OFI Teacher Training & Immersions

Teacher training came to a completion in March 2024. 32 amazing humans graduated from all over the world The next North American Teacher Training is yet to be announced. Jenny imagines in 2026 but this is yet to be seen. Please join Jenny’s email list or Open Floors email list to stay tuned when it will happen.

I have left this on my website so you can see some of the format of training:

Jenny is on the Training Faculty for Open Floor International’s upcoming Teacher Training and Immersions over the next few years. The Immersions can be taken by anyone that wants to take a deeper dive into OFI curriculum and investigate how it applies to their life and work. The teacher training program has additional components to the Immersions and is oriented to those that specifically want to teach Open Floor Workshops and Classes. Below is some basic information about the Teacher Training Program (which also gives some information about the Immersions). Please go to the Open Floor International Site www.openfloor.org for applications, more detailed information and frequently asked questions.

Phase 1: Common Ground Immersion March 11-16, 2022

Phase 2: Common Sense Immersion October 21-25, 2022

Phase 3: Common Knowledge Immersion June 2-6, 2023

Phase 4: Common Good Immersion November 3-7, 2023

Please Note:

  1. The first immersion and practicum will be offered online. The faculty will be Kathy Altman and Jenny Macke.

  2. In the future, if we can offer immersions and practicums in person, we will schedule the practicums 1-2 days post immersion dates to reduce travel costs

  3. If we offer programs in person after phase 1, they will be scheduled either in NW Washington or Northern California.

Here is an explanation of all components of OFI’s teacher training

IMMERSIONS

As a trainee, you will be required to attend all 4 immersions, each one focused on the 4 dimensions of embodiment: body, heart, mind, and soul.

From each Immersion, you will receive:

  • 30 hrs of intensive personal practice with a team of highly experienced and talented teachers

  • An in-depth understanding of the Core Movement resources and their relevance to daily life

  • Insights on how to prepare and tend to the moving body so you can dance forever

  • Skills to include and attend to emotions, thoughts, stories, and patterns that hold us back and how to turn them into creative fuel

  • An opportunity to meet your peers in person and build relationships within the community

PRACTICUM

While our immersions are experiential and aimed at deepening your movement practice, as a teacher in training you will be required to complete 20 hours of practice days. Held in small groups, the practice days are dedicated to bringing the Open Floor curriculum to life in your teaching, and building the practical skills required for teaching Open Floor movement practice to others.

During practice days, you will learn:

  • How to design movement scores to teach each of the 10 Core Movement Resources

  • How to use physical anchors to keep bringing your students back to the body and learning through the lens of embodiment

  • How to ask the right questions and give instructions to increase your students’ self-awareness and mindfulness

  • How to include the 4×4 weave in your teaching

  • How to create exercises using other modalities in addition to dance

  • Understand different teaching styles and how to use them

  • How to teach people of all ages and abilities

  • Grow your insights into group dynamics and embody fluid authority

WEBINARS

Part of your training will take place online engaging with faculty and other trainees in a series of live webinars, and viewing self-paced recorded webinars to further your study of embodiment and mindful movement. Each training phase will include a total of 9 webinars.

From DJ skills, to learning anatomy, to book clubs, our online courses cover a wide range of topics to support your learning and expand your skills as an Open Floor teacher.

ASSIGNMENTS

As in any adult learning program, the work you do in between immersions and practice days is what will make the difference to the quality of your learning. Assignments include teaching practice classes, developing music skills, taking electives, reading, and writing reflections.

To share and demonstrate your growing skillset, you will be required to teach practice classes in your local communities or workplace that focus on specific elements of the curriculum.

Other assignments include:

  • Developing your music skills through assignments in musicality, creating soundscapes, and music technology

  • Completing a required reading list to enhance your theoretical knowledge of the work

  • Sharing written reflections with your mentor to document and anchor your learning

 Together with your mentor, you will decide on a number of electives to enhance your understanding and experience of other people’s teaching by attending Open Floor workshops.

MENTORING

You will receive mentoring throughout the training program, including both individual sessions with your mentor and group sessions with your peers.