We believe that students grow when they are given a clear, understandable journey with check-ins, visual progress, and milestones. Dance Vision Charts are necessary and tangible tools that we recommend teachers use with each student, regardless of their goals.
What can you expect from a Dance Vision Chart? Dance Vision Certified Teacher, Alex Jacobs, explains, "charts are different from step lists as they're more than a series of steps. The columns to track different techniques reinforce that learning to dance is more than learning figures and provide a visual way to see that progress."
John DePalma, adjudicator and esteemed master of ceremonies, breaks down our chart system. "The use of a teaching chart is integral to both the teacher and student; the chart shows all the step patterns and variations in each level and what steps constitute each level. Charts also show the aspects of building a step such as the figure, foot positions, timing & rhythm, styling." Charts contribute to student growth, retention, progress, and other Dance Vision assets, such as video syllabi and manuals, that provide teachers with validated resources to support their careers.
How do Students Benefit from Dance Vision Charts?
John and Alex are both experienced in using Dance Vision charts within their teaching—here are the benefits they see as most outstanding.
Alex makes sure that his students all have Dance Vision Charts to use in conjunction with their lessons, "I ask them to bring their charts to their lessons. Every few months, we reevaluate goals, including what level they want to be in each dance. The charts help my students understand not only what figures they'll be working on, but the different techniques they need to master with each figure to reach those goals, whether they're working with me, a visiting coach, studying on the Dance Vision App, or practicing on their own."
Tangible measures of progress assist students in seeing a visual representation of the hard work they are putting in at the dance studio. When students are not competing, it can be challenging to understand progress as a dancer because the goals are not as visible.
"For the student, the chart gives them a road map of a logical progression of their learning and a visual understanding of their progress from one lesson to the next," explains John. For visual learners, seeing progress in front of them is an essential component of retention. Charts can also be taken home, reviewed, and used for practice outside the dance studio.
Alex added, "While some students are very in-tune with their bodies and will feel how their dancing develops over time, others seeing a chart go from empty to full, provides a sense of accomplishment." By providing a dance roadmap, students have a clear plan of action toward their dance goals.
"Charts create an ongoing record of the students learning experience, and help the teacher show the student their progress when the student hits a learning plateau," explains John, "for the student, the chart gives them a road map of a logical progression of their learning as well as a visual understanding of their progress from one lesson to the next."
How do Teachers Benefit from Dance Vision Charts?
Dance Vision Charts can serve teachers in planning and executing private lessons and group classes. As charts are broken down into different essential components of different figures, it is easy for a teacher to evaluate what progress a dancer or group class needs to make before proceeding to the next step.
"A well-trained teacher uses the chart to plan the dance journey of a student, establishing the dances to learn, what level in each dance and the various aspects of each step into an achievable dance goal, coordinating the group lessons with their private lessons to learn all aspects of the step," John emphasized.
John further suggested what components of the chart are successful in a group class setting and others that may be more appropriate for a private lesson. "The mechanical aspects of the step, figure, foot position, timing, and rhythm should be learned in a group class, while the lead and follow, continuity and styling are taught in the private lesson."
What Makes Dance Vision Charts Unique?
As a tool to plan the trajectory of growth, measure student success, and encourage linear progress, Dance Vision Charts are an exciting element of our curriculum.John said it best, "charts provide a complete understanding of how to build step patterns and the origins and history of the dances which, when used properly, gives the student a well-rounded dance education and a sense of achievement."
