Thread: New BD teacher

I am just beginning to teach a beginner BD class. Right now it is just my teacher friends for a wellness activity. I don't get paid but I have a couple of possibilities that may turn out to be a teaching job at a dance studio. Now I am starting to get nervous. Is there a DVD out there that talks about how to teach BD? I have been taking myself for about 7 years and take workshops every year. I am more of an AM cab dancer so I do know technique for beginners but just because one knows does not mean one can teach. It is funny that is my real job is teaching but teaching adults is another ball game altogether.

Any advice or DVD's out there?

EM

I'm not aware of any dvds that address how to *teach* belly dance, but there is a private teacher group here on Bhuz (contact Beafarhana to gain access), and lots of good info in the Teacher forum. Good luck!

Thanks TAJ

This person has a training course for teaching bellydance. I haven't taken it myself so I can't speak to the contents.
Taaj the belly dance trainer certification program

Keep on reading back over old posts in this forum. There's plenty of info and discussion of common issues here. Once you get further into thinking about how and what you'll teach, you could post some specific questions here. The more specific you can be, the better the response, because something like "How do I teach?" is too broad to tackle.

Ha, I had the opposite problem to you - I started teaching adults but faced a steep learning curve when it came time to teach children. What a difference!

PS - here's a new set of DVDs on how to teach bellydance: How to Teach Belly*Dance - How to Teach Belly Dance - Belly Dance Teachers and Students, Womanhood and everything in between. (note website prices in Australian dollars). I don't know this dancer and haven't heard reviews yet, but the promo sounded good.

Originally Posted by jewelbellydance

PS - here's a new set of DVDs on how to teach bellydance: How to Teach Belly*Dance - How to Teach Belly Dance - Belly Dance Teachers and Students, Womanhood and everything in between. (note website prices in Australian dollars). I don't know this dancer and haven't heard reviews yet, but the promo sounded good.

I would be REALLY interested to hear from anybody who has bought this. PM if you have and want to discuss it.

If you can get to Auckland, New Zealand by Sunday I'm doing a workshop on setting up a Belly Dance course ..g.: Seriously, consider some of the following:

• What do you want to teach?
• Who are your potential students - do they match with what you want to teach?
• Break down skills and knowledge and structure how you will approach the broad objectives.
• For each bit consider how to get it across - eg
  • break down movement patterns into simple skills which build on each other
  • address all three learning styles
  • arm yourself ahead of time with extension for the quick and alternative strategies for the ones who struggle
• If available, seriously consider training in how to teach full stop - many of the skills are not BD specific. If you can slot into a how to teach dance course all the better (just put your ballet filter on)
• Spend some time to formally study how the body works, safety issues, different body types etc
• Get up to speed on your local business laws, tax, liability etc

At least you know how to plan lessons & goals since you're a teacher, right? Look at my Gilded Serpent article
Preparing to Teach by Anthea for the Gilded Serpent

and I also have a written guide for teaching MED at my site -

best wishes
Anthea
Bellydance by Anthea (Kawakib) Belly Dance classes in Fredericksburg, Virginia

Originally Posted by emuffz

I am just beginning to teach a beginner BD class. Right now it is just my teacher friends for a wellness activity. I don't get paid but I have a couple of possibilities that may turn out to be a teaching job at a dance studio. Now I am starting to get nervous. Is there a DVD out there that talks about how to teach BD? I have been taking myself for about 7 years and take workshops every year. I am more of an AM cab dancer so I do know technique for beginners but just because one knows does not mean one can teach. It is funny that is my real job is teaching but teaching adults is another ball game altogether.

Any advice or DVD's out there?

EM

Originally Posted by anthea

at least you know how to plan lessons & goals since you're a teacher, right? Look at my gilded serpent article
preparing to teach by anthea for the gilded serpent

and i also have a written guide for teaching med at my site -

best wishes
anthea
bellydance by anthea (kawakib) belly dance classes in fredericksburg, virginia

get this guide!!!

Thanks all very helpful

EM

Keti sharif has one, I have one of her A-Z DVD which I love. I'm saving my Pennies to get her 1001 series

A-Z correspondence study courses


"A-Z TEACHER TRAINING
A-Z TT courses qualify dance instructors to officially teach A-Z Original or Advanced professionally. Teacher training courses contain NEW DVDs with demonstrations, choreographies and lesson plans. On completion teachers receive a certificate and a personal bio/class webpage."

Thanks agian for a ll the information it has all been very helpfuul.