Welcome to the Teachers Ballroom Dance College! We are the first and only Ballroom Dance Training in Michigan offering the internationally recognized Ballroom Dance Training Program created by Diane Jarmalow.

Teachers Ballroom Dance College is a formal vocational program that supports dance teachers at all stages of their careers. We offer professional dance instruction programs for all levels of instructors, from social dancers who are exploring a new career in ballroom dance, to seasoned professionals. We will train you to become a dance teacher, prepare you for professional certification exams, and teach you how to maximize your career in the ballroom dance world.

We know that a successful career in dance starts with a successful dance teacher education program. With our clear and compassionate instruction and targeted professional guidance we will help make your dreams of becoming a dance teacher a reality.

Teacher training program in Southeastern Michigan can now be completed in 16 months!

Dedicated to ensuring excellence in partner dance instruction, this dance teacher education course is the only one of its kind in the nation. It is ideal for adults who are considering a career as a dance teacher, or who would like to improve their own dancing. Teaching dance is a career option for anyone - no prior experience is required!

In this course you will learn:

• The 17 dances of the DVIDA Bronze American Syllabus for Smooth, Rhythm, and Night Club dances, and how to teach them
• To dance as both Leader and Follower
• Technical elements of all the dances
• Musical elements of all the dances
• How to teach private & group lessons
• How to prepare for DVIDA certification DVIDA is associated with the National Dance Counsel of America (NDCA)
 

The American Style Bronze teacher training program is ongoing, with new sessions starting every four months. The entire program is divided into four sections. You can complete the entire program in 16 months.


Bronze Smooth

May 2 - August 19, 2011
Mondays & Thursdays 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Learn how to dance and teach Waltz, Fox Trot, Tango and Viennese Waltz
Required Manual: DVIDA Bronze Level American Style Smooth Manual

Bronze Rhythm I

Aug. 29 - December 15, 2011
Mondays & Thursdays 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Learn how to dance and teach Rumba, Cha Cha, Bolero, and East Coast Swing
Required Manual: DVIDA Bronze Level American Style Rhythm Manual

Bronze Rhythm II

January 2 – April 19, 2012
Mondays & Thursdays 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Learn how to dance and teach Meringue, Mambo, Samba, and West Coast Swing
Required Manual: DVIDA Bronze Level American Style Rhythm Manual

Bronze Night Club

April 30 – Aug. 16, 2012
Mondays & Thursdays 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Learn how to dance and teach Nightclub Two-Step, Salsa, Hustle, Argentine Tango, and Lindy Hop
Check with instructor for required materials
 

Attendance

This is a professional level course, and we cover a lot of material at a fairly fast pace. Missing class is not advised, as you can easily fall behind. If you do have to miss a class, you can generally arrange to work with one of the other students to help you catch up. You can also schedule private lessons with the master instructor or one of the faculty members of The Dance Pavilion (for an additional private lesson fee) to make up any work you miss.

Class Times & Exam Schedule

Classes meet Mondays and Thursdays from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at The Dance Pavilion. 1918 Whittaker Road, Ypsilanti, MI. Exams are scheduled to be held during regular class times. If you miss an exam, you may schedule a make-up exam with the master instructor (for an additional private lesson fee).

Practice

Each class meets a total of 4 hours a week per section. Most students spend quite a bit of time every week studying the material and practicing what they have learned. Though the amount of outside time varies greatly from student to student, please expect to commit one hour of study time for every hour you spend in class (about four hours of study time per week). Becoming a dance teacher takes dedication and practice.

Materials

The DVIDA manuals (please see Schedule above for which manual is required for each session) and the Teachers Binder are required textbooks for the course. The accompanying DVIDA DVDs are recommended, but optional. The DVIDA Bronze Manuals and DVDs are available from Dance Vision which may be ordered online at www.dancevision.com. The Teachers Binder is provided in class and costs a one time fee of $45. It includes all class handouts that are distributed over the entire program.

Tuition

Tuition is currently $575/month. Please note that tuition will be increased every May to reflect the current market. Tuition is due the first class of each new month. Trainees who make a late tuition payment will be accessed a $15 late fee. Payments not received before the 10th day of the month will expel the trainee from class unless arrangements have been made with the master instructor.

Shoes

All trainees will be expected to have proper dance shoes by the second class meeting. This is not an arbitrary aesthetic or fashion consideration. To teach dance, you need the “right tools for the job”, and proper dance shoes are literally the foundation for you dancing! There are different styles of shoes, but most trainees wear a basic “practice shoe”, a practical and durable suede-soled dancing shoe that is made to be comfortable and wearable for long periods. Some dancers wear flashier shoes or high heeled dance shoes, but this is a matter of personal comfort. You can purchase dance shoes from any dance shoe retailer or at The Dance Pavilion for a 10% discount. Just call the The Dance Pavilion (734-369-9700) for shoe store hours.

Misc. Expectations

Presentations: Because this is a teaching class, there is a strong emphasis on presentation. You will be expected to present material to the class on a regular basis. You may be asked to demonstrate a figure or to present a brief history of a specific dance. Don’t worry, we hand out assignments in advance, so you will have plenty of time to prepare!

Dancing both roles: In order to teach a specific dance or figure, you need to be able to articulate and demonstrate both the leader's and follower’s part. We spend equal time in class working on both parts, and every trainee is expected to dance with every other trainee as both leader and follower, regardless of gender. This is standard practice for professional dance instruction.
 

Additional Training

Your tuition entitles you not only to Teachers Ballroom Dance College course itself, but also to most of the classes and workshops offered at The Dance Pavilion. You get free entry for group classes and workshops (where you are required to fill in as leader or follower as needed), and parties. You also get free floor time for practice. A complete list of classes and workshops can be found at The Pavilion location.

Employment Opportunities

As one of the only vocational teacher training programs in the country, studios are constantly contacting us looking for teachers. We regularly pass job listings on to our graduates. Our strong relationship with dance studios in the community will give you a head start to finding the dance job you want.
 

Location

Teachers Ballroom Dance College
The Dance Pavilion
1918 Whittaker Road
Ypsilanti, MI 48197

734-369-9700

www.teachersballroomdancecollege.com