Teacher Training Course 2024

During the weekend of April 20 and 21, dance teachers from all over the country came to The Hague for Teacher Training Course, a training for dance teachers who work or want to work with dancers with disabilities.

Once again Holland Dance Festival organized a teacher training course in collaboration with Stopgap Dance Company. A full weekend for dance teachers to experience inclusive dance under the guidance of Christian Brinklow and Nadenh Poan, experts from Stopgap Dance Company.

Theory, participating in an inclusive dance class and dancing with an existing inclusive dance group: DanceAble, were part of the Saturday morning program. In the afternoon, participants continued with making the material they had learned and applying it to their own teaching practice. On Sunday the danceteacher learned how to make 'dance translations', in which standing dancers learned to transform dance material, pre-danced by a dancer in a wheelchair, into dance material that suits their own physical capabilities. In direction, energy, type of movement, dynamics etc. With Saturday's knowledge in their mind, own inclusive dance material was created and taught to the rest of the group. 

“The exchange between inclusive dance teachers (to be) and amateur dancers from the inclusive dance group had tremendous added value both ways. Seeing how dancers actually work with the material and conversely getting to know material from new teachers was very inspiring. It was a weekend that I want more often. Deepening for those who are already working with inclusive dance and introduction for a new generation that wants to contribute by making dance itself truly accessible to everyone.” - Yolanda van der Heijden, Education and Participation at Holland Dance Festival.