I’ve been a dance teacher at Peninsula School of Dance for many years now, and have been steadily growing my teaching qualifications through the Cecchetti principals. Along the way, I’ve also enjoyed complementing my teaching program through incorporating some dynamic and interactive dancing apps. Most of my teenage students are very comfortable with interactive digital learning tools, using i-pads and apps at school on a regular basis. With a little research and some sound testing, I’ve found some very helpful tools which are downloadable for a small fee, and constantly at my fingertips to help me connect and communicate with my dance students.

I was recently honoured to deliver a presentation on Dance Apps and how to use them at the 2013 annual Cechetti Ballet conference in Melbourne.Peninsula School of Dance is well regarded by our dance-teaching peers for bringing digital technology into the dance class, and wanted to share our knowledge with other dance teachers.

If you are new to digital technology in the dance studio, here’s my pick of the personal fav’s and how they help me extend my students and ensure our lessons are enjoyable, and results driven.

 

App: Ballet Lite

 

Why it’s great: A fast, cross referenced glossary of ballet terms.

 

Why teachers and students love it: I’d highly recommend this for a starting out ballet student, and one undergoing exam time!

 

 

*App:   Hip Hop Instruction Premium Edition

Why it’s great: A step-by-step hip hop curriculum with detailed notes, pictures & videos. In-built dance formation builder. Great details on what each step is meant to look like.

 

I have noticed an improvement in my teaching connections thanks to the Hip Hop Instruction App with its built-in dance formations. I tend to use much of this rest of this App’s features at home when preparing for classes and that has been a tremendous asset.

 

 

*App: Dance Journal

Why it’s great: Takes video of techniques taught; saves notes and pictures for each step of the lesson; classifies and sorts lessons; records the instructor for the lesson; saves the date of the lesson; shares your logs with other users via Bluetooth. I love it because it’s so helpful in enabling me to log each class with notes and recordings. I can also share it with other instructors,personalising it with their details including which style & Category each step belongs to.

 

Why teachers and students love it: While I am still new to the Dance Journal App I predict it’s going to be a big hit with mystudents. PeninsulaSchool of Dance is currently inviting its older students to bring their own iphones/ipods and download the app in class. They then can take information home and share with their friends. I know this will help them better capture all they have learnt.

 

 

App: Dance Formations Plus

Why it’s great: Enables you to either choose a pre-selected formation for 5 – 18 dancers, or create your own formations and name and save them to personal photo album.

Why teachers and students love it: This App helps teachers and students plan their own formations for lessons and personal choreography. It’s great for quick formation ideas in a hurry with its grid system, and its built-in ideas can sometimes give you a little extra inspiration.
*App: Muscle and Bone Anatomy 3D

Why it’s great:3D view of the body with labels; details main joints in the body; builds anatomy from the bones, to all the layers of muscles, stating origins & insertions and the movement of each; quizzes. I am fascinated by this app and how it provide me with a state-of-the art teaching tool through the opportunity to layer the bones and muscles with a swipe of your finger!

 

Why teachers and students love it:Muscle & Bone Anatomy 3D is great in all classes, however I use it more in ballet, strength and stretch classes. This helps medemonstrate to the students what muscles they should be using, and how the muscle looks. It’s also a great tool at identifying where the muscle is, creating a better awareness overall of the body. My students have loved the Anatomy app with its interactive features. I’m just waiting for one of their Science and Sports teachers to call us for the low-down on how we are helping their students gain a better understanding of the human body and how it works.

 

How to find the Apps

Search for these in the Apps store and try them out with your students. I have found them vital tools to inject some technology and extra oomph into our classes.

 

In fact I’ve had such great feedback from my Peninsula School of Dance students, that we have been sharing the app’s info with them to take home, and their parents are enjoying seeing them extends their dance knowledge and passion in a very accessible and cost effective way.

All of these Apps are easy to update apps through the Apps store under “Updates”. Currently there is nothing on the market to let you know about new apps and I am constantly on the app store searching, but I enjoy the process and keeping up to sate as a dance teacher.

Enjoy introducing technology into your studio, and into your dance sessions! It’s so much fun to do.

Miss Carla (Carla Colson)

PSD is a dynamic little dance studio and peninsula business with successful community and business connections. Learn more about us at www.peninsuladance.com.au

A celebration of a boutique dance school’s family friendly community. Miss Melanie shares her passion, skill and knowledge in nurturing young dancers as they express themselves through the joy of dance. Offering tips, how-to’s, a dance teachers reflections and connections with the on-line dance community. Peninsula School of Dance is located on Australia’s Mornington Peninsula.

Melanie Gard is a respected Licentiate with Cecchetti Ballet, an affiliate of the Australian Teachers of Dance and the Director of the Peninsula School of Dance. www.peninsuladance.com.au