ProjectDance Kicks off 3rd Season in Five Elementary Schools
Dance for everyone starts young.
Welcome!
You’re reading DanceChatt, a publication for reflective writing about dance in and around Chattanooga. In this week’s DanceChatt, Karen Wilson, retired Director of Dance at Center for Creative Arts, takes us on a deep dive into ProjectDance — its history, philosophy and expanding horizons.
Y’all, I just read about a new dance opportunity — Burlesque Obscura at Barking Legs on Nov. 10. I’ve heard they’re a delightfully curious crew. Anyone knowledgeable, or just curious, about burlesque? Fancy writing a guest blog about the show?
Finally, some changes are coming to DanceChatt. You’ll notice one right away: I’ve paused paid subscriptions indefinitely. I’ll talk more about that for our six-month anniversary this November.
ProjectDance Kicks off 3rd Season in Five Elementary Schools
Article and photos courtesy of Karen Wilson and ProjectDance
ProjectDance, a partnership with Hamilton County Schools, is providing dance instruction this fall at five elementary schools. Students from East Brainerd Elementary, Clifton Hills Elementary, Spring Creek Elementary, Battle Academy, and Orchard Knob Elementary will have the opportunity to experience dance education classes in multi-week sessions. ProjectDance is directed by and was developed by Karen Wilson, retired Director of Dance at Center for Creative Arts.
Karen Wilson, program director, says, “Dance education in our schools has been a goal of mine for many years. A dance curriculum fosters essential life skills such as focus, collaboration, communication, problem solving, risk taking, self-reflection — all traits that are important for any career. Structured dance education enhances fine motor skills, gross motor skills, attention span, and memory skills — all linked to academic growth, social and emotional learning, individual health, and personal development.”
2,900+ students served and growing
In its third year, the ProjectDance curriculum is based upon the Tennessee Dance Standards and is a program that gets students moving, thinking, and creating. The creative movement based approach is developmentally appropriate, yet can allow for students to experience different genres as appropriate to individual schools. Teaching artists going into the schools are experienced dance educators from local dance organizations. To date, the program has provided nine elementary schools with dance teaching artists at no cost to the school. Funding has been provided through the generosity of the Nancy Lackey Community Education Fund, McKenzie Foundation, Hamico Foundation, William L. Montague Performing Arts Fund, and individual donors. Funds are administered through ArtsBuild.
Wilson continues, “It is important to me that there be no cost to the individual schools because during my 26 year career in public education it was a huge struggle to provide my students with anything that was seen as ‘extra.’ Teachers and schools are often told to write a grant if something is needed. Believe me, no teacher has any additional time to search for funds. So I am deeply grateful to our funders. This program exists due to their support and understanding of the importance of all of the arts in all students’ education.”
In action since the spring of 2020, ProjectDance has conducted 357 classes in nine elementary schools: Brown Academy, Battle Academy, Calvin Donaldson Elementary, Rivermont Elementary, East Ridge Elementary, Orchard Knob Elementary, Lookout Valley Elementary, Spring Creek Elementary, and Clifton Hills. The program has served approximately 2,900+ students in grades K-5. Both classroom teachers and dance teaching artists attest to the program’s importance and success.
Building student well-being
According to Ellen Leamon, classroom teacher formerly at Clifton Hills and now at Calvin Donaldson, “Our teachers noticed that the students had more energy and could remain focused on classwork following their dance class. There was a decrease in behavior issues, due in part to the increased focused activity the students were experiencing. Students also felt better. They would continually ask if it was their day to dance!”
Charlene Cook, former classroom teacher at East Ridge Elementary and now at Spring Creek Elementary continues, “I really think a lot of them had not considered that simple, everyday movement can be turned into dance. I also think the students lost a little bit of inhibition and enjoyed the movement/dance.”
(Dance) power to the people
ProjectDance 2023 teaching artists going into the schools include Lauren Day, Monica Ellison, Jessica Ortega, Margaret Sikes, and Candice Trimble. Each teaching artist has a love of young students and is an experienced instructor who believes in the power of dance to influence both students and adults and contribute to the development of empathic, cooperative, educated, and caring humans through the power of the arts.
“Dance and movement are key to developing awareness not only of ourselves but seeing others as they are and understanding differences and similarities. ProjectDance has the power to start with the youngest learners and instill how important movement is throughout our whole lives, not just as small children,” says Margaret Sikes, ProjectDance teaching artist.
Karen Wilson concludes, “As we continue our work in the schools, I am excited to further the program’s purpose and goals for the benefit of all students. Our program is designed:
To introduce developmental and age-appropriate, standards-based dance education into Hamilton County Schools
To provide equitable access to the art of dance to all schools regardless of location, economic, or social demographics
To engage Chattanooga’s dance community as partners in the Hamilton County/Kennedy Center Initiative Any Given Child.
To provide a framework resulting in the outcome of dance education curriculum embedded in the regular school day beginning with K-5 and expanding into K-12.”
Learn more
For additional information, watch our video!
Contact Karen Wilson at projectdancetn@gmail.com for more information about bringing ProjectDance to your school or to contribute to the program.
Join the Chatt
Join the conversation! If you’d like to contribute a guest blog to DanceChatt, send an email to jennelisewebster@gmail.com.
Until then, keep dancing.
— Jenn McCormick