RESIDENCY REQUEST | |
Book this artist using the Residency Request Form |
RESIDENCY GOALS | |
Students will learn “performance etiquette” and build a supportive atmosphere together. Students will explore creative dance fundamentals through games and structured improvisations. Students will collaborate in small groups and create their own choreography. Students will make connections to their classroom content through daily reflection. Students will perform an original dance inspired by classroom goals/ideas. |
BIO | |
Nicole McCall was a kid who never stopped moving. Thank goodness her mom enrolled her in dance classes! A lifelong dancer, Nicole started teaching and founded Dance Your Heart Out® in 1998. Since then, she has been the the owner of Northwest Conservatory of Dance (Hillsboro, OR), a performer with the WhyNot Dance Company (Dublin, Ireland), and the Outreach Director for BodyVox (Portland, OR). Now she’s on a mission to show students and teachers how they can use creative dance in the classroom as a fun and effective learning tool. |
DISCIPLINES | |
Dance, |
GRADE BANDS | |
K-2,3-5,6-8, |
WORK WITH STUDENTS | |
Creative Dance is a great fit for students of all talents. Unlike exacting dance technique classes, creative dance is a more universal approach. Nicole strives for (and often achieves) 100% participation in her residencies. She does this in a variety of ways.
Before students can try new things and be expressive, they need to feel safe. So the first thing Nicole does is facilitate a student discussion resulting in a self-generated list of “agreements” they will follow. Then, Nicole engages fringe students with choices and options. Even if they are hesitant and offstage, all students are given active roles. By the end, the whole classroom is smiling and participating in their final “performance.”
Nicole also takes special care to individualize her lesson plans based on teachers’ goals and known stages of child development. For example, Kindergarten students may spend more time mirroring Nicole, taking turns as partners, whereas middle school students are given more freedom to work independently and utilize peer feedback.
All students enjoy working toward a final performance. Performances may be done for each other within the classroom, for other classrooms or in an assembly, or during an evening arts night. |
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS | |
Creative dance is extremely versatile and can be fused well with most classroom content. Nicole takes pride in crafting residencies that support teachers’ classroom goals. Some possible topics include:
Math Moves: Creative Dance and the Common Core
Locomotor Language Arts
STEAM: Choreography as the Engineering Process
Nicole guides older students through the engineering process (ask, imagine, plan, create, improve) as a creative dance choreographer. Using Growth Mindset principles, students are held to a high standard and encouraged to refine their work several times. By the end, students will have made deep connections, be able to explain their process, and perform a short but complete piece of choreography.
Possible topics include: wealth/scarcity, consequences of cooperation/conflict, differing perspectives, role of citizens in a government, bias/injustice/discrimination/stereotypes. |
GALLERY
RESIDENCY LOGISTICS | |
Space:
Travel:
Schedule: Availability:
Supplies: |
FEE INFO | |
Session Rate: $75 |
CONTACT INFORMATION |
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REFERENCES | ||
Emelia O'ShanecyTeacher (503) 916-6282 Woodlawn Elementary 4th Grade |
Tonya RohwerTeacher (503) 844-1600 Groner K-8 6-8 Grade |
Katie ThomasPrincipal (503)844-1600 Groner K-8 Administration |
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