Many of you will see the social media posts about our dancers achieving 'Colour Awards', and you may hear your dancer talking about them, but may also be wondering exactly what they are! Hopefully this blog post explains a bit more about our unique programme.
RMB Dance's main aim is to offer fun, engaging dance classes that are inspiring and creative. I emphasise developing confidence so that children can explore their physical and creative potential. Shortly after launching RMB Dance, I realised this aim could be further supported by some sort of programme where the children could see a clear system of goals and achievements.
So, I designed a unique 'Colour Awards' programme, tailored to the style and ethos of RMB Dance. Children work their way through colour levels, earning medals and certificates as they progress. Once a child has learned all the moves in a colour level and can show me independently, they earn the corresponding medal and then move up a level.
This system is rolled out across all our primary-age classes, with each style of dance having a carefully planned syllabus. Our pre-school classes don't strictly work to a syllabus, but incorporate introductory foundational work and activities so that the children will be ready for Colour Awards once they move up to the primary-age classes.
As far as I know there's no other dance school, at least not in Edinburgh, with a method like it. I like the idea that we're completely unique! And most importantly, our system works for us. We're not a competitive dance school that trains intensely to gain results at competitions. Similarly, we don't aim to boast of our students passing lots of high-level dance exams. Yet, I still think it's important for the children to have something to aim for.
In that sense, I wanted to create something that enables the children to have goals and achievements, but that also reflects our ethos of being non-competitive. That includes the children not comparing themselves to each other. Our dancers understand that everyone develops at their own pace, and that they'll all achieve a medal at some point. Thus, this also develops sensitivity, respect and appreciation of others.
For me, I suppose the main challenge is learning how to juggle the various levels. Within some classes, I have dancers working at three or four different levels. This is one reason I keep class sizes small, as well as the fact it allows for more individualised attention.
However, the work is absolutely worth it as this system has proved extremely successful and is very motivational for our students. They are so driven to achieve, particularly as they move further up the levels, and it's a joy to see them developing their skills and confidence as they go.
After the October holidays our timetable is expanding, so they'll be even more opportunities to join a class and experience this with us!