This idoc contains some ideas about writing class descriptions that stayed with me from Gabriele's session. I don’t claim them to be complete, and all credit goes to Gabriele Wittmann. We also discussed and moved with some existing class descriptions - this is only an excerpt of what happened in these three hours.

We focused on 2 goals:
1) Catch the audience so they come to your training
2) Match so they go out of the class saying „Great, and it was exactly what was described“

We split up in smaller groups to come up with the 5 most important parameters that we as readers / potential participants would like to get out of a class description. The responses below are linked to the discussion of my subgroup – although we did not agree on everything that is noted here:

1) If there is a defined approach (i.e. a technique), this needs to be said. If not, what is the content of the class?
2) What is the teacher’s intention related to form – Do you teach phrases, if yes - why? If not, how do you deal with form?
3) What are the goals of the class?
4) What kind of physicality does the class evoke?
5) What is the relationship to individual needs?

I do suggest to think if these five questions are also the ones you would name, and maybe modifying them before answering them – to know what is essential for you as a teacher and why that is, helps a great deal to clarify in writing.

Gabriele also asked us to take these thoughts into account:

*A good text is being able to be read without stopping or mistaking.
* The „texture“ of a text is important. After writing a draft, make a score: search words that a reader can tag along, and yet all together they create a texture which adds up to more than the individual key words.
* Name dropping (what are your references - certain techniques, such as Release, BMC): Be economic about it, do it only once or twice
* To „catch“ a reader, it helps to use sensous language, to use verbs – or nouns deriving from verbs.
* Find a sequentiality (connectivity) in the text dramaturgy:
-       "pearl necklace": going from one pearl to the next, which will add up to a continuity (right order to get the flow)
-       diversity: In the rhythm (sentence length & melody - shorter and longer in a good mixture). And also diversity in the vocabulary which means to break the habits, finding a certain richness)
* avoid „I“ or „We“

After being so technical about the writing- which is good to do, especially as writing is not our core expertise – I noticed that I found it important to remember that what we are doing is teaching an art form...So this approach in my opinion needs to go together with an awareness about our individual approaches and personal viewpoints on how to communicate dance.