Dance Teacher Blog: Dance Alliances for Dance Teachers
Brandy Curry
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| National Dance Education Organization |
Enjoy!
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| Music Center | Institute for Educators |
(CDEA is a state affiliate of the National Dance Education Organization)
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Dance Teacher Blog: Dance Alliances for Dance Teachers
Pointe 5*6*7*8
Dance Teacher Blog: Dance Alliances for Dance Teachers
Brandy Curry
There are several ways to find inspiration for teaching dance in K-12 education. Being a credentialed teacher isn't always enough, and depending on the school district, or independent charter, or independent school the resources are usually limited to information for math and science teachers. The following alliances and groups are local (Los Angeles) organizations that are resourceful for the performing arts teacher. (Most of these sites have links to other state or national organizations.)
Enjoy!
Dance Teacher Blog: Dance Alliances for Dance Teachers
Brandy Curry
Enjoy!
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Dance Teacher Blog: Teaching Fosse
Pointe 5*6*7*8
Dance Teacher Blog
Teaching Fosse
By Brandy Curry
A recent FB status prompted me to write this post. My fellow dance teacher friend was teaching her normal weekday teenage jazz class and mentioned a move as being "Fosse" and the students had no clue to whom she was talking about. WHAT! All of comments to her FB status were from dance teachers all over the nation trying to come to understand how this Pipin-Chicago-Sweet Charity-Cabaret loving society can have dancers that do not know Bob Fosse. When my fellow dance teacher friend began to name his famous Broadway productions they now connected and understood her very passionate demeanor. She recommended they go do a little research and come back and show her a Fosse move...and not just from Chicago!
Coincidentally a Director friend of mine has decided to pay tribute to Mr. Bob Fosse by creating a live production of his work. Making this a "teachable moment," he auditioned students from all over the southern California valley. These young dancers, actors, and singers will have the opportunity to dance on Cal State Northridges' new multi-million dollar stage at the Valley Performing Arts Center. I have been asked to be the Director of Choreography for this one night show in January-2014. We are putting together an amazing line up of Fosse-fied numbers from Pipin, Chicago, Sweet Charity, Cabaret, Damn Yankees, and more!
One of my favorite Fosse numbers that I'm setting on my students is the Manson Trio! Remember this? I love, love, love it. It is sooo...totally... Fosse! And, just so fun to teach. I mean what was Bob thinking? I don't know and it makes me love it every time I see it. One of the great things about You Tube is that you can expose your students to any choreographer with a click of a mouse. In five minutes you can select a clip and show your dancers the derivative and the origin of jazz, hip hop, ballet, or any type of movement or the intimate creative process of choreography from Twyla Tharp, to Alivin Ailey, to Martha Graham. Change their world by showing them how, where, when all of this great work was in existence. Connect it to today. Did Manson Trio influence moves for Michael Jackson's Thriller? What inspired the choreography for Beyonce's Single Ladies...um...Mexican Breakfast...BOB FOSSE!
More information on the Valley Performing Arts Center performance in January to come!
Dance Teacher Blog
Teaching Fosse
By Brandy Curry
A recent FB status prompted me to write this post. My fellow dance teacher friend was teaching her normal weekday teenage jazz class and mentioned a move as being "Fosse" and the students had no clue to whom she was talking about. WHAT! All of comments to her FB status were from dance teachers all over the nation trying to come to understand how this Pipin-Chicago-Sweet Charity-Cabaret loving society can have dancers that do not know Bob Fosse. When my fellow dance teacher friend began to name his famous Broadway productions they now connected and understood her very passionate demeanor. She recommended they go do a little research and come back and show her a Fosse move...and not just from Chicago!
Coincidentally a Director friend of mine has decided to pay tribute to Mr. Bob Fosse by creating a live production of his work. Making this a "teachable moment," he auditioned students from all over the southern California valley. These young dancers, actors, and singers will have the opportunity to dance on Cal State Northridges' new multi-million dollar stage at the Valley Performing Arts Center. I have been asked to be the Director of Choreography for this one night show in January-2014. We are putting together an amazing line up of Fosse-fied numbers from Pipin, Chicago, Sweet Charity, Cabaret, Damn Yankees, and more!
One of my favorite Fosse numbers that I'm setting on my students is the Manson Trio! Remember this? I love, love, love it. It is sooo...totally... Fosse! And, just so fun to teach. I mean what was Bob thinking? I don't know and it makes me love it every time I see it. One of the great things about You Tube is that you can expose your students to any choreographer with a click of a mouse. In five minutes you can select a clip and show your dancers the derivative and the origin of jazz, hip hop, ballet, or any type of movement or the intimate creative process of choreography from Twyla Tharp, to Alivin Ailey, to Martha Graham. Change their world by showing them how, where, when all of this great work was in existence. Connect it to today. Did Manson Trio influence moves for Michael Jackson's Thriller? What inspired the choreography for Beyonce's Single Ladies...um...Mexican Breakfast...BOB FOSSE!
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| Gwen Verdon..Mexican Breakfast choreographed by Bob Fosse |
More information on the Valley Performing Arts Center performance in January to come!
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Dance Teacher Blog: Audition Process Part 1
POINTE 5*6*7*8
Dance Teacher Blog
Audition Process Part 1
By Brandy Curry
The TV show SMASH is an excellent resource for teaching the entertainment/performing arts process. Minus the series mature content drama it's a nice, simi-accurate glimpse of the audition and rehearsal process. When I taught 9-12 grade performing arts students wishing to enter college programs or wishing to pursue careers right after high school I found the topic of the audition process overwhelming for them and underwhelming for me.
There are fantastic scenes to show your students what to wear to an audition, how to behave, and how to show off your talent while remaining humble. While the musical theater audition process is different from a company audition seeing the actors on SMASH go through nervousness is all too familiar for myself and so heart warming for my students. They love it!
Another great, great showing of the audition and rehearsal process is the documentary about the revival of A Chorus Line, Every Little Step (2008). Talk about "heartwarming." This is a powerful, and stylized-beautiful glimpse of the retelling about the origin of A Chorus Line, the audition process for the revival, and a look at the process through some familiar faces from the producers, writers, original actors, and famous dancers your students have even seen on So You Think You Can Dance.
Tip: I did a great JOURNAL WRITING ASSIGNMENT with this documentary. Although these questions seem trivial-you must see the film. The journal entries were just brilliant from my students. They really connected, and they were so moved. Lots, and lots of tear stains on their journals-so sweet! It even inspired one of my dancers to audition for a college program. I prompted the following three questions: 1.) Who, what dancer or actor, did you connect to the most and why? Did you connect to the choreographer, director, producer or writer? 2.) Whom were you rooting for during the audition(s) and callbacks? 3.) Did any of the dancers you were hoping to make it, actually "make it" to the final production? Were you surprised? How did it make you feel?
Happy teaching!
B. Curry
Dance Teacher Blog
Audition Process Part 1
By Brandy Curry
There are fantastic scenes to show your students what to wear to an audition, how to behave, and how to show off your talent while remaining humble. While the musical theater audition process is different from a company audition seeing the actors on SMASH go through nervousness is all too familiar for myself and so heart warming for my students. They love it!
 |
| SMASH courtesy of Wikimedia Common Images |
 |
| Every Little Step (2008) Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons |
Tip: I did a great JOURNAL WRITING ASSIGNMENT with this documentary. Although these questions seem trivial-you must see the film. The journal entries were just brilliant from my students. They really connected, and they were so moved. Lots, and lots of tear stains on their journals-so sweet! It even inspired one of my dancers to audition for a college program. I prompted the following three questions: 1.) Who, what dancer or actor, did you connect to the most and why? Did you connect to the choreographer, director, producer or writer? 2.) Whom were you rooting for during the audition(s) and callbacks? 3.) Did any of the dancers you were hoping to make it, actually "make it" to the final production? Were you surprised? How did it make you feel?
Happy teaching!
B. Curry
Dance Teacher Blog: Funding Your School's Dance Program
Pointe 5*6*7*8
Dance Teacher Blog
Funding Your School's Dance Program
Not every school has the time to fundraise for their dance teams, dance companies, or dance academies. There are many opportunities for a dance program to raise money that are quick, easy, fun, safe and not a burden on your students' parents. I recommend each dance teacher joining the following organizations to help open up the possibilities of fundraising for their programs.
DonorsChoose: This site allows you to create a wish list for your students and parents to view and donate funds. Donors Choose will even match funds and ship the items to your school at no cost.
Discount Dance: Discount Dance offers a Teachers Program that allows studio and school dance faculty to register their school for costumes discounts, dancewear discounts, and teacher dancewear discounts. When you register you receive a Teacher Program # that you give to your students so that when they purchase their dancewear online your school gets points and the dancer gets up to 10% off of their items. Each teacher can set up 1.) A Wish list for the redeemable points and, 2.) Teacher Approved lists of dancewear so your students/parents can shop easily.
It's hard to be a department, the Performing Arts department, that demands so much outside time and money to keep the program thriving and the administration gleaming that you came under budget. With the amount of money parents spend on tights, ballet shoes, tap shoes, jazz shoes, leggings, warm-ups, leotards, dance bags it's no wonder parents are exhausted of being asked to pitch in and donate again....and again.
Parent Volunteers are a huge resource for dance programs in education. Parent volunteers can be utilized for performances, field trips, competitions, and other dance program events. Their help saves the school time, money, and faculty effort. Parent volunteers can sign up at Back-to-School Night and volunteer to help well in advanced. This allows the teacher to plan for assistance well in advance.
My parent volunteers help me out with the following:
Happy Fundraising!
B. Curry
Dance Teacher Blog
Funding Your School's Dance Program
Not every school has the time to fundraise for their dance teams, dance companies, or dance academies. There are many opportunities for a dance program to raise money that are quick, easy, fun, safe and not a burden on your students' parents. I recommend each dance teacher joining the following organizations to help open up the possibilities of fundraising for their programs.
DonorsChoose: This site allows you to create a wish list for your students and parents to view and donate funds. Donors Choose will even match funds and ship the items to your school at no cost.
Discount Dance: Discount Dance offers a Teachers Program that allows studio and school dance faculty to register their school for costumes discounts, dancewear discounts, and teacher dancewear discounts. When you register you receive a Teacher Program # that you give to your students so that when they purchase their dancewear online your school gets points and the dancer gets up to 10% off of their items. Each teacher can set up 1.) A Wish list for the redeemable points and, 2.) Teacher Approved lists of dancewear so your students/parents can shop easily.
It's hard to be a department, the Performing Arts department, that demands so much outside time and money to keep the program thriving and the administration gleaming that you came under budget. With the amount of money parents spend on tights, ballet shoes, tap shoes, jazz shoes, leggings, warm-ups, leotards, dance bags it's no wonder parents are exhausted of being asked to pitch in and donate again....and again.
Parent Volunteers are a huge resource for dance programs in education. Parent volunteers can be utilized for performances, field trips, competitions, and other dance program events. Their help saves the school time, money, and faculty effort. Parent volunteers can sign up at Back-to-School Night and volunteer to help well in advanced. This allows the teacher to plan for assistance well in advance.
My parent volunteers help me out with the following:
- Set-up/Clean-Up before and after shows
- Hair and Makeup (for the chignon challenged)
- Transportation to and from events, performances, competitions, field trips
- Backstage help-Dressers, Check-In,
- Stage-Load In/Strike (breaking down the show afterwards-ask the Dance Daddy's)
- Building props, building sets
- Food & Water!! (Picking up, making, and/or dropping off)
- Photography & Videography
- Purchasing of production items (Be sure to check with your Dept. Chair and Principal first)
- Flower sales (my parents love this one)
Volunteers can help save a program over $10, 000 a year. Give incentives! VIP seating for one show a year, and give each parent volunteer two free tickets. Also have all of your dancers sign cards for your parent volunteers, the parents get a battement out of this one! (Get it!) At the end-of-the year show have the parent volunteers stand up to a loud round of applause and then have the students of the parent volunteers give their parents a flower and the card. Super sweet gestures like this increase your chances for more volunteers year, after year.
Check out this website for a great tool for keeping track of your volunteers: Volunteer Spot
Happy Fundraising!
B. Curry
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Dance Teacher Blog: Teaching Movement to Boys Grades K-3
Dance Teacher Blog
Pointe 5*6*7*8
Teaching Movement to Boys Grades K-3
By Brandy Curry
I love teaching dance to anyone age 18 months to 99, male or female, beginner to professional. One of the most challenging assignments I've encountered over my years was getting my 2nd and 3rd grade boys to enjoy their time with me in the dance studio for Movement class. They do well during the warm-up, during across-the-floor even, but when it comes to learning a combo they wouldn't have it-they wouldn't move! I remember trying to figure out what was missing: were the moves too feminine, was the music too girly? So, as an inclusive teacher I decided to just ask them. Sure enough it was the music they didn't connect to... I took out a sheet of large adhesive poster paper and for a week I asked everyone in my classes to write down their favorite songs, favorite bands, etc. The catch was that it had to be a song that we could dance to in Movement class, and a song that was age-appropriate.
Then I took out another piece of paper and had them write down their favorite sports drills. THEY LOVED THIS! From this I showed them how "quick feet" is really a chassé or gallop, how simple basketball, soccer and football practice drills are just like dance moves. They were empowered. I was inspired. From then class was exciting for them and fun. It's not my job to entertain them and make them have fun; I want them to learn about dance in the historic, societal and cultural sense, as a form of exercise, and as a performing art. Keeping kids engaged and wanting to learn more should be every teachers' goal.
Pointe 5*6*7*8
Teaching Movement to Boys Grades K-3
By Brandy Curry
"They were empowered. I was inspired."
Then I took out another piece of paper and had them write down their favorite sports drills. THEY LOVED THIS! From this I showed them how "quick feet" is really a chassé or gallop, how simple basketball, soccer and football practice drills are just like dance moves. They were empowered. I was inspired. From then class was exciting for them and fun. It's not my job to entertain them and make them have fun; I want them to learn about dance in the historic, societal and cultural sense, as a form of exercise, and as a performing art. Keeping kids engaged and wanting to learn more should be every teachers' goal.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Dance Teacher Blog: Teaching a Set Warm Up
Pointe 5*6*7*8
Dance Teacher Blog
Teaching a Set Warm Up
The first time I went to a dance convention as a young dancer I was blown away at the class size, and the amount of choreography I learned. The second time I went to convention I was used to the three hundred other dancers and became familiar with the style of the various choreographers and master dance teachers. They were simply teaching a set warm up, a set across the floor with some changes, and new, amazing choreography. I thought it was brilliant then and I think find the formula useful now.
I teach my set warm up to my students and I grade them on their memorization and knowledge of it. (I do not grade my K-3 students.) Understand that repetition of the material in the warm up and across the floor can be disengaging to your dance students. However, they will enjoy the opportunity for improving the across-the-floor technique and leap for joy when they've memorized your entire warm up.
Basic Jazz Class Warm-Up (Just a few...)
Head-Shoulder-Hips Isolations
Shoulder rolls
Back stretches
Lunges
Yoga stretches
Sit Ups
Push Ups
A la seconde floor stretches
(Just a few...)
Basic Jazz Class Across-the-floor (x-floor) Movements
Jazz walks
Pivot turns
Battements (kicks)
Châinés turns
Chasse
Slide step
Drag step slide
Chasse Fan kick
Layouts/Laybacks
Pirouttes
Grand Jetes (leaps)
Pas da bourree
Pas da bourre with turn
Dance Teacher Blog
Teaching a Set Warm Up
I teach my set warm up to my students and I grade them on their memorization and knowledge of it. (I do not grade my K-3 students.) Understand that repetition of the material in the warm up and across the floor can be disengaging to your dance students. However, they will enjoy the opportunity for improving the across-the-floor technique and leap for joy when they've memorized your entire warm up.
Basic Jazz Class Warm-Up (Just a few...)Head-Shoulder-Hips Isolations
Shoulder rolls
Back stretches
Lunges
Yoga stretches
Sit Ups
Push Ups
A la seconde floor stretches
(Just a few...)
Basic Jazz Class Across-the-floor (x-floor) Movements
Jazz walks
Pivot turns
Battements (kicks)
Châinés turns
Chasse
Slide step
Drag step slide
Chasse Fan kick
Layouts/Laybacks
Pirouttes
Grand Jetes (leaps)
Pas da bourree
Pas da bourre with turn
Dance Teacher Blog: Contemporary Dance Lessons
Pointe 5*6*7*8
Dance Teacher Blog
Contemporary Dance Lessons
Teaching engaging lessons in the style of contemporary dance can be tricky. Hopefully your students have taken ballet, modern, and/or jazz classes to understand the intricate movement and choreography of contemporary dance. While contemporary styled dance is fun for beginners, it is best suited on intermediate-advanced dancers.
When I teach contemporary to Grades 6-8 it is a very different scope than when I teach contemporary to grades 9-12. I start by showing dancers different contemporary choreographers works via You Tube or Netflix. I start with Martha Graham, Lester Horton, Alvin Ailey, Jiri Kylian and then move to Mia Michaels, Travis Wall, and Josie Walsh. I discuss modern companies and contemporary companies and the subtle difference between the two styles.
Basic Lessons Grades 6-8
Partnering (holding hand swings, not lifts)
Improvisation
Group and Solo Choreography (by the student)
Dance a poem, or story (see book list below)
A cappella dance (no music)
For Grades 6-8 Contemporary Project Books:
Ride a Purple Pelican Jack Prelutsky
Red Sings from Treetops A Year in Colors Joyce Sidman
Schoolyard Rhymes Kids own Rhymes for Rope Skipping, Hand Clapping, Ball Bouncing, Just Plain Fun
Street Rhymes Around the World Jane Yolk
For grades 9-12 I introduce contemporary movement to my dance students through musicality and rhythm. At this grade level they should be intermediate thru advanced dancers and would have had some exposure to modern dance and postmodern contemporary dance. The class moves a lot faster when I don't have to explain cutting and reshaping technique lines doesn't mean it's not "technical" movement.
Contemporary Dance Music Artists for Grades 9-12
Lindsey Sterling
Ellie Goulding
Imagine Dragons
Flo + Machine
Vitamin String Quartet
Steven Cravis
Alex Clare
Muse
Coldplay
Contemporary Dance Projects & Lessons Grades 9-12
Dance a Poem
Student contemporary choreography
Improvisation
Partnering (with lifts)
Solos, Duos and Trios!
Dance theater/Dance storytelling
Performance
Dance Teacher Blog
Contemporary Dance Lessons
When I teach contemporary to Grades 6-8 it is a very different scope than when I teach contemporary to grades 9-12. I start by showing dancers different contemporary choreographers works via You Tube or Netflix. I start with Martha Graham, Lester Horton, Alvin Ailey, Jiri Kylian and then move to Mia Michaels, Travis Wall, and Josie Walsh. I discuss modern companies and contemporary companies and the subtle difference between the two styles.
Basic Lessons Grades 6-8
Partnering (holding hand swings, not lifts)
Improvisation
Group and Solo Choreography (by the student)
Dance a poem, or story (see book list below)
A cappella dance (no music)
Ride a Purple Pelican Jack Prelutsky
Red Sings from Treetops A Year in Colors Joyce Sidman
Schoolyard Rhymes Kids own Rhymes for Rope Skipping, Hand Clapping, Ball Bouncing, Just Plain Fun
Street Rhymes Around the World Jane Yolk
For grades 9-12 I introduce contemporary movement to my dance students through musicality and rhythm. At this grade level they should be intermediate thru advanced dancers and would have had some exposure to modern dance and postmodern contemporary dance. The class moves a lot faster when I don't have to explain cutting and reshaping technique lines doesn't mean it's not "technical" movement.
Lindsey Sterling
Ellie Goulding
Imagine Dragons
Flo + Machine
Vitamin String Quartet
Steven Cravis
Alex Clare
Muse
Coldplay
Contemporary Dance Projects & Lessons Grades 9-12
Dance a Poem
Student contemporary choreography
Improvisation
Partnering (with lifts)
Solos, Duos and Trios!
Dance theater/Dance storytelling
Performance
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