Evaluation of Queensland Ballet's Petit Pointers Teacher Training Program for dance teachers

Queensland Ballet [QB] demonstrates a commitment to supporting the dance sector and recognises the need for regional engagement opportunities. The QB Petit Pointers Training Program provides dance teachers in regional centres access to professional development. Queensland Ballet has 'the resources and expertise to provide best practice models in teaching dance, and the early years education and teaching philosophy is unique, successful and engaging' (Teaching Artist 1, 2019). The program is an important avenue to address the tyranny of distance within Queensland that may be a barrier for dance teachers, due to time and cost, to gain on-going support for their profession. The program provides regional based dance teachers with a sense of connection to their State ballet company and the understanding that they are strongly valued members for the life of the company. It is important to make ballet accessible to all regardless of location, background, ability, and this is a part of Queensland Ballet's vision and mission statement. Dance provides an alternative way for children to explore and understand the world as well as to grasp basic learning concepts in literacy, numeracy, body awareness and social competencies. Professional development for dance teachers to understand the way in which engagement through embodied learning supports the holistic development of a child is vital. The QB Petit Pointers Training Program supports access to this knowledge and allows Queensland Ballet to communicate care for the art form and for the people who share it. This research reports on the outcomes of the inaugural Petit Pointers Teacher Training Program only. It does not report on the outcomes of delivery of Petit Pointers for children and the parents/carers or the structure of the QB Petit Pointers syllabus.

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