Cultivating Critical Thinking in Dancers with Caitlin Sloan
Cultivating Critical Thinking in Dancers with Caitlin Sloan
The greatest lesson dance educators can teach their students is how to learn.
In a world where dancers are often told to listen and blindly comply, we need to train students to think for themselves. This presentation will give dance educators actionable advice to transition from a passive to an active learning model in their classroom.
We will cover:
how to use open-ended questions to help dancers take responsibility for their training
where to build in opportunities for dancers to provide constructive and detailed feedback
the use of guided improvisation to develop smart decision making skills
areas where educators tend to operate on autopilot
how we can change up our teaching to engage dancers’ brains
By giving dancers opportunities to be partners in their education, we cultivate not just smart dancers, but strong capable adults who are prepared for whatever career path they choose.
Purchase the recording of this session and watch on-demand. Perfect for studio owners who want to get their team together for a training session, or for freelance dance educators, who want quick and easily accessible professional development.
Access is FREE for all licensed Leap ‘N Learn members.
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Caitlin Sloan, founder & CEO of The Brainy Ballerina, is a Dance Educator and Career Mentor based in Madison, WI. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Grand Valley State University and Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Missouri. Caitlin danced professionally with companies including Ballet Tucson and Missouri Contemporary Ballet. She served as Director of The School of Missouri Contemporary Ballet and has also been on the faculty of Central Indiana Academy of Dance and the School of Madison Ballet. Caitlin founded The Brainy Ballerina to empower aspiring dancers with the tools they need to succeed in a professional career both on and off the stage. Through 1-1 career mentorship, virtual private lessons and digital resources, dancers gain the skills necessary to build a smart and sustainable career in the dance industry.
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Disrupt Dance is a series of professional development workshops for dance educators who want to make a difference in the lives of their students and the industry.
Disrupt Dance is powered by Leap ‘N Learn, a leading early childhood dance curriculum that knows the power of research-based approaches and tried-and-tested methods in the dance class. The workshops will amplify the voices of researchers, practitioners, studio owners and teachers that are doing things differently in dance with great results.
With a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, we’re interested in opening up access, participation and success in dance. That means seeing, thinking about, and doing dance a little differently. The Disrupt Dance series is a chance to listen, learn, and explore new possibilities in dance. Through a range of presentations, practical workshops and panels, you’ll discover ways to make your dance teaching practice more enjoyable for all.
Sound good? We’d love to learn alongside you!
Accessing the workshops:
All sessions were recorded live on Zoom and are ready to watch on-demand. Perfect for studio owners who want to get their team together for a training session, or for freelance dance educators.
Each workshop will vary in time, but they’re created with the busy dance educator in mind, so expect between 30-60mins.
You’ll receive a PDF download with a link and password to access the workshop video after purchase.
““Thank you so much for the workshop this morning on Cultivating Critical Thinking in Dancers. It was such a valuable workshop. I am so grateful for the continuing professional development in this format of small, affordable and regular sessions. I am very much looking forward to each and every one!
Thank you so much for the work that you do””