EPK’s, PDF’s, Testimonials – Arts Education

TK-12 Standards Based Curriculum and After School Programs

Arts Learning Plan & Instruction: Offerings include performances and workshops for students and professional development for teachers. These can become part of a Dance Residency or After-School Program. We have one of the best arts education programs focusing on dance available, and we also bring Physical Education programs of equal caliber for Charter and private schools. We have a wide variety of packages that include 10 workshops for 2 classes leading to performance with us at the school, 1 professional development for teachers, 2 performances by our professional dancers, and planning meetings and materials. We have another that has 20 or 30 workshops for 2-3 classes leading to performance with the company. The school can select a theatrical or a multicultural themed dance to focus on. See pdf for Curriculum options.

Grades Served

PreK-5
6-8
9-12

Historical & Cultural Context

African-American, Americana, Asian, European, Latino, Middle Eastern, Pacific Islander

Arts Integration Subjects

History/Social Studies, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Physical Education

Special Education

Yes

Student Workshops

“When I started class, it felt happy!”

“I felt excited. I love dancing!”

Student reactions from Los Feliz Elementary School, Los Angeles

For students at the K-12 level we offer interactive standards-based workshops taught by dancers who are both working professional artists and trained educators. In addition to creatively addressing state learning standards for our children, the programs empower youth by exposing them to a diverse range of cultural experiences and by actively involving them in the creative process, imparting lessons on problem-solving, self-confidence and creative thinking.

We send a teaching team of two to work with 1 classroom of students at a time in dance workshops (2 classes back to back minimum) which can be stand alone sessions or a series that culminates in the students being able to perform one of LA C&D’s repertory dances with the company .

For more information, please contact Louise Reichlin at 213 458 3066 or louisehr@lachoreographersanddancers.org.

Performances

Our school performances are adaptations of our award-winning repertory family programming, with an eye towards involving students both in the audience and the actual performance itself, and for taking advantage of the dance medium to teach valuable, practical lessons to students. Students can attend one of four participatory dance performances. In “DANCE! With LA Choreographers and Dancers”, they will learn the 3 elements of dance- time, space & energy and the words & movements to dances from three cultures, Japanese, West African, and Israeli. They will understand how to change ordinary movements into dance and that dance can be inspired by other art forms. This program includes “The Tennis Dances”, an interactive multicultural dance with the Japanese Tanko Bushi, West African Lamba and Israeli Kol Dodi and “Let’s All Dance to a Bluegrass Beat.” Other programs include “THE PATCHWORK GIRL OF OZ” (with the wonderful characters created by L. Frank Baum in his Oz books), and “THE BETTER TO BITE YOU WITH” (about teeth, dental hygiene, and Little Red Riding Hood”), “A JEWISH CHILD’S STORY” (about Reichlin’s early dreams as the grand-daughter of immigrants)also called “An Immigrant Child’s Story” also available. Each has its own study guide.

“Even the sun came out to see the performance!”

Student at Bridge St. Elementary School, Los Angeles

Professional Development

Our PD’s include Creating a Dance (foundation to be done first), Weaving Dance into the Curriculum, Using Specific Cultural Dances, Writing a Dance-Choreographing An Essay, and Dance from “The Patchwork Girl of Oz” are offered as a 1-time workshop in a residency package. This can also be part of a PD series with Teacher/Teaching Artist collaborations where teachers follow up Reichlin modeling with their classes that leads to them actually teaching other teachers the lessons, prepare the participants to deliver sequential curriculum that meets the VAPA standards. Actual evaluations about the HANDOUTS: “The outlines were helpful in reading the handout- very interactive and it made all the staff want to participate.” “It was a great reference & ideas, even assessment.” “It gives a good quick overview of how to create a dance lesson.” “Explains goals and objectives. It was engaging.” “Clear purpose/objectives, connection to students” “Make it seem easier to include dance in the classroom. Fun and can be easily applied”. Evaluations for the ENTIRE PD are uniformly joyful about the experience, emphasizing that besides giving the teachers a workable plan and music for dances with their classes, the PD sessions are invaluable for team building and great fun no matter what any previous experience in this area.

“Creating a Dance” is our basic PD. Some specifics: the structure is an interactive movement class. We all moved before we could speak, and this is the basis in this PD. It begins with a short verbal introduction and a warm-up session with Louise Reichlin. The participants become aware of the Elements of Dance, Space, Time, and Energy, and our body systems. We become aware of how we perceive movement, how we learn it, and how we can repeat it. Each person perceives with a different part of their body system, and recognizing that helps a teacher understand how each student has a unique way of learning, and multiple ways of presentation are necessary to teach. After the warm-up we learn a dance, and then break into four groups that design 8 counts each using the elements of dance and the Laban basics. Each is facilitated by Reichlin and our dancers. We put the entire dance together and perform it, followed by a discussion of the study guide notes, how to use this approach in the classroom, and finally a written evaluation.

For a full list of current offerings, please contact Louise Reichlin at 213 385 1171 or louisehr@lachoreographersanddancers.org