StepUp's Jazz 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 Jazz programme. 
 

In this article, besides taking a 'big picture' look at the journey ahead for every Jazz 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, we will then be able to assist our students and parents in making the best-informed decision in planning their child's Jazz journey ahead. 

As shared in our Jazz 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: 
 

allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yeHAuN7n5Pw" title="YouTube video player" width="560">

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 the exercises/dance live in front of their adoring audience. Please refer to the video above (from our 2019 Term 3 Showcases @Yishun) for an overview of what our Showcases are all about. 

Dance Recitals

allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LoucgtDgyz0" title="YouTube video player" width="560">

 

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 eligible class (for students aged 6 and above) 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. Dance Exams for the committed student who seeks validation and progression through the different grades: 
 

At StepUp, our Jazz classes are conducted in accordance to the Commonwealth Society Of Teachers Of Dancing (CSTD) Jazz Curriculum, which is established in 1933 in Australia. With a syllabus that is established in the Asia-Pacific region that trains students from the age of a pre-schooler to a young adult, the unique proposition of the CSTD Jazz Exam is that it assesses every Exam student in the region by the same CSTD standards. 
 

Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing (CSTD) Jazz Exam
 

Thus, if a Grade 1 student managed to achieve Honours Plus in her Exam, she can proudly state that she is a distinction student in any part of the world as any student (be it from Thailand, Hong Kong to Australia) is appraised by the same standards by a qualified overseas CSTD Examiner. Therefore, besides feedback from our teacher, the assessment report from the Examiner provides much value-add as it is an individualised assessment that establishes the area for improvement and the strength of each Exam student, thus setting them up for their preparation into the next higher level of the CSTD Jazz Curriculum. 

In summary, the CSTD Jazz Exam provides students with: 

a. A locally and regionally recognised Jazz Certificate with individualised grading and assessment report. 

b. An accurate assessment of the performance of the student by a qualified and experienced overseas CSTD Examiner. 

c. Concludes the learning milestone for each Grade, and prepares the students for advancement into the next higher Grade. 

d. Only CSTD Exam candidates are eligible to participate in the CSTD Singapore and Asia-Pacific Dance Competitions. 

e. Provides a foundation for DSA-SEC submission and a career as a Jazz Instructor. 

Direct School Admission (DSA-SEC)


 

Besides the individual achievement, the Exam also provides other tangible benefits by supporting a student's application for DSA-SEC in Primary 6 for their subsequent enrolment into their preferred Secondary School. Although all Secondary Schools have different requirements for their selection process, most (if not all) schools will require the candidate to show proof of their dance training through the years along with their achievements. 

Thus, the progressive CSTD Jazz Exam system accords each student with an individualised measurable achievement and the average student will have taken their Grade 4 Jazz Exam by the time they enter into Primary 6. Thus, if your child wishes to enrol into our DSA-SEC 2 years programme (which begins in Primary 5), the minimum requirement will be that they need to complete their Grade 4 Jazz Exam. 

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

a. Progressive achievements (Certificates) from the CSTD Jazz Exam through the years is 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 Grade 4 Jazz qualification. 

Jazz Teaching Assistant
 

As a service provider in this industry for the past decade, we have been asked by our parents what do we hope to be the ideal learning outcome for our students. As the saying goes "education is the passport to the future", our genuine and sincere response is that we hope that our students will one day become teachers themselves, where things will come full circle and we produce the next generation of dance teachers.

For all of our Jazz Instructors, life as a teacher will first begin as a Teaching Assistant to double up as support to the Form Teacher or to relieve the class at times. As a Teaching Assistant, they will acquire the foundations of class and student management, accumulating valuable experience in the process with an insight into the expectations, demands and inner workings of a career as a Jazz Instructor. This will in turn assist students to decide on their tertiary education as a staging for a career as a Jazz Instructor. 

To become a Jazz Teaching Assistant, please refer to the requirements below: 

a. A Jazz Teaching Assistant will require a minimum Grade 7 Jazz qualification. 

b. A Jazz Teaching Assistant needs to be aged 15 and above. 

c. A Jazz Teaching Assistant will be assessed and recommended by their Form Teacher/School Principal, with consideration to their Exam results, conduct in class through the years, passion and interest for Jazz, personality and character traits. 

d. Experience in Dance Competitions will be beneficial. 

CSTD Registered Jazz Teacher
 

From the experience gained as a teaching assistant, it provides students with a holistic overview of the job description and expectations for a career in dance as a Jazz Instructor. Upon the completion of their tertiary studies, they can then make a considered decision if they wish to purse the next step of their teacher training which is to become a Registered Teacher with the CSTD. 

To graduate as a CSTD Registered Teacher, the candidate must undertake a 1-2 years training programme called the Teaching Certificate (TC) that consists of both theoretical and practical assessments. This rigorous training system ensures that all graduates from the TC meets the professional standards required by the CSTD for a successful career as a Jazz Instructor. 

To become a CSTD Registered Jazz Teacher, please refer to the requirements below: 

a. A TC candidate will require a minimum Grade 9 Jazz qualification. 

b. A TC candidate must have at least 2 years of experience as a teaching assistant. 

c. A TC candidate will require a CSTD Mentor who will assist him/her through the course. 

d. A TC candidate should be ideally attached to a Dance School (usually their alma mater) during their TC training as they will be required to conduct a class independently as part of their assessment. Thus, this also means that they need to teach actively in order to do well in this assessment which can only be achieved when they are affiliated to a Dance School. 

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

allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MkP-n3wysg0" title="YouTube video player" width="560">

For students who are serious in pursuing the limits of their own dance boundaries, we will recommend them to join our Performing Group which consists of these 2 main programmes: 

1. Dance Technique Class

2. Dance Competition Team
 

Dance Technique Class
 

allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lOVbrt2wUHk" title="YouTube video player" width="560">

The Dance Technique Classes are are specialised lessons that focus on training that complements the CSTD Jazz curriculum. These include flexibility exercises, balancing work, stamina and conditioning training, advanced techniques and acrobatic coaching like cartwheels and walkovers. From the specialised training gained, students from the Technique Classes will on average perform better in the CSTD Jazz Exam. 

To further the learning outcome from the Technique Class, students will also be taught Dance Choreographies as part of their advanced training which will be put to use when they are invited to participate in Event Performances, which will add another dimension to their dance portfolios.

Participation in the Technique Class is also a prerequisite for selection into our Dance Competition Team and our instructors will be on the lookout to invite eligible students to join our Competition Team. 

In summary, the highlights of our Dance Technique Class are: 

a. Open to all students and starts from Level 1 Classes onwards. 

b. Advanced training that complements the CSTD Jazz Curriculum and Exam results.

c. Performance opportunities at events. 

d. Prerequisite for selection by our Instructor to join our Competition Team. 

Dance Competition Team

 

allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bvEpMOU6cV8" title="YouTube video player" width="560">

For students who scores Honours Plus in their CSTD Jazz Exam and are members of our Dance Technique Class, they will be auditioned by our Instructor through observation of their progress in both the regular Jazz and Technique Class, before being invited to become a member of our Dance Competition Team. 

Dance Competitions are the final frontier of learning in that it represents the advanced preparation and training that goes beyond the regular class requirements for Showcases, Performances and Examinations. Students in the Competition Team represents the best that our school has to offer, thus this is a serious endeavour that is only suitable for students who shows immense passion, diligence and perseverance in pursuing the limits of their dance boundaries. 

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. 

In summary, an overview of our Dance Competition Team is as follows: 

a. Only eligible for dancers who achieve Honours Plus from the CSTD Jazz Exam and shows good performance from the Dance Technique Class.  

b. New dancers will be 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 sign the Performing Group Agreement.  

d. Portfolio of dance achievements from Competitions is advantageous for DSA-SEC submission. 

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