Welcome Dana Sonnenberg, Education Intern

Hailing from Central Wisconsin, Dana is joining Ordway as an Education and Human Resources Intern. Dana has a passion for business as well as art in all mediums and is excited to explore the ways in which different aspects of the organization to work together.

Dana will graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in May of 2016, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in arts management and minoring in business administration. An avid animal lover, Dana has two cats-Oliver Jay Catsby and Daisy Mae Buccathan-and hopes to add a dog to her family soon.

Besides the arts and animals, Dana is also a huge sports fan (go Pack go), and is looking forward to catching some Minnesota Wild and Minnesota Twins games while here in the Cities.

Every Child Achieves Act Gains Momentum

Big news in the world of Education!  If you missed it, read up on the Every Child Achieves Act, and how it benefits arts classrooms  

For the first time since 2001, the Senate has approved new education legislation. 

Photo by Scrumshus, www.commons.wikimedia.org

Known as the Every Child Achieves Act (S.1177), this bill potentially provides states with a greater authority to enact and implement educational policies. The legislation also explicitly specifies 11 Arts Education provisions, such as naming the arts as an academic core subject.   

If these provisions continue to remain intact, state authorities will have a greater flexibility to support arts-specific programming, both within the school day and as a part of extracurricular programs.  

Welcome Sarah Wiechmann, Education Intern

Sarah Wiechmann, Education Intern

A  Twin Cities native, Sarah is eager to explore the world of Educational programing with the Ordway! She is also looking forward to learning about the day to day workings of an arts organization, while sharing her passion for arts education with the Metro community.

Sarah recently graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, majoring in Vocal Music Education and minoring in French. As a student at Concordia, she participated in several choirs, including Tactus; a student organized nine voice chamber ensemble. With the Concordia French club, she attended the Festival du Voyageur, an annual winter celebration of French-Canadian fur trading culture in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Outside of life at the Ordway, Sarah enjoys singing in community choirs, and exploring the Twin Cities restaurant Scene. 

STEAM: A New Approach to Arts Instruction

"Arguing that the arts and science should and could remain totally separate misses the point. This is not about cultivating more artists or diluting STEM—it’s about creating STEM students who think creatively and remain engaged in their learning." 

   -Anna Feldman, Slate

STEAM advocates for the addition of arts instruction into the popular STEM acronym.

Supporters argue that STEAM adds a layer of interest to technical fields for students not otherwise inclined to explore science or math. Furthermore, students are asked to think holistically, a skill frequently required by individuals employed as engineers, designers and other advanced technical fields.   
 

Read the full article here

Resource Repost: Elements of Dance

Perpich Arts High School dance program- photo by Dan Markworth

Hey teachers- check out the revamped Elements of Dance website! The site provides a concise resource for students to learn about BASTE (Body, Action, Space, Time Energy), the building blocks of dance.     

In addition, the site features individual and group assignments specific to each dance element, and video examples of each element by Minnesota dancers and choreographers.    

Apply it to your learning! Try an Ordway Education Video Lesson on dance, and see how many elements you find in the lesson.  

Submit Your Nominations Now!

2015 Ordway Education Awards

For outstanding contributions to the Arts Education and Community Engagement

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts' Education Awards were created to honor the contributions of individuals and institutions that have furthered the mission of Education and Community Engagement Programs at the Ordway. 

Download the 2015 Education Awards Nomination Form (doc).

Awards Categories

One person or organization is awarded in each of the four following areas:

Philanthropy: for outstanding financial or in-kind contributions to the betterment of Arts Education and Community Engagement programs at the Ordway.

Vision: for the creation of new programs or innovation and enhancement to existing Arts Education or Community Engagement programs at the Ordway. 

Community Commitment: for dedication, over a period of time, to the support and/or advancement of Community Engagement programs at the Ordway.

Education Service: for leadership and participation that has led to inventive learning for students in or through the Ordway's programs.

Eligibility

Nominators may nominate an individual, team, or organization, including those in which they may be involved as an employee, board member, or volunteer. 

Nominators may not nominate themselves. Full-time staff members of the Ordway are not eligible for the awards. 

Selection Criteria

The nominees work must be related in some way to the Ordway's Arts Education and/or Community Engagement programs or efforts. Nominations should speak to the nominee's efforts to support learning or building community engagement. 

Nominations should give one or more specific examples of the nominee's support of new programs, expansion or enhancement of existing programs, or increasing access to programs. The Ordway's programs often act as a catalyst resulting in new avenues of development, participation and engagement. Consideration will also be given to excellent work, which is an outgrowth of an Ordway program of initiative. 

Nomination Submission

Nominations must be word processed or typed and received by February 20, 2015. Please submit your nomination by U.S. mail or E-mail to:

Mail: 

Alan Post

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

345 Washington Street

Saint Paul, MN 55102

Email: apost@ordway.org

Click here for more information!

2014-2015 School Year

To all teachers and educators,

You have the most important job in the world and we couldn't be more thankful and appreciative of you for it. Here's to an excellent start to the 2014-2015 school year!