"Should dance students be seen and not heard?"

Post date: Sep 28, 2016 9:16:24 PM

There's a post doing the rounds on Facebook regarding 'discipline' in ballet classes. It states that "there are only 3 things that should be heard in the studio - The teachers voice, the music and the light patter of feet".

I disagree with this so much. I should however make it clear that I agree with the sentiment that idle chit chat, gossiping and talking over the teacher are not appropriate for any classroom, of any subject. But to expect ballet students to be passive in their lessons is not only old-fashioned but is unsafe both physically and emotionally. For example, if a child is in pain, they need to feel safe enough in the class setting to let their teacher know - not terrified that they're going to be shouted at.

Furthermore, from a pedagogical perspective, it is well known that students learn more when they are actively involved in their learning (ie asked questions about what and why they are doing what they're doing, working in pairs/small groups to offer feedback and improvements to each other).

At MIDAS I encourage all of our teachers to ask students questions in class; for example, for feedback about whether a certain way of working made a difference, or asking students their experience of performing a step if trying something new. We often find that the students are not used to this! They are quiet, and need lots of coaxing into participating verbally. I hope that our students are not scared of speaking to us, but that they are simply not used to being so involved.

I was lucky in my dance training to have teachers who instinctively involved students in the class, and this translated into my dance teacher training. However, having studied pedagogy across many subjects (doing my PGCE), my dance teaching has benefited from this even more.

The Victorians used to say "Children should be seen and not heard". Why are ballet teachers still insisting on this?!