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Teacher Team Training

A group of 9 WCS instructors is pictured. Text says Smoothstyle West Coast Swing Teacher Team Training. Empowering. Systematic. Non-Prescriptive. Work together to get students dancing sooner and evolving better.

Smoothstyle West Coast Swing Teacher Team Training is a unique program designed especially for WCS instructor teams.

It provides teaching teams of two or more with an empowering, systematic, non-prescriptive approach that is proven to get students dancing sooner and evolving better.

Program outcomes

Teaching excellence A scalable approach to teaching and learning West Coast Swing An effective model for teaching teams
  • Develop strong instructor pairs, teams, and more effective individual instructors
  • Create greater consistency among instructors
  • Provide equal attention and quality of information to both Lead and Follow roles
  • Equip instructors of varying levels of experience to work well together
  • Get students dancing faster and increase rate of return
  • Provide consistency in WCS instruction across levels and as the dance evolves
  • Develop communities where dancers have strong foundations and an inspiring path forward
  • Prevent the confusion that beginner dancers often experience between lessons and what they experience at a social dance
  • Provides a common language to prepare and teach West Coast Swing lessons
  • Models a “safe space” to fail, build confidence, and become stronger as instructors
  • Models exercises for teaching partners and teams to work effectively and efficiently together
  • Supports dynamic teams that mix and match lead-follow teaching pairs

Program design

The program is delivered in person by master instructor Maria Ford:

  • 3 modules of 4 hours each (or more for teams larger than 4 instructors)
  • The modules must be completed in sequence but there is no obligation to do them all
  • The modules should be separated by 6-12 months, during which the team practices the system and skills before moving on
  • The program does not provide a specific syllabus; syllabus consultation and guidance can be provided as required
  • Participants receive handbooks capturing key take-aways and space for notes

Fees

For prerequisites, fees, schedule, and logistics, please contact Maria.

Recognition

Smoothstyle recognizes the program graduates and their schools with certificates of completion, and via our online Wall of Achievement.