Syllabus and Class Planning

The common belief is that dancers do not teach, they dance around all day. WRONG! We create a curriculum and a syllabus just like any other subject matter. The below is an example of a syllabus created by me for a previous class. Use this as a model to plan your syllabi for dance classes when teaching movement:

Advanced Jazz (MASTER CLASS)

Ages:  14-17 (10 girls and 1 boy)

Wednesday s, 7:15-8:45 pm

                                             

Objective:  Students will learn how transitions between movements help add flair and style to one’s performance.  Students will be able to connect movement in an almost seamless manner by the end of session or have deep understanding of subject.

Warm Up (approx. 30 minutes):

Isolations- starting with the head and moving down to shoulders/arms *helps bring awareness to separate body parts that can be isolated*

Sagittal stretches- basic Horton stretches from sagittal plane all the way to floor and back up to opposite  side, 2^nd set done with plié in between *will be done slightly at moderate speed to raise heart rate*

Continue Isolations- starting with the torso and moving to the hips

Feet Treads- will start with slow speed and work its way up to half time and turn into prances in circles around oneself *continuing to raise heart rate*

Tendu- parallel and turned out en croix with a plié in between to switch sides *opening up the hips and stretching Achilles*

Sit-ups/push-ups- Duration of one full song approximately 4 minutes in length switching different ways to do them, end with a upward dog stretch. Continue with 20 push-ups and child’s pose to end*helps strengthen the core

Floor stretches- legs open and together in front of oneself, reaches done in moderate speed  to half time to give the brain a workout *opens the hips and keeps students from ‘zoning’ out

Across the Floor (approx. 20-30 minutes):

Pirouettes- small connecting movements into a ball change pirouette, done multiple times from holding relevé to triple (or four if can be done) *movement before turn will start the awareness of transitions*

Battements- small connecting phrase involving chainés and battements as well as sharp movement *helps one practice the turning techniques they just used on other types of turns; helps one to experiment with different kinds of transitioning techniques*

Leaps- Turn leaps and calypsos going to the ground *helps one become comfortable with the floor*

Side Leap- small phrase that combines previous movements done across the floor and ends with a side leap *Seals the muscle memory for all techniques used and learned*

Phrase (the rest of class duration):

Phrase will combine technique done across the floor with stylized movement. Students will not only practice their visual learning skills, but will also learn how to transition movement within their own body to develop a personal style and performance. Phrase will be approximately 6 to 10 eight counts; length determined on how well students are picking the material up. Students will demonstrate in groups and conclude class with one final round altogether.

Cool Down:

If there is time, cool down will consist of the sagittal stretches and feet treads done earlier in class done at a slow and leisurely speed. If there is no time for a cool down, it is my job to remind students to take time on their own to cool down.