Introducing Mediation Skills for Dance Teachers – Effective Communication (HK)

General Activity Description: 

Running a ballet school is already a demanding and highly structured environment. In addition to delivering lesson plans, teachers and school principals must also coordinate schedules, manage staff, and complete ongoing administrative and operational paperwork. Much of this work can be supported through computers and documentation systems, but the most difficult—and often most time-consuming—part of school life remains people-based communication.  

Day-to-day interactions with students and fellow teachers are important, yet conversations with parents can be the greatest challenge, especially when emotions are high. Parents may become dissatisfied after receiving exam results, questioning the performance roles their children are selected for, or raising concerns about why their child has to attend so many lessons each week. These discussions can quickly escalate when expectations are unclear, messages are inconsistent, or responses are emotional rather than solution-focused.

This 3-hour workshop strengthens communication as a professional tool: it supports stakeholders in feeling heard, protects the school’s reputation, and helps teachers return their focus to ballet instruction and student development.

Aims:

The aims of this activity are to:

• Introduce ballet school principals and teachers to mediation-focused communication skills for handling disputes and complaints effectively, and;
• Develop participants’ practical strategies to de-escalate tension and support constructive resolution.

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of the workshop, you will:

• Describe effective communication and mediation principles relevant to ballet education settings.
• Maintain positive, respectful relationships with parents and other stakeholders.
• Apply a structured mediation approach to guide conversations from concerns to actionable solutions.  
• Support school reputation through consistent, professional and boundary-aware communication.  

Fee:

HKD 640 for members

HKD 800 for non-members

* Refund policy: No refund

Number of CPD hours: 3

Language: English and Cantonese

Speaker:

Ms Shirley Loong

Chairperson, Performing Arts International Mediation Committee under International Dispute Resolution & Risk Management Institute

Shirley Loong started ballet training at the age of eight under the tutelage of Ms. Jean M. Wong.

Shirley was admitted to the National Ballet School of Canada. Upon graduation, she honed her skills further at the John Cranko Ballett Schule in Stuttgart, Germany where she was the first Hongkonger ever admitted to this world-renowned dance institute. Shirley joined The Hong Kong Ballet as a dancer and soon promoted to Coryphee in 1990’s.

In 2000, she was the General Manager of Hong Kong Ballet Group. She rejoined the Hong Kong Ballet from 2005 to 2011 as the Director of Education and Outreach Department under the directorship of Mr. John Meehan.

Shirley is a registered teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance with over 20 years of teaching experience. She was the ballet instructor for the Hong Kong Sports Institute’s artistic gymnastics team, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Gifted Dancer Young Programme and City Contemporary Dance Company. 

Shirley is currently Fellow of the Greater Bay Area, Chairperson of the Performing Arts International Mediation Committee and the Royal Academy of Dance, Hong Kong Committee. She is also a Chinese Tea Artist.