29 November 2024
Tell us a little about AK Academy of Dancing.
The AK Academy of Dancing opened its doors in 1992, teaching the theatre genres of Ballet, Tap and Modern / Jazz.
Shortly after opening, we decided to start Freestyle classes within the school and it just took off. Over the years, we saw a valuable difference between students who studied the theatre side as opposed to just the Freestyle side and that is because of the discipline of the syllabus work and technique involved, especially with the Ballet, in terms of how they hold themselves and their lines; nonetheless, Freestyle has evolved hugely over the years with technique.
We then grew further and started introducing Street dance within our freestyle classes and it was clearly noticeable how much the students enjoyed the funky side of Street, along with the modern music!! With the variety of styles of which Street dance offers, students can learn a variation of technique and styles that suit them best.
"I think the choreography is very creative, it’s a fun style of dance, it makes you feel free and the music is amazing" - Isla
What inspired you to branch out from traditional theatre dance genres to include Street dance in your teaching?
Having a background of theatre training, our students both past and present have / and are already learning the core technique of dance in terms of poise and different styles. This is extremely beneficial for anyone looking to start Street within their school as Street dance is a type of freestyle where students express their own style on the floor, along with the core technique they have already learnt.
"Street dance is where you can move freely and feel yourself" - Layla
How have your students responded to the addition of Street dance in your classes?
Students absolutely love street dance within the school because they can add their own music interpretation to any song, producing a variety of different styles which is amazing to see.
"I love Street, as I am able to express myself and show my personality by having attitude or being sassy" - Lily
Anna's Boys Only Street Dance class
In what ways has learning and teaching Street dance expanded your skills as a dance teacher?
Both learning and teaching the different styles of Street dance has helped me massively as a teacher. The reason for this is because Street is a whole new style of dance, but with aspects of theatre work included. As previously mentioned, Street is a type of freestyle dance where students can express themselves and come up with ideas of their own to compliment the choice of music / song. This adds both variety and diversity to the classes.
"Street dance makes me feel free and empowered" - Lilly
Have you noticed any changes in your students' skills or confidence levels since adding Street dance your school offerings?
We have seen a huge impact on the students confidence by adding Street classes to our timetables. Because it isn’t a set syllabus as such, students can pick and choose moves from the syllabus book that they enjoy doing and are stronger at, all while adding their own ideas. This adds variation to the classes and is beautiful to watch.
"The style of Street dance is unique compared to other genres and it gives me a chance to add my own style to different routines" - Emmy
What advice would you give to other theatre-based dance teachers who are thinking of incorporating Street dance into their offerings?
The best advice I would give to any teachers looking to add Street into their Academy is to learn a bit from each style of Street and start incorporating moves into classes and see which is the most favoured style and start from there. It is important to differentiate classes when teaching Street, to accommodate all students, however it is equally as important to take baby steps when starting out, otherwise it can be overwhelming quite quickly. Before you know it, you will surprise yourself as a teacher with how quickly you start learning steps and movements and linking them together to create powerful routines; you will also learn from your students with how they adapt.
"Street dance makes me feel like I can be myself and where I can move freely without feeling silly" - Leyla
Have you had any new students join your school as you offer Street dance classes?
We started off with one Street class at one of our branches, alongside our theatre and freestyle timetable, and quickly grew to having Street classes at all our branches and teaching over ten classes a week, which also include Commercial.
"Street is really fun and it’s the class I can do tricks in and I like the music" - Bea
Are there any skills you’ve developed from learning and teaching Street dance, that you’ll be able to bring into your existing classes?
Locking and Popping is a big part of our street classes as it’s very much like ‘isolation movements’ and personally as a teacher this is something I have learnt lots about and enjoy teaching. We also teach Acro within our academy and students who train in this also find the breakdancing side a lot easier as it can be acrobatic in many ways.
"Street makes me feel like I can express myself as well as be confident and sassy all at once" - Jess
What aspects of street dance inspire you?
The aspects of Street dance that inspire me the most is the overall diversity of what it offers in terms of styles and different techniques. As a teacher, your ability to learn is never-ending with Street as there is always something new to learn and pass on to your students; keeping classes exciting and rewarding each week.
Written by Anna Knowles, LISTD and DDE Diploma in Dance Education, AK Academy of Dancing
