Are you a dancer who is considering teaching and want to learn ways to lead, engage, guide, and inspire children? Have you been teaching and are seeking ways to rehearse choreography and keep students motivated? Are you a professional dancer but have never taught in community settings before?

If so, Santa Barbara Dance Institute (SBDI) will hold a free week-long training that includes an opportunity to practice new skills and work directly with children.

Using lessons learned from some15 years of teaching dance in schools, in after-school programs, and in community centers like Boys and Girls Clubs, or Girls Inc., SBDI’s Teaching Artist Workshop is geared toward those who want to inspire, bring joy, and cultivate a willingness to try new things in their learning environment.

“Our dance classes are not about teaching students to precisely replicate choreography, but rather we encourage students to express their unique individuality and embody their self-expression through the choreography,” said founder Rosalina Macisco.

“In SBDI classes, children learn to create their own movements and choreography providing further opportunity to share their story,” she said. The workshop will focus on teaching choreography for maximum participation, engagement and learning.

“SBDI’s mission is to help individuals foster tenacity, develop their personal standard of excellence, and a belief in themselves that will carry into all aspects of their lives,” Macisco said.

SBDI’s Dance Teaching Artist Workshop is offered at no cost through a competitive grant application. Those interested can apply here. Deadline to apply is Nov. 7. The workshop, which runs Nov. 28-Dec. 2, will accept 5-8 applicants.

Attending the training is not a pre-requisite to be considered for the apprenticeship. Each apprentice will be matched with a lead SBDI instructor who will support their growth as a teaching artist. Positions are open for the SBDI after-school programming, January-June. Stipends are available. Deadline to apply is Nov. 7.

Opportunities will open for lead instructor positions in the following school year.

The training workshop is funded in part by grants from the California Arts Council, the city and county of Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Office of Arts and Culture.