Opettajakoulutus

In the spring of 1996, the original Masrah Association training course for basic level teachers was reformed into a broader training programme. The aim of the process was to ensure high level Oriental Dance teaching. Trained teachers should, for instance, be able to perform the basic technique correctly, provide safe training methods for their students for them to avoid back and knee problems and know the most common rhythms in Arabic music as well as the most widely spread folkloric dance styles.

Oriental Dance Teacher, Basic Studies 2008

The Oriental Dance Teacher Basic Studies are designed for the members of the Association who either teach Oriental Dance or are planning to do so, or who otherwise wish to enhance their skills and expertise in Oriental Dance. Individual courses are also open to non-members.

The aim of the studies is to give the trainees information and qualifications for teaching Oriental Dance as an art form, as a form of physical exercise and as part of the cultural heritage of the Middle East and North Africa.

The Programme covers the following subjects:

1. Teaching Practices in Oriental Dance
2. Knowledge of Oriental Dance and Culture
(Styles and Terminology)
3. Rhythms in Arabic Music
4. Stretching and Kinaesthetic Learning
5. Teaching Demonstration

The Programme content and workshops are designed and determined by the Masrah training co-ordination team with Tuija Rinne acting as the Principal in the Programme. The workshops are given by trainers chosen by the team.

Any information concerning the Programme will be mailed to the registered trainees. The workshop schedule is also available at the Association website www.masrah.fi as well as in the Ishtar magazine.

A trainee can be registered in the Programme by e-mail at masrah.posti@pp.nic.fi.. After acceptance, the trainee will receive a letter of acceptance, a Programme brochure, the latest information letter and an invoice of the starting fee. She will also be entered in the trainee register and on the mailing list. The studies can be started at any time and with any of the compulsory workshops, i.e.with any workshop currently scheduled to run.

The minimum duration of the studies is six months in order to allow the trainee to, e.g. adjust her dance technique. There is no determined maximum duration.

The trainees sign up for each workshop separately, either by e-mail at masrah.posti@pp.nic.fi, or by telephone +358 - 50 - 591 1065. After signing up, the trainee is obliged to participate in that particular workshop or, if she is unable to do so, to notify the Association of her absence by phone, or directly notify the trainer giving the workshop. Registration for any workshop is to be done at the latest one week prior to the course!

When the trainee has successfully passed all the compulsory sections of the Programme, she will be awarded a diploma stating the contents of her studies.

PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAMME

1. Teaching Practices in Oriental Dance

This section of the studies consists of:

Regular training under a trainer appointed by Marah Association (list at the end of this paragraph) during the entirety of the Training Programme. The classes are to be attended weekly during both the autumn and spring terms or, alternatively, at the rate of five classes per month. The trainee will receive feedback in writing on her progress once every term; the feedback is subject to a charge and the fee will be fixed with the trainer.
A minimum of three seminars, each lasting for four hours, given by a minimum of two different trainers during a period of no less than six months. In teaching demonstrations, each trainer explains her teaching methods and, e.g. the basics and the dance techniques taught during a beginners' course after which the trainer proceeds to examine the trainees' skills by a method of her choosing. The trainee may, e.g. be asked to teach a short beginner-level combination to the other trainees, perform combinations chosen by the trainer or improvise
A written report on the seminars and weekly classes.

At the end of each seminar the trainee will receive personal feedback in writing. The trainee will have successfully passed this section of her studies when her own dance technique is judged to be at an acceptable level and she has submitted a written report discussing the different teaching practices demonstrated in the seminars as well as the reasons behind these in the light of the seminars, weekly classes and the trainee's own experience. Thus far, the submitted reports have varied in length between one and nine pages.

The trainers in autumn term 2008 and spring term 2009 are:

Tuija Rinne
Saara Soikkeli
Sirke Seppänen
Jaana Åhl
Hannele Lindgren
Peppina Lindfors
Anu Toivonen

2. Knowledge of Oriental Dance and Culture
(Styles and Terminology)

This section of the studies consists of:

a) Oriental Culture

Two written papers on literature dealing with Arabic and/or Islamic culture. One is to be a broader work discussing a general topic (e.g. a paper on a general survey dealing with a specific area of Oriental culture), the other a more specific study of a special subject (e.g. of a novel dealing with the topic discussed in the trainee's broader paper). The latter paper may be replaced, e.g. with studies (awarding 2 credits) of the Arabic language.

b) Oriental Dance

An exam in dance styles OR other demonstration of knowledge of Oriental dance (e.g. a written paper, a video compilation or a documented choreography by the student).

If necessary, special workshops may be organised including, e.g. intensive courses in folkloric dance styles. Participating in various folklorik dance workshops is an excellent way to increase this know-how. It is recommended that either Tuija Rinne or Saara Soikkeli is presented with the plans for the written papers to prevent these from becoming too extensive. It is also possible to write the papers in co-operation with another trainee.

3. Rhythms in Arabic Music

This section of the studies consists of:

A two-hour examination in three parts:

a) recognising the rhythms
b) playing the rhythms
c) using the rhythms in dance.

The trainee may prepare for the exam by participating in two separate workshops, each lasting for two hours and dealing with the most common rhythms in Arabic music.

4. Stretching and Kinaesthetic Learning

This section of the studies consists of:

A four-hour seminar and a written assignment.

5. Teaching Demonstration

In order to complete the basic studies, the trainee will register to give a 30-minute teaching demonstration during which all the above-mentioned sections will be evaluated by three trainers. The trainee will receive personal feedback.

Alternative Study Methods

Should the trainee wish to replace a section of the programme with studies arranged by an organiser other than Masrah Association or, e.g. take a specific exam without participating in the appointed workshops, the matter is to be dsicussed with Tuija Rinne.

Training Fees

Masrah Teacher Training is subject to a charge.
The workshop fee for Association members is EUR 15/hour, for non-members EUR 19/hour. Programme registration fee is EUR 120 and teaching demonstration/diploma fee is EUR 80. Should the trainee need to participate in a repeat teaching demonstration, the fee is a further EUR 200.

The trainee may review the current state of her own studies by checking the study register kept by the Programme secretary, who also records new registrations in the programme at masrah.posti@pp.nic.fi (mark the topic as "Teacher training"). Registrations for taching demonstration and all the workshops are to be made at the same address or by phone at +358 - 50 -591 1065.

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