Page 7 - DANCE Guide 2022

Helen Rawlings
National Dance Co-ordinator, Trainer and Assessor.
What do you enjoy about your job?
Connecting with dance students and teachers Australia-wide brings such a huge variation in perspective. Each time I read a student’s submission I feel myself learning something new, regularly having moments of “aha!”. Like teaching face to face, there’s always multiple ways to explain a move for the dancer to grasp the technique, and I find seeing the multiple ways students respond to questions and articulate their own ideas equally enlightening.
I always make a point of this in feedback, thanking students for sharing their ideas and the efforts they put into their tasks. It is very rewarding to be able to help dance students and teachers get the credit they deserve for their training and appreciate just how many skills dance training can bring.
What response do you receive from the students in assessments?
Students seem to have a welcome surprise at just how many skills are used in dance training – which are highlighted in each module. No matter their age or training experience, they always show satisfaction at having learnt something new. Dance certificate students regularly mention how much their confidence has grown and their in- class training improved and they
are inspired by the multiple career pathways they discover in the industry.
Teaching students notice their own delivery drastically improve. They see themselves develop their own teaching flair and are proud that they are now the ones impacting the next generation of dancers. Even those who have been teaching for years come through the course with fresh ideas and more knowledge, which ultimately enhances their dance teaching.
What is the purpose of dance qualifications and why do you think they are beneficial?
Dance brings so many transferable skills which deserve to be credited with recognised qualifications.
The benefit of vocational training is that students get to gain these qualifications “on the job”.
Encouraged to draw on real life experience for tasks, students develop a deeper awareness of their own dance training or teaching and start to see the industry from a much broader viewpoint. Having their certificate behind them ultimately builds on their skills and knowledge and opens up vast career opportunities in the diverse and ever evolving dance industry.
WEBSITE:
www.australiandanceinsitute.com.au
FOUNDER:
Penny Lancaster
HISTORY
As Australia’s first fully recognised dance specific Registered Training Organisation (RTO 91600), ADi commits itself to excellence in vocational education and continues to lead dance education and professional development for dance students and teachers.
Drawing upon extensive dance industry and VET experience, courses focus on supporting and nurturing a versatile range of students. Each qualification seeks to develop knowledge in key areas such as safe dance practice, anatomy, critical thinking skills, artistic expression and business management. We seek to arm students with the skills and knowledge to stand out in the competitive creative arts industries, providing graduates with the recognition they truly deserve.
Our mission is to provide holistic dance education whilst building the emotional, social, ethical, and academic skills crucial for a successful dance/dance teaching career, empowering students to find their place in the ever-evolving creative arts industry.
GENRE
ADI uses the CUA Creative Arts and Culture Training Package to deliver Certificate I - IV in Dance (CUA10120, CUA20120, CUA30120, CUA40120) and Certificate III in Assistant Dance Teaching and Certificate IV in Dance Teaching and Management (CUA30320, CUA40320).
GRADING/MARKING SYSTEM
ADi complies with the Australian VET Framework (AQF) providing Recognition of Prior Learning and Dance Society Mapping expertise to support service delivery totally dedicated to dance. Students may also attain their certificate through the VET in schools program, which can count towards their high school certificate.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Lancaster Scholarship – applications open April 2021 (further information available via ADi).
JANUARY / FEBRUARY / MARCH 2022 | WWW.DANCEAUSTRALIA.COM.AU | 57
AUSTRALIAN DANCE INSTITUTE