dance-force

Why we offer Comdance (CSTD) at Dance Force

admin@d20digital.com.au (Danny Summers) — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 01:14:17 GMT

Why do we offer CSTD as our syllabus of choice?

The COMDANCE global community is made up of teachers and studios around the world, who work as a global family. The CSTD (Commonwealth Society for Teachers of Dancing) was established in 1933 by Melbourne dancer and teacher Dorothy Gladstone, who is honoured by the ABD's (Australian Dancing Board) Hall of Fame for her contributions. The society offers progressive syllabi in Ballet, Jazz, Tapping, Contemporary, Musical Theatre and Hip Hop, making it a true gem of dance education, born right here in Australia! Since 1933 the COMDANCE community has reached every corner of the globe.

WHICH of the CSTD syllabi do we offer?

Dance Force offers exams in CSTD Ballet, Jazz and Tapping, and our contemporary classes are designed with the standards of the CSTD's syllabus in mind. This contemporary syllabus was created by none other than internationally renowned dancer and choreographer, Jason Winters.

The CSTD Classical Ballet syllabus is based on a pedagogy of technique, musicality and artistry. The syllabus has been refreshed recently, with new music having been composed and performed by Michael Brett, pianist for the Western Australian Ballet Company. This new music allows students to fully express themselves and brings out the very best in artistry from each student. Many teachers comment about how the CSTD have created a well-rounded classical syllabus that balances classical coordination with precise technique, whilst still preparing students adequately for a career in dance or dance education. It is also a very affordable syllabus, making it accessible for students to complete regular and enriching examinations.

The CSTD's Modern Jazz Syllabus was revised in 2017. It contains an amazing body of work choreographed and developed into a sound progressive, developmental sequence by Rachelle Conroy and Sandra Breen. Some of Australia’s leading artists have contributed their choreography to the syllabus in both exercises and routines. The work is contemporary, technically challenging and a great preparation in all forms of jazz for today’s performance demands. Theory is also a welcome component of this syllabus in the higher grades.

The Comdance Tapping Syllabus was also updated in 2017. The new tapping syllabus is a complete training package with graduated exercises, amalgamations and dances suited to each target age group. The Sandra Breen OAM Tap Syllabus caters for candidates from 4 years upwards, and has been created with contributions from Jack Chambers, Rennie Ann Martini, Keith Hawley and Chris Jordan; All being very experienced, well-respected tappers & choreographers. Theory is once again an important component, helping students understand the rhythm and execution of tapping steps more comprehensively.

So... WHY have we chosen the CSTD syllabi?

Dance Force has been offering the CSTD's syllabi in their studios since opening in 2005. Of late, we have made the important decision to offer this as our sole Classical Ballet syllabus of choice at our Toowoomba studio (the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus is due to be phased out by the end of 2021). It is our studio's vision to see accessible dance education offered in Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley, and the CSTD allows us to do this without the slightest compromise on quality.

The CSTD offers comprehensive, progressive and up-to-date content across all genres, with reasonable examination fee structure. Becoming a qualified teacher with Comdance is both reputable and affordable for those students wishing to pursue a career in dance teaching. The syllabi has realistic "base benchmarks" for the recreational dancer seeking a challenge, yet still extends its criteria to constructively critique those dancers of a more proficient calibre. Considering the CSTD has extended its branches across the globe, our students are prepared and equipped to a standard that is recognised internationally. It's truly wonderful to be able to share such an excellent syllabus while supporting our unique Australian dance culture across our two locations!

How can dance benefit your Tween or Teen?

admin@d20digital.com.au (Danny Summers) — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 01:03:53 GMT

When you can't get them moving, maybe WE can?!

One thing we hear constantly, is how 'dancing kids' are thriving kids!

Whether it be in their schools or extra-curricular environments, dancing kids are developing habits that set them up beyond the studio walls.

Where many tweens, teens or young adults would much prefer to live a sedentary lifestyle, dancing kids are constantly in touch with their own bodies. With an increased average fitness level and regular scheduled exercise on the "pros" list, we really have little argument as to why dance could ever be a poor choice!

For an age group sometimes lacking in self-confidence, dance is the perfect activity to give tweens and teens faith in their own abilities. There is always ample opportunity to celebrate small and big wins in classes and performances. Teachers (particularly those at Dance Force!) will consistently find ways to encourage and acknowledge these progressions as they arise in order to see each dancer develop. Dance is actually really hard! - therefore builds skills in resilience and determination. Though, alongside the few serves of humble pie come waves of self-esteem assurance. These skills can translate into better grades at school, ample management of peer pressure and the ability to regulate emotions... Sounds like a dream right?!

Dancing requires the use of multiple parts of the brain simultaneously, and thus stimulates these regions as they're called upon. Music stimulates the brain's rewards centres and dance/movement makes good use of the sensory and motor circuits. An increase in the brain's agility can translate into heightened intelligence, reaction time and attention span!

The friendships made at dance are for life. Both individual commitment and teamwork help to build bonds that rival those between olympians and professional sportspeople! The magic of dance is more than enough to bring us together, but it's our passion that keeps us moving as one. Dance is perfect to celebrate our similarities and differences in a beautifully safe and expressive space. Let's give our kids a platform to find their strengths and work to achieve the next goal they set for themselves!

9 Common Misconceptions About Dancers

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 07:56:16 GMT

Think you know the average dancer? You'd be surprised how much "common knowledge" about dancers, simply isn't true!

1. Dancers don't eat

This one couldn't be further from the truth! Dancers expend large amounts of energy doing what they do best, which means that sufficient fuel (aka food!) is required to maintain such high energy levels. Dancers still eat carbs like you and me, as well as other low GI foods in order to sustain a consistent energy release.

2. Dancers are dumb

Just because dancers spend all day doing physical activity rather than sitting at a desk, don’t assume they’re not smart. In fact, being a good dancer requires intelligence as well as physical fitness. Dancing has been proven to be good for the brain in so many ways and there is no such thing as a dumb dancer! Quite often dancers will seek theoretical enrichment and study alongside their career in dance, so they have a vocation to return to after retiring from physical performance.

3. Dance is JUST a hobby

A career in dance can be a contentious choice in some households. Many debate that dancing is just a hobby and not a "real job". Don't forget that without live performers the entertainment industry would be virtually obsolete! How are you going to go and see a show or concert when nobody performs for a living? Dancers work day-in-day-out to perfect a role or routine, often enduring days of 12-hours plus! Kind of makes full-time work look like a cake walk huh?!

4. Dancers are all tiny

Funnily enough, all sizes/heights have their place in the performance industry. Often shorter dancers are cast as Disney Princesses for sake of costuming etc., and taller dancers are quite often cast across the world's best cruise lines (think beads, feathers and long legs!). Although nowadays, we often find that as long as the average height is consistent across a troupe or company, the actual height itself rarely matters!

5. Dancers have gross ugly feet

Okay okay okay, some dancer's feet are certainly 'weathered', and a career in foot modelling mightn't be on the cards. Did you know that it is the so-called "gross" callouses and short nails that ensure dancers can turn barefoot and dance en pointe? These somewhat unsightly appendages have adapted to protect themselves, and believe me when I say they get a lot of love and attention at the end of each day!

6. Dancers can tear up a d-floor

Some dancers have moves of fire, but some seriously struggle to freestyle their way around a dance floor. The main issue being, is that dancers often have structured combinations and routines to remember and unless you want to witness a rehearsed solo production, then some "step-taps" might be the extent of what you'll see!

7. Dancers are naturally flexible

There are definitely some dancers that are naturally blessed with limber bodies, but more often than not, those splits or high kicks have taken hours and hours of stretching! The perseverance and commitment required to get to this point serves dancers well as they strive to be their best each and every day.

8. Girl dancers don't lift boy dancers

Pfft... yeah right! Let's move into the 21st century shall we?! Partnering is partnering, and many contemporary and acro-dance works see men being hoisted into the air by their female counterparts. It's not always about strength and size - don't underestimate the power in all that lean muscle tone!

9. The 'dancing life' must look like "Dance Moms"

... Quite the contrary actually! Unless a student is particularly young or new, there's rarely any reason for parents to even enter the studio space. On the odd chance they do enter, there is certainly none of the drama you see in your beloved TV show. Studios are often treated as sacred workspaces, with no room for negativity or bullying. Competitions are definitely not as catty and O.T.T as they are depicted - in fact, we get along really well with our rivals at eisteddfods! If we're constantly in each others' company at competitions, then why not make it fun for everyone?!

Hope we've set the record straight! There's so much to love about dance!

Why do we offer exams?

Wed, 26 May 2021 11:16:12 GMT

Although not compulsory, here are some benefits your child may reap from completing dance exams in our various syllabi

CSTD Exams are not compulsory and, in fact, your child can progress all the way to a career in dance without ever doing an exam. But we strongly suggest you consider an exam for your child, and here’s why:

GOAL SETTING

Most of us work more diligently when we have a clear goal in mind - children and adults alike! It is harder to work simply for the sake of it. When students have a reward or result to work towards, they tend to try their best and practice more autonomously.

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE

Exams aren't meant to be easy and it is possible to fail (albeit very unlikely with the preparation we do at Dance Force). The exam room can be an emotionally demanding environment that pushes your child to perform on command and exhibit their physical endurance. THIS IS NOT A BAD THING!

How many opportunities are presented our kids to flex their resilience muscles?

... Sadly, fewer and fewer!

We are living in an age of offering so-called "challenges" that are barely out of reach. Success is perceived as 'never far-away' and doing just the bare-minimum is constantly rewarded. Exams offer a SAFE environment to perform under pressure in front of someone your child has never met. Students' confidence inevitably improves, as does their faith in their abilities.

CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM ISN'T SCARY ANYMORE

As part of the exam preparation process, your child will receive constant and personalised feedback in order to progress and improve. Teaching your child to absorb and respond to this feedback appropriately is one way Dance Force can contribute to a student's "life skillset". Constructive criticism is everywhere in life, and it's nothing to be scared of, or feel down about! Responding appropriately and constructively to feedback will help in school and professional environments.

One way we like look at feedback/constructive criticism -

As teachers we are giving feedback where there is more ability and more aptitude to be harnessed. Our students know that if they are being critiqued, it's because there's more in their tank to give - and THAT'S A GREAT THING!

GET AN OBJECTIVE POINT OF VIEW

We love your kids and we watch them each and every day as they strive to become their best. However, at the end the day, we know them too well!

An exam is a great opportunity to have your child assessed by a complete outsider. Examiners are trained to report purely on the criteria outlined in the syllabus, without taking personalities or predispositions into account. Without knowing these individual intricacies, an examiner can provide unbiased comments and grading.

To summarise, we believe trying your best in your exam matters, not the mark!

Showcasing your diligent preparation and commitment makes us proud!

In the process of exam preparation your child learns to:

Work hard towards a goal
Absorb feedback constructively
Perform under pressure
Remember long sequences of steps
Apply corrections

Imagine how equipped and well-rounded your child will be with these skills!

A CHRISTMAS WISH

admin@d20digital.com.au (Danny Summers) — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 23:26:29 GMT

We’re super proud of our annual Christmas Wish concert.

It’s an event that brings our love of creativity and community together. Our students and teachers script the whole show, design the costumes, figure out the choreography and pour their heart and soul into entertaining you.

Not only that, but we fundraise for the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation too. Not just from ticket sales, but from raffles, sponsorships and other fundraisers. Our whole community gets behind this.

Last year, we raised over $12,000 for the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation.

You’re invited to get involved with next one - Saturday the 27th of November 2021 at the Empire Theatre.

Let’s see if we can beat last year’s excellent achievement!

A Christmas Wish is proudly brought to you by Fuji Xerox Business Centre.

Christmas all around

admin@d20digital.com.au (Danny Summers) — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 00:53:40 GMT

Dance Force students were recently featured in Santas arrival parade at Grand Central as fun characters such as "the Cheeky Elf" "Christmas Pudding" and "Gingerbread man"

The students enjoyed this job entertaining crowds and adding Christmas Cheer!

We Model Too!

admin@d20digital.com.au (Danny Summers) — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 12:33:00 GMT

Dance Force kids are out gaining experience working in so many different areas. In 2019 3 of our dancers were lucky enough to be chosen for work modelling a collection for the Grand Central digital runway.

The kids had the best day and learnt so much from this wonderful experience. Seeing themselves on the screens throughout the centre was super exciting!