Dancers Using Technology

Creating a Website about Local High School Dance Programs

This year, I decided to create a website to capture all of the local high school programs that my middle school students usually apply to. I used a simple blog template from Typepad, though I refer to the project as a "website."

You too can create a site very easily that can be a great information hub, advocacy tool, and opportunity for program visibility. 

Check it out here.

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Online Teaching Artist Certificate Program through the University of the Arts

While I very much advocate for in-person professional development (college courses, Luna Dance Institute, and DEL, for example), sometimes an online option can provide information, tools, and inspiration. There is still time to apply and enroll for the Fall Term through the University of the Arts. Applications are due in late July.

Participants take 5 courses: Human Behavior and Child Development, Foundations of Learning Theory, Professional Practices, Methods, and Capstone.

Read more here.

This online certificate program can support you as you embark on K-12 teaching work or deepen your teaching practice.

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On/Line Teen Dance Film Festival Featured on Inspiration Lab Website

If you are a dance teaching artist and fan of websites like Edutopia and TED Talks, then check out Inspiration Lab. Inspiration Lab is a project of the NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools). Lots of interesting projects are described on the site. I encourage you to browse for a few minutes.

The 1st Annual On/Line Teen Dance Film Festival is featured on the website. Click here to read more.

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The 1st Annual On/Line Teen Dance Film Festival can be Viewed on Vimeo

This 30 minute film festival was created by The Hamlin School in San Francisco. The mini film festival highlights the work of middle school dancers at Hamlin as well as selected films from other middle schools and high schools around the globe. Six other schools are represented, including: 

• International School of Bangkok
• Idaho Arts Charter School (Nampa, Idaho) 
• The Public Academy for the Performing Arts (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 
• Sandy Spring Friends School  
• La Reina High School  (Thousand Oaks, California) 
• Carolina Friends School (Durham, North Carolina) 

We hope that you can share these films with your middle school and high school students. Applications for the 2nd Annual On/Line Teen Dance Film Festival will be available in September 2015.

For more information, contact dance teacher Jill Randall at [email protected].

 https://vimeo.com/117853332

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New Website: MFA Dance in Review

From Blog Director Jill Randall:

I am excited to launch another project for 2015 - MFA Dance in Review. This online publication will fill a unique niche, providing a place for dance criticism and writing about MFA Dance performances. To find out more and to submit writing, please click here.

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The New On/Line Teen Dance Film Festival (and Call for Applications)

 

On/Line Teen Dance Film Festival

Presented by The Hamlin School (San Francisco, California)

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

 

The Hamlin School is pleased to curate the first annual On/Line Teen Dance Film Festival, showcasing “dance for the camera” films by middle school and high school students from around the world. Students age 11-18 are welcome to apply. This film festival is an extension of the dance work being done at The Hamlin School. The goal of the festival is to highlight the work of teen dance programs and the intersection of dance and technology. In December 2014, the selected films will be available online and can be viewed anywhere. You can host your own 45 minute dance film festival at your school or dance center. 

 

The On/Line Teen Dance Film Festival is open to all public and independent middle schools and high schools as well as to dance studios and community centers. All films must be created by teens (not the instructors).

 

The guidelines are as follows:

-Each school/site may only submit up to two films.

-Films must be 5 minutes or less.

-All students featured in the film must provide written consent for the film to be submitted. If selected, this film will be placed online via Vimeo.

-Films can be submitted in the following categories:

·      General film – edited

·      General film – single take

·      Stop Motion

·      Diptic App

·      Green Screen

·      Combination of the above

 

-Please first email your intent to apply information to Project Director Jill Randall by September 30. Email Jill at [email protected] with the subject of the email as “On/Line Teen Dance Film Festival Application.”

-Hamlin will only be accepting the first 20 applications for this first film festival. Approximately 8-12 films will be selected. In full disclosure, please know that there will be 3-4 films from The Hamlin School as part of this film festival.

-Videos will need to be submitted no later than November 15th.

-Videos can be made in 2014 or could have been made in the past 2 years (ie 2012 and 2013).

Selection process:

-Films must be submitted by November 15th.

-From November 15-December 1, the 15 students in the Dance and Technology Elective class at The Hamlin School will review and select films for the festival.

-All applicants will be notified by December 5th.

 

Timeline:

-Call for entries with intent to apply: September 5 to September 30, 2014

-Submissions: Due by November 15, 2014

-Film review: November 15 to December 1, 2014

-Applicants notified: December 5, 2014

-Films online for viewing: December 12, 2014

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On Demand Publishing and Dance Books

From Blog Director Jill Randall:

I am excited to announce that my new book, Dance Education Essentials: 55 Objects and Ideas for New Preschool-12th Grade Teaching Artists, is now available online at amazon.com.

I used the self-publishing arm of Amazon - CreateSpace - to publish this book. I highly recommend it to other dancers who have a book with simple graphics. I used templates to help format the writing and to create a simple cover. With "on demand" publishing, copies of the book will get printed only when a book is ordered. 

Dance Education Essentials is a must-have for dancers launching into teaching. Co-author Valerie Gutwirth and I share tips from our experience - getting jobs, caring for your body, money-related ideas, supplies for teaching, and much more. 

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Online Dance Courses Series: Update on the New MA Program in Teaching Artistry

Doug Risner shared this information via email this week. I am reposting the same content here. To get placed on the email list for future updates, please email Doug directly at [email protected].

I am delighted to inform you that this new MA program has been approved by the university’s Board of Governors and we will be admitting our first cohort of students for the Fall 2015 semester.

Description: The three-year graduate program is offered in both a fully online format (at in-state tuition rate) and hybrid residency format. MA coursework includes foundations of pedagogy, artistic praxis, arts in human development, principles of teaching artistry, research methods, fieldwork, and teaching artist seminars (contemporary issues, career management, professional development). The degree is designed for working professionals in the field seeking a master's level education; therefore, the program is delivered on a part-time basis (6 credits per semester). The MA degree program is appropriate for educators and teaching artists seeking professional development through graduate study as well as for recent undergraduates in dance and theatre interested in rigorous preparation for careers in teaching artistry.

Admissions: Fifteen MA applicants will be admitted biennially for the fall semester (2015, 2017, 2019, and so on). Admission to the MA program is highly competitive and based on an applicant’s entire academic and artistic record. The stated requirements are minimum standards for consideration of an application. Admission to this program is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School. In addition, applicants must have: at least a 3.0 (‘B’) grade point average and a minimum of fifteen semester credits in the area of specialization (theatre, dance, a related field, or some combination therein) is required. An undergraduate degree in dance or theatre is preferred. 

Financial Aid: Financial support for tuition and other academic expenses for MA students is highly limited both at the university and department level. The vast majority of scholarships at the graduate level are awarded to doctoral students. However, masters-level graduate students may be eligible for Federal student loans. The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid located assists students seeking financial assistance to attend Wayne State University.

What should you do if you’re interested in applying?

We anticipate that the online admission and application site will be available in January 2015. Until then there’s nothing you need to do. Because your name is on this email list, you will receive additional information as it becomes available. To learn more about the Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre & Dance, click on the link below.

Have a wonderful summer and we’ll be in touch again in the Fall.

 

Dr. Mary Elizabeth Anderson, Theatre

Dr. Doug Risner, Dance  

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Doug Risner, PhD, MFA

Professor of Dance

Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre & Dance

Wayne State University

4841 Cass Avenue, Old Main 3225.1

Detroit, MI  48202

313-354-1140 (p)

313-577-5691 (f)

Associate Editor (US)

Research in Dance Education

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Blog Spotlight: Dance Education Laboratory (DEL)

This week my friend and colleague Ashlie Kirby is featured on the Dance Education Laboratory's Blog. I enjoyed reading her post and was also excited to find another dance blog I would like to read each month. I encourage you to check it out.

DEL is a top-notch dance education program in New York City. It provides training and inspiration for teaching artists.

Find out more here. 

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Webinar on Tuesday, January 14: Making Dance Accessible for Students with Disabilities

Webinars can provide opportunities for professional development and conversation on dance education topics. I highly recommend participating in this webinar on Tuesday, January 14th. Alisa Rasera of the Luna Dance Institute is a leader in the conversation about dance and accessibility.

Making Dance Accessible for Students with Disabilities  Tuesday, January 14th, 12-1PM PST   As the United States Department of Education expands physical education programs for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, providing support for the participation of students with disabilities in dance and movement activities becomes even more important.  In this webinar intended for anyone in a dance teaching practice, educators working in an inclusive setting, or artists with questions about how to make their work more accessible, participants will learn strategies for how to approach dance curriculum to help all students explore their best creative selves. Luna's professional learning manager, Alisa Rasera will share best practices and stories from teaching in K-8 public school settings and how they fulfill their mission of bringing all dance to all children.   *Webinar is hosted by the Kennedy Center. Real-time captioning will be available at http://www.streamtext.net/player?event=JFKCENTER during the Webinar presentation.   To sign up for the webinar, click here.