Minute Masterclass Episode 209

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’re starting a new series on how to improve the choreography experience without teaching any choreography. Stick with me. I have four tips for helping your dancers learn choreography quickly and perform with more confidence. Let’s dive in!

 Tip 1 is all about class structure. I am teaching performance choreography from the moment my dance season begins. Before this tip can be successful, you need to have certain criteria set for each stage of development. For example, I know my three-year-olds will mostly remain on their spot for their dances. Depending on the class, they may move off then return to their spot and/or switch spots with a dancemate. Because of this, I will make sure that they have designated tape marks from day one that they return to often during the class. I will also offer moments of high fiving an assigned dancemate and switching spots with them. My four-year-olds will most definitely switch lines, move in a circle, then return to their spots during their dance. We will practice these formation changes during our warm up every single week. When it’s time to begin our choreography, these moments in our dance will be a piece of cake because we have been practicing them since day one. 

 In addition, you should have skills for each stage of development that you know will be incorporated into their dance. Start working on these skills early in the season either during your warm up or obstacle courses so they are able and confident to perform them easily in their dance. By sprinkling choreography throughout your season, you will make the entire process less stressful and more successful! 

 For more information, to enroll in the Foundations Course, or to join the DiscoverDance Experience, visit DiscoverDance.com.