Undoubtedly, every young dancer aspires to be an expert technician and artistically dazzling. Working toward that end, a dancer is aware that he or she needs to spend many hours of practice in technique classes and on the stage. However, a dancer might not consider the fact that to become the best dancer possible, he or she needs equal abilities…

The necessity for engaging the body in learning, the need for students to move throughout the school day, and the positive effects that dance has on students' development are all good reasons for dance to be included in the elementary curriculum. There are many ways for teachers to integrate movement into the school day, using math, science,…

Although contemporary dance improvisation techniques and comedy improvisation are seldom linked, the two forms evolved around the same time and have many similarities. Both forms exist in the moment, share a highly ephemeral nature, and make use of physical games and structures. Both forms teach students the skill of being present, so essential to…

Effective teaching of dance skills is informed by a variety of theoretical frameworks and individual teaching and learning styles. The purpose of this paper is to present practical teaching strategies that enhance the mastery of skills and promote self-esteem, self-efficacy, and positive self-image. The predominant thinking and primary research…

The Sankofa Drum and Dance Ensemble is a Ghanaian drum and dance ensemble that focusses on music in the Ewe tradition. It is based in an elementary school in the Greater Toronto Area and consists of students in Grade 4 through Grade 8. Students in the ensemble study Ghanaian traditional Ewe drumming and dancing in the oral tradition. Nine students…

Reviews the contributions of Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences (MI) to dance education by placing MI theory in the context of historical perspectives on intelligences and examining the assumptions behind traditional models of intelligence and some of the more recent pluralistic approaches. The paper reviews the principal tenets of MI…

Reviews the theory of multiple intelligences. Offers suggestions for high-school English instruction. Presents a case study of two female students in an alternative school who choreographed a dance in response to a short story. (RS)

Recounts a memorable learning experience in the lives of a teacher educator and her collaboration-for-special-educators class while watching and participating in a student's "dancing for understanding" performance. The student dancer exemplified individualized instruction precepts by using her natural kinesthetic intelligence to express her…