Introducing
ISTD Dance Sport to Athens
Marion
Lane reports on an educational open day in Greece
The
pulse of the streets in Athens slowed as the
city paused for breath in the calm of a hot
Sunday morning. I was walking along Patission
Street to the Spirit of Dance Studios where
I would be holding an open day for students
who were keen to hear more about the ISTD and
everything it offers in terms of Dance Sport.
Mary
Chorianopolou, the Principal of the Spirit of
Dance, is an ISTD approved tutor in the Theatre
faculties. Together with a teacher at her studio,
Sozon Banavos, who had recently successfully
taken his Latin American Associate qualification
with the ISTD, she felt the time was right to
extend the teaching programme to include ISTD
Dance Sport. The day before we had set the stage,
with a display of Rosettes, Social, Pre Bronze
and Medal Awards. There was a full range of
study books too, with information on the Medal
syllabi and Grade examinations, the FDI and
CDE course books and syllabus outlines for Student
Teacher and Associate qualifications. Dance
Sport International had also kindly sent promotional
materials and the walls were decorated with
posters showing their fabulous dancewear. Mary
and her staff had provided a tempting buffet
and the aroma of coffee beckoned, along with
a mouth-watering array of pastries and cakes.
So now, as the sounds of the streets outside
rose, we waited to see who would come.
On
the dot of 11am, the first few students arrived.
I had already met these young dancers who were
studying for their Modern Theatre FDI and CDE
examinations, now here they were again, keen
and interested to learn more. The bell at the
street door began to ring more frequently and
the pace of the day quickened as eager students
came up the stairs, taking them two at a time.
The enthusiasm of these young dancers was readily
apparent as they moved amongst each other; their
infectious laughter and conversation filled
the airy studios.
Now
it was time to begin. All 39 students took their
places as we moved into the first part of the
presentation. To begin with, we looked at the
different genres that together make up the Dance
Sport Faculties of the ISTD; Latin American,
Modern Ballroom, Disco Freestyle, Club Dance
and Classical Sequence.
Next,
the wide array of amateur medal tests was explained,
from the Rosette Awards for our very youngest
pupils through the Social and Pre Bronze series
of tests. We then turned our attention to the
Medal test series before looking closely at
the range of Gold Star and Awards examinations
for our more experienced pupils. Time was spent
considering the different categories in which
the tests and examinations can be taken and
how teachers can use them to build both a sound
and successful school and standard of performance
within their pupils. After a break for refreshments
and questions, we moved on to the Grade examinations
and the FDI and CDE. Much interest was shown,
particularly from students and teachers already
studying the Theatre genres, then as we moved
on to describe the Student Teacher and Associate
qualifications, interest deepened as the students
began to see the opportunities that lay before
them.
As
the afternoon drew to a close, there was a further
opportunity for students to see the range of
medals and awards; browse through the study
books and have their questions answered. What
was most apparent, as they talked, was that
they could see a way forward within their dance
training, a way showing clear routes of progression
to well recognised goals and they were keen
to begin their journey!
Marion
Lane |
