I decided to start by doing a brain storm on where I am professionally now, and where I want to be, hoping that questions would arise from trying to work out how to get there!
What does the education of dance in public education require that doesn't apply in private?
How can I create a professional package that appeals to secondary schools?
What direction is secondary dance education going in and how will this effect my attempts to get involved in it?
Will marketing myself as a freelance teacher able to do one off workshops in secondary schools help me to get my foot in the door or public education?
How can I break down the lingering prejudices towards male dancers and performers in order to get more boys involved in dance in general, not just the "cool" styles i.e street/breakdancing?
How can I contribute towards a more organic educational system?
These are just a few questions that have surfaced, and it seems clear to me that dance in secondary education is the umbrella under which my enquiry will be sheltering, so that's progress at least!! I will just keep chipping away and hopefully a more specific direction will begin to emerge. One thing I think I should certainly start doing is building up a knowledge of the history of dance within public education. When did it start being introduced? How far has it come? etc.
I know that there are others on the course that already work within public education and if any of you could offer me some advise as to how I should go about trying to infiltrate it I would be extremely grateful!
7 comments:
Hi Liam I'm currently in 2 split minds what to do with my career I am currently auditioning and I also want to teach children with disabilities.so to get my foot in the door in a way. I have written my cv and cover letter to schools with special needs pupils saying my intentions of what I would like to do. The first time I did this I found I got responses saying due to the recession they could not afford to hire me. I have decided to take it from a different angle and offer to volentar one day a week to assist in dance. This way I am recognised for a potential job when it occurs and I still get to learn. This might help you with your teaching side.
Hope this helps you.
Charlotte
Hi Charlotte,
I just read your comment via Liam's blog. I am thinking about my inquiry being based upon the effects of the recession in Ballet companies, and how Ballet has been changed to compensate for lower budgets. Your comment about difficulties in job applications goes along the same lines. It shows that my inquiry may touch more areas than I had first anticipated. Thankyou for opening my eyes further!
Hi Liam,
Firstly I really like how you started with the brainstorm of where you are now and where you want to be :)
It is interesting that you use the word 'package' in reference to creating a professional package for secondary schools. At college we were constantly being told about being having the 'overall package' and selling the product, which is you!
I guess now the issue is adapting the already created professional package to cater for the requirements of Secondary education. Are you referring to creating a workshop type class to deliver within a school setting? Or do you mean creating a 'professional package' in order to be employable by a school?
I think a good question to delve into is how does the teaching style within schools differ from private teaching? What different teaching methods are used? which teaching methods can be transferrable through both the private and public sector? I know my private dance classes were completely different from my gcse dance course and I wished there had been more elements from the private class brought into the GCSE class.
This could be your strength, you could bring those attributes into public teaching, but still adhering to the structure of the syllabus.
Although our inquiries are not completely similar, I think there are definitely similarities. SIG??
Take care Liam.
Liam, I think a very relevant and current topic for dance teachers today. Schools in the UK have varying methods of delivering a curriculum. Some secondary schools are run as academies so you need to research on academies. Their curriculum delivery differs from government run schools that totally follow by the letter the national guide lines. Some secondary schools, as you may know, are sports, science, arts or other biased, so their funding is concentrated in their chosen sector. Do you wish to delivering Dance with Games or Dance as an art working in conjunction with Drama or Music. These would be permanent full time jobs so you would need Qualified Teacher Status. Although there are academies that don't require a QTS status. In my opinion QTS would be a better opportunity to gain employment. Being flexible and having an additional subject is a great advantage.
One off dance workshops may not bring in enough income. If you wish to offer a ‘package’ consider forming a group/company with one or two additional people to include music/singing and or Drama. Offer the whole theatre experience with a production at the end. Or if you wish to work alone, be flexible with dance styles because the hip hop or street dance fashion may not last forever, however it's very relevant today and in my opinion male dancers have the edge when it comes to teaching hip hop/street especially for boys. It’s a brilliant start to get boys interested in dance this way you can introduce other dance styles gradually. This will get your foot in the door of most schools. I find it hard work being freelancer, I’m constantly looking for my next contract/work any time of day or night and weekends too. It’s imperative to hard sell/educate teachers/students about the benefits of dance. Here is a link to an agency I’ve used. http://www.schoolppacover.co.uk/index.htm They cover the whole of the UK, so you could gain some experience and employment.
I’ve just thrown some questions out to you and given you a taster of what I have experienced as a freelancer to date.
I have made and sig group on LinkedIn... To do with teaching in schools ...go to my blogg http://charliebidston.blogspot.com/2012/02/its-all-about-sig.html. And follow the link. Join and we can't start developing our ideas, learning and skills with in this practise.
Hi Liam, I think your inquiry is pretty focused already. Its about dance in secondary schools. Remember its an inquiry not a question to be answered. You don't have to so specific because that can close door to the possibility of find something unexpected.
A good book on recent history of dance in education in UK is
Author: P. Brinson
Year: 1991
Title: Dance as education : towards a national dance culture
Series Title: The Falmer Press library on aesthetic education
City: London ; New York
Publisher: Falmer
Let me know how it goes
Adesola
Really like the diagram to help you think - see comments on later blogs
do you have The Art of Dance in Education by Smith-Autard
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Dance-Education-Performing-Arts/dp/0713661755
Post a Comment