THE DANCE PROGRAM AT SPPS
The dance program at SPPS has gone through a lot of changes since I became involved ten years ago. In the beginning, my initial goal was to teach kids to ballroom dance so I only taught the Waltz & Foxtrot. Unfortunately, I've never seen a single student from that first class dance. It didn't take long to realize that to get kids interested in ballroom dancing, I'd first have to get them on the dance floor and the Western Swing seemed to be the best way to do that. In the course of their four years of classes, they learn and repeatedly practice thirteen patterns of the Western Swing. I give them “dance cards” with the names of the patterns on them to help them remember. In 2010, former students who are now in college, came to help with three classes. We also began teaching a “safe” flip (a flip where the girl's arms aren't pinned so she can protect herself in a fall) in the Western Swing.
Your children learned three different line dances this year, the Electric Slide, Cotton Eye Joe and the New York Stroll, along with some variations of these to make them more interesting. I've added line dances to the curriculum for two reasons; (1) to teach rhythm and (2) in the hope of enticing the kids who do not enjoy partnering someone, onto the floor. I teach the line dances every other year, alternating them with the Waltz.
The only ballroom dance that I work diligently on every single year is the Foxtrot (they learn eight patterns), because it will be the most useful dance in their adult life. Your children also learn the Waltz & Tango which are variations of the Foxtrot (in fact, they get them mixed up because they are all so similar). In the 7th & 8th grade classes, I introduce the East Coast Swing (which is the Western Swing with a foot pattern).
Every year, I try to make three points: 1) For life-long health, you have to exercise and it's a lot easier if you find an exercise that's fun. Dancing can be that exercise and unlike many sports, people can continue with this sport their whole life. 2) Dancing is a skill and anybody can learn that skill. Weight issues or a lack athleticism are not impediments to being good dancers; and 3) Dancing opens social doors.
One of the biggest side benefits I've noticed in the past ten years has been the increased social skill level of the students. I am pretty demanding about how kids should behave toward their dance partners. We change partners often and students are expected to act happy to dance with every partner and to treat them with respect. I was surprised ten years ago at how hard it was for the kids at all age levels to stay in dance position or even stand near each other without going into a melt-down of weird behavior. I was also surprised at how resistant the boys were to dancing. I'm happy to say that both problems have lessened. My college helpers reported last year that several kids in the 5th & 6th grade were unable to look them in the eye and a couple were unable to coherently speak to them while in dance position. However, all of the 7th & 8th graders behaved appropriately so social progress is being made with the constant exposure.
Our 2011 dance year ended with two U of I ballroom dancers performing a waltz, samba & jive (with costume changes!) for grades one through eight and they talked about why they loved to dance. That was followed by grades five through eight getting a ninety minute dance lesson to introduce them to the West Coast Swing, a dance that compliments the beat of the songs being produced now. We had several parents come which was fun!
In our 2011 dance year, seven college students came to co-teach four classes. The majority of the college kids who came to teach this year are dancing the Western Swing regularly at a club in Moscow and most of them are taking a ballroom dance class this semester so they add a lot of new information. I hope to continue bringing others who love to dance into the school to serve as role-models. If your college student is dancing regularly and would like to be asked to participate, please let me know. In the meantime, please encourage your kids to continue to dance!
Regards,
Carla Wilkins
Your children learned three different line dances this year, the Electric Slide, Cotton Eye Joe and the New York Stroll, along with some variations of these to make them more interesting. I've added line dances to the curriculum for two reasons; (1) to teach rhythm and (2) in the hope of enticing the kids who do not enjoy partnering someone, onto the floor. I teach the line dances every other year, alternating them with the Waltz.
The only ballroom dance that I work diligently on every single year is the Foxtrot (they learn eight patterns), because it will be the most useful dance in their adult life. Your children also learn the Waltz & Tango which are variations of the Foxtrot (in fact, they get them mixed up because they are all so similar). In the 7th & 8th grade classes, I introduce the East Coast Swing (which is the Western Swing with a foot pattern).
Every year, I try to make three points: 1) For life-long health, you have to exercise and it's a lot easier if you find an exercise that's fun. Dancing can be that exercise and unlike many sports, people can continue with this sport their whole life. 2) Dancing is a skill and anybody can learn that skill. Weight issues or a lack athleticism are not impediments to being good dancers; and 3) Dancing opens social doors.
One of the biggest side benefits I've noticed in the past ten years has been the increased social skill level of the students. I am pretty demanding about how kids should behave toward their dance partners. We change partners often and students are expected to act happy to dance with every partner and to treat them with respect. I was surprised ten years ago at how hard it was for the kids at all age levels to stay in dance position or even stand near each other without going into a melt-down of weird behavior. I was also surprised at how resistant the boys were to dancing. I'm happy to say that both problems have lessened. My college helpers reported last year that several kids in the 5th & 6th grade were unable to look them in the eye and a couple were unable to coherently speak to them while in dance position. However, all of the 7th & 8th graders behaved appropriately so social progress is being made with the constant exposure.
Our 2011 dance year ended with two U of I ballroom dancers performing a waltz, samba & jive (with costume changes!) for grades one through eight and they talked about why they loved to dance. That was followed by grades five through eight getting a ninety minute dance lesson to introduce them to the West Coast Swing, a dance that compliments the beat of the songs being produced now. We had several parents come which was fun!
In our 2011 dance year, seven college students came to co-teach four classes. The majority of the college kids who came to teach this year are dancing the Western Swing regularly at a club in Moscow and most of them are taking a ballroom dance class this semester so they add a lot of new information. I hope to continue bringing others who love to dance into the school to serve as role-models. If your college student is dancing regularly and would like to be asked to participate, please let me know. In the meantime, please encourage your kids to continue to dance!
Regards,
Carla Wilkins