Teacher Training Program in Northern California
Can now be completed in 16 months, 8 months or 4 months!
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
Schedule
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 should 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.
Schedule - |
Schedule - |
|---|---|
Bronze SmoothJanuary 7 - April 24, 2008 |
Bronze Rhythm Section IIJanuary 8 - April 25, 2008 |
Bronze Rhythm I SectionMay 5 - August 25, 2008 |
Bronze NightclubMay 6 - August 26, 2008 BDTC Manuals for Hustle; and video for Lindy Hop. |
Bronze Rhythm II SectionSeptember 8 - December 22, 2008 |
Bronze SmoothSeptember 9 - December 23, 2008 |
Bronze Night Club DancesJanuary 5 - April 23, 2009 |
Bronze Rhythm Section IJanuary 6 - April 24, 2009 |
Please Note: Class size is limited to 24 people, so we recommend that you register early to avoid missing out!
Requirements
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 Diane or one of the faculty members of Diane Jarmolow's BDTC (for an additional private lesson fee) to make up any work you miss.
Class Times & Exam Schedule
Classes held at Metronome Dance Center meet Mondays & Thursdays, from 5 to 7pm.
Classes held at Allegro Ballroom meet Tuesdays & Fridays, from 5 to 7 pm. Exams are scheduled to be held during regular class times. If you miss an exam, you may schedule a make-up exam with Diane (for an additional private lesson fee).
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 (please see Schedule above for which manual for each session) and Diane Jarmolow's 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. Diane Jarmolow's 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 $475/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. Tuition can be paid in class by check, or online via PayPal.
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 shoe retailer or at the Metronome Dance Center from A. Keen Dance Shoes, who offers a 10% discount to BDTC teacher trainees. Just call the Metronome at (415) 252-9000 for shoe store hours.
Misc. 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.
Benefits
Additional Training
Your tuition entitles you not only to Diane Jarmolow's BDTC course itself, but also to most of the classes and workshops offered at the Metronome Dance Center and Allegro Ballroom.
At the Metronome Dance Center 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 Metronome Dance Center .
At the Allegro Ballroom, you get 50% discount on group classes and workshops (where you are required to fill in as leader or follower as needed). You get free admission to parties and free practice space (excluding the Main Ballroom). You will also receive a discounted rate on private lessons. A complete list of classes and workshops can be found at Allegro Ballroom.
Please note: Metronome and Allegro 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 Metronome Dance Center 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.
Learn more about Diane Jarmolow and the BDTC Faculty >>
Enroll in the Bronze Teacher Training Program >>
Contact the BDTC with questions >>
Location
Allegro Ballroom
5855 Christie Ave.
Emeryville, CA 94608
(510) 655-2888
www.allegroballroom.com
The Allegro Ballroom is located just off I-80 in the
shopping center at Powell Street and Christie Ave.
Metronome Dance Center
1830 17th St.
San Francisco
94103-5138
(415) 252-9000
www.metronomedancecenter.com
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The Metronome Main Ballroom is at the corner of 17th Street and DeHaro at the base of Potrero Hill in San Francisco.
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The Metronome Block Party is located just around the corner from the Main Ballroom at 300 DeHaro St.
Please note: BDTC classes are held in both the Main Ballroom and Block Party locations. On the first day of class, just check in at the front desk to find out where class is being held.
Get directions to the Metronome Dance Center >>