I have started to work with 4 years old children.
And this age is very new for me.
So i would like to ask for an advice :
What amount of information can the children take, and how complexed can it be?
What we do now - is learning some simple step sequences , stretching knees and feet, balance, arms positions.
They lose their attention after some 15 min. of learning those technical things, although are able to repeat them.
So, how much more of work can i give them in a class?
Thank you forehand!
Best regards!
Nataliya
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In agreement with Laura!
In agreement with Laura! Also wanted to add that young children learn through play. If the activities you are doing in class don't feel like play, don't capture their imaginations, don't move along at a quick pace, and don't offer a lot of variety (music, tempos, levels, formations in the room, even the tone of your voice), you are bound to lose their attention. Most will have trouble focusing on any one activity for longer than 5-10 minutes. Technique at that age can be taught but I would say it is mostly through the use of imagery and occasional hands-on manipulation (as in gently lifting the base of the skull for "long dancer necks" or running a hand up the back for "tall dancer backs"). Complexity - many dancers this age are still working on gross motor skills (jump, run, gallop, etc). You can combine these skills but it is important to work your way up with short/simple combinations and/or adding arms or head movements. Think of breaking down dance skills to their most basic elements (brushes of the foot, long straight legs, jumps that open and close the feet, rising on the toes, "waving/floating" of the arms). And imagine breaking down movement elements the same way through "opposites" (sharp/smooth, high/low, big/small, fast/slow). Then find creative and FUN ways of introducing and practicing these. One of my favorite books on dance for children is "Creative Dance for All Ages" by Anne Green Gilbert. Even if you are teaching "ballet" to your students you will find wonderful and useful info in this book.
Also, I don't know if "plugging" my website is ok here so I won't put a direct link but there are some articles/tips there on dance for children (particularly classroom management) that may help also - just do a search for 'children' at the top of the page. My site link is on my socket here at DancePlug.
Hi Nataliya, I am of the
Hi Nataliya,
I am of the opinion that there is more to teaching dance than dance....in other words; You want to create an all-around solid foundation for the discipline of dance. Your efforts with the little ones should be listening skills, observation skills, coordination skills, spacial skills (self and the studio space), participation skills, energy/effort skills, "following directions" skills, building knowledge of shape and aesthetics. It's not just the idea of movement and sequence of movement. I spend lots of time seeing if they are listening to me....I use many "voices" to maintain their attention to the process.
You want to prepare the dancer in many areas, not just dance. Ask the little ones to number and mark the sides of the room, ask them to criss-cross-applesauce their lines, ask your dancer to follow directions at the end of class by telling them to hug-bug or curtsey to their parents and "thank" them for bringing them to dance class before they say goodbye to you (get their stickers, or whatever your procedure is). Work on classroom etiquette. Ask your dancer to look at your arabesque and fix your lines, ask your dancer to count with you to make sure you don't make a mistake (they LOVE to help). Put stars on the floor and break down coordination skills for petit allegro at a later time in their development: hop over on both feet/saute, hop over on one and same foot/temps leve, hop over from one foot to the other/jete, brush one foot and land over on both/assemble', hop off of two feet and land over on one/sissonne.....the shape isn't pristine, but the coordination is established.
There are so many wonderful possibilities. Get creative in a larger sense about what your teaching goals are for preparing them to be a dancer....You are preparing their instrument to be receptive to learning dance.
It's not about dance movement, it's about the body of dance.
Hope this helps. Be well in your dance-Laura
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