DanceStep Student Leadership Program

At Maxi-Jazz Dance Studio we are excited to be a registered affiliate studio and member of the DanceStep program. Offered in partnership with our studio teachers, DanceStep empowers our students to take care of others and guides them to be leaders and role models at the studio and in the wider community.

The program covers assistant teaching skills such as behaviour management, different learning needs and styles, safe teaching principles, and anatomy to name just a few. These concepts are broken down to be taught in a sequential and age-appropriate way. Whether students are considering a career in teaching or otherwise, the DanceStep program is great preparation for many aspects of life.

With the inclusion of DanceStep, our students have a framework where they can contribute to the community in a positive way. Past students of the DanceStep program have experienced increased levels of confidence and have learned patience, empathy, communication skills, and how to take initiative in different situations. Many of which are now Junior and Senior teachers here at MJDS.

As affiliate members of the DanceStep program, it is wonderful for us to be able to provide this opportunity for our students to flourish not only as young people but to also watch them grow into competent and confident assistant teachers and student leaders.

So what is DanceStep?

DanceStep is the only online Dance Student Teacher Education Program in the world.

It is an innovative program that seeks to EDUCATE, ENCOURAGE and EMPOWER students from as young as ten years of age to give back to their studio, and also learn the basics of being a helpful and positive Student Teacher.

• 6 level Student Teacher Education Program
• Designed by Dance Studio Success Founder, Jane Grech. A teacher of over 25 years of experience, Jane has created and refined DanceStep in her own Studio over the last ten years and it is now a worldwide program
• Empowers students to take care of others
• Guides students to be leaders and role models
• It Covers Student Teaching skills such as behaviour management, different learning needs and styles, and Anatomy, to name just a few.

When can I join the DanceStep Student Leadership Program? 

At the start of each year we accept new applicants for our unique Student Leadership Program, which is also where a few of our current Junior and Senior Teachers started here at MJDS. Applications are now open for the 2022 dance season!

What is expected of me as a DanceStep Student Teacher?

As part of this Leadership Program, students will gain a greater understanding of the role of a dance educator and how different classes and rehearsals are run, as well as having opportunities to develop their teaching and leadership skills.

Student Teachers will be asked to help out at performances, rehearsals, and concerts, providing confidence, leadership skills, and much more.

A Student Teacher role at Maxi-Jazz Dance Studio is to:

• Take students in, out and around the studio
• Demonstrate each exercise with the teacher
• Be a positive and keen role model
• Always be punctual and dressed correctly
• Help students who need extra practice
• Encourage all students to participate in class
• Help with changing shoes in-between classes
• Assist students getting drinks and filling up drink bottles from the kitchen if required
• Help hand out notes or flyers in class if required
• Hand out and pack away any props
• You must know all of your class’s students, routines, and positions.
• Complete all tasks your supervising teacher asks
• Attendance at each class must be a priority
• Good communication skills for interacting with students, teachers, and occasionally parents
• Willingness to take direction and act on constructive feedback from the teacher

As students gain more confidence in their role and move up in their levels, they will be able to take on more responsibilities such as:

• Leading warm-ups and exercises
• Mark the class roll 
• Keep students on task and focused
• Taking students to the toilet
• Correct students who are not following instructions
• Observe the teacher in class and complete booklet activities
• Teach choreography to students with guidance and support from your Senior Teacher 

What will students gain from this experience?

• You are gaining 
• experience in all areas of dance, teaching, and the general running of a class.
• The Student Helper role may help you within your own classes by consistently correcting and practicing basic dance techniques and terminology, learning steps or combinations from a style you may not be familiar with.
• Learning how to help students with corrections, steps, and combinations at a young age.
• By observing your Senior Teacher, you will learn how to teach steps and combinations to students in varied ways to cater to their learning needs
• Our Student
•  Teachers will love the opportunity to help out at performances, rehearsals, and concerts, providing confidence, leadership skills, and much more to ensure they are gaining a greater knowledge of the studio and what it offers our families.

What support will I receive?

• You will have a designated DanceStep CoOrdinator that will help guide you through the program, facilitate all training sessions and be the go-to person for all your questions and for support. 
• Our passionate teachers will help guide and encourage all student teach
• ers throughout their assisting journey as we uncover the secrets to what it takes to become a successful teacher and positive role model, and the behind-the-scenes of running a dance studio.
• Our teachers will be also providing written and verbal feedback for DanceStep Students.

Commitments required for the Student Leadership Program

Working in Partnership with Dance Studios, DanceStep provides resources and support to students via our studio and DanceStep CoOrdinator.

Theory

Each Step covers a number of different subjects, increasing in complexity as the student travels through the levels. Students are enrolled in an online Learning Platform that guides them through Theory modules and covers Theory subjects such as:

• Leadership: Leading self and others, the importance of being a role model, Circle of Control
• Teaching Strategies: Learning names, setting the room up safely, Preparing for class
• Safe dance: Design and demonstrate warm-ups, safe stretching, The importance of cool down
• Anatomy: Unpacking the Systems of the body as it relates to dance and movement
• Class Planning, Child Development, Behaviour Management, Feedback Styles and Delivery, Musicality

Practical

• DanceStep students are also expected to assist in a practical lesson once per week within their home studio. This in-class experience helps to consolidate the theory learning in a very effective way. It is recommended that students assist for 20 hours per level.
• DanceStep students will be required to attend at least ONE event during the dance season, such as Discos, Movie Nights, Camps etc. 
• You will also be required to attend ONE administration shift for the ‘Front of House’ during the dance season.

Levels 

• There are currently SIX levels.
• All new students commence at LEVEL ONE, and must work their way through the course sequentially. Each Step is a prerequisite to the other as the information is progressive. 
• Stude
• nts must complete (and have signed off) 20 hours of Practical Assistant Teaching Hours and complete their Online Theory Module before uploading their workbooks and signing off as complete.

Assisting Class Information

• Leadership hours and days may vary from Term to Term, as for students to gain the most beneficial experience, you will have a variety of teachers, classes, and students to work with during the dance season.
• Your weekly leadership hours may vary between 1-3 hours per week
• Attendance is required at all the Rehearsals and performances
• Training days throughout the year will be provided with dates to be set in early Term 1. Attendance at these training days will be compulsory to further your knowledge and skills. These training days will be held during the school holidays. 
• The Leadership Program has termly tasks, reflections, and feedback workbooks that must be completed over the dance season. 

What is the cost of this program?

The program cost is $100 per year, payable upon confirmation of your acceptance into the DanceStep program. The cost will cover;

• Enrolment in one Level in the DanceStep Program (each year you will complete another level)
• Online access to your online learning portals
• Multiple Training sessions throughout the dance season
• Ongoing mentoring and support from your teachers and Lead Team.
• Certificate of Completion for your level when all our requirements for the program have been met. 

There are also DanceStep Teacher Shirts available to purchase as part of your required uniform. These shirts are at a cost to the student/family and are approx $35/$40. Price to be confirmed within your confirmation of acceptance to the DanceStep program. 

You have the opportunity to share your passion and love of dance with the younger students and becoming a Student Leader at Maxi-Jazz should be fun and exciting experience for all involved. However, if you have any questions or concerns at any time during your experience, please reach out to our MJDS team. 

With the inclusion of DanceStep, we are able to deliver a beautiful program that will ensure students have all the tools they need to step into the dance teacher role and gain skills across many other work and life paths. Whilst we cannot guarantee paid teacher work at the completion of this course, these are the foundations that create our amazing MJDS teachers.