Creative Dance Theater For Children

Thursday, January 21, 2010

FOUR SATURDAYS IN MAY

May 1, 8, 15, and 22

4 - 6 year olds

11:00 - 12:00

Fee: $50.

Single trial classes: $15.

Location:

Beacon Studios # 108A

211 Fishkill Ave.

Beacon, NY 12508

Class sizes are limited.

Contact us to register:

PennisonDance@aol.com or 845.440.7375

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Frequently Asked Questions

HOW ARE THE CLASSES STRUCTURED?

As the children enter the class, they sit in a circle and do a brief art project or listen to a short story that relates to the focus of the class. This allows the children to settle and concentrate before they begin to dance. Once the children are seated with the instructor, the caregiver can leave and pick up the child at the end of the hour-long class.

The class is structured to move at the pace of the children’s minds, so that their sense of play is not lost, but specific material is covered and perfected.

Parents and caregivers are invited to sit in on the final class of each session, where we share the stories we’ve been working on—along with some refreshments.

WHAT IS THE INTENTION OF THE PROGRAM?

Our intention is to help our students develop and give expression to their creativity. We believe that if a child’s spirit is properly kindled, it can retain that creative glow throughout a life’s work—whatever work that may be. We also try to infuse a sense of respect for each other and for the work we share. It is with this sensibility that we have approached our classes since we began the program in 1979.

WHAT DO THE CHILDREN WEAR TO THE CLASS?

The students wear sneakers and comfortable clothing that they can move in. Depending on what we’re working on, the children may sometimes also dance barefoot.

WHAT DO THE CHILDREN LEARN?

At the beginning, the children learn basic body movements, such as skipping, turning, jumping and so on, and about body awareness and acting out stories. This material is taught through the use of images and with an interarts perspective.

Technique is taught from a student-centered point of view, where students are encouraged to create their own material, in addition to the material they are presented with.

HOW DO THE STUDENTS PROGRESS AS THEY GET OLDER?

As the students mature, they demand more structure. Movement-wise they perform more complex movement patterns in space and are able to sequence single movements to form phrases. Our work with the oldest students also incorporates basic dance composition skills. Dramatically, they can follow and perform more detailed story lines, develop text, and learn basic acting techniques.

HOW IS REPETITION USED IN TEACHING THE CLASSES?

The material that we teach involves a certain amount of repetition. It is our experience that children learn faster that way. (Have you noticed that a child can listen to the same song or watch the same movie over and over, while you may be driven crazy?) Although songs or dances may seem familiar to a visiting parent, to the child a new level of achievement is being reached. As the child grows older, the material is further developed and made more complex. The same song can be first introduced as a fingerplay and further developed into a sequence of ballet steps, for example.

Creative Dance Theater For Children

Thursday, January 21, 2010

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