Part 1: Training the Super Teacher

Now that you hired your dance teacher, it is time to plan teacher training session(s). Pick a date a few weeks out and/or plan a training at the beginning of the year and again mid-season for all teachers. I recommend allowing at least 1-1.5 hours for each age division and style. 

Once you have the training date and schedule set, communicate the mandatory training to your teaching staff. If your employees are required to be there you should pay a training rate for their training hours. If you can, provide lunch or dinner as well. 

To prepare for the teacher training, download and print out all materials ahead of time. If you are using Twinkle Star Dance, show the teachers how to access the curriculum lesson plans and  video gallery for review. Be sure to also show how to access music playlists. 

Sample Training Session Schedule Day 1

9am - 10am - Twinkle Babies ages 2-3

10am - 11am - Twinkle Stars ages 3-4

11am - 12pm - Twinkle Stars ages 4-5 and 5-6

12pm - 12:30pm - Lunch

12:30pm - 1:30pm - Showstars Jazz ages 5-7/6-8 and 7-9/8-10

1:30pm - 2:30pm - Showstars Ballet ages 5-7/6-8 and 7-9/8-10

2:30pm - 3:30pm - Showstars Hip-Hop ages 5-7/6-8 and 7-9/8-10

3:30pm - 4:30pm - Showstars Tap ages 5-7/6-8 and 7-9/8-10

Sample Training Session Schedule Day 2

10am - 10:30am - Mock Twinkle Babies ages 2-3

10:30 - 11:15am - Mock Twinkle Stars ages 3-4 

11:15 - 12:00pm - Mock Twinkle Stars ages 4-5

12pm - 12:30pm - Lunch

12:30pm - 1:30pm - Twinkle Babies/Stars Teaching Methods

1:30pm - 2:30pm - Showstars Teaching Methods

In addition to the class curriculum you need to prepare the following for each teacher:

• Monthly Lesson Plans

• Passport Books/Dance Journals

• Teaching Methods 

• Music Playlists

Email the link and password to Twinkle Star Dance instructor user to each teacher ahead of training session for reference before and after sessions.

Some additional teacher training tips to keep in mind: 

• All teachers attend all training sessions!

• Everyone dances - using actual energy and movement

• No sitting and talking through notes!

• Model voice and energy levels that you want dance teachers to use in class

• Let dance teachers trade off leading class content and give feedback

Check back next week for Part 2: Training the Super Teacher. Learn more about Twinkle Star Dance and get your “Super Teachers” certified at Spark Chicago. 

Meet Tiffany Henderson 

Tiffany Henderson is an industry leader and dance business expert. Tiffany owns and operates multiple Tiffany's Dance Academy locations in Northern California. Her video-based teacher training system and curriculum, Twinkle Star Dance, is currently implemented in 300+ dance studios worldwide.

finding the Super Teacher

We know that Super Teachers are important to the success of our dance studio business. 

Why is finding Super Teachers so difficult? 

Dance is a niche market. Depending on where your studio is located, the pool of qualified dance teacher applicants is sparse and sometimes non-existent. 

Dance teachers come to us with different backgrounds and dance training. Often they have little to no “preschool” or “school-aged” dance teaching experience; prefer teaching high school dancers. 

Some dance teacher applicants have limited skills or little professional dance training. Maybe they are proficient in only one or a few styles of dance. Unfortunately, most Universities and professional training programs don’t educate or ready them for a career teaching preschool or school-aged children dance. 

Additionally, dance teachers have schedule conflicts due to other full or part time work. They can also have limited availability due to geographical restrictions.

Check back next week for my tips about hiring the Super Teacher. 

Learn more about Twinkle Star Dance and get your “Super Teachers” certified at Spark Chicago. 

Meet Tiffany Henderson 

Tiffany Henderson is an industry leader and dance business expert. Tiffany owns and operates multiple Tiffany's Dance Academy locations in Northern California. Her video-based teacher training system and curriculum, Twinkle Star Dance, is currently implemented in 300+ dance studios worldwide.

YOUR ENERGY IS CONTAGIOUS

As a preschool dance teacher, you have a significant impact on the energy around you. During class, your role is to generate passion, enthusiasm, and drive in your dancers. Dancers will model your energy level and enthusiasm for the material being presented to them. 

You need to display “full out” energy in everything you do. Dance as if you are being paid to perform this job on stage for a crowd.  

Ultimately, the success of your class will depend on whether you can share this energy with others and foster consistent enthusiasm among your dancers. If you want 100% - give them 200%. 

How do we share our contagious energy? Here are five tips:

1. Be Passionate About your Work

If you have a passion for dance and/or a love for working with young children that is energizing! Tap into that to make your work more enjoyable. Your passionate energy will start to spread to your dancers and everyone around you.

2. Balance Structure with Fun 

Don’t get stuck in a rut! When constructing your dance class, balance periods of sustained focus on Skill Building with free moving Center Movement and Just For Fun exercises. We want dancers to learn AND we want dancers to fall in love with the joy of moving to music. 

3. Take Breaks as Needed

Don’t wear yourself out! Taking short breaks throughout your teaching line up will help you focus and lead to you being more productive. We cannot share our energy if we are running on empty. 

4. Take Care of your Instrument

Our bodies need to be fully tuned and equipped to give us the energy for taking on the challenges of teaching dance. You need to find what works best for your body, preferences, and lifestyle. 

5. Use Instructional Scaffolding 

Instructional scaffolding is the process where a teacher adds support for their students in order to enhance learning and aid in the mastery of tasks. As a preschool dance teacher you can do this by building on your dancers' experiences and knowledge as they are learning new skills. For example, if your class has the basic understanding of shuffle, have them try shuffle hop this week. Dancers will generate the energy necessary to rise up to the challenge. 

Rediscover your light at Spark Mini-Conference Series.

Meet Tiffany Henderson 

Tiffany Henderson is an industry leader and dance business expert. Tiffany owns and operates multiple Tiffany's Dance Academy locations in Northern California. Her video-based teacher training system and curriculum, Twinkle Star Dance, is currently implemented in 300+ dance studios worldwide.

Engaging Preschool Dancers

Students are engaged when they are interested or curious. Sometimes if the class material is too difficult or too easy they lose interest. 

Preschool dancers also thrive on verbal feedback and are inspired by the teacher's energy and enthusiasm for the material. A good teacher knows her student's ability and gives material that will challenge the child while making them feel a sense of accomplishment. 

Remember, If you love it, they will. A balanced preschool dance class ebbs between free moving exercises followed by periods of sustained focus. A preschool dance curriculum, such as Twinkle Star Dance, should strike a balance of structure and fun. 

Make sure to slow down and lower your voice if the class is getting loud and wiggly, and raise your voice and speed up if they are staring off into space.

Humor is also a great way to connect with your dancers.

Rediscover your light at Spark Mini-Conference Series.

Meet Tiffany Henderson 

Tiffany Henderson is an industry leader and dance business expert. Tiffany owns and operates multiple Tiffany's Dance Academy locations in Northern California. Her video-based teacher training system and curriculum, Twinkle Star Dance, is currently implemented in 300+ dance studios worldwide.

Be a Keen Observer

Being a preschool dance teacher is incredibly important and rewarding work. We often are a child’s first experience working with an adult outside of their parents, primary caregivers, family members, etc. This comes with its own set of challenges and responsibilities. 

Know that children arrive at your dance class with a variance of different “scripts” and “attachments” based on their unique interactions in the world so far. By having a set preschool dance curriculum, your class will lend itself to the instructor focusing on the delivery rather than creating the content. 

It is our role as preschool dance teachers to take time to learn as much as we can about each dancer. A successful preschool dance instructor teaches the dancer's individual challenges and strengths. 

Here are three things to keep in mind when teaching a preschool dance class: 

Learning Styles: 

We all learn things in a different way. Dance is typically taught verbally as well as the “follow me” method. That works for the majority of dancers, however, some dancers learn in a more “hands-on” way. 

While Teachers need to be careful when touching dancers, sometimes it is necessary to physically move the dancer through the movement. The use of analogies, and rhythmic exercises such as clapping the rhythm, etc. are good alternative ways of getting the material across to the students. 

It is the teacher’s responsibility to determine the learning styles of their students and use the necessary techniques to ensure the students learn the material to the best of their ability.

Keeping Class Notes: 

Keeping notes at the end of each class about what took place will help you keep consistency in your classes. You may also write down any ideas you have for new steps or ideas on how to teach a certain step in a more efficient way

Teaching the Whole Child: 

Remember that you are teaching the whole child. You cannot separate the child’s personality or life experiences from the dancer. Take an interest in your student’s well-being and make mental notes about background and family situations. 

Is mom pregnant with child number two? Is that why Susie is acting out and needing more attention in class? These are the things that are helpful to know when you are teaching young children.  

Rediscover your light at Spark Mini-Conference Series.

Meet Tiffany Henderson 

Tiffany Henderson is an industry leader and dance business expert. Tiffany owns and operates multiple Tiffany's Dance Academy locations in Northern California. Her video-based teacher training system and curriculum, Twinkle Star Dance, is currently implemented in 300+ dance studios worldwide.