"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music". I am a high school dance teacher in my 3rd year at this school. I have been creating and building a new dance program for the past three years. The community and students at this school are culturally and financially diverse. Many of the students that attend come from surrounding areas outside of the immediate community as well. The high school is designated low-income because of its socio-economic diversity. For many of my students, a dance class and a dance performance is virtually an unknown and unattainable experience. Through dance, my students are exposed to an artform that allows them to connect to music, relieve stress, be creative and express themselves in a new way.
One huge component of becoming a dancer is being able to see oneself objectively. While this is a daunting task for any adult, this is even more difficult for a high school student. Although my students are constantly using the mirror in our classroom to look at their movement and critique themselves, I am finding that it is not enough. They need to stand back and really see themselves how I see them dancing: through the eye of the camera. As they say, the camera never lies!
A DVD Camcorder will allow me to videotape my students both formally and informally. Often times, we are rehearsing for a performance and I want my students to be able to see where they are not in sync. A camera would allow me to do this quickly and effectively. On the other hand, a camera will also be effective for recording formal classroom assignments and small performances. In both cases, the students are able to view their dancing as an audience member. This is so vital to a dancer's growth.
Additionally, I will be able to videotape dancers who are creating audition tapes for college. Often times, a student is unable to make the trip to another city or state for an audition. With a camcorder, I can help them compose and submit an audition tape for college and any other auditions that they cannot personally attend. Essentially, the use for this camcorder is not only extremely important, but it is also very versatile.
As I mentioned before, I am embarking upon building a thriving and successful dance program at this school site. While the spirit of my dancers is hungry, the classroom supplies and funds are limited. Your donation will enable me to take this program to the next level. When dancers see themselves objectively, change and growth occurs. Thank you so much for your help!
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. O'ROURKE and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.