We have over 20 years of experience training dance instructors.  We know that a successful career in dance starts with a successful dance teacher education program.  With our clear and compassionate instruction and targeted professional guidance we will help make your dreams of becoming a dance teacher a reality.

Teacher training program in Northeastern Wisconsin can now be completed in 16 months!

Dedicated to ensuring excellence in partner dance instruction, this dance teacher education course is the only one of its kind in the nation.  It is ideal for adults who are considering a career as a dance teacher, or who would like to improve their own dancing.  Teaching dance is a career option for anyone - no prior experience is required!

In this course you will learn:

About the Instructor

Ed Domek, Master Instructor, is originally from Milwaukee Wisconsin.  After serving with the U.S. Army in Vietnam, he returned to Milwaukee in 1970 where he trained with the Arthur Murray Franchised Dance Studios.  Over the next seven years, he planned and put into action a teacher training program for the Milwaukee location, as well as the four other studios associated with the same owner.  He is certified in both the American and International dance styles through the Gold level. Through the Murray organization, he was the recipient of numerous Top Teacher awards and in 1974 he was promoted to manager.  Mr. Domek has lived in the Fox Valley since 1977, when he purchased the Arthur Murray franchise in Appleton.  In 1996, he decided to be independent of the franchise and Valley Social Dance Studio was born.  With 38 years of experience, Mr. Domek is dedicated to excellence in teaching and retains the passion for training the future leaders of the ballroom dance industry.

Schedule

The American Style Bronze teacher training program is ongoing, with new sessions starting every four months.  The entire program is divided into four sections.  You can complete the entire program in 16 months.

Bronze Smooth

Bronze Rhythm I

Bronze Rhythm II

Bronze Night Club

Requirements

Attendance

This is a professional level course, and we cover a lot of material at a fairly fast pace.  Missing class is not advised, as you can easily fall behind.  If you do have to miss a class, you can generally arrange to work with one of the other students to help you catch up.  You can also schedule private lessons with the master instructor or one of the faculty members of Valley Social Dance Studio (for an additional private lesson fee) to make up any work you miss.

Class Times & Exam Schedule

Classes meet Mondays and Thursdays from 6:00-8:00p.m. at Valley Social Dance Studio Menasha.  167 1/2 N Main St. Menasha, WI. Exams are scheduled to be held during regular class times.  If you miss an exam, you may schedule a make-up exam with the master instructor (for an additional private lesson fee.)

Practice

Each class meets a total of 4 hours a week per section.  Most students spend quite a bit of time every week studying the material and practicing what they have learned.  Though the amount of outside time varies greatly from student to student, please expect to commit one hour of study time for every hour you spend in class (about four hours of study time per week).  Becoming a dance teacher takes dedication and practice.

Materials

The DVIDA manuals (please see Schedule above for which manual is required for each session) and the Teachers Binder are required textbooks for the course.  The accompanying DVIDA DVDs are recommended, but optional.  The DVIDA Bronze Manuals and DVDs are available on campus for a 10% discount, or from Dance Vision which may be ordered online at www.dancevision.com.  The Teachers Binder is provided in class and costs a one time fee of $95.  It includes all class handouts that are distributed over the entire program.

Tuition

Tuition is currently $395/month.  Please note that tuition will be increased every May to reflect the current market.  Tuition is due the first class of each new month.  Trainees who make a late tuition payment will be accessed a $15 late fee.  Payments not received before the 10th day of the month will expel the trainee from class unless arrangements have been made with the master instructor. 

Shoes

All trainees will be expected to have proper dance shoes by the second class meeting.  this is not an arbitrary aesthetic or fashion consideration.  To teach dance, you need the "right tool for the job", and proper dance shoes are literally the foundation for you dancing!  There are different styles of shoes, but most trainees wear a basic "practice shoe", a practical and durable suede-soled dancing shoe that is made to be comfortable and wearable for long periods.  Some dancers wear flashier shoes or high heeled dance shoes, but this is a matter of personal comfort.  You can purchase dance shoes from any dance shoe retailer or at Valley Social Dance Studio Appleton for a 10% discount.  Just call the Appleton location  (920-731-4441) for shoe store hours.

Misc. Expectations

Presentations:  Because this is a teaching class, there is a strong emphasis on presentation.  You will be expected to present material to the class on a regular basis.  You may be asked to demonstrate a figure or to present a brief history of a specific dance.  Don't worry, we hand out assignments in advance, so you will have plenty of time to prepare!

Dancing both roles:  In order to teach a specific dance or figure, you need to be able to articulate and demonstrate both the leader's and follower's part.  We spend equal time in class working on both parts, and every trainee is expected to dance with every other trainee as both leader and follower, regardless of gender.  This is standard practice for professional dance instruction.

Benefits

Additional Training

Your tuition entitles you not only to Valley Social U Teacher College course itself, but also to most of the classes and workshops offered at Valley Social Dance Studio Appleton and Menasha.  You get free entry for group classes and workshops (where you are required to fill in as leader or follower as needed), and parties.  You also get free floor time for practice.  A complete list of classes and workshops can be found at both locations.

Employment Opportunities

As one of the only vocational teacher training programs in the country, studios are constantly contacting us looking for teachers.  We regularly pass job listings on to our graduates.  Our strong relationship with dance studios in the community will give you a head start to finding the dance job you want.

Location

Valley Social Dance Studio Menasha (college campus)

167 1/2 North Main St.

Menasha, WI  54952

920-277-9488

www.valleysocial.com

Valley Social Dance Studio Appleton

1331 West Wisconsin Ave.

Appleton, WI  54914

920-731-4441

www.valleysocial.com