Dance and Growth

Study Tasks

1) Reading and Research

a) Read Simmel (191-199), Bramley (60-67) and the IADMS Education Committee resource paper.

b) Make a bullet pointed list of the main safe practice teaching considerations for teaching children up to 10 years

c) Make a bullet pointed list of the main safe practice teaching considerations for teaching the adolescent dancer (second pubertal phase)

2) Writing

a) Thinking back to Level 4, The Healthy Dancer module; consider the impact that intense training can have on the adolescent dancing body (clue - the Female Athlete Triad).

b) Compare and contrast the timetable of an adolescent dancer in a full time dance vocational school with that of a dancer in recreational dance training (private dance school classes 2-3 times a week). Both dancers are in a phase of rapid growth, but what considerations are necessary to ensure the overall health of both dancers is not compromised? Include in your answer the possible conflicting recommendations that might arise from a medical perspective and from that of a dance teacher. (500 words)

3) Reflection and Writing

a) As a teacher with many students to monitor, it may be easy to miss the student who is currently experiencing a growth spurt. Place yourself in the position of that teacher at a vocational dance school.

b) What signs might you notice when a student is experiencing a period of rapid growth? Consider the adaptations and modifications that may be necessary for a student during this time.

c) Using the information you have gleaned from the readings in this unit, outline measures that could be put in place to achieve this. (500 words)