Teaching the Dance Class: Strategies to Enhance Skill Acquisition, Mastery and Positive Self-Image

Abstract

Effective teaching of dance skills is informed by a variety of theoretical frameworks and individual teaching and learning styles. The purpose of this paper is to present practical teaching strategies that enhance the mastery of skills and promote self-esteem, self-efficacy, and positive self-image. The predominant thinking and primary research findings from dance pedagogy, education, physical education and sport pedagogy, and psychology are distilled into 16 guidelines for teaching dance. Subsequently, theoretically and empirically informed strategies for best teaching practices are explored by reference to three broad categories: 1. clarifying the process and goals of the class, 2. discussing various influences that affect the dancer's progress, and 3. clearly defining the class structure and content.