DANCE LIKE NO ONE IS~WATCHINGÃÂ!... in my dance studio, we are all watching! My dance students can learn more about themselves and their work as dancers if they can observe, reflect upon, and improve their dancing by seeing it right before their very eyes.
My public high school dance program serves over 200 students every year.
They range from a minority who took dance classes at private studios in their childhood, to a majority who have never before been exposed to dance instruction. The students are 9th -12th graders from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds including Latino, Laotian, Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, Pilipino, and Ugandan, among others. Anyone can enroll in dance classes, and as a result there is not only a great mix of ethnic backgrounds in each class but a great mix of socioeconomic levels. Our student population draws from the most affluent neighborhoods (5 %) and the poorest communities (37 %) in the region. Dance has proved to be a great equalizer. As students find a common language in expressive movement, their differences seem to matter less and they can easily work together as dancers with common goals. In this way, social justice finds its way into every step we take together across the studio floor.
My Project
Through this project, students will improve collaboration, communication, and creative expression skills while building confidence. They will also increase their cultural awareness through dance. My dance students will watch the dance DVDs, which feature the Martha Graham Dance Company (pioneer in American Modern Dance), Lord of the Dance (Irish-step dance performance), and Soul Train (variety show based in disco, funk, and soul styles). They will observe, compare, and analyze the styles of dance represented by these distinct groups. They will use the movement vocabularies associated with each of the three styles to create their own choreographed works in small collaborative groups, fusing these styles into one dance piece. Throughout their creative process, they will film their works-in-progress with the digital camcorders, view their work on the 32âÃÂàtelevision, and reflect upon their progress. The equipment will be used for other similar choreography projects in the future.
This project fuses technology and the Arts.
Technology will be an increasingly important element in the lives of young people. Their success in the workforce when then leave our classrooms will be clearly related to their tech literacy. Additionally, an education in the Arts encourages creative thinking and problem-solving. These skills are arguably even more important than tech skills for young people as they move into a successful adulthood. Support Technology and the Arts!
More than a third of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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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. Kronenberg and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.