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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 […]

The Fundamentals of Puerto Rican Folkloric Music: la Bomba y la Plena

This workshop, taught in both Spanish and English, provides educators with a fundamental understanding of Afro-Puerto Rican dance and drum culture through the rich musical heritage of Bomba y Plena. Educators will engage with Bomba y Plena’s history and culture and gain insight into how it is used to nourish resistance, healing, and community celebrations. […]

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 […]

Bollywood – Dances of India

Bollywood films are world-famous for their incredible dance numbers, a fusion of traditional Indian dance with jazz inuence and modern technique. With DanceXStudio and choreographer Jayshree Srikanth, students will learn timing, rhythm, energy and expressive movements. The students will learn more about Indian culture, geography, history and dance’s ever important role. Central Jersey Only Program […]

Assembly: Dancing Ourselves

Critically acclaimed Heidi Latsky Dance is passionately dedicated to reflecting the true diverse nature of the world we live in through accessible, thought-provoking, dynamic and rigorous dance works. We promote active/complete inclusion and challenging preconceived notions of who are generally accepted as dancers as a metaphor for life. During the assembly, we share our core […]

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 […]

Creating a Multicultural Arts-Rich Classroom

In this workshop the art forms of storytelling, dance, poetry, and music will help educators to bring the culture and language of students into the curriculum. By altering classroom artifacts, daily rituals, and frequently used stories to reflect the first language(s) and culture(s) of students, educators design classroom environments that more intentionally reflect and affirm […]