Technology In Dance Education

When it comes to incorporating technology into my content area, lets just say it is easier said that done. When teaching dance to a student, using technology as a method of instruction is a very challenging method for both the student as well as the teacher. If a student is learning how to dance for the first time, they have no understanding of alignment and proper technique. However, you can show the student every day on the laptop, projector, and you could even text them a picture of proper alignment every class period, but the student will not know how to translate that information until it is on their own body and they are able to receive corrections from the teacher. The student will be able to physicalize those corrections and their understanding of what proper alignment is will be practical because they can explain and demonstrate it using their own body. 

Please do not let this blog post paint the picture of me saying that all dance teachers should not use technology when teaching dance, because that is not true. I am saying, that when teaching young students dance, the teacher must use kinesthetic methods and be able to physicalize the lessons. It is simply more effective when teaching young impressionable students. Teachers must also realize that younger students need to have time expressing themselves through creative movement. There really is no way to have students express themselves with their body using technology. As the students education progresses, the student can use technology to research dance terminology, methods, and choreographic structures. I can see the benefit from having one day a month where teachers can explain dance using technology, however if a student did not use their bodies through repetition and daily excersizes, the student will be severely less technically strong. So more simply, dance education should use khinestetic methods with splashes of technology throughout. 

However if a student is considering a career as a professional dancer, than they are going to have to have a very clear understanding of how technology is incorporated into dance performances. Dancers must understand lighting, sound mixing, and staging. A common saying for dancers is “an smart dancer is a working dancer” That being said, a professional dancer has had a very kinesthetic early education where teachers corrected them and gave them physical feedback, followed by an extensive education of how technology in the performance world functions. Dance is the only subject in the world that can be taught in school, is considered an art form, and is also a sport. Therefore a teacher who is planning on teaching dance must be aware of all three aspects of dance, and cater to the needs of all three. Teachers must educate their students on the language and terminology of dance, as well as its history. Teachers must also inform students about the physical limitations of the sport and the injury prevention that must be addressed for the working dancer. Finally the teacher must understand how to teach students how to bring forth an emotional connection to what they are dancing. This is the most difficult aspect of dance education because it can not be taught in the classroom. A teacher just has to know what to say to their students in order to inspire them to become the artist they want to be.