My first experience with dance teaching in a school setting was through the MOVE Conference for physical education where I was introduced to the Groove workshop. Groove is a dance education workshop that can work with both physical education as well as the arts. 

The Groove philosophy fits very well within the creative process as the number one rule is 

"You can't get this wrong". 

At the start of each workshop, the instructor has the students say this to their neighbours and then repeat it to themselves. The entire outlook is free movement and creative expression. Although the entire group is moving and grooving to the same song, each person's steps and movements can be entirely unique. There is no right or wrong way to do them. This would work so well with students to remind them that although dance may be awkward or uncomfortable for them, there is no way they can do it wrong or mess it up. 

The Groove workshop was so much fun at the MOVE conference that I registered to take the full Groove workshop in Toronto. We spent an entire morning doing the Groove workshop as if we were the students, then we took turns leading the group in each of the Groove songs. There are set "guidelines" for each of the Groove songs that allow you to provide students with an entry point, then their creative freedom can take over. These guidelines are great because students who are uncomfortable with dance can fall back on the given move and still participate and have fun, while students who want to dance their own way have the freedom to do so. 

By the end of the workshop I felt both energized and relaxed. I felt a balance of refreshed and ready to take on the world, while also feeling calm and zen. The Groove workshop definitely gave me a toolkit I would readily use in a dance classroom, whether it was for the arts or for physical education. By participating in the class myself, I can say that this style of dance class can work with absolutely any age group. It was so fun! 

And the best part is, YOU CAN'T GET IT WRONG

I've attached a copy of my participation certificate. Thats me on the left! 

& Here's a video showing an example of a Groove class with Michelle Hillier, the Groove instructor.