Registered Charity No:1159627
01708 783576
01708 754959
Anthony Clifford Studios
ACS Dance Centre
Professional Dancer Intensive Teacher Training
ABOUT YOUR FAST-TRACK COURSE
Whilst Covid-19 had halted the performing arts industry and locked down the West-End as well as professional dance jobs across the world, it didn't stop the creative industries from finding other ways of investing in their futures and training to teach. We created our intensive courses so you can use your time wisely, train and qualify as an ISTD dance teacher now and future-proof your income for a teaching career once you have decided your performing career is at an end?
The intensive nature of this specialist course means that it is only suitable for a professional level of dance technique and training and entry is by audition/CV and interview only (or via a “Show reel” CV and zoom cha). You should also already have passed your Intermediate dance exam or preferably higher in the genre you wish to study.
For those less experienced dancers, we do still offer a part-time course of weekly classes which takes a year to 18 months to complete. The once a week classes in the studio can be fitted in & around other work.
The practical part of the course concentrates on unit 4 and is designed ideally to be “in person” or a combination of blended “online live zoom” classes with “in person” classes where necessary.
Over-lock down we will be starting a purely on-line course, ready to swap over as soon as government advice, re safety, allows us to do so even if still socially distancing in some fashion.
We can adapt this course for over-seas students who wish to study with us also.
Examinations however do need to take place here at the studio and we would need you to travel here periodically for some “in person” visits.
Because of the intensive nature of our course, any classes or part classes missed through illness or any other reason MUST be “caught up” with the online zoom class recordings or unfortunately you may fall too far behind your class mates to be able to complete the course over the intensive time-scale
.
Unit 2 may be commenced before the start of the intensive, via Zoom which we hope will help the time-scale remain achievable for the unit 2 module.
If you are interested in multiple genres then we suggest Modern, followed by Tap in the following period followed by Ballet in the new year (TBC)
The DDE is a Level 4 qualification and has 5 units in total. After completion of all DDE units and successful moderation, you will become a fully registered ISTD teacher, able to teach, set up your own school, work free-lance and enter your own students for their ISTD examinations.
Brief overview of course
Unit 1 Safe Dance Practice-
(Written online course work assessment tasks, studied via an online platform and email tutorials - studying health and safety in dance, environmental safety aspects in the studio as well as anatomy, physiology, first aid and safe dance practice such as stretching, warm-up and cool-down plus various legal requirements for dance teachers, such as policies, insurance and risk assessments to name just a few!)
Those who have a Trinity Diploma from a dance college are exempt from this unit.
Unit 2 Observation-
Assisting in dance classes and teaching practice/lesson .
Individual zoom Tutorials and evaluation of observed classes, your own class assisting and your own lesson planning and teaching practice. Those with PGCE Qualified teacher status are exempt from this unit.
Unit 3 Intermediate ISTD Dance Examination (If not already passed)
(This unit must be passed prior to any fast-track course commencing as the certificate is a prerequisite of entering the unit 4 exam, your certificate/ report sheet will be needed in order to register. This unit does need to be studied in regular classes in person at the studio and has a final practical dance exam)
Unit 4 Practical Teaching exam and assessed syllabus knowledge
6 weeks of 5 days 9.00am - 3.30pm This is an in-depth study and analysis of the primary to Intermediate syllabus from a teaching and demonstration perspective, how to break down, teach and adapt movements for differing physiques and genders and choreography at various levels.
This has a final 2 hour practical and viva exam.
Unit 5 Social, Cognitive and motor Development in Dance-
The study of how children grow, learn and think and how adult learners with differing needs can be catered for in a dance class.
This unit has written course work assessment tasks studied via an online platform and email.
Studio Facilities
Location of studios
Course Tutors
Diana Clifford
Helen Steggles
Mark Anthony
Natalie Lane
Diana Clifford FISTD. Artistic Director and Senior Tutor
Modern, Tap and Imperial Ballet Unit 1, 2 & 5
Diana was trained at Laine Theatre Arts and then pursued a diverse professional dance career including TV, musical theatre and dancing for Princess Cruises around the world.
She met fellow dancer Mark Anthony, and they decided to marry and retire from performing careers , it was then they founded Anthony Clifford Studios in 1994. Since then Diana has trained and entered pupils in all genres of the ISTD up to and including Teaching qualifications and Advanced 2 exams.
She is amazingly proud to have received the ISTD’s Imperial Theatre Award in 2012 and was a guest lecturer at the Annual ISTD Congress in 1997. Her students have demonstrated the new Tap work at Chichester Summer School and Examiners meetings as well as being included in the new ISTD DVD's for both Imperial Ballet and Tap. She is also very proud to have winners and finalists at ‘The Star Tap Awards’, ‘Janet Cram Awards’ and ‘Imperial Ballet awards’ and students accepted at all the major dance colleges.
Diana’s ISTD qualifications include Fellowship in Modern and Tap, Licentiate in Ballet and CDE’s in National, Ballroom and Latin American. Diana and Mark lectured for the IDTC held at the Royal Ballet School Covent Garden and Diana is delighted to work with the Royal Opera House Chance to Dance project as Associate Dance Artist and as an Associated Chance to Dance School.
Helen Steggles FISTD
Imperial Ballet Senior Examiner and Committee Member
Helen trained at the Arts Educational School, London. After graduating in 1988 Helen taught for various schools throughout Essex before joining Junior Performers in 1995 where she remained for 12 years.
During that time she joined the teaching staff at Performers College, where she still teaches.
Helen continued to further her qualifications taking her Advanced 2 and Fellowship examinations and in 2006 became an examiner.
Helen has lectured at London, Chichester and Italian summer schools and taught at both the Junior and Senior Ballet Awards. She also organises the Essex Day of Dance
Mark Anthony LISTD Principal,
Senior Tutor Modern, Boys work and Choreography
Mark’s original dance training was at Walsall Academy of Performing Arts in his home town in the West Midlands. During his training he appeared with the London City Ballet in ‘Carmen‘ and ‘Swan Lake’. After college he worked in show business as a professional dancer for nearly 10 years in TV and touring with productions of ‘Oklahoma!’ ‘Guys and Dolls’ and ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’ (in the part of Daniel).
He enjoys choreography and is especially proud of his "Janet Cram" students. He specialises in the modern boys work and choreography.
Mark has ISTD Licentiate qualifications with the Modern Theatre Faculty and CDE in Modern, Tap, Ballroom, Latin American and Disco Freestyle.
Natalie Lane LISTD
Senior Tutor Modern and Tap and Unit 1,and 2
Natalie joined the team at Anthony Clifford’s in 2009 specialising in Tap and Modern. Natalie has been a professional performer and entertainer since the age of 15. As well as teaching dance and singing.
She is a senior teacher at ACS and tutors DDE units in Tap, Modern, Safe Dance Practice and Lesson Planning.
ACS Dance Centre Registered Charity No: 1159627 66 Albert Road, Romford Essex, RM1 2PP
Patron: Mr David Pickering MBE