Grades K-8, Dance in Education Program
DISCIPLINE // Dance
GRADE LEVELS // K-8
ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION // We are the only organization in Montana devoted entirely to promoting dance in education. Based in the College of Visual and Performing Arts at the University of Montana, we develop educational programs for students, teachers and teaching artists promoting dance as an art form. Our expertise is in dance integration and creative dance for children and we publish resources for classroom teachers on using dance in classrooms to meet curricular standards and to include students with mixed-abilities. Our current programs include: * Narrated, scored and choreographed dance performances, toured to schools and communities. “Active-audiences” performances. * School residencies for dance teaching artists to work with K-8 students. * Service learning opportunities for college students learning to teach dance. * Dance Integration Certification and professional development for dance teaching artists. *Professional development opportunities for classroom teachers.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION // Dance integration certification for dance teaching artists; dance integration residencies (during the school day), professional development for classroom teachers (“introduction to dance integration” and “dance integration strategies for classroom teachers”); educational dance performances for school-aged children
AVAILABLE PROGRAMMING // MCPS elementary schools may hire our professionally trained dance teaching artists ($50/hr, 2015-16school year); K-6 students are eligible to bus to the Montana Theatre for Fire Speaks the Land ($2/seat, Mon 1/25);Professional development for classroom teachers (sessions tailored around teacher schedules)
Parent Testimonial:
“Kinetic learning has a lasting impression on kids and it makes learning fun! My 5th grader can still share everything she knows about the water cycle with words and movements from the dance integration class in 2nd grade. I remember clearly the day she was taught by CoMotion because she came home excited to share and show me what she had learned. Children are hungry for academic engagement beyond being lectured to sitting at their desks. I feel very fortunate that our community of artists and MCPS is bringing these types of experiences to our kids through SparkArts!” ~Becca
PRIMARY CONTACT // Karen Kaufmann
ADDRESS // School of Theatre & Dance; University of Montana; Missoula , MT 59812
CONTACT INFORMATION // (406) 243-2870 / (406) 218-9581 / Email / Website / Facebook Page
BADGES EARNED //
SPARK! Artist Training 2017
Arts Transform Communities: Montana Arts Integration Conference 2018
Ignite the Future: SPARK! Teaching Artist Training 2018
Embracing Differences to Make a Difference: Professional Development Training: September 2018
