by Karen Jacobs
Don’t know an entrechat from a grand jeté? Never heard of a time-step or contemplated wearing leg-warmers? If you’ve never have any dance training or even if you have some experience, teaching dance in schools can appear to be a daunting prospect. However, there are some great resources available and I have put out a selection of some of the most current dance books (from our small collection) in the Newsam Library.
There are also a good many resources available through the Internet, such as the downloadable ballet story sheets from the English National Ballet, and there are also links to a range of organisations that can help. Many dance companies also have outreach departments who can provide ready-made or customised workshops and programmes for schools and youth groups, some of which may even be linked to the National Curriculum.
National Resource Centre for Dance
National Dance Teachers Association
National and Regional Dance Agencies
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
DansAthletic: A Teacher’s Resource