Dance Teacher Web LIVE and the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) recently announced an official partnership through which RAD teachers may earn their Continuing Professional Development annual required hours by attending the Dance Teacher Web LIVE summer conference being held July 30-August 2, at Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.
DTWL. Photo by David Williamson.
The RAD is well known for its influence on dance education as a result of its standardized exams with set standards in classical ballet. Founded in 1920, to set standards for dance teaching within the UK, today the organization has a presence in 84 countries, with 36 offices and around 14,000 members worldwide. Members are required to complete many professional development courses every year, and the RAD offers training opportunities through conferences, workshops, training courses and summer school. The Dance Teacher Web LIVE conference has worked hard to earn its reputation as a quality working vacation during which teachers are surrounded by all things dance and leave feeling informed, supported and invigorated.
As separate entities, RAD and Dance Teacher Web LIVE have long histories of delivering unique accountability and opportunities for dance educators. Together, they have created something revolutionary.
Dance Teacher University Program. Photo by David Williamson.
Dance Informa spoke with Steve Sirico, who with Angela D’Valda Sirico, founded Dance Teacher Web LIVE and Patti Ashby, national director USA of the RAD, to learn more about what this partnership means for dance educators and what attendees can expect from the conference.
What inspired the partnership of Dance Teacher Web LIVE and the Royal Academy of Dance?
Patti Ashby
“The RAD has been sponsoring teaching workshops at the DTW LIVE conference for a number of years. The DTW LIVE conference is a good fit for the RAD because of the overall high standard of teaching workshops and presenters offered year after year and the excellent organization of the conference, which attracts a large number of RAD teachers from both the U.S. and internationally. Steve and Angela have welcomed the RAD to the conference for many years, and expanding the RAD’s relationship with DTW LIVE is a natural progression.”
What can registrants expect from attending the Dance Teacher Web LIVE conference?
Steve Sirico
“We will have over 100 classes this year in all styles of dance. Plus, attendees can tap into any of the business seminars that focus on everything from how to run a successful dance studio to marketing trends, new technology and how to improve customer communication.”
Red Rock. Photo by David Williamson.
How does the Dance Teacher Web LIVE curriculum dovetail with RAD’s standards for professional development?
Sirico
“Dance Teacher Web offers continuing education, business development and personal growth for the dance teacher. Our Dance Teacher University track is for studio owners who want syllabi in several genres. The RAD offers a well-known brand that has over 80 years of teaching methods that have been developed and fine-tuned.”
In what ways do you see professional development requirements benefitting teachers, students and the dance industry?
Ashby
“Dance is an ever-changing and evolving art, and therefore dance teachers must stay current in order to meet the needs of their students. Participating in continuing professional development affords teachers the opportunity to network with other teachers, refresh their teaching skills and strategies and rejuvenate for the next dance season.”
Sirico
“It really is all about gaining knowledge, staying current and fresh. Dance teachers are always giving to their students. This is their time to receive. The students benefit by having their teachers stay ahead of the curve and feeling refreshed when the new season arrives.”
DTWL 2017. Photo by David Williamson.
What makes the Dance Teacher Web LIVE conference so special?
Sirico
“Dance Teacher Web LIVE is intimate, fun and rejuvenating. The Red Rock Resort is breathtaking and offers high-end services and luxury. Aside from all of the great classes and seminars, we also have parties, special events and a world-class expo with the top dance merchants in the world ready to meet and get to know the attendees.”
How much do teachers typically spend, in terms of time and money, on professional development?
Sirico
“Really not nearly enough. Burnout is real, and teachers and business owners need to find ways to stay at the top of their game. Partnerships like this one between Dance Teacher Web LIVE and RAD will give teachers a lot of options all in one event.”
What about this partnership most excites you?
Sirico
“Working with a prestigious organization like the RAD is very exciting. The ones who will benefit the most are the teachers because they will get the best of the best.”
Dance Teacher Web Live Expo filled with the top dance merchants. Photo by David Williamson.
Ashby
“The RAD can now offer RAD teachers the opportunity to meet their Continuing Professional Development annual required hours while benefitting from all that the DTW LIVE conference has to offer. The partnership will also allow non-RAD teachers to experience firsthand the RAD’s high standards in dance teaching and the interesting range of teaching workshops we have to offer.”
The Early Bird booking price for Dance Teacher Web LIVE ends on March 2. To learn more about RAD and Dance Teacher Web LIVE, visit www.dtwconference.com and www.radusa.org.
By Emily Yewell Volin of Dance Informa.
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