There are three major strands through which we experience dance: Create, Perform, and Respond. Heather describes how she’s been addressing these with her K-12 dance elective students to create a window into their depth of knowledge and to cultivate expression.
dance in the public schools
Class Dress Code: Function Over Fashion
There’s value in seeing a student’s form during class but, especially in public schools, there are benefits to allowing for comfort and individuality. Here’s how Heather talks about dance attire fashion and its function in her dance classes.
Measuring Success: Data Driven Dance
Dance educator, Heather Vaughn Southard, encourages tests that go beyond pencil, paper, and even presentation as she outlines ways to assess program philosophy, performance goals, teaching methods, class achievement, and individual student growth.
Let’s Talk Arts Integration: Defining What You Do
Have you ever danced about the water cycle? Did you learn anything about dance? If not, then your science education was enhanced by dance not integrated with it. Heather gives examples of how dance might be integrated with other subjects and some tips on collaborating with another teacher.