This blog entry is written specifically for the ISTD Associate Examination for Country Western Line Dances.
This 'Part Two' feels a never-ending nightmare. The fourth point to note is, the knowledge of basic anatomy and understanding of body adaptations occurring as a result of movemett and exercise, particularly in relation to dancers of very different ages.
There could be different challenges in teaching a class. First, it could be beginner level or intermediate level, it could be a group of 2-year-old kids or a group of senior citizens. Candidate needs to show ability to teach under any circumstances.
For example, in teaching the second half of Smoke Places, we should carefully take care of the seniors when doing the turns. Engaging the core and spotting before and after the turn would be very important. Very luckily, the turns through the last two eights, are broken down into 1/4 each step.
One solution to very old seniors for these turns would be chosing a piece of slow music. Anyway, Rumba is never an exciting and accelerating style.
To all ages, having warm-up and cool-down exercises before and after dancing is essential. It is known that muscles work better when the body is warm.
Ensuring a good breathing habit and ideal cardiovascular ability promises an ample supply of oxygen, which in turn helps a healther heart. It goes into a loop. This effectives loop works well with nice warm-up.
Sometimes, teacher can incorporate several intricated dance actions as part of the warm-up. This helps develop a faster reacting nervous system towards dancing.
Surely, after the actual dance session, it is always good to cool down the body as well as stretching, rather than end the class and leave immediately while body is still hot with perspiration and heart is still pumping hard.
This is also very important for dance learners of all ages. Cooling down helps achieve normal situation, the stretching helps relieve the sore muscles.
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