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Our student teacher programme provides advanced students with the opportunity to further their dance skills and branch out into teaching. 

Students are offered the opportunity take part in a 2 day workshop, covering the basics of teaching a dance class, warm up, instructing various ages and their specific needs, creating dance exercises (travelling and in place), progression of a dancer, choreography, spotting in acro, safe guarding and first aid. At the end of the 2 day course they have to take a physical and written assesment. If successful they gain a teaching assistant certificate and report. 

Following this students can then go on to attend further workshops specifying in teaching a particular dance style. 

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Opportunities then open up for them to teach a class. These are paid positions, they must submit a video of them teaching (you can see examples of these on our “online classes” page), attend a verbal interview and teach a trial class. If they are successful in applying for the job they attend bi-weekly meetings with Mrs Sarah to discuss class progress and demonstrate choreography, an adult is always present when they are teaching. 

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Teaching a dance class demonstrates responsibility, organisation and leadership. These skills are all something a future employer or University look for. We encourage students to add this to their CV and applications as it will lead to further opportunities. 

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If you are an advanced pupil and you’d like the opportunity to join our student teaching team please get in touch 

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Molly - Teaches Tuesday Red Tap and Mini Movers

I have enjoyed dancing my whole life. I had been to many other dance schools before Spotlight but when I joined it felt like a family and you could go there to escape life and to have fun, and at the same time they are always helping you and pushing you to improve. At Spotlight I do Tap, Contemporary and Musical Theatre. When I got the opportunity to help out and have a tap class of my own I was overjoyed and excited. I’d always loved to help people improve so when I got this opportunity I knew I’d love it.

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Ruby - Teaches Purple Tap 

I'm Ruby and I have been with Spotlight Dance Academy since I was 7 years old . I have done various shows: Musical Madness, Once Upon a Time, We've Got Rhythm, Be Our Guest and The Greatest Show, alongside several other performance opportunities. Over the years, I have achieved a multitude of strong dance exam results in primarily ballet, jazz, tap and contemporary. Currently, I do weekly classes in numerous styles: tap, jazz, acro, ballet, pointe and contemporary whilst also assisting younger classes and teaching. I began to help with younger classes in 2016 and later completed an official course in July of 2019. Additionally, I am currently in my fourth academic year at York Dance Scholars, which I attend on a weekly basis. For the 2019/20 academic year I was accepted to the Phoenix Youth Academy Juniors in Leeds where I gained a further contemporary education and performance experience.

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Kaia - Teaches Monday Sun/Moon Jazz and Acro 

I have loved dancing my whole life, particularly from a young age Musical Theatre. I have performed in many shows outside of SDA as both ensemble, dancer and leading roles. Currently, I do weekly classes at SDA: Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Pointe and Contemporary, whilst also teaching. Additionally I am attending my second year at SLP Junior College Associates. For the academic year 2020/21 I was accepted into Pheonix Youth Academy, training in contemporary dance. I look to continue in a career in the dance industry.

 

Kaia has successfully gained a place in CAPA where she will continue on into professional training

  

Mia - Assists in Monday Sun/Moon Jazz and Acro

I have enjoyed dancing my whole life. I have performed in various productions outside of SDA both as ensemble and as a featured dancer. 

In lockdown I participated in many online classes with different choreographers, this not only game me dance experience but I could I also look at different teaching styles and choreography.

I currently take classes in Jazz, Acro, Contemporary and Tap. I have also studied Musical Theatre for a number of years. 

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Evie- Currently taking New York by storm!

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Amy - Assists in Dance Fusion Classes

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Eve - Walking Bus Student Leader 

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