Thanks to a very generous grant, I have been lucky enough to work with a new elementary school for a month long residency program. I'm teaching each classroom in the school, 12 total, a cultural dance. The younger students are dancing to non-partner dances from around the world and the 4th and 5th graders are all learning merengue, swing, and tango. The staff has been beyond accommodating and helpful to the extent that they volunteered to do a performance themselves at the end of the month long program! It's a dream job that I was very nervous about at first but that has now turned into excitement as I finished my first week and a half.
The Saturday before I began, I received an e-mail from the Behavioral and Emotional Support Team Teacher telling me a little about some students that might need extra support. She asked if DWC had any ideas for students who didn't want to participate in the partner dancing. Between Margot and I we talked to her and decided to see how the students reacted but to have a Plan B in case partnering wasn't going to work. We thought maybe having them be the class DJ or have the teacher or teacher aide be their only partner would be a good solution. The teacher specifically mentioned a 4th grader who was, in her words, terrified to dance in class. We chatted about his specific fears, and she said he was faced with generalized anxiety disorder/extreme panic attacks and that he has displayed severe behaviors with dance in the past and had already displayed avoidance behaviors upon the mention of the upcoming dance unit. With this in mind, I went to the first day of dance on Monday hoping I could help this student overcome his fears.
He didn't show up to school. We weren't even going to meet for a dance class that day - I was there to perform in an assembly to prepare the students, and he was so scared, he stayed home. I was supposed to have him on Tuesday, no show. Wednesday, absent. After the 3rd day, I began to feel horrible that he was missing school to avoid dance class. Then on Thursday, the third day his class met with me, I got introduced to him. The teachers brought him in the hallway early so we chatted about sports, bike riding, the Blackhawks - anything I could think of to keep him from being scared about the upcoming half hour.
When all of the students arrived, I asked them to form "escort" position where the gentlemen escorts the lady into the "ballroom" hand to elbow. He had a "ghost partner" since we had a couple extra gentlemen in the class. So far so good.
Before I met this student, my plan was to start the class off by jumping into the merengue routine they already knew, but I knew now that would be disastrous. The past two classes were spent getting the students over their fear of "cooties" and holding hands to dance as teammates. This student didn't have that acclimation. So I decided to backtrack and have them dance on their own in a huge circle.
I watched this student closely, seeing how he was feeling picking up the movement. I made everything into a game and kept complimenting him specifically saying how quickly he learned on his first day. I got a smile.
Encouraged by that, I asked the gentlemen to form their smaller circle and assigned them their teammates. We rotate like crazy, but my new student didn't know that yet, so I had him dance with his teacher at first, and I stood next to her. So his first two rotations would not be with a classmate. I spent a lot of time reviewing so he could get used to the hand to hand contact with both of us adults. Then, I couldn't hold off any longer. I had to have him rotate to a female classmate. I casually had them rotate and watched his reaction. I heard him clearly ask, "May I have this dance?" And she answered, "Absolutely." They gave each other a "low ten", held on, and I turned on the music. He rotated the entire rest of the class with all of the ladies. And he smiled. I was ecstatic.
Afterward, he got into escort position with his teammate and walked her out of the ballroom. The teachers couldn't have been happier. I was bursting with pride for this very brave student. He overcame a huge hurdle that afternoon. I only hoped he would keep it up the following week.
Fast forward to today. The fourth class of merengue. The moment when the students were to get into "ballroom" position. That meant the gentlemen's hands had to go on the lady's back. Always a big moment. I was nervous.
When the students walked in, I looked around heartbroken because I didn't see him. The gentlemen with ghost partners all filed past me, and my heart sank. Then I saw him. He had a female teammate on his arm in escort position, and he led her to the dance circle. We started reviewing the dance, and he had no problem rotating yet again. The moment of truth - ballroom position. Not a problem. My new hero held his teammate in his arms without any problems.
I've never been happier to be a teacher. And I know I'll never forget this moment. My only hope is, he will one day realize how brave he was and be proud of the progress he made that afternoon.
www.dancingwithclass.org
Posture Too Perfect?
To say that some of my classes are challenging, is an understatement. But I can't blame them. I see the way they are expected to walk down the halls in straight, silent lines. I see the kids at the back of the line who choose to dance and wiggle their way through the hall and then get reprimanded for it. I hear the screams of many frustrated teachers trying to control their classrooms. By the time the kids get to me, in a class where freedom of expression is not only allowed but encouraged, they can't help but act out.
I will admit that as much as I want them to have a space where they don't have to be perfect and they can express themselves, it can be frustrating at times. I want them to be able to let loose and have fun but I also want them to take away the many life lessons that this program has to offer. Lessons about respect, manners, and discipline as well as the ability to ask for what you want in life.
After last week with them, I kept thinking about a particularly lively group that I have. None of my methods, or their teacher's methods, were working to get them to focus at the task at hand. What's more frustrating is that occasionally throughout the class we could get them to settle down and run the dance, and what I would see was amazing! They looked like little ladies and gentleman executing the steps just as I taught them. How could I get them to focus like that for more than two times in a class? At the end of class, I turned it back on the students. I told them that this was a great opportunity and that they can either let some trouble makers in the class take that opportunity away, or they can decide to take it for themselves.
What I saw this week was incredible. I had more students actively participating than in the three classes prior. I had a few students who decided to take the opportunity for themselves by helping to get their classmates into a circle and partner off. I could tell that one of my students was frustrated by constantly have to stop the class to regain focus. This week he was able to ask for what he wanted from his classmates by respectfully asking them to pay attention.
We still have a lot of work to do but I was so impressed to see progress that quickly. From one week barely getting through half of the waltz routine and the next week finishing the whole swing routine was astonishing to me. I can see them starting to use teamwork along with their personal work while still having fun in the process.
I will admit that as much as I want them to have a space where they don't have to be perfect and they can express themselves, it can be frustrating at times. I want them to be able to let loose and have fun but I also want them to take away the many life lessons that this program has to offer. Lessons about respect, manners, and discipline as well as the ability to ask for what you want in life.
After last week with them, I kept thinking about a particularly lively group that I have. None of my methods, or their teacher's methods, were working to get them to focus at the task at hand. What's more frustrating is that occasionally throughout the class we could get them to settle down and run the dance, and what I would see was amazing! They looked like little ladies and gentleman executing the steps just as I taught them. How could I get them to focus like that for more than two times in a class? At the end of class, I turned it back on the students. I told them that this was a great opportunity and that they can either let some trouble makers in the class take that opportunity away, or they can decide to take it for themselves.
What I saw this week was incredible. I had more students actively participating than in the three classes prior. I had a few students who decided to take the opportunity for themselves by helping to get their classmates into a circle and partner off. I could tell that one of my students was frustrated by constantly have to stop the class to regain focus. This week he was able to ask for what he wanted from his classmates by respectfully asking them to pay attention.
We still have a lot of work to do but I was so impressed to see progress that quickly. From one week barely getting through half of the waltz routine and the next week finishing the whole swing routine was astonishing to me. I can see them starting to use teamwork along with their personal work while still having fun in the process.
Amazed By My Student
I was visiting a school after the big Dance Off and the students were still so excited by the experience. Amidst the pizza, games, and line dancing, I had a chance to chat with Alexis.
Alexis was one of the most committed people on the team. We as educators always come across students that challenge us to be even better instructors. In one rehearsal, Alexis finished and came to me saying, “Miss D., I can do this, it isn’t too hard for me. I might just need more time.” She worked extra hard and competed beautifully in the competition.
I forgot to mention that Alexis uses a wheelchair. She is neither confined or defined by it’s use but sails beyond it. I wasn’t surprised when she came up to me during the pizza party, but what she said floored me.
“Before this program, most people thought I only went home and watched TV, that I couldn’t do anything. But this [program] has really opened me up as a person. They can see how much more I can do.”
Alexis was one of the most committed people on the team. We as educators always come across students that challenge us to be even better instructors. In one rehearsal, Alexis finished and came to me saying, “Miss D., I can do this, it isn’t too hard for me. I might just need more time.” She worked extra hard and competed beautifully in the competition.
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| Alexis & Fernando dancing |
“Before this program, most people thought I only went home and watched TV, that I couldn’t do anything. But this [program] has really opened me up as a person. They can see how much more I can do.”
Dancing with Class is a program designed to increase self confidence but in this group of students, they truly rallied together as a team. To see how joyous they were in supporting each other at the event and the camaraderie even a week later was amazing. It's amazing to see students astound themselves. Sometimes it just takes time and a little dancing.
Season of Giving
Dancing with Class is wrapping up a successful Fall Season, having recently completed our Fall Dance-Off for CPS schools as well as our Chicago Park District program.
At each event, I reminded students that there are wonderful gifts they can give any time they like that don't cost a thing. Namely, compliments to other people and the joy of sharing a dance.
When reminded to do so, students take the challenge of "paying a compliment to someone they do not know" very seriously. A young boy came up to me after an event last night to report on the number of compliments he had paid to others that evening. He was joyful to share this news. He was experiencing what the joy of giving is all about. By doing something nice for someone else, he was also giving a gift to himself.
Spread the joy this holiday season!
Disbelief
May 16, 2013
The moment when forty eyes look at you in disbelief, just because you said “Class is over”.
Definitely worth it.
Definitely worth it.
Dance Family
I've been working with an amazing group of 7th and 8th graders the past few weeks on choreography for their end of year festival. They are doing a wonderful job with salsa, cha cha, and merengue, and the majority of them are learning the footwork for the first time. They are picking up on the choreography so well I find myself challenging them beyond what I had planned. It's exciting to see their faces when they get the movement down - the pride they feel is just priceless.
Today was my favorite day there because everyone showed up, they remembered last week's choreography, and were eager to learn more. That alone makes my day. But it was one of the comments a girl made at the end of class that made me smile. She is one of those students who is very polite, cooperative, and works very hard even though the movement doesn't come easily. She happened to glance down at my Visitor's badge that the front office gave me to wear and asked why I had to wear it. I replied that it was policy for everyone who teaches the after school programs to wear one. She then said, "But you're not a visitor. You're part of our dance family."
What a powerful statement. And by far the best compliment I've ever received.
Today was my favorite day there because everyone showed up, they remembered last week's choreography, and were eager to learn more. That alone makes my day. But it was one of the comments a girl made at the end of class that made me smile. She is one of those students who is very polite, cooperative, and works very hard even though the movement doesn't come easily. She happened to glance down at my Visitor's badge that the front office gave me to wear and asked why I had to wear it. I replied that it was policy for everyone who teaches the after school programs to wear one. She then said, "But you're not a visitor. You're part of our dance family."
What a powerful statement. And by far the best compliment I've ever received.
One Brave Student Made My Day
I started a new school yesterday teaching third and fourth graders. The moment I arrived, the coordinator told me that most of the students were terrified of dancing. Terrified. I've been told before that the kids were nervous or scared, but terrified was a little shocking. The boys told me right away that they didn't want to dance with a girl and vice versa. When teaching partner dancing, this can be a problem! Luckily, I came prepared with some ideas so they would get over the "ick" factor.
As with every class I teach, I always ask them if they've seen partner dancing on television before. Almost all of them have seen Dancing With The Stars or So You Think You Can Dance. This helps get the conversation started about dancing with the opposite gender. However, it doesn't mean they want to do it!
I taught the kids their first dance, the merengue, in a circle all doing the same footwork. This they were just fine with. There was no touching involved. The moment I mentioned that the next class we would partner up with our teammate, they all groaned, shrieked, and said, "No way!" I had to think fast.
I noticed a few of the boys were really getting into the dance, and I thought I would try to use one of them to help me show the class how cool partner dancing could be. So I asked the boys if any of them was brave enough to dance with me. Of course, five of them immediately backed up and shook their heads. Then I looked to my left and say one shy boy raised his hand. I have never been so grateful to an 8 year old before!
His name was Santiago, and he said he would dance with me. I asked him to hold out his hands. The class groaned, but he did it. I held his hands and showed the class the entire merengue routine in a hand hold position. He did an amazing job keeping his feet moving as I turned into the different positions to show the class what they could do with their partner. The smile on his face was all I needed to know this was a great idea. But what sealed the deal was when I led Santiago into his turns and the entire class went, "Oooooohhh! That's cool!" Santiago was a star, and they were almost sold on the idea of holding hands with their teammates.
I say almost because even though they cheered their classmate on, at the end of the hour I showed them escort position and lost them once again! Holding on to the boys' elbow was still too much to handle, but I have more tricks up my sleeve to handle the cooties' outbreak they think will erupt next week.
As with every class I teach, I always ask them if they've seen partner dancing on television before. Almost all of them have seen Dancing With The Stars or So You Think You Can Dance. This helps get the conversation started about dancing with the opposite gender. However, it doesn't mean they want to do it!
I taught the kids their first dance, the merengue, in a circle all doing the same footwork. This they were just fine with. There was no touching involved. The moment I mentioned that the next class we would partner up with our teammate, they all groaned, shrieked, and said, "No way!" I had to think fast.
I noticed a few of the boys were really getting into the dance, and I thought I would try to use one of them to help me show the class how cool partner dancing could be. So I asked the boys if any of them was brave enough to dance with me. Of course, five of them immediately backed up and shook their heads. Then I looked to my left and say one shy boy raised his hand. I have never been so grateful to an 8 year old before!
His name was Santiago, and he said he would dance with me. I asked him to hold out his hands. The class groaned, but he did it. I held his hands and showed the class the entire merengue routine in a hand hold position. He did an amazing job keeping his feet moving as I turned into the different positions to show the class what they could do with their partner. The smile on his face was all I needed to know this was a great idea. But what sealed the deal was when I led Santiago into his turns and the entire class went, "Oooooohhh! That's cool!" Santiago was a star, and they were almost sold on the idea of holding hands with their teammates.
I say almost because even though they cheered their classmate on, at the end of the hour I showed them escort position and lost them once again! Holding on to the boys' elbow was still too much to handle, but I have more tricks up my sleeve to handle the cooties' outbreak they think will erupt next week.
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