DDE Teacher Training
at DN Studios Edinburgh
DDE Teacher Training at DN Studios
DN Dance has teamed up with the Linda Sweetzer Teacher Training College (LSTTC) to offer DDE Ballet, DDE Tap, and DDE Modern teacher training qualifications in Edinburgh, Scotland.
DDE is a Level 4 qualification consisting of 5 units. Each unit must be completed to gain your DDE teaching qualification.
The theory based written units of the course are delivered remotley over zoom, and the practical elements of the training will be held at DN Studios in South Gyle Cresent, Edinburgh.
About Linda Sweetzer Teacher Training College
Linda Sweetzer is a fellow and senior examiner for the ISTD. She is principal of the LSTTC, which has been running since 2004. She is an assessor for Unit 2 and a lead team member for vocational modern and tap exams.
Linda has been an ISTD examiner since 1985 and employs a team of Examiners, Approved Tutors, and Assessors who offer a wealth of knowledge and experience across all DDE units and genres.
DDE Course Structure
Unit 1 – Preparing for Safe Teaching
(15 credits at Level 3)
This theory based unit is an introduction to the basic principles of safe dance practice that a dance teacher needs to know to prepare for practice in the dance environment. The unit covers managing the dance space and what the dance teacher needs to do to protect themselves, their participants and their business. This will include relevant insurance, the principles of safeguarding children and young adults and being aware of any country-specific legal requirements.
Unit 2 – Observation, Assisting & Teaching Practice
(30 credits at Level 4)
This unit is about putting the theory into the practice and assessing the outcomes. It comprises opportunities to observe experienced teachers and then assist and independently teach dance classes under supervision of an experienced ISTD teacher. It is designed to provide student teachers with the skills and confidence to begin their teaching career. Central to this process is developing awareness of how to communicate ideas and dance technique to a class.
Unit 3 – Vocational Graded Examination in Dance: Intermediate
(28 credits at Level 3)
This is a practical unit whereby the student teacher is required to achieve the ISTD Intermediate grade in your chosen genre. In order to achieve a DDE qualification in a specific genre, you must have achieved your ISTD Intermediate qualification in that genre.
Unit 4 – Dance Practice
(30 credits at Level 4)
This is a practical unit and must be studied in an ISTD registered centre, taught by an approved tutor. The unit is about learning the syllabus of your chosen genre and how to teach it. It’s about understanding and demonstrating the level of technique required for Primary to Intermediate grades in the chosen genre. It assesses the student teacher’s dance technique and their ability to relate teaching methods and safe dance practice, as well as their understanding of the relationship between music and dance and how this is applied to teaching dance.
Unit 5 – Child Development
(17 credits at Level 4)
This is a theory based written unit about child development. It explores the physical and cognitive stages that children go through from 2 – 18 years old. Student dance teachers will gain an understanding of the key developmental stages relating to cognitive and psychosocial development and typical growth and motor development in children and adolescents. This unit equips the dance teacher to understand the developmental stages of children and to plan lessons that consider change, development, equity and diversity.
Training Provision
Unit 1 – Preparing for Safe Teaching
(15 credits at Level 3)
Two terms of 10 lessons delivered on zoom by LSTTC, or by pre recorded lectures to study at your own pace.
Unit 2 – Observation, Assisting & Teaching Practice
(30 credits at Level 4)
Training sessions to learn the process of observing, assisting and teaching practices, provided by LSTTC.
Note: For those who aren’t currently employed to teach dance and/or those who don’t have access to observe or teach dance classes, DN Dance can provide classes for this purpose.
Unit 3 – Vocational Graded Examination in Dance: Intermediate
(28 credits at Level 3)
Training in ISTD Intermediate Ballet, Tap, & Modern is provided by DN Dance at the regular class rate. Classes can be booked directly via the class timetable on this website.
Unit 4 – Dance Practice
(30 credits at Level 4)
The unit is held at DN Studios, an approved venue for the LSTTC, and delivered by an approved tutor. Students will attend the studio and classes will be delivered via Zoom, with occasional in person lessons as and when required.
Additional syllabus revision sessions will be provided by DN Dance.
Unit 5 – Child Development
(17 credits at Level 4)
Two terms of 10 lessons delivered on zoom by LSTTC, or by pre recorded lectures to study at your own pace.
Put your name on the waiting list
Send us an email via the contact form below if you are interested in taking any specific units of DDE Ballet, or Tap, or Modern. Teacher training sessions will run as and when we have enough numbers to make the course viable, so please register your interest and don’t wait for us to publish a timetable.
