![\"Placeholder\"](\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art58\/graphics58\/pfHelene-teaching.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Teaching belly dance can be extremely fulfilling and enjoyable. It’s lots of fun, and rewarding for the instructor and students alike.\u00a0 There’s nothing quite like the joy that comes from helping women to discover themselves through a creative art that encourages self-expression.\u00a0 Watching your students starting out as awkward newbies and blossoming into beautiful, self-assured dancers is incredible.\u00a0 By the very act of teaching, you’ll be enhancing the artistic development of your students, and will become a better dancer yourself<\/em>, because you’ll have to consider movement and technique breakdowns such as isolations and shimmy mechanics.\u00a0 You’ll be forced to drill along with your students, keep track of posture and body alignment, and invent combinations- all of which can only lead to cleaner technique for you<\/em>.\u00a0 Teaching will also supplement your income\u2026or as the case may be, feed your belly dance addiction!<\/em><\/p>\n Unfortunately, in the belly dance community, perhaps more than in any other dance form, there will always be instructors who have absolutely no business teaching\u2026at all. <\/em>\u00a0The\u00a0 “six week wonders”- women who’ve taken an introductory course and then set up shop as a qualified instructor – have been a problem for decades.\u00a0 The saddest part of this phenomenon is that beginning students will not know the difference and may be taking classes from someone who knows nothing about safe posture and basic technique, let alone the cultural aspects of the dance.<\/p>\n Teaching is a huge responsibility.<\/p>\n In order to be a competent instructor, it’s imperative<\/em> that you have experience, the ability to break down movements verbally as well as physically, and to have at least a basic<\/em> working knowledge of what muscle groups are being used and how to describe where each specific movement is originating from.\u00a0 You need to have more than just a passing familiarity with whatever style of belly dance you are teaching; you’ve got to know the signature moves of the style, where it came from, and so on.\u00a0 In laymans terms, you need to know your stuff.<\/em><\/p>\n There are many ways to start a teaching career and each one is as valid as any of the rest.\u00a0 Every so often, it just sort of happens, the way it did to me. Many years ago, I hadn’t even considered teaching, but I kept getting requests from friends and other dancers.\u00a0 I started holding informal Saturday morning classes – in my sister’s living room!<\/em>\u00a0 My classes were getting crowded, and, with other interferences such as my four-year-old niece running in and out of the room and wrapping herself up in everyone’s veils; it quickly became apparent that I needed to move to a real studio! <\/p>\n Often a local teacher will move or retire, and designate a star student to take her place as the instructor; some dancers start off substitute teachers at their dance studio, or apprenticing themselves to an instructor there before beginning their own classes.\u00a0 Many prospective teachers decide to get certified by master teacher or a dance school in a unique format or style of belly dance, while others come to teaching in a more organic way, developing on their own.\u00a0 Any way is fine, it just depends on what you’re teaching and where.\u00a0 Whether you choose to be certified or not, it goes without question you’ll need a broad understanding of the dance in it’s myriad forms and knowledge of your local scene as well as the world-wide belly dance community.\u00a0 You should have been learning from a variety of teachers and workshop instructors, and broadened your horizons by attending several festivals and events. <\/p>\n An experienced performer might be a superlative dancer, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that she’ll be a good teacher.<\/p>\n Performing skills and a flourishing career can be a definite plus for a dance instructor but they don’t guarantee<\/em> that she will have what it takes to be a good coach.\u00a0 Teaching is an art form<\/em> and some people are blessed with a natural gift for teaching.\u00a0 Several dancers teach but prefer performing, some do both equally well and enjoy it all, and there are also those who don’t care for it and don’t have the patience or personality needed to become a great instructor.<\/p>\n As a teacher, you’ll be facing a myriad of students, all with different needs, a wide range of physical abilities and talent, and a bunch of reasons for even considering the study of belly dancing.\u00a0 Some women decide to take classes for amusement; others are seriously trained dancers who want to develop their skills.\u00a0 You need to be able to discern the needs of your students and treat them as individuals. <\/p>\n After I was teaching for a while, I noticed that it seemed like I had an awful lot of students who were coming to me from some sort of traumatic situation such as a divorce, a mastectomy, an eating disorder, miscarriage, or just a plain old midlife crisis.\u00a0 I wondered what was up with that but when I discussed this phenomenon with other teachers, I found that it wasn’t uncommon.\u00a0 My friend Suhaila Salimpour<\/span> told me something to the effect of\u00a0 “When I see women coming into my classes, I know it means they are ready for a major change or transition.” This is not to say that you’ll be holding classes in The Land Of The Broken Toys<\/em>, but you’ll probably find that many of your students do <\/em>have a back-story that isn’t necessarily all about fun or experiencing a new adventure.\u00a0 That means that in addition to technical skills, as a teacher you’ll need to hone your emotional intelligence<\/em>, and be able to zero in with the skill of trained psychologist to ascertain what makes your students “tick”. <\/p>\n There is no one type of student.<\/p>\n Some work diligently, progress quickly and start performing, while others are just taking the class to lose weight or have fun.\u00a0 Certain students desire corrections, critique and brutally honest assessment, but to others, this may seem humiliating.\u00a0 Then there are students who will chatter incessantly, question every word you say, and act out in other ways disturbing to the class as a whole.\u00a0 You’ll need to be able to command a class without seeming like a tyrant, keeping the atmosphere light and fun, but educational.\u00a0 This takes a lot of finesse and sensitivity.<\/p>\n Whether you’re teaching already or just thinking about it, here are some points to consider:<\/p>\n If you think you may be lacking in the area of health and safety, general anatomy and biomechanics, then by all means, before you start teaching you must<\/em> familiarize yourself (at the very least in a broader sense) through taking fitness classes and adjunct course, and also by reading as much as you can on these subjects.\u00a0 While you are teaching, pay strict attention to the body alignment and posture of your pupils, focusing on areas that are prone to injury, especially the spine, hip joints and knees.\u00a0 Correct your students and remind them often. <\/p>\n Begin your warm up with large, soft movements that articulate every area of the body, before continuing into some lightly aerobic dancing, lifting the arms above chest level before beginning to stretch. Stretching cold muscles can cause injury. It was once believed that stretching was the way to warm up, but that theory is outdated\u2026and dangerous<\/em>.\u00a0 Once your students are warmed up, they can begin to stretch.\u00a0 Have them hold a comfortable stretch without straining, and do not<\/em> allow them to bounce.\u00a0 A class cool down is important for injury prevention as well.\u00a0 Always allow a few minutes for a thorough cool-down at the end of class.<\/p>\n Be sure that the studio where you are teaching has insurance and a first aid kit.\u00a0 You may also want to look into taking first aid or CPR classes and obtain teaching insurance as well.\u00a0 There are many companies that offer insurance specifically for dance and fitness instructors.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Know that even if you’re teaching a beginning class, your students will have a wide array of abilities. In any<\/em> class, there are those with natural talent or prior training, and those who will need to work harder to get up to speed. It’s absolutely vital that you be prepared for this.<\/p>\n It’s important to know that there are three basic types of dance students. Auditory learners<\/em><\/strong> need to hear<\/em> the movements, rhythms and counts described verbally.\u00a0 Visual learners<\/em><\/strong> must have sight references and like to see<\/em> the technique before absorbing it.\u00a0 Kinesthetic<\/em><\/strong> learners absorb the movements physically<\/em>, benefiting from a literal hand-on approach.\u00a0 Be sure to ask a student if it’s OK to touch them before you do.<\/p>\n Many students are a combination of all three types, so it’s wise to integrate your teaching with visual, auditory and kinetic techniques.<\/span><\/p>\n Don’t be afraid of boring the class with drilling; repetition helps students retain what they’re learning by engaging muscle memory.\u00a0 Make sure to demonstrate any movements or combinations by facing towards the class, away from the class and offering a side view.\u00a0 Keep an eye on your pupils, checking frequently for posture, body alignment, weight placement, and incorrect or unsafe technique.\u00a0 Don’t single anyone out but offer corrections in a generalized way.\u00a0 Have the class perform technique and combinations facing towards and away from<\/em> the mirrors.\u00a0 Experiment with spatial orientation and add variety to your classes by forming lines, making a circle, dividing the class into groups and having them perform for each other. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n Every so often, you might be faced with a problem student.\u00a0 This can take many faces, including (but not limited to) know-it-alls who’ll always have a “better” explanation than you do and take it upon themselves to offer correction to other class members; the ultra-needy types who constantly hog your attention, extremely competitive or aggressive pupils, or those who use precious class time for gossiping, joking and fooling around.\u00a0 Don’t let anyone usurp your authority; nip these behaviors in the bud as soon as they starts, or it will be a continuing problem.\u00a0 In some cases, a light admonishment in class will do the trick; otherwise a private talk before or after class is in order.\u00a0 If the problem child continues to turn your classroom dysfunctional, sadly, sometimes the only option will be to ban the student and offer her a refund.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Don’t be jealous or a separatist – know that your students will only benefit from learning from a variety of teachers.\u00a0 A great teacher is a generous teacher.<\/em>\u00a0 Invite guest instructors or lecturers to teach workshops or talk about specialized styles. Network with other studios, dance schools or instructors within your community or recommend that your students explore taking classes from others, whether belly dance or some other form of dancing.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Set an example for your students by showing them that learning is a never-ending process!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n This is an excerpt from Princess Farhana’s forthcoming book, “The Belly Dance Handbook”. Look for it in Summer of 2013<\/em> <\/p>\n\n
\n It’s crucial that you practice and teach safe posture and thorough warm-ups and cool downs.\u00a0 You can never be too careful about this anyway, but once you throw students into the mix, you are now responsible for the well being of others<\/em>.\u00a0 Ask your students point blank if they are currently dealing with any injuries or infirmities that you should be aware of.\u00a0 Let them know that it’s all right to speak up if they have health issues or if a movement feels strange or is hurting them, and that it’s fine for them to take a breather if they feel the need to.\u00a0 Remind them to stay well hydrated. <\/p>\n
\n As a teacher, it’s your job to shape your students into well-rounded dancers.\u00a0 This is a responsibility that should never be taken lightly. Not only will your students reflect upon you, but also you’re assuring the future of our beautiful art form!\u00a0 It doesn’t matter what style you’re teaching – you have to know fundamental belly dance history.\u00a0 Students are curious and will have many questions; they’ll wonder about rhythms, costuming, cultural traditions and the countries they came from, when to play finger cymbals, song titles, famous dancers of the past and present- and you need to know the answers<\/em>. If a question stumps you, admit you don’t know the answer, but do<\/em> have research materials on hand or refer the student to someone who does<\/em> know.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
\n Write out your lesson plans well in advance so you can have your students work towards goals.\u00a0 Plot out exactly what topics you’ll be going over in each class, so your sessions will have a good flow.\u00a0 Make notes on any combinations or choreographies you’ll be using and refer to them in class if you need to.\u00a0 Create class CDs or an iPod play list so you don’t have to waste time fumbling through your music to find the appropriate track.<\/p>\n
\n Having a set pattern for your classes will aid your students in efficient learning. Creating a learning environment that is fun, challenging and informative will keep your students interested and encourage them to strive for their personal best. It will also help them retain what they’re learning, because they’ll grow familiar with your methodology and know what to expect from you-and what is expected from them. How you create this framework is your decision. I like to structure my classes this way: A few minutes of gentle, full-body activity followed by stretching; technique drills, then either new movements, short combinations, a specialty or choreography, and finishing up with a cool down.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
\n Keep your interactions with students relaxed and pleasant; building a learning environment that is fun, challenging and informative.\u00a0 Create an atmosphere of respect, for the dance itself, from student-to-student, and for you as their leader. Sometimes students get excited and like to chat with each other, ask questions and make comments; allowing for a little of this is fine, just don’t let the class run away with itself!\u00a0 Through compliments and positive reinforcement, encourage your pupils to focus on the curriculum instead of socializing.\u00a0 Provide positive feedback and keep your critique constructive and gentle.\u00a0 Notice the personal qualities students have to offer, help them feel good about their unique development and progress.\u00a0 Have them strive for excellence without creating an atmosphere of competition.\u00a0 Try not to play favorites; there will always be a few star students, but those who don’t shine as brightly or who are more reticent need your love, too.\u00a0 While some of your students may be your personal friends outside of the studio, during class, maintain a slightly removed but open and friendly professional distance\u2026you are, after all, the educator<\/em>. Cultivate your leadership by being a role model.<\/p>\n
\n There are many ways to get students enthused about learning to dance and becoming a member of the local dance community.\u00a0 Establishing goals early on will give your students something to strive for.\u00a0 Students always respond well to this and delight in measuring their personal successes and accomplishments. Compile a class mailing list and send out newsletters letting your students know about belly dance performances and events happening in your area.\u00a0 Have a video night where students can watch clips of famous dancers or dance-related movies; hold a halfla <\/em>or dance party in your studio where everyone can dance and mingle.\u00a0 If your students are ready, you might want to form a student troupe that also holds rehearsals outside of class, with the goal being to perform. <\/p>\n
\n The most important thing you can offer your students is knowledge. It’s your duty<\/em> to keep abreast of what’s going on in the Middle Eastern dance community, whether locally, nationally or globally.\u00a0 <\/em>Continued study and research on your end will only make you a better teacher so don’t be afraid to attend workshops side-by-side with your students.\u00a0 Subscribe to belly dance trade publications, join Internet forums, seek out other instructors with specialties and learn from them, do research on line or at the library.<\/p>\nResources:<\/h5>\n
\n
Author’s bio page<\/a><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
This author is also a contributor to The Belly Dance Reader<\/a>!<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"Princess](\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art58\/graphics58\/PFworkshopMAJMA.jpg\")
\n Majma Festival in Glastonbury , UK March 2013
\n Event producer- Raheesha
\n Help with names is always appreciated! <\/a>
\n back row: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
\n front row sitting: 1, 2, 3-Princess Farhana, 4, 5
\n<\/h6>\n![\"use](\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/graphics\/acommentbox.jpg\")
<\/p>\n