Started in 2016, the Program has helped many young persons find their passion for teaching.  The Program is exclusively offered to registered dancers of the Doherty Petri - Lancaster Branch School of Irish Dance.  

Teaching can be both satisfying and challenging. Good teachers make positive impacts on young people on a daily basis. They teach their students not only dancing skills, but also how to behave appropriately, how to socialize with others, and how to work hard to achieve goals. If you are hoping for a job through which you can contribute to society and make a real difference in the world, then you may consider the profession of teaching.

Expectations Before Applying For the Program:

  • Dancers must be at least 13 years old
  • Dancer must have reached the Preliminary or Open Championship levels
  • Dancers must show a willingness to listen and learn:
    • Receive feedback for their own dancing
    • Accept criticism without becoming belligerent
    • Show progress on directions received
  • Dancers must show an exemplary character in class:
    • Follow directions
    • Demonstrate good work ethic
    • Be kind to others
    • Be patient with others
    • Be helpful to others
  • Dancers should have a genuine desire to teach
  • Dances should have a love for children

Expectations Upon Being Accepted into the Program:

  • Pay for and obtain a Child Abuse History Clearance
  • Pay for and obtain a PA Criminal History Background Check
  • Complete the Paloma School Train2Teach training
  • Be early (not just “on time”) to every class they are assisting with.
  • Be properly attired for every class they are assisting with
  • Notify staff ASAP if they are unable to attend a certain class
  • Give staff 2 weeks’ notice before exiting the program (even temporarily)
  • Learn the steps for the class level they are helping with

Benefits

  • Students can develop their teaching skills, public speaking skills, leadership skills, classroom management skills, people skills, managerial skills, teamwork skills, problem solving skills and more.
  • Students can gain exposure to the teaching profession and decide if it is a good career path for them (whether teaching dance, coaching, being a schoolteacher, a minister, a public speaker, etc…)
  • Students can learn how a professional workplace operates (i.e. learn to arrive on time, be prepared, communicate with persons in charge, etc…)
  • Students can establish critical networking connections (i.e. from meeting workshop teachers and Irish Dance colleagues of Esther to meeting business colleagues of Esther as well as parents of dancers who work in many different fields.)
  • Students can gain coveted work experience.
  • Students can denote their involvement in the program on college and work applications.

How To Be Accepted into the Program:

​
  • See requirements listed above “Expectations Before Joining the Program”
  • Fill out the application
  • Dancers may be asked to re-apply at a later date if they are deemed ‘not ready” for the program.
  • If your dancer is accepted into the program, they will be assigned a class to help with.  Depending on availability, your dancer may have to wait for an opening in the program.

Program Timeline:

  • All assistants will begin in a Beginner class (boys’ class or mixed class)
  • Level 1: Assistants will be allowed to help with smaller tasks.
    • Lead stretches
    • Perform dances and drills for the dancers to dance with while Esther leads and teaches
    • Count dancers in for the beginning of their dances
    • Work with students one on one to teach steps
    • Work with students one on one to teach technique that Esther has asked them to work on.
    • Work with small groups of dancers to teach dances or review technique (supervised by Esther.)
  • Level 2: Assistants will begin to take on bigger responsibilities and more classroom management:
    • Everything listed in Level 1
    • Run class drills while giving feedback.  (Supervised by Esther)
    • Run full class steps or dances while giving feedback.  (Supervised by Esther)
  • Level 3: Assistants will become relatively autonomous:
  • Level 4: Assistant wills graduate to the Novice/Prizewinner Class.
    • Lead stretches
    • Work with students one on one to teach steps
    • Work with students one on one to teach technique that Esther has asked them to work on.
    • Work with small groups of dancers to teach dances or review technique (supervised by Esther.)
    • Help with Classroom Management (i.e. “drills in the back” during “staminas”, etc…)
  • Level 5: 
    • Everything listed in Level 4
    • Run class drills while giving feedback.  (Supervised by Esther)
    • Run full class steps or dances while giving feedback.  (Supervised by Esther)
    • Be able to run a 1-2 hour *Novice/Prizewinner class on their own (supervised by Esther and still receiving occasional input and direction.)