A dance lesson is a class where students learn to do a specific style of dancing. Whether it be ballroom dancing, salsa, or viennese waltz, dance lessons are typically fast-paced and can range from 45 minutes to two hours in length. They begin with warm-up exercises and then move into the learning of a specific dance routine or individual step. The teacher often provides feedback on student progress as well as helps to foster a supportive environment for the students, which is important in helping them feel comfortable making mistakes and taking risks.
Tutors should always build dance lesson plans with the end goal in mind, what skill they want their students to be able to take away from the class. This can be anything from mastering a difficult technique like a grand jete to enhancing their musicality and spatial awareness. Creating curriculum for dance classes is easy by starting with the desired end-goals and working backwards – this becomes your list of learning goals for students to meet by the end of term.
Some teachers choose to explore viewing dance from a more conceptual perspective, encouraging not just questioning of form and the technical details (i.e., which foot are you doing a pirouette on?) but also of the underlying dynamics and philosophy behind the movement. This allows students to become more confident when approaching new material in their own way and can help them develop a deeper understanding of dance as art and an expressive medium.
