What is it like, teaching dance in public schools? Is this career right for you? Learn more about teaching in public education, the credentials you’ll need to work in this environment, and what to expect on the job from a K-12 dance educator.
K-12
History Moves: Using the Creative Process to Explore Dance History
When working with students on choreography it’s possible to get them thinking beyond steps to a more robust concept of creative process that encourages thoughtful choices about all areas of production. Heather demonstrated this with her previous article. This time, she goes a step further, showing you ways to connect these ideas with dance history to enrich students’ understanding.
Creative Process: 10 Ideas for Moving Beyond the Steps
The ways movement is inspired, how it is developed, edited, and finally presented is a process. Concert dance is all about the intent and the journey, which lead to the product. If this idea is new to you, here is a ten-step list of how to engage in a process from K-12 teacher, Heather Vaughan-Southard.
The Costume “Blackout” Keeps Choreography Center Stage
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.
Talking About College Dance With K-12 Students
Not all dancers become professionals. However, the arts produce creative thinkers, able to connect pathways that standard students may not initially consider and dancers tend to be successful in many other aspects of education and life. So, starting as early as Kindergarten, dance can be used as a gateway to discuss college with students. Here’s how one educator begins the conversation at different ages and includes families in the dialogue.
Smooth Start: Letting Dancers Know What To Expect
It may seem too simple but introducing class procedure is a step critical in most any class environment. It unifies the group and builds a bridge in communication between you and your students. K-12 dance educator, Heather Vaughan-Southard, outlines her Day 1 process so that you, too can set your students up for success.
