About Our Teacher Training
Anthony Clifford Studios has been training ISTD dance teachers in Ballet, Tap, Modern Theatre, Ballroom, Latin-American, Salsa, Disco Freestyle and Street since its beginnings back in 1994. We trained Associates and then were one of the first Approved Dance Centres in the country we now offer ISTD DDE qualifications in Ballet, Tap and Modern and the Associate qualifications in the Dance sport Faculties.
We advise and support our students in all aspects of the qualifications and continue to mentor our students far beyond this with advice on the challenges and commercial aspects of setting up and running a new dance school, as well as being a free-lance teacher. Once you have been part of the ACS Teacher Training family you are always just a phone call away!
Based in Romford, Essex we are well placed for an easy commute being both close to London and the M25 by road and train and will be directly served by the new crossrail opening soon.
Our courses are adaptable with some weekly morning and evening lessons to fit around your current teaching schedule, Licentiate, Fellowship qualifications and also Intermediate, Advanced 1 and Advanced 2 exam coaching is available both weekly or intensively, and especially for ex-professional dancers and mature students making the transition to teaching or pursuing their teaching qualifications further.
Just call for further information, we are sure we can work round you!
We are very proud of the high caliber of our teaching faculty, boasting a team of senior staff and visiting guest teachers, many of whom are also ISTD examiners and Committee members. (see staff and Principal)
Diana Clifford FISTD Principal
Helen Steggles FISTD Examiner and Imperial Ballet Committee Member
Mark Anthony LISTD
Charles Richman Club Dance Faculty Chairman
Debbie Clark FISTD
Katie Welch LISTD
ACS Theatre Faculty teaching Course
You will learn to be the best teacher that you can be in this part-time course which takes usually around 18 months. Experienced Theatre dancers will study not only practical dance subjects that they wish to qualify in i.e. Imperial Ballet, Modern Theatre, or Tap, but the ISTD syllabus of your chosen genre from primary to Intermediate, covering teaching points, build-ups, analysis of movement, choreography, analysis of teaching methods and adaptation of movements and training exercises for different physiques, genders and age groups. In addition there are theory contextual studies units learnt from a distance learning tutor. Subjects include: nutrition, hydration, first aid, injury prevention and management, Policies and legal aspects of becoming a dance teacher, lifespan development of the brain and psychology of learning plus risk assessments, safeguarding and health and safety. Observation of teachers, assisting and teaching practice units are also a vital element to the course, with reflective comments made by the student on their own progress. Most learning takes place in regular week-day practical classes either one morning per genre or one evening per genre and tutorials take place via skype at your convenience, with your own home study and preparation expected in addition. Periodic assessments, tutorials and “exam mocks” take place with individual feedback given after each session. Tutors will help you reflect and grow as a teacher, assess your progress and mentor and help you to set new goals, helping you gain in confidence and performance. One genre, or multiple genres can be studied simultaneously depending on how many hours you are able to study per week. Many of our students work as teachers or student teachers alongside their studies, which helps them fund their course. Please note this course is not suitable for amateur dancers.
Professional Dancer Fast Track Intensive
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 chat). You should also already have passed your Intermediate dance exam or preferably higher in the genre you wish to study.
Imperial Ballet, Tap or Modern: Level 4 ISTD Diploma in Dance Education DDE
-Observing, Assisting and teaching Assessment of your own teaching with tutorials and final external exam in one genre
-Intermediate Dance course and practical dance exam(s) in each chosen genre(s) (1 –1 ½ Hours practical exam)
-Safe Dance Practice Online course plus online Exam
-Social and Cognitive Development in Dance online Course and online Exam
-Practical Teaching course and teaching exam(s) in each chosen genre(s) (2 Hours practical exam)
-Practical Intermediate Dance Exam in your Genre (1 1/2 practical exam)
Professional Dancer Fast Track Intensive
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 chat). You should also already have passed your Intermediate dance exam or preferably higher in the genre you wish to study.
Disco Freestyle/Street Associate /Licentiate
This qualification enables you to teach and enter candidates in Disco-freestyle, Hip Hop, Street and various other “New” dance styles following the ISTD medal or grade test system. Disco-freestyle has evolved from the original Disco movement in the 1970’s, just as popular music has evolved. Learners analyse simple dance movements, study safe and effective dance practice, such as correct warm-up and cool-down, anatomy and physiology for dance, choreography and the structuring of dance movements
and adaptation of training exercises and routines for different physiques, genders, ability levels and age groups. Associate Dancesport exams take place at the Studios with an external ISTD examiner. Once Associate is completed teachers may wish to go on to Licentiate and Fellowship.
Ballroom Associate/Licentiate
The course is via weekly private lessons and studies all the syllabus figures up to and including Bronze, for Associate or Silver, for Licentiate. The Associate exam can be taken all together or one dance at a time i.e. in Waltz, Quickstep, Foxtrott and Tango. The qualification will not be complete until all dances have been examined. You will need to know both in the “Leader” and the “Follower” roles. Your own dance standard in both roles is coached and brought up to exam demonstration standard (a partner is provided for the exam if required) you should be of at least gold level yourself before the course begins.
You will learn to analyse foot positions, amounts of turn, leading, foot-work, rise and fall and the rhythm and characters of each dance. Help is given with voice production and counting rhythmically and the choreography and adaptation of syllabus figures depending on those that precede and follow them. Students are expected to assist “as man” in various adult classes to gain valuable teaching experience. Once the Associate exam is completed teachers may train and enter their own students for ISTD medal tests and grades. Viennese Waltz can be added as a separate Associate qualification. Associate Dancesport exams take place at the Studios with an external ISTD examiner.
Latin-American, Salsa or Country and Western Associate/ Licentiate
The course is via weekly private lessons and studies all the syllabus figures up to and including Bronze, for Associate or Silver, for Licentiate. The Associate can be taken one dance at a time or all in one go, however the full qualification is not given untill all dances have been passed. i.e. Chachacha, Rumba, Samba, Jive and Paso Doble, both in the “Leader” and the “Follower” roles. Your own dance standard in both roles is coached and brought up to exam demonstration standard (a partner is provided for the exam if required). You will learn to analyse foot positions, amounts of turn, leading and arm movements, foot-work, rise and fall and the rhythm and characters of each dance. Help is given with voice production and counting rhythmically and the choreography and adaptation of syllabus figures depending on those that precede and follow them. Students are expected to assist “as man” in various adult classes to gain valuable teaching experience. Once the Associate exam is completed teachers may train and enter their own students for ISTD medal tests and grades. Salsa Associate is also available in the different styles of Salsa as is the Country and Western Associate. Associate Dancesport exams take place at the Studios with an external ISTD examiner.
What level are my exams credited at?
ISTD exams are accredited on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland as shown below:
Intermediate Level 3 GCSE A*-C 28 credits
Advanced 1 Level 4 Higher level qualification 33 credits
Advanced 2 Level 4 Higher level qualification 38 credits
Diploma in Dance Education (DDE) Level 4 First Year Degree 110 credits
Associate Ballroom , Latin Disco-Freestyle and Salsa are currently not accredited but will still qualify you as a member to enter your own candidates into ISTD Examinations
NB- Each separate unit of DDE also has it’s own stand alone credit value and Intermediate exams have UCAS points up to 65