Page 3 - Dance Guide 2020
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2020 SyllabuS Guide
assessed independently by examiners qualified in that particular syllabus.
Today, syllabus organisations provide this and a whole lot more. What else makes it beneficial to belong to a syllabus organisation?
Benefits for teachers
• Networking and support
For dance studio owners, a syllabus can provide a support network of fellow teachers. The ability to pool the knowledge and experience of a number of teachers within
a local area, whether it is to assist with
a business management issues or the interpretation of the syllabus, can be invaluable. Teachers can also benefit from being able to call on each other to be a guest teachers or may refer students to each other.
• Professional development
To belong to a syllabus organisation is to belong to a professional community, enabling teachers to access conferences, workshops and seminars to maintain knowledge and expertise in their area of practice, as well
as add depth and breadth to their skills.
• Keeping up to date
Syllabus organisations help to keep teachers up to date on key developments such “safe dance”, ethics for dance teachers, child psychology, use of social media, codes of behaviour and business management.
• Advocacy
Syllabus organisations can advocate on behalf
of their members and teachers on key issues of importance. For example, recently Comdance was outspoken about the impact on their teachers of the growing Vocational Education and Training sector. This advocacy is essential to both educate the community and protect the interests of local dance studios.
Benefits for students
• Recognition
While the various states and territories of Australia have differing guidelines in this area, most education departments will accept syllabus qualifications as credit towards high school senior certificates. For instance, in Queensland, students pursuing complementary learning options in the arts can boost their Year 12 results by receiving credits (as set out by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority – QCAA) towards their Senior Certificate
of Education.
• Competitions
Many syllabus organisations organise competitions for their members’ students at both state and national levels. These competitions can open up opportunities to advanced students to extend their training at international ballet schools and summer schools.
• Refinements and improvements to a syllabus over time help to shape and mould the training of dancers to meet international standards.
• Safety and wellbeing
Most dance syllabi offer well-planned, progressive classwork which increases the degree of difficulty and artistry gradually. This is good news for young dancers whose bodies are growing and ensures exercises and moves are age and developmentally appropriate.
Internationally recognised
standards and levels
While there are many Australian-based syllabus organisations, there are also some with international reach, such as the Royal Academy of Dance, Cecchetti and Vaganova. Students studying these syllabi benefit from being part of the wider international dance community
in terms of the recognition of their level of skill and artistry.
With so many benefits of belonging to a syllabus organisation, does it really matter which one you study? The good news is that most syllabi are well designed and there is no particular syllabus you have to learn to take you to a professional standard. Dancers do not have to have learnt a particular syllabus to be employed in a company.
Whether you are a teacher, student or parent deciding on a syllabus, it is really a matter of finding the best fit. Is the classwork suitable for the age brackets and levels of experience at your school? Will it offer you the variety of dance styles you require? What does it offer to students in terms of access to exams and competitions?
Peruse our Syllabus Guide on the following pages to answer your questions.
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