perchance to dream - dance ireland · singing, speech & drama, musical theatre, shakespeare,...

Perchance to DreamDance Ireland’s First Conference

08-09 December

Perchance to Dream

Dance Ireland’s First Conference

08-09 December

Developing a dance programme

in Dublin Catering to todays’ dance student

Nina Pongratz

Head of Dance (Independent Theatre Workshop)

Independent Theatre Workshop

American Trained (1990s, early

2000s)

B.A. in Dance and Media &

Communications with a

concentration in composition

(Muhlenberg College 2013)

M.A. in Contemporary Dance

Performance (The University of

Limerick 2014)

Stage School

600 students ages 3 -19

3 locations: Ranelagh,

Clonskeagh and Drumcondra

Classes in Dance, Drama,

Singing, Speech & Drama, Musical

Theatre, Shakespeare, and more.

Nina Pongratz

Why did they hire me?ITW’s singing and drama programmes were very strong, however

the dance department lacked clarity, leadership, and drive.

Perchance to Dream – Dance Ireland’s First Conference – 08-09 Dec 2016

My Goals Leverage resources existing in ITW

(administrators, 600 existing students,

dance teachers, online system, etc.)

Develop a roster of dance classes that

provides foundational tecnique, variety,

and opportunity for growth

Develop a positive reputation by

creating a performance ensemble for

demonstration of progress (ITW Dance

Companies)- send them to festivals and

dance competitions

Create a rapport with the students and

parents (added adult Zumba) to

generate a positive and friendly

atmosphere

Generate a passion for dance and

performance in young people in Dublin


The Challenges

South Dublin primary location-

many have limited time (dance is

one of many activities)

In a Stage School- singing and

acting require 1 hour per week-

dance requires more for body

strength/technique//flexibility

development/etc.

Drama/Singing students already

attended a different dance school

Unifying dance teachers that had

settled into their own routine

People expect fast results

Practice outside of class does not

exist

Students are keen mentally, but not

physically (they say they love it and

are verbally enthusiastic, but their

movement is tentative)

Enjoy dance as a hobby, but not

practical as a career down the line

What do these

challenges say about

the priorities of young

people in 2016?Perchance to Dream – Dance Ireland’s First Conference – 08-09 Dec 2016

Trial and Error:

Things that did not work

Adding too much too quickly / The more options they have they

more likely they will not join

Technique of the week, designed to unify the dance programme from

teacher to teacher / One week was not enough

Highly specified classes i.e. ISTD Modern, Tap

Sending mass emails

“Poaching” students from their existing dance schools / Needed to offer

something new

Uniforms- form fitted clothing and leotards are a harsh change / Risk losing

students who are uncomfortable in a leotard

Adding dance in Drumcondra / Two locations are not created equal


Trial and Error:

Things that Worked

Sending individual invitations home and making personalised

phone calls / Mass Emails are spam

Starting a small class and building it up / Word of Mouth is magical

Elongating classes that were thriving / More studio time when they are already

scheduled to be in class

Bringing students to dance festivals & competitions / Inspiration by others is

very motivational

End of year, in-studio presentation that was low budget, wowed the parents /

Opportunity for dancers to show off

Summer Dance intensive open to all abilities


Future Plans Dance Competitions/festivals

3-4 times per year to develop

reputation

Prepare students for dance

auditions (musicals/tv

adverts/Pantos/etc.)

Disneyland Paris 2018

Move IT Dance Festival in

London

Added opportunities for all

ages (i.e. Ballet, younger

dancers to dance more than

once a week)


Why is this Relevant?

Dancers of our future: performers/scholars/teachers/choreographers. Let’s

develop programmes that will give a strong foundation to their work in the arts

Cater to the needs and interests of the students while enforcing the discipline

that past generations seemed to have in dance class

We, those at a dance conference have the motivation and passion- we have

made sacrifices to be friends and participants of the industry. Young dance

students today have not had the work experience behind them to have stakes in

the industry. Let’s give them something to miss if they think about giving it up

Ireland’s dance population is small- dance schools don’t seem to be giving the

students the confidence that they can do what they love as careers or adult

members of the community


Thank you.



08-09 December

Perchance to Dream


08-09 December

Why the Hip-Hop Dance Community here in

Ireland feels it

needs a Nationally Recognised

Grading System.Tobi Omoteso

Aims & Objectives

Aims

To enhance and generate new knowledge and understanding of Hip-Hop culture

To vividly show and convey why a grading system is needed for the Street dance Art- form in Ireland

Objectives

To be able to understand the different Street dance styles

To have knowledge of why and how a grading system is needed for Street dance in Ireland


Hip-Hop history in brief

Hip-Hop is a cultural movements born in the 70's by African Americans and latino

youths in South Bronx, NYC as a way of breaking down racial barriers. 4 Elements

are - MC, DJ, Breakdance and Graffiti

Hip-Hop Dance is Street Dance(Made outside a studio) performed to Hip-Hop

Music. Original Styles Rocking and Breaking.

Styles of Street Dance are Hip-hop(Social/Party Dance), Krump, House, Locking,

Popping, Wacking etc.

Grading System. Why?

The main aim of the grading system would be to set apart those who know Hip-

hop dance from those who simply claim that they do and hopefully it will

encourage them to seek proper training and information before they claim to be

teachers of Hip-Hop dance.

Over-Saturation

Misrepresentation

Killing the Art-form

Its more than the dance, it’s a culture.

Grading System. Why? Cont’d

Example of a misrepresentation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdcLmozpNCQ

Example of proper representation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJzY-YyURd4

Tying it all together

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4if1XfMr78w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdcLmozpNCQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJzY-YyURd4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4if1XfMr78w

Grading System. How?

Culture Focused

Foundation of the Street Dance Styles Focused

Grading System. How?

Street Dance Etiquette

The first implementation of any grading system in the country for 4 Street

Dance Styles were created by Barry Burke form Limerick City, Founder of

Limrockers Cru. Back in 2014.

Grading System. How? Cont’d

The grading system works on all the levels it’s expected too.

You can easily distinguish between Barry’s Teaching methods when compared to

some teachers that teach without the grading system

The student learning is very involved and learning without even knowing it

Learning skills which are transferable to life outside dance

Learning the culture through the dance

Creating leaders

Closing Statements

Would be in the best interest of the community to see some sort of system put in

place or risk losing this art form here in Ireland

The system will make professional organizations view and see Hip-Hop as a

legitimate art form, rather than the structureless stigma it has come to have over

the years

This system can make Hip-Hop an area of interest for colleges / universities to

look into making a syllabus and for interested individual to be able to pursue

further education in the area of Street dance and Hip-Hop culture

Thank you.

I would like to thank Dance Ireland and its members on holding such event and

giving me the opportunity to speak

Thanks you to the listeners

Thanks to Barry Burke for allowing me to share his Grading System

Thank You.


08-09 December

Perchance to Dream


08-09 December

Inspiring the Imagination; Creative dance in primary schools

Philippa Donnellan

Director, CoisCéim BROADREACH

Thank you



08-09 December

Panel SessionDance Education: Designing for

the Future

Nina Pongratz, Tobi Omoteseo, Philippa Donnellan

Moderated by Dr Brigitte Moody


08-09 December

perchance to dream - dance ireland · singing, speech & drama, musical theatre, shakespeare,...

Documents