Teacher Development
Being, Becoming, and Strengthening Good Stewards
It goes without saying that in a swing dance community, teaching swing dance is important! The quality of instruction and leadership will greatly influence the health and vitality of the swing dance community. So naturally we want to empower our community's teacher's to do the best job possible!
Our quarterly Teacher Development nights are an effort to strengthen the awareness, expertise, and voices of all the stewards in our community who may teach in any forum - group classes, showing friends, private instruction, paid, voluntary, and more. Everyone is welcome to join, veterans and newcomers will all learn and enlighten each other.
Teacher Development nights will have specific themes, but will generally focus on the following areas:
Teaching Material
Teaching Technique
Teaching Ethics
Networking within Our Community
Exchange of Ideas, Soliciting Feedback
Community Building
Upcoming & Current Teacher Development Events
Mon, May 6, 2024 Classroom Management
SupermurgaNati! Int/Adv Mondays
Teacher Development - Swing Dance Classroom Management
Teacher Development - Swing Dance Classroom Management
Join an in depth discussion of topics related to spreading the love of swing dance through group classes! Our facilitators have over 75 combined years of experience teaching swing dance at a community level. Familiarize yourself to and possibly even influence their perspectives while shaping your own!
Dates:
Monday, May 6, 2024
Facilitators:
Joel Domoe, Ellie Zhukenova, Jesse Fatheree, Bryan Sykes, Melanie Myers
Agenda:
6:30-6:50pm Classroom Rules, Style Guidelines, & Suggestions for Community
6:50-7:10pm Topic 2 Considering Your Audience
7:10-7:30pm Topic 3 Classroom Geometry/Formation
7:30-7:50pm Topic 4 Rhythm, Rotation and Timing
7:50-8:10pm Topic 5 Lesson Planning & Visualization
8:10-9pm Additional Topics, Q&A, Discussion
9-9:30pm Rehearse Lindy Chorus, Shim Sham, Jitterbug Stroll, & Tranky Doo
9:30-10:30pm Social/Practice Time
Cost:
We want your participation! Pay if you can, but don't let $ keep you away.
No splainin' necessary. Be brave and join us!
Suggested $15/night for both classes and the dance
Suggested $5 after 9pm for the practice time only
Teacher Training
This session on classroom management will be valuable for any member of the swing dance community, but will highlight topics of most interest to experienced dancers who may find themselves teaching or assisting in group class situations. Anyone is welcome to participate and/or observe the session. As with all SupermurgaNati! Mondays, there will be space for everyone present to contribute to the discussion, learning, and community building process.
Mon, Aug 5, 2024 TBA
Details TBA
Mon, Nov 4, 2024 TBA
Details TBA
Past Teacher Development Events
Teacher Training (Feb 26 & March 4, 2024)
Dates:
Mondays ~ Feb 26 & March 4
General Agenda:
6:30-9pm Teacher Training Workshop
9-9:30pm Rehearsal/Refinement
9:30-10:30pm Social/Practice Time
Specifics by Date:
Mon, Feb 26 ~ Swing Dance Teacher Training I
Instructor: Joel Domoe
6:30pm Material/History
9pm Rehearse Lindy Chorus & Tranky Doo
Mon, March 4 ~ Swing Dance Teacher Training II
Instructor: Joel Domoe
6:30pm Process/Methods
9pm Rehearse Lindy Chorus & Tranky Doo
Cost:
We want your participation! Pay if you can, but don't let $ keep you away.
No splainin' necessary. Be brave and join us!
Suggested $15/night for both classes and the dance
Suggested $5 after 8:45pm for the practice dance only
Teacher Training
These two sessions of teacher training are actually independent, but reinforce each other. It's ideal to attend both sessions, but it's OK to attend just one - either one - as well.
Session I: Material/History PreClass Work
If possible, please do the following 3 things prior to class on Mon, Feb 26
Brainstorm every “kind” (genre, idiom, style, etc) of “Swing Dance” that you can think of and bring your list to class (can be on your phone, written, in your head, etc)
Think to yourself, how would you define the phrases “Swing Dance,” “Swing Music,” “Swing Era,” “Swing?” Be prepared to discuss.
Bring any books or resources that you have that are relevant to Swing Dance History. Please mark your name and phone number on them.
Session II: Process/Methods PreClass Work
If possible, please do the following prior to class on Mon, March 4
Choose one of the following "moves" and prepare a short syllabus outline (one page or less) for teaching it in 15-20 minutes
Swing Out from Open/Lindy Turn
6 Count Inside Turn
6 Count Closed Position Basic & Open Position Basic
Side by Side Charleston
First 32 beats of the Shim Sham (Shim Sham Shimmies and TOBA Break)
Any move of your choosing
On your syllabus, label each line as one of the following:
"Concept" (that you intend to convey to the students)
"Activity" (that you intend for the students to do)
"Discussion" (something you will discuss with the students)
"Other" (explain if you like, or don't)