So, we’ve been neglecting this blog for some time. No more! I have decided that in order to let you know what it takes to get from couch potato to uber dancer (or just dancing full stop) I am going to start getting out there and sharing my experiences. Not only will I be going back to basics by attending a new class as a beginner dancer and letting you all see how it goes, I’ll be running a video blog with hints and tips from everything on what to wear to class, how dance DVD’s stack up, to giving you tips on dance classes, instructors and everything beginners dance related. Check it out from November…. till the next time.
New Dance Blog from Creation launching November
October 25, 2009 by creationdanceukHow to be a Club Dancer… read one amateur dancers story….
April 16, 2009 by creationdanceukManda Johnson has been dancing for 2 years and came to the very first Club Creationz session in 2007. She now spends her summer working in the Mediterrean dancing for DJ’s such as Judge Jules, Dave Pearce and Pete Tong. But this is not her full time job and is something Manda does for fun, rather than for the pay.
“I always loved dancing and I remember going out to clubs and watching the dancers on stage. I never thought I would be up there myself – but little by little I’ve managed to learn more and more and now I can work freelance whenever I want. I spent last summer during a sabbatical dancing in Ibiza for world famous DJ’s which was a fantastic experience.”
So how did Manda get into podium dancing? “ I started dancing late, when I was about 21,” she says, “At first I went to street dance classes, which really helped me to learn how to move, how choreography works, and feel more comfortable dancing. I saw an advert in the local paper for nightclub dancers, and I really wanted to apply, but dancing in nightclubs is different to dancing in class because you have to make the moves up on the spot.”
Wanting some extra help with this freestyle element, Manda enrolled in Club Creationz, a half day course for beginners which teaches tricks and tips for all aspiring podium dancers.
“The course was great, because it made me realise that it’s not as hard as it looks, and that you can do very simple beginners moves and still make a performance look energised and professional. I had to practice quite a bit for my first audition, and I was really nervous, but I couldn’t believe it when I got the job!”
Manda worked in a local nightclub each Friday night for 4 months, and says she learnt a lot of her skills on the jobs, either from other dancers, or classes she was doing during the week. After several months, she felt confident enough to try her luck working abroad.
“Auditions can be really daunting”, she says, “but you have to learn to push your own limits and step out of your comfort zone. It’s one of the reasons I love dancing. It constantly challenges me to be better, to do things I am afraid of and to improve. Plus – it’s a great way to stay in shape and get paid for being holiday!”
So what tips does Manda have for other people who want to learn to podium dance?
1. Go to dance class – any dance class, and learn as many moves in a variety of styles as you can. Don’t stop going when you get work, more classes makes you more versatile
2. Don’t be afraid of auditions – they horrible but you have to do them, and each one is good practice for the next so go to as many as you want!
3. Always check out the club before you accept a job. Make sure the work is as described, that your contract is set out clearly and you know your pay and when to expect it
4. Make sure you keep in shape and present yourself well. Don’t turn up late and remember you are an advert for the club so be smiley and friendly.
5. Have fun! This is a great job and can be very rewarding. Just go for it!
Club Creationz will be running on April 26th 12pm-2pm in Central London. Book a place now at www.creationdance.co.uk
Teaching Street Dance
March 25, 2009 by creationdanceukI often get people wanting to know how to break into teaching street dance. It might be that they’ve been working as dancers for some time and don’t want to travel anymore, are excellent students looking for the next step up and want dance teaching qualifications. Or it could be the fact that there are so many ways to teach, some not even requiring qualification or fitness knowledge, and they don’t want to offer a second rate service.
Teaching dance is different to performing. It takes a number of different skills, so often the best dancers do not make the best teachers and vice versa. So, if you’re thinking about teaching street dance, this series of newsletters is designed to help you find out how, give you tips and info on training and technique and motivate you to be the best teacher you can be. Each month we will send out helpful, relevant information to get you started.
5 tips to Get Started Teaching Street Dance:
1. Be Passionate about helping other people learn to dance
Think about why you want to teach? Is it because you want to fill in the dead time until your next ‘real’ job comes along? Or do you enjoy giving others the chance to learn the trade you love? Teaching properly takes more time and effort than it might seem at first. You have to commit to planning your classes, bonding with your students and developing a progressive syllabus that will help build their knowledge step by step. This is difficult to do if you just want a couple of hours here and there teaching when it suits you. If that’s the case, consider supply teaching, or substitute teaching, which is more flexible and will fit with your lifestyle.
2. Know your science
When people come to class, they put their fitness and wellbeing in your capable (we hope!) hands. Students trust their teachers to know how to perform and prepare for a class safely and properly & to understand the effects of what you are asking of your students on their body. You wouldn’t ask a developing child to perform moves that would put their frame under unnecessary strain? Would you? A working knowledge of anatomy , physiology and how dance impacts on the body is a basic skill all teachers should be interested in. Not only will you be able to make your classes safer, you’ll improve your students’ performance too.
3. Put yourself in your clients shoes
Can you remember learning to dance? For some of us, it feels like we were born dancing and beginners classes are so unfamiliar that we forget what it’s like to start from scratch. Think like your clients. Remember that what’s simple to you might need breaking down from scratch so they can achieve it. Learn how to break down moves into manageable chunks. Instead of a ‘demonstrate and copy’ approach, dissect your routines and give technique pointers, then put it all together slowly. A good teacher training course will give you the skills to think like your clients and deliver what they want.
4. Get qualified
Street Dance is an ever evolving art form. You can’t define, you can’t measure it, but you can get the basic skills needed to teach it. Getting a qualification ensures that you have the best grounding in teaching you can possibly have. It also shows employers and clients that you are committed to teaching, that you have necessary expertise and that you can be trusted to give them a good quality service. Of course, some of the most famous dancers in the world can trade off their name without qualifications, but for the average dance teacher, the more you can demonstrate your worth, the more employable you are. There are many different qualifications out there and not all of them will enable you to do the same thing. Think about what you want to achieve and make sure you pick the right one for you.
5. Be committed
Teaching dance means building a loyal base of students. If you have a substitute teacher every other week, clients will question your commitment, feel as though they are not receiving the service they want and attendance will drop. So when you commit to teaching a course, or a session, put it in your diary and work your hardest to honour your commitments. Employers and students will thank you for it, and you’ll gain by having full classes!
Teaching is an incredibly rewarding job that keep you busy even in these tough economic times. Don’t let the steps to starting teaching feel like an obstacle course. Remember, each part is helping you grow and adding to your skills. If you have to spend a few weeks studying – it’s worth it – especially when it means you can dance for the rest of your life!
And finally…..
We are now looking for teachers, dancers and dance enthusiasts for our Autumn 2009 intake of franchisees, dance school managers and dance teachers. If you are interested in teaching street dance to adults beginners, running hen parties and kids classes in your local area, then get in touch with us for more info.
We will be running a full information day for people interested in franchising on April 25th 10am-2pm in London. Spaces are FREE but limited: you can book a place by downloading the brochure at our website www.creationdance.co.uk or by emailing me elle.kealy@creationdance.co.uk for more info.
The Creation Dance Teacher Network is a national network of Creation qualified teachers, who are able to teach parties, classes, workshops and courses for any Creation Dance outlet. We are expanding and looking for teachers interested in qualification with us. Qualification is as affordable as your insurance, with full training for only £80.00. We believe this is the best value dance teacher training around. For more details, please ask for a brochure at www.creationdance.co.uk
Learn to podium Dance – Be a Go Go Dancer!
March 25, 2009 by creationdanceuk
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Do you want to be a Street Dance Teacher? Or run your own dance school?
March 19, 2009 by creationdanceukCreation Launches its UK Dance School Franchise
London, UK — Have you ever wanted to work in dance, or run your own dance school,– or perhaps you already do and are thinking about providing street dance or disco classes? Then keep reading as a Creation Franchise might be the answer.
Creation began in London, UK in 2006 and grew to include lessons in Oxford and Brighton.
Elle Kealy, founder of Creation, says “Creation has taught over 2000 beginners, adults and kids, its own unique brand of street dance or jazz. Urban Groovz™ is a great syllabus for beginners of any age as it’s accessible, suitable for first time dancers and has been developed with safe teaching and high standards in mind. “
Creation decided to launch its franchise program at Move It 2009 when they were unable to keep up with the demand for their Urban Groovz™ and Disco Heaven™ lessons. They received over sixty applications since announcing their franchise offering and are holding a Discovery Day in London on April 25th where anyone interested in running either Urban Groovz™ or Disco Heaven™ classes can come along to find out more information.
Elle says “You don’t need to be a dance teacher to get involved in Creation classes. Of course if you are a dancer, then that’s great as you will receive full teacher training and can then go on to teach your own classes, but we are also interested in speaking to mums, dance enthusiasts or people looking for part time, flexible work, who just want to organise classes themselves. Dancers who wish to teach will not only receive business training, but will also complete our full teacher training program. The program covers aspects of dance teaching such as Health and Safety, Anatomy and Physiology for dancers, Exercise Fundamentals, Choreography and teaching techniques, Motivation Techniques and First Aid. Teachers are also given access to our syllabi, so if you are an existing dance school looking to provide street dance classes, this is also an excellent opportunity to add a solid syllabus to your business.”
If you would like to learn how to own your own Creation franchise, please visit their website at http://www.creationdance.co.uk or email elle.kealy@creationdance.co.uk for a booking form and come along to the Discovery Day in London, 10am-2pm April 25th 2009. Places are free of charge, but are limited.
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March 19, 2009 by creationdanceukWelcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!
