Minute Masterclass Episode 228

Welcome to your one-minute masterclass. I’m Andrea Trench. If you enjoy our minute masterclasses, consider continuing your professional development as a student in our Foundations Course for Early Childhood Dance Educators and as a member of our DiscoverDance Experience online community. You can learn more about both of these opportunities at DiscoverDance.com.

 This week’s DiscoverDance Dictionary term is the conceptual approach, also known as conceptual teaching or conceptual learning. It is the unique approach to dance education that intertwines the skills of dance with the artistry of movement. Conceptual learning can take place during any and every part of your lesson plan at any age, stage of development, or style of dance. Here at DiscoverDance, we have 11 core concepts in our early childhood dance curriculums. Each lesson plan focuses on one concept of dance. That concept becomes our class objective for the day, our main focus. As we move through the lesson, I’ll emphasize the concept throughout class. By directing our attention to the little concepts that create the big skills, we grow a deeper understanding of the mechanics of those movements week after week, concept upon concept. We’re going to dive deeper into conceptual skill development in a future episode. In the meantime, you can learn more about this approach in Minute Masterclass episode #45.

 For more information, to enroll in the Foundations Course, or to join the DiscoverDance Experience, visit DiscoverDance.com.