Ballroom Dance Teachers College
Third session begins September 15 and will cover Nightclub Dances, Two-Step, Salsa, Argentine Tango, Hustle and Lindy Hop.
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 15 th 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.