Learn online, at your own pace, in your own time.
Dance Psychology and Mental Skills for Dancers: Anxiety
with Dr Peter Lovatt
Dance Psychology is the study of dance and dancers from a scientific, psychological perspective. When Dance Psychology is applied to dancers and dance teachers it can help people develop a set of mental skills that are an essential part of every dancer’s toolkit.
About Mental Skills for Dancers - Anxiety
The psychology of Performance Anxiety explores how the symptoms of Performance Anxiety can affect the way dancers think, feel, behave and perform. Learning how to recognise and manage these symptoms helps dancers perform at their highest level, from the studio to the stage. The content is delivered online by Dr Peter Lovatt through a series of videos and accompanying slides. Pause & Reflect activities and Active Learning exercises, presented by Lindsey Lovatt, are interleaved between the videos. The module includes one suggested reading and the Learning Outcomes are assessed by a Multiple-Choice Quiz (MCQ). Successful completion of the module leads to the award of five hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) (CE/CPE) and a Certificate of Completion. The Movement in Practice Academy, and this module, are both accredited by CPD Standards.
The Aims of the Course are:
To provide an introduction to Performance Anxiety (what is performance anxiety and who gets it).
To provide a working definition of Performance Anxiety.
To provide an introduction to the three major symptom groups of performance anxiety.
To identify how each of these symptoms effect dancers both positively and negatively.
To look at techniques for preventing/dealing with the symptoms of performance anxiety.
Mental Skills for the World’s best performers
Think, Feel, Behave, Perform
You and Your Symptoms
The Science of Performance Anxiety
Practice, Practice, Practice
Give Your Best Performance
Varied Learning Activities
Dance Breaks
For You
Accredited CPD
Learn online, at your own pace, in your own time.
Mental Skills for Dancers - Motivation
Fact File
Overview
In this introductory course you'll learn about the psychology of performance anxiety. You'll learn about the impact that performance anxiety has on the way we think, the way we feel, the way our body changes and on the way we behave. We'll look at the science and at ways of managing the symptoms.
Who is it for?
Performance Anxiety for Dancers and Performers is designed for anyone who performs, and who feels that their performance in class, in the rehearsal studio, at auditions, assessments and in performance environments could be improved by getting a handle on the symptoms of performance anxiety. This course is also appropriate for teachers and other industry professionals who work with people in the performing arts.
Aims
1. To provide an introduction to Performance Anxiety (what is performance anxiety and who gets it).
2. To provide a working definition of Performance Anxiety.
3. To provide an introduction to the three major symptom groups of performance anxiety.
4. To identify how each of these symptoms effect dancers both positively and negatively.
5. To look at techniques for preventing/dealing with the symptoms of performance anxiety.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of the module, students will be able to:
1. provide a broad introduction to Performance Anxiety (what is performance anxiety and who gets it).
2. provide a working definition and knowledge base of Performance Anxiety terminology.
3. identify how each of these symptoms effect dancers both positively and negatively.
4. look at techniques for preventing/dealing with the symptoms of performance anxiety.
5. identify and understand the three major symptom groups of performance anxiety.
6. evaluate research studies that identify evidence and data of performance anxiety.
7. use Pause & Reflect activities and Active Learning Exercises to help define and analyse symptoms of performance anxiety described.
8. be able to reflect on the learning and understanding of Performance anxiety and how it relates to your role/work using the Pause & Reflect Activities and Active Learning Exercises to put theory into context.
9. Develop awareness of how interventions for performance anxiety can be useful and understand the ethical issues around these.
Modes of Delivery
Approximately 90 minutes of on-line video content.
Approximately 30 minutes of Pause & Reflect activities.
Approximately 90 minutes of Active Learning Exercises.
Approximately 45 minutes of suggested reading.
Approximately 30 minutes of assessment.
Approximately 15 minutes of Dance Breaks.
Total = 5 hours
Learning Strategy
The key strategy is to provide the student with a broad knowledge base to the understanding of performance anxiety, to gain information about three major symptoms groups, understand the positive and negative effects and have an awareness of techniques to prevent performance anxiety. The material will be developed through online lectures, suggested reading and Pause & Reflect activities and Active Learning Exercises.
Module Content
The content is set within the context of dance and the teaching and/or learning of dance, and will include:
1. To provide an introduction to Performance Anxiety (what is performance anxiety and who gets it).
2. To provide a working definition of Performance Anxiety.
3. To provide an introduction to the three major symptom groups of performance anxiety.
4. To identify how each of these symptoms effect dancers both positively and negatively.
5. To look at techniques for preventing/dealing with the symptoms of performance anxiety.
Pause & Reflect
Following the introduction of each topic, students are given a question and asked to Pause & Reflect on how this topic relates to their own dance practice, either as a dancer or as a teacher of dance/movement. Students should spend approximately 10 minutes on each Pause & Reflect activity and keep a set of personal notes. Pause & Reflect activities provide the opportunity to think about the link between psychology, mental skills and the teaching and/or learning of dance
Active Learning Exercises
Active learning exercises are included to encourage students to apply their learning by doing an activity, this may involve using problem solving skills, or the use of visual and/or sensory skills to encourage learning.
Dance Breaks
A simple 4-part dance routine is taught at regular breaks during the module. Each segment of the dance is learnt with the full dance routine completed at the end of the module. The Dance Break is literally to give the student a quick movement break, time out from studying and to keep the mind and body working together harmoniously.
Assessment
Knowledge and understanding of the course content will be assessed by use of a Multiple-Choice Quiz (MCQ): (60% correct to pass).
Prerequisites
None - but students might find it useful to complete Mental Skills for Dancers - an Introduction beforehand.
Learn online, at your own pace, in your own time.
Share