Class Structure
Intermediate Level
Going deeper — techniques and nuances for experienced dancers
Class structure is the science of building an effective dance lesson — the framework that turns 60 minutes into lasting transformation.
Intermediate focus
If you're starting to teach or assist: plan your class on paper first. Write the progression from simplest to most complex. Estimate time per section. Build in two 'practice to music' breaks (one halfway, one at the end). Prepare three levels of the same material: simplified (for struggling students), standard (your target), and advanced (for students who grasp it quickly). This preparation prevents the improvised, unfocused teaching that characterizes many dance classes.
Tips
- •The 'one thing' rule: if students walk away remembering ONE thing from your class, what should it be? Build everything around that one thing.
- •Use the sandwich method: teach the lead, teach the follow, put them together. Don't try to teach both roles simultaneously — it overloads working memory.
- •End class 5 minutes early for free dance to the song that best showcases the material. This is where learning becomes memory.
Common mistakes
- •Teaching too much content in one class — retention drops dramatically after 3-4 new concepts
- •Skipping the warm-up — cold bodies learn slower and get injured more often
- •Not allowing enough practice-to-music time — students need to experience the material in context, not just in drills
Practice drill
Plan a 60-minute class on paper: 5 min warm-up, 5 min review, 20 min new material (broken into 3 chunks of ~7 min each), 15 min drilling with music, 10 min free practice, 5 min cool-down/summary. Now teach it to friends. Time each section. Where did you run over? Where did energy drop? Adjust and try again. Lesson planning is a skill that improves with repetition.