StepUp's Hip Hop Programme ~ Training Plan For Every Student (Full Version)

As every parent is dedicated to ensuring the best learning outcome when they send their child for our dance classes, it is therefore important for us as a responsible service provider to share the different learning pathways available when a student enrols into our Hip Hop programme. 

In this article, besides taking a 'big picture' look at the journey ahead for every Hip Hop student here, we will also provide an in-depth sharing on the undertaking required and learning outcomes for each of the different options available. Ultimately, depending on the expectations and aspirations of the student and parent, the choices available will appeal in distinct ways to every individual. Therefore, by sharing the possibilities going forward, will we then be able to assist our students and parents in making the best-informed decision in planning their child's Hip Hop journey ahead. 

As shared in our Hip Hop Programme flowchart above, for every student enrolled here, there are a total of 3 main learning pathways available: 

1. Dance Performances 

2. Dance Exams 

3. Performing Group 

Let us now take a closer look at each of these 3 options available for our students and parents to take into consideration for their planning ahead. 

1. Dance Performances for every student: 

Termly Dance Showcases

 

 

As dance is an expression and celebration of the body's movement, we want to ensure that our students have a consistent platform to perform while keeping their parents engaged in their learning progress and outcomes. To achieve these objectives, we introduced our award-winning family-friendly Termly Dance Showcases which are performances held at the end of each Term where our parents and family are invited into our studios, our teachers will review what had been taught in the past few months and our students will then demonstrate/perform their drills/dance choreography live in front of their adoring audience. Please refer to the video above (from our 2020 Term 3 Livestream Dance Showcases @Yishun) for an overview of what our Showcases are all about. 

Dance Recitals
 

In addition to our in-house Termly Showcases, we also organise Dance Recitals, which are large-scale production shows that comprises of dance performances in theatres where our students will get to live a day in the life as a dancer performing on stage in front of a few hundred spectators in the audience, with a production crew (stage crew, sound and lighting technician among others) supporting their endeavours backstage. Every class will perform together as a group, with a specific choreography aligned to the theme of the Recital. Through this process, the students will also bond outside of dance, as they will enjoy all the 'backstage festivities' together, from getting their hair and makeup tended to by the Parent Volunteers, to sharing their snacks and having their meals together, to waiting for their cue to perform and finally the curtain call performing their curtseys to the cheers of the audience. 

In summary, Dance Performances provides students with: 

a. A consistent platform and opportunity for in-house dance studio and theatre performances for an audience. 

b. Provides a training objective during the weekly regular classes for the students to look forward to and work towards. 

c. Builds the student's stage exposure and confidence. 

d. Hones their performance value as staging for their advanced progress into our Performing Group. 

2. Event Performances for honing the stage craft and confidence of the committed student: 
 

As compared to our Ballet and Jazz classes where Exams are conducted annually to assess the competency of the students, while there are organisations that provides Exams and Certifications, we have decided against such an arrangement with consideration to the origins of Hip Hop dance, which evolved from the underground street dance culture of the African American communities in the 1970s in New York City. 

Therefore, to tie in with the street-based nature of this genre of dance, our Hip Hop classes are geared towards a Performance-based approach, that emphasizes heavily on providing performance opportunities for our students. As a natural progression from our in-house Showcases and Recitals, we collaborate regularly with organisers such as SAFRA or Singapore Children's Society for performance avenues at their events. 

Public performances as these provides an extra edge in honing the technical and performance value of our students, laying the groundwork for their future in dance as a hired dancer in professionally arranged shows or events. 

In summary, Event Performances enhances the learning outcomes through: 

a. Creates a training target and outcome for them during the regular weekly classes. 

b. Every event performance is the conclusion of a successful learning milestone for the dancers. 

c. Advances the stage exposure and confidence of the dancers as these are showcases in the public domain. 

d. Builds their dance portfolio for DSA-SEC submission by providing a measurable indicator of their efforts in Hip Hop dance. 

e. Staging and prerequisite for teacher's selection into our Performing Group. 

3. Performing Group for the passionate student who seeks challenges outside their comfort zone and strives to redefine their own dance limits: 
 

For students who are serious in pursuing the limits of their learning journey in Hip Hop, participation in Dance Competitions is a must to challenge their own technical abilities and stage confidence, where they pit themselves regularly against dancers from other schools in a competitive setting. This advanced training and portfolio of achievements also serves as the foundation of their submission for DSA-SEC if they decide to enrol into our 2-years DSA-SEC programme. 

Direct School Admission (DSA-SEC)

In summary, the requirements for DSA-SEC are as follows: 

a. Progressive achievements from the Dance Competitions through the years are required as supporting documents for DSA-SEC submissions at the MOE portal. 

b. A student entering into our DSA-SEC programme when they are in Primary 5 will need a minimum of 3-4 years of Dance Competition experience. 

 

 

Selection of dancers into our Performing Group is based on the progress and performance of the student in their regular class, Showcases and Event Performances. Students who show the technical ability and character required for Competitions will then be invited by our Instructor, and the school will reach out to the parents accordingly. For new entrants into our Competition Team, they will first be placed into Group training classes. Participation in Group Competition Teams are a prerequisite for further selection as a full-fledged Soloist. More details will be shared in a Meeting with their parents, as substantial time, effort and resources are required for participation in Competitions, thus a comprehensive discussion is conducted to manage the expectations of the stakeholders going forward. All Competition Team students are also required to sign the Performing Group agreement as an indication of their commitment towards this training programme. 

From the advanced training and experience in Competitions, this skillset also sets up the student to consider a career in dance, by first becoming a Hip Hop Teaching Assistant. The basic requirements are that the student must have substantial experience from Dance Competitions, and shows the correct personality required as an Instructor. Once they reach the minimum age of 15 and above, they can sound out to our Instructors of their interest to become Teaching Assistant and the school will follow up accordingly. 

To become a full-fledged Hip Hop Instructor, we recommend that they complete at least 2-3 years of their training as Teaching Assistant. As the genre of Hip Hop is performance-biased, we will also advise that the Teacher Assistants build up a solid portfolio of experience as hired dancers in professional shows or events. All these external knowledge and experience gained of the trends in the dance shows industry will in turn translate into a valuable skillset which they can then impart to their students back in the studio. 

In summary, the highlights of our Dance Competition Team are as follows: 

a. Eligible for dancers who shows good performance from the regular dance classes, Showcases and Event Performances.  

b. New dancers are placed into Group Competition Teams first before further selection as a Soloist. 

c. New dancer's parents will be required to attend the Performing Group meeting and to sign the Performing Group Agreement.  

d. Portfolio of dance achievements from Competitions serves as the foundation for DSA-SEC submission. 

e. Experience in Dance Competitions are required for consideration as a Hip Hop Teaching Assistant which in turn leads up to a career in dance as a Hip Hop Instructor. 

We trust the detailed sharing above will provide a comprehensive study of the different learning pathway that are available for every Hip Hop student enrolled into our classes, regardless of their ability and interest. As every student and parent has different aspiration and motivation for learning Hip Hop, the eventual learning track that a student undertakes is a very personal choice unique to their needs. We are therefore confident that our Hip Hop Programme provides quality training outcomes from a new student who just wants to explore what Hip Hop is, to a serious student who strives for excellence at Dance Competitions. 

Thanks for your attention to this article and please feel free to contact us at [email protected] for further assistance. In the meantime, stay safe and keep on dancing!