Learning Through Dance Objectives

Idaho schools are particularly challenged in arts instruction due to limited funding. Given these severe limitations, Ballet Idaho’s educational outreach programs strengthen Idaho’s youth, by providing them with kinesthetic learning opportunities that enhance their academic work. These programs also increase students’ self-esteem and positive attitudes toward their communities. Learning Through Dance was designed to provide dance instruction while assisting in teaching an academic curriculum. Learning Through Dance is based on Dr. Howard Gardner’s research, which shows that arts programming is a necessary component of education, allowing children to learn through a variety of methods. Additional research conducted by UCLA professor, James S. Catterall indicates that sustained involvement in the arts correlates with success in other subjects and in developing positive attitudes about self and community. The Dance Advance program teaches ballet technique and focuses on coordination, flexibility, strength and musicality. While the majority of students will not become professional dancers, the program will have life long benefits. Ballet Idaho’s educational outreach programs promote dance in education to the general school population, with a significant focus on youth-at-risk, physically and mentally challenged students, low-income students and schools with a high minority population.

The Learning Through Dance program is one of Ballet Idaho’s core educational outreach programs. This program is an artist-in-residence program that places a professional dance educator in third-grade classrooms for a ten-week residency. One of the most important features of this program is that it provides teachers with a written curriculum that addresses the National Standards for Arts Education (Dance) and the Idaho State Academic Standards for instruction of the third grade. In the 2001-2002 academic year, the curriculum was revised to more directly relate to these standards. State and local education authorities participated in the development of the curriculum and have approved its usage.

The first three class sessions of Learning Through Dance focus on dance training and movement vocabulary. The following weeks enhance the students’ academic class work in the areas of math, science and the language arts. Five classes focus on mathematics and equations, simple machines, anatomy, weather patterns, map making, the solar system and the environment. Students also enhance their written and verbal skills with classes that use dance to explore verbs, symbols and creative writing. For instance, the dance movement, grand jeté, is used to demonstrate the role of verbs while a dance called The Panda Dance, teaches about the environment and introduces the music and culture of South Africa. Additionally, the discipline of dance is emphasized every week through formal dance instruction.

The four goals of Learning Through Dance are: 1) development of a program that maintains or expands participation levels each academic year. 2) creation of a program and curriculum that are useful to teachers and promote the incorporation of kinesthetic learning across a variety of subject areas. 3) development of curriculum that meets the National Standards for Arts Education (Dance) and the Idaho State Academic Standards for instruction of the third grade. 4) creation of a program that fosters on-going collaborative relationships between Ballet Idaho, local schools and other community organizations.