Brenda Pugh McCutchen, M.F.A. Professor, Choreographer, Writer, Consultant

Transforming Dance, Transforming Education

1. What makes an academically-rigorous, holistic educational dance curriculum?

2. Should it be basic to every child’s education?

3. What needs to happen to make it a reality?

4. What is my role in this?

Overarching Questions

From South Carolina to Singapore

• Teaching dance as a complete art form

• Includes performing, but more…

• Emphasizes three artistic processes

• Holistic model

• Incorporates cultural studies in dance

Describing rigorous programs

Why dance is marginalized• Unfamiliar with holistic model• Seen as unrelated to academic growth• Unaware of the depth of the discipline• Oblivious to dance’s complexity• Unaware of developmental impact• Performances considered entertainment

To remedy, create a complete processed-driven program taught with artistic and academic integrity

• Process-driven

• Integrates all three artistic processes

• Higher-order thinking• Analytical, creative, innovative• Intellectually challenging

• Personal inquiry, investigation

• Collaborative team work

What a holistic dance model is

The 6 DC promotes multiple forms of dance literacy (Teaching Dance as Art in Education)

How a 6 DC model contributes

• Literacy in dance

• Literacy across disciplines

• Multi-dimensional methods of inquiry

• Taught by fully certified dance teachers

Why this model works in education

Well-prepared

dance specialistDance

Education

Education

Dance

• Performance integrated with curricular content

• Organic performance venues• Informal showings• “Informances”• Works-in-progress• Lecture-demonstrations• Studio and main stage performances

Integration of the holistic model

• Advances 4 developmental areas• Cognitive• Physical• Artistic• Psycho-social

• Emphasizes all three artistic processes

• Child-centered and age appropriate

• Nurturing pedagogy

Aim of process-based pedagogy

• Dance accomplishes needed 21st century competencies

•Challenge•Creativity•Communication•Collaboration•Complex and critical thinking

Transforming education with holistic model

• Advocacy and Action• Create an arts coalition

• Teacher certification• Teacher preparation

programs

• Create a strategic plan • Long and short range plans• Include all key stakeholders

Transforming dance education

• Plan for the academic future…now

• Advocate holistic educational dance

• Advance process-based curriculum

• Promote multiple forms of literacy

• Advance child development

• Be dance’s voice

In closing…

Wednesday, July 17

2:15-3:45 “Coherent Critique”

4:15-5:45 “Coherent Critique”

Thursday, July 18

10:30-12:00 “Cohesive Composition”

1:30-3:00 “Cohesive Composition”

Additional Information Workshops

Brenda Pugh McCutchenwww.dancecurriculumdesigns.combrenda@dancecurriculumdesigns.com