense of community that fuels this incredibly inspiring few days,” Tookey adds. “Dance educators, speakers, industry professionals all coming together to share their wisdom, stories, problems and solutions with educators from all over the world. How magical is that? A place to fill your cup so you can go back to your home studio and have the capacity, new knowledge and support to lift up your students even more. There is nothing better than the dance community, and this event highlights that in a unique, supportive and widespread way.”
The DanceOne Summit is a place where dance educators can both learn and observe in one environment. This year’s event takes place August 13-16, at the Hilton Midtown in NYC. For more information and to register, visit www.danceonesummit.com.
By Laura Di Orio of Dance Informa.
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