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March 09, 2007
Dancing Involves Students and Parents in Learning
Last evening I was to provide a workshop for a group of parents. I arrived and found the parking lot to be full. Now I think what I do is valuable and helpful for parents in helping their children to learn. I am also realistic enough to know that evenings are busy for parents. Turn outs to talk about report cards might not be top on their list when faced with a choice of a rerun of the Simpsons or a night out at the school.
However, there was no denying there were a great number of people sitting in the cafeteria. I looked at my watch wondering if I was late. No, I was about 45 minutes early. Maybe this was pickup for afterschool?
When I got out of my car, the principal met me on the sidewalk. "We're having a dance exhibition for the parents. We're hoping they'll watch the kids and stay for your presentation. Come on in and watch."
I was delighted. I told her about a movie I had seen a couple of years ago with a teacher and kids from New York City in ballroom dance contests. They were all middle school aged kids and they had learned a variety of steps and moves. They were great. So were these kids. They displayed their box step talents, turns, and moves. There was some watching of the feet and, of course, the girls were mostly taller than the boys, but the results were wonderful.
Groups of three and four pairs of dancers performed and then all the partners moved into a circle around the audience and danced the last set. It was fun for everyone.
At the end of the performance the teacher made a couple of comments. She said there had been some initial resistance to learning how to dance. Probably a number of gigles and a lot of gumbling, but the kids had eventually agreed. The result? Well, you could see it for yourself-a packed house watching their children have a good time.
Posted by Dr Joni at March 9, 2007 11:29 AM