Online Dance Teaching: Effective Language for our Different World

Teaching dance online is now part of our new reality as dance teachers. There are many unique challenges to teaching online, many of which can be addressed with an adaptation in the use of language.

And while teaching online will ideally be replaced with in person in the near future, teaching online will always be a part of our world in the future. Thankfully, the skills teachers required develop for effective online teaching are the same skills that create dancers with the agency and autonomy that is necessary for the dance students of today.

This workshop is a specific segment of a larger language for dance teachers course.

The focus for this workshop is specifically on assisting and inspiring dance teachers on adjustments needed to make for effective online teaching.

Key Points that will be discussed and addressed are:

• Increased ability to craft language and guiding questions that can develop self awareness and self assessment in lieu of hands on corrections.
• Tools for the creation of imagery to assist students to have a deeper ability to hone kinaesthetic awareness
• Enhanced conveyance of dynamics through the use of the voice while communicating to students online
• Strategies for utilizing the need for increased process based language instead of reliance on product based language, due to the needs of an online learning environment

The workshop is 90 minutes, with the invitation to remain for another 30 minutes for extended Q and A and discussion.

About the Instructor/Director of The Radiant Dance Teacher: Mariah-Jane Thies

Mariah-Jane is a registered RAD teacher, mentor and supervisor with a dance teacher degree, certification in Evans Laban Modern technique, Franklin Method Level 1, licensed Brain Gym consultant and Rhythmic Movement Training consultant. She is a presenter and speaker at numerous conferences including IADMS, NDEO, RAD Centennial Conference (Australia) Body-Mind Centering North American Conference, Educational Kinesiology International Conference, Breatkthroughs International Conference, Healthy Dancer Canada Conference, International Somatics Conference, Dance Science and Somatics Conference, CANASK International Conference and World Congress of Dance.

Mariah-Jane is also a competitive speaker and evaluator with Toastmasters International and a published best selling author, contributing to the Woman of Worth, “Power of Collaboration “book. She has just recently given a TEDx talk on the importance of movement diversity in order to have resiliency in life.