Dance Teacher Blog: Teaching to the CA-State Dance Standards

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Dance Teacher Blog
Teaching to the CA-State Dance Standards
By Brandy Curry 

Jose Limon was taught to the
California State Standards

So you just landed an incredible job...teaching dance AND now you have to come up with curriculum and lessons that comply with your states' State Dance Standards!  What?  Or...you've been teaching dance in a classroom and a private dance studio for over 15 years and now you have to re-adjust your curriculum to comply with the state standards?  I've heard it all!  Worry, no more and decide from this moment on that teaching to the standards will not water down your activities, lessons, choreography, or assessments.   Your students will still master technique and improve.  They will be just as fulfilled, and engaged as they were before.  Now you will create a model and a formula for your classroom.  

California Dance Education Association

Teaching to the state standards can save your dance program money and make your program academically and artistically balanced.  Connecting your current dance curriculum to the state standards creates a rigorous program that is both intellectually stimulating and vivacious.  Forcing dance educators to comply with the standards does not force a stoic program, it creates a resourceful educator, and a progressive dance artist.  The achievement of the dance student that is taught to the standards is: a career in dance, retention of lifelong learning skills, well-preparation for collegiate dance programs, and a professionalism fit for the stage.   Jose Limon was groomed in a Los Angeles County high school that had an excellent performing arts program that followed the California State Standards.  As I've said before, isn't this what we want all of our students to achieve "Jose Limon" status?  Yes, please!

For a complete PDF of the CA State Standards visit: CALIFORNIA STATE STANDARDS-DANCE VPA