Ballroom Dance Teachers Academy
The Ballroom Dance Teachers Academy is a formal vocational program that offers professional training to aspiring ballroom dance teachers. The program is open to all adults whether you are new to dancing or are already an experienced social dancer. We will train you to become a dance teacher, prepare you for professional certification exams, and teach you how to maximize your career in the ballroom dance world.
The program’s lead instructor, Veronica Braun, has over 15 years of experience training dance instructors, teaching ballroom dance and competing both professionally and with her students. We know that a successful career in dance starts with a successful dance teacher education program. With our comprehensive and focused instruction and targeted professional guidance we will help make your dreams of becoming a dance teacher a reality.
Ballroom Dance Teachers College is for you.
This dance teacher education course is the only one of its kind in the nation. This nationally recognized program was originally developed by Diane Jarmolow of the Metronome Ballroom in San Francisco to train her staff. In addition to owning one of the largest and most successful ballroom dance studios in the country, Diane has co-authored several of the Dance Vision syllabus manuals and trained many of the top professionals in the industry. She is a national examiner for DVIDA professional exams and has judged at many of the top dance competitions in the U.S.
Her program has become so successful that it is currently being used in over 20 schools in the U.S. Simply Ballroom, Ltd. is currently one of only two schools in Virginia offering this unique training program. This course is ideal for adults who are considering a career as dance teacher, or who would like to improve their own dancing. Teaching dance is a career option for anyone —no prior dance experience is required.
In this course you will learn:
The 17 dances of the DVIDA Bronze American Syllabus for Smooth, Rhythm, and Night Club dances, and how to teach them
** To dance as both Leader and Follower
** Technical elements of all the dances
** Musical elements of all the dances
** How to teach private & group lessons
** How to prepare for DVIDA certification
Schedule
The American Style Bronze teacher training program is ongoing, with new sessions starting every four months. The entire program is divided into four sections. You can complete the entire program in 16 months. You may start with any section and take them in any order.
The next section being offered at Simply Ballroom, Ltd. is Bronze American Rhythm I. In this section we will cover the entire Bronze syllabus for Cha Cha, Rumba, Bolero and East Coast Swing. This section runs from January 15 – May 1, 2008. Classes meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.
Requirements:
Attendance
This is a professional level course, and we cover a lot of material at a fairly fast pace. Missing class is not advised, as you can easily fall behind. If you do have to miss a class, you can generally arrange to work with one of the other students to help you catch up. You can also schedule private lessons with Veronica (for an additional private lesson fee) to make up any work you miss.
Class Times & Exam Schedule
Classes held at Simply Ballroom, Ltd., 3549 Courthouse Rd., Richmond, VA 23236. Classes meet Tuesdays & Thursdays, from 5 to 7pm. Exams are scheduled to be held during regular class times. If you miss an exam, you may schedule a make-up exam with Veronica (for an additional private lesson fee).
Practice
Each class meets a total of 4 hours a week per section. Most students spend quite a bit of time every week studying the material and practicing what they have learned. Though the amount of outside time varies greatly from student to student, please expect to commit one hour of study time for every hour you spend in class (about four hours of study time per week). Becoming a dance teacher takes dedication and practice.
Materials
The DVIDA Bronze Level American Style Rhythm Manual (Item No. MARB04, $69.00) and a Trainee Binder are required textbooks for this session. The accompanying DVIDA syllabus videos are recommended, but optional. The DVIDA Bronze Manuals and videos are available from Dance Vision, and may be ordered online at www.dancevision.com, or by calling 1-800-851-2813. The Trainee Binder is provided in class and costs a one-time fee of $75.00. It includes all class handouts that are distributed over the entire 16 month program.
Tuition
Tuition is currently $395/month and is due the first class of each new month. Students who make a late tuition payment will be accessed a $15 late fee. Tuition can be paid in class by check, visa or MasterCard. Enrollment is limited and a $100 non-refundable registration fee (which will be deducted from your first month’s tuition) must be paid by December 31, 2007 to ensure your spot in the class.
Shoes
All students will be expected to have proper dance shoes by the second-class meeting. This is not an arbitrary aesthetic or fashion consideration. To teach dance, you need the "right tool for the job," and proper dance shoes are literally the foundation for your dancing!
There are different styles of dance shoes for different styles of dancing, but most students wear a basic "practice shoe," a practical and durable suede-soled dancing shoe that is made to be comfortable and wearable for long periods. Some students wear flashier shoes or high heeled dance shoes, but this is a matter of personal comfort. Dance sneakers are also acceptable.
Trainees enrolled in the Teachers Academy may purchase dance shoes from Simply Ballroom at a 20% discount for the first pair of shoes and 10% off any additional shoes as long as they are enrolled in the course.
Miscellaneous Expectations:
Presentations
Because this is a teaching class, there is a strong emphasis on presentation. You will be expected to present material to the class on a regular basis. You may be asked to demonstrate a figure or to present a brief history of a specific dance. Don't worry, we hand out assignments in advance, so you will have plenty of time to prepare!
Dancing both roles
In order to teach a specific dance or figure, you need to be able to articulate and demonstrate both the leader’s and follower’s part. We spend equal time in class working on both parts, and every student is expected to dance with every other student as both leader and follower, regardless of gender. This is standard practice for professional dance instruction.
Benefits:
Additional Training
Your tuition entitles you not only to the Ballroom Dance Teachers Academy course itself, but also to most of the classes and parties offered at Simply Ballroom, Ltd.
At Simply Ballroom you get free entry for regular weekly group classes (where you are required to fill in as leader or follower as needed), and parties. You also get free floor time for practice. A complete list of classes and workshops can be found at www.simplyballroomva.com.
Please note: Classes that are not free to trainees are guest workshops and classes taught by visiting teachers.
Employment Opportunities
Simply Ballroom, Ltd. offers Teacher Trainees opportunities to assist classes and frequently offers teaching positions to top graduates of the Teacher Training Program, based on the needs of the studio at that time.
To Register
For more information or to register for the course, please contact Veronica Braun at Simply Ballroom (804) 276-3343 or dance@simplyballroomva.com. You must register and submit a $100 deposit by December 31, 2007 to reserve your spot in the upcoming Rhythm I section. Spaces are limited!
Certificate of Completion
When you complete the entire course (taking all of the exams and handing in all of the homework) you will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Ballroom Dance Teachers Academy. This is a valuable accomplishment, and it will serve as a wonderful credential for your dance resume. However, the Ballroom Dance Teachers Academy Certificate of Completion is different than professional certification.
What is Professional Certification?
In the dance industry, professional certificates are granted to dancers who submit themselves to a standardized exam from one of the accredited organizations, and who pass that exam satisfactorily. A credential from any of these organizations is an asset to your career.
The certification exam for which we prepare you at the Ballroom Dance Teachers Academy is the Dance Vision International Dancers Association (DVIDA) certification. We base our teacher training curriculum on the DVIDA syllabus and exam structure; provide complete and thorough training for all the DVIDA professional exams.
Why Should I Get Certified?
Although most states don’t require certification for ballroom dance teachers, the Professional Certification process offers extraordinary benefits to dance teachers, deeply enriching their dancing and teaching, and greatly expanding their career opportunities. Going through the certification training and taking the exams will take your dancing and teaching to a much higher level. Teachers who have become certified unanimously agree that it is the single best thing they have done for themselves in their dance career.
Become a Better Teacher
The process of preparing for your certification exam will teach you dance concepts you may not have fully understood. You will improve both your verbal and presentation skills. You will learn the precise vocabulary for describing the technical elements of dance figures, which will help your explanations become clear, succinct, and consistent. Your knowledge of the precise alignments will improve your ability to choreograph routines for your students. You will expand your knowledge of musical terms and concepts, and you will understand how dancing and music relate. Finally, the process of technical mastery will improve your eye, so you will know instantly how to correct your students.
Become a Better Dancer
The technical expertise required to pass your certification exam will catapult your dancing to an entirely new level. You will learn the "rules" of technique that will keep your dancing consistent and help you master new, advanced figures. You’ll develop a language that will help you work more effectively in your dance partnerships. Above all, your confidence will soar with the true mastery of dance technique that will stay with you for the rest of your career.
Declare Your Professional Excellence
The certificate you receive when you pass your certification exams declares your expertise to the world. You’ll be able to attract serious students and earn more for your services. You will be a desirable employee in dance studios around the country. You can even obtain your judging credential. Your certification is the first step to being recognized as a national expert.
Why DVIDA?
DVIDA, the Certification branch of Dance Vision, was created with the same high standard of excellence for which Dance Vision is known. The syllabus and exam structure were immediately approved by the National Dance Council of America, and the industry response has been overwhelming: the DVIDA certification system is hailed as excellent, professional, and fair. The manuals and corresponding videos were created by U.S. champion dancers and offer the highest quality instruction. Dance Vision’s commitment to the dance community is unparalleled, with cutting edge products and services, prompt and friendly customer service, and innovative programs to help dancers grow and improve at every stage.
“One Dance At A Time”
Another advantage to certifying with DVIDA is that you can take your professional certification exams “One Dance at a Time.” For example, the Bronze American Style Ballroom certification includes four dances: Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, and Viennese Waltz. With other organizations, you would need to study, prepare and present all four dances in one exam. With DVIDA's exams, you have the option of testing in each dance separately, one at a time. This makes preparation much easier: you learn the material more thoroughly when you’re not overwhelmed “cramming” four at once; each successive test becomes less stressful and more comfortable as you know what to expect; and you can improve your performance each time based on the examiner’s previous feedback. After successfully completing each one dance exam, you receive a “Certificate of Completion” for that dance, and full certification when you have successfully tested in all of the dances at a particular level.
For more information on the requirements for DVIDA professional certification, visit www.dancevision.com.