Giving students, teachers, and parents an edge in dance education
“The only thing new in dance is you.” A friend shared that quote from an Ohio University professor years ago and it has stuck with me. Every year I find myself chuckling to myself as I listen to kids claim movements as “their” choreography when really many are sampling from the limited palette of movement [...]
GIVEAWAY! How much do you really know about columnist Lauren Warnecke? In this interview she reveals her artistic side, shares some Kickstarter advice, and gives away her pin-up calendar to 4 lucky winners.
Students start focusing on costumes and lose sight of their choreography development and goals. But Heather has a unique method for getting students back on track. While she’s at it, she explains the importance of costuming selection and the messages wardrobe can convey to an audience.
Screening at the Toronto International Film Festival are First Position, a new dance doc follows six young ballet dancers aged 9 to 19 as they struggle to maintain form in the face of injury and personal sacrifice on their way to one of the most prestigious international ballet competitions in the world: Youth America Grand Prix; and Pina, the Wim Wenders performance documentary featuring the extraordinary choreography of Pina Bausch. Learn more and watch these exciting trailers at Dance Advantage.
OK Go, known for their innovative music videos, has teamed up with professional dance troupe, Pilobolus and Google, to debut an experiment that mixes old-school camera trickery with newfangled technology. Try out the interactive Chrome experiment. Watch the video on YouTube. Check out the live performance. And be inspired by the childlike wonder of this collaboration.
A reader, looking for resources to assist in helping the students create their own dances, asks for recommendations. Included is a list of books and manuals on dance composition and improvisation plus my own quick tips for working with younger age groups as they begin their exploration of choreography.
Jenn Romano works with high school dance students and in two after school dance programs for at risk youth. Jenn’s Top Three comes directly from her work, teaching dance composition in New Mexico high schools. She uses these “games” to practice improvisational skills as well develop student-generated choreography in her classes.
