Great teachers never fail to make a lasting impression on the lives of their students. Nobody has ever forgotten a great teacher who has helped them learn. We believe that one of the reasons the GAPA faculty enjoys such a great reputation for success, is because we have fully qualified teachers who have previously enjoyed significant professional performing careers.
In 2016, we will be launching the GAPA Teacher Training course, which has been specifically devised for professional dancers who may be nearing the end of their professional performing careers, or simply looking to diversify and build teaching into their career activities.
The Programme will offer two qualifications that we consider to be the most effective for Professional Dancers making the transition from a performing to a teaching career:
The ISTD Diploma of Dance Instruction (DDI) is a level 3 qualification (equivalent of an A-level). The DDI qualifies you to teach up to Grade 5 of the ISTD Syllabus. The course is part-time and completed over the three terms of an academic year (September to the following June).
Successful graduates of the DDI course will then be invited to study for the Diploma of Dance Education (DDE), which is a level 4 qualification (equivalent of a Professional Diploma/1st year BA Hons). The DDE is a natural progression from Further to Higher Education and qualifies you to teach up to Intermediate Level of the ISTD Syllabus. The course is part-time and completed over the three terms of an academic year.
Additional tuition will be given in voice control, direction, choreography and how to use film and media as a teaching resource.
We believe that one of the most important principles of good teaching is the creation of a safe, welcoming, classroom environment, so all the course modules will be studio based and led by a tutor (some tutorials will be via Skype/Facetime). We also strongly believe in the effectiveness of peer-group learning and encourage the formation of study groups. All classes, teaching practice and class observations will be held at GAPA during term time and there will also be weekly online work utilising both peer and tutor feedback.
Piers Gielgud PGCert – Course Leader
Irela Strachan FISTD – Course Mentor
Ruth Armstrong FISTD and Michelle Walkhouse LISTD – Course tutors
