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Advancing a Step Curriculum

In this professional learning workshop Soul Steps company member and founder Maxine Lyle will guide dance educators to experience the stomps, claps, and dynamic rhythms of the rich African American cultural tradition known as step. Educators will  use their bodies to create hip-hop infused rhythms through foundational step choreography. They will also examine step’s early […]

Rhythm: The Lost Language Professional Learning

In this program educators will learn to collaborate with acclaimed tap dancer and choreographer Maurice Chestnut to develop an understanding of the complex history of tap dance as a distinctly African American art form rooted in diasporic traditions. Educators will gain a clear understanding of the influences of tap including, African djembe rhythms, as well […]

Rhythm: The Lost Language

Students will learn the language of rhythm from acclaimed tap dancer and choreographer Maurice Chestnut. Each session begins with a rhythm stretch and a percussive call and response warm-up. Learners will begin their journey in Africa with djembe rhythms, then move through New Orleans and New York where Africans and Irish step dancers created the […]

The Magic of Storytelling

  Tchin is a nationally-known Indigenous artist and educator of arts and culture. Through the art of oral tradition, he tells stories portraying the creation of the world and how things came to be, addressing topics including cultural diversity, music appreciation, and environmental consciousness. As part of this program, Tchin will perform and explain the […]

And Now I See: Race, Racism & American Music

An entertaining, informative, and eye-opening show that celebrates the rich tapestry of African American music, from Spirituals, Gospel, and Jazz to Soul, Hip-Hop, and R&B. Students will gain insight into the origins, evolution, and cultural significance of each genre, tracing their influences through time. The show addresses the impact of racism on musical styles and […]