Minute Masterclass Episode 147

 Welcome to your one-minute masterclass. I’m Andrea Trench, founder of DiscoverDance and creator of the Foundations Course for Early Childhood Dance Educators and the DiscoverDance Experience Membership. Today we are focusing on our students during observation week. Our students’ needs must be met, just like any other time they are in our presence. If their needs aren’t met, it will reflect in their behavior. Of course, this feels even more overwhelming when we have a studio full of observers. It’s important that we schedule enough time between the first dance class until observation week in order for us to build our relationships with our students. They need to be well versed in the structure of class, they need to trust us as a consistent grownup in their life, and they need to have a class that honors their needs as a developing child.

  Giving our dancers ownership of their class will help build their excitement. A few weeks before observation week occurs, plan what you will do during this class by asking for some of their favorite activities. Once you have a plan, it’s time to rehearse EXACTLY how the class will be during observation week. We want our dancers to know what is coming so rehearsing the week or even two before will prepare them for the big day.

   Lastly, if you are excited about this big day, that energy will make your students also excited. Our goal is to show our grownups how much we love dance and how much we have learned so far in the dance season. Keep it positive and have fun along the way. 

   For more information, to enroll in the Foundations Course, or to join the DiscoverDance Experience and view our Observation Experience full training inside the Academy, visit DiscoverDance.com.