About our Courses
RPM has devised virtual courses that may be taken in the comfort and safety of your home or studio. The courses are designed for you to work at your own pace, however, we recommend teachers enrolling in the Level I course complete it in four weeks to reap the benefits of the program. Our courses are professionally filmed and show detailed instruction with Master Teacher, Amy Lowe, and students who have been trained in the RPM method. Teachers enrolling have lifetime access to the course for future reference.
Level I Certification
This course is broken into 4 modules and covers RPM’s history, anatomy, kinesiology, the 14 Principles of Movement, Therapeutic Barre, lesson planning strategies and curriculum for Pre-Ballet through Ballet V. All concepts can be applied to a variety of dance genres.
To provide the best learning engagement, RPM limits sessions to ten teachers at a time. Teachers enrolling in this course schedule a weekly coaching session with either Cheryl or Amy. The final coaching session covers all material presented and teachers will be assessed at this time for Level I certification.
Faculty Purchase Options
Larger faculties contact RPM for arrangement.
Here’s What You Will Learn
Complete with supporting videos demonstrating the correct, effective, and injury principles to teach your wonderful students.
Week One:
- Introduction
- Part 1: RPM History
- What is RPM?
- Who and Why: Ruth C. Petrinovic
- Who and Why: Cheryl Ale
- Who and Why: Amy Lowe
- Who and Why: Jo Ann Kneeland and the Importance of Her Research
- Part 2: Theory – Anatomy, Kinesiology and Body Mechanics
- Important Terminology
- Terms in Kinesiology as Related to Movement in the Joints
- How Muscles and Bones Work to Achieve Proper Alignment
- Part 3: Defining the Principles of Movement
- Part 4: The Effects of the Principles of Movement
- Part 5: The Therapeutic Barre
- Part 6: Week One Reflection
Week Two:
- Introduction
- Part 7: Studio Management and Teacher Preparation
- Lesson Planing
- Attributes of Successful Teachers
- General Thoughts on Teaching
- Instilling Studio Decorum and Classroom Etiquette
- The Syllabus
- Creative Dance
- Primary Dance
- Level I
- Level II
- Level III
- Part 8: Week 2 Reflection
Week Three:
- Introduction
- Part 9: Advanced Techniques
- Lesson Planning
- Level IV and V
- Part 10: Week Three Reflection
Week Four:
- Introduction
- Part 11: Final Thoughts
- Your Final Reflection
- Criteria for Level 1 Certification
- Upon Certification
- In Closing
DanceTeacher
Inside Revolutionary Principles of Movement’s Game-Changing Training Program
FAQ
1. How much is the course and what materials are included?
Level I certification is $997 for an individual teacher or $1997 for up to five teachers. Your tuition covers lifetime access to the online text and all accompanying video tutorials.
2. What is covered in the course?
The course begins with RPM’s history and progresses to lessons in anatomy, kinesiology and physics as pertaining to dance and movement. From there, we present our proven curriculum for Pre-Ballet through Ballet V and discuss strategies for lesson planning and classroom management.
3. What are the reflections at the end of each module?
The reflections are one of the most unique concepts of our coursework. Teachers schedule a one-on-one weekly mentoring session (4 total within the course) with either Cheryl or Amy. Each reflection pertains to the assignments from the modules and provides the teacher the opportunity to have questions answered and allows Cheryl or Amy to access the teacher’s understanding of the material presented. Studios enrolling up to five teachers schedule a group reflection.
4. What does the certification process entail?
In order to obtain RPM Level I certification, a candidate must successfully complete all four reflections with either Cheryl or Amy and must show understanding of the 14 Principles of Movement as pertaining to the genres of dance they currently teach. Studios who enroll up to five teachers will have each individual teacher evaluated separately.
5. Are there required books or additional reading?
Amy has listed a variety of recommended alternate texts within the course. They’re quite helpful but certainly not required.
6. Is this a movement based course and do I have to demonstrate?
We are here to support you on your journey as a dance educator. You may be asked during your reflections to demonstrate concepts for clarity and it would be helpful to dress in clothing that permits ease of movement.
7. I’m currently teaching virtually. Will RPM benefit my students?
In a word, yes! We’ve had teachers complete our certification course who only teach virtually and they’re having wonderful success. One of the beautiful pillars of RPM is the imagery and verbal cueing that are used throughout. The correct cues, verbiage and imagery can make all the difference for both in-person and virtual learning scenarios.
8. I don’t have a background in anatomy or physics. Can I still be successful with this course?
Most definitely. We are very thorough in the course and for some, the anatomy and physics section is a review while for others, it’s the first time they’ve been exposed to the material. If you’ve not had a background in anatomy, kinesiology or physics, just let us know. We are happy to award you additional time to complete your reflections so that you have time to feel comfortable and absorb the work. We are always here to support your questions.