| How
We See It
Reports
on the Teacher Training Day for Grades 1 to 3, as seen through
the eyes of two teachers and one examiner (who is also a teacher).
On
Monday 23rd February many eager teachers were present at Kensington
Dance Studio to find out about the new graded system which
has now been available since April this year.
On
arrival we were greeted by members of the Latin American Faculty
and given a copy of the outline syllabus which proved to be
very useful throughout the day.
Lorna
Lee opened the session by welcoming everyone and thanked us
for attending what was to be a truly informative and interesting
day.
Marion
Lane then talked us through some of the rationale, aims and
objectives behind the grade structure and explained that this
was in addition to the current medal test system which would
not be affected in any way. We were then treated to an examination
session of Grades 1 to 3 examined by Marion Brown.
All
the grades started with a warm-up exercise section wearing
jazz shoes. Grade 1 concentrating on Rumba and Jive, Grade
2 Samba and Cha Cha Cha and Grade 3 Rumba and Paso Doble.
A series of set exercises were performed for each grade to
music, that is pre-recorded for this examination. At Grade
1 the exercises were performed separately but at Grades 2
to 3 were combined exercise routines. The candidates demonstrated
these with care and had obviously been practising hard to
prepare for the day. Knowledge and demonstration of a stretch
exercise relevant for their grade was also required. I believe
that this is a great step forward as previously there had
been no warm up and cool down knowledge required for this
dance style.
The
candidates were then asked to clap rhythmically to music accenting
the first beat of each bar of music. After a quick change
of shoes each candidate was asked to demonstrate preparatory
dance exercises applicable to the first dance of the examination.
These again are set exercises to set music. This was followed
by solo demonstration of various figures appropriate to the
grade being taken.
Dancing
with a professional partner followed. It was explained that
a candidate could also take the examination in the opposite
role if desired. The examination continued with the preparation
exercises for the second dance and demonstrations as above.
This then completed the examination.
After
lunch we were in the very capable hands of Janet Clark who
talked us through the theory of the very important subject
of Warm Up and Cool Down. Janet then invited us to join her
on the floor and took us through all the set warm up exercises
and routines in her own inimitable style. Lets hope a video
of all the set exercises is produced as it will make invaluable
class teaching work and also ensure we are all doing it the
same!
After
Janet, Lorraine Kuznik took us through the musical appreciation
of the examination and explained how this will help pupils
get a better understanding of the music. Clapping in beats
and bars is required at the higher grades.
The
last section of the day for me was the best. Lorna Lee went
through the Preparatory Dance Exercises from Grades 1 to 3.
What a wealth of knowledge and expertise this lady has, my
only disappointment was that we didn’t have longer!
Lorna explained so many things that can make such a difference
to our dancing. Stride, length, tracking under the body, staying
within ones own hip space and turnout correction to name but
a few. I know that I and certainly other teachers that I spoke
to on the day would welcome another lecture at a future congress
on all those little extras that Lorna makes so easy to understand.
I
am sure the new graded structure will improve not only the
standard of dance performance but also give a good technical
knowledge of the basic fundamentals in dance. A well structured
and thoroughly enjoyable day. Thank you.
Maria
Howse
The
Latin American Seminar for the new grades system was held
at Ralph Shearer’s Kensington Dance Studio on the first
floor above the Polish Club near Exhibition Road, London.
Over
a period of about an hour a large number of teachers arrived
from all over the country, looking around I could see people
from the south and the north of England as well as the Home
Counties. It must have been rewarding for the LA Committee
to see so much interest in their project. It was also interesting
to see that a large number of examiners and members of other
committees were in the audience.
Before
the seminar began the room was buzzing with anticipation of
just exactly what the new system was all about. Would it be
useful to our businesses? Would there be any benefit to dance?
Was it just another new idea that would fade away in time?
The
session opened with an introduction to the day by the First
Lady of Latin, Lorna Lee, outlining the hopes and expectations
of the committee and what we, the teachers could expect from
the grading system in general and the seminar in particular.
Everyone
settled into their seats to watch a series of mock examinations
examined by Marion Brown. The examinations were carried out
for Grades 1 to 3. Each exam session had two nervous but well
groomed candidates who were thoroughly ‘grilled’
by the examiner. Each candidate had been thoroughly prepared
by Marion Lane and each part of the exam was very well demonstrated
and easy to understand.
Following
the mock examinations, Marion Lane took to the floor to explain
the content of the new examinations and their implementation.
From her very detailed knowledge and clear explanations it
was evident how much work Marion, as the LA Committee’s
lead co-ordinator, had put into the examinations and their
construction and how much thought has gone into their implementation
within a school’s structure.
Next
on the timetable was a very welcome lunch break. It was at
this point, I think many of us realised how much we had been
concentrating as much stretching and ‘waking up’
of bodies could be seen around the room.
The
afternoon started with the usual after lunch spot, commonly
called the ‘graveyard slot’. A misnomer in this
case about a million miles away from reality as it was time
to try out the warm-up routines for Grades 1 to 6. After a
detailed explanation of the aims of warm-up and how this could
increase the quality of Latin American dance the Imperial’s
exercise expert, Janet Clark, soon had everyone on their feet.
Janet’s quips over the accompanying music made a real
class situation and concentration was clear on everyone’s
faces.
Any
lecture with physical activity makes for a hard act to follow.
However, the challenge of the next section was very ably taken
up by Lorraine Kuznik. With her enthusiasm for dance and her
ability to make things seem easy, she explained how musical
appreciation should be demonstrated within the exam by means
of clapping, increasing the volume to emphasise strong beats,
counting beats and bars and the performance of a set routine
which would demonstrate candidates understanding of the music
medium.
The
final session of the day was left to Lorna who once again
took to the floor to explain the preparatory dance exercises
for the grades. Within minutes everyone was on the floor trying
out the movements. Lorna had clearly demonstrated and explained
how the careful control of the body would lead to the desired
result. Taking a step back from looking at this session it
was really a Master Class with an obvious master at the helm!
At
the end of the day there was just enough time for a short
question and answer session which Marion Lane was volunteered
to Chair as she acknowledged expert in the grading system.
The questions on everyone's minds at the beginning of the
day:
Was
the grading system good for our business?
The answer was a definite yes! Students of GCSE
age would be obvious beneficiaries but the benefits could
spread across all age groups from 7 years upwards, providing
scope to run additional grade classes, private lessons etc.
The possibilities seem endless.
Is
the grading system going to benefit dance?
Without a doubt. The students taking the grades
will have a far greater understanding of the structure of
the dance figures as they will have to study them in much
the same way we had to study them for professional examinations.
The benefits for both the medallist dancer and the competitive
dancer are the same - the deeper the understanding of technique
the better the performance as a whole. A firm basis from which
to work. For the career dancer, seeking to move on to professional
exams, the grades will offer a transitional route from the
amateur examinations to professional examinations. For the
teacher, an additional tool to work with - a dual band - ‘recreational’
achievement within the medal system and ‘academic’
achievement within the grade system. Dance Sport schools mainly
provide recreation for the majority of their clients but we
now have something to offer the few that wish to become career
dancers.
Will
the grades be a fad that will fade with time?
I for one hope not!
Many
thanks to the Latin American Committee for taking the time
to organise this seminar which was hard work with the amount
of information that had to be absorbed in a day, but an enjoyable
one.
A
special thank you must go to Marion Lane for all the hard
work and effort she has personally put into the grade system
on behalf of the Latin Committee and us all. Without her dedication
the system would not be anywhere near as cohesive as it is.
She has spent untold hours working behind the scenes; attending
meetings; writing consultation documents and training the
candidates for the mock examinations. Speaking to her afterwards
she confessed it was hard and daunting work but something
that she had enjoyed immensely. I can understand the feeling
of working on such a great project, seeing it come to successful
fruition must be really rewarding. Many thanks Marion.
Keith
Wilkinson
On
Monday 23rd February I attended a Teachers Meeting regarding
the new graded exams which are going to be available in the
near future.
The
systems will of course run alongside our existing medal structure.
I have attended two meetings previously for Disco Freestyle
and Sequence and found these meetings very informative, interesting
and exciting.
This
meeting was no exception. It was a very well attended meeting
and the Latin American Faculty Committee were on hand to offer
clear guidance to the grades, it was such a good day. From
seeing children taking mock examinations and on to exercises
suitable for Latin American Dancing, explained so clearly
by Miss Janet Clark and finally some of the dances and figures
shown by the Chairperson Miss Lorna Lee. The wealth of experience
she shares with everyone gives us so much and I for one always
learn lots to take back to my students.
A
very big thank you to all of the Committee for an excellent
day and I am sure that, like me, many of the dedicated teachers
present went away full of enthusiasm at the thought of perhaps
using these grade exams in addition to their usual medal test
exams.
Pat
Goode
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