ABSTRACT
During live performances, dancers move and interact with other dancers, physically communicate to multiple audience members, and act as their own teachers. Their performance energy is directed toward imaginary audiences at the front of the room with the teacher and the mirror serving as more tangible audience members. Peer education promotes critical thinking and enhanced body awareness during the technique class, and it is a fundamental component to creating a collaborative subject-centered classroom. Effective peer engagement teaches dancers how to be more physically and verbally intentional, relational, and communicative. Peer interaction requires student dancers to become active participants in the learning process. This chapter focuses on teaching students how to collaborate with each other during the technique class. The active learning approaches presented in the chapter challenge students to also become producers, not just reproducers, of knowledge in the classroom. The chapter also presents a series of methods and activities for developing students' peer education and interaction skills.
