Introduction Lesson (1): PLACE Creative Dance: Ages 3 – 5 Start by circling up standing, with each person on one of the stars which have been placed in a circle prior to class. The teacher goes to the center of the circle and says her name and does a dance movement, she then high fives…
Tag: teaching
How to Tell if Your Child’s Instructor is a “Time Waster”
It is shocking how many dance instructors I have worked with like to simply run out the clock with kids rather than engage with them in meaningful dance education. I recently met a dance studio DIRECTOR who was in the process of INTERVIEWING ME who actually stated “I love to waste time.” I cannot fathom…
Expanding Student Minds with the Vocabulary of Movement (Action Research with 8th graders, using Dance to teach Reading and Writing)
Introduction As a kinesthetic and linguistic learner, and someone who has studied in both the fields of Creative Writing and Dance I often find myself exploring ways in which movement and language might connect or support one another. In the past I have done this through my own performances, choreographing dances in which I also…
Those Who Can’t Do, Teach
I’m sitting with friends in the recording room of Sweet Briar College’s music department trying to decide which of our many old projects to pick up and start work on. Since I began teaching 7th grade English this August, I haven’t touched any real art. With this breath of freedom we have, ironically due to…
The Gaia Movement
Often artists aim to make a difference with their art, they want to inspire change in people, and in the world. Erin Fowler and Nick Graalman created the dance film Gaia for this purpose. The film is a powerful statement about the environment in the largest sense possible. This film takes a serious look at…
Not Just Words 