Dance Education: Tips from the Trenches by Cheryl M. Willis
Published 2004

£15.70 incl. p&p

An essential survival guide, preparing new teachers for class management, organisation, motivation, gender issues and more. Every issue you are likely to face as a newly qualified teacher is covered here. Comprises 83 light-hearted essays covering obstacles that you might encounter, solutions to common problems and invaluable tips from real-life experiences.

Table of Contents
Dedication
Preface
Acknowledgments

Prelude: The Dance

Part I. The ABCs of Dance Education
Chapter 1. A Rude Awakening
Why Don’t They Move?
Ya Gotta Know the Territory
In God We Trust
Gender Differences
Does Socioeconomic Class Matter?
Ethnic Diversity
Getting Started
Moving the Students
Chapter 2. Establishing Class Rules
The Rules
Rule 1 Be Good to Yourself
Rule 2 Respect Others
Respecting Partners
Chapter 3. Managing Your Class
Give Me That Old-Time Religion
Praise and Correction
Educational Views on Praise and Correction
Dance Class Management System
Step-by-Step Management Plan
Consequences
Constructive Rest
Teamwork
Steps to Cooperation and Collaboration
Logistics
Chapter 4. Creating a Dance Space
Preparing the Space
Sharing the Space
Establishing Boundaries
Creating Personal Space
Dancing in Mashed Potatoes
Other Spatial Concerns
Chapter 5. Planning and Organizing Your Classes
Where Do I Start?
Who Are These Kids, Anyway?
Class Procedures
Clothing
Methods for Grouping
Charts
Lesson Plans
Logistics of Integrated Arts
Signaling for Attention
Chapter 6. Grades, Assessments, and Rubrics
Grading System
Comments on Report Cards
Rubrics
Chapter 7. Your Role As a Dance Educator
Organizing the Program
Communication
Creating Goals
Teachers Are Human
Clear Relationships
The Teacher and the Therapist
Taking Care of Yourself

Part II. The Creative Process
Chapter 8. The Creative Process: The Idea
The Exploration Stage
Exploring in Teams
The Creation Stage
Creating Under Time Constraints
Grouping for Creating
Gender Effects on Creating
Showing the Dance
When to Show the Work
How to Show the Work
The Critique Stage
Critiquing in the Primary Grades
Critiquing in the Elementary Grades
Clipboard Critiques
Chapter 9. The Process Continues: Performance
Reworking
Reworking According to the Critique
Reworking for a Performance
Restructuring
Rehearsing
Rehearsing for a Formal Performance
Rehearsing in the Space
Dressing Up the Gym
Preparing Psychologically
Informal Grade-Level Program
Preparing for the Formal Performance
Directing Formal Performances
Reviewing the Process
Chapter 10. Dance Education for Parents and Faculty
Putting Creative Dance in the Spotlight
Educating Parents
If You Don’t Have the Principal’s Support, Don’t Take the Job
Understanding and Accepting Creative Dance Education
Getting All Teachers on Board
Chapter 11. The Dance Audience
Creating Dance Audiences
Studying Dance As Culture
Using Videotapes of Dance Genres
Using Live Performance to Create Thinkers
Audience Skills

Afterword: And Now We Dance

Appendix A: Performance Rules
Be Ready
Know How to Cope With Surprises
Know Where to Go
Know How to Deal With Nerves
Control Yourself
Know That Your Performance Is a Gift

Appendix B: Lagniappe
Water Story
Vomit Story
Earthquake Story
Pencil Throwing Story
About the Author