SHAPE America TOY Website Questionnaire
Joseph DeMers
Hamilton Middle School
Questions
Describe one or two of the newest and/or most innovative activities that you do with your students in Dance?
Currently, my framework for classes centers on student leadership. From leading warm-up, teaching large groups, teaching small groups, collaboratively choreographing, collaboratively evaluating, I try to hold space for any level dance student to lead. My belief is that every student has the right and ability to learn dance. By engaging students in a process of dance movement that is interesting and relevant, such as Hip Hop, most students feel empowered to identify as a dancer.
What is your particular expertise in regard to teaching dance – what is the focus of your teaching?
I typically describe myself as a non-traditional dancer who became engaged in dance in a non-traditional manner. Much like 95% of my students, I had never taken a traditional dance class and never thought I would be a dance instructor, let alone a dancer. In hopes of learning to dance with women, I picked up a social dance class right before college. Since 2006, I’ve held the title of International Champion Lindy Hop and Blues dancer. I am now the two-time International Blues Dance Champion, 2013 and 2014.
Although my background is in partner dancing, each grade receives three to four traditional dances, one world dance, and one social dance. 6th grade covers Hip Hop, Vernacular Jazz, Ballet, African, and Swing. 7th grade covers Hip Hop, Jazz, Indian, Creative Movement, and Ballroom. 8th grade covers Hip Hop, Capoeira, Modern, Tap, Folk Dance, and Salsa.
Each unit incorporates standards of movement, technique, and performance; composition and choreography; history and culture; and response and reflection. Our big ideas within each lesson are sequencing of body movement, coordination, stabilization, alignment, cultural relevance, and timing. We strive to combine mastery of movement with artistry of expression. Teaching concepts of body, space, time, and energy has increased students’ understanding of correct alignment, built awareness of why proper technique is important, and provides the knowledge to use the body in an integrated fashion.
What is your philosophy for Dance education – what do you believe in?
My mission is to strive to make every single dance class a WOW-like experience that accepts nothing less than excellence. I believe in students’ rights and abilities to achieve greatness in dance and physical health. Inclusively and joyfully, I push students toward excellence in composing and performing a variety of cultural and historical dance styles with intent, meaning, and significance, contributing to the imagination and dance-works of other artists. Regardless of a student’s background, every child is treated to rigorous lessons of movement, choreography, performance tasks, collaboration, and exercise. Whether it be fitness level, social status, academic program, learning disability, English as a second language, race and ethnicity, or sexual orientation and gender identity, each student is treated with respect and held to high expectations for achievement. I am very cognizant in supporting individuals in having opportunities to access learning to dance, as well as teaching respect and collaboration as high level, and top priority, dance etiquette.
What does being a Dance Teacher of the Year mean to you?
Every day I wake up looking forward to the style and creativity that students bring to the classroom. Dance is fundamentally a joyous occasion and a cause for celebration. I tell students every day that I am proud to be their dance teacher and love my job. Dance Teacher of the Year allows me to represent my students, school, and school district, and validates my mission to bring students to their highest potential in creating, performing, and understanding dance as a performing art, career, and part of a healthy lifestyle.
What do you do to help other Dance teachers plan and implement exemplary programs?
Professionally, I take on many roles within Denver Public Schools. I am a member of the dance standards committee in organizing standards, leading professional development, and creating lessons that dance teachers may utilize to be more successful. I lead professional development trainings for DPS PE teachers, teaching curricular concepts of Ballet, Modern, and creative movement, including ELA and differentiation strategies, music resources, and video resources. I am an active participant in Day of Dance, our DPS collaborative for bringing dance students together to train.
Any quotes from students about you as a Dance teacher, or the classes taught by you?
“Mr. DeMers cares a lot about us and pushes us to do our best.”
“I cried when I landed my first kip. Mr. D taught me that there are no shortcuts for hard work.”
List three of your “favorite” conference session titles that you have presented, with a brief description of each.
Swing Dance 101
We'll take it from the top and teach you everything you need to know about Jitterbug and East Coast Swing to have a great time social dancing and learning this historical American dance.
Learning Hip Hop: No Easy Shortcuts to Teaching Dance
Striving for excellence in dance in students requires you to strive for excellence in dance in yourself. Let’s learn a Hip Hop routine that offers appropriate rigor for engaging your students in dance and follow up with students making their own routine.
Capoeira: Combining Dance and Martial Arts
Capoeira is a Brazilian dance and martial arts form. Learn about the intimacy of collaboration and dance as students collaboratively work together to perform creative conversations of movement.
7 Questions for a TOY
The questions below are meant to be light-hearted and fun; this is a chance to show a bit of your personality. Although there are 13 questions, we will choose seven to highlight on social media and other AAHPERD/SHAPE America periodicals.
1. If you could have a teaching super power what would it be and why?
a. Not a traditional superpower, but you would have musical brilliance so that you could sing, play 2-3 instruments and dance at the same time. Live music with entertaining instruction for every class!
2. Share a funny or shocking story from your years of teaching.
a. When teaching partner dancing to my 6th graders, a young man refused to enter the room. The next day, after some coaching and encouragement, he was the first to enter, first in line, chest high, ready to dance with a girl.
3. With teaching there can be good and bad days. What’s a moment in your career that’s made it all seem worthwhile?
a. When a student cried after landing a Kip, which we had been working on for 4-weeks. He landed it a second time and all he wanted was a hug.
4. If you could go back in time to when you first started teaching what advice would you give yourself?
a. Learn to manage a class in such a way that is positive, maintains high expectations, and allows for joyful lessons.
5. My students would think I’m (adjective) if they knew I (fun or interesting fact).
a. A lot more interesting, if they knew that on weekends and school breaks I travel the world teaching dance workshops and performing.
6. One of my unhealthy guilty pleasures is ______.
a. Anime. I love attending the Anime convention in Denver every year, even the weekend my first daughter was due to be born; luckily she came 5 days late.
7. If I wasn’t a Dance teacher I would be a ______.
a. A curriculum developer
8. What’s the biggest challenge Dance teachers face and how would you change it?
a. Expectations about what a dance class is like. Most kids don't seem to look forward to dressing in shorts and T-shirts and getting sweaty in front of their friends while doing, sometimes awkward, new motions. I am lucky enough to teach dance in every class, and my kids get to experience a fun, social way of exercising and socializing that they look forward to every day, and that they will carry with them throughout their lives.
9. Describe your teaching style in one word.
a. Strict
10. Compare your teaching to that of your own Dance experience.
a. I’ve learned more dance styles teaching than when I was a student of dance!
11. How or what made you become a Dance teacher?
a. The opportunity to combine by passion and career, and find stability.
12. Ask your students to describe you in one word. Share a few responses.
a. Awesome. Hard. Ambitious.