Dance to Learn Programs Kick-Off Performances!

Tribunal Trilogy Photo: Amy C. Miller

Ordway Education welcomed more than 400 students and educators for the Dance to Learn Kick-Off performances on November 30th and December 1st.  The performances featured the work of the programs teaching artists Karla Nweje and Leah Nelson!  Students and educators from Linwood/Monroe Arts Plus, FAIR School Downtown, and Sheridan Hills started by watching a piece choreographed by Leah Nelson called Asphalt Yards, and then experienced a piece choreographed by Karla Nweje titled Tribunal Trilogy.  Students and educators then reflected on the two dance pieces using reflection tools from the Artful Handbook guided by coaches Becca Barniskis, Bettine Hermanson, and Barbara Cox.    

Asphalt Yards Photo Amy C. miller

What is Dance to Learn? 

Dance to Learn is an arts education program that fosters learning in and through dance in K-12 schools.  Inspired by experiencing culturally diverse dance performances at the Ordway and utilizing the tools in the Artful Handbook, Dance to Learn provides support for teaching teams at each school site in understanding dance as an art form and creating strong, authentic connections between the principles and key concepts of dance and other curricular subject areas.  The program is managed by the Ordway and the Perpich Center for Arts Education, with major support provided by the Hearst Foundation.

What is the Artful Handbook?

The Artful Teaching & Learning Handbook provides blue prints for a versatile arts education model. Full of tools, processes and examples from its field sites, the handbook offers the practitioner research-based support for building arts based and arts infused learning. This model is powered by the belief that all students can achieve high academic standards in and through the arts.

Learn more by visiting http://www.pcae.k12.mn.us/pdr/artfulteach.html