The dance classroom is more than a studio; it is a laboratory. It is the training ground for an unforeseeable future. In the age of standardized testing, arts environments can provide the safe havens where mistakes are treated as discoveries and expression is celebrated. Higher order thinking is a natural part of the performance and […]
K-12
Hitting the Books: Two Valuable Reads from Oxford University Press
Every so often, I meet a student who seems older than their years with interests far more sophisticated than those of their peers. Despite their young age- middle school, high school, early college- their understanding of the world and their desire to see the big pictures leaves an impression and sets a tone. For these […]
FAQ: Why Don’t You Play Music With Lyrics?
Without a doubt, one of my most commonly asked questions by students of all ages is, “why don’t you play music with lyrics?” It isn’t that I refuse to play music with lyrics but for so many reasons, I find music without lyrics better supports my teaching philosophy, my mission, and my lesson plans. Here’s […]
Outside the Bubble: Encouraging Students to Develop Their Own Dance Community
Nowadays, social media is a way of life and a way of interacting in a community. Online communities provide a sense of identity, belonging, and opportunities that don’t exist in traditional communities the way they once did. Personally speaking, I find it easier to find like-minded colleagues online than in my own neighborhood. Here, I […]
“Black or White” to Black and White: Dance History and the Music Video
“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 […]
The Power of Performance to Win Friends and Influence People
Preparing for a year-end performance in a school setting can add stress to an already full classroom schedule. However, it does wonders for the students and the program as you plan for the content and experiences that may actually be more important, like dance history and theory. Heather shares these wonders and some ways she prepares students for the “big show” ahead.
