Research Essays

A Very Inspiring Method of Dancing

Jake Guenoun

When I first joined the Methodology of Teaching Dance class, I really did not know what to expect. I was very nervous because I had never danced in front of people before and I never really learned how to express myself through dance, because I always believed that there were certain or specific ways that it needed to be done. After 4 months, I can confidently say that I now understand the methods of teaching dance and how to give a proper lesson to any group of people. Taking this class not only taught me a lesson, but it also taught me how to teach a lesson.

What I enjoyed learning the most about in this class was creative dancing. I believe that creative dancing is the most effective method of teaching dance because it allows students to express themselves in any way that they please. According to The University of British Columbia, “Creative Dance is a form of dance that combines movement and artistic expression, without the requirement of extensive training (Gilbert, 1992). Typically, creative dance focuses on the development of motor skills in a more traditional arts structured setting (Dow, 2010). ”Creative dance to me has been a very inspiring method of dancing, this is mainly because I am personally not that great at dancing but it allows me to be great at my own kind of dancing.

When teaching creative dance I am allowed to create the flow of the dance and express myself how I see it. Many students, like myself, are shy the first time that they step into a dance class and have to dance in front of everyone. Creative dance is kind of like we are breaking the ice and allowing students to express themselves how they please. In class we watched a video about a teacher in San Diego who teaches a creative dance class. We talked about what resonated with us about the class and the teacher, what is the importance of the different parts of the class, and then we created our own dance classes using the creative approach.

Activities in the class included warm ups, movement games, dance phrases and sequences, improvisation, and choreography. In the video you can tell that the class is actively engaged in all of the activities. Every student was taking part, but the piece that stood out the most was that the teacher was taking part as well. That is something that is really important for students to stay engaged and feel like you are a part of the class. When teaching it’s always important to make sure that everybody is having fun together.

There are many different approaches and methods to teaching creative dance. I believe that the most effective way of doing it is starting the class off with a warm-up or ice-breaker so that students can get comfortable with each other. After everybody has introduced themselves, he class should play fun dance games, moving around the room all together and flowing with free movement. Then introducing a theme can allow a more specific form of dance but still keeping that creative dance form. After that making everyone partner up and taking turns to move around each other will help create a stronger bond between the class. Sharing afterwards to the whole class will allow students to feel less pressure and erase their shyness towards everyone else. Throughout all of these activities, the teacher must always be participating and encouraging students if they do well.

In conclusion, this class has been an experience that I really never thought I would have extremely enjoyed. I was very nervous about joining the class, but I am really glad I did. Taking this class did not only teach me, but it taught me how to teach. I realized that I have found interest in creative dance and teaching as well. I think that teaching children about dance when they are young will allow them to find a part of themselves that they may have never known even existed. It will give kids more confidence to be true to who they are and more importantly they won’t feel indifferent with anyone else. The number one lesson I learned throughout the course of the semester is that the most important part of a class is having a great teacher.

The Importance of Teaching Dance

Nicole Ferruggia

Over the course of the spring semester, I was enlightened by everything I learned, in the course Methods of Teaching Dance. Learning many different types of dance, and how to teach them to students was one thing that highlights the importance of learning the art of dance through a teaching aspect.

Dancing is a form of art that allows many children to express themselves through body motion while developing many skills. Children throughout the world have been dancing since the day they began walking. When a child takes their first steps and puts together the simplest combination of movements, that would be considered dancing. Music also plays a major role in the development of children understanding dance, because it is can be used as an accompaniment, and can help children get a better feel for the rhythm in dances.

Over the past century educators have concluded that dance serves as a form of art, and should be taught to help the growth in children of all ages both physically, mentally, and academically. Education in the art of dance engages the artistic processes of creating, performing and critical analysis. These processes require students to read symbols, use critical thinking skills, excel in nonverbal reasoning and communication, exchange ideas, work cooperatively and collaboratively with others, and interact within a society.

More comprehensively, education in the art of dance develops kinesthetic and spatial learning as well as intra- and interpersonal knowledge of self and others. It is apparent that the teacher combines different methods of learning to adapt to the children's needs in a classroom environment. Dance Teachers are responsible for leading dance classes for individuals or groups of people. Their duties are closely related to teaching various dancing techniques. These teachers give lessons to both children and adults by demonstrating dances before the class, in order to effectively teach students new moves.

A specific type of dance that resonates with me is creative dancing. This type of dance “combines movement with artistic expression. It doesn't require any extensive training, and it focuses on the development of motor skills and the expression of emotions.” Dance has always served a form of great exercise that allows people to express themselves through movement, and will continue to do so into the future. Dance education in the elementary level is a place that may need some help in child development, and the way to solve this problem is by getting classroom teachers who are skilled in dance and creative movement instruction.

An article written about “Using Dance Moves in Class to Engage Learning” responds to the overarching idea about dance education. Dance moves “can be used in boosting student’s interest in” learning. This idea can capitalize on the goal of being able to teach students different subjects with the help of the dance. Ultimately, utilizing dance in academics also helps children and students develop skills that are necessary for learning such as creativity, communication, and critical thinking. Through the creative process, students are encouraged to use their imagination, and collaborate with their peers to solve problems. It is for these exact reasons, that I believe that dance, and music are such a creative, unique way to teach children!

How to Share Space and Energy

Lonyee Eng

Often times in general education, the arts are overlooked and underfunded. Growing up, all I did was dance and play music. I stopped playing music as often but I continued with dance until I came to college and it wasn’t until high school where I really understood how important dance education is. There seems to be a lot of misconceptions about what dance education is and that’s what may make it seem less important or desirable than other topics.

Dance is the first thing every human learns. Before we could speak, we moved and danced. Throughout all of childhood, it’s ingrained in children’s minds to stay active to stay healthy and keep their minds engaged. According to the Advancing Dance Education in the Arts,

“Children move naturally. They move to achieve mobility, they move to express a thought or feeling, and they move because it is joyful and feels wonderful. When their movement becomes consciously structured and is performed with awareness for its own sake, it becomes dance.”

School dances allow students to express themselves through dance and through their choice in attire (similar to costumes in dance). Additionally, teaching dance history can be a great way to learn about various rituals. It can be a way to learn about different cultures and ages. There are people who find ways to connect to spirits and gods through dance. It is important to study how dance transformed and influenced the cultures and lifestyles we live today.

There’s so many benefits to dance whether it be physical, emotional, social and cognitive abilities. Dance allows people to build a greater range of motion, coordination, and strength. So much of it is either based on muscle movements or just learning through rhythm and beat. Children have the opportunity to express their emotions in movements rather than words which can be a challenge to some. Dance allows more children to become more socially aware and learn how to interact with others in different ways, learn more cultures, and how to share space and energy.

In high school and in Methods of Teaching Dance, I taught a tap class to a group of students. According to the Omaha School of Music and Dance, tap dance is a great way for students to become aware by audio. They have to be cognizant of what sounds they are making and how it relates to the beat of the music. Syncopation plays a huge role in self and group awareness and how to react to fast-pace environments. Tap is a high energy style and can build a lot of strength in ones feet, ankles, and legs.

Just from my mini-lesson, I was able to see my class having fun creating their own combinations. They enjoyed figuring out various rhythms and beats as a group. It showed teamwork and communication through all members. It required for them to experience memorization, practice, and understanding of physical movement concepts to be successful.

Overall dance education not only physically benefits children’s development (or anyone at any age), but also helps develop motor skills, mental skills, and social skills. Everyone’s abilities are different and many times, students are not made for the “STEM structure” schools’ curricula create. Creativity is in the basis of most school topics, yet the arts are the least common classes offered. Some students need the arts to be able to thrive and express themselves. Just from this pandemic, we can see how much people rely on the arts.

When quarantine occurred, we were not able to leave our homes so we resorted to arts… movies, music, TV shows, etc. It’s taken for granted, but it’s one of the things that makes life more interesting and unique. Dance education is something that should be taught in all schools, or at minimum considered as an elective. The benefits outweigh the costs and so many people could start feeling like they belong and have a place in the world, if this was offered.

Sources

Philosophy Underlying the Standards for Dance in Early Childhood. Philosophy, Early Childhood Standards - National Dance Education Organization. (n.d.). https://www.ndeo.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=893257&module_id=55419.
Tap Dancing for Kids: Tap Dancing Classes: OSMD: Omaha, NE. OSMD. (2019, October 3). https://www.omahaschoolofmusicanddance.com/our-blog/tap-dancing-kids/.

From Science to History to Reading

Jamie Karen

There are many benefits to teaching dance in schools. Students learn best when they play, move, and experience the world. What better way to do all of this, than through dance? In this class, I have learned that allowing students to move and explore themselves and the world around them will benefit their ability to learn. It also allows for students to learn through other techniques. Along with dance allowing students to learn in a different way, it also can improve students focus and improve their learning in a typical class setting.

Dance class in school has the same affects as gym class and recess, but with more benefits. When students are able to move, be themselves, and explore, they will become more focused in the classroom. Students are required to sit at a desk for seven hours a day, and then when they are not able to sit still for that long, they are falsely diagnosed with ADHD. Yes, ADHD is a disability that does affect someone's ability to focus; however, having an expectation that students will sit still for seven hours, five days a week is unrealistic.

In DAN 385, we learned that dance has the potential to teach students various subjects from science to history to reading. Giving students at least thirty minutes a day to dance can actually improve students ability to focus. According to help-guide, "Exercising regularly is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce the symptoms of ADHD and improve concentration, motivation, memory, and mood. Physical activity immediately boosts the brain's dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels—all of which affect focus and attention." A great and inclusive way to exercise is through dance.

Anyone can dance and everyone can enjoy dance because dance is the moving of the body! Dance has the ability to improve focus which can improve students' education. As a future educator, I realize that students are meant to play, move, and explore. I will utilize dance in my classroom. Dance will be a great recourse to help my students get their sillies out, explore, learn, and improve their focus in the classroom.

References

Robinson, L. et al. (n.d.).The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/the-mental-health-benefits-of-exercise.

A Way to Express Myself

Julia Weiss

Going into this class, I was very excited but did not know what to expect because the previous dance classes I had taken revolved around learning modern dance in comparison to learning how to teach dance to others. Throughout the class, I gained a plethora of knowledge on teaching dance to all different age groups as well as created my own lesson plan and taught my own dance class to my peers. It was amazing to see how everyone’s teaching lesson was so unique and incorporated the important aspects of successfully teaching dance to others. My favorite aspect of the class was learning about creative dance and allowing students to express themselves in unique ways through a non-judgmental and welcoming environment. This was something that really stuck with me due to the fact that I personally think having the ability to express ourselves uniquely though dance is a beautiful thing. Additionally, It was interesting to learn how important it is to design a lesson plan that caters to the age group and level of competency.

According to Yovanka B. Lobo and Adam Winsler at George Mason University, “Creative dance is defined as the interpretation of a child’s ideas, feelings and sensory impressions expressed symbolically in movement forms through unique uses of his/her body” (Lobo & Winsler, 2006). Creative dance is an excellent way for children to explore new physical, social and emotional territories as well as strengths and weaknesses through use of dance. This type of dance encourages innovation in children. Additionally, creative dance enables children to become more aware of their body and the space surrounding them in a class full of other students (Lobo & Winsler, 2006). In class we watched a video of a children’s creative dance class in San Diego which provided us with examples of creative games, dance sequences, improvisation and choreography to incorporate for 6-11 year old boys and girls when teaching creative dance. This was a great example of different activities that can be incorporated into teaching a creative dance class that grabs the attention of the children and teaches the class in an extremely fun and interactive way.

Not only do I believe that creative dance classes are an amazing approach for teaching children, it is important that each class is taught based on the age group and competency level. In class we discussed the importance of having knowledge related to theoretic foundations when creating our own teaching methodology and the use of Piaget’s theory of cognitive development and Erikson theory of psycho-social development. For example, Piaget’s theory of cognitive development provides stages of which children develop. By learning about these stages of development it can “…help us explain children’s behavior and guide us in teaching dance” (Stinson, 1985). By incorporating Piaget’s duel aspects of accommodation and assimilation we can help children meet new challenges, solve new problems, engage in repetition and practicing as well as engaging in a unique form of dance. (Stinson, 1985).

Overall, this class has been an extremely positive and knowledgeable experience for me. I have always loved dance as a way to express myself in a unique way. This class gave me knowledge and insight into how to teach others dance and teach them how to express themselves in a unique way. In addition, learning the competencies of different age groups and how to teach different ages of children will further help me when working with children as a pediatric nurse in the future. This class was a great learning experience that I will take with me the rest of my life.

References

Lobo, Y. B., & Winsler, A. (2006). The effects of a creative dance and movement program on the social competence of head start preschoolers. Social Development, 15(3), 501-519. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9507.2006.00353.x

Stinson, S.W. (1985, Spring/Summer). Piaget for dance educators: A theoretical study. Dance Research Journal, l7(1), 9-16.

Learning How to Become a Better Dance Educator

Eda Karagoz

I grew up dancing in a dance studio that had a large variety of students ranging from age two all the way to age twenty-one. I watched my teachers interact very differently with the younger kids versus the adults. Once I entered high school, I was asked to assist in several dance classes. I started by helping the “Baby Ballet” class and later came back to help with the high schoolers once I entered college. I was in for quite a surprise once I started to help with the younger kids. It was very challenging to get everyone’s attention and oftentimes we spent more time trying to get the class to focus rather than to dance. I quickly learned that toddler-aged children have a hard time leaving their parents when entering class, need to be assisted when using the bathroom, require a lot of direction, have difficulty paying attention, and staying on task.

These experiences taught me that as a teacher you have to come extremely prepared for your classes in order to have the most productive learning experience. However, it was difficult for me to come up with an actual structured plan since I didn’t have prior teaching experience. Professor Morejon has given me a wide variety of tools throughout this course that I can use to help prepare for lessons and various teaching environments. A specific tool for instruction that we used in this course was the “20 Tips for Creating a Safe Learning Environment” (Alber2011). One of the tips that stood out to me was “Community Build All Year Long.” It is very important to create a space for children in which they feel comfortable around their peers and instructors.

There were many dance classes that I took when I was younger where there was no opportunity for engagement with other students. I think this largely was a result of the structure of the class and the instructor not prioritizing fostering a collaborative environment. This made learning harder than it should’ve been because a lot of students would hesitate to ask each other questions when they were confused and it also led to a competitive dance environment. There was no sense of “community” or “team” building.

Another tip that I found will be helpful in my teaching is “Follow Through with Consequences.” I once had a dance teacher that was extremely strict about her rules and was very serious about teaching dancers how to be disciplined. We were not allowed to dance if we showed up in the wrong uniform, didn’t memorize the choreography, or were late to class. There were no exceptions made for anyone and this made it clear that every student in the classroom had to follow the rules. Although this seemed stressful when I was younger, I am very grateful for this teacher and the valuable life lessons I learned from her class. She was great at holding us accountable and making sure that we took our dance education as seriously as she took her teaching.

An additional source that I found online details strategies for building a “productive and positive learning environment” (Loveless 2018). I appreciate how this author used the term “positive” as this is a crucial aspect of influencing your students and creating a space in which students are excited to learn. Positivity can help benefit the way students view themselves and view others. It can also encourage students to treat each other with respect, motivate others, and come to class every day with a good work ethic. I hope to exhibit positive behaviors consistently in my classes one day and serve as a model for my students to do the same.

Overall, I’ve had a great semester learning about how I can better provide for my students and create a safe learning environment. I hope to come up with my own list of strategies that work best with my teaching philosophy, which is to create a learning environment where students feel comfortable enough to embrace their individual, unique identities and their strengths and weaknesses in the classroom/studio.

The Benefits of Dance in Today’s Educational System

Gabrielle Vangruber

Elements of dance help children express a thought or feeling that is otherwise too powerful for words to contain. Through dance, children learn a great deal of motion, coordination, and endurance from natural movements(Payne & Costas, 2020). Incorporating dance in today’s education system will contribute to a child’s growth. Education in the form of art is the essence of humanity.

On a larger scale, dance plays a vital role in the physical development, emotional maturity, and social awareness of younger minds. Utilizing dance in an academic environment will provide children with unique learning opportunities. Along with that, children will be immersed in an environment that brings out the best in themselves. Creative movement can have a positive impact in nurturing one’s talent. Additionally, dance encourages physical well-being, a strong sense of self-identity, and a deeper appreciation for others (Payne & Costas, 2020).

Through participation in dance class, children can learn posture and the principles of balance. Not only is dance a great outlet for physical exercise, but it is also a fun war for children to release their energy and excitement. Dance class is also a place where children can communicate with one another. Through these interactions, kids can create long-lasting relationships with children their age (Howe,2020). By creating an atmosphere that encourages collaboration and teamwork, children can move in a group and synchronize. Collaborative movement projects will ultimately improve one’s socialization and communication skills (Howe, 2020).

By working in a group dynamic, children will build trust with other students, removing any feelings of isolation or alienation. Through creative movement, children can learn how to follow instructions and listen for cues (Payne & Costas, 2020). Exposure to dance introduces kinesthetic learning mechanisms. This includes counting, rhyming, and improvisation. It is otherwise known as the learning by doing approach (Carter, 1984). This approach was developed by John Dewey, an American philosopher (Carter 1984). In his philosophy of education, he explains that children learn most readily through experiences (Carter 1984). As children observe and choreograph different dance techniques, they develop strategies for memory retrieval. In this approach, children learn the art of dance through physical and sensory experiences.

In many ways, dance inspires kids to try new things and sparks creativity. Learning dance at an early age generates sensory awareness and most importantly, teaches children valuable life lessons (Payne & Costas, 2020). These lessons will eventually transfer over into many areas of the child’s life. Whether it be ballet, hip hop, jazz, or free-range motion, dance positively affects a child’s personal development. In summary, dance has many benefits and inspires a greater motivation to learn. With English, math, social studies, and science all playing a key role in school curricula, dance should be a part of the schedule too.

References

Carter, C. (1984). The State of Dance in Education:Past and Present. Theory Into Practice, 23(4), 293-299. Retrieved May 2, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/1476383

Helen Payne, B. (n.d.). Creative dance as experiential learning in state primary education:The potential benefits for children - Helen Payne, Barry Costas, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2021, from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1053825920968587

The importance of dance in education. (2020, January 31). Retrieved April 28, 2021, fromhttps://mcsdurham.org/blog/the-importance-of-dance-in-education

Dance is Limitless

Talia Renner

Dance is a form of expression through movement. It allows us to express our most inner thoughts and feelings without using words nor speech. It is an exceptional phenomenon, whose power society tends to underestimate. Throughout history, humans have been dancing for a variety of purposes. However, it is not until the emergence of new pedagogical research that we see the positive impact that this art form can have on our students's well-being. This is why there should be a broader range of dance education available across grade levels, degrees of needs and age groups.

Dance education could help people understand the benefits of expression through alternative ways of moving the body. This is why Dance/Movement Therapy, Music Therapy, and Art Therapy are so helpful in school settings. They allow students to express themselves in various forms. Consequently, students gain the therapeutic benefits that derive from it.

Dance could be a great way to treat a wide variety of issues. Obesity, for instance, is a very prevalent condition in the US. Although it is highly linked to eating habits; it is also linked to having a sedentary lifestyle. If we could teach students to dance, they would have more movement in their lives. This could also help students with eating disorders. I remember reading last semester that DMT has a positive outcome in young females who experience eating disorders. It teaches them to accept their body and develop a more positive image of their bodies.

Another example would be its impact on students with addictive symptoms. These types of students tend to recur to specific activities or substances that will generat for them feelings of well-being. A great way to help this population is through dance and art, as these become new ways of coping mechanisms and hobbies instead of going back to their bad habits.

One last example is how dance can improve neuron-degenerating illnesses for students with special needs. Dance generates different neuronal connections in the brain that allow the person is suffering from this illness to slow their degeneration processes and even improve their symptoms. As we can see, dance could genuinely help us treat our students. We need more dance teachers so that there can be more students who can express themselves and help others do the same through dance.

I learned from this course that the style, music, or age that we teach is not genuinely relevant. As dance teachers, I think it is essential to teach others how significant dance and movement can be. It is not only because of the therapeutic benefits but also because it helps us connect with each other and with ourselves. It allows us educators to connect with our students through movements as it removes all of the barriers that could be limiting communication. The main takeaway from this course is that dance is limitless, and so is its power to make education more effective.

How Dance Helps Children’s Development and Learning

Ran Lampert

It is imperative that parents help their children stay active from a young age. Whether it be some form of physical activity, song, dance, etc., it all plays a larger than expected role in child development. According to articles written by Kendra Moyses of the Michigan State University Extension Team and the YMCA Children’s Programs, it is in the best interest of children to get their bodies and minds active as early in their lives as possible. “Movement in children can help increase memory, perception, language, attention, emotion and decision making” (Moyses, 2012). Movement helps children gain a sense of hand-eye coordination while also developing their sense of understanding. It is fascinating to think that something as simple as letting your child play with toys or simple puzzles can stimulate their minds and better prepare them for their future school days. Moyses states that the ability to draw a connection between the words/sounds of a song and a movement at a young age increases learning by 90%.

Song and dance can be important for children at a young age as it helps them develop social skills as well. According to the YMCA Children’s Programs, “It also teaches children how to interact with other people, objects and the world around them” (YMCA, 2020). The article went on to make a very good point in that the majority of us even learned our ABC’s through song at a young age. It was easy to assume that it was just turned into song in order to entertain and captivate children while trying to educate them in the process, but it seems as though it was turned into a song for greater purposes. In addition, singing, moving, and dancing helps children get a better understanding of language and basic communication skills.

“Rhyming in songs provides exercise for the brain and develops valuable memory skills” (YMCA, 2020). Encouraging children to provoke thought from a young age is critical in order to properly equip them for situations in the future. This gets children in the habit of exerting any sort of mental capacity and is great for muscle memory. “If children are copying an adult or learning a set dance such as ‘the chicken dance’, their listening and understanding skills will be improved” (YMCA, 2020). As mentioned earlier, this ability to draw a connection between sound and movement from a young age can truly go a long way for the development of a child.

Additionally, song, dance, movement, and music are also activities that allow kids to express themselves while also connecting with other children. “Singing and using instruments boosts their creativity and can easily be done in groups to improve their social skills and help them bond with others” (YMCA, 2020). It encourages children to be more willing to open up and interact with other children. Articles by Moyses and the YMCA Children’s Programs highlight some of the key takeaways of movement and how it can positively impact children. Both go as far as providing examples of how to keep your children active and how to encourage them to use their minds.

In conclusion, it is evident that movement, dance, and music can only benefit a young child’s development. Whether it be a physical, mental, or even a spiritual improvement, there are various ways it can be advantageous for children to stay active. Today’s kids are tomorrow’s future. We must take this information and do everything in our power to put these children in a position to succeed.

Works Cited:

Children's Programs, Y. M. C. A. (October 27, 2020). How Music and Dance can Help Your Child’s Development

https://childrensprograms.ymca.org.au/newsblogs/2020/10/27/how-music-and-dance-can-help-your-childs-development.

Kendra Moyses, M. S. U. E. (May 30, 2012). Movement Can Increase Learning in Children. MSU Extension. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/movement_can_increase_learning_in_children.

Body-Storming: Social Justice, Health Issues and Other Global Concerns

Willie Herenton

We experience forms of dance on a daily basis without even knowing. The way we move and express ourselves naturally without speaking could be considered forms of dance. I believe dance dance education benefits students both mentally and physically. It makes children view academic issues deeply and from a different perspective. Teaching various forms of dance is a great way to learn about different cultures.

Dance is symbolic to what people believe in. I feel that dance education is something that should be taught as a regular subject. A good topic that I think would be important is educating students on various issues surrounding social justice, health issues, or other global issues going on in the world. The objective would be for students to be able to take away something positive that they find interesting in their own environment. Dance teachers can also express their own feelings about global issues by teaching a choreographed dance based on issues of their choice.

Planning and performing a dance allows teachers to raise awareness about certain issues that are going on in the world today. Through movement, teachers can educate students about certain problems. This experience could involve a performance as well as a learning project. The way the design process would be structured is first by brainstorming ideas surrounding each issue and then "body-storming" to associate these ideas with movements. Body-storming is using your body instead of your mind to generate movement ideas.

This can be used to connect the mind and body to access feelings one may want to express. This is similar to what we do in class when we sit in groups and brainstorm to come up with ideas about how we want to choreograph a dance phrase. This would not be a class where the instructor choreographs and tells students what to do. One example of a dance that can be created due to social justice issues could be creating a dance that portrays what the protests have been like over the past year. Another idea could be based on a dance where people wear masks to highlight the importance of staying safe during COVID and staying six feet apart from each other.

One of the articles I researched mentions a dance expressing social justice issues. The dance was to showcase the power of dance in interpreting and dealing with pressing social issues. The students performed the show in different parts with each telling its own story about the different issues going on. I just feel like this is an example of what could be a very effective lesson. Also, the second link in my references shows a video of a group of dancers expressing how they feel about social justice around the world. I thought this also was a great idea to implement when planning a dance lesson.

References

Hoving, Kate. “A Passion for Dance and Justice.” William & Mary, 30 Sept. 2019, www.wm.edu/news/stories/2019/a-passion-for-dance-and-justice.php.

Dance as protest; say their names-see their names-feel their names | NW Tap Connection | TEDxSeattlehttps://youtu.be/vnnDztTcklI

It Just Feels Good!

Paloma Alvarez

In Dance Education, when dancers have the ability to improvise, they are given the opportunity to freely express themselves through movement. Being a dancer myself, I’ve learned to appreciate the moments in which I’m allowed to move without any restrictions or limitations. Incorporating elements of improvisation in the dance room can be extremely beneficial to the students involved. Improvising allows students to relax, tap into their senses, and explore their creativity.

Without a doubt, moments of improvisation allow the students to relax for the time being. Rather than receiving instruction, students get to create their own movements. This allows for moments of relaxation if needed. Improvisation in the classroom (for the most part) consists of students moving freely to ‘slower’ music. The slow tempo offers pauses and opportunities to breath.

Utilizing the breathe helps students feel calm and at one with their body as well as the music. I personally like to improvise at the end of a dance class. This provides a great opportunity to cool down after a long and tiring class! Additionally, improvisation allows students to tap into their senses. Teachers can use these senses to influence their students' movements at the given moment. For example, a teacher can instruct a student to 'improv' as if they were feeling cold.

Movements that may resemble shivering and recreating a warm embrace may arise as a result of the teacher's suggestion. When the teacher leads an improvisation section, I’ve always believed that it’s important for them to give directions to their students. Directions can help the students become aware of their senses and the environment around them. Finally, improvisation allows students to be creative. Allowing an individual to move however they want helps them get more creative over time.

When improvising, a student must decide what their body, arms, legs, face, hands, etc. are doing. It’s difficult to meticulously plan out what each body part will do (especially, in the moment). Practicing improvisation allows students to get comfortable with dancing on the spot to any kind of music. All in all, including improvisation sessions during the class period allows students to relax, tap into their senses, and explore their creativity. It allows the students to move freely and become one with their bodies.

The act of improvisation in the classroom builds the students' confidence and allows them to build an array of necessary skills. As I mentioned previously, improvising has always been one of my favorite things to do in any dance class. The feeling of moving freely, without instruction, is one of the best feelings one could experience in a dance class. To put it simply, it just feels good!

Dance Education for Underprivileged Students

Anette Rizo

In her Master of Arts’ thesis, Regina Pietraroia highlights how on top of arts education in public schools being underfunded in the United States, “the arts are being treated more and more as if they are superfluous subjects” (Pietraroia 1). While relating to said under-funding, as a high school teacher in California, Pietraroia explained the benefits of the arts, particularly dance. The art of dancing has a great impact on working families, economically challenged communities, and communities dealing with gang violence. As someone who benefited from a public-school education with a Fine Arts-Dance concentration, I agree with Pietraroia’s viewpoint.

After studying dance education for four years, I was able to gain skills that would later benefit my career choice within the law. My ability to read emotion and body language has prepared me for my future carrier. For the legal profession, it is necessary to understand the unspoken language of either a defendant or plaintiff when determining where the scales of justice will lean. As dancers, we are programed to understand the story behind one’s choreography through the technique, facial expression, and one's own choice of music. By doing so, dancers often learn who the performer is without knowing the person.

“The discipline of dance, with its controlled use of movement and space, would increase a student’s awareness of the effects of his or her actions on the surrounding people and landscape” (Pietraroia 10). Dance has also proven to enhance the hippocampus. The hippocampus is the area of the brain that activates one’s learning and memory. It allows the student to retain not only the choreography they are learning, but the lessons being taught in classes such as Mathematics, English, Science, and Social Sciences.

To solidify my argument, I will reference Pietraroia who conducted a group study in which students were randomly selected to participate in a creative movement course. Upon reaching her conclusion, she noted that as a result of learning creative movement, students gained greater social skills. It is beneficial for underprivileged students to have access to Fine Arts disciplines as they would also have access to other subjects taught in primary and secondary school. Should politicians continue removing funds, they will be harming the education of our children.

Hopefully, as younger generations become more involved in the arts and in public policy, we shall see a shift towards continuous funding for dance programs. More opportunities need to be available within the educational community. Having Fine Arts programs in all public schools, particularly in dance, would help create better professionals in all fields. These will shape our world for the better which seems not only necessary for underprivileged students, but also for all children.

Citation:

Pietraroia, Regina. THE EFFECTS OF DANCE EDUCATION ON THE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE OF UNDERSERVED STUDENTS. 2011. https://etd.ohiolink.edu/apexprod/rws_etd/send_file/send?accession=akron1321294319&disposition=inline

Teacher-Child Relationships in Early Education

Melina Asnani

When it comes to teacher-child relationships, it is important to maintain a good relationship and dynamic as this allows students to have the best learning environment. In order to promote positive teacher-child relationships, it is important to foster the child’s learning. A teacher should always have a positive impact in a child's life. Looking back on my own teacher-student relationships, there are certain teachers who I can confidently say made an important impact on my life.

There certain teachers that really encouraged me to become to person I am today. While every teacher-child relationship is extremely important, perhaps one of the most crucial is that of an early childhood educator and their students. Students are greatly affected by their teachers at a young age whether they know it or not.

According to the Early Learning Network, "evidence shows that young children's positive interactions with teachers strengthen all aspects of their development, including language, cognition and socio-economic skills, regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnic, language and income level". These young kids spend about 7 hours a day, 5 days a week, with teachers that they look up to. Therefore, the teacher must be sure that they are bonding with the child in order to form an encouraging and trusting teacher-child relationship.

There are many ways to build a positive teacher-child relationship. According to Fun Early Learning, five key strategies include getting to know the child individually, expressing empathy, comfort and safety, having a positive attitude, setting expectations, encouragement and support, and joining in with activities. For an early childhood educator, these are simple ways to bond and create great relationships with students.

To get to know the child individually allows the child to feel comfortable with the teacher, and feel like they know the teacher on an individual basis. Empathy, comfort and safety are basic virtues that a teacher must provide for a student in their classroom, regardless of the child’s age. However, at a young age, when a child is first taken into school and away from their parents, it is especially important that the child feels safe and comfortable.

This is also true in regards to the "setting expectations, encouragement and support" strategy. It allows the child to not only feel comfortable, but excel in his/her learning environment. Having a positive attitude creates a happier environment for younger students., Lastly, joining in activities allows the teacher to interact with the student and offer suggestions.

Overall, the bond between a student and their teacher is extremely important, especially for early childhood educators, as this sets the standard for a child's relationship with future teachers or professors. A positive teacher-child relationship will result in a more supported and encouraged child, which will impact the child's life for the better.

Sources:

Early Learning Network (n.d.).

https://earlylearningnetwork.unl.edu/2019/05/20/teacher-child-relationships/

Challenging Behaviors.

https://challengingbehavior.cbcs.usf.edu/docs/whatworks/WhatWorksBrief_12.pdf

The Benefit of Teaching Dance

Kristen Wright

In today’s society creative arts in dance, art, and music are widely underfunded in schools. What the government and education system doesn’t understand is just how important the arts are for developing minds. Young students see the world differently when they are exposed to the joys of dance movement in early childhood development. In this class, I have learned the importance of teaching students dance through insightful and thought-provoking techniques. The curriculum we learned about in this course help students improve their focus and ability to translate emotion into movement.

What stood out to me the most this semester was creative movement through improvisation. I believe improvisation gives students a sense of freedom to express themselves in different ways. Often times in today’s society we overlook the fact that dance actually aides in teaching students how to convey their emotions and feelings in a healthy way. Improvisation is directly linked to the fine tuning of motor skills and cognitive memory.

In addition, students should feel that they can create their own movement in a judgement free zone in order to get the most out of the course. This is important for a dance teacher to recognize as the goal of improvisation is to let students move freely. There are different methods to teaching improvisation. Personally, I believe an improv class should start with a quick warm up, followed by in-depth improvisation exercises, and concluding with a brief cool down stretch. Teachers should keep in mind that following a curriculum is beneficial to students because it keeps them focused and helps the class to flow.

In conclusion, I have really enjoyed my time in this course. The professor always led the class with vigor and energy and it inspired all of us as students to engage throughout the course. I also really enjoyed taking part in everyone’s individual dance lessons. I learned so many different types of dance including belly dancing, modern, jazz, and ballet.

The Importance of Making Dance Education Playful

Anastassia Cafatti

It is unrealistic to put a four-year-old in a ballet class and expect them to become professional dancers with the snap of a finger. The brain of a four-year-old cannot be held to the same standards as that of a ten-year-old. For that exact reason, I believe that play is an essential component of early dance experiences, that will also, in a way, frame the rest of children's life-long relationship with dance. Play is often overlooked. Not enough importance is given to it. However, for teachers it is essential that they put themselves into their student’s shoes.

What is effective teaching for one age group might not be for another. Adaptability was something that we learned in class. Teachers should adapt to circumstances and needs. Say we are interested in teaching young children dance. We need to put ourselves in their shoes. How do children learn best? Children learn through play, experience, and creativity. Play allows children that room and space to be free, to let go, to have fun, and to learn while doing. Play can be used as a medium or as a way to achieve a goal, which is what I want to explore in this paper.

Often times, you see ballet teachers going over the five basic ballet positions over and over again with five-year-old children. The little girls cannot focus for the whole time they are repetitively going through and perfecting each move. As a consequence, the teacher loses patience and ends up screaming at the kids for not staying still. This way of teaching is not effective for the teacher, or engaging for the students, and will in the long run cause them to feel resentment against the art of dance and the teacher. How many children have quit dancing after growing up because it wasn’t something that they truly enjoyed, but something they did to please their parents? The way in which we present dance to little children will be extremely important in shaping their future development within this artistic field.

In the magazine Staten Island Parent: Making Parents Make Better Decisions, they have an informative article called Playful Ways to Explore Creative Dance With Kids. This article is a part of a series of educational articles to help parents support their child’s educational experience. They make a lot of emphasis on the fact that children were born to move and that this process of achieving mobility drives them to learn. This explains why children are constantly moving. They are interested in exploring and figuring out how the world around them works.

Movement is also a way for them to express their thoughts and feelings. Many times, children do not know the words for their feelings, but are able to express them through movement or facial expressions. Preschoolers, toddlers, and young children are primed to be in motion throughout the day. They naturally learn by playing and doing things actively. This gives them a feeling of pure joy, which is the motivation they need to learn and keep moving.

Dance is an amazing outlet for children to leave their energy behind. Many children often get misdiagnosed with ADHD and other disabilities because of their want to move. Shutting that down, only makes it worse. Dance is an outlet for expression and for learning. As the National Dance Education Organization states in Standards for Dance in Early Education, “Dance is a natural method for learning and a basic form of cultural expression. Children learn movement patterns as readily as they learn language.”

In class we often discussed the importance of play and of making classes fun and engaging for children. We watched many videos of teachers showing children songs that have dance instructions within them. We have seen yoga teachers making fun scenes and breaking down yoga into a playful way for children to learn and explore without getting bored. It is all about the approach that is being used.

I honestly believe that because play is such an important aspect of development, dance should be a prerequisite in every school. As the National Dance Education Organization explains:

While our educational systems for early childhood include drawing and singing, they often neglect to include dance. Society at large, teachers, and parents are generally less familiar with dance than with other art forms. Opportunities to dance are usually found in private studios and are less often integrated into preschool and kindergarten programs.”

I think this is a big mistake in that dance not only provides for a space to move, but for one to express what one is feeling inside. There are so many psychological, emotional, physical, and social benefits to dancing. Through dance you can learn about shapes, about how to tell stories, about moving like animals, about the seasons, about following rhythms and sounds, about copying others, about what it feels like to be the leader and have others follow you, etc. All games that are already played in classrooms could include dancing and movement which would add so much more excitement to the learning activities.

Dance is for everyone: every age, every gender, every body type, every human. It should be instilled from a young age and should take the form of play early on in life. If you want to create professional dancers, make them fall in love with movement and expression and creativity before limiting their capabilities to whether they can stay still and learn moves by heart. Dance is so versatile that it can be paired with any subject to be transformed into an educational experience. Include the ability to play and let children do their own thing. I promise you, as a teacher, you will be surprised.

Citations

Advancing Dance Education in the Arts. (n.d.). Retrieved May 10, 2021, from https://www.ndeo.org/

Artlander. (2021, February 15). Creative dance approach. Retrieved May 10, 2021, from https://dan385methodologyspring2021.blogspot.com/2021/02/creative-dance-childrens-creative-dance.html

Maller, D. (2020, October 20). Playful ways to explore creative dance with kids. Retrieved May 10, 2021, from https://www.siparent.com/dance-with-me-playful-ways-to-explore-dance-with-your-child/

Standards for Dance in Early Education. (n.d.). Retrieved May 10, 2021, from https://www.ndeo.org/

Normalizing Dance Education in Schools

Catiana Romain

“The arts are not just expressive and affective; they are deeply

cognitive.” (EVIDENCE: A Report on the Impact of Dance in the

K-12 Setting (2013)) The need for art programs in our schools is

apparent now more than ever. Art is used as a creative outlet for ideas

to be created, processed and then applied. Instead of teaching

students how or what to think we should show facilitate a safe

environment for those thoughts to be articulated and expressed.

Dance is any amazing way to do so, simply because everyone can

dance. We dance through our pedestrian movements, to the way we

talk to people and even how we sleep. Dance is an art form that is

part of everyday life, but only some people seem to understand that,

and to fix that, we need to reintegrate the importance of dance

education which has neurological benefits, uplifts the morale of the

students and the teachers and supports new teaching processes.

A dance education allows a student to benefit neurologically. It has

been shown that physical exercises allow more blood to flow to the

brain. This leads to a child that can sit and focus on the task at hand

whether that be a lecture or reading a book or participating in

individual study with ease. There is a sort of dedication to getting

their work done as well as an increased attention span which is

extremely hard to get from children under the age of 5. But

incorporating dance into their lives the attention span will grow

much quicker and easily. The increase in cognitive functioning also

fuels long-term retention. This occurs when the child partakes in

active learning to properly process and store the information which

then allow them to make the proper connections to previous subjects

and even apply these connections to any and everything in their daily

live to be better students.

The better the students, the better the morale of the teachers and

overall, the whole institution of education. It is found that students

with dance education are able to handle stressful situations, perform

well in hard subjects such as the STEM courses and have better

interactions with their peers. That is because these students have a

creative outlet. This outlet not only raises the productivity of the

students but keeps them in a state of joy. They are no longer

complacent with mediocre effort which in turn motivates the teachers

to teach and challenge their students to work harder for themselves,

because there is no other rewarding feeling in the world than

knowing you put your all into something and it worked out exactly

how you envisioned it would. The students are better behaved, and

willing to work, the sports teams are performing well in their

respective divisions; respect is at an all time high. Best of all, the

morale is reflected in the test scores of the school.

Our society measures a students’ understanding of the topics taught

in the class through assessments. An education in dance offers

students the ability to think through the questions to properly answer

them. Suddenly students can easily do math problems in the same

way that they can write essays or play video games. The STEM

classes are no longer a chore because dance has revolutionized the

way that they answer questions, as well as give them the confidence

those questions in the first place. There have been studies that have

shown that dance students outperform non-dance education students

in all of the required academic courses.

All in all, dance education is a necessity in our education system for

the overall improvement of the school experience for student. For

one thing dance education encourages a higher school morale which

in turn provides better teacher and students alike. Has neurological

benefits of improved cognitive functioning for long-term memory

and better processing of information. As well as higher test scores in

subjects like science and math. DAN 385 has taugh me

that there is a vast field in ways of teaching which emphasizes the

point that there are different ways of learning. Studies have shown

that with dance education included in our general education

curriculum we produce morewell-rounded individuals and what a

better way to ensure a better future for our world than with students

who have broader perspectives to solve our worlds’ problems.

Citations

Bradley, Karen, et al. Evidence: A Report on the Impact of Dance in the K-12 Setting. 2014.

Teaching Dance and the Importance of Mental Health

Nina Villanueva

Mental health is an extremely important topic that plays a role in individual’s everyday lives. A person’s mental health can affect them in several settings, not only at home, at work, at their extracurricular activities, but also at school. Having good mental health should be prioritized by everyone as it can affect their mood, ability, and energy levels. A student with high mental health is more probable to do better in school and have more motivation to do things and get things done.

In a school setting, it should be a joint effort to retain good mental health all around. Speaking from personal experience, it has been hard to keep mental health high with all the chaos of the world during the pandemic and adjusting back to school. Some teachers have been expecting more from their students surprisingly since we are sometimes online and it can just overwhelm me when I do work full time, go to school full time, all while trying to apply to grad school to become a nurse. I try my hardest and it can feel like teachers do not care, but one thing that I am so grateful for in the class is to learn that the teacher does care about your well-being and so do your peers. Handling mental health has become easier for me with this class embodying an environment of love, acceptance, and overall fun.

Dance has great benefits for mental health and can help a person relieve their stress, anxiety, and depression if experiencing any of them. Dance allows you to feel free, open, and lets creativity flow beyond your limits. Although dance can be beneficial for your overall physical wellness, it has long lasting affects even after your dance experience. For example, A Swedish researcher did an experiment in which 100 girls who struggled with poor mental health were studied. 50 girls were put into dance classes while the other 50 were not. To no surprise, the 50 that attended dance classes had better mental health than the 50 that did not dance. What was surprising though was that the mood boost lasted to about 8 months after they had stopped the dance class (MindWise, 2019). I think this connects to the class as we learn that what we learn in the class can be reflected on our future jobs and how we treat others even if we are not dance teachers.

Although a rarity, dance can sometimes be detrimental to health, but not in the way many people think. The dancing itself is not harmful, but the person who teaches it can be deteriorating the student’s mental health. Many old school dance teachers have an authoritarian approach and like to tell us what to do without be conscious if what we are doing is actually making us happy. Sometimes forcing students to do something can make them feel like it’s a strenuous task. In an article I found, a quote really stuck with me that stated, “We are told to be better and a lot of times are not told how to become better” (Ducci n.d.). We learned throughout the semester that teaching philosophy is a key component of a plan as a dance teacher. Eight years ago, I quit dancing due to a dance teacher that made me not enjoy myself and actually feel worse when being at dance. If she would have taken another approach on her teaching philosophy, she would not had affected so many of her students’ mental health.

People can speak about improving mental health, but nothing will actually happen until someone takes initiative to change it. As a dance teacher, one can start improving students’ mental health right in the studio or classroom. I like how a dance teacher who owns a studio in Wisconsin builds her studio around “progress over perfection” and offers her students resources to improving their mental health (Marks, 2018). This prioritizes the student and makes sure they are good before making the studio better through their dance. We learned in class about ways we could check in with students and how a teacher at times does not have to always be the teacher but could also be the support system as a role model or a life coach.

In conclusion, dance and mental health go hand in hand. Dance is extremely beneficial to humans not only physically but mentally as well. Yet, when the dance teacher takes the wrong approach on their teaching philosophy, a student’s experience can be ruined, and their mental health can decline. Dance is supposed to be fun, allowing you to be creative and express yourself in ways that make you happy. I am so thankful for dance in my life and it has truly changed my mental health for the better.

References

“Dancing and Mental Health.” MindWise, 19 Feb. 2019, www.mindwise.org/blog/mental-health/dancing-and-mental-health/.

Ducci, Joao. “Mental Health in Dance – It's Time to Break the Silence.” PDF, escholarship.org/content/qt4350c5k9/qt4350c5k9_noSplash_2ef865eb71ae3941877c1ff409b4eb2a.pdf?t=pz4hnp. 

Marks, Andrea. “This Studio Owner Built a Program That Prioritizes Mental Health Among Dancers.” Dance Teacher, 9 Mar. 2018, dance-teacher.com/this-studio-owner-built-a-program-that-prioritizes-mental-health-among-dancers/. 

Importance of Dance for Creative and Critical Thinking

Ashley Howell

From a young age, it was evident how much of an impact dance has on my life. Although I was aware of the large impact it has on my life, I was unable to pinpoint the exact reason in which dance has caused such a multitude of benefits in my life. From taking this class, I was able to take a backstage approach to see how these dance classes are fabricated and learn the reason behind dance’s long-lasting and positive impact on life. Today, I accredit my creativity to dance.

Through various improv classes beginning at such a young age, dance has allowed me to explore past the normal boundaries of a classroom and strive to learn more creative pathways. After taking Methods of Teaching Dance, we learned how these dance classes connect the mind and the body. Through learning about Dewey’s concepts on education and dance and the book, Creative Rhythmic Movement for Children by Glady Andrews, it is evident that dance promotes creativity in youth.

Creative and critical thinking are necessary within the current education system. Schools place a large emphasis on critical thinking, but then strictly teach math and science in the classroom with little room to explore the arts or creativity. According to an article published by the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance “…critical thinking involves dispositions, creative thinking, problem-solving, decision making, and meta-cognition” (Chen). Thus, making it an obvious choice to include critical thinking practices into the school day for young students. However, this idea of creativity within the realm of critical thinking is often lost. Likewise, dance philosopher John Dewey explained a concept called “democratic learning” which in short means learning by doing. In today’s classroom, most of the day is characterized by long hours sitting at a desk. If dance is incorporated into the student’s lives, there will be an increase in creativity and, therefore, an increase in critical thinking.

When I was younger, I often wrote many fictional short stories. Each year, my teacher would ask me where I got my ideas from and my answer every time was from dance. Dance integrates critical thinking into student’s early years. Although educational systems try to incorporate critical thinking into everyday activities, dance is the epitome of integrated art. An example of how dance promotes creativity was studied by Weiyun Chen in which he concluded that “The findings in this study indicated that the teacher integrated the children's prior knowledge and life experiences with learning the content of creative dance. This linkage stimulated the children's desires for interpreting and generating ideas about a dance” (Chen 2001). Using dance as a creative form then translates into other aspects of the child’s learning and is then illustrated by their achievements in school.

In this class, a book that we mentioned was titled Creative Rhythmic Movement for Children by Glady Andrews. This novel emphasized the “whole” child; an ideal model of a child based on learning through movement. Again, emphasizing the importance of using dance to promote creativity and education. After taking this class, it is evident emphasizing dance within a child’s normal school day will result in advanced creativity and critical thinking skills. For me, it provides a way for the mind to relax and forgot about all of the stress that is associated with the high-intensity science courses at this University. Using movement to connect my body with my mind helps to promote those critical thinking skills by enhancing my creativity which disperses into my other fields of study.

I am extremely grateful that I was able to take this class this spring semester. Although I have always loved to dance, this class made me realize the reason behind my love for the art. Dance has and will continue to be a driving factor in a well-rounded education that promotes critical thinking and creativity. As shown by the research of Dewey, Wang, and Andrews, dance is necessary for the education of an individual.

Works Cited

Andrews, Gladys. Creative Rhythmic Movement for Children. Prentice-Hall, 1968.

Carter, Curtis L. “The State of Dance in Education: Past and Present.” Theory Into Practice, vol. 23, no. 4, 1984, pp. 293–299. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1476383. Accessed 4 May 2021.

Chen, Weiyun. “Description of an Expert Teacher's Constructivist-Oriented Teaching: Engaging Students' Critical Thinking in Learning Creative Dance.” Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, vol. 72, no. 4, 2001, pp. 366–375., doi:10.1080/02701367.2001.10608973.

Dance Heals

Corinne Shaw

From a very early age, dancing was my one true passion. When I started dancing ballet at age 5, my parents nor I truly understood how much of an impact it would have on my life. Over the course of my young life, I danced in hundreds of performances in front of hundreds of people across the country. It became my life for so long as I would spend countless hours late after school in the studio practicing. Long before the other girls showed up for class, I was already in the back studio working on my skills. I say all of this to show how important dance has been in my life. And, when it was time to go to college, I knew that I needed to keep dance as a part of my life.

Fast-forwarding to March 2020, my life, along with everyone else’s, was completely changed. I found myself struggling to stay motivated and interact with my friends and family. I was truly in a dark place before I realized what I was missing—dance. I started going to the studio by myself just to move and afterwards, I found myself so much more relaxed and happier. But, once I returned to normal life, so did all of my stresses. When I finally returned to Miami in the fall, I was adamant about taking a dance class. And, when we were able to perform last semester, it was such a great experience.

The culmination of last semester’s dance class, Dance Movement Therapy, and this semester’s class has not only taught me so much and dance much also about myself, other people, and how we can all work together to succeed. I have learned that dance is a universal healer and spans over any language barrier. One article states that, “Dance improved your heart health, overall muscle strength, balance and coordination, and reduces depression” (Dancing and Mental Health).

So, in addition to being active and healthy, dance also heals the heart, mind, and soul. Thus, teaching dance is a very important task. In this class, I have found that teachers have the ability to shape young people. By teaching dance, we are inspiring new generations to be more creative, to explore new boundaries, to work with others, and so much more. Much research has proven this to be true as one researcher said, “utilizing dance in academics helps children develop skills that are necessary for learning such as creativity, communication, critical thinking, and collaboration.

Through the creative process, students are encouraged to use their imagination, collaborate with their peers to solve problems, and discover multiple solutions to challenges” (MCS). Now more than ever I understand the importance that dance holds for all people. Dancing was able to pick me up at one of the lowest points of my life. Even now when I face struggles or feel down, dance is my mode of stress relief.

Overall, dancing is such a powerful tool that everyone, not just dancers, can take part in. This class has instilled in me the importance to pass these skills on and honestly has inspired me to find new ways to have dance in my life. Amazingly, one year after feeling completely depressed and helpless, I will be spending my summer teaching children how to dance at a summer camp! Thanks to this class I found the courage to try something new that scared me, and I am so grateful for that.

Work Cited

MindWise Innovations. Dancing and Mental Health, Riverside Community Care, 19 Feb. 2019, www.mindwise.org/blog/mental-health/dancing-and-mental-health/.

Howe, Sabine. “The Importance of Dance in Education.” Montessori Community School, 31 Jan. 2020, mcsdurham.org/blog/the-importance-of-dance-in-education.

There is a Way to Get Things Done

Colvin Alford

During this wonderful semester some takeaways from methods of teaching dance (K-12) taught me more about the life of a teacher. The first takeaway from this class was the ideal studio that we brainstormed about in class. In this part of the class, I loved when we learned about how to facilitate a safe creative classroom. We looked over twenty tips for creating a safe learning environment. The one I loved the most was “admitting when you don’t know,“ because when one is honest about "not knowing" students feel more comfortable to admit when they do not know. This, in turn, would stimulate them to learn more.

Another takeaway that I obtain from taking this class was the differences between concepts such as coaching, teaching, and mentoring. This part of the semester we organized ourselves into groups, we talked about our ideas and watched a video. In the video, the studio owner gave tips about his own dance teaching practice. When articulating the differences between teaching, coaching, and mentoring we understood the following.

Teaching is focused on making a person learn basic key points to perform a specific task. Coaching happens in the real world at a place where many opportunists happen. Mentoring aims to help individuals on their path to fulfillment. Therefore, I would apply what I have learned in this class to mix these three approaches. Because my field of studies, Sport Administration, has a lot to do with different age groups, I would customize instruction accordingly.

This class helped me to have a lot more clarity about the teaching profession. For instance, when I open my own business in the future, my employees would have to learn from m. I would teach them how to accomplish the tasks related to our specific line of work, sports. Thus, I want to have my own gym which will require fitness, resistance and stretching classes. This way, clients will learn different ways of dealing with the mind, body, and soul.

I know that at first, I would probably have to speak to clients and be a personal trainer. However, once I get experience, when I hire new trainers, I would have to become a teacher to them. In addition to fitness, resistance and stretching, I will incorporate dance classes into my gym's schedule. I would put into practice what I have learned in this class to teach new clients about dance art.

I loved how open this class was; even if I mostly connected via zoom, it felt like I was present, in-person, in the studio. I felt I was there in spirit. The most exciting part was when we were told to teach our own class. At first, I was very nervous and confused on what I would teach and what grade level I would teach. Thanks to our professor, by the time it was my time to teach I felt more confident, and I finally knew how to deliver the lesson I had planned.

This experience really helped me believe that in education, but also in life, there is a way to get things done. I taught my class to my peers off zoom. It was tough, but we had a lot of fun. Now, I know how hard teachers work to teach class every day. Being on zoom will never be as interesting as being in person, but it was still engaging. I thank all for making this class a success!!!

The Benefits of a Dance Education for Young Children

Anna Scott

Dance education is extremely important for young children for several reasons. Studies have demonstrated how dance helps to facilitate the development of cognitive functions, physical abilities, emotional expression, and social communication. Dance is an art form that all young children should have the ability to experience due to its many benefits: “Dance is a powerful ally for developing many of the attributes of a growing child. Dance helps children mature physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively.

The physical benefits of dance are widely accepted, but the attributes beyond physical have only recently begun to be appreciated” (NDEO). “Dance is an activity that uses all three domains of knowledge: cognitive, affective and psychomotor, making it a uniquely powerful support for other academic and cultural learning” (Reaves). On a physical level, dance helps children develop a greater range of motion, more control over their body and movement, as well as enhances their coordination and kinesthetic understanding. In addition, dance serves as a fun form of exercise for children. Dance also promotes psychological and mental benefits for children. Children can learn to express and communicate their emotions through movement to others: “Movement within a class offers a structured outlet for physical release while gaining awareness and appreciation of oneself and others” (NDEO).

Another mental benefit of dance education includes improving self-esteem: “Children can improve their self-esteem through dance by working on acceptance and appreciation of their bodies, experiencing the kinesthetic joy of movement, and making physical fitness part of their long-term life routine” (Reaves). Dance also fosters a social environment for children to learn to communicate, interact, and cooperate with others. In dance education, students frequently work in groups, which enables them to “learn to understand themselves in relation to others” (NDEO). Children learn how to communicate not only through words, but also through expressive movement. One of the largest benefits of dance education is its ability to enhance brain development: “Movement provides the cognitive loop between the idea, problem, or intent and the outcome or solution. This teaches an infant, child and, ultimately, adult to function in and understand the world.

The relationship of movement to intellectual development and education is an embryonic field of study that has only recently begun to be explored”(NDEO). In addition, dance education helps to “stimulate mental alertness, heighten attention to detail, develop critical thinking, and promote deeper learning” (Reaves). Dance is a natural learning method and enables children to express themselves with more than just words. It should be an essential part of childhood education because of its learning opportunities and developmental benefits: “Dance connects students to their own bodies, and enables them to interact with others in a structured, respectful, and creative way [...] In a children’s dance class that is properly taught, all levels of learning and multiple regions of the brain are engaged at once, in a way no other discipline can achieve.

Success in movement and dance leads children to become more self-directed, self-aware and self-actualizing” (Reaves). Recent research into how children learn and develop has made it clear that dance education is an extremely powerful tool to assist in engaging students, improving cognitive functions, and regulating behavior. Dance enables children to achieve their full learning potential.

Works Cited

NDEO. “Philosophy Underlying the Standards for Dance in Early Childhood. “Philosophy, Early Childhood Standards - National Dance Education Organization,www.ndeo.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=893257&module_id=55419.

Reaves, Christina Noel. “Why Every Child Should Study Dance. ”Private School in Brooklyn, Private School in Brooklyn, 27 Mar. 2021,museacademybk.com/musings/every-child-should-study-dance.

Student/Teacher Relationship

Cecilia Verdeja

Being a teacher requires a level of trust and respect between students and teacher. It is very important to establish a quality relationships with students. Some students come to school and are escaping a home that might not be the safest or most comfortable environment. As teachers, it is our job to create a welcoming and safe space where students can thrive. In this essay I will discuss teaching, mentoring and coaching, building a relationship with students and how to implement these ideas in a dance environment.

As we spoke about in class, there are several leader roles we have in society: teaching, mentoring and coaching. A teacher, as we know, teaches new material. Teachers usually follow certain guidelines to keep their students on track and help them gain knowledge. Mentors advise people; they may be seen as a role model. Lastly, coaches usually work with people who already have some skill in a specific area. In addition to teaching, mentoring and coaching, the student/teacher relationship can also be useful in a classroom setting.

In an article written by psychologists Sara Rimm-Kaufmann and Lia Sandilos, ("Improving Students' Relationships With Teachers"), it is said that teacher to student relationships can be very impactful for students. Having good relationships with students can create long-lasting positive effects on them. If a student feels a level of trust from their teachers, they are more likely to remain focused in class and succeed. This relationship can not only be helpful academically but also socially.

When it comes to teaching dance, each of these topics is essential. In a dance setting there are a combinations of teachers, mentors and coaches. Teachers teach younger students new information and they also continue to teach students new material as they get older. In a dance studio, older students can serve as mentors to younger students. Also in a dance studio, coaches of competition teams help to guide their students to perfecting a routine. Through all of these leader roles the relationships are crucial. Students require high support and will do their best if they feel a strong relationship with their teachers.

In conclusion, developing a relationship with students is an essential part of being a teacher. This is something I plan on doing as a future teacher and as a current dance teacher. I hope that the students who take my dance class not only see me as a teacher but as their mentor, coach and supporter. I believe that my class is a safe space for students to express themselves thru dance and in ways that they may not be able to do elsewhere.

Bibliography

"Improving Students' Relationships With Teachers". Https://Www.Apa.Org, 2021, https://www.apa.org/education/k12/relationships.

Being Noticed by the Teacher

Nicole Bass

I really enjoyed taking this class this semester and learned so much about dance and the teaching of dance through the various lessons, videos, and articles. I have danced for part of my life but never had any experience learning about teaching it. This was a very interesting perspective for me and it was very engaging to learn the many aspects that go into teaching dance. While much goes into teaching dance, one of the most important aspects I think is the relationship between the teacher and their students. This is a crucial aspect of teaching as this dictates the environment in which the students will learn and how they will grow as students throughout the year. It is up to the teacher to create a relationship with their students in which they feel safe and comfortable so that they are able to learn and feel that they can trust their teacher.

The teacher can create this type of relationship in a few ways. While it is important for the teacher to be there for the students in a friendly way, they also must have respect from the students. They can do this by acting as a role model to the students and guiding them to reach the goals they want to achieve. They can also give advice to the students from their own experiences so that the students feel they can relate to the teacher and have real word scenarios to learn from. Another very important aspect of the student teacher relationship is that the teacher is always honest with the students. Although sometimes it may be easier to tell your students what they want to hear, telling them the truth will benefit them in the long run. Also, if you are open and honest with your students they will be able to tell and this will allow them to feel like they are able to trust you.

Being a dance teacher, you are teaching your students dance but you should also share with them knowledge and culture behind the dance that they are learning. This is important because it will increase the student’s understanding and knowledge of what they are learning and will allow them to be more interested in it. It is also important for the teachers to not judge their students and instead be there for them, even if they chose to move away from dance and into another part of their life. The teacher should support the students learning in a positive way and be there for them in whatever they need. Teachers should also be encouraging and always let the student know when they are doing a good job. This positive reinforcement will benefit the student and make them feel like they are being noticed by their teacher who they admire. There are many ways that a teacher can create a positive relationship with their students, but each student is different and the teacher should customize their relationships to the students' needs.

Overall, I thought this was a great class and thought that you were a great example of how a teacher should maintain a relationship with their students. You were very encouraging and trusting and I always felt that you had our best interest in mind. I think we all learned a lot this semester and I feel confident that I have great experience on the basics of teaching dance. I wish that I could have been in person to gain the full experience but I still believe that I learned a great deal. I really enjoyed interacting with my classmates through discussion and hearing what they have to say.

Engaging Children in Dance

Brooke Jaffe

Dancing has a tremendous impact on a child as they are growing up. Children must get up and move their bodies. It is not only a great exercise, but it is a coping mechanism as well. Through dance, children can express themselves. Dance has so many benefits, but sometimes, children have trouble focusing throughout a class. There are several tactics that teachers can use in their dance classes to help students stay engaged.

The first way teachers can help their students stay engaged is by giving them options. These teachers should not be giving them free rein but giving them two or three options allows students to decide what they would prefer to do. For example, maybe the teacher provides the options like a student can go to the barre and practice their positions or go on the floor and do some stretching. This also gives students a chance to feel in control of their class. This will help with students getting frustrated or bored.

Another way to keep students engaged and focused is to support students moving throughout the class. This means that the teacher needs to have lots of material and activities for children to do. It may be a good idea for a teacher to break up the class into practicing specific skills and doing fun interactive games. This way, students will remain engaged throughout the course. Children’s attention span does not last very long, so teachers need to be prepared to think on the fly and change their lesson depending on how they react to the class. If teachers feel their students disengage with the lesson, they may want to implement a fun game that incorporates the new move.

The last way to ensure that the students are engaged and get the most out of the class is by making sure that one student is not distracting the whole class. If a teacher does see that a student is distracting the entire class, a good idea would be for the teacher to pair up with the misbehaving child. This will hold the student accountable and allow the other students to focus back on what they were doing. This also allows the teacher to monitor the child acting out and even get to the root as to why the child is acting the way they are. This teacher could also ask the child who is acting out to dance how they feel to get those emotions out in the air.

Teaching young children dance takes a lot of patience and energy, but in the end, it is a gratifying process. Dance is something that is done at every age and is used even outside of the classroom. Teaching these young students the art of dance has more benefits than one. You, as the teacher, are sculpting these little dancers into strong and passionate individuals. Teachers need to acknowledge the little successes in each of their students and encourage them to be the best they can be in whatever they chose to do.

Dance Education: Creative Dance

Tiffani Roberti

Throughout my class experience, I have been introduced to several different forms of dance. Specifically, we have discussed the importance of understanding different competency levels and preparing dance lessons catered to an exact age group. The most memorable form of dance that was most interesting and engaging to me is creative dance. Creative dance allows children to express themselves without having any past dance experience. This type of dance lesson can be classified as “free movement”, in which children are encouraged to move around the room with any movement that they feel comfortable with. These children are usually aged around 6-11 years old and are not gender excluded. In my opinion, creative dancing is an expression that motivates creativity so children can feel confident in moving their bodies.

The main idea of creative dance is to set up a lesson plan that is interactive and catered to coming up with themes and activities that are great learning experiences. This will help children progress their dancing capabilities in the future. For instance, the key components of a creative dance lesson are a warm-up, introducing a theme, activities to do with a partner, improvisation, choreography and cool down. The most important thing while learning about creative dance is reflecting these methods into what I would expect my teaching philosophy to reflect. Overall, I want children to have smiles on their face and feel more alive while dancing, which mirrors how I would expect my classroom to be.

As mentioned, one key component within a creative dance lesson is introducing a theme. While practicing in class, my team members and I created an ocean themed dance class. This was catered so that both the teacher and the students were extremely interactive. Our main objective was to have our students pretend they are living creatures and plants in the ocean. After every minute, they would switch animals. I thought this was a great expression of creative dance and could picture myself teaching this in the future. Overall, I loved how this class allowed each individual to be as goofy as possible with no judgement in the room.

Partner activities are a huge aspect of creative dance, in which students to get to know each other and make friendships. Within my partner activity in class, each student was encouraged to move across the floor doing any creative movement they desired while interacting with one another. As the groups got bigger and bigger, the whole class became involved and extremely connected with one another. I strongly believe working with a partner or group of students allows you to learn from one another and increase comfortability while expressing your movements.

Lastly, a major takeaway I absorbed from class while discussing creative dance was that by introducing choreography to children, they are enhancing their learning capabilities. “For young children, dance and creative movement can help improve their cognitive development, building skills necessary for success later in life.” While in class, each group was told to get together and make their own choreography to show to their classmates. For instance, I saw some groups do dance movements that I would have never thought to incorporate. This translates into how I was brought up while learning dance throughout my childhood.

In conclusion, I could not have asked for a better learning experience while in this class. I chose this elective with no expectations, but they were exceeded. Not only did this class teach you what values you would expect in your classroom but allowed you to express yourself in ways I never thought I would move. Creative dance is something that will stay close to my heart and without this class, I wouldn’t have been able to remember how much I miss dancing!

Dance in My Life

Rachel Peck

Every time my feet hit the floor my heart beats with excitement. With every jump, every spin, every roll, adrenaline courses through my veins. Dance is my chance to be whoever I want, whenever I want. I can be a bird, flying across the stage. I can be Juliette, mourning the loss of her lover. I can even be an unnamed character emotionally lost in a futuristic European dystopian society. Dance frees me from my mind and my thoughts. 

As a teenage girl working through post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a car accident left me bedridden and unable to attend school or dance for two months last spring, dance has become my rehab and my escape. Time slips away when I dance. I can focus on the music and the movement instead of the headaches and pains in my limbs. I can live purely in the moment and not pay attention to any outside influence. The music glides over my body and takes control while my mind is simply along for the ride. I do not think about anything except the next step, and even then, when I have the choreography memorized, my mind goes blank. That blankness is the truest freedom. There are no distractions. I escape my daily troubles when I push my body to its limits. 

Pushing myself is something I have witnessed since I was 7 years old when my mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Knowing she could wake up tomorrow unable to walk or breathe unassisted has prompted my father and her to raise me to follow my dreams and to explore the world. Because of this, my family travels. We RV around the United States for months at a time. We cruise to Antarctica. We fly to France and Spain. And everywhere we go, I dance: tango lessons in Argentina, step dancing in Ireland, belly dancing in Egypt, and most amazingly, Joffrey Ballet School intensive performances on Broadway and an invitation to study ballet in Italy.

I know I am blessed. I also know that I want to share what I have learned.  The highlight of my week is the hours I spend teaching pirouettes and arabesques, shuffles and ball-changes to younger students at my studio. Over the 12 years I have been at Creative Outlet Dance Center; I have progressed from beginner student to office assistant, from dancer to teacher, from class member to mentor. This year, my last year at my home studio, I am grateful to be teaching a dear friend’s 3 year old daughter in her first year of what she calls ‘Princess Ballerina Classes.”  

I love teaching, and someday I want to start my own school. I can think of no higher calling than passing on the love of learning, of pushing oneself, and of pursuing a passionate dream to children younger than me. I want to share the joy of exploring Hawaiian cultures through hula, of enjoying pioneer entertainment through square dances I learned in Oregon.  Dance has exposed me to so many different people that I saw the outside world through the looking glass. I have watched my friends give up their dreams and limp along and drown in their work while experiencing a few of the same setbacks that I have. Dance is my past. Dance is my present. Dance may not be my future career, but it will always be a part of my life and help me along my path. Dance is my story and my life. 

Moving and Expressing Feelings

Cristina Padron

One topic that interests me in relation to dance education is how to incorporate it into core subject areas in school and why it is important. I think this is an important topic because not all students, especially boys, will choose to take a dance class as an elective because of the stigma that might come with it. However, having dance education is important because it helps students use their creative part of their brain; it helps them express their feelings and get up from their desks and move in a healthy way, and it helps them learn discipline and structure.

“Embodied sensorimotor skills developed through dance practice are a form of affordance exploration that can carry over to the realm of conceptual problem solving”. This quote by Christian Kronsted and Shauna Gallagher shows that dance education does not just help a studio win a competition or title. It actually helps students learn how to better problem solve. Since all students do not have the opportunity to go to a dance studio, teachers should provide dance education in the classroom. This would help students activate this part of their brain that helps them better problem solve.

Like Adrienne Samson tells us, “dance is about making movement itself significant” (). If students who do not participate in dance outside the classroom, they are not given the opportunity to make the significant movements that would keep them emotionally and psychologically healthy. They would hide these emotions which can cause them emotional and psychological harm in the future. Not having the opportunity to express their feelings, can cause mental health issues later on in their lives. This problem can be simply resolved by a teacher putting on a song once a day and letting the children move to it.

Not moving certain muscles or not getting exercise can also cause physical health problems in the students’ future. Although, students are always learning new material, keeping dance education as a constant part of their daily routine, would provide the structure they all need. Some students in the classroom might not have any structure at home and, since school lessons are constantly changing; they do not get this at school either. By having dance every morning and every afternoon, where the kids are able to get up and move, they will be provided with this much needed structure. This will not only help behaviors, but it will also make learning fun and more engaging for the students.

Unfortunately, not all students can receive dance education outside of the classroom. As a result, it is important for school teachers to provide this needed education as part of the school’s curriculum. This is important because dance education helps students become better problem solvers by activating the creative part of their brain. It helps students stay mentally and physically healthy by moving and express their feelings. It helps students to have the structure and discipline that they need.

References

Kronsted, C. & Gallagher S. (2021). Dances and affordances: The relationship between dance training and conceptual problem-solving. University of Illinois Press, 55(1), 35-55

Samson, A. N. (2011). Movement and dance in young children's lives: Crossing the divide. Counterpoints, 407, 25-38

Search This Blog

Methodology of Teaching Dance / SPRING 2021

Research Essays

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Teaching Philosophy

A Mini-History of Dance: Teaching Creatively for Asychronous Students