We’ve put together answers to a few of the questions we get asked all the time by teachers worried about teaching dance and movement to music. If you can’t find the answer you need here please use the form at the bottom of the page to get in touch – we’ll get back to you within 24 hours.
Q I’m a head teacher – how can I make it easier for my staff to teach dance?
A Our Start-Up Kits are complete programmes of study in dance. Each Start-Up Kit includes multiple videos, lesson plan, music and teaching aids. They are designed for teachers who want to broaden their knowledge and understanding around teaching dance and feature fun popular styles your students will love and learn from.
Q I’m daunted by teaching dance to children as I’m not a dancer, how can imovesdance.com help me?
A Start with our basic dance Short Schemes. We’ve designed them for teachers with little or no dance experience who would like to try teaching a new style. Our Short schemes are based around dance “Toolkits” for each style and feature a series of 10 – 12 basic moves and how to teach them. The styles available are Cheerdance, Latin, Jive, Disco, StreetJazz, Broadway and SportsJam Creative Combat.
Q I used to dance as a child and loved it, but I find it really difficult to put routines together and then teach it to my students – can you help?
A We have lots of tried and tested routines ready to view and teach in our Choreography Club, so you don’t have to spend time making up choreography. Using our Choreography Club pre choreographed routines should help inspire you to put together your own routines more easily.
Q I had a bad experience teaching dance and it’s really put me off teaching it again, but my students really want to try something new like Cheerleading.
A You could try our Cheerdance Schemes of Work on DVD which take you week by week through an easy fun Cheerdance Performance. Each DVD comes with lesson plans, choreography notes and music! It’s all done for you.
Q I’m a busy PE teacher and I run a dance after school club. I find it difficult to constantly think of new ideas as the school can’t afford to buy someone in.
A If you are already teaching dance regularly this is a great resource for you, as we have pre-choreographed routines in all the popular styles for Key Stages 3 & 4 in our Choreography Club. It’s so simple and fast to view online and you can print off your session notes directly from the site. Downloads start from just £7.99, you can easily set up an account for your school so you can create a bank of choreography for the PE Department for you to draw on at any time.
Q Our dance show this year is “Dancing Through the Decades”, I have no idea how to put together a Jive or Disco routine. I need ideas, can you help?
A All our choreography and routines are from different decades and cultures, we currently have Jive and Disco Short Schemes and Pre-Choreographed routines in Pop and StreetJazz which cover 1930′s through to the millennium. I’m sure there will be something to inspire you amongst them.
Q As a Secondary School PE teacher I’m expected to teach dance as its part of the curriculum, but I’m sporty and feel clumsy and uncoordinated when I try to dance. What can I do?
A There are 2 ways you could tackle this; firstly try a style that suits your personality like Creative Combat or SportsJam Short Schemes. Both styles have a sporty feel are fun and engage both genders well. Secondly, our Show Girls Scheme of work uses hats, canes and feather bowers as resource, or our Freestyle Short Scheme as both are designed to allow the students to create the majority of the choreography using props. It’s very effective and great resource for non-dancers.
Q I teach Key Stage 1, and I’m looking for ideas around dance but I’m not a dancer, can you help?
A Absolutely! We have lots of tried and tested themes and Movement to Music ideas for early years, reception and Key Stage 1 available to view. I’m sure this will you inspire you to create many more of your own.
Q I teach Exercise to Music to adults. Can I teach children fitness/dance style sessions if I’ve not got a Qualification in teaching children’s fitness or dance?
A Ideally you should start by getting a level 2 Certificate in Teaching Health Related Exercise to Children (CYQ). This will give you the basic tools you will need to deliver safe effective fitness sessions to children aged between 5 – 16 years. Remember, you are only eligible for public liability insurance if you are Qualified to work with children. Go to Education in Motion http://www.educationinmotion-fitness.com for further information on training to become a children’s fitness instructor.
Q What music is suitable to use with children and teens and do I need a PPL to play music in a school?
A Most schools have PPL licences, so if you are using school premises you should be OK. If you are using a space not associated with a school or a licensed centre you will need music that is licensed and you should have a PPL licence too. You can purchase a PPL licence through Pure Energy music, they also offer various yearly membership packages and have huge catalogue music to choose from, including my 2 Kids Workout CD’s Little Stars (3 – 8 years) and Super Stars (9 – 16 years). Go to our music pages for our selection or visit www.pureenergymusic.com for more information.
Q What’s working for you in schools at the moment?
A
- Sessions that involve working to music really seems motivate and excite younger children. I think that’s due to many PE sessions in primary schools are without music, so its something different.
- Cheer-dance is very popular at the moment, all ages love it. The pom-poms seem to give the younger ones more confidence.
- Dance-fitness of any kind really. Partnered dance such as Salsa and the Jive are becoming more popular, particular with teens because of shows like Strictly Come Dancing.
- Combat sessions and SportsJam sessions for the boys work well, as do creative motor skills circuit’s
Q I have recently become qualified in teaching children’s fitness. Do you have any ideas on how to create opportunities to work in schools a freelance instructor?
A
- You could try offering free sessions to schools, either to teachers or students
- Start building rapport and relationship with key people in that school
- Invest in good quality professional marketing material, and send a regular newsletter/Eflyer to your new contacts.
- Link the activities you are offering to the PE & Dance national curriculum
Q I’m recently qualified in teaching children’s fitness classes, and I’m still not sure if I need a CRB check to work in schools?
A Yes, you will need one, however each school is different and you may need several to work in different schools. The best thing to do is ask the school you are working with for advice on this. The down side is that it will take a few months to come through.
