Afterschool dance opportunities happen all around the community - at dance studios, onsite at K-12 schools, in afterschool programs, at community and rec centers, and at churches and synagogues. Afterschool dance classes can be for preschoolers, elementary school students, and teens in middle and high school. Here are 5 ideas to help you as you begin!
1. Have the students been sitting all day?
Find out what their day has been like. This might be the first real chance to move today!
2. Food/snack
Your class begins at 3:30; school ended at 3:15. Did the students have a chance to eat something before coming to class? You might need to problem solve this with the afterschool director. Ideally the students will have something in their stomachs before you begin your 60 minute class.
3. Know anyone in the class?
Do the students know anyone else in the class? If you teach at a studio, is everyone coming from different schools around town? Some students might be anxious about meeting new people. If they don't know each other, then you might need to build in some name games and opportunities for them to get to know each other. Conversely, if you teach at a school site where they all know each other, be aware of cliques and kids who might feel left out. In situations like these, as the teacher organize your class with various opportunities to work with other people. (Sometimes you will set the groups, other times count the students off and have random groups.)
4. High energy? Calming energy?
Afterschool dance classes can so vary in energy - the energy of the students as well as the energy that you want to create in the room. Some classes might need to be high energy and vibrant - waking the kids up, positively channeling their energy, etc. Other classes might need to provide a calming energy after a frenetic day. This will take a few classes to understand for your particular group.
5. Maximize the room
From my years of teaching afterschool, this is one of the tips I continue to offer. It can apply to preschoolers as well as teens. The energy can really dip in the 3-6 pm time frame. One strategy I always employed was really being mindful of how much time we spent in any given part of the room or formation.
What do I mean by this? For example, in a preschool class, spending 10 minutes in a circle formation might be too much. Five minutes in a circle might be more realistic. I like to do work in a circle, moving around the room, moving across the room, having 1/2 of the class dance and half of the class watch, reading a book in the corner of the room, etc. Offer variety in the activities and also where the activities happen in your space.
For teens in a more traditional technique class, you still can offer variety. Twenty minutes facing the mirror might be too much. For example in a teen modern class after school, maybe begin in a circle with two exercises. Spread out and then face the front; do 2 more exercises. Lead a partner activity (mirroring). Travel across the room. Then, use the remainder of class to work on your group project. End with leaping from the diagonal.
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These 5 ideas can help get you started. I also suggest looking into workshops through the Luna Dance Institute in the SF Bay Area and the Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) in New York City. Observe other dance teachers and a class in action.
Brand new to teaching? Find out more in the pocket guide Dance Education Essentials: 55 Objects and Ideas for New Preschool-12th Grade Teaching Artists.
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