Thread: How do we define a Master Teacher ?

sigh... This is one of a problem I see closely tied to belly dance teacher qualification, keeping the tradition of a dance style, categorization, and so forth, the problems often discussed over and over here on Bhuz.

If there is something like "board of Master Teachers", our position as students as well as professionals in the business would be much easier, (or would we rather loose some part of the fun, not to have to fight over terminology and attributes of each style ?)

So, let´s face it: how do we define a rock solid Master Teacher ?
What would be a curicullum of a master teacher ?
What, and how many years do people do to become one ?

Teachers know how to teach, so we are not talking about "great dancer, bad teacher" option. .p::

The poll is multiple choice, but is not perfect. It does not include any statements of mt´s personality, knowledge span, musicality,..., just a "raw" curricullum.

For me the mt´s personality, knowledge span, and musicality are far more important factors than the amount of time they have been teaching. I would also expect them to be an extremely accomplished dancer, and a knowledgeable and inspiring teacher, but length of service comes pretty near the bottom of my list of important factors.
I'm not trying to say that it doesn't take time to build these skills, but whether they have been dancing for 6, 10, 20, or 100 years really wouldn't matter to me if they possessed the right qualities.

I think that time spent teaching is not nearly as important as the products of the teaching. A master teacher should be developing and nurturing competent dancers.

I would define a master teacher as someone who teaches the very top professional performers and teachers-The very best there is.I don't think there are many master teachers in the world.

a master teacher is a teacher-trainer who teaches other teachers and professionals. I hope (try!) to be one in the future:):):)

Originally Posted by Candi

I would define a master teacher as someone who teaches the very top professional performers and teachers-The very best there is.I don't think there are many master teachers in the world.

I'd agree with that one.

Originally Posted by setanta

a master teacher is a teacher-trainer who teaches other teachers and professionals. I hope (try!) to be one in the future:):):)

I agree with this one. I am a teacher, but I am not a master teacher because I only teach students and non-pros. Anyone I would go to for a private lesson to improve my skills as someone who has been "pro" for five years already, I would consider a master teacher.

I agree -- someone who is sought after as an instructor because they have produced a number of top professional dancers.

Raqia Hassan, Yousry Sharif, Yasmin all qualify in my book. I don't know how long any of them have danced/taught (I know they're not noobs!), but I'm impressed by the dancers they've produced.

Originally Posted by firefly5

For me the mt´s personality, knowledge span, and musicality are far more important factors than the amount of time they have been teaching. I would also expect them to be an extremely accomplished dancer, and a knowledgeable and inspiring teacher, but length of service comes pretty near the bottom of my list of important factors.
I'm not trying to say that it doesn't take time to build these skills, but whether they have been dancing for 6, 10, 20, or 100 years really wouldn't matter to me if they possessed the right qualities.

Totally agree with you on this one. Well said.

Originally Posted by Candi

I would define a master teacher as someone who teaches the very top professional performers and teachers-The very best there is.I don't think there are many master teachers in the world.

Yup. I know some dancer/teachers who've been around for 20+ and they're neither great dancers or great teachers.

Originally Posted by bintbeled

I think that time spent teaching is not nearly as important as the products of the teaching. A master teacher should be developing and nurturing competent dancers.

agreed, 100%.......

we've all encountered those who consider themselves master teachers, yet they send out dancers with little/no guidance, and often don't correct or critique in class or their 'pro's'......length of time in the biz is not a criteria for master status

and as others have mentioned, must possess clear, concise and EXTENSIVE knowledge of kinesiology, the culture, customs, history, etc of the dance....., and tho travel isn't a necessity, it sure as heck is a BONUS!

we're lucky our area has several ..g.:

Originally Posted by bintbeled

I think that time spent teaching is not nearly as important as the products of the teaching. A master teacher should be developing and nurturing competent dancers.

applauds, and tries to summarise: ok, amount of time learning, performing, teaching is not that important. The amount of knowledge and skill, ability to transmit it, and last but not least, the product of the teaching is what counts.

The mt - knows how to - dance within the style,
- teach, and teach to teach,

- can use a natural skill of their students to help them create individual style,
- mentors students during their career, helps choreographing,
- provides guidelines for keeping within style of dance,
- in a measure determines the direction of the industry development,
...

Many responsibilities ! Please help me to complete the list, I am sure I am not aware of many things.

Important:
Please do not name in this thread. I don´t want to judge anybody, or divide into groups .

I agree with Candi on this one.

A master teacher as someone who teaches the very top professional performers and teachers-The very best there is.
I don't think there are many master teachers in the world.

I have a related question:

Are there also mts in other styles like in American Classics, tribal styles, fusion (offspring styles of MED) ?
I am sure there are, despite some styles are so new. I understand there are many master teachers for traditional styles like Egyptian, which is good. They are very busy, b/c they have a tradition to watch over, which is also a matter of culture.
But then, who can become a master teacher of say, XY fusion if it is taught and performed only by few dancers, their studens or troupes ? Well, it is probably enough to be a teacher. Then, with time passing by, the tradition does not have much time to establish and get through to future dancers, and is rather innovated and molded according to new FASHION, so a master teacher is not even needed. Is that so ? Can we say that this XY fusion is not even a separate style of dance ? Can we say that it is just somebody´s invention or personal style ?

My initial reaction to the phrase "Master teacher" is someone who is a master at teaching, whatever it is they do. i.e., their teaching is first, then their chosen skill that they teach as secondary. (although not too far secondary).

Originally Posted by Michaela

Please do not name in this thread. I don´t want to judge anybody, or divide into groups .

(showing off her inflated ego by quoting herself..l;, )

My intention is to discuss the topic in general.
elljay, could you please erase the teachers name from your message ?

If I imagine situation (quoting elljay): "a master at teaching, whatever it is they do. i.e., their teaching is first, then their chosen skill that they teach as secondary on teacher`s level", I see a teacher with poor performance achievment, which is not fine.

I see mt`s skill and knowledge is first, teaching as secondary but also VERY important, that`s why I call it transmition rather then teaching, and consider to be connected rather to cultural values then to teaching technique.
If it is only about teaching technique, and producing new dancers, and maybe new styles to create and satisfy popular demand, that all fuelled by advertising, there would be thousands of new Masterteachers each year around the world... which is not what anybody wants.

Anyways, I accept that titul Master teacher is not connected to teaching only one particular style of dance or teaching only traditional styles.

This is a loaded topic!

I've seen some teachers that have been around forever who still aren't particularly well known but are excellent teachers.

I've seen some teachers that have been around forever, are sometimes called a "master teacher" or similar title - who monumentally SUCK.

I've seen some teachers who have been around forever, are sometimes called a "master teacher" or similar title - who are monumentally FANTASTIC.

I've seen some teachers who haven't been dancing as long as I have, are sometimes called a "master teacher" or similar title - who are monumentally FANTASTIC.

And I've seen LOTS of teachers who haven't been dancing as long as I have, are sometimes called a "master teacher" or similar title - who monumentally SUCK.

Its hard to quantify - and someone I think is fantastic may be major suckage to the next person. The latter category (above) is the one that gripes me the most - there are a lot of sucky teachers who are fresh out of the genie's bottle who don't have any business teaching. Some of them are even well known.

As for myself, I'm pretty good at teaching Greek Folk dancing - which doesn't qualify me to teach Belly Dancing at all! I've been fairly successful in teaching veil techniques, but I suck at teaching general bellydance - so I don't.

I think it is important for the students and dancers to consider you a master teacher...and not be a "self-proclaimed" master as many do. It takes alot to be considered a MASTER teacher...and I think the few that are really stand apart from the rest. If you call yourself a master..you better be able to live up to it.....it is not a catagory you jump into .....
I consider Morocco a master teacher......
You can really see a difference in the teachers with this kind of knowledge.

I always assumed a Master Teacher was well experienced in all aspects of the dance, as in they knew how to perform with zills, cane, veil, double veil, candelabra, wings, sword as well as a specialized technique in which they have developed their own style of Middle Eastern Dance. I also would assume that a master teacher primarily made their living from performing/teaching and/or had a degree in dance.

Reina

Originally Posted by Michaela

(showing off her inflated ego by quoting herself..l;, )

My intention is to discuss the topic in general.
elljay, could you please erase the teachers name from your message ?

If I imagine situation (quoting elljay): "a master at teaching, whatever it is they do. i.e., their teaching is first, then their chosen skill that they teach as secondary on teacher`s level", I see a teacher with poor performance achievment, which is not fine.

I see mt`s skill and knowledge is first, teaching as secondary but also VERY important, that`s why I call it transmition rather then teaching, and consider to be connected rather to cultural values then to teaching technique.
If it is only about teaching technique, and producing new dancers, and maybe new styles to create and satisfy popular demand, that all fuelled by advertising, there would be thousands of new Masterteachers each year around the world... which is not what anybody wants.

Anyways, I accept that titul Master teacher is not connected to teaching only one particular style of dance or teaching only traditional styles.

I think that Teaching and Performing are two completely different skill sets. If one is knowledgeable, and skilled, and has a hugely impressive performance record, they still can be absolutely terrible teachers. They would be a Master Performer (IMHO), not Teacher. Thats why I think if one calls oneself a Master Teacher, they have to be able to teach, first and foremost. Some of the best teachers I've ever had focus their career on teaching, not performing - which is why through my eyes, they are Master Teachers.

Originally Posted by zorba

...
And I've seen LOTS of teachers who haven't been dancing as long as I have, are sometimes called a "master teacher" or similar title - who monumentally SUCK.

Its hard to quantify - and someone I think is fantastic may be major suckage to the next person. The latter category (above) is the one that gripes me the most - there are a lot of sucky teachers who are fresh out of the genie's bottle who don't have any business teaching. Some of them are even well known.

As for myself, I'm pretty good at teaching Greek Folk dancing - which doesn't qualify me to teach Belly Dancing at all! I've been fairly successful in teaching veil techniques, but I suck at teaching general bellydance - so I don't.

(I love Greek Folk Dancing, esp. syrtaki - is it the right name for the male line dancing ? Is it originaly sailor`s dance ?)

Hi Zorba, thank you for relieving the load.

You are right, individual ideas about mts might vary dramatically. That`s why I proposed and tried to set some kind of widely accepted industry standards.
This is how I voted:
15 years of continuous career in bellydance,
10 years of performing career elsewhere,
teaching + performing MED.
Hesitated on 3 years performing in ME, and didn`t include it finally, b/c I didn`t want to exclude dilligent teachers who go to ME mostly to study, and perform and teach back in their home countries.
I would probably condition the 10 years of performing elsewhere by including " mostly for ME audiences", and include a new choice of producing pro-dancers accepted by ME audiences.
I am not obsessed with ME, never been there and never will.

Ufff, difficult job.

How to produce a master teacher ?
(Michaela`s exaggerated know-it-all instruction)

1. Make a basic essence of a master dancer, = learn, train yourself, create individual style, start performing, make your name,
2. Bring it to a boil, and simmer for few years, steaming would be fine, too, = sweating in front of ME audiences ensures a cultural acceptance of your dance. IMHO, it is harder to create under rules given by a tradition, then through pure creativity of globalized mind,
3. Essence is ready to eat, feel free to add flavours varying according to boarder`s taste buds, add your secret ingredients = start teaching to others, promote student`s ability to create their own style of dance, keep your creativity high, not forgetting about refining the basics (this is what the pro dancers would do - it`s an outcome of some another thread, not my fantasy),
4. The essence spreads as your fame as a Master Teacher !

(I had to shorten this story, got to go now...) See you then !

I used my mini guide to express that there is no good teacher without being a good dancer first. This is not my original idea, it was implanted to me by one of the real great master teachers.

Many master teachers know each other, and hopefully it will be them who decide who belongs in their rank...
Should they form a secret society with unheard of passage rituals, mysterious grips and winks ? Maybe so, to prevent outsiders to mock them.

Thank you everybody for taking part in this think tank.

A Master Dancer is someone who continues to be a student throughout their career, rather than taking a few years of classes and never progressing in their style and knowledge, if you dance exactly the same for 10 years, you need to go back to class and learn more. Also the master teacher should be able to lecture, and have knowledge of music, cultural insight etc. Not just using the same old shtick, or relying on their looks or stage presence to give them validation. I've seen dancers with 15-20 years experience, that have almost no knowledge of the music, rhythms, technique or culture, they just pop up on stage and smile big and flirt and think that is what makes them great!
So the master teacher needs to be a hard core student throughout her career and seek out other master teachers and learn from them.

edited to add, a master teacher should never withhold information or particular moves because they are her signature steps, etc, a true teacher will give her students everything she knows, without the insecurity that a student will one day out dance her!!

I agree with Michaela. You cannot teach what you do not know, so in order to be a Master Teacher, you have to be a Master Dancer, first. Otherwise, you would not be able to teach the Master Dancer moves.

Secondly, I think you'd need to stay current and aware of different trends, philosophies, styles, etc. In particular, to contrast with the last choice "Performing and teaching only one style of bellydance (any style)", I would expect a Master Teacher to have studied and practiced more than one style. Maybe not perform or teach, as mentioned in this poll, but to know them and value them as being different styles, and have actually tried them out.