Teaching tips | Jade Belly Dance

Have you ever had a show coming up and you really wanted to dance to a certain song but were not sure of how to edit the music to your liking? Maybe it was too long or maybe you wanted the ending to sound different to allow for a different stage transition.

Like most dancers I have learnt basic sound editing as a necessity but as I don’t do it frequently, I am nowhere near being a master and sometimes I wish I had done a better job of it.

The thing is, many of us are having to juggle many other tasks apart from just dancing. Some of us have other careers and or families to look after too and others just have so much dance related work that it is hard to keep up the creative stuff and handle the admin as well.

I had been meaning to try out fiverr for a while and I finally gave it a go.

It is not really only $5 for Australians or other nationalities as it is $5 US dollars which means you are likely to pay more. Each gig (fiver terminology for task) I paid for cost just over $7AUD.

I tried a funny promotional video first. I ordered it late one night and it was finished by the time I woke up!! The person I hired was ‘muzammilusman’.

There are many silly and simple options available if you are wanting to promote a show or class but probably more useful to dancers, whether they are professional or hobbyist are the music editing options.

I had a song shortened in the middle. It took one day to be done and came back to me with 2 options. One was a straight, well timed part removed and the other was the same with an extra beat added to make sound even better. I was impressed because I am not able to do the job as well as he did and it was fast. One less thing for me to organise before a performance. I would definitely consider using this ‘gig’ again if I was in a hurry or wanting something more complicated. The person I hired for this was ‘tashows’.

Other options that could be useful include having the background of photos removed and other video and photo editing. I am sure most people reading this have otherwise lovely pictures of themselves dancing that are marred by weird backgrounds or bits of video footage they haven’t gotten around to doing something with. If time is an issue then site like fiverr could be the solution!

So when I decided to review this I had no idea they had a referral program but I just logged in to check the names of the people I had hired and discovered that any one I refer (thats you!) can get a free gig if you click via this link (apparently I will only benefit if you buy 2 or more gigs but I am happy if you take advantage of the offer and just use the freebie). If you click the link and don’t get the free gig offer then please comment below and let me know so I can take the link down!

Have you outsourced any dance related tasks before? What company did you use? Please comment below.

Not too long ago I was on a dance forum where one teacher was begging for tips as her dance class now had 50% of students on the autistic spectrum. A few teachers gave suggestions but overall, not a lot of information was forthcoming. Coincidentally, a few weeks later I was on a belly dance forum and someone else asked about teaching people with autism but this time I was struck by how thorough the answers were. I was so impressed with Arlechina Verdigris’s suggestions I asked if I could turn her response into a short blog post but she went one better and wrote an entire piece on this very relevant topic and here it is – full of fantastic tips to help any dance teacher. Thank you so much Arlechina! ❤ Jade

What is Autism?

Autism is a neurological condition that changes the communication and sensory pathways of the human mind. It makes it very difficult for children to learn to speak and interact with others in the ways that we have come to take for granted. By the time an autistic child becomes an adult they may be able to speak and go about life solo or they may be dependent upon caretakers. In going out into the world, many are forced to either participate with no adjustments made to accommodate their uniqueness or simply not partake in most activities because the sensory input can be too painful. Autism affects 1 out of every 68 children born in 2016, a number that has more than doubled since the early 1990’s. Some might be tempted to think that this is because we’ve become more aware of it and are actually catching it more frequently but that is not entirely the case. There really are more persons being born on the spectrum now than ever before and as they age up they will need to find acceptance. For us, that means we need to make a safe and inclusive environment in our classes and shows for them to participate and attend performances. Everyone knows someone on the spectrum, everyone has either a friend or a relative affected by autism and many reading this now are probably on the spectrum too. These are your students and fans, the children of your students, the siblings of your students, they are your audience. Autism may present unique challenges but these are nothing that cannot be overcome with a little creativity and patience–two fundamental principles of being an artist. Promo mix (78).jpg

How to be an inclusive dance teacher!

If you are a dance instructor and you want to be inclusive of people who are on the spectrum but do not know where to begin, I have some suggestions! Many may feel that they want to be inclusive but don’t feel like it is their place to try to teach people who have a neurological condition that they don’t personally understand. Please abandon that thought process. Inclusivity is not segregation. Everyone can be an ally and those who have the patience and creativity to teach can also learn how to provide with an open mind.

What you need to understand foremost about Autism is that people on the spectrum experience the world differently. You cannot see, hear, smell, taste or feel half of what they are taking in at any given moment. To be a good dance instructor you will need to learn to control the environment and isolate the senses as much as you would isolate and layer parts of the body. Do not ask your students and audience to do this for themselves, they do not have nearly the control over the environment that you do. Their sensory input is not a switch that can be dimmed or turned off or on. You can make the biggest impact here and the actions you take will make the difference between participating and not.

Try to limit the sensory input of the environment by reducing sound (cymbals, clapping, ululating), lights (mixing natural and unnatural light, flashing lights, bright lights), and smells (perfumes, incense or oils, using scented cleaners). These are the simplest micro-changes that you can make to the landscape and they make a big difference all together.

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If you usually have your students face a mirror, make sure that you are also facing it. This makes it easier to isolate where the student needs to be looking. Consider asking students to wear basic black in class while you wear blue or some other contrasting color. This reduces “background” color input and directs the focus towards the instructor.

Try teaching by choreography rather than allowing just any music to play in the background. This connects a specific movement to a specific sound. It is easier for many to learn by pattern than by improvisation. ATS and ITS formats (without cymbals) can be really good for this if your student has an affinity for cues. Some will and some will not but it is an idea to try.

Count! 1-8, 1-6 or whatever the beat might be. Reinforcing a numeric pattern is a fantastic mnemonic device. Ask your students to count silently with tongue clicks rather than counting with their lips as it can be very difficult to reprogram the body once that lesson has taken hold.

Every student should be provided with the opportunity to succeed gloriously by playing to their natural strengths and interests and autistic students are no different. Some aspects of dance are better suited than others. A taxim set to to a singular slow instrument may be easier to follow than an orchestra. Whirling and spinning may provide a positive sensory experience by shifting the student’s balance in the inner ear. Working with fun sensory items such as wings and silky veils may be soothing and interesting to both participate in as well as watch.

Do not expect or demand eye contact or physical contact in your instructional environment. No matter where your student is looking, they are probably paying attention the best way they are able. Invite the student to touch you if you feel that you need a tactile example but limit your touching with them unless you are invited.You may also suggest your students wear earplugs or sunglasses in your classes if they need them. They may have other adaptive or assistance gear that they prefer but it is good to initiate the conversation and let them know that such things are okay. Make sure your other students know why these items are being used and don’t allow them to make comments about their use. Let it be so normal that nobody thinks twice about it. (One of my students uses gum. Consider it a necessary therapy).

Involve your other students and audience members by making them an active part of inclusion. Respect them by giving them the tools they need to be a good teammate. Show them how to be inclusive. Lead by example and don’t expect anything to be common knowledge. If you hear your students using inappropriate language (example: “That’s retarded.”), don’t let it continue. Nobody needs that.

If you have a place in your studio that you can designate as a sensory calming area it would greatly help. These places are a retreat where students who are overstimulated can go and decompress for a little bit. Think “quiet, soft lit and comfortable.” Add a perpetual movement toy or something similar for those who need something to focus on for a little while. It can help to drown out painful stimuli.

Remember to always listen to your Autistic students and peers and take their word above anything you read online or in a book. Trust that they know their own bodies. Be supportive and always reinforce supportive language. Be patient and always stay positive. Most of all, get ready to learn from them because they will change how you see and understand the world.

Things To Try:

**Blacklight dance party.

**Color themed dance parties.

**Waving excitedly or jazz hands instead of clapping and cheering.

**Spotlight solos (to watch and maybe participate in).

**Encouraging self-massage to get the body to move.

**Breathing exercises (with counting) as part of every cool down.