Ballroom Dance Teachers College
Ballroom Dance Teachers College is a formal vocational program that supports dance teachers at all stages of their careers. We offer
professional dance instruction programs for all levels of instructors, from
social dancers who are exploring a new career in ballroom dance, to seasoned
professionals. 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.
A successful career in dance starts with a successful dance
teacher education program. With our clear and compassionate 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.
Dedicated to ensuring excellence in partner dance
instruction, this dance teacher education course is the only one of its kind in
the nation. It 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
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 if
you take one section at a time. We are now offering TWO sections at once giving
you the opportunity to complete the entire program in just 8 months. You may
start with any section and take them in any order.
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 Gary or one of the faculty members of BDTC (for an
additional private lesson fee) to make up any work you miss.
Class Times & Exam Schedule
Section one meets Mondays and Wednesdays, from 8-10pm.
Section two meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8-10pm. All classes are held in
the main studio at the Alliance Dance Institute. Exams are scheduled during
regular class times. If you miss an exam, you may schedule a make-up exam for
an additional fee.
The first session of 2008 runs from January 7th
till April 25th.
The second session of 2008 runs from May 5th to
August 25th.
The third session of 2008 runs from September 8th
to December 20th.
Practice
Each class meets a total of 4 hours a week per section.
Therefore, if you are taking both sections, class will meet a total of 8 hours
a week. 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 or eight hours of
study time per week). Becoming a dance teacher takes dedication and practice.
Materials
The DVIDA Manuals and the BDTC Binder are required textbooks
for the course. The accompanying DVIDA 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 BDTC 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 program.
Tuition
Tuition is currently $500/month. Please note that tuition
will be increased every May to reflect the current market.Tuition is due the
first class of each new month. Students who make a late tuition payment will be
accessed a $15 late fee.
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 BDTC
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. You can purchase dance shoes from any dance
store. We are happy to provide recommendations.
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.
Additional Benefits
Your tuition entitles you not only to the BDTC course
itself, but also to most of the classes and workshops offered at the Alliance
Dance Institute.
You get free entry for group classes and workshops (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 the Alliance Dance Institute website.You will also receive a
discounted rate on private lessons.
Please note: classes that are not free to BDTC
students are celebrity guest workshops taught by visiting teachers as well as
International style classes and workshops.
Employment Opportunities
The Alliance Dance Institute 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.