Dedicated to ensuring excellence in partner dance instruction, this dance teacher education course is the only one of its kind in the nation.  It is ideal for adults ages 16 and up who are considering a career as a dance teacher, or who would like to improve their own dancing.  Teaching dance is a career option for anyone -- no prior dance experience is required!

In this course you will learn:

• The 17 dances of the DVIDA Bronze American Syllabus for Smooth, Rhythm, and Night Club dances, and how to teach them
• To dance as both Leader and Follower
• Technical elements of all the dances
• Musical elements of all the dances
• How to teach private and group lessons
• How to prepare for DVIDA certification

Schedule

Rhythm B (Summer 2008)
Mambo, Merengue, Samba, W.C. Swing
July 8 - October 21
Tuesdays & Thursdays 8:00-10:00 p.m.

Nightclub (Fall 2008)
N.C. 2-Step, Lindy Hop, Salsa, Argentine Tango, Hustle
November 4 - February 19

Smooth (Spring 2009)
Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz
March 3 - June 23

Rhythm A (Summer 2009)
Rumba, Cha Cha, Swing, Bolero
July 7 - October 22

* Please Note:  Class size is currently limited to 20 people,
so we recommend you register early to avoid missing out!


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Requirements

Attendance
This is a professional level course, and we cover a lot of material at a fairly rapid pace.  Missing class is not advised, as you can easily fall behind.  If you do have to miss a class, you can generally arrange to work with one of the other students to help you catch up.

Class Times & Exam Schedule
Please contact the studio for class times.  Exams are scheduled to be held during regular class times.  If you miss an exam, you may schedule a make-up exam with a Master Instructor (for an additional private lesson fee).

Practice
Each class meets a total of four hours each week per section.  Most students spend quite a bit of time every week studying the material and practicing what they have learned.  Though the amount of outside time varies greatly from student to student, please expect to commit one hour of study time for every hour you spend in class.  Becoming a dance teacher takes dedication and practice!

Materials
The DVIDA Manuals and BDTA Binder are required textbooks for the course.  The accompanying DVIDA videos are recommended, but optional The DVIDA Bronze Manuals and videos are available from Dance Vision, and may be ordered online at http://www.dancevision.com/, or by calling 1-800-851-2813.  The BDTA Binder is provided in class and costs a one-time fee of $75.00.  It includes all class handouts that are distributed over the entire program.  We typically place a bulk order when students are registered in order to save on shipping.

Shoes
All students will be expected to have proper dance shoes by the second class meeting.  This is not an arbitrary aesthetic or fashion consideration.  To teach dance, you need the "right tool for the job," and proper dance shoes are literally the foundation for your dancing!

There are different styles of dance shoes for different styles of dancing, but most Two Left Feet student teachers wear a basic "practice shoe" with a practical and durable suede sole that is made to be comfortable and wearable for long periods.  Some students wear flashier shoes or high heeled dance shoes, but this is a matter of personal comfort.

Two Left Feet is a distributor of SoulDancer dance shoes.  To see what SoulDancer has to offer, visit their website at http://www.twoleftfeetdancestore.com.  If you would like to purchase shoes, please call 630-717-9930 or talk to your Master Instructor. While enrolled in the Teacher Training program at Two Left Feet, you may purchase dance shoes at a 20% discount. If you would like to shop for shoes locally, we recommend Kay Clay International, which has branches in in Westmont and Naperville.

Presentations
Because this is a teaching class, there is a strong emphasis on presentation.  You will be expected to present material to the class on a regular basis.  You may be asked to demonstrate a figure or to present a brief history of a specific dance.  Don't worry!  We hand out assignments in advance, so you will have plenty of time to prepare.

Dancing Both Roles
In order to teach a specific dance or figure, you need to be able to articulate and demonstrate both the leader's and follower's part.  We spend equal time in class working on both parts, and every student is expected to dance with every other student as both leader and follower, regardless of gender.  This is standard practice for professional dance instruction.

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Certification

When you complete one of the MBDTA's Teacher Training Programs (taking all of the exams and handing in all of the homework) you will receive a Certificate of Completion from the MDBTA.  This is a valuable accomplishement, and it will serve as a wonderful credential for your dance resume.  However, the MBDTA Certificate of Completion is different than professional certification.

What is Professional Certification?

In the dance industry, professional licenses are granted to dancers who submit themselves to a standardized exam from one of the accredited organizations, and who pass that exam satisfactorily.  A credential from any of these organizations is an asset to your career.

The certification exam for which we prepare you at the MBDTA is the Dance Vision International Dancers Association (DVIDA) certification.  We base our teacher training curriculum on the DVIDA syllabus and exam structure and provide complete and thorough training for all the DVIDA professioanl exams.

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Why Should I Get Certified?

The Professional Certification process offers extraordinary benefits to dance teachers; deeply enriching their dancing and teaching, and greatly expanding their career opportunities.  One trainee said,  "Going through the certification training and taking the exams has taken my dancing to a much higher level, given me the ability to run my own school, and given me entree into the judging arena.  The teachers I know who have become certified unanimously agree that it is the single best thing they have done for themselves and their dance career."

Become a Better Teacher
The process of preparing for your certification exam will teach you dance concepts you may not have fully understood.  You will improve both your verbal and presentation skills.  You will learn the precise vocabulary for describing the technical elements of dance figures which will help your explanations become clear, succinct, and consistent.  Your knowledge of the precise alignments will improve your ability to choreograph routines for your students.  you will expand your knowledge of musical terms and concepts, and you will understand how dancing and music relate.  Finally, the process of tehcnical mastery will improve your eye so you will know instantly how to correct your students.

Become a Better Dancer
The technical expertise required to pass your certification exam will catapult your dancing to an entirely new level.  You will learn the "rules" of technique that will keep your dancing consistent and help you master new, advanced figures.  You will develop a language that will help you work more effectively in your dance partnerships.  Above all, your confiedence will soar with the true mastery of dance technique that will stay with you for the rest of your career.

Declare Your Professional Excellence
The certificate you receive when you pass your certification exams declares your expertise to the world.  You'll be able to attract serious students and earn more for your services.  You will be a desireable employee in dance studios around the country.  you can even obtain your judging credential.  Your certification is the first step to being recognized as a national expert.

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Why DVIDA?

DVIDA's Reputation
DVIDA, the Certification branch of Dance Vision, was created with the same high standard of excellence for which Dance Vision is known.  The Syllabus and exam structure were immediately approved by the National Dance Council of America, and the industry response has been overwhelming:  the DVIDA certification system is hailed as excellent, professional, and fair.  The manuals and corresponding videos were created by U.S. champion dancers and offer the highest quality instruction.  Dance Vision's commitment ot the dnce community is unparalleled, with cutting-edge products and services, prompt and friendly customer service, and innovative programs to help dancers grow and improve at every stage.

"One Dance At A Time"
Another advantage to certifying with DVIDA is that you can take your professional certification exams "One Dance At A Time."  For example, the Bronze American Style Ballroom certification includes four dances:  Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, and Viennese Waltz.  With other organizations, you would need to study, prepare, and present all four dances in one exam.  With DVIDA's exams, you have the option of testing in each dance separately, one at a time.  This makes preparation much easier:  you learn the material more thoroughly when you're not overwhelmed "cramming" four at once; each successive test become less stressful and more comfortable as you know what to expect; and you can improve your performance each time based on the examiner's previous feedback.  After successfully completeing each one-dance exam, you receive a "Certificate of Completion" for that dance, and full certification when you have successfully tested in all of the dances at a particular level.

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