This February, seventh-graders at Chatham Middle experienced a Chatham Artists-in-Schools dance residency with the artists of Black Box Dance Theatre–and it was linked with math concepts, too!
Made possible by the cARTwheels funding through the NC Arts Council and private sponsorship through Carolina Credit Union Foundation, the week-long visit included dance workshops with students–and also school staff and CMS families. Plus, students and staff were treated to professional performances by Black Box dancers on the final day.
It’s All About Movement and Math: Student Dance Workshops
Each workshop session began with a whole class warm-up to wake students’ bodies up and prepare for dancing.
The teaching artists were welcoming, encouraging, and open with every dancer in the room–and some students recognized the dancers from their residency at Virginia Cross Elementary two years ago!
“This kind of activity allows the students to express themselves in a creative way and could have a great impact in their social emotional wellbeing.” –CMS teacher
During the week, students learned how to use their bodies as shapes in relation to one another.
And they worked with supportive tableaus and weight-sharing movements that connected with percentages and ratios.
“I liked how we got to express ourselves with different shapes and movements.” –CMS seventh-grader
The young dancers also learned math formulas–like the area of a triangle, circle, and trapezoid–through dance moves.
“The math warm up of the [one-half] base times height and the pie with the fork helped me more in math.” –CMS seventh-grader
Students also worked in small groups to choreograph their own moves together.
“[I liked it] all because I have never seen this before!” –CMS seventh-grader
Teachers Try It: Staff Dance Workshop
On the second afternoon of the residency, Black Box teaching artists facilitated a dynamic dance workshop with the school’s staff, encouraging movement, collaboration, and learning through dance. The dancers’ work with the staff gave teachers a similar experience to the student workshops.
“Learning math facts using movements was helpful.” –CMS teacher, after staff dance workshop
Teachers worked together to create small dances after warming up as a group.
“Can we repeat the session? Can we do it again?” –CMS teacher, after staff dance workshop
Teachers couldn’t help but smile and laugh as they danced together.
“This helped me out so much—I was so frustrated and then I went in there to dance and it was a better day.” –CMS teacher, after the staff dance workshop
The Community Joins In: Adult Dance Workshop
On another evening during the week, Black Box dancers hosted a free community dance workshop for Chatham County Schools’ students and families.
The group was small, but mighty, and the dancers were able to provide instruction in both Spanish and English for those in attendance.
Warming up involved pretending to hold everyday objects so the dance moves were easier to follow for the participants.
“This was actually so fun!” –Student participant in community dance workshop
A student requested the house music genre for a quick dance lesson, and dancers obliged–modeling movements for the group to follow.
“During the after-school community workshop [the dancers] engaged with the students and families with communication and positivity.” –CMS teacher
At the end, there was an opportunity for an individualized dance lesson or two!
“I have been doing the brain warm up dance every morning!” –A community workshop participant
Performance Day: Black Box Dance Theatre Performs
The gym filled with students in seventh-grade for one show and eighth-grade in the second show to watch Black Box’s professional performance.
Black Box began with an upbeat number that showed off the skills of the company.
Their entire show’s focus was support and community, and dancers spoke to these themes throughout the show.
Some students were watching a professional performance for the first time ever.
“I can’t stop smiling at this.” –CMS eighth-grade audience member
There were parts of the show that called for student participation.
“I like how [the dancers] made me and everyone happy.” –CMS seventh-grader
These students got brave, headed up to the stage, and created small bits of one-on-one choreography with the dancers–many of the moves requiring lifts and lots of balance!
“I felt like a professional up there!” –Eighth-grader who volunteered to go on stage
Black Box closed each show with a Q&A for the students. Students, among many other curiosities, wanted to know how long the dancers have danced, what inspired them to start dancing, and how long it took for them to trust each other.
“A couple of my students who happen to be EC were able to work with the dancers after school and perform during the in-school performance day. It brightened their days and boosted their confidence.” –CMS teacher
The residency at Chatham Middle School was sponsored by the Coastal Credit Union Foundation and the NC Arts Council. This residency is part of the Chatham Arts Council’s Artists-in-Schools Initiative.
Arts for Resilient Kids programming is made possible by partnerships with Chatham County Schools, Chatham County, the North Carolina Arts Council, and many individual, foundation, and business donors. If you feel inspired to help us educate kids through the arts, click here to donate.
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