Heritage
School Opportunities
The Performing Heritage program offers a variety of opportunities to bring world dances to your school. All aspects of the program are customizable to your school's needs, and align with
New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards.
Dance Residency
The residency program brings me into the school as an artist-in-residence for a two week period. During our time together, I would teach a different school-selected routine to each class in a collective grade level. The class would learn a traditional folk dance while also learning about that country's history, music, and traditional attire. In addition to the class's featured routine, all classes collectively learn a finale number.
The world dance residency culminates with an assembly program for the school, parents, and community. This showcase sees each class perform its own dance, in full costume, and also offers the opportunity for the students to see the accomplishments of their schoolmates. At the showcase performance students introduce each dance segment with a description of the country and history of the dance. All students have the opportunity to experience both the process of learning via participation and the thrill of performance.
A list of available performance options can be found on the Countries & Dances page. This program aligns with
New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3A, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 6.2, 7.1.
Assembly Programs
The assembly program format brings history, geography, social studies, music, dance and traditional attire to your school for the day. Your students will experience traditional world dances in an up-close, personal setting. With the Performing Heritage Assembly, you and your students will learn some steps of traditional folk dances. Traditional costumes will be on display, and selected students can even try some on. Depending on the countries presented for your assembly, students might also have an opportunity to try traditional instruments. Additionally, at the assembly, students will also have the experience of learning vocabulary and counting in foreign languages. The assembly culminates with a celebration of America. We explore rock & roll music and the dances it inspired. Everyone learns and participates in this group dance influenced by sports movements and everyday activities.
A list of available assembly options can be found on the Countries & Dances page. This program aligns with
New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards:
1.1, 1.2, 1.3A, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 6.2, 7.1.
